Regressor of the Fallen Family Novel - Chapter 301
### Episode 301:
“Are you in your right mind?”
“Exactly.”
“The Grand Duke of Saxon…”
Whispers rippled through the battlefield. It wasn’t unusual for an aura user to challenge someone to a duel, but for an aura user who manipulated the power of life to have visible wrinkles, it meant his prime had passed and his strength was waning. Rumors circulated that the Grand Duke of Saxon might not live much longer. Yet, he had challenged the saints of various countries, renowned for their prowess against mages. To those aware of his condition, it seemed like a foolish act, a desperate gamble with his life.
“Lord Gail, show us your power! Seize the opportunity to assert dominance!”
Karil and the other commanders urged with enthusiasm.
“Very well.”
Logan tilted his head but readily stepped forward.
‘He must be confident in his abilities or have another plan.’
It was prudent to be cautious when suspicion arose, but that meant responding to those suspicions became his partner’s responsibility. If he pushed forward with the army, the influence built as Gail might weaken. But it seemed the Teronan’s command also urged their hero, as Armored Eillen, with a dignified presence, rode from the opposite side.
The pair exchanged a wry smile as they slowly approached the lone, elderly knight before the fortress.
The sharp-faced elder knight greeted them boldly.
“Both holy warriors of the alliance coming out at once, who shall face me first? If it’s too difficult to decide, feel free to attack me together.”
His confident voice wasn’t misplaced; up close, the intensity of Saxon Tremble was impressive. His wrinkled face showed he was nearing the end of his life, but his outward force was entirely different. Red aura blazed visibly.
Admiration mixed with pity shone in Logan and Eillen’s eyes.
‘Is he burning his life away?’
It was as if he was kindling dry wood with fire, determined to protect his homeland, even at the cost of his own life.
But.
“Salute to your resolve. However, we have reasons we cannot back down.”
“Shall I do it, Lord Gail?”
“…Do you two know each other?”
The elder knight asked, puzzled, but without answering, Logan stepped forward.
“No, I’ll do it. In honor of the veteran’s fighting spirit…”
Eillen nodded and stepped back as Saxon’s eyebrows twitched.
“You young ones are overconfident.”
Standing in the twilight of his life, for someone who must protect his homeland, defeating them both here would be ideal.
“I shall choose my opponent.”
The elder knight’s spear surged red aura skyward. A massive spear aura over 30 meters tall dominated the crowd.
“By any means, I will protect my homeland!”
With a desperate resolution, Logan hardened at the moment.
“Take this!”
The rising spear aura exploded, and countless fragments of light rained down. Logan retreated outside the range in an instant. Eillen moved like the wind, deflecting fragments one by one. The elder knight’s first attack ended without gain.
But that was just the beginning.
“Ha!”
Saxon, cloaked in a flame-like aura, was already swinging his spear in front of Eillen. The movement shortened the 30-meter distance instantly, reminiscent of a swordsman years past. It called for admiration.
‘Did the alliance have such a master?’
Though equivalent to ‘years past’ in skill, his impressive attack couldn’t breach ‘now’ Eillen’s defense.
Boom!
“Huh?”
Armored, blown away like a feather and his hands feeling empty. Saxon hesitated at this strange sensation—apparently without precedence—the moment Eillen subtly moved beside him with a silvery aura.
Clang!
“Where to!”
Bang!
Silver and red crossed several times before both fighters were flung apart. Logan, struck in the ribs by the spear’s shaft, winced in pain. Saxon, unexpectedly hit in the face, seemed to feel no pain as he looked expressionlessly at Logan.
Sighing deeply and lowering his posture, Saxon aimed his burning red aura spear at Logan.
“It was my overconfidence. Both are beyond common sense. They look quite young.”
Does one gain insight nearing life’s end?
Saxon’s gaze seemed to see through Logan and Eillen’s disguises.
Logan smiled bitterly, and in a moment, Saxon vanished, reappearing before him.
“Ta!”
A spear strike like lightning, creating countless afterimages, hammered Logan’s body.
Crash!
Boom!
The surrounding air trembled, and a shockwave, spreading before the sound, flipped the ground, raising a cloud of dust.
And within that obscured vision.
“This is the end!”
After numerous clashes, Saxon’s spear sought Logan’s head, creating an illusory impact.
But.
Swoosh.
Boom!
Logan sidestepped, and a golden aura burst from his sword, whipping into Saxon’s opening.
“Guh!”
Stumble.
Saxon’s body faltered. The blazing aura ebbed but soon surged even more fiercely, as if squeezing out all life force—it couldn’t intimidate Logan. He admired the resolve in the aging face of Saxon, who stood with mastery close to a high rank, on par with past mentors.
‘I’ll finish this quickly.’
Amidst the obscured view.
However, Saxon sought the same opportunity.
“Suppression!”
With a roaring spirit, the bright red aura burst with a giant spear illusion, rushing at Logan.
Then, at that moment.
“Ha!”
A short shout and a golden glow from Logan’s sword cleanly erased the oncoming giant spear, silently striking Saxon.
Whoa.
The bright red aura, seemingly ready to burn till life’s end, lost momentum upon clashing with the golden light. The divine sword’s secret technique, Severing of Life, shattered the source of the aura, life force itself.
Thud.
“How can this…? You were hiding… such skill?”
Saxon panted, his dimming gaze on Logan. The contrast from when the duel began; his noticeably aged face indicated he had burned everything within himself.
Eillen, watching from a distance, had pity in his eyes as well.
The dusty cloud settled, revealing the scene to the entire battlefield.
“No!!!”
“His Grace, the Grand Duke!”
Screams erupted from the fortress’ walls.
On the other side.
– Wow!
From a distance, the alliance, particularly the Liberty army, erupted in cheers. Gail, with his sword drawn, stood over the fallen Grand Duke Saxon. The outcome was clear to see.
“In honor of your fighting spirit.”
Logan spoke, sheathing his sword.
“I, I can’t. End this way.”
The laboriously struggling Saxon stood up. Yet, in that condition, there was little he could do. Logan and Eillen could only watch, respecting the veteran’s effort.
But when Saxon drew a small dagger from his chest, Logan’s complexion changed drastically. The black dagger, with the engraved image of a serpent, caught his eye.
“That’s…!?”
Logan rushed towards the faltering Saxon, but with one last effort, Saxon plunged the dagger into his heart. Simultaneously, a sinister gray magic exploded from his body, repelling the charging Logan.
“Ugh!?”
Whoosh.
The gray flames burned around Saxon as he let out a grating voice.
“I dedicate my life to… #&@$.”
Flare.
The gray flames surged more violently, and Logan gritted his teeth, sword raised to cleave the flames.
‘Oh no. This…’
Hesitating at the collective stare from the battlefield.
– Long live Triya!
Expanding from within the dissipating fire, Saxon’s echoing voice burst forth. Gray flames scattered in tendrils toward various points in the fortress. Logan observed the ominous magical flow.
“Follow the Grand Duke’s will!”
“Long live Triya!”
“Defeat the invaders!”
Fortress soldiers suddenly leaped from the walls.
Crash.
Thud.
Soldiers should have turned to mush from the 20-meter drop, yet they stood, disjointed limbs healed instantly. Their bulging red eyes and faces filled with black veins grotesquely shifted.
– Defeat. The. Invaders!
The soldiers’ eerie voices raised as they dashed towards the front with incredible speed, rivaling Force users. Effectively, the soldiers, now monstrous in number, launched their assault.
The battlefield erupted in terrified screams.
“What is that!?”
“Devilry!”
“The Triyans have sold their souls to the devil!”
The high-spirited alliance faltered.
“Dammit!”
Logan, cutting down the charging soldiers without hesitation, soared to the fortress walls on their heads. Securing the spots imbued with gray magic, he thrust his sword relentlessly.
Crack.
Logan felt something shatter under his blade, pulling out a human-head-sized orb with a broken center from the wall’s debris.
“Eill…ugh, Armored! Bring down the right side of the fortress walls!”
Hearing Logan, Eillen sprang into the air, lightly floating.
‘There are six places filled with magic.’
The magic pattern was basic enough for even non-magi to recognize—a hexagram.
“Hexagram! It’s a magic circle! Base it on the location I destroyed to deduce the rest!”
Racing to the fortified walls, resonating with gray magic, Logan demolished each point swiftly. Eillen mirrored him, crashing the opposite points. With each shattered gem, Triya’s army, formerly rushing madly at the alliance, slowed.
Crack.
As the last peal echoed, a collective groan arose.
“Ouch! Why am I here…?”
“Aaah!”
Soldiers grabbed their heads, falling one by one.
Silence fell over the alliance’s rigid defenses when suddenly.
“Advance! End Triya’s last stand! Bind those fallen.”
Logan, slightly staggering, called out, his silver aura winning the war.
“Wow!”
Despite confusion, spirited alliance troops advanced towards Triya’s forces. This war ended too easily. Still, the faces of the two supernaturals who ended it held only a pallid expression.
“What kind of technique was that? How could they do that to so many people…”
Eillen’s words met Logan’s complex look. A magic circle using supers as sacrifices, plotting something—it brought back a nightmarish past life, but its identity remained a mystery.
One thing was clear.
‘Had I not been able to see magic, it would have been disastrous.’
The Alliance’s strength, maintained even in subterfuge, was nearly shattered. The war, a stern reminder of the cult of the black serpent, came to an end.
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