The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations Novel - Chapter 797

Chapter 797
Marquis Pherington’s pupils dilated as he felt the vitality abandon his frame.

Clang.

The resonance of his blade hitting the earth rang out with startling clarity above the cacophony of the warring armies.

“Grrk……”

A surge of crimson welled up in his throat, hot and viscous, spilling past his teeth.

Through a blurring haze, he witnessed the Imperial Army falling into ruin. The agonizing bellows of his brothers-in-arms and the blood-soaked soil began to drift away into a dark, encroaching fog.

‘This is impossible. I am a pillar of the Empire…….’

A crushing weight of bitterness took hold. He refused to accept that he had met with such a pathetic end.

‘It isn’t…… finished yet…….’

He attempted to surge forward, but his strength vanished, and his knees struck the dirt. Gritting his teeth, Marquis Pherington forced his gaze upward. Sitting atop a steed was the figure looking down upon him with cold arrogance.

In that heartbeat, a terrifying realization gripped him. If a man existed who was destined to bring the Empire to its knees…… it was surely the individual standing right before him.

With that final premonition, the Marquis’s head slumped.

Ghislain watched the lifeless Marquis Pherington for a brief moment before shifting his gaze.

“Hm.”

KWAANG! KWAANG! KWAANG!

A barrage of blazing spheres descended from the heavens, slamming into the Imperial ranks. Naktura was systematically hammering magic into the vulnerabilities of the Imperial mana field. While the intensity had waned since the start, the impact was still catastrophic for a force already drowning in chaos.

Ghislain surveyed the Imperial Army once more. They were locked in a frantic struggle against the hundreds of weapons carving through their lines. The soldiers positioned closest to Ghislain and the fallen Marquis were paralyzed by the spectacle.

“The… The Supreme Commander is dead.”

“How is this possible……”

“Do we… do we run?”

Overcome with dread, they began to retreat with trembling steps.

Marquis Pherington had been the Empire’s legendary superhuman. The fact that such a titan had perished without inflicting even a scratch on his foe utterly shattered the spirit of the remaining troops.

Ghislain paid them no mind and looked elsewhere.

KWAANG! KWAAAANG! KWAANG!

In the distance, Julien and Kyle were deeply engaged in combat. Facing Imperial elites who had long mastered the superhuman realm, the two young warriors refused to give an inch. In several exchanges, they actually seemed to possess the advantage.

Though they would likely win on their own, Ghislain knew there was no benefit in allowing the skirmish to linger. He immediately kicked his horse into a gallop toward the rear.

Dudududududu!

The Julien Mercenary Corps, with Deneb at the core, had established a firm defensive perimeter further back. Death Knights spearheaded the formation, moving forward with slow, inevitable momentum. The Imperial Army was unable to penetrate that iron wall and was being slaughtered in waves.

When Ghislain, having pierced through the center, slammed into the enemy’s rear, the Imperial line folded instantly.

KWAAAAANG!

“Uaaagh!”

Shattering the ranks of the soldiers in his path, Ghislain rode straight toward Kyle’s position. Kyle and his superhuman adversary were locked in a fierce stalemate. The area surrounding them had been cleared of lesser combatants.

KAAANG!

The Imperial champion clashing with Kyle leaped back to steady his breathing. He glared at the youth and spoke.

“You are gifted, boy. Truly, you were worthy of being the savior of the dwarves. But your petty gambits conclude here. I have deciphered your every move……”

The superhuman suddenly whirled around in panic. He had sensed a gargantuan pressure rising from behind him.

His eyes landed on a mounted man thrusting a spear directly at him.

‘An ambush? How insolent…….’

The warrior scoffed. He was a superhuman. Unless he faced an equal, he would never fall to a tactic as base as a backstab. To his eyes, the attacker’s strike was so sluggish it was almost comical.

He shifted his stance slightly to the flank. He planned to decapitate both horse and rider in a single fluid motion. His only concern was Kyle, who might attempt to exploit the momentary distraction.

And then——

‘Hm?’

His muscles refused to respond. A body that should have been lightning-fast felt as though it were submerged in the depths of an ocean. It had been decades since he had felt such a sensation—not since his days as a recruit training in leaden armor.

‘W-What…….’

The spear continued its approach.

The superhuman sensed something was profoundly wrong. Finally, a dim understanding dawned. His body wasn’t heavy, and his enemy wasn’t slow. It was the fabric of reality itself that had decelerated.

‘That is…… a fantasy…….’

He couldn’t comprehend the phenomenon. He couldn’t even identify the source of the anomaly. Even as his mind raced through a thousand possibilities, the spearhead arrived.

He saw the point closing in and realized:

‘I am dead.’

KWAAAAANG!

The Imperial superhuman’s skull disintegrated under the force of Ghislain’s spear. Crimson spray and bone fragments filled the air, falling like a macabre rain.

Hiiiiiing!

Ghislain pulled the reins taut, and his horse let out a loud whinny as it skidded to a halt.

Kyle, who had watched Ghislain materialize and erase a superhuman in a heartbeat, stood with his mouth agape.

‘Good grief, that freak…….’

The Imperial warrior had been genuinely formidable. While Kyle’s skill was perhaps sharper, the sheer experience of an established superhuman was something he hadn’t yet overcome. He had been laboring in the duel—yet Ghislain had simply ridden in and ended it with one strike. Even accounting for the enemy’s fatigue and the element of surprise, the way he had dominated a superhuman was staggering.

Kyle understood then that he was still far from that pinnacle. He would have to train with even greater fervor.

Still, a hint of annoyance rose within him. He had been certain he could win the duel eventually.

“Hey! I had that handled! Why did you jump in?”

“Finish this quickly. Go assist the others.”

“Tch.”

Kyle grumbled under his breath but turned to join the wider melee. Ending the engagement swiftly was the priority.

As Kyle left, Ghislain wiped the area beneath his nose. A smudge of blood stained his fingertip.

‘Tch, I’m already reaching the threshold.’

He had exerted the power of Will to its maximum to execute the enemy superhuman instantly. That was the drawback.

This was the persistent complication of operating within Astion’s vessel.

Though Astion’s power grew, Ghislain’s own potential rose even faster. The gap between them was widening. The larger that chasm became, the faster his physical stability eroded. Now, even a momentary burst of power left his form compromised.

His level had increased, yet the duration he could sustain the power of Will had actually dwindled.

Ghislain whispered to himself.

“I’m not sure how much more time I have in this place.”

His mastery of magic was the only thing maintaining a precarious equilibrium. But eventually, it would shatter. The more powerful the enemies he faced, the faster that day would arrive.

Ghislain gave a faint, dry chuckle.

‘Well, that’s a problem for future me.’

In many ways, this was the pivotal era for the Julien Mercenary Corps. They had achieved renown, bolstered their strength, and earned the respect of various races. However, as long as the Pope drew breath, Julien and Deneb would never truly be at peace. If this conflict could be resolved favorably, then——

The Julien Mercenary Corps could become the foundation of the human alliance.

With a frigid gaze, Ghislain urged his horse forward once more.

Dudududududu!

This time, he set his sights on the superhuman engaging Julien. Ghislain carved through the Imperial soldiers in his way and launched a spear strike at the elite dueling Julien.

KAAANG!

“Kh, you spineless—!”

The Imperial superhuman parried the thrust and retreated. But Ghislain’s spear tracked him with lethal accuracy.

Kagagagagagagang!

Ghislain’s weapon moved like a streak of light, giving his foe no room to breathe. The Imperial warrior was barely holding on against the sudden onslaught. Julien did not squander the chance.

Skaak!

Julien’s blade sliced open the man’s midsection in a jagged wound.

“Kuugh……”

Chiiiiik!

Holy energy began to knit the flesh together, but before the healing could finish, Ghislain’s spear was upon him again.

Kaaang!

The superhuman managed to knock the spear aside, but Julien’s sword carved a deep path into his back.

Finally, the warrior’s balance failed completely.

In that opening, Ghislain’s spear drove through the man’s heart.

Puk!

Chiiiik……

The light of life faded faster than the divine magic could mend the damage.

The Imperial superhuman stared at Ghislain with vacant eyes and managed to speak.

“You cheat…… do you have no respect for the traditions of the Great Tournament of Knights……”

Ghislain replied with a mask of indifference.

“We are mercenaries.”

For a mercenary, the process was irrelevant compared to the outcome. Regardless of the method, the only thing that mattered was the completion of the contract and the success of the mission. That was the only law and the sole purpose of their trade.

“……”

A look of clarity finally crossed the dying man’s face. He slowly turned his head toward Julien and offered a faint smile.

“I see…… your talent was so great…… I forgot for a moment…… impressive.”

With those final words, the Imperial elite collapsed.

Feeling a wave of exhaustion, Ghislain brushed his hair back and spoke tersely.

“The end is near. Just a bit longer.”

“Understood.”

Julien gave a firm nod.

In truth, this clash hadn’t been easy for the Julien Mercenary Corps either. They were pushing themselves to the absolute limit. It was only through their concentration of elite fighters and meticulous preparation that they had seized the advantage. The Imperial Army was a massive, potent force.

Julien immediately pivoted back into the thick of the fight.

The Imperial mages were being suppressed by Naktura and Ereneth. Divine magic was largely benefiting Ghislain’s side now. The only remaining obstacles were the Imperial knights. However, once Julien and Kyle waded into the fray, they began to fall in rapid succession.

With the leading knights neutralized, the battle was effectively decided. The common footmen couldn’t even hope to dent the Death Knights holding the line.

KWAANG! KWAANG! KWAAAANG!

“Uaaaagh!”

The field was filled with the cries of the retreating Imperial forces. Without any superhumans to check Julien and Kyle, the enemy ranks were dissolving.

Ghislain could feel the conclusion approaching. Yet, one duel remained unresolved.

Skaak! Skaak! Skaak!

Marika and Darentz were still entwined in a lethal dance, each seeking the other’s life. A wide berth had been cleared around them on the battlefield. Part of this was due to the retreating Imperials, but mostly it was because everyone knew that entering that radius meant certain death.

Skaak!

Darentz’s blade nicked Marika’s throat. He didn’t pause, continuing his relentless assault on her vitals.

Though Marika was covered in numerous lacerations, not one had struck a lethal point.

Darentz’s expression soured.

“You’ve come a long way in a few years. It seems that dragon provided you with significant backing.”

“……”

Darentz was convinced Marika’s progression was entirely due to the dragon’s influence. How else could a mere former squad leader hold her own against a superhuman like him?

But he was a superhuman. Since losing his left arm, he had pushed himself to even greater heights. Even now, Marika was struggling to keep pace, her injuries mounting. Regardless of whatever power the dragon had bestowed, he believed she couldn’t surpass him.

Frankly, he felt insulted that it had taken this long to kill someone of her station.

Skaak!

A blade whistled toward Darentz’s back. He simply cut the connecting cord, and the dagger fell uselessly.

He let out a cruel smirk.

“Did you think that little parlor trick would work forever?”

The weapon he had just neutralized was the final one attached to Marika.

Admittedly, the technique had been bothersome at first. Daggers moving like vipers from every angle was a genuine threat. But he was a master assassin and a superhuman; he had quickly calculated the solution.

“As long as they are tied to your person, I only need to close the gap and sever the lines.”

At a distance, tracking the strings was difficult. But by moving in close, Darentz had been able to systematically cut them one by one.

“Is that what the dragon taught you? It was clever, but it’s futile against a superhuman. It served well enough to waste my time, I suppose.”

Because of that bizarre style, he hadn’t been able to kill her immediately. But now that her daggers were grounded, he would end her.

Tok.

At Darentz’s mockery, Marika ceased her movement. Darentz stopped in front of her, grinning.

“Now you have to fight me hand-to-hand. That means your time is up.”

“You severed all the cords.”

“I did. And now, you die.”

“……”

“After the grief you’ve caused me, I’d enjoy dismembering you…… but the tide is against us, so I’ll settle for your head.”

Darentz was no fool. He saw the Empire was losing the day. The Julien Mercenary Corps was far more dangerous than anticipated. He needed to survive to bring this intel back home.

His intent was clear: execute the traitor Marika and vanish.

Marika locked eyes with him and asked softly.

“Is this everything you have?”

“What?”

“What you’ve shown me—is this really the limit of your power?”

“What are you talking about?”

“If this is the best you can do, then you’re already dead.”

“You arrogant brat, what delusional nonsense are you talking about!”

Darentz lunged without a sound, intending to slit her throat in a flash. He drove his dagger forward——

Cheng!

With a sharp clang of steel, his strike was halted. Darentz prepared a follow-up but suddenly went rigid.

“What in the……”

Marika hadn’t moved.

It wasn’t her blade that had stopped him. Something else had intercepted his weapon before it reached her.

Darentz’s face went pale with shock.

A dagger was suspended in the air. From its edge, a brilliant blue blade of pure energy extended.

“That’s impossible……”

Darentz squinted, certain he was seeing a phantom.

But it was no trick. The glowing blade hovered steadily before his face.

A cold shiver raced down his spine.

Because all around him…… dozens of shimmering, radiant daggers were ascending into the sky.