Chapter 25
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Chapter 25: The Will of Power
Three two hundred-man teams lost a tenth of their soldiers in an instant, including a squad leader, while facing a single opponent.
This was undeniably an absolute expert.
Such a scenario would crush morale and instill fear in any army. Were it not for the unbreakable discipline of the Crimson Flame Legion, the soldiers might have fled outright. But the two remaining centurions knew retreat was impossible—General Red Fox’s death order left no such choice.
“Don’t falter! He’s alone! Heavy Knights forward, Great Swordsmen behind, encircle and kill him!” the centurions barked through clenched teeth.
Soldiers obey. After a brief pause, they scrambled to form ranks. Yet Midi had no intention of letting them regroup.
Another cryptic spell left his lips. The Lightsaber flicked like a quill, etching symbols midair. Within moments, green mold crawled over the tower shields of the Heavy Knights, wriggling into armor seams. The knights paled, some vomiting blood.
Another Ghost Cry skill—Plague Array.
The centurions grimaced. This black-haired boy couldn’t be above level 25, yet he wielded multiple demon arrays as if bound to countless demon gods. More variety would shatter their formation entirely.
In truth, Midi needed only one demon god.
Before the soldiers recovered, Midi darted sideways and unleashed his third demon array. Flames geysered from the ground, scattering panicked soldiers. Sudden eruptions reduced the unwary to ash.
Third Ghost Cry skill—Nether Flame Array.
“Scrap the formation! Kill him now!” The centurions roared, charging headlong. Strategy no longer mattered—only raw brutality remained.
The level 30 Great Swordsman and Heavy Knight centurions, flanked by elite guards, broke from the chaos and closed in.
“You think you can bar my path?” Midi scoffed.
This wasn’t arrogance. Reborn through despair and death, Midi fought not for orders, power, or gold—he fought for those he cherished, to right every wrong. His resolve dwarfed theirs.
Different wills breed different outcomes.
These duty-bound fools stood no chance.
Silver fire blazed in the black-haired boy’s eyes. He leapt, leaving afterimages as he blurred across the battlefield. The icy Lightsaber arced downward toward the Great Swordsman’s skull.
The level 30 warrior raised his blade to block—only to watch the Lightsaber shear through steel like paper.
*So sharp…*
The thought died with him.
Black aura exploded into a rose-shaped burst. Before the bisected corpse hit the ground, Midi pivoted. Demon Shadow Step activated, his Lightsaber now a whip of dark energy that hurled soldiers aside.
Another vertical slash aimed for the Heavy Knight centurion.
The knight, wary of the blade’s might, retreated behind his tower shield. Metal shrieked as the shield absorbed the blow, its surface gouged deep.
But Midi pressed on. Silver flames churned in his eyes. The technique-driven Demon Swordman overwhelmed the strength-focused Heavy Knight. Each strike carved deeper into the shield, driving the centurion back, death inching closer.
“Kill him now!” the knight bellowed.
Soldiers lunged—but jagged Ice Shards erupted, impaling them. The smaller Ice Binding Array sealed the duel’s stage.
“Rest,” Midi murmured.
The Lightsaber finally melted through the hard metal, piercing the entire shield. The Heavy Knight roared, discarding his shield to retaliate with both hands gripping his sword.
Yet Midi’s black blade had already left its sheath. He swung toward his opponent, tracing a cunning arc of light that outpaced the knight’s strike. The blade curved around the longsword and severed the head bearing fury and despair in one clean motion!
Leaderless and battered by the magic array’s widespread damage, even the Crimson Flame Legion’s discipline crumbled. Soldiers discarded weapons and fled, leaving only the victor standing before the granary.
Midi drew a deep breath.
Wasn’t he utterly spent too?
Though the battle lasted mere moments – bursts of magic arrays, flashing swordplay, rapid maneuvers – the strain of controlling both the battle’s flow and the demon god in his left arm had drained his energy.
If Midi had been an arrow loosed without restraint earlier, he now resembled a Drawn Bow incapable of piercing silk. His true level remained 22.
Yet beneath exhaustion, exhilaration surged.
He felt powerful. Not merely strong, but formidably so.
Every choice since rebirth – the relentless effort, cautious steps, decisive actions – had borne fruit here. The left arm’s demon god held mystery and potential, yet wasn’t true strength. Last life, he’d needed half a year to tame it for a single demon slash.
This time? Perfect fusion. Flawless transmutation. Their synergy brought unimaginable results – physical attributes skyrocketing, mastery of both sword soul and Ghost Cry skills.
The advantage showed clearly: one against three hundred, immobilizing masses, breaching defenses to slay three captains! Combined Ghost Cry and sword soul techniques yielded more than doubled effectiveness.
In his death-haunted past life, such power belonged only in dreams.
Originally relying on rebirth’s foresight and experience, Midi now stood confident among true geniuses.
He could stand with Fina and Alice now. Protect them.
Gripping his sword, steeling his belief, he advanced!
Midi’s sharp gaze fixed on the massive iron door.
Let the war begin here!
As flames engulfed the southern granary, fire pillars erupted over the northern storehouse. Three granaries burned – the Crimson Flame Legion’s assault would stall until supplies replenished.
Yet Midi considered General Red Fox’s cunning. Would the fox abandon military logic? Launch desperate attacks regardless of cost?
Possible, but unwise. The Legion invading Asreks territory would find prepared defenders against supply-starved invaders – a gamble risking political catastrophe for Sais family and the Senator’s faction.
No established family risks cracks in their dike. Midi doubted the general’s daring.
Now came clean withdrawal. For a reborn adventurer versed in battlefields, simplicity itself.
The Magic Beams ceased – Fina had retreated upon seeing fires. With her tactics, Bartran’s reinforcements, the Queen of Magic would evade capture easily.
The plan succeeded… until Midi noticed odd troop movements through smoky streets.
The Legion should defend eastern granaries. Instead, forces converged northward – forming an encirclement.
Trouble for Sigmund and Lilian!
The black-haired boy vanished into night’s shadows.
