Chapter 860

Suns, staring at those figures who seemed more like demons than people, faintly recalled the image of Yuder Aile—one he’d seen with his own eyes but still couldn’t believe.

Standing there, covered head to toe in blood, Yuder had looked like something far beyond human comprehension. How could a person in that condition neither collapse nor scream, not even let their expression change, and still move?

It was shocking and frightening. But at the same time, there was a choking, hard-to-express emotion they all shared. Kanna had been the one to name it clearly.

Everyone here was ashamed and seething with frustration.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Yes. That’s right. Suns and Emon were ashamed. They’d thought they’d been fighting hard—but looking back, they’d mostly been hiding behind the Cavalry, doing the easy work.

Since awakening, they’d never once fought like Yuder Aile—never once pushed their bodies to the point of breaking. Had they ever volunteered for the dangerous roles so others could take the easier ones? Had they ever truly believed that those in higher positions should bleed more and bear greater responsibility?

No. Not once.

The fact that it took seeing Yuder in pieces, and the Commander standing at his side, to realize it—that was what made it so shameful. Their clean uniforms, uninjured limbs, and lives preserved by others’ sacrifices were... unbearably humiliating.

Who was Yuder Aile? He was the benefactor who had shown them a path forward when they were merely surviving, wasting each day. He’d told them not to belittle the power they had. Even when he brought news of their promotion, he hadn't reacted with envy or suspicion, but as if it was the most natural outcome in the world.

And now, even in that wrecked state, he had poured everything into dealing with the rift and the monsters. For a moment, they had almost flinched in fear at the sight of him—but now, they were disappointed in themselves for even thinking of backing away.

So Suns and Emon fought harder than ever before. Compared to the other Cavalry members, they still seemed less like maniacs, and they were ashamed of that—but as they kept going, they felt their fear dull away. It was as if something buried deep inside was finally erupting. They unleashed everything in them with full force.

“What the hell are you doing?! If even one of you retreats, I won’t let it slide!”

“Open your eyes! You’re proud members of the Empire’s Kakheop Unit! This is what you’re here to do!”

The Kakheop Unit members, who had come to support the branch with the Cavalry, were startled at first by the unexpected shouting of their unfamiliar Captain and Vice-Captain. But soon, they clenched their teeth and roared back.

“Uwaaaaah!”

Back when their unit had first ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) formed and only undergone a few training sessions, most had been unsure of how far to push their abilities. Surrounded by non-Awakened imperial soldiers, they’d hesitated constantly.

But today was different. Watching the Cavalry, they had changed. No longer did they hesitate to use their power when it mattered most.

...

“Haah... I still can’t believe this isn’t a dream.”

“To be honest, neither can I, General.”

General Gino shook his head, sword in hand. Beside him, his aide Meghna had lost her usual sharp composure and stood half-stunned. Before their eyes, a group of Cavalry members and Kakheop Unit soldiers in Imperial uniform were unleashing their powers without hesitation, throwing their entire bodies into battle.

Flames and water erupted. Strange, dazzling abilities flew through the air, almost invisible to the eye, targeting the enemy with precision. One person’s body turned to stone mid-fight, another used a transformed part of their own body in place of a sword to slice monsters apart.

Light exploded, and black shadows swallowed monsters whole. In the midst of it all, arrows—without any visible form—pierced precisely through vital points. Wind gathered the hail into a small storm, and someone with wings soared above it, grabbing monsters and hurling them into the vortex.

Was this what the magical age from a thousand years ago—those bedtime stories they’d heard as children—had looked like? How could people wield such incredible power so easily? It was unbelievable, even seeing it firsthand.

Even for someone like him, who had already become a Sword Master with aura—it was still astonishing.

Watching that surreal, almost dreamlike spectacle, the old general let out a low laugh.

“When I first saw those monsters, I thought maybe this old body had finally met its end here... but seeing this, I’m embarrassed I ever thought that.”

Having lived his life valuing the protection of the Empire and maintaining a centrist stance, there were certain things he’d come to see very clearly.

The nobles, day by day, cared only for their own wealth. None spared a thought for the country or its people. The people themselves were exhausted, crushed under the weight of exploitation, either dying slowly or dreaming of escape.

The Imperial family, who should have corrected it all, lacked the power and thrashed uselessly. The few remaining righteous ones barely clung to their places, lamenting as they withered away.

Gino had come to think—maybe there truly was no hope left for the Empire. For the world. Everywhere he went, it was the same. Rotting. Stagnant. New things dying before they could grow. In this powerless, crumbling world, mages who truly knew how to use power had all but disappeared. No matter how many trained with the sword, no new Masters appeared.

Perhaps everyone had realized that there was no place left in this world for improvement—and turned to protecting their own lives instead. The accumulated despair and helplessness made them wish to withdraw from everything beyond themselves.

But the reason the old general had endured was shame—the thought of letting the next generation see a world even more broken than this. He’d held his ground, trying to teach whatever he could from his position. He’d spent his whole life wielding a sword. That was the only way he knew how.

Still, he hadn’t truly believed the world would improve. He’d thought it would be enough if things didn’t get worse.

Gino gripped his aged sword. Infused with aura for the first time in ages, it glowed bright blue.

In his mind, he remembered what Kishiar had asked him earlier.

‘General. You don’t need to try to command the Cavalry. Let them run free. And for today—I’d like you to show the Empire what its greatest swordsman looks like. Is that too much to ask?’

The young Duke, bloodied and pale, pretending calm as he spoke those words. Gino had always remembered that beautiful man’s youth. One of the most painful regrets—so full of potential, yet believed destined to break and disappear.

He had always carried the guilt of not helping when Kishiar had been forced out of the palace. But when he returned, fully bloomed, to a place where no one had protected him—how joyful it had been to see him again.

How could he possibly refuse such a request?

Gino took a deep breath and raised his sword. Meghna followed at his side, biting her lip.

“General... Please be careful.”

“Of course.”

At first, Meghna had tried to dissuade him from fighting directly.

She and others, including Galexantr and the rest of the Special Task Force, hadn’t arrived yet. Wouldn’t it be better to wait?

But how could they ignore the people fighting right now, just to wait for the ones who hadn’t shown up? The Kakheop Unit in that fight were his men, too. He had to lead them.

He smiled at the worried face of his dear student—someone who had long lived under the pressure of becoming a Sword Master. She had sacrificed so much for that goal.

But the general knew her true talent wasn’t in the sword—but in leadership. Perhaps today, he could finally show her that even someone better with tactics than blades could still shine.

“I’ll be back, Meghna. I leave the rear to you.”

The old general walked—not ran—his sword blazing with aura. Moments later, a pack of monsters charged at him.

And with a single, restrained but breathtakingly powerful slash, he cut them all down.