Chapter 959

“Commander!”

“Duke Peleta!”

Those receiving treatment—exhausted Cavalry members, Imperial soldiers, and everyone else—gasped and leapt up simultaneously. Even the typically unshakable Cavalry, who placed their full trust in their Commander, couldn’t hide their shock. It was only natural. The explosion that had just occurred was far beyond what any of them expected. A few members even tried to teleport to the scene, only to be restrained.

But then, when the light that had burst forth faded and the explosion died down—

All eyes were drawn to a single figure, standing in the very center, not a speck of filth upon him—and that stunned them all in an entirely different way.

“How...”

Kishiar, who had been at the epicenter of the blast, looked completely unharmed. From a distance, only the area within a single step around him remained pristine—everywhere else was covered in the remains of the disintegrated monster, to the point that the ground itself could no longer be seen.

In the middle of the squirming, twitching debris, he stood perfectly untouched. The sword in his hand, glowing a piercing blue, reminded the onlookers of ancient legends.

Everyone here knew that Duke Kishiar la Orr was an Awakener, and had recently been revealed as a new Swordmaster. But sometimes, even when you believe you know something, there are moments that remind you you truly knew nothing. This was one of those moments.

Standing against the darkness of the night, his form alone sent chills down everyone’s spine.

After seeing how he had split the sea, why had they ever thought he was someone who needed protection?

Just remembering that they had once believed such a thing felt humiliating. He looked like a towering mountain, a being far beyond human comprehension.

His hair, caught in the wind, shimmered like golden thread. The observers realized anew the terrifying weight of his bloodline—and the sacred presence of the sword Orr in his hand.

“Oh... my God. Dear Lord...”

Some of the devout Sun God followers and priests instinctively fell to their knees, hands clasped. Somewhere, someone muttered a prayer. In the face of a vision that looked more like divine revelation than battle, few could remain unmoved.

“Commander.”

The silence—born from no one daring to approach—was broken when Kanna and Gakein, who had retreated earlier, returned to the scene.

“All of this... What in the world...”

Gakein stood dumbfounded at the sight of the monster remains scattered everywhere. Kanna, however, was calm and composed. Her ability to interpret information had converted even this surreal scene into a digestible form in her mind.

“Commander, I’m glad you’re safe.”

The man who had been staring silently at the sea finally turned. His eyes were the same familiar ones they had always known—the eyes of their Commander, Kishiar.

“I’m relieved you both made it back unharmed. Thanks to your timely actions, the damage was far less than expected. I’m grateful for your sound judgment.”

“You flatter us. I think there’s still too much left to be done to deserve such praise.”

“That’s true, I suppose.”

Kishiar smiled. Only then did Kanna feel the tight tension in her body finally release.

There was no reason to be afraid, yet she had been. Even if she’d intellectually understood what had happened, emotionally she had still been overwhelmed.

‘...But honestly, who wouldn’t be? After seeing something like that.’

During her time in the Cavalry, she’d witnessed many unbelievable things. Her closest friend, Yuder, was already a being of monstrous caliber. But what she felt watching Yuder and watching Kishiar now were slightly different.

When Yuder used his power fully, people around him felt as if they were witnessing a force of nature—something so vast and uncontrollable that it rendered them insignificant. Like standing before a mountain, a storm, or an earthquake.

But watching Kishiar, who had split the sea alone and obliterated a monster in an instant, was like witnessing something divine. A being who, despite being human, felt impossibly distant from human comprehension. Even Kanna, who lived too busily to be devout, found herself thinking of gods, saints, and the First Emperor as she looked at Kishiar now.

“On the way here, I surveyed the forest. Thanks to Lord Zuckerman and the others, the battle there is nearing its end with no serious injuries.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“There was also a flare from the mages’ location. It indicates there are no serious issues on their end either.”

“And?”

“And... someone should be arriving from the sea shortly. Unless my ability has dulled.”

Kanna gave a sheepish smile. She had trained hard and mastered her ability to a level that couldn’t even be compared to before—but reading and sorting through so many people while running around had drained her. Just before retreating, she’d even had a nosebleed, which had startled Gakein.

‘At least the bleeding stopped quickly...’

“If that’s what you say, then I’ll believe it.”

Kishiar responded without a hint of doubt, his face as calm as if he’d read all the information himself.

And as Kanna had predicted, someone swiftly emerged from the sea, cutting through the water.

It was a Cavalry member using water-based power.

He was stunned at the sight of the monster remains littering the shore, but pressed on without hesitation and bowed before Kishiar.

“Commander. A report from the sea floor just came in. One of the six abnormal rifts has been confirmed to have disappeared! Yuder verified it himself.”

“...!”

Gakein reflexively clenched his eyes shut, nearly shouting with joy—only just managing to suppress it. But neither Kanna nor the reporting soldier felt much different inside.

‘Finally!’

Kishiar blinked once, surprised, then let out a deep breath and smiled. It was a smile brighter and more tender than before.

“I see. Finally... How are the others below? Any injuries?”

“There are quite a few injured, but the priest aboard the ship has been able to manage them. Yuder, too... was reportedly hurt this time. But he hadn’t surfaced by the time I left.”

Everyone’s expressions darkened immediately—Kanna, Gakein, and the soldier. They had all tried to prevent Yuder from getting injured again like on the Day of Hail. But Kanna felt that guilt most acutely.

She felt a knot in her chest, but since even Kishiar didn’t show an intense reaction, she knew she couldn’t say anything either.

‘If he hasn’t surfaced yet, maybe it’s just a light wound? Though knowing Yuder, he’d probably push through even if it was serious... But Steber wouldn’t let him get away with that.’

Yuder could be ruthless with anyone, but with elders, he did tend to soften. Kanna figured it had to do with being raised by his grandfather. Regardless, Steber was the oldest in the Cavalry, gentle but safety-focused—if Yuder were seriously hurt, Steber would never let him keep going. That gave her hope.

“There’s one more thing he asked us to relay.”

“What is it?”

“...He said he’s sorry, but it looks like the tenth is about to happen.”

“......”

They had barely finished with the ninth, and now the tenth was already arriving. Even with the hopeful news about the rift, the mood instantly turned heavy.

But despite the unit’s grim expressions, Kishiar didn’t waver. He patted the reporting soldier’s shoulder and told him to return for treatment before turning around.

“Let’s prepare as well.”

His back remained straight, and his hand holding the sword never trembled. Somehow, that hand looked even stronger than it had on the Day of Hail—and as Kanna watched, she felt an odd but familiar sensation.

‘Right now... the Commander kind of reminds me ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) of Yuder.’

“The next phase of battle will center around Marin’s forest. If needed, fall back even farther from there. I’ll continue holding this area—so act as you see fit.”

“...Understood!”

Preparing for the tenth with their current numbers would be brutal. Even with the recovered returning to battle, it wouldn’t be easy. But no one refused Kishiar’s order.

—Swoooosh...!

Not long after, the tenth wave hit.

Smaller monsters were handled in Marin’s forest. The massive tentacles were once again dealt with by Kishiar. News soon followed—the second rift had vanished.

The eleventh wave hit. The third rift disappeared.

The twelfth came, then the fourth rift. After the thirteenth wave, everyone was battered and broken—but when the fifth rift disappeared, the cheer that rose couldn’t be suppressed.

Only one rift remained.

The blood-soaked night passed, and dawn slowly approached.

But as they awaited what they assumed would be the final fourteenth wave, Kishiar received a new report from the sea floor.

“Commander... they say the size of the remaining monster has exceeded all expectations. Yuder asked... if you could prepare for the ‘second method.’”