Fortunately, there was only one staircase leading to the underground guest rooms, and it lay directly behind me.
It was likely a security measure. The guest suites were clustered together, set apart from the castle's more critical facilities. That made my task simple.
I just had to eliminate every enemy who tried to pass.
『They’re coming!』
Just as Zest shouted his warning, a Wind Lance streaked toward me.
I parried it with my jet-black Holy Sword, only for a barrage of Lances from various elements to follow in its wake. A group of the Order’s grunts emerged from the shadows, their forms draped in indigo mantles.
Flanking them were two Apostles, each radiating a palpable, ominous dread.
“Dark Wall.”
I conjured a barrier of darkness, intercepting the stream of Fourth Rank spells.
Two Apostles. It wouldn't be easy, but the enemy’s numbers were thinner than I had expected. There was likely a separate unit operating elsewhere.
Zest, you sensed the Chimeras' mana back when we rescued Celestia, didn't you? Can you do that again? I want to grasp the full extent of their forces.
『Mana sensing is not my specialty. It will take some time. Is that acceptable?』
No problem. I’d also like to confirm Logen’s position if you can find him.
『I’ll need some of your mana, then.』
After parrying a grunt’s blade, I funneled mana into Zest. A faint ripple of energy expanded outward from the sword. Every time the wave brushed against another source of mana, it sent a pulse back to me.
There was something strange about the Order's mana. Every member possessed a peculiar quality—a sensation like tiny grains embedded within their magic. No, not grains. They felt more like seeds.
『This will make it easy to distinguish friend from foe.』
Yeah, that distinct signature helps.
With the pulse, I finally had a clear picture of the invaders. There were forty grunts in indigo mantles with negligible mana, the two white-coated Apostles before me, and ten Chimeras with violent, erratic signatures currently rampaging in the courtyard.
『...I sense nothing from Logen. We have met enough times that I should be able to identify his signature instantly.』
Maybe he’s staying back. I should just be grateful their numbers are down by one.
Wait.
Just now, a group from the Order moved in unison away from the castle. Where are they headed?
『...The slums?』
Yes! The diversion worked!
Five Apostles were moving toward the slums. If all seven of them had hit the castle at once, I would have been in serious trouble.
『Claude, the Chimeras in the courtyard are out of control. If they aren't stopped, they'll tear down the walls and let more enemies pour in.』
Understood. I'll deal with those behemoths first. I have just the spell for the job.
“—Dark Gate.”
High above the courtyard, the air itself fractured. A jet-black sea churned within the rift in space, and from that void, tens of thousands of Dark Lances rained down.
“Guoooooooh!?”
The Chimeras' shrieks pierced the air, echoing throughout the castle grounds. The black spears fell like a torrential downpour, skewering the monsters one after another.
“G-Gyaoooooh...!”
Their final agonized cries were drowned out as all ten were silenced in a heartbeat.
But I wasn't finished. This was the debut of my Second Rank magic, after all. I might as well make the most of it.
I shifted the aim of the Gate. My new targets: the castle windows and the grunts crowded in the corridors.
“Disappear.”
The sound of shattering glass exploded through the air. The black rain flew in sideways, obliterating the windows. The narrow hallway was instantly transformed into an execution chamber with no escape.
“Aaaaagghh!”
“R-Run! Get out of here!”
The grunts were erased in the blink of an eye. In under ten seconds, forty men and ten monsters had been wiped from existence.
So this was the power of Second Rank magic. Now that I’d mastered it, the sheer scale of its lethality was starting to sink in.
『However, it seems those two survived.』
As silence reclaimed the corridor, two figures remained standing. Both wore the same white coats as Luxion. Apostles.
“...The Princess’s mana signature is coming from below.”
“Logen failed, then. That useless insect... he only received his rank of Feather because he was the only one left to take it.”
The two Apostles analyzed the situation with cold detachment, as if I weren't even worth their notice. One of them pulled a black crystal from his coat and began muttering into it.
『A communication device. They’ve likely informed their allies that Irene is still in the castle.』
I’d been wondering how they were coordinating so quickly. It hadn't been long since I told Logen I was taking Irene to the slums, yet they already knew she was here. Trust a secret society to have its own cryptic gadgets.
The two Apostles turned toward me in unison.
“I know not who you are... but if you intend to obstruct our long-cherished wish, you shall perish.”
The first Apostle didn't hesitate, immediately deploying a Wind Gate. I countered instantly with my own Dark Gate. Countless spears of wind and darkness collided in mid-air, neutralizing each other in a series of violent snaps.
I see. So this is what happens when two masters of Second Rank magic clash.
『A battle of attrition while both sides use their Gates for support. It has become a contest of multitasking.』
The first one to fail in neutralizing the enemy's Gate would lose. I had to keep a close eye on my mana reserves. However, there was a bigger problem—it was two against one.
“Aqua Gate.”
The second Apostle opened his own rift. A deluge of water spears surged toward me.
“Tch!”
I snapped Dark Arma into place and threw myself out of the way. All that training was finally paying off—I definitely needed to keep up the practice of firing Gates at myself.
『Is this the time for such nonsense!? You won’t last long like this!』
I know. That’s why I’m going to use that.
While dodging the water spears, I feigned a stumble. The water-attribute Apostle didn't miss the opening. He unleashed a barrage far greater than the last, a wall of spears that filled my entire vision. I could feel the raw killing intent behind the strike.
I raised Zest to use as a shield. Normally, there was no way a single sword could block that many projectiles.
But I had a trick up my sleeve.
“—Full Drain!”
The countless spears were sucked into Zest’s blade as if by a vacuum.
“Wha—!?”
“Allow me to return these.”
I swung the sword, unleashing the absorbed mana in a single stroke. The jet-black slash tore through the water-attribute Apostle, ending him instantly.
“That power...”
The remaining wind-attribute Apostle looked on with a suspicious frown, but he regained his composure almost immediately. He had a formidable will. It would have been a nice bonus if he'd panicked, but no such luck.
Above us, the two Gates continued to rain spears upon each other. Ignoring the storm of magic, we both activated Arma and closed the distance in a blur.
I could see it.
When I’d fought Luxion, I could barely keep up with his movements. But now, I could read my opponent’s sword strokes, his muscle movements, and even his breathing as if they were laid bare before me.
In the split second of our exchange, my blade tore through the Apostle’s flank.
“Gah...!”
For a heartbeat, the Apostle lost consciousness. In a battle between mages of our caliber, that heartbeat was fatal.
The moment he wavered, his magic failed. The Wind Gate flickered out of existence. My Dark Gate, however, remained, and it unleashed a final downpour of spears upon the defenseless man.
The dark rain swallowed the Apostle along with his scream.
I exhaled slowly and lowered my sword.
『You struggled against Luxion, but you can shut them out completely in a one-on-one now.』
Maybe. The Apostles have their own hierarchy, but I don't think I'll be losing to this level anymore. Mastering the Second Rank Gate gave me a better feel for how to manipulate mana, which in turn improved how I handled Zest. An unexpected synergy.
The enemies within the castle were suppressed. But there was no time to rest.
『...Claude, bad news.』
I know. The five Apostles who were heading to the slums have realized something is wrong. They're turning back.
Five of them would be a nightmare. I checked for the mana signatures of the knights remaining in the castle, but they were all at death's door. I couldn't rely on them.
I had no choice. I gripped Zest’s hilt. Holding the line alone—that was the duty and the honor of a stepping stone. At least, that's what I told myself to keep from losing my nerve.
『Hm? This mana...』
Zest let out a confused pulse. From around the corner of the hallway, I heard the sound of light, rapid footsteps.
A girl with flowing silver hair and a beautiful dress burst into view.
“Princess Irene! Are you safe!?”
Celestia von Rosemilian.
The Duke’s daughter came running toward me, her face pale with worry.
Wait, wait, wait! Why?! Tia, why are you here?!