The Regressed Mercenary’s Machinations from chapter 380

Raviel instinctively conjured a black shield in front of him while retreating. However, Ghislain's blade moved just a fraction faster.

Slash!

"Guh!"

A deep cut appeared across Raviel's chest, blood spurting from the wound. Though it didn't completely split him open, the injury was severe enough to expose bone.

Raviel stumbled backward, his expression twisted in pain. He only stopped once he felt he had put enough distance between them.

"How are you still alive?!"

The attack he unleashed had consumed the lifeforce of the Crusaders, amplified with his own power. Any ordinary knight would have been reduced to ashes instantly.

Even for a Master, surviving it unscathed should have been impossible.

Indeed, Ghislain's body was far from unscathed.

Sizzle.

His skin bubbled and blistered as though it had been severely burned. His hair, once thick and dark, was singed and frayed, and portions of his flesh had been blasted away, leaving bone visible in places.

Yet Ghislain grinned fiercely, baring his teeth.

Raviel pressed a hand against his chest and chuckled darkly.

"You're smiling? Are you pretending to be brave? Do you think you can still fight me in that state?"

Ssssss!

Black energy emanated from Raviel's hand, sealing his wounds. While his injuries were healing, traces of Ghislain's energy remained embedded within the wounds, preventing them from closing entirely.

Clicking his tongue in frustration, Raviel said, "To have survived that attack and still leave your energy behind… I see now why they call you a Master. But what can you do with a body that broken?"

A Desperate Attempt

Ghislain's condition was alarming.

Even after countless battles, this was the most grievous injury he had ever sustained. The force of Raviel's attack had been monstrous.

"F-Fenris Count!"

Porisco, trembling with fear, ran toward Ghislain. Despite his cowardice, he was keenly aware that if Ghislain fell, his own life would be next.

"Let me heal you!"

Porisco gathered every ounce of his divine power, using it as though his life depended on it—which, in truth, it did.

Sizzle.

Unfortunately, Ghislain's wounds resisted healing.

Porisco frowned in disbelief. His divine power, while not particularly strong, should have at least alleviated some of the injuries.

"It's not working! Why won't it heal?!"

Raviel's Mockery

Raviel smirked at the sight of Porisco's panic.

"Do you think weak divine power can undo my work? Fools."

His power was not so easily dispelled. To fully heal from his attack, one would need either a tremendous divine force or an immense inner strength. Ghislain's severe injuries made both seem impossible.

"Let's end this before reinforcements arrive."

Raviel began gathering black energy in his hand, preparing for a final strike.

Ghislain's Persistence

Despite his injuries, Ghislain took a deep breath and began moving forward.

Step.

Raviel's mocking smile returned.

"Persistent to the end. Do you really think you can fight me like this?"

As he spoke, he continued to channel more power. Even if Ghislain had survived once, Raviel intended to ensure that a second strike would leave nothing behind.

Step.

Ghislain ignored him, limping closer.

"You have this kind of power… and yet you cower behind the Duke. Why? What are you afraid of?"

Raviel's smirk twisted into a grin.

"It is not fear that keeps us waiting. It is merely that the time has not yet come."

"What is this 'time' you keep talking about?"

"Why should I tell you?"

Ghislain paused, his piercing gaze locked onto Raviel.

"Just as I thought. So it's you."

"What are you talking about?"

"You're the ones behind the monsters—spreading despair across the continent. Is that what you mean by 'the time'?"

Raviel's expression stiffened.

"How… How do you know about that?"

The question wasn't just shock—it was laced with genuine fear.

Ghislain grinned faintly, continuing to move forward.

"Does it matter how I know? The fact is, I do."

His suspicions had been confirmed. The Salvation Church was behind the disasters that had plagued the continent.

"Looks like I've got even more work to do now."

A Terrifying Revelation

Raviel's mind raced.

"How does he know this?"

The church's operations were shrouded in secrecy, known only to a select few. Even the kingdom's intelligence agencies hadn't uncovered this much.

Yet, here was a mere northern lord, not only aware of their actions but even identifying him as an Inquisitor.

"This is unacceptable. He must be taken alive."

Raviel made his decision. Whatever it took, he would capture Ghislain and extract the truth.

The Turning Tide

As Raviel prepared to strike, he noticed something strange.

Sizzle.

Black steam rose from Ghislain's wounds. Though his injuries were severe, his expression was calm—far too calm.

His limp was gone.

Step.

"What the…?"

Each step Ghislain took seemed to accelerate his recovery. Flesh regrew over exposed bone, and burnt skin fell away to reveal healthy tissue underneath.

Even his charred hair regrew, now gleaming as if untouched by fire.@@novelbin@@

"What… What is this?!"

Raviel's voice quivered with disbelief.

He had heard no rumors of the Fenris Count possessing such an ability.

Step. Step. Step.

With every step, Ghislain's pace quickened. His body, once battered and broken, was now fully restored.

And his aura—overflowing with dark crimson energy—only grew more intense.

"W-what are you?! What kind of monster are you?!"

Raviel screamed in panic as he extended his hand, unleashing a massive surge of energy.

BOOM!

Black lightning surged from Raviel's hand, while Ghislain's sword once again flared with an intense aura of crimson mana.

Crack!

BOOM!

As Ghislain swung his sword, the lightning split, disintegrating nearby buildings into fine rubble. Raviel flinched, preparing for his next move, but before he could act, Ghislain had already closed the distance in an instant.

"You still don't know how to fight properly, do you?" Ghislain smirked.

What use was immense power if one couldn't wield it effectively?

Before Raviel could react, Ghislain's blade swung down with precise force.

Slash!

"Aaargh!"

Raviel tried to evade by unleashing a burst of divine power, but he couldn't completely avoid the strike. Blood sprayed as he stumbled back, clutching at his chest. His other arm, severed at the shoulder, fell to the ground.

"Damn it…"

Raviel desperately channeled divine energy to his wound, but the injury wouldn't heal. The remnants of Ghislain's crimson aura within the wound resisted his efforts, like a violent poison spreading deeper.

The pain was unbearable, and healing it entirely would require significant time—time Raviel didn't have.

"So… this is your real power, is it?" Raviel muttered through gritted teeth, his face pale.

Despite his immense strength, Raviel was being overpowered. As a figure of great influence in his order, he had underestimated what it meant to face a true master.

Ghislain twirled his blade with ease, an air of relaxed confidence radiating from him.

"So, what's it going to be?" he asked. "Surrender and spill all your secrets? Or die here and now?"

"Kuh… hahaha…" Raviel let out a bitter laugh, his gaze sharpening.

Suddenly, the air grew heavy with an ominous aura.

Rumble!

Violet light burned in Raviel's eyes, and shadowy wings of black energy erupted from his back, pulsating with malevolent force. His remaining hand extended, talon-like claws forming as black energy crackled and hissed around them.

The dark energy enveloped his entire body, transforming him into a figure more beast than man, his appearance akin to that of a demon.

Witnessing the transformation, Porisco collapsed to the ground in sheer terror.

"A-an archdemon! It's an archdemon! Goddess save us!"

Ghislain, however, remained calm. If anything, he seemed to have expected this all along.

The Clash of Forces

Raviel bared his teeth at Ghislain, his voice twisted with malice.

"I've had enough of your insolence."

BOOM!

In a flash, Raviel lunged at Ghislain, his demonic form moving faster than the eye could follow.

Ghislain braced himself, raising his blade just in time to block the incoming attack. The impact sent a shockwave rippling through the area, forcing Ghislain back several steps.

Without hesitation, Raviel charged again, faster and more aggressive than before.

"Die!" Raviel roared, his claws slashing downward with brutal force.

But Ghislain twisted his body, avoiding the attack by a hair's breadth. His blade flashed, aiming for Raviel's exposed side.

Clang!

Raviel barely managed to deflect the strike, but Ghislain's movements didn't stop.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

A storm of precise sword strikes rained down on Raviel, forcing him on the defensive. Although Raviel's demonic power gave him greater strength and speed, Ghislain's superior technique and experience allowed him to keep up, anticipating every move.

"What… why can't I hit him?!" Raviel growled, his attacks missing their mark time and time again.

Ghislain's movements were fluid and unpredictable, his mastery of swordsmanship allowing him to dodge and counter with pinpoint accuracy.

"Power without skill is meaningless," Ghislain said, his voice calm but cutting. "You can't even touch me."

The Turning Point

As their battle continued, the difference in their abilities became more apparent. Ghislain's strikes grew sharper, his movements more calculated, while Raviel's attacks became increasingly erratic.

BOOM!

The ground trembled as the two clashed once again, sending debris flying in all directions.

Meanwhile, Porisco and the arriving knights watched from a safe distance, awestruck by the display of power.

"That… that demon… it matches the description from the scriptures…" Porisco muttered, his voice shaking.

But before he could finish his thought, reinforcements arrived.

"Secure the perimeter! Take down that monster!" shouted Toleo, the leader of the Marquis's knights.

The knights launched a coordinated attack, their blades and spears glowing with mana as they aimed for Raviel.

"Annoying pests!" Raviel snarled, releasing a wave of dark energy that sent the knights sprawling.

But the distraction gave Ghislain the opening he needed.

With a swift step, he closed the gap between them, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Slash!

Raviel roared in pain as Ghislain's strike tore through his defenses, leaving a deep gash across his chest.

Realizing he was at a disadvantage, Raviel's wings flared, lifting him into the air.

"You've won this time, Fenris Count… but this isn't over."

With those parting words, Raviel ascended higher, evading the knights' attacks before disappearing into the sky.

Aftermath

As the dust settled, Ghislain lowered his sword, his expression unreadable. He didn't pursue Raviel, instead focusing inward, his mind locked in silent conversation.

"Stay on him, Dark."

Ghislain's connection with the entity within him would ensure that Raviel's escape was only temporary.

For now, there was much to do. The battle in the capital was only a prelude to the larger conflict that loomed on the horizon.