Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 389 - 258: Suppression (Part 4)

Chapter 389: Chapter 258: Suppression (Part 4)

After Baron Anthony of the Gallo family had set the village ablaze, Malin decided to let the Baron explain the next course of action—his orders were to converge with this man, and now that the task was accomplished, it was time to see what the Baron would do next.

"Our most important target today is the Selvo commercial city to the north, but as a flanking force, our main objective is still to join the nearby friendly forces in attacking Dolce Town to the west," said the Baron. Though the Baron was a Southerner, he understood the region better than Malin, the foreigner, not to mention they had the local Mage, Raphael. So Malin let them lead the way, while he sat on the self-propelled chair formed by Fio and Lorrin and began to recover his Spiritual Energy—nearly half of his energy had been depleted in the previous battle, and now was the time to recover as much as possible during the lull in combat.

.........

Watching Malin, who appeared to be meditating on the chair, Baron Anthony realized for the first time that the geniuses he had once admired were merely mortals in comparison to him.

The World Tree Sapling, a legendary object from another world, was esteemed as the most illustrious artifact in the eyes of the members of the Mage Tower. The reason for its fame was that the skull of a former Tower Master was still embedded in the base of a bench in the grand cathedral of the Church of Justice.

Base of Sinners, where the skulls of anyone who offended the Church of Justice and had some combat ability were embedded after their death. There, one could see the skulls of a sovereign, the head of the Thieves Guild, the speaker of the Shadow Thief’s Guild, the chief of the Assassin’s Guild, some unfortunate pseudo War God, and among them, the Mage Tower Tower Master was not the most famous.

The first lesson the apprentices of the Mage Tower learned was how to avoid foolishly dying at the hands of members of the Church of Justice.

Whilst the Mages were somewhat irritated by the actions of the Church of Justice, after all, it was their own Tower Master from their own generation who brought death upon himself—he had killed a warrior possessing a World Tree Sapling. By that very afternoon when he obtained the sapling, the Chief Paladin under the Lord of Justice came with a very ordinary wooden sword.

Yes, a World Tree wooden longsword, which was more fearsome than the sapling itself. That Chief Paladin Bishop alone, with one sword, slaughtered three Legendary Mages and ultimately tore off the Tower Master’s head from his neck.

When he left, the other eight Legendary Mages present didn’t even dare to intercept him.

Anthony had been told since he was a child by his mentors that one must never offend anyone in possession of a World Tree Sapling—their actions could bring harm to him or his family, but as long as the sapling remained in his hands, the person would always be a seed of the Lord of Justice in this world, and one must never resent him for he is an extension of the will of the Lord of Justice.

But Anthony had never heard of a person possessing two World Tree Saplings.

This guy isn’t simply a will or a sword; he might be that person’s own son, or could he be... Anthony was thinking this when he suddenly heard a loud thunderclap. He looked around, surprised and fearful, but saw no lightning strike nearby.

My God, what was I just thinking? How could I apply such chaotic notions from Farole Principality to this situation? I’m not slandering you, oh Lord. Have mercy, have mercy.

Then Baron Anthony noticed the dark clouds in the distance.

"It’s going to rain," he observed the black clouds.

"Really?" the young Mage approached.

"Gentlemen, please trust a local from the Farol Principality, our rain always comes with a clap of thunder," Baron Anthony said, turning his head as he noticed a large leaf that seemed to function like a sunshade had grown on the back of the chair.

This thing is too convenient!

Baron Anthony felt a blow to his pride, and once again became curious—what kind of madness had possessed the former Tower Master of the Mage Tower to covet such a marvelous thing.

No, perhaps it wasn’t madness. He just had no brains at all.

Thinking this, Baron Anthony lifted the umbrella his servant had brought for him, and as he did so, it began to rain from the sky.

"There’s something wrong with this rain," Mr. Malin suddenly spoke up.

The other Mages under their umbrellas turned to look at him.

"I also feel something is off," the elder Mage nodded.

"A Chaos Spell Formation? It’s certainly possible. After the rain, the Chaos by the sea would enjoy such moist weather... Oh my!" exclaimed the young Mage, drawn by the light to the north.

It was a light, falling from the sky, as if with infinite power, clearing the clouds overhead at a speed visible to the naked eye. The miracle was so powerful it inspired awe and reverence.

Baron Anthony looked at the light, his heart filled with excitement—it must be the Lord of Justice. In this age when few gods show their divine presence, only He still guides everyone with His holy power.

"It must be in the Selvo commercial city to the north, watching that Great Being clear our biggest enemy for us." The elder Mage made the sign of the Holy Emblem on his chest, "Praise be to our Lord."

"Praise be to our Lord," the young Mage also made a Holy Emblem, but it was that of the Goddess of the Night.

"Praise be to our Lord," young Raphael too made a Holy Emblem, but it was that of the Moon Maiden, a demigoddess of the Shepherd’s Church, usually the favorite of shepherds. She is expected to safely guide home those shepherds who have to travel at night in search of lost lambs.

Of course, she too had not revealed her divine presence in a long time.

Then Baron Anthony saw Malin with a smile, not saying anything, just continuing his meditation.

What! Does His Excellency not believe in the Lord of Justice?!

With this thought, Baron Anthony’s foot slipped, and at the same time, he heard an exclamation from Mr. Malin.

Was that a caution to be careful?

With that thought, Baron Anthony tumbled all the way to the bottom of the hill.

.........

Watching Baron Anthony slip and roll down in a valiant charge toward the hill’s bottom, Malin had already instructed the sapling to fetch him immediately. However, unexpectedly, even after having caught him, the sapling couldn’t curl around his arm, and off slid the baron, rolling all the way down.

Upon Fio’s return, he snorted twice, the first snort meant the incident wasn’t his fault, and the second implied that a certain esteemed entity felt Baron Anthony deserved a slight reprimand.

There was nothing for Malin to do but watch the baron being carried up by a team of burly men with greatswords on their backs.

Bearing in mind the baron had some connection with him, Malin tossed him a diluted acorn version of a healing potion. Although it couldn’t mend flesh as if it were bone, it was instantaneously effective for common bruises and sprains.

Baron Anthony quickly regained consciousness, and even though he complained of pain all over, the potion indeed brought him back from his unconscious state.

Malin clapped his hands, "Let’s continue onwards. Dorchester Town certainly needs us."

.........

The reality was that Dorchester Town did indeed need them. When they arrived after an hour, Malin saw that the allies had already toppled the wooden walls of the town and on the battlefield outside lay a thousand Chaos dead. Not a few allied soldiers had fallen in battle, yet from what could be discerned, they still held an advantage—the light had notably boosted the morale. Although Chaos was still desperately resisting, upon witnessing the light, many of them went completely mad, attacking even their own.

"You’ve arrived just in time. We’re currently in the eastern part of the town. Here’s a map of the place. Enter through the breach and head north to attack. We need you to check on the granary to the north of the town. If the food inside is still usable, secure it; if it’s contaminated, then burn it down!"

A paladin from the Church of Justice approached without preamble, handing over the orders and a map to Baron Anthony, "Don’t just stand there, gawking! Hurry!" With those words, the paladin turned and ran back toward the fray—as several enormous humanoids emerged from the town.

Anthony, looking at the map in his hands, turned his head to catch sight of Malin’s pure white spiritual energy longsword in hand.

The same familiar spell formation, the same familiar motions, and the same familiar trajectory as before—Anthony watched as the spiritual energy longsword pierced the chest of the gigantic figure, setting the abominable Chaos ablaze.

Cheers rose ahead like a tide.

"Baron Anthony, please proceed to our objective. I’ll join you after I have slain these monstrous creatures," Malin said, his gaze fixed on the towering figures, filled with sadness and rage.

He mourned for the giant-like visage of these humanoid Chaos, so familiar to him.

And he was angered by the fate of these giants, transformed by Chaos, dying at its hands, only to become its weapons.

The white longsword swept through the night sky like lightning once more, and this time the purified humanoid knelt, then toppled over.

Malin stepped forward, his hands emanating the healing holy light of the blessing spell, directly closing the wounds in the abdomen of a soldier collapsed on the ground.

He pulled out another longsword from the ground, his holy weapon imbued onto the blade as Malin dashed forward a few steps and hurled it, piercing the chest of the third humanoid. Overwhelmed with excessive holy energy, this Chaos giant ignited in a blaze of sanctity.

Seeing the last, slightly smaller figure, Malin recognized it as a young giant from its exterior.

It roared as it broke through the formation, charging towards Malin as if seeking vengeance for its comrades.

"You’ve picked the wrong opponent, little one," Malin said.

Malin extended his left hand, and Fio with Lorrin, in the form a World Tree staff capable of amplifying blessing spells, moved close to the palm of his hand.

Malin reached out with his right hand, pointing at the child.

The power coursing from his bloodline transformed the holy energy at the tip of Malin’s finger into a ray. This sacred beam crossed the battlefield, striking the young giant squarely on the forehead.

The next second, the Chaos giant began to disintegrate; first, the lower half of its body turned to ash, followed by the torso, and finally just before its head dissolved, Malin heard the child’s last soul whisper.

"Thank you."

No need for thanks, return now, child.

The consecutive use of spiritual energy left Malin slightly fatigued, yet he continued onward with steady strides.

An elderly mage nearby looked on, "My respects to you, sir," the old man bowed slightly.

"May the Lord have mercy," Malin responded with a salute over his chest.

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