Chapter 96

"Flute-Blowing Devil's warriors... But my subordinates and comrades will not overlook your atrocities..."

The man clenched his lips and glared at Lambert.

"That's why I've been telling you, I'm not one of them... Hmm?"

Lambert turned his head while holding his greatsword, noticing a glowing ball of light enveloped in purple lightning heading towards his back. He leaped to avoid it, and the ground where the lightning ball exploded burst with purple lightning.

"Hmm, you dodged well. I had planned to crush you and kill the survivor immediately."

A tall old man in a tuxedo, wearing thick white gloves, appeared. In his hand, he held a distinctive golden staff.

Behind him stood four swordsmen in robes, each wearing a mask. The masks were simple white faces with black eyes and mouths, expressing joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, respectively.

"I've been investigating strange people lurking around this town for the past few days, and you seem to be the ones I was looking for. I am the 'Flute-Blowing Devil,' Jildome. Armored swordsman, I will take your life."

The four swordsmen, responding to Jildome's words, drew their swords and took four distinct stances.

Lambert had only just arrived in the city. He glanced at the mage-silver swordsman, likely the one they were talking about, and then returned his gaze to Jildome.

"I've heard that your organization has been active for a long time, but you reveal your name so easily."

"No problem. I have always killed those who call themselves the 'Flute-Blowing Devil.'"

The old man pointed his golden staff at Lambert.

"Fire, come to my hand!"

In the hand opposite the one holding the staff, he floated a small ball of fire. The purple lightning from the fire ball split into two and expanded.

Jildome's magic involved generating and controlling ionized gas through heat. It was a highly advanced and intricate magic that only a seasoned practitioner like Jildome could perform.

"Those heat balls, it's Jildome!? Could it be the real Jildome Zireinas?"

The rapier swordsman, who had just suffered a crushing defeat at Lambert's hands, shouted.

"Do you know him?"

Lambert turned his helmet towards the man and asked.

The man twisted his lips, recalling the painful defeat from the previous battle. However, since the 'Flute-Blowing Devil' had launched an attack, it confirmed that Lambert was not an enemy as he had initially claimed. There was no longer any reason to oppose him.

"...I know him. Jildome is a top-tier alchemist who had gone missing. He is one of only three practitioners of the heat ionization magic, which has become nearly lost due to the scarcity of skilled users in the Regius Kingdom. Rather, why don't you know him?"

Jildome Zireinas. Originally a renowned alchemist, he realized that traditional methods could not lead to the ultimate truth of magic and was captivated by the 'Weaver of Truth,' one of the Eight Sages who pursued the depths of magic without restraint, leading him to join the 'Flute-Blowing Devil.'

"Only three? Teslaogus must be rolling in his grave."

Teslaogus was an alchemist from the Maculas Kingdom, which fought against the Regius Kingdom until the end during the Eight Kingdoms Unification War. He dedicated his life to developing the theory and magical formula of heat ionization magic, refining it for practical combat use, and systematizing the methods for identifying and mastering it. The Maculas Kingdom's mages, feared for their ability to control the mysterious magic, led the other nations by a significant margin due to the existence of heat ionization magic.

"You're in trouble, armored man. A heat ionization magic user, who boasts invincibility as a rear guard, bringing four front-line fighters. Take the children and run. I'll buy you a minute... no, three minutes."

The man stood up and rubbed his left arm, which held his rapier.

"No..."

Before Lambert could respond, the man pointed at him, gesturing for him to stop speaking.

"I don't like owing favors. But, I have one request. Tell my subordinates in this city to retreat and cooperate with other units to capture Viscount Lagar. Mention that it's from the second squad leader of the 'Phoenix Eye,' Kruitz, and they will listen."

Kruitz, the man, smiled sardonically and told Lambert.

Since the 'Flute-Blowing Devil' had nearly destroyed the city of Baraila, the royal family had intensified their vigilance and mobilized the 'Phoenix Eye' to investigate suspicious nobles.

"Understood, I'll do it."

Lambert immediately handed the child he was carrying to Kruitz. Kruitz, taken aback, reluctantly accepted the child when Lambert urged him.

"No, that's not it, I should be the one to hold them off...!"

Lambert tightened his grip on his greatsword and charged at Jildome. The four masked swordsmen leaped in front of Lambert, surrounding him with their varied swords, ready to attack.

Jildome lowered his staff.

"Turn to ashes!"

Two red balls of lightning were released. Jildome planned to use his signature magic to finish off Lambert while he was distracted by the four swordsmen.

The four swordsmen were berserkers created through drug administration, mind control magic, and bio-magic. It was nearly impossible to dodge the plasma balls coming from a distance while deflecting all their sword techniques.

Even from Kruitz's perspective, who had faced many swordsmen, the four were formidable opponents. Their seemingly ridiculous stances were all logical, and their irregular movements, which appeared uncoordinated, maintained a formation that would ensure Lambert's defeat in a chaotic battle.

"Hold on! Run!"

Kruitz shouted at Lambert's back.

In the next moment, the four swordsmen who had attacked Lambert were all sent flying in different directions, their heads or torsos severed. Lambert had spun with his greatsword, creating a devastating whirlwind that cut through everything around him. Kruitz rubbed his eyes, seeing a tornado in Lambert's form.

Lambert, having annihilated the front-line fighters in an instant, easily avoided the two light balls that arrived late.

Both Kruitz and Jildome stared at Lambert with wide eyes.

"Such an extraordinary... If regular magic doesn't work, I'll have to use my trump card, the magic hound Tindalos."

Jildome, having lost his front-line fighters, grimaced.