Chapter 445: Marquis Ashtner

Rank A adventurer, Zephyrd, screamed.

「It's Marquis Ashtner!」

Then, a figure slowly emerged from the large hole in the wall of the mansion that had been blown open by Zephyrd.

So, this guy is Marquis Ashtner. He wears magic armor and cloak made of orichalcon, it was so gorgeous and gilded as much as possible. You could probably have enough fund to build a small fort with just the armor.

He was a skinny, bald, and unhealthy-looking old man.

His skin has lost all moisture and looks like the trunk of a cracked old tree. His eye sockets are deeply sunken, and underneath are dark circles that look as if they were painted with black ink. He has no beard, let alone hair. This makes him look more like a fake.

Despite of his lackluster appearance, his back was straight and his figure radiated a strange sense of intimidation.

His appearance is fearsome, as if a vicious spirit has taken over a mummy and is moving it. If this were a Hollywood movie set in Egypt, he would certainly be the boss.

Eliante mutters in disbelief as she stares at the old man.

「Is, Is that, that Marquis Ashtner? It ’s not at the level of sudden change anymore」

「What do you mean?」

「Cause, that guy, When we met a few years ago, he was a lot fatter」

Apparently, his appearance has changed quite a bit. No, it seems that it is not only his appearance that has changed.

「In the first place, that magic power……Is impossible」

「Nn?」

「Cuz that guy, He was supposed to be a liberal aristocrat who had hardly ever been on the battlefield……I'm intimidated by magic like that…」

I see, she means he shouldn't be this strong. However, the current Marquis Ashtner has gained tremendous strength. It was clear from the appraisal.

Name: Wenaria Gale Ashtner

Age: 66 years old

Race: Human

Job: Sword Saint

State: Fanaticism, Superhumanization

Status Level: 36

HP: 911

MP: 1208

Strength: 541

Physical Strength: 320

Agility: 520

Intelligence: 169

Magic: 778

Dexterity: 123

Skill

Intimidation: LvMax, Acting: Lv2, Flame Magic: Lv7, Singing: Lv3, Complete Barrier: Lv6, Crisis Detection: Lv8, Riding: Lv3, Vital Point Detection: Lv6, Court work: Lv7, Madness: LvMax, Presence Detection: Lv9, Sword Saint Technique: Lv7, Sword Saint Skill: LvMax, Negotiation: Lv4, Superhuman Strength: Lv7, Poetry: Lv5, Socializing: Lv3, Instantaneous Regeneration: Lv7, Instant Blink: Lv6, Abnormal Condition Resistance: Lv7, Life Steal: Lv4, Elemental Sword: Lv8, Earth Magic: Lv4, Poison Resistance: Lv7, Poison Knowledge: Lv6, Vigour: Lv7, Dancing: Lv3, Magic Resistance: Lv8, Magic Detection: Lv9, Magic Steal: Lv6, Magma Magic: Lv8, Enhanced Intimidation, Chant less, Enhanced Regeneration, Body Strengthening, Sense of Balance, Magic Control, Night Vision.

Unique Skill

Vitality Control

Extra Skill

Superhuman

Title

Weak Will, Marquis, Spender

To put it bluntly, he was stronger than a rank A adventurer. He was as strong as the Beast King. His skills were especially amazing. Sword Saint Skill: Lv. 10 is probably the highest level of our enemies this far.

Is the high status due to his extra skill of superhuman? As the name suggests, he really is a superhuman.

Moreover, the composition of his skills is strange. While there were high-level skills such as sword saint skill, flame magic, and magic steal, there were no lower-level skills that were prerequisites for them. It was as if he was suddenly given only those skills in one day.

It's like my skill sharing with Fran.

The Marquis opens his mouth in front of us, who shudder at his strength.

「――Kihihihihi, I got a lot of small fry here…」

His expression was completely unchanging, but the atmosphere of his words sounded like a lowly thug. To begin with, it was strange that he could talk, unlike the others who were controlled by pseudo fanatic swords.

More to the point, Marquis Ashtner did not have a pseudo fanatic sword stuck in him. And yet, he didn't have that half-broken demon sword in his hand either.

But since his state had become fanaticism, it was certain that he was being manipulated.

「So, you are Ashtner?」

「I wonder?」

I got the impression that something inside Ashtner was using his mouth to speak. No, maybe it was definitely something other than Ashtner.

「Well, why don't you just die anyway?」

「Everyone! Gather around!」

「Kuhahaha! Volcanic Gazer!」

Hearing Eliante's instructions, the adventurers tried to gather around Eliante, but it was a moment too late.

As if in response to Marquis Ashtner's words, a tremendous amount of bright red lava spewed out, breaking the ground of the Marquis' residence.

Magma rose up like a fountain from the deep fissures in the earth that had been created in every direction. The super-heated magma turned into a tsunami that swallowed the adventurers and knights in the garden. We quickly set up wind barrier around the area, but it couldn't protect everyone.

A few adventurers and knights were swallowed by the lava and disappeared without even being able to scream. After the magic ended, the lava vanished as if it had been an illusion. Not a single human corpse was left in its wake. It seemed that they had completely turned into charcoal and disappeared.

A few remnants of magic armor were all that remained of their existence.

「This is dangerous……If he fires a bunch of magic, we can't do anything to block it off…! All adventurers of rank C or lower except Fran evacuate immediately! Evacuate the surrounding residents!」

They must have realized that the small fry would only slow them down. Eliante instructed the adventurers.

「You're not getting away!」

The Marquis readied himself to pursue the fleeing adventurers.

『Fran, I'll cover the adventurer's retreat! Go at once! If we do wait and see approach here, we'll only be killed!』

「Nn! Awakening! Brilliant Lightning Rush!」

He must have noticed the presence emanating from the awakened Fran. Marquis Ashtner stopped his pursuit of the adventurer and turned his gaze to Fran. But our preparations are already over.

『Superhuman or whatever he is, you can't ignore us right? Kuraaaaa!』

「Thor Hammer!」

My release of Kanna Kamui and Fran's Thor Hammer intertwine and rain down on Marquis Ashtner. No matter how strong he is, he won't be able to handle the speed of lightning. This speed and the high hit rate are the strengths of thunderbolt magic.

「Oaaaaaaaaaaaaa!」

The white lightning, we released hit the Marquis directly. However, to our surprise, the Marquis had clothed his sword, which he had pulled out of the item bag at his waist, with magic power and was receiving our magic. For several seconds, the Marquis resisted the extreme magic that poured down on him incessantly. In the end, the Marquis could not endure and his figure was swallowed by the lightning, but it is still an opponent that cannot be measured by common sense.

『Fran, Lets go!』

「Nn!」

I don't think we could have defeated it with just that. Just before the lightning struck its body, I saw that he had put up a barrier. Besides, he has high resistant to magic.

Defying the shock and blast generated by Kanna Kamui, Fran ran toward it's center.

『I knew it, there's still a presence! Its definitely Ashtner!』

「Nn! Haaaa!」

Fran unleash Sheaths of Wind to the presence. However, her attack was caught by Marquis Ashtner's sword.

Giiiiinn!

My blade clashed with his sword, and a high-pitched sound echoed.

『Tsk! Is that sword specially made too huh?』

I was going to cut the whole sword! It seems, the name of the sword was Pseudo Fanatic Sword, but the shape was a longsword. Its appearance was not that of an Estoc-type pseudo fanatic sword, but more like the half-destroyed magic sword.

「Kihihihi! That's hurt you know!」

「Muh!」

As expected of the holder of highest level of sword saint skill. His sword handling was on par with Fran's. He must have taken quite a bit of damage from Kanna Kamui, but the instant regeneration had healed his wounds.

But, that's not all.

「I'm losing my power…?」

『It must be his Life steal and Magic Steal!』

Due to the higher skill level of the other side, we were losing the battle of attrition. We were clearly at a disadvantage in endurance battle.

「Haaaa!」

「Nice work, little girl! I haven't felt pain in hundreds of years!」

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