SFRW-Chapter 266

Ch. 266 Sword God From The Ruined World

“…No way, are they just charging in without even scouting first?”  

Even street thugs have some sense of sizing up their opponents before a fight.  

But here, tens of thousands of Barbar Kingdom warriors were launching a full-frontal assault without any reconnaissance—a tactic so bold and brainless it shattered Choi Kang-soo’s romanticized notions of war.  

“Well, when you’ve been fighting nonstop every day, I guess this is what happens.”  

Honestly, Seo Do-jun found it absurd too, but given the three kingdoms’ situation, he supposed traditional scouting had lost its meaning.  

“These savages are really reckless. They’re charging like madmen, not caring if they die.”  

At this point, it was clear why their enemies would be terrified.  

Sure enough, the Bamut Kingdom’s mages, who had been raining spells from a distance, faltered momentarily under the sheer, suicidal momentum of the Barbar warriors.  

But only for a moment.  

Though 70% of Bamut’s forces were mages, the remaining 30% were their shield—the frontline soldiers who now firmly held their ground against the Barbarians’ terrifying charge.  

“They started strong, but isn’t this too reckless? If they keep fighting like this, they’ll be wiped out in no time.”  

Shinjo, silently observing the battlefield beside Choi Kang-soo, nodded in agreement.  

The Barbar Kingdom’s momentum was bold, but it had crashed against Bamut’s defensive line.  

Now, with the mages regaining their footing and unleashing spells, the barbarian forces were dwindling rapidly.  

“Did they bring this many troops just to get annihilated in a single day? What kind of idiotic strategy is this? Do they have another main force somewhere?”  

It made no sense, so Choi Kang-soo scanned the distance, looking for hidden reinforcements—but there were none.  

Meanwhile, the Gauman Kingdom’s knights began moving in earnest.  

“They’re going for a full rear assault, aren’t they?”  

Choi Kang-soo clenched his fist, already picturing the Gauman knights sweeping in from behind.  

Just as expected, the knights struck the Barbar warriors’ rear with brutal efficiency.  

Trapped between Bamut’s mages and Gauman’s knights, the Barbarians roared curses but could only desperately push forward.  

“They’re completely sandwiched. Those savage bastards! I knew they were stupid from the moment I heard they ate human flesh!”  

Choi Kang-soo clicked his tongue, watching the Barbar Kingdom’s forces being crushed between two armies.  

This battle, for all its noise, was ending in a humiliating defeat for the barbarians.  

“Uncle, they’re done for, right?”  

Seo Do-jun nodded slightly.  

He understood the Barbar Kingdom’s plan, but Bamut’s unexpectedly strong resistance had made the battle disappointingly one-sided.  

‘They wanted to drag Bamut and Gauman into a chaotic melee… but these savages are just too weak.’  

Bamut’s mages were formidable, but what really stood out to Seo Do-jun was how pathetically unskilled the Barbar warriors were.  

It was hard to believe they were considered the strongest of the three kingdoms.  

Just as the Barbarian forces were rapidly thinning—  

KRRRUMBLE—  

The ground suddenly shook violently, and a gust of ashen dust swept beneath the Bamut mages’ feet.  

The tremor was slight, barely enough to disrupt balance, but the distraction made them miss the dust cloud entirely.  

A momentary lapse—one that would have gone unnoticed by anyone not watching closely.  

But for those who failed to see it, the consequences were fatal.  

“Huh? What’s wrong with them?”  

Choi Kang-soo stared as Bamut’s frontline soldiers trembled violently, their bodies seizing up like epilepsy patients.  

That brief opening was all the Barbar Kingdom needed.  

The unbreakable wall crumbled.  

One, two… then dozens, hundreds of barbarians poured through, mingling with Bamut’s forces in an instant.  

Once breached, Bamut’s defenses collapsed like dominoes, and the Barbar warriors—once sandwiched—now entangled themselves completely with the enemy.  

“That… was Rahf’s doing, right?”  

The sudden tremor, the ashen dust passing the mages’ feet—Choi Kang-soo knew.  

The dark mage Rahf had intervened.  

It wasn’t lethal. Just a brief torment for the frontline soldiers.  

But the effect was undeniable.  

“Incredible. To shift the tide of battle in an instant like that…”  

Shinjo’s genuine admiration made Seo Do-jun acknowledge Rahf’s power—and his impeccable timing.  

“Now things are getting interesting.”  

Seo Do-jun murmured, his eyes sharp with anticipation for what was to come.  

***  

“Utter morons.”  

Rahf glared at the Barbar Kingdom’s forces—men who would’ve been annihilated without his help—and spat curses.  

His expression was grim.  

He was already conserving magic for two major spells: one in preparation, another to forcibly harvest tens of thousands of souls.  

Neither task was easy.  

With only today to act, he had to ration his magic carefully.  

And now, thanks to this unplanned intervention, his reserves were dangerously low.  

“How are these incompetents the strongest of the three kingdoms?!”  

Grinding his teeth in frustration, Rahf watched as the chaotic melee he’d hoped for finally erupted.  

At least that part of the plan was working.  

“Well, they’re not completely useless.”  

Now that the battle had devolved into a free-for-all, the Barbar warriors were expertly pitting Bamut and Gauman against each other.  

This had clearly been their strategy all along.  

Their only mistake was underestimating Bamut’s defenses.  

But with Rahf’s help, the three armies were now locked in a bloody, tangled brawl—just as he’d intended.  

***  

“Did you see that?”  

At the Emperor’s question, the towering figure beside him nodded.  

“There’s a dark mage here somewhere.”  

The Emperor’s gleaming eyes scanned the battlefield.  

He saw nothing, but he was certain—a cunning dark mage was hiding nearby, watching.  

“Find them. Don’t kill them. Bring them to me alive.”  

With that order, the giant vanished as if he’d never been there.  

“Daring to interfere in my affairs?”  

The Emperor smirked.  

What could’ve been a dull battle at Toyarman Plains had now ignited into something far more entertaining.  

“Though I can’t let Sliver off the hook. Even if he intended to lose, this pathetic display is unacceptable.”  

The Emperor began mentally listing candidates to replace Sliver.  

Meanwhile, under his orders, the giant gathered his subordinates to hunt the dark mage.  

“Find the dark mage.”  

At his command, 49 knights in navy-blue armor stood at attention.  

“Kill any rats hiding with them. Move out.”  

As the knights scattered, the giant—their captain—headed toward a small hill on the plains’ right flank, the most suspicious location.  

The Emperor’s Personal Knights.  

A force capable of toppling a kingdom.  

They had never once failed a mission.  

Just as the captain began ascending the hill—  

CRACK!  

A blade of sword energy sliced through a tree in his path.  

The captain halted, staring ahead.  

“This spot’s taken. Find somewhere else.”  

Choi Kang-soo.  

Warned by Seo Do-jun of approaching enemies, he’d stepped forward.  

“Who are you? The dark mage’s bodyguard?”  

“Dark mage? Ah—”  

Realizing who he meant, Choi Kang-soo rolled his eyes.  

“Yeah, there’s a really evil dark mage up there. Wanna meet him?”  

“By the Emperor’s decree, we’re taking him. Step aside if you value your life.”  

(Not that stepping aside would save him, but the captain needed confirmation first.)  

Unfortunately for him, his opponent was Choi Kang-soo—a man who’d seen every trick in the book.  

“Try getting past me.”  

The captain didn’t waste words.  

SHIIING—  

Drawing the massive greatsword from his back—a weapon nearly 170 cm long—he swung horizontally.  

A storm of blade energy surged forth, shredding trees in its path.  

Choi Kang-soo countered instantly, his Divine Sword clashing with the wave in a deafening CRASH!  

“Hmph.”  

The captain reassessed.  

This wouldn’t be easy.  

‘Where did this guy come from?’  

The three kingdoms shouldn’t have anyone capable of standing against him.  

“What, cat got your tongue? Oh! You wanted a proper exchange? Should’ve said so!”  

Choi Kang-soo pulled his sword back, then thrust—a pinpoint strike condensed with holy energy, aimed straight for the captain’s heart.  

“Tch—!”  

The captain barely raised his greatsword in time, using its flat side as a shield.  

CLANGGG—!  

The impact sent his massive frame skidding back, his arms trembling.  

He stared at Choi Kang-soo in shock.  

He’d misjudged his opponent.  

This smirking swordsman was unlike anyone he’d ever faced.  

‘No choice.’  

The captain pulled a silver whistle from his coat and blew.  

PIIIIIIIIIIII—!  

The ear-splitting shriek echoed across Toyarman Plains.  

“What, calling for backup already?”  

Choi Kang-soo grinned.  

“You die here.”  

“You got what it takes?”  

“The Emperor’s Knights have never failed to kill their target.”  

“Emperor’s Knights?”  

Choi Kang-soo’s eyes widened.  

The captain smirked.  

“You realize your fate now—but it’s too late. After killing you, we’re taking the dark mage to His Majesty.”  

“So the Emperor’s here somewhere?”  

Seo Do-jun stepped forward, speaking calmly.  

The captain scrutinized him.  

Too ordinary-looking to be the dark mage.  

Another bodyguard?  

As he pondered—  

The 49 knights regrouped, surrounding them.  

“Choi Kang-soo.”  

“Yeah, Uncle?”  

“Clear out the extras. Leave this one alive.”  

“Got it!”  

As Choi Kang-soo lunged at the knights—  

“You dare—?!”  

“Who said you could move? Stay put. You’re guiding us to the Emperor.”  

The captain froze.  

Seo Do-jun’s aura alone crushed his will to fight.  

‘Th-This is impossible…!’  

For the first time, fear flickered in the captain’s eyes.