The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

“Ku-ku-ku, you’re trying hard.”

From the distant fortress entrance, the blue trajectory of the Aura Blade was flickering incessantly. Although three to four demonic beasts were vanishing in a single stroke, spewing black blood, it was just the tip of the iceberg.

‘Once the gate is open, the result is already determined.’

Keriaphon, the 7th Circle Dark Mage of the Empire, turned his head with a vicious smile.

“Still no response?”

“Yes, the transmission array is connected, but it’s still quiet.”

“Tsk tsk. So slow…”

This was an open field a bit distanced from the main force of the Imperial Army. About twenty mages and a dozen knights, accompanied by soldiers, were standing guard over three large magic circles.

If these magic circles were activated according to plan, the fall of the barrier would be a cinch.

‘Well, given the current situation, it seems unnecessary though.’

In this battlefield, three superhumans from the Empire, including himself, and five demons had already taken their places. On the other hand, only one Master was left alone on the side of the barrier.

Despite this overwhelming disparity in power, they were engaging in a war of attrition using demonic beasts for one simple reason: the barrier’s own defensive systems.

‘How pesky.’

The Overload System.

Modeled after the ancient seal’s defense system, the Overload System supplied nearly unlimited mana to designated knights within the barrier’s protective range.

While it might seem irrelevant, it meant that a top-class Expert Knight could use ‘Temporary Aura’ without restriction.

‘Temporary Aura’ or not, aura was still aura.

The concentrated and refined power of mana was a threat even to superhumans, making it unwise to take lightly.

Furthermore, the sacred relics and holy barriers scattered throughout the wall restricted the powers of demons and the Empire’s superhumans who used dark magic.

There was a good reason why the barrier was called impenetrable.

“Klklkl. But that reputation ends today.”

The barrier’s defense system inevitably consumed massive amounts of mana. To supply this energy, it had its own system, but part of it was drawn from an ancient seal buried underground.

‘And that seal fell into our hands.’

It took ten years. From planting a spy in the core of the barrier to infiltrating human bombs meant to be sacrifices.

The operation, succeeding through immense investments and sacrifices, had finally broken the seal beneath the barrier, summoning not only a ‘Count-level’ demon but also its subordinates, disrupting the barrier’s mana supply.

The relentless emergence of demonic beasts and the Imperial Army’s assault were depleting the barrier’s mana reserves. At this rate, it would only take a few days for the fearsome defense system to fail completely.

‘And if the transmission is completed, that time will be much sooner.’

By then, no amount of enemy reinforcements would matter. The main force was also advancing towards the barrier.

Bzzz.

“Huh!”

“A signal! Hurry up and induce the transmission!”

“Guard the magic circle thoroughly! The enemy might target this place!”

It seemed the detached unit had finally wrapped things up. According to reports, the seal on that side was also connected to a gate with at least a Count-level demon.

‘It’s over. Klkl.’

Fwoosh.

Black magic energy(magi) began to surge from the magic circle. The mages poured in mana without reservation, stabilizing the magic circle. In about ten minutes, the transmission would be completed.

“Tch. Quick on the uptake. Everyone, prepare for battle!”

It seemed Duke Hansley, who was rampaging in front of the fortress, had noticed the anomaly and was leading the knights toward them. Two Masters from the friendly main force had also set out to block him, so he wouldn’t easily reach this place.

‘If the timing aligns, this might end the battle.’

The further they moved from the barrier, the less power was supplied to them. If the enemy commander was encircled and dealt with here, the fall of the barrier would be just a matter of time.

“Sigh.”

The regret was that the demons showed no intention of moving immediately.

‘Cowards.’

Demons who descended into this world couldn’t use their original powers right away. To wield their strength, they needed ‘magi’ which required time to spread from the dark gate across the battlefield.

That was why they were holed up in the shrine, merely watching.

Boom! Bang!

“Whistle~.”

With Duke Hansley at the forefront, the special knight squad of the barrier clashed with the master knights of the Imperial main force. Aura clashed with aura, causing the ground to upturn and mana fragments to scatter in every direction.

The demonic beasts and ordinary Imperial soldiers caught in between sprayed blood fountains, painting the battlefield red.

‘As expected, we are being pushed back.’

Even though there were two masters on their side, it was barely the beginning. It was clear that even the two of them were struggling to hold off Duke Hansley alone.

Besides Hansley, they also had five top-class experts. With the barrier’s support, they were wielding temporary auras without restraint, pushing back the armor users on this side continuously.

“Ku-ku-ku. This is it, fools. Activate the barrier! Field of Darkness!”

Keriaphon raised a withered old wand towards the battlefield and chanted a spell.

Poof!

A black mist surged from the ground, quickly enveloping the battlefield.

“It’s a trap!”

“Ignore it and break through! The enemy’s goal is to stall us!”

Suddenly losing their sight and senses, the knights were momentarily flustered but quickly regained their composure, given they were all skilled fighters.

However, it didn’t change the fact that they had fallen into a trap.

Crackle.

“Damn it! The mist is consuming our mana!”

The black mist clung to the barrier knights’ swords and armor, burning away their mana. As the ground beneath their feet shifted, hands reached out, grabbing their ankles.

“Damn it. There are undead hidden in the ground! Everyone, be vigilant!”

Clank. Crack!

They were basic undead—skeletons and zombies—but enough to hinder the knights’ movements. With their sight and senses impaired, mana being drained, and undead teeming underfoot….

“Ku-ku. Did you think we would come unprepared? Die quietly where you stand! Magic squad, commence attack!”

“Dark Flare!”

“Shadow Burn!”

“Phantom Slasher!”

Various dark and toxic spells pierced through the black mist, hurtling towards the barrier’s special forces.

In a situation already chaotic, the addition of magical attacks began to injure the knights one by one. And finally, the time limit of ten minutes elapsed.

Rumble!

From the three magic circles rose a ferocious mana vortex, converging into the air.

“Ha-ha-ha! It’s over! Glory to His Majesty and the Empire!”

Keriaphon, feeling the immense flow of mana rising behind him, raised his hands to the sky and laughed maniacally.

Clank!

‘… Huh?’

Feeling a sharp pain near his neck, Keriaphon tried to turn his head in confusion. But, strangely, the ground was swiftly approaching his eyes.

“What the hell, this crazy old man?”

The ground and sky flipped several times. The last thing Keriaphon saw was an army of steel weapons beginning to cover the sky.

***

Whistle!

Raul infused his will into his sword and swung it through the air. He felt something invisible snap. He had just severed a Lich transformation curse.

‘What’s this? Was he really a high-level mage?’

He had instinctively swung his sword at the unsettling dark aura he sensed as soon as he crossed the passage, only to land a major catch. Raul let out a faint laugh.

It wasn’t a situation where he could afford to rest. Summoning his legion of weapons and swinging his Aura Blade, he began to cut down the enemies surrounding the magical circles.

“Kane, Jake! Lead the way and clear a path! Our target is the entrance to the barrier fortress!”

“Yes, Master! All First Knights, follow me!”

“Yaaah!”

The three teleportation magic circles opened by the Imperial mages. From there appeared Raul and his party.

Their total number was 150.

Baron Carlo of the Silver Bear Knights had joined Raul’s camp with the knights from the Count’s household, increasing their numbers.

‘Should I call it good timing?’

Raul, who had swiftly cleared the vicinity of the magic circles with his legion of weapons, looked around the battlefield with a peculiar smile.

“The barrier is really under attack! And that’s a Dark Gate?”

Lawrence, the last to cross the passage, looked around with a stern expression.

“Brother, please take command!”

“Alright, follow quickly.”

Lawrence led the remaining group, following behind Kane and Jake.

‘Now then!’

Vwong, clank, thud!

Raul destroyed the teleportation circles with his blazing golden Aura Blade. He was concerned that the Imperial Army might alter the coordinates and use them again.

“Raul, it’s all clear!”

Rabel, moving among the remnants of the destroyed magic circles, collected the large mana stones that made up the circles.

“No! Protect the magic circles!”

“We have to prevent them from returning to the barrier!”

“H-how can we break through that?”

Late to the party, the main force of the Imperial Army and the invaders spread around began to gather towards the magic circles, but they hesitated to approach the rapidly flying legion of weapons.

The superhumans were engaged in battle with the barrier’s special forces, leaving gaps in their defenses.

“Alright, let’s join the fray too.”

“Understood.”

With Rabel on his shoulder, Raul unfolded his Phantasmal Wings. Kane and Jake had already charged near the special forces engaged in the center of the battlefield.

The thick black mist still enveloped the area, making it difficult for those inside to recognize the changing situation.

Boom! Crackle!

“Annihilate them all!”

The Imperial main force’s knights, taken by surprise, hurried to reorganize their ranks, but it was too late as the First Knights had already breached their formation.

And in an instant, Raul flew into the enemy’s front lines, swinging his golden Aura Blade and shouting.

“Activate the Radiant Aura!”

Fwosh!

A wave of divine power spread from Raul’s body, completely dispelling the black mist. Furthermore, the undead that had crawled up from the ground melted away in thick smoke upon contact with the light.

“Good heavens! Such immense divine power!”

Kiera, the saintess of the hero’s party, who was being protected in the center, wore an expression of ecstasy at the overwhelming divine power.

Although they didn’t say anything, the rest of the party members were visibly shocked as well.

‘…Isn’t this even greater than the Saintess herself?’

‘Corellius, that crazy bastard. Did he accuse someone with such divine power of being a non-believer?’

It finally became clear why the bishops from the First Territory behaved the way they did. Especially surprising was the reaction of Asher, the youngest in the party known as the hero.

‘Th-this power undoubtedly belongs to Him! Ah, how foolish I was.’

He had believed it to be a unique power bestowed upon him, only to realize his misconception. Either way, the Radiant Aura unleashed by Raul had a profound impact on the battlefield.

‘So this is the difference when you ascend to a higher level!’

Raul gazed over the battlefield with a satisfied expression. Upon reaching the Master level, the skill mastery limits were fully unlocked from intermediate to advanced.

The first skills to advance were, unsurprisingly, Psychokinesis (S) and Infinite Sword (S+), followed closely by Radiant Aura (A+).

With this level up, the basic range, buff amount, and power increased. Additionally, a special effect was added.

In the area where Radiant Aura was deployed, large white spheres of light, about the size of a watermelon, materialized.

Known as ‘Orbs of Radiance,’ these were clusters of divine power, whose effect was…

Whoosh! Bang, bang, bang!

Dozens of tiny holy arrows flew towards surrounding enemies. While the power was only of a 2nd-circle level, it had a considerable impact since the targets wielded dark mana.

“Break through as we are!”

“Yes, Master!”

With Raul leading and Kane and Jake supporting from behind, they swept through the Imperial knights as if they were in an uninhabited region.

“Damn it! Pull back for now!”

“Retreat to the main force! Do not engage recklessly!”

The Imperial masters, realizing the situation too late, withdrew their knights. Duke Hansley did not pursue them but instead joined up with Raul’s group.

“How did you…? And Sir Lawrence too…!”

His heart seemed overwrought with unexpected reinforcement. However, they were still in the middle of enemy territory.

The Imperial knights had retreated, but the number of demonic beasts surrounding them was increasing.

“For now, let’s fall back to the barrier. Gather the wounded and retreat slowly!”

Thus, Raul’s party successfully joined the barrier. But the crisis was far from over.

Boom, boom, boom.

The Dark Gate began to pour out not just demonic beasts but soldiers of the demon realm.

(To be continued)