Reborn As Noble Chapter 1268: Severed Arm and a Broken Promise ( 1268 )

The golden knight's armor resonated with power, a jetpack emerging from concealed sections on its back. Twin thrusters deployed with a refined mechanical hum. The golden cape dissolved, replaced by angular wings that shimmered under the moonlit heavens. Mana energy erupted from the thrusters, bathing the hovering knight in a soft golden radiance, its hands firmly grasping two luminescent longswords.

Javier smirked, his voice steady through the mana communicator.

"Everyone, stand clear. Maintain distance from the monstrosity. Attack helicopters, establish a wide perimeter and remain outside its engagement zone. Do not attack."

A soft chuckle escaped him, his tone laced with eagerness.

"This one… is mine."

"As you wish, Your Highness."

The golden knight's thrusters ignited in a spectacular golden blaze, propelling him forward at an astonishing velocity. He ascended through the air, halting his momentum mid-flight and hovering with effortless grace as he surveyed the colossal dark entity beneath him.

"Woo hoo~ Such a massive target~"

He peered downwards, focusing his scanners on the beast below.

"Man… as big as a titan, right? But utterly repulsive, like a heap of festering sludge blended with decaying flesh and pure nightmare fuel."

His gaze fell upon the weapon clutched by the monster, a congealed form of dark aura that pulsed and writhed as if alive. It bore a resemblance to a crude sword, yet a solitary, throbbing eye was embedded near its base, observing everything with a sinister sentience.

"Sigh…" Javier exhaled, his voice thick with irritation. "Why is it that every single time I confront something associated with dark magic, darkness, or any dark power, it inevitably looks grotesque and nauseating? Can't they at least make an effort to appear aesthetically pleasing for once? Something majestic, perhaps, rather than a walking embodiment of dread?"

Javier commenced his tirade, complaining as he leveled one sword at the immense monster, letting the other rest casually on his shoulder.

"What is fundamentally wrong with the individuals in this realm?"

"Damn it. They are perpetually seeking power that manifests in repulsive forms. First, that celestial abomination, then the shadowy assassins, the individual encountered prior, and the subsequent group." He cast a glance at the monster, shaking his head. "And now this. I'm quite convinced this creature was summoned, much like the monster rift that appeared at Mathrias Estate earlier."

Javier released another breath before addressing all the attack helicopters.

"Should any of you detect a monster rift, engage and neutralize it instantly. Do not permit further summoning. Concentrate your firepower on the rift if one manifests."

"As you command, Your Highness."

Javier looked down at the monster, which had begun a frenzied assault, wielding its colossal dark weapon and obliterating adjacent structures. Towers imploded under its relentless strikes, and the dark aura it emanated melted and incinerated everything in its path, leaving behind trails of smoldering destruction.

"Eww. Utterly disgusting."

Javier shook his head before both of his golden swords dematerialized from his grasp.

"There is absolutely no way I am engaging it in close combat. I genuinely do not wish to come into contact with such a thing, even with this golden knight suit equipped with the most potent barrier runes and defensive spells."

He raised his palm, directing it towards the monster below. His palm began to radiate a golden and white luminescence, coalescing into a swirling sphere of energy before it, crackling with pure, radiant might.

"Since it wields dark power… let us counter it with light. Just as we did with the celestial filth previously."

The core embedded in the golden knight's chest spun with increasing velocity, glowing with greater intensity as it channeled immense power into the impending assault.

"Man… I am rather disappointed." Javier grumbled, his head still shaking. "I had genuinely anticipated an opportunity to test the golden knight's resilience, its armor, and its combat capabilities. However, observing the sheer repulsiveness of that entity… I have reconsidered."

He let out a soft sigh.

"In any case, I suppose it is time to conclude this engagement. I cannot afford to let Hanarak escape while I am merely toying around, or I will face severe repercussions from Father."

The white light sphere, charged with potent energy, hummed with intense power, hovering before the golden knight's palm.

Javier unleashed the light sphere towards the monster. It streaked forward with blinding swiftness, a torrent of pure white and gold energy that sliced through the atmosphere and impacted the monster's chest. The sphere detonated in a massive burst of white light, engulfing the creature in a searing wave of power.

The monster emitted a prolonged, agonizing shriek as its dark essence ignited and vaporized, its physical form dissolving into nothingness. As the blinding light subsided, only a scorched, desolate landscape remained where the monster had once stood.

"Well… I believe my task here is completed. However, man… now we are unable to capture whoever summoned that hideous creature for questioning. I would have been interested in learning what type of artifact or ritual they employed to bring such a thing into existence here."

He exhaled, shaking his head.

Sigh… another incident I'll have to account for to Father after this ordeal is resolved.

Javier surveyed the desolate surroundings, a sudden understanding dawning upon him.

“Ah blast it… I ought to find out where Hanarak is making his getaway. I’m quite certain they’ve established an underground emergency egress. Alf and the Shadow Leader did mention that multiple escape tunnels are standard protocol for any significant assassin stronghold.”

A low chuckle escaped him.

“Indeed… If I were in their shoes, I’d certainly devise an escape route too. The Armand Estate possesses a similar feature, though ours is distinct. We have the main barracks situated directly behind the estate, complemented, naturally, by all my knights standing as vigilant sentinels, ever alert to any intrusion, alongside the battle drones and automated defense mechanisms.”

He thoughtfully stroked the helmet of his golden knight.

“Now then… where could Hanarak be?”

Javier initiated all detection systems on the golden knight, meticulously scanning the earth below for thermal signatures, residual mana, and subterranean movement patterns.

Meanwhile.

As Hanarak and his entourage neared the terminus of their escape tunnel, the colossal detonation from Javier’s light sphere reverberated through the entire subterranean passage. The sheer impact of the blast hurled them violently against the tunnel walls, the shockwave ripping through the confined space.

Hanarak was violently slammed against the stone, his left arm violently severed at the shoulder by the immense force. His ribs fractured, his leg shattered, and crimson flowed from his lips as he crumpled to the ground, desperately seeking breath.

He desperately clutched the ragged stump where his arm had once been, the wound instantly cauterized by the intense heat of the explosion, inflicting a searing, agonizing pain that coursed through his entire being.

“Damn it!”

He seized his shoulder in sheer agony, hissing through gritted teeth.

“What in the blazes just transpired?”

His gaze flickered to his detached arm, lying amidst the debris, before he slumped against the fractured wall.

Don’t tell me… Could Garius himself have come here to hunt me down?

His eyes widened with pure dread.

Crap, crap, crap…

This is the exact same power Garius wielded ages ago. Back when I was still a mere assassin in service to the Klimbert Household. He simply snapped his fingers, and a minuscule orb of light, no larger than a marble, erupted with the devastating capacity to obliterate an entire settlement.

He coughed, expelling a spray of blood.

Blast… If it is indeed Garius who has personally arrived… I doubt I stand any chance of evading or retaliating.

In sheer frustration, he pounded his fist against the ground.

Screw this, screw this!

The same dreadful scenario that befell me before is unfolding once more!

Damn it…

I should have simply lived a life of ordinariness, just as I pledged to Garius all those years ago. He showed me mercy back then, and I swore I would abandon the assassin’s path.

However, succumbing to my avarice and misplaced pride, unable to bear the thought of being outmatched by Alf, I shattered that vow. I resurrected the House of Hanarak, I craved power, I accepted contracts I should have refused, and now… now I am facing the dire consequences.

Do you have any insights into my narrative? Please share your thoughts in the comments.