Reborn As Noble Chapter 1317: Judgment Through Terrain ( 1317 )

Before long, the scenery around them began to transform. The dense green trees gradually receded, making way for jagged rocks and a foreboding crimson radiance.

The air itself seemed to ripple with waves of heat, vividly displaying expansive lakes of molten lava. These lakes blazed with intense shades of red, orange, and deep gold, flowing sluggishly like liquid rivers beneath colossal obsidian cliffs. Steam billowed from fissures in the ground, and the sky above was painted with streaks of crimson and amber.

A sigh of contentment escaped Javier, his gaze roving over the fiery terrain. "Buddy~ Marvel at these magnificent rivers of molten fire. Observe how the light shimmers on their surfaces... it's as if you're witnessing the very breath of the earth. Such a spectacle is a rare sight indeed."

Buddy responded with a low, appreciative squawk, his vibrant orange feathers catching the warm glow.

One of the coachmen offered a smile, his voice tinged with a hint of remembrance. "Ah... it has been an age since I last traversed this path. I had nearly forgotten its breathtaking grandeur."

The other coachmen chimed in their assent. "Indeed. The view is quite extraordinary. Perilous, yet undeniably beautiful."

Meanwhile, within the confines of the carriages, Gorak and his retinue, alongside Jaigar and his group, were already glistening with sweat, their faces flushed crimson from the oppressive heat.

"Oi! Beggar!" Gorak bellowed, his voice rough. "What sort of route is this?! It's utterly unbearable! Are you attempting to roast us alive?!"

Javier paid him no mind, his attention still captivated by the flowing lava, a serene smile gracing his lips.

"Oi! Did you even hear me?! This heat is suffocating us!"

Finally, Javier turned his head, his expression a mask of feigned, innocent bewilderment. "Hmm? Oh, this? This is the shortcut you specifically requested. Quite lovely, is it not?"

"Lovely your backside! Don't you dare play games with us right now!" Jaigar exploded, his patience utterly depleted as he roared in anger.

With a casual flick of his pinky finger into his ear, Javier shot him a look of bored dismissal. "Ugh! What kind of imbecile are you? You insisted I find the most direct path, and I have obliged. Furthermore, this area isn't excessively vast; merely endure it for a short while."

"You had better guide us out of this infernal heat this instant, or I swear on my life, I will snap your neck!"

"Ugh, honestly. This isn't even that hot." Javier rolled his eyes, his tone laced with unmistakable mockery.

He casually gestured towards Buddy and the two pekko drawing the carriages, who were trotting along with effortless grace, entirely unfazed by the temperature, their feathers smooth and relaxed.

"Observe these pekko; they amble along as if it were a stroll in the park, completely unperturbed. And yet, you all bemoan your fate as if you're being incinerated? Truly?"

"We require no sermon from you!" Gorak yelled, his voice cracking under the strain of raw fury. "Extricate us from this place immediately!"

"Ugh... very well." Javier dramatically exhaled, casting one last glance at the volcanic panorama. "What a regrettable waste of a magnificent vista. Not everyone is afforded the privilege of witnessing such a spectacle."

He glanced towards the coachmen, who both offered a subtle, approving nod. The pekko drawing the carriages increased their speed, their powerful limbs propelling them forward in a swift trot, compelling Gorak and the others to grip the carriage walls tightly to maintain their balance.

Following a rapid, jolting traversal through the rugged terrain, the landscape underwent another radical alteration. The crimson glow dissipated, supplanted by a murky, oppressive swamp. A dense, grayish-green mist lay heavy over stagnant water, and gnarled, leafless trees emerged from the mire like skeletal fingers reaching skyward. Bubbles surfaced from the dark water, releasing clouds of noxious fumes.

The stench assaulted the carriages like a physical blow.

Gorak's complexion turned ghastly green as he retched, his hand instinctively flying to cover his nose. "What the hell?! What is that abominable odor?!"

Jaigar's eyes welled with tears as he coughed uncontrollably, his voice raspy. "It reeks of decaying corpses! Are you attempting to poison us?!"

One of Jaigar's female companions leaned out of the window and vomited, quickly followed by another. Inside Gorak's carriage, Valcrea and Noji were gagging violently, tears streaming from their eyes due to the overwhelming stench.

"Oi, you beggar!" Gorak shouted, his voice strained. "What manner of infernal path have you chosen?! First the searing heat, now this noxious miasma?! Are you leading us to our doom?!"

Javier, seated serenely atop Buddy, glanced back with an innocent façade. "Hmm? Oh, this is merely the poison swamp. Fret not, you shall acclimatize to the aroma soon enough~"

A cacophony of complaints, indignant shouts, gagging sounds, and the unmistakable noises of vomiting erupted from both carriages as the pekko, driven by instinct, quickened their pace, their robust legs carrying them rapidly through the fetid marshland.

Javier maintained his unwavering focus on the path ahead, Buddy bounding forward with an air of casual ease, his tongue lolling slightly as he relished the swift movement.

Heh~

This confirms my suspicions.

These scoundrels possess far less fortitude than they project.

If they can’t withstand a little heat and a degree of foulness, then their weakness is more profound than I initially thought. Any true warrior or veteran combatant would have endured far graver hardships without uttering a single complaint. Elevated temperatures, unpleasant odours, and arduous terrain are all commonplace for anyone who has genuinely experienced combat.

A backward glance was cast towards the procession of carriages, a chilling smirk gracing his lips.

Should they already be so thoroughly demoralized by a mere environmental impediment, their prospects against the trials awaiting them ahead are utterly nonexistent.

Javier emitted a low, dark chuckle, his eyes alight with a cold, detached amusement.

Ah~ I am quite curious as to how they will fare in the final trial.

Although it is less extensive than the magma expanse and this noxious mire, the zone of intensified gravity will serve as the ultimate crucible.

If these wretches cannot endure that, then they have never possessed the capacity to confront me individually, let alone engage any of the Armand contingent. And they most assuredly would stand no chance against Father’s might.

His gaze descended to his own hand, his fingers flexing subtly.

That gravitational zone exerts merely two to three times the ambient gravity. In contrast, my minimal gravity manipulation skill, once engaged, imposes three times normal gravity. Furthermore, I possess the capability to escalate it significantly beyond that threshold.

He smirked, his countenance morphing into a visage of cold, predatory intent.

If they falter and collapse under such a rudimentary challenge, then these scoundrels are nothing but empty boasts.

His gaze swept over his shoulder, observing the pallor that had overtaken them all, their bodies visibly weakened and trembling in the lingering miasma of the poison swamp. Some were still retching, while others leaned against the carriage walls, their faces drained of all color.

This is but a minor retribution for the magnitude of your transgressions.

His expression darkened, his eyes blazing with an icy, unyielding fury.

You abominable curs slaughtered individuals who were utterly defenseless. People who ran towards you, seeking succure, believing you to be their salvation. You mowed them down like mere beasts, reveling in their dying screams. You treated their lives as your personal plaything, your macabre sport. You never even acknowledged their humanity, viewing them solely as targets for your depraved entertainment.

His gaze deepened further, his eyes contracting into narrow slits of incandescent rage.

Let us see how long you can possibly endure, you conceited, worthless filth.

You shall all face true retribution.

Either at my hands... or my father's.