CHAPTER 129: REDIRECTION BEFORE REVOLUTION

Outside the towering spires of Austerra Castle, far beyond the bustle of its capital, the roads were alive with the thunder of marching armies.

From every corner of the kingdom, the noble families had answered the call. Their banners, each dyed in brilliant colors and marked with ancient crests, snapped in the wind as long columns of troops advanced across the countryside.

Knights in polished armor rode at the front on powerful steeds. Behind them followed endless ranks of archers, mages, pikemen, and shield-bearers, all bound for the same destination—Austerra Castle, their home, their fortress, and the heart of their King.

It wasn’t just soldiers that came. Lords themselves led the marches, leaving their wives, children, and only sparse guards to watch over their territories. Such was the gravity of the moment: protect the King, or watch the kingdom fall.

On the wide meadow road that curved like a ribbon toward the castle, one particular column stood out.

This was the army of the Skyfallen family, led by its head, Baron Ernie, a man notorious for his obsession with rare magical beasts.

His mount’s hooves pounded the dirt in rhythm with the rest of his cavalry, dust rising in their wake like a storm cloud.

"Any word of the King’s condition?" Baron Ernie asked sharply, his voice carrying over the thundering march.

His knight commander, riding at his side, leaned closer. "Our messenger’s last report said they were attacked by envoys of the Empire, my lord. There was even an assassination attempt. Wilfred the Moon Piercer himself struck at His Majesty."

The Baron scowled. "That damned Empire. How I wish we could sever ties once and for all. Parasites, the lot of them."

The commander hesitated, then added in a lower tone, "There’s... stranger news as well. Reports from other houses marching toward the castle."

Ernie’s sharp eyes narrowed. "Stranger how?"

The commander’s hand tightened on his reins as he recalled the message. "Their officer reported seeing a tiny magical beast standing in the road. Their horses froze the moment they approached."

"A magical beast?" Ernie frowned. "What kind?"

"He described it as a punto. But not ordinary. Green fur, three black horns. Possibly ascended."

The mage captain, riding a few strides behind, overheard and interjected. "That explains it. Horses are sensitive to magic.

Ordinary puntos have one horn and soft white fur. A three-horned variant... it would radiate far stronger energy. Enough to paralyze animals with fear."

Baron Ernie’s lips curled into a greedy smile. "Rare, indeed. Such a creature would make a fine addition to my collection. Or perhaps a meal for my Night Stalker."

The commander frowned.

"That’s not all, my lord. Their communication stopped mid-report. The officer claimed Count Giesler ordered the beast killed, but before he could finish his sentence... silence. The crystal connection died. I’ve tried reaching them since, but nothing. No signal. No messenger."

"Perhaps he dropped the phonol,"

Ernie muttered dismissively. His tone was flat, but his eyes flickered uneasily.

The matter might have ended there—but soon, something appeared on the road ahead.

A tiny shadow, spherical and unmoving, blocked their path.

Baron Ernie reined in his horse. "What the hell...?"

The creature was no bigger than a ball. Its fur was mossy green, so soft it looked more like a child’s toy than a beast.

A small, round black tail twitched behind it. Two owl-like eyes blinked curiously above a rabbit-like nose, and from its head jutted three small black horns, sharp enough to gleam in the sunlight. It was both absurdly cute and faintly menacing.

The commander whispered, "That must be it—the punto from the report."

"Looking at its features... yes," the mage confirmed, his face pale.

"But Count Giesler’s lands are half a day’s ride from here. How did it get ahead of us so fast?" the commander muttered.

"Perhaps it’s not rare at all," the mage said grimly. "Perhaps there are more. A spreading breed."

Ernie’s greed overpowered caution. "Archer!"

A rider nudged his horse forward, bow already strung. "My lord?"

"You see the creature?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Shoot it. A paralyzing arrow. Graze it only—I want it alive."

The archer smirked. "One rare punto for my lord. Coming up."

He drew a special arrow, its tip glowing faintly blue with paralyzing enchantment, and loosed it.

The arrow whistled toward its tiny target.

And then the punto’s mouth opened.

It inhaled, sucking the arrow inside like a snack. The soldiers blinked in disbelief. The creature chewed once, twice—then spat out a small black sphere. The orb pulsed with energy, violent and hungry, growing darker by the second.

"What—what is that?" Ernie gasped, his horse suddenly rearing. He and the beast were dragged forward, pulled as though by a miniature black hole.

Only the army moved—trees, stones, grass remained untouched. Yet every rider and soldier, from front to rear, was caught in the pull.

"It’s a Holy Beast! Run!" the mage screamed.

Panic tore through the column.

"Move, move, move!""Teleport! Use your scrolls!""They won’t work!""Mother of gods, we’re finished!"

The black sphere swelled, and in one great exhale, the punto released it. The orb expanded outward like a tidal wave, engulfing the entire army in a single swallow.

Soldiers vanished in shrieks and flashes of light, their horses buckling, their weapons clattering to the dirt.

And then, silence.

Not a single man remained. Only their footprints scarred the road.

The punto burped. A low, satisfied sound.

"Broooaagh~"

The orb shrank to a marble and rolled back into its mouth.

Bonbon stretched, his fluffy green fur puffing like a smug cat. "All right, my part’s done. The rest is up to you, Auren, Austaire."

His owl-like eyes narrowed with mischief. "It’s your choice what to do with my gift, perverted old man."

With a hop, he summoned a shimmering dimensional door and leapt inside.

The road fell quiet again, as though nothing had ever happened.

Far away, beneath the burning sun of the Thunga Desert, chaos bloomed.

Thousands of soldiers from at least ten noble houses lay scattered in the sand, choking on heat and confusion. Horses neighed in panic. Lords bellowed in disbelief.

"What do you mean we’re in the Thunga Desert?! That’s weeks away!"

"Home of sandworms and pirates—curse it all!"

"This is the Empire’s doing, it has to be!""Shut your mouth before you start a war within our own ranks!"

Teleportation scrolls failed. Crystals fizzled to dust. The distance back to Austerra would take two weeks of hard riding—if they survived the desert.

Barons, dukes, and counts screamed accusations at one another, sweat dripping down their brows.

Amid the shouting, a scout stumbled forward. "My lords! A man approaches!"

"Help? Fool!" Baron Ernie snarled. "Capture him. If he resists, cut out his tongue."

The man approached slowly, wrapped in desert garb, face hidden beneath a red cloth. He staggered like a drunkard, hiccupping.

"Stop there!" a commander barked. Soldiers surrounded him, swords raised.

Instead of fear, the man swayed to a kneel before a female knight, eyes twinkling.

"Oh, beautiful lady," he slurred, "your eyes shine brighter than stars in this empty desert sky. Please, bless me with your name."

That’s right. It was Ugha.

The Primordial Beast of Fire and Wind.- and he was drunk.

...

Meanwhile, back at Austerra Castle, the true battle raged.

On the bloodstained courtyard, Robert, Austaire, and Mardonio stood frozen as they watched in horror.

Auren, their elusive knight, fell from the sky. Aurelus descended after him like a predator, wings of flame spread wide, his sword glowing with phoenix fire. In one merciless strike, he drove the blade through Auren’s chest.

"Nooo! Auren!" Robert’s scream tore from his lungs. His body was battered, bleeding, but rage carried him forward.

The Dark Fate swarmed him instantly, forcing him to the ground. Austaire cried out, but she too was held back, powerless. Mardonio’s fists trembled, his jaw locked in fury.

"I’ll kill you, Aureluuus!" Robert roared, his cry echoing across the courtyard—until fists and boots from the Dark Fate crushed his voice, beating him into silence.

Austaire could only collapse to her knees, eyes wide, mouth trembling open without a single word escaping.

Auren, the one she had trusted, the ally she believed could turn the tide against Aurelus, now lay lifeless before her.

Her family was gone.

Even her grandfather, the indomitable Mardonio, was pinned down by five Dark Fate members, his strength shackled under their weight and pummeling.

On this night, there was no hope left to cling to.

Only the bitter taste of defeat awaited them.

They could only watch as Auren’s body went limp, blood spilling across the stones.

"Yeeeeah!"

"Long live the King!"

"No, long live the Emperor!"

The Dark Fate roared in triumph.

But Aurelus did not celebrate. He stood over Auren, his expression twisted with unease.

"This explains it," he murmured. "No wonder you were so strong despite such a pathetic level. You’ve been hiding your true form."

He twisted the flaming sword deeper, forcing a sickening cry from Auren’s throat. Blood bubbled from his lips.

Then Aurelus noticed something.

The Divine Frame hovering above Auren, once reading "Nathan, Knight, Level 27," flickered. And then—vanished.

Instantly.

Frames never vanished at death. They lingered for days, slowly fading. But this one was gone in a heartbeat.

Aurelus’s gut tightened. And then his eyes caught the hair—the color, the strands, the lashes.

His old memories surfaced.

A village girl named Merina. The one he had taken as concubine, long ago. A woman with willpower and talent beyond her given frame. Her hair had been just like this.

He frowned, unsettled.

And then—

"Watch out."

A woman’s voice spoke inside his mind.

Aurelus stiffened. He knew that voice. It was the awakened voice of the Spirit of the Phoenix in his mental space just like Bigbird.

"What now?" he muttered.

The voice sharpened.

"That boy... He is one of US!"