Sesillian’s eyes widened as I revealed my true identity, his face contorted with a mix of shock and something else—something I couldn’t quite decipher. That expression, filled with disbelief and a flicker of despair, made every bit of this unmasking worth it.
“I see…” he muttered, his voice trembling ever so slightly. “So all this—this interference, these countless acts of sabotage—it was all because of the misfit I created? And now, what… you want me to apologize for it? Get on my knees and beg at your feet for pardon?”
The very thought of him even attempting to brush off what he had done was laughable. There was no way any of this could ever be excused. I wouldn’t forgive him even if he threw himself on the ground, licking my feet—every inch, from each toe to the sole, down to the last detail on both feet. There was nothing, absolutely nothing he could do that would make up for his crimes. As far as I was concerned, this bastard deserved everything that was coming for him.
Seeing my unwavering expression, Sesillian let out a low, bitter chuckle. “Figures. I suppose I can’t exactly resurrect the people I’ve killed,” he laughed even more, a twisted glint in his eye. “Moriarty warned me to steer clear of you, said you were an anomaly—coming from an anomaly himself, mind you. He said it was best to keep my distance, to avoid mistakes… but I guess I slipped up. If that’s the case, then I’ll just have to make sure you can’t come after me!”
No sooner had the words left his lips than one of his brainwashed lackeys lunged at me, followed by others who’d been standing by. They surged forward, hands grasping, trying to hold me back in some desperate last-ditch effort orchestrated by Sesillian. He knew I wouldn’t kill them—they were just pawns, victims of his mind control. But it was too bad for him that I had the Guardian by my side.
With a forceful push, I sent them sprawling back, clearing a path straight toward Sesillian.
“Guardian?! How the hell do you have that?” he stammered. Then, his eyes narrowed as he pieced together his own explanation. “Ah, I see! A skill to copy other skills, perhaps? But such skills usually have limitations, don’t they? And aren’t copied abilities only half as powerful as the original?”
He wasn’t completely wrong, but he didn’t know the whole story either. If I copied a skill from someone I hadn’t fully dominated, its strength would be weakened, sure. But if I took it from someone I’d fully claimed, then the power was mine—unlimited and unbreakable, and I didn’t need to worry about its strength dropping. Not that I’d share that info with him; he wasn’t even the real enemy here. The one pulling the strings was Moriarty.
“Then it’s not as unbreakable as the true Guardian, right?” he sneered, a hint of desperation in his eyes.
As he commanded, his brainwashed followers swarmed me from all directions, their fists hammering against the Guardian’s shield. Each blow echoed, a reminder of their relentless obedience.
“Let’s see how long that Guardian will hold up!” Sesillian jeered, watching with a twisted smile.
In the chaos, Sesillian slipped out of the crowd, disappearing into the masses. It was clear that knocking a few of these people unconscious was the only way out of here. I didn’t have much choice.
With a quick, forceful command, I expanded the Guardian, forcing everyone around me to stagger back. Then, I braced myself, planting my feet on the ground before launching into the air. As I rose, I activated Levitation, slowing my descent as I scanned the area, searching for any trace of Sesillian. He’d likely bolted, but it was hard to tell with so many people in the way. I needed to end this before he had another chance to manipulate anyone else.
“There you are,” I murmured, channeling mana into a concentrated, laser-like beam at the tip of my finger. I aimed it directly at Sesillian, but just as I was about to fire, he ducked behind a crowd of people. A sea of bodies shifted around him as he hid, using them as shields. So, this was what they called a meat shield, huh? It was sickening, but I couldn’t say I was surprised—Sesillian had always been a coward.
Sesillian had never been one for close combat, which was exactly why he’d only made it to the silver class and opted for academic pursuits instead. The man had no spine. But I couldn’t lose him now.
First, though, I needed to put Charlotte somewhere safe, but I couldn’t afford to let him slip away. I summoned Air Magic, lifting myself off the ground, and with Levitation activated, I rose higher for a better view. I scanned the crowd from above, trying to pinpoint Sesillian’s location.
There he was—silver hair sticking out like a beacon as he cowered between two people. Perfect. I pointed my finger, ready to fire another concentrated mana beam at him.
But then I felt a chill creep up my spine, a prickling sensation of danger coming from behind. I turned, just in time to see a swarm of fireballs streaking toward me. Mages? I hadn’t expected him to have mages under his control too. This was a real mess. It made sense, though—if he could brainwash a magic knight, he’d clearly managed to rope in a few capable mages as well.
I swiftly summoned the Guardian, absorbing the brunt of the fireballs. But before I could even breathe, I sensed more danger from behind. I whirled around to see a barrage of arrows slicing through the air, heading straight for me. Archers now, too? How the hell had Sesillian gathered so many people? He was using his mind-controlling skill to its fullest, turning an otherwise minor ability into a genuine threat with his twisted ingenuity.
Blocking each arrow and projectile, I fortified the Guardian around me, feeling the weight of Charlotte in my arms as I defended us both. This fight was getting intense, and carrying her wasn’t helping. Every second counted.
“Hahaha! How’s that?!” Sesillian’s voice rang out, the sneer unmistakable but his position unclear. “This is for all the trouble you’ve caused me!”
The sound grated against my nerves, but I couldn’t pinpoint where he was. It was like trying to catch a shadow.
“Now die!”
Suddenly, projectiles shot from every angle, a relentless wave from all directions—top to bottom, left to right, hemming me in from every radius. I activated Guardian once again, surrounding myself in its barrier to block the onslaught. It was as though he’d orchestrated it all to keep me at a distance, barring me from coming even a step closer. Sesillian wielded his control over these people with terrifying efficiency, forcing them to attack with unerring precision.
Guardian held strong, shielding me from every attack, but it felt like being trapped in place, suspended in the air with no room to advance. I glanced at the tallest building nearby. It was far, but I could make it. Blocking another barrage of projectiles, I shot toward the building. I needed to get Charlotte to safety first. Without missing a beat, I deflected everything that came at me and, reaching the building, set her down.
I activated Guardian around her, enclosing her in its protective glow.
“Leon…” she murmured softly.
I didn’t respond. Leaving her safe, I shot back into the sky, eyes scanning the crowd below. I hadn’t lost him yet—he was still there, lurking, hiding among his brainwashed puppets.
Then, as if on cue, another volley of projectiles tore through the air, closing in from every side. This time, my hands were free, allowing me to block each one with renewed force. Sweeping down toward Sesillian, I landed amidst the crowd. People began to swarm me instantly, but I spread Guardian wide, pushing them back in a powerful surge. Some of the people he controlled were swordsmen, others had talent—yet they were no match. I overpowered them with quick, precise strikes, each one falling unconscious at my feet.
At last, I was face-to-face with Sesillian again.
“You are persistent, aren’t you?” he muttered, breaths heavy. “Do you really want to kill me that badly?”
“It’d be a pleasure,” I replied, summoning my mana blade, its edge gleaming in readiness.
“Well,” he sneered, “you’ll have to step over a pile of bodies before you even try!” With a command, he sent a fresh wave of people charging my way.
I wielded my mana blade with precision, hitting just enough to disrupt their nerves and send them into unconsciousness. It was as though I was brushing through air, sweeping each attacker aside until they dropped in unison, collapsing around me.
But Sesillian wasn’t finished yet.
“Think it’s that easy? You’re wrong!” he barked. This time, a squad that bore the unmistakable insignia of the royal knights charged forward, eyes glassy and unseeing.
