Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 242

“What on earth is going on here?”

The confusion was evident on Theo’s face and those of his companions. It was Julius who first noticed something, his expression hardening as he spoke.

“…Tan Mulligan.”

“Tan? He’s there?”

The Maehwa Palace Lord whipped her head around to scrutinize the front of the undead legion with a startled expression.

Leading the skeletal horde was a rider atop a skeletal horse. The figure was clad in armor caked with dirt and dust, with more than half of its head shattered, making it difficult to determine its identity.

Despite its broken state, the undead radiated a commanding presence, far more powerful than the rest of the skeletal soldiers, and its aura accounted for more than half of the deathly energy suffusing the army.

“I’m certain. That left eye—it’s the five-colored gem I gave him.”

After Julius pointed it out, the Maehwa Palace Lord finally noticed that the rider’s shattered face had one intact spot: its left eye. A jewel-like object embedded in the socket glowed faintly with an iridescent light.

“Tan Mulligan… Are you referring to the ‘Southern Sea Sword,’ the younger brother of Mulligan’s current head?”

Theo knew well of Tan Mulligan’s reputation. He was famous for eradicating pirates in the Southern Archipelago, and it was often said that if the current head of Mulligan were absent, Tan would undoubtedly succeed him.

“That’s correct.”

“Then why is he—”

“He must have fought a fierce battle and later became caught in the rampant Mystic. That’s how he ended up an undead.”

Theo infused [Spiritual Insight] into his eyes, carefully examining the skeletal legion. Sure enough, the soldiers bore various injuries—shattered skulls, severed limbs, and other signs of severe damage.

It was evident that they had engaged in a massive battle. Even in life, these soldiers must have been exceptionally skilled.

“If this unit was under the command of the Southern Sea Sword, then—”

“It must be the Iron Isles Cavalry.”

The Iron Isles Cavalry was a unit originally composed of former pirates. Tan Mulligan had formed the group by recruiting captives during his campaign to subjugate the Southern Archipelago.

Although their origins were dubious, their ferocity and skill were unparalleled, earning them notoriety that only furthered Mulligan’s fame and infamy.

For such an elite unit to fall in this manner was hard to believe.

But what shocked them even more was another revelation.

“…They were all taken down by a single person.”

“It seems that way, doesn’t it?”

Every skeletal soldier bore identical wounds, consistent across the entire legion. What’s more, the injuries carried a distinct energy that Theo recognized all too well.

“It seems they encountered Hilda… Let’s move before we’re noticed.”

Their mission was to locate Hilda and assess the current state of the Naga. Avoiding unnecessary combat was crucial.

Fortunately, by retracing the path this legion had traveled, they might be able to uncover Hilda’s trail.

With a flash of determination, Theo signaled the group, and they resumed their march.

***

The skeleton army of Mulligan was only the beginning.

Kyaaaak!
Kieeeek!

As the group pressed forward, carefully muffling their footsteps, a shadow darkened the sky above. Ominous howls echoed from all directions, reverberating like an otherworldly symphony. Something darted rapidly between the trees.

“Monkeys?”

Rey squinted, trying to make out the creatures moving at unnatural speeds.

“No! Those are the Baekwon Tribe!” Erika yelled urgently, stepping in front of Rey.

Clang!

A stone ricocheted off her sword, sending vibrations through the air. It wasn’t just a random stone throw—it carried an undeniable intent to kill, with force rivaling a siege weapon.

“Form up!”

At Julius’s command, the group quickly organized. Lezé and Kincarnon took the front, Maehwa Palace Lord guarded the flanks, while Erika, Holcus, and Rey covered the remaining positions.

As soon as they formed a defensive circle, a rain of stones descended.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Each projectile was powerful enough to shatter ordinary weapons. Only by infusing their swords with mana could they withstand the assault.

Above their heads, massive, ape-like creatures leaped between branches.

The Baekwon Tribe, known for their silken fur, now looked nothing like their namesake. Much like Mulligan’s skeleton army, their appearances were grotesque and unnatural.

It was clear that Hilda had massacred them, and now these cursed creatures were venting their fury on Theo’s party.

Awooooo!
Krrrrrk!

Next came an eerie chorus of howls as wolf and tiger beastfolk emerged from the underbrush.

The Cheongrang (Blue Wolves) and Baekhoin (White Tigers) were among the most fearsome and warlike beastfolk tribes.

“It seems even the Beastfolk Vanguard has fallen,” Julius said coldly, infusing his sword with mana. Dark energy coursed along the blade.

He recognized some of the undead among the beastfolk, even spotting a few he had once shared drinks with, pledging camaraderie in the past.

The Chiak Battalion.

As Ragnar had the White Armored Dragon Knights, the Beastfolk Vanguard had the Chiak Battalion—a legendary force known for their unmatched combat prowess.

Now, seeing their fall, Julius clenched his teeth. Sentimentality had no place here.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With each swing of his sword, black lightning streaked through the sky, striking the ground with devastating force.

Marryong Yukye (The Six Arts of the Black Dragon).

The power unleashed was as if a black dragon had swept its tail across the battlefield. Trees toppled in droves, some crushing the Baekwon Tribe, while others blocked the paths of the Cheongrang and Baekhoin.

The reprieve was brief.

“North!”

Without hesitation, the group bolted toward the only clear direction. They weren’t running away but conserving their strength for what was ahead.

Swish!

Theo’s instincts flared as he sensed a hidden strike. A dagger aimed for his neck was met with the upward thrust of his Drake Fang Blade.

Clang!

The dagger spun into the air before being caught by a figure perched on a branch.

The attacker was grotesque, with half his face decayed, but his attire was immaculate—a pristine tailcoat, polished shoes, and a handkerchief. He looked more suited for a social gala than the dust-filled forest.

This was the Black Gentleman, the finest assassin of the Priestly Union.

Though the Priestly Union originated as a guild of assassins, they had evolved into a noble house under the guise of eliminating evildoers. Even the empire had recognized their efforts in quelling traitors, granting them noble titles and elevating them to one of the 18 prince-electors.

Yet, their origins remained evident, and they thrived in the shadows, wielding the immunity granted by their noble status.

“Ronan.”

The infamous assassin known as the Moonlight Shadow. Even he, it seemed, had fallen to Hilda’s curse.

The rustling of leaves confirmed what Theo suspected—more assassins from the Priestly Union were lurking in the shadows.

“This mission is taking longer than expected. Before we find the Naga, it seems we’ll have to deal with these pursuers,” Theo said with a wry smile.

With that, he leaped toward the advancing assassins.

Theo’s ability to sense mana streams was unmatched in his party. To take the advantage against the Priestly Union, he had to act personally.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Four swords shot out like spinning whirlwinds, skewering hidden enemies beneath the soil and within the treetops.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

But more assassins advanced.

Gripping his blade tightly, Theo spun, repelling their attacks in rapid succession.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sixteen against one.

Even in death, the Black Gentlemen fought with the same skill they had in life, their attacks relentless and precise.

The situation grew worse as the beastfolk Theo thought they had escaped regrouped and attacked the rear.

The Maehwa Palace Lord dashed toward them, her lightning-fast swordsmanship cutting through the agile assailants.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Her strikes scattered like broken petals, each slash a deadly blur.

Neigh! Thud! Thud! Thud!

From the side, Mulligan’s skeleton army reappeared. The prolonged battle had drawn them toward the commotion.

Julius stepped forward to meet them, his destructive swordsmanship making him the best choice to handle the overwhelming numbers.

“Tan, it seems I’ll have to take that gem back! Don’t worry—I’ll make sure it’s buried with you!”

Boom!

Black lightning roared as Julius unleashed a thunderous strike, shaking the forest to its roots.

The other vanguard members supported Julius and the Maehwa Palace Lord, holding the lines against the endless waves of enemies.

‘We need to shake them off.’

Theo, cleaving through another assassin, scanned the battlefield.

He had experienced something similar before—the Mystic of Krimhilt. Surviving amidst hordes of dragon warriors had been no small feat, but Theo had emerged stronger since then.

Still, undead were never easy to fight. Their relentless hatred for the living made them nearly impossible to stop.

The bigger problem was that the longer they lingered here, the higher the chance Hilda would detect their presence. More undead would swarm them, making escape increasingly difficult.

That’s the nature of undead: they don’t die. Even if you break their heads, they stubbornly rise again.

But the worst was yet to come.

Of the four great noble houses that had entered the forest ahead of Ragnar, one had yet to show itself.

‘The Beastfolk Vanguard, the Priestly Union, and Mulligan were all formidable in life. That fourth house is likely no less dangerous—’

Theo’s thoughts were interrupted by an earth-shaking roar.

KROOOOAAAARRRRR!

A thunderous, bone-rattling bellow echoed through the forest.

?You damned humans!!?

The voice rang with fury, and Lodbrok, riding alongside Theo, reacted immediately.

“This...!”

Theo and the others snapped their heads upward.

There it was—the very last thing Theo had hoped to see.

A skeletal dragon soared in the sky above them.

Bone Dragon.

The pinnacle of the Tower’s might, or rather, what used to be. It was now under Hilda’s command, a grim testament to the chaos she had unleashed.