Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 310

The words were not those of encouragement or warmth, but arrogant words. Yet, they were perfect for lifting the mood.

• "Kuh! As expected, I prefer this moment over being with Kyle."

• "Wow, is this really the Theo Ragnar, who was once just a lowly noble?"

• "You haven’t even matured for a few years, yet you already have such depth."

In the cheerful atmosphere, everyone in the Baekgapyonggide mounted their Biryong.

"Umbra."

From the shadows of the platform, Umbra's massive form roared loudly at Theo's call.

Kieeeek-!

‘He’s still exaggerating today.’

Theo chuckled awkwardly at Umbra, who continued to show off, before he too mounted his steed and soared into the sky.

Flap! Flap!

As the rest of the members took flight as well, the sound of wings filled the air, echoing throughout the training grounds.

Theo tightened the reins and led the group toward the Naga’s Forest.

The massive trees that seemed to touch the sky.

The once-renowned natural scenery.

After one great battle, it had already been heavily damaged.

No, even so, it hadn’t crossed a point where recovery was impossible. Given time, it could regain its former glory.

If only those things hadn’t appeared.

Now, the hell that spread before them was different from the cursed land of that time.

From the boundary of the forest, where traces of the battle remained, to the outside, magic circles were meticulously and thoroughly established like the building of a solid wall.

As a result, a barrier that disturbed the senses was created. From the outside, it would look like a desolate wasteland.

That wasn’t all.

Even summoned beasts couldn’t enter, and birds flying in the sky couldn’t perceive this place.

Even if something attempted to cross, the wind would be blocked by a central line drawn by the Black Dragon of the past, bouncing back and failing to pass. Additionally, there were magic formations set up to intercept any lifeforms.

It was truly a high-level fortress.

And near the important entrance of the Naga’s Forest.

That place, as it was, was hell itself.

The stench that seemed like it would numb the nose had already transformed into poisonous fumes, forcing even the Mage Tower members to wear purification masks to be able to work.

Here and there, the cries of the Naga tribe echoed.

"Kk, Kkkaaack!"

"P-please! Save me!"

These were still newly captured Naga, who had just arrived.

"How dare the Mage Tower dishonor us!"

"How could they commit such a despicable act! Show some respect and kill us!"

Some were locked in cages, watching their kin being humiliated, shedding bloody tears.

But for them, the real hell was just beginning.

Some of the Naga, realizing this, had fallen into despair and were laughing mindlessly.

What was once a vast swamp had turned a deep bluish color and was emitting steam.

The land adjacent to the swamp, now tinged with the color of death, was nearly impossible to approach without protective suits or magical measures.

And deep within that land...

"Kill me..."

"Please... kill me..."

The Naga were struggling within, in horrific conditions.

Their bodies slowly melting due to the acid.

Yet, magic was being used to extract all their life force.

Watching this, even the eyes of the Mage Tower members who were conducting the experiments had grown dull with exhaustion.

‘It’s like a jar of loneliness.’

Looking at this, Nazariou grimaced and described it as such.

A process used to create infamous poisons from the East.

It involved mixing numerous poisonous substances and having them kill each other until the last surviving poison created the ultimate toxin.

The remains of the creatures and bodies that couldn’t die, floating above the swamp.

Just looking at it made Nazariou feel nauseous, but he had already become accustomed to it.

The ingredients, however, were far from just poisons.

Upon reflection, it didn’t seem so different.

The immense pain and life force contained within.

They were consumed hungrily, and new, stronger chimeras were reborn.

"Disgusting."

Nazariou muttered those words.

He could barely keep his eyes open, and closed them tightly.

How had things turned out this way?

He asked himself, but couldn’t come to an answer.

Initially, the Mage Tower hadn’t come here to perform such filthy deeds.

They never imagined they would dabble in dark magic like this, not even in their dreams.

The future they envisioned had always been brilliant.

They dreamed of the Six-Peaked City, shining brighter than anyone.

And yet, the darkness they now faced was unbelievably deep.

Thus, the words he spoke just now were words of self-contempt.

Of course...

"I’m sorry. I think it’s the fish that smell..."

"That’s enough. Go."

The members of Six-Peaked City, who couldn’t possibly know the hidden meaning of his words, continued to implant unknown jewels into the hearts of the Naga.

"Kyaaack!"

"Grrk, Grrkkk!"

The pupils of the Naga, whose hearts had been pierced by the jewels, turned bloodshot and lost focus, their bodies sagging like ghouls.

‘Finally, we’ve reached this point.’

Nazariou felt a sense of triumph at the sight.

The slow progress of the experiments had finally begun to bear fruit.

"Ha, don’t you fear the heavens...?"

"You will be cursed...! Evil demon!"

"You will go to hell!"

Three other Naga, bound behind, screamed and cursed at Nazariou, tears streaming down their faces.

Spit-!

One of them spat at Nazariou, and the saliva stuck to his cheek, dampening it.

"How dare you!"

"Who dares to spit such filthy bodily fluids on my face!"

Seeing this, two members of the Mage Tower who stood by Nazariou’s side tried to retaliate, but...

"Enough. You two go."

Nazariou stopped them nonchalantly, wiping the spit with his sleeve.

"How ridiculous for a so-called wise Naga to believe in such superstitions?"

"You, you bastard!"

"Anyway, I want to ask about a fish that escaped the forest."

Nazariou looked at them with a sneer.

Not long ago, a Naga had escaped from the barrier he had set up with several layers of protection, chimeras, and summoned beasts.

Even after sending a pursuit team, the fact that they hadn’t found him yet suggested that the entire pursuit team had been annihilated.

"If you tell me, I will kill you mercifully. Without pain. But..."

Nazariou’s eyes gleamed with madness.

His deep, abyss-like gaze turned toward the Naga.

"If you stay loyal, I won’t use you as materials for chimeras. I will cut off your limbs and let you live in that swamp for the rest of your life."

At that moment...

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Blood splattered on Nazariou’s face.

"Oh my."

He smiled coldly, looking at the three who had just bitten their tongues and committed suicide.

Then, he stretched out his right hand.

Zzing.

A magic circle appeared in the air and quickly covered the bodies of the three Naga who had committed suicide.

"Huff! Huff!"

"No! Please!"

"..."

"You died wrong. If you had poisoned yourselves, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it. Too bad."

Nazariou spoke without a shred of humanity left in his face.

"It no longer matters. You probably went to call for reinforcements. But can they even find this place?"

Nazariou spoke and turned away, giving instructions to his subordinate.

"Cut off their limbs, put muzzles on them, and bury them in the swamp. Make sure they don’t die."

"Yes, understood."

At Nazariou’s command, the faces of the three Naga turned pale in an instant.

"Follow me!"

"No, please! Just kill me!"

"Kill me, just kill me!"

They screamed, being dragged off to Six-Peaked City.

Soon after, horrific sounds of flesh being torn and bones breaking echoed loudly, and their final screams filled the air.

"..."

Nazariou listened to the sounds, feeling strangely detached, as if he had no feelings left.

Perhaps it was because he had cast so many lives into hell.

Now, he didn’t even feel human anymore.

‘How did this happen...’

He couldn’t stir any emotion within himself, even when he tried to self-reflect.

That’s when he made up his mind.

‘I will definitely take the holy land.’

Having already walked an irreversible path, Nazariou now had only one goal: to achieve results.

Now, with only that left, he believed that if he obtained the results, no matter what process he had to go through, it would all be justified.

"Push the experiments forward! We must not delay any longer! The holy land must fall by tonight!"

"Yes, understood!"

Nazariou shouted loudly, his gaze casting far beyond, seemingly toward the sky, but more accurately, toward the direction of the Ragnar territory.

‘The preparations are perfect.’

Since yesterday, unease had slowly been creeping up.

It had started when a single Naga had escaped the barriers.

Despite sending pursuit teams, they hadn’t found the Naga yet, which likely meant that the entire pursuit team had been wiped out.

And the reinforcements that had arrived were, unfortunately, Ragnar.

This realization only intensified Nazariou’s anxiety.

The external defenses were already so thoroughly constructed, Nazariou was confident they were near perfection. The Mage Tower’s walls were no different, and they had set up a perfect perimeter.

Despite this, the feeling of unease continued to linger.

‘Theo Ragnar.’

He was the one who had once destroyed Nazariou’s plans.

At the time, Nazariou had thought his defenses were perfect, but the plan had been thwarted.

That’s why Nazariou believed he couldn’t afford to be complacent this time.

“The mobility of the Baekgap Yonggide is outstanding. Since they are Biryong, their mana resistance is excellent as well. Pay special attention and devise offensive tactics for them.”

“How much should we set up?”

“As much as possible. And move quickly. Only the minimum number of people should remain, and the rest should move out immediately.”

“Understood.”

The subordinate didn’t question him and quietly set off with the remaining members of Six-Peaked City, heading toward the outer perimeter.

Even with these measures in place...

“They will break through.”

Nazariou’s sharp intuition was certain of it.

What he feared was Theo’s growth.

The most recent information about him had come directly from the Mage Tower.

It was reported that during the succession ceremony, Theo had moved so quickly that no one saw him cut off the head of the Narsio family’s head, and during the territorial battle with the Narsio clan, he overwhelmed even the Taesang’s ruler with his immense skill.

• "The information was thoroughly delivered. Support was provided abundantly. If he fails to achieve results after setting up all these measures, the consequences will be severe."

Even warnings like these hadn’t fazed him, since he thought that failure would result in death anyway.

What mattered now was the impending rematch with the person who had caused all of this.

“Before Ragnar arrives, I will conquer the holy land.”

His gaze once again turned to the Naga's village.