Turning Chapter 972

“I know. You’ve done well. You can step back now and leave the rest to .”

The mont Gakein heard those words, relief surged through him and drained all the strength from his body. He bowed deeply in salute.

“...Thank you! From now on, I’ll stand back and guard your side, Commander!”

What he really wanted to say was I’m sorry. That he wasn’t good enough to truly fill in during the Commander’s absence, that this was all he could manage, that he was ashad he couldn’t live up to the trust placed in him—and that he begged forgiveness.

But now wasn’t the ti for that. Gakein decided to retreat for now, carrying only the relief that none of his comrades had been hard, and that Kishiar didn’t seem seriously wounded.

However, just as he turned to leave, Kishiar unexpectedly called out to him.

“Gakein Bollenvalt.”

“...Yes?”

“I already suspected the breakwater was nearing its limit before I left. With no ti to spare, I figured it would collapse and there’d be nothing we could do. But the fact that you ca up with and implented a temporary solution so quickly... That I didn’t expect. Impressive.”

Gakein’s face and neck flushed red as he stood in stunned silence.

“Ah... It was just a temporary fix. If not for Kanna and the others who kept at it despite the danger, none of it would’ve worked...”

“But you were the first to think of a way. That’s not sothing to downplay.”

Cutting Gakein off, Kishiar gave his shoulder a light tap. That light touch felt, to Gakein, like it shook the entire world.

“You did better than expected. It must’ve been tough.”

Kishiar turned away. For a few seconds, Gakein stood frozen, then brought a trembling hand to his face and let out a silent scream.

Ugh—aaaaah...!

If a body could burst from sheer emotional pressure, now would be that mont. He was so happy—but unsure if he was even allowed to feel joy in such a situation, it made it hard to breathe.

Throughout his life, he had often wanted to hide sowhere invisible, burdened by the way others projected expectations onto him just because of his appearance and noble lineage. Deep down, he had wished soone else could step into his place—soone who looked just like him but could live up to those expectations.

But now, the feeling of wanting to hide from sheer joy—so overwhelming it left him dazed—was sothing completely new.

The shadow at Gakein’s feet twitched and writhed around his ankles before returning to its original form. Then he turned and ran, full of renewed energy, toward Kanna, the other mbers, and the new arrivals stepping off the boat.

“Don’t rush! I’ll help!”

“Duke.”

Before long, Nathan Zuckerman and Helrem arrived in front of Kishiar. As Nathan reached out to hand him a towel to dry his seawater-soaked body, Kishiar refused the offer.

“I’m fine. Better to send that to Mick in the dical tent.”

“Understood.”

Knowing his lord well, Nathan didn’t press further. Helrem, eyes narrowed in concern, asked cautiously,

“Mick... in the dical tent? Was he badly hurt?”

“He tried to observe sothing even more dangerous in an already perilous place. Injury was inevitable. It’s my fault for pushing him. But thanks to him, I was able to finish the mission.”

“Hmph. That brat finally did sothing useful for once, and for his lord no less. You should be proud, not apologizing.”

Despite her biting words, Helrem glanced toward the dical tent. Clearly, she was more worried than she let on. But she soon turned her gaze back to the distant towering blue wall.

“So that’s the final wave?”

“Yes.”

“Didn’t expect it to be that big. I guess it’s putting up a hell of a fight, being the last one. This won’t be easy.”

“Indeed. How many of the magic trap tools the mages prepared do we have left?”

“I’d love to say we’ve got plenty... but the mages here have pitiful amounts of mana. There’s only so much we can create on-site. I’m afraid we don’t have many spares.”

“Having any left at all is enough. Bury the remaining ones as close to the shoreline as you can, spread out wide.”

“Understood.”

“After that, you and the mages should retreat to the high ground imdiately.”

After giving his orders, Kishiar turned to Nathan Zuckerman.

“Nathan.”

“Yes.”

“Over there, near that wave—that’s where Yuder and the others are. Can you see them?”

“...The fog is too thick to determine their exact location.”

“That wave is far taller than expected. I have a feeling it might grow even bigger. But even if ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) it does, that doesn’t an it’s without weaknesses.”

“Do you have sothing in mind?”

“That wave will soon split into several branches. The ones over there will make it happen. When it does—that’s our chance. We’ll strike with a diversion, reduce its height, and take out as many monsters within it as possible all at once.”

Kishiar didn’t na who would cause the split. He spoke as though the plan was already set, as though failure wasn’t even on the table.

Because Yuder Aile was there. That was reason enough.

“So, when the wave splits—we release our aura.”

Speaking words that ordinary people couldn’t even begin to imagine, Kishiar fell silent, giving Nathan ti to think. Staring out at the sea, Nathan finally spoke.

“You an... to repeat what you did yesterday—cutting the sea open.”

“Sothing like that. But this ti, we’ll do it from high above—not here.”

Kishiar pointed upward with his finger.

“I’ll lift you and myself. We’ll have no ground beneath us, but we’ll do it anyway. Can you manage?”

A slow shift ca over Nathan Zuckerman’s usually impassive face. He answered clearly—not as an aide, not as a servant, but as a fearless swordsman.

“If I couldn’t manage that much, I wouldn’t deserve to be called a Swordmaster.”

“Good. It’s tis like these I’m grateful I trained my aide well.”

With a laugh, Kishiar ruffled Nathan’s hair and rolled up his sleeves.

“If this really is the last gift Yuder sends my way... then I’ll savor it. Alright—let’s get ready.”

As if by silent agreent, the two n unsheathed their swords and walked toward the sea, without a mont of hesitation.

From atop the towering wave, the land below looked like scattered dust within a perilous fog. Like gazing down from a serene mountain peak, it all seed so small and fleeting.

But there was no peace beneath Yuder’s feet. He stood facing the wave, letting the wind and sea spray, sharp as knives, lash his skin—his cold stare fixed on the monstrous wall of water.

Damn thing. It’s like it’s sucking in all the surrounding water, growing taller and taller.

As if, failing to cause an earth-shattering quake, it intended to drown everything in water instead. The wave surged violently under the pressure of Yuder and the others’ combined efforts—but instead of weakening, it thrashed even more furiously, growing larger still.

As though so events simply must co to pass.

Yuder hadn’t expected the aftershocks from the collapsing seabed fissure to cause this much chaos. That miscalculation stung. But he’d already made his choice. Even if he could go back, he’d make the sa decision again.

Because it’s sothing I can fix.

He thought back to how far they’d co—Kishiar, the others, and himself.

Yuder would never let this wave crash down and devour the land, swallowing the entire South.

He had already reversed countless events from his previous life. Not once had it been easy, and this was no exception. So there was no reason this one would be different.

Crimson haze erupted from Yuder’s entire body.

Fall. Split apart!

The sea howled in protest at his power.

— Kuwaaaaahhh!

How is he doing this...?

Nearby, Steber, lending his power, was briefly struck speechless. Watching Yuder—locked in a mad battle against the wave, like sothing beyond human—he couldn’t help but feel overwheld. Even if this all failed, no one could bla him after what he’d done. And yet Yuder, as if there was nothing behind him to fall back on, clawed and clawed, pouring out every ounce of power like a demon.

The strongest among them was fighting more desperately than anyone.

No family to protect, no real understanding of the weight of grand ideals—he was just a young man. Yet his sheer determination felt beyond reason.

Where did this endless will and burning focus co from? Steber didn’t know—but the more curious he beca, the more he wanted to help.

He struck at the small monsters that kept leaping from the waves to grab at Yuder’s ankles. These beasts pierced through everything else, yet Yuder’s power drew them like moths to a fla. With a flick of force, Steber crushed them. The monsters shrieked in agony before falling, flattened, into the sea.

And through it all, Yuder never looked back. His focus never wavered. More and more power poured from him.

The wave surged forward—and Yuder’s strength lashed at it again and again, trying to rein it in. The unit joined him, enlarging and tightening the noose. Water and wind spun into a violent dance.

Several tis, Steber thought, This is it. I’m going to die here. When the strength left his limbs, and he sank into the wave—that would be the end.

And yet, looking at Yuder’s steadfast back, he couldn’t help but dig his heels in and follow. Like a youth again, filled with wild energy—he wanted to cleave this cursed wave apart at Yuder’s side.

Finally—

When Yuder sent out another blast of power, weaving it together with the others’ strength, they cast yet another net across the wave.

And this ti—sothing caught.

The wave wavered, reacting differently than before.

“It caught! Don’t stop—keep going!”

Soone shouted, seizing the mont. Yuder’s golden eyes flashed fiercely.

At last, the wave began to split.