Chapter Forty-Two: Laughter

When Andy fell under the “Enchantment” status and began behaving strangely, Catherine was in the midst of savoring some delicious aura she had just detected from the Grand Knight Allen. Upon noticing Andy’s distress, she immediately abandoned her feast and rushed towards him, calling out anxiously as she ran.

Andy suddenly burst into flames, forcing Catherine to circle the perimeter, pacing anxiously to avoid the fire. Grand Knight Allen scrambled away from the burning area on all fours, so hastily that he didn’t even notice when he regained the ability to move.

At that moment, the flames, having swelled to a critical point, began to contract and were finally drawn completely back into Andy’s body. Andy felt a soothing warmth suffuse his form, as though he had just emerged from a steam bath.

By a twist of fate, the explosive surge of fire within him had resulted in a comprehensive improvement. Not only had his “Ignition Art” advanced to a masterful level of control, but his “Flame Arrow” and “Fireball” spells had also reached expert proficiency.

Moreover, his physical strength now thoroughly surpassed the threshold of a Grand Knight; should his swordsmanship improve just a little more, he would be able to wield Grand Knight-level combat skills and achieve a full promotion to Grand Knight.

Though Andy had gained tremendous power, he felt not the slightest gratitude toward Carol, who had triggered his advancement. The very thought of the fantasies he had entertained under that perverted individual’s influence nearly made him retch. Without a word, Andy hurled a freshly empowered expert-level “Fireball” straight at that fiend.

Both Carol and Captain Barton, still locked in battle, were startled by Andy’s earlier explosive display. Seeing that Andy had emerged unscathed and now launched a fireball at him, Carol could not help but sneer.

With a casual flick of his whip, he struck out at the fireball.

To his shock, the fireball veered unexpectedly before he could intercept it, striking him squarely in the back. The silvery shield of light protecting Carol flickered and finally extinguished.

With his “Flame Arrow” and “Fireball” now both at expert level, their cooldowns were greatly reduced, and Andy intentionally increased the frequency of his attacks. Even though Andy was not exerting himself to the fullest, Carol, now on the opposing side, found himself in dire straits.

His “Guardian’s War Dance” was still on cooldown. Bereft of its protection, Carol could only do his utmost to fend off Andy’s sorceries with his whip. But with Andy’s improved command, his spells became unpredictable and elusive, leaving Carol breathless and scrambling.

Adding to his woes, Captain Barton, sensing an advantage, intensified his attacks. Carol began to falter, occasionally letting a spell slip through and strike him.

Were it not for his recent advancement to Silver Rank, which granted him substantial resistance to spells below level 3, the battle would likely have ended already.

Grand Knight Allen watched the shifting situation with his mouth agape, having witnessed it all. As an experienced fighter, he knew exactly what state Andy had been in. When Carol used “Enchantment” on him, Allen’s heart skipped a beat.

Who could have foreseen that, instead of being incapacitated, Andy would erupt with even greater power, his combat prowess soaring to new heights? Grand Knight Allen could only marvel at the unpredictability of life.

He mused to himself, “Who would have thought an aphrodisiac could cause such a leap in battle strength? Maybe I should try it next time.”

Glancing at the duel between Knight Barton and Carol, he thought, “But Grand Knights fight differently than that boy does—ours are usually close-quarters, hand-to-hand struggles.”

His gaze shifted to Carol. He imagined himself on an aphrodisiac, then charging in for a melee with that man…

A chill ran down Allen’s spine.

After such a prolonged fight, Knight Barton was growing weary. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Deputy Captain Allen, now fully recovered, standing idly by, sometimes glancing this way or that, his expression shifting from stern to silly, punctuated by the occasional shudder.

Captain Barton fumed. Here he was, fighting for his life, while his subordinate watched from the sidelines, lost in daydreams. He roared, “Allen!”—so loudly that even Carol, locked in combat with him, was startled.

Andy seized the moment and struck Carol with a swift “Flame Arrow.”

With Grand Knight Allen finally joining the fray, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Realizing the tide had turned, Carol tried to flee. But even at top speed, a Battle Maiden was slower than a Grand Knight of the same rank, let alone someone like Andy, who could accelerate four times over.

Seeing escape was impossible, Carol suddenly reversed direction and charged at Andy, enduring a sword strike to the back from Knight Barton as he did so, his long whip lashing for Andy. If he was to die, he’d at least try to take his enemy down with him! And perhaps, if he eliminated Andy, he might still have a chance to turn the tables.

But Andy did not give him the opportunity. Keeping a safe distance, he showed no interest in testing his newfound Grand Knight constitution in close combat.

From afar, Andy continued to unleash his spells.

Carol, bellowing hoarsely, swung his whip in desperate resistance, but after a brief struggle, Andy landed a fireball squarely on his head. In the ensuing moment of dizziness, Allen and Barton both drove their swords home—one piercing Carol’s chest, the other his abdomen.

Andy ceased casting, adopting a posture of quiet repose to recover his magical energy.

The battle was over. Carol had no hope of survival.

Captain Barton collapsed to the ground, exhausted. Seeing this, Allen hurried to assist him. Barton shuddered in distaste at first, then, thinking better of it, allowed Allen to help him up.

Carol lay on the ground, struggling to rise like a fish out of water. But after several attempts, he could not stand; the piercing pain in his chest and abdomen left him dizzy and weak.

With his last ounce of strength, Carol turned his head, his gaze unfocused as he looked toward his distant homeland. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered, “Mother…”

Then his head dropped, and he moved no more.

After a brief rest, Allen and Barton began tending to the wounded and rousing the unconscious members of the knightly order.

Andy did not join them. Instead, he approached the mountain of corpses piled in the square. Before him lay the little girl who had given him a floral wreath during the “Crown Festival.”

He gently cradled the girl’s body, wrapped her in his apprentice’s robe, and placed her on the order’s carriage. Catherine stood quietly by his side, watching in silence as he performed these rites.

Suddenly, wild laughter erupted from the top of the wizard’s tower—laughter that sounded uncannily like Edward’s of old.

A sense of foreboding seized Andy’s heart.

Ignoring the bewildered knights, he leapt from the carriage and sprinted towards the wizard’s tower.

He didn’t even stop to grab a shirt; he was still bare-chested, clad only in his undergarments.

Quickly activating “Windwalk” and “Lightfoot,” and benefitting from a +60 movement speed bonus and increased movement enhancements, he charged headlong toward the top of the wizard’s tower.