Reborn As Noble-Chapter 443: Into the Fray ( )

Javier walked slowly toward the gate as twilight faded into night. Even as darkness crept in, the streets glowed softly—mana-powered lamps flickered to life, lining the roads and buildings with a steady, warm light. Every town and city in the Armand region was equipped with them, a quiet sign of how far they'd come.

He smiled as he saw the Armand border guards waiting at the checkpoint.

"If anything happens, inform the estate and every base across Armand immediately," he instructed.

"Yes, young master!" one of the guards replied, handing him a small leather folder containing his official border pass permit—clearing him for travel into the Beastkin Kingdom. Though the Beastkin border was still a fair distance away, no gate captain would dare delay someone carrying the Armand seal.

Javier nodded, then turned to Buddy and reached into his magic storage.

With a small hum of mana, he pulled out a glowing mana-light collar and gently strapped it around Buddy's neck. It flickered once, then shone steadily, casting a cone of light ahead like a soft, magical light.

"There. You're my headlamp now."

Cuquawked! Buddy puffed up with pride, as if this were a royal decoration.

"Take care of yourself, young master!!" the guards called out as one, raising their hands in salute.

Javier turned back slightly, smirking with his usual confidence.

"You all too. And remember—our people's safety comes first."

"Yes, young master!!"

The gate creaked open, and with one last wave, Javier rode off into the night, the soft glow of the mana lamp leading the way down the winding road beyond Armand territory.

Buddy's head perked up, his feathers ruffling in alert. The evening air felt heavy with an odd tension, and the mana light around them flickered as if disturbed by some unseen force. Javier felt a chill, even though the evening was calm.

"Cuquawked?" Buddy squawked, confused, looking around. His beak clicked as he turned toward the woods lining the path.

Javier chuckled, sensing Buddy's discomfort. "Haha, funny. Well, don't worry. It's not like last time when we had those poor monsters falling into my magic storage."

Buddy gave a disgruntled "Cuquawked!" and shook his head, as if to say he preferred the monsters to stay out of their path, especially on their journey.

"I know, I know, Buddy. But we're nearly at the Beastkin Border Town. Last time we visited was for the Ruler Summit held by my father." Javier's voice lowered as his thoughts drifted back to that event.

That was when things started shifting between them all. "Before some of them claimed their celestial vessels," Javier muttered, remembering how their straightforward ambitions had become clouded by power, greed, and celestial influences.

"But for now, I need to keep moving." Javier smiled, tapping the hilt of his adamantite sword strapped to his waist. His puppet army—a 10,000-strong mithril army, 500 adamantite puppet knights, and 100 white puppet knights crafted from rare ores—was ready for any order to deploy.

His mana bombs, anti-air guns, and mana cannons were tucked safely in his magic storage, ready to be used if needed. He had everything at his disposal.

Javier took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the horizon. The road was quiet, but something felt off in the air. He could sense the weight of what lay ahead. His mission into Beastkin Territory wasn't just about diplomacy this time.

He was ready for whatever came next, but one thing was clear: his purpose was more than just the politics of the kingdoms. He was walking into a storm, one that could shake the foundations of all territories—even if they didn't realize it yet. His mind sharpened as he thought of the coming days.

"Alright, Buddy, let's get moving."

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He gave Buddy a slight nudge, and they continued onward, the evening air growing colder as they headed toward the Beastkin Border Town, unaware of what awaited them in the distance.

A shadowed wave of snarling monsters cloaked in dark aura surged through the woods, their screeches twisting the quiet night into chaos. Twisted limbs, glowing red eyes, and jagged fangs rushed forward like a living tide.

"Alright, Buddy! Don't die!!" Javier yelled, leaping off Buddy's back with a confident grin.

"Cuquawked!!" ( "You too!" ) Buddy squawked back, flaring his wings as his powerful legs launched him forward, claws raking through the dirt as he bulldozed into the enemy line.

Javier gripped his adamantite sword, the blade shimmering with a faint light as he twisted in midair. "Time for some experience!!"

One of the beasts lunged upward.

WHAM! —Buddy twisted, delivering a swift, brutal kick with his clawed foot, sending the creature flying into the air.

"More, Buddy!!" Javier shouted, his eyes flashing with excitement.

SLASH! The adamantite blade carved cleanly through the airborne monster, slicing it in two mid-flight. Black blood scattered through the air like ink, sizzling where it landed.

Javier landed on the ground, his stance low and calm.

The monsters snarled, circling him. Dozens. No—hundreds.

"Tch... You're not normal monsters, huh?" He narrowed his eyes, noting how their bodies seemed to distort, as if fused with corrupted mana.

He spun his sword once, then flipped his free hand over. A magic circle flared to life.

"Deploy—Mithril Puppet Knights!"

From his magic storage, dozens of puppet knights roared into existence, their eyes glowing and metal glinting under the mana lamp attached to Buddy.

CLANK! THUD! —They landed around him in formation, weapons ready.

"Defensive ring. Focus on intercepting any that try to flank me or Buddy."

The knights moved in perfect unison.

Buddy darted between them, kicking monsters back into Javier's range like a midfielder passing to his striker.

Javier exhaled slowly and slid his adamantite sword back into its sheath with a satisfying shiiing sound.

His eyes didn't leave the enemy swarm for a second.

Click.

His gloved hand reached into the invisible swirl of light—his magic storage—and smoothly pulled out his dual mana guns, sleek and reinforced with black mithril and silver trims. The barrels gleamed under the mana lamp.

"Let's make this fast."

He snapped both guns downward, the runes along the frames igniting as his mana flowed into them—a soft hum growing louder as the guns activated.

Passive Mana Channeling: Engaged.

His stance shifted. One foot slid back. His knees bent slightly. Shoulders relaxed.

And then—

BANG! —A monster lunged toward him.

BANG-BANG! —Two clean shots: one through the skull, the other straight into its core.

It dropped mid-air, twitching.

"One down."

The others didn't stop. Dozens more surged forward.

Javier dashed to the side, narrowly avoiding razor-sharp claws, his coat whipping behind him as he flipped over a charging beast.

BANG! —Mid-flip, he landed a clean shot straight through the back of its head.

He twisted and spun—bang, bang, bang!—each movement calculated, each bullet perfectly aimed.

Headshots only.

Two monsters leapt at him from opposite angles.

Slide. Javier dropped low to the ground, sliding between them with his mana guns raised upward.

BANG-BANG! —Two skulls shattered mid-pounce.

He rolled out, kicked off a nearby puppet knight's shoulder, and launched himself into the air, spinning and twisting.

A rain of high-speed mana bullets pierced through the air, hitting eyes, mouths, or vital cores.

He landed on one knee. Mana steam hissed from the barrels of both guns. The battlefield slowed for a moment.

Silence.

And then—thud, thud, thud. One by one, the monsters collapsed around him.

Buddy squawked excitedly, crushing a stunned beast underfoot.

Javier stood slowly, exhaled, and casually blew across the barrel of one of his guns.

"Too easy."

Another wave of monsters screeched in the distance.

Javier didn't flinch; he tilted his head.

"Round two, huh?" He grinned. "Good. I was just getting warmed up."

( End Of Chapter )