Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 312

Lodbrok had a specific reason for calling upon Umbra.

It was about Umbra's flight capabilities. While the agility Umbra displayed on their way here was certainly impressive, Lodbrok had something else in mind.

"Can't you utilize Viper’s trait?" Lodbrok asked.

The ability to freely change forms. As a Shadow Dragon, Umbra could potentially harness that trait, making infiltration significantly easier.

At this question, Umbra silently nodded in understanding. Seeing this, Lodbrok let out a sharp grin before continuing.

"I will twist open the entrance with my partner here. All you need to do is maneuver through it. Understood?"

Keeek!

Umbra let out a trembling cry, as if feeling the weight of the task. However, it wasn’t a lack of confidence but the psychological pressure of attempting something for the first time.

Despite that, Umbra's determination to try burned brightly.

Theo gently patted Umbra’s back and spoke.

"I trust you."

Keeeeeeeek!

Encouraged by those words, Umbra flapped its wings mightily, emitting a resonant roar that echoed powerfully. Its eyes sparkled with newfound resolve.

Theo couldn’t help but smile at the sight, his own fighting spirit surging. He knew that roar would not have gone unheard.

"The time for retribution has come," Theo thought.

His resolve hardened. If the enemy had trampled on chivalry, he would repay them with even greater scorn.

Crackle! Zap!

[Skill: Dragon Form activated.]
[Skill: Thunder Dragon's Arcane Surge enhanced by Dragon Synchronization. Lightning now courses through the user's entire body.]
[Phantom Venom Dragon mode activated.]

There was no intention of holding back on the first strike. Theo’s goal was simple: to save as many of the Naga as possible, even just one.

"I’ll show them what it means to provoke my companions."

With determination blazing in his eyes, Theo drew Drake’s Fang Blade.

"Circle around first. I’ll identify the weak spots," Lodbrok commanded.

At those words, Umbra maintained a steady speed and began circling the entire Naga forest.

Theo, meanwhile, focused his thoughts.

"I need to start seeing things like that myself," he thought.

His eyes narrowed.

His current vision was hazy, as though obscured by fog. But he knew that wasn’t enough. Like Lodbrok, he had to be able to pinpoint the weak points in the magic circle and strike decisively.

"It’s not that you can’t see it. You’re just not accustomed to it yet," Lodbrok said, placing a hand on Theo’s shoulder.

"Such things aren’t seen with your eyes. You feel them with your skin, shape them in your mind, and then they’ll naturally appear before your eyes."

Lodbrok pressed firmly on Theo’s shoulder, encouraging him to try.

Theo closed his eyes and heightened his sense of touch.

At first, all he could feel was the strong air currents, the sharp wind created by Umbra’s flight.

"Is this it?"

A tingling sensation brushed his skin. Something alien and dissonant, unlike killing intent or hostility, scratched against him in rhythmic patterns.

Gradually, the patterns of the enemy’s magic circle and their intentions began to flow into his mind.

"I see why Loddy praised this so highly," Theo thought.

The magic circle was massive, layered over itself multiple times, and stretched across the entire Naga forest, even etched into the air.

"You’ve awakened your senses. For now, this is good. Open your eyes," Lodbrok said.

When Theo opened his eyes, the magic circle he had visualized in his mind was now visible in his field of vision.

"So, this is the flow of magic…"

While Theo couldn’t yet grasp everything, the ability to perceive it at all would undoubtedly be invaluable for the upcoming battle against the Mage Tower.

"Prepare yourself. Over there," Lodbrok said.

Amid the rapid, turbulent flow of mana, there was a single point where the energy twisted violently.

Keeek!

Umbra let out a powerful roar in response to Lodbrok’s direction.

[The Shadow Dragon mimics its master’s traits.]

Crackle! Zap!

Umbra’s body began to blur, becoming semi-transparent, as black lightning scattered from its wings. The black lightning soon enveloped Umbra’s entire form.

"So, this is the Shadow Dragon’s trait?"

Theo glanced at Umbra in astonishment. Umbra met his gaze and let out a snort as if to say, "Impressed?" before refocusing its attention ahead, its eyes gleaming with determination.

"Let’s go."

At Theo’s command, Umbra surged forward like a piercing spear. From the ground, it would be impossible to even identify the blur as a flying creature.

"They’re coming," Lodbrok warned.

Blinding flashes of light erupted from the Naga forest. It was as if the entire forest was determined to obliterate anything that approached.

The Mage Tower’s defensive formations activated simultaneously, unleashing a torrent of magic.

Multi-colored beams of energy surged upward from the ground, racing to intercept the black lightning that was Umbra.

Vwooom!

Umbra weaved skillfully between the beams, gliding effortlessly along the paths of light.

Using its shape-shifting ability with finesse, Umbra adjusted its body mid-flight, deftly avoiding the barrage of magic with a display of unmatched agility.

"Not bad for a dragon, wouldn’t you agree?" Lodbrok remarked, offering unfiltered praise.

Theo nodded, feeling as though Lodbrok was speaking on behalf of Umbra itself.

Keeek!

Umbra, seemingly enjoying the exhilarating flight, let out a pleased cry as it accelerated further.

As they neared the halfway point, Theo felt a searing sensation, as though his skin was being flayed.

Without hesitation, he channeled mana to protect his body.

Even with the mana barrier, the wind felt like it carried razor-sharp blades, causing him to wince. But the discomfort was brief.

"Just a little further. Partner, prepare yourself," Lodbrok said.

Whoosh!

The violent currents surrounding them subsided, and as though a curtain had been lifted, the Naga forest came into view.

However, what should have been lush greenery was now stained a filthy, dark red, like a forest cloaked in decay.

"The energy here is… vile," Lodbrok muttered, a frown creasing her brow.

Just as they were about to break through—

Ziiiiing!

The defensive magic from the forest momentarily subsided, replaced by a honeycomb-like barrier that enveloped the entire area.

"The Mage Tower’s Absolute Defense!"

Theo’s eyes widened in shock as he brought Umbra to a halt.

The infamous defense spell, also installed in the Mage Tower’s walls, was known for its unyielding resilience. The more it was attacked, the stronger it became.

Its nickname, "Absolute Defense," was well-earned.

Constructing such a spell required an immense investment of resources, manpower, and materials. Anyone who saw it would be struck with awe and dread.

"So, they’ve decided to go all out, huh?"

To defile the Naga forest and mask their massacre so thoroughly—Theo’s anger boiled over.

The Mage Tower, once champions of chivalry, had sunk to the level of beasts.

[The Shadow Dragon synchronizes with its master’s rage.]

A system message appeared as Umbra’s jaws parted wide.

Kuuuuu!

"Umbra?"

Theo turned to see black lightning rapidly gathering and condensing within Umbra’s gaping maw.

"Well now," Lodbrok murmured, her expression tinged with intrigue as she observed.

Then, with a blinding flash—

Fwoooom!

Umbra’s breath attack collided with the Absolute Defense, the sheer impact shaking the air.

Boom!

The deafening explosion turned Theo’s vision pure white.

***

Clang! Clang! Boom!

The deafening sounds of battle filled the entire Naga forest.

It seemed like something was happening outside, but for those fighting here, there was no time to worry about anything beyond the battlefield.

Vwoom! Clang!

Three Naga warriors clung desperately to a Chimera’s massive, swinging arm to hold it back.

“Hold the line! First Unit, fall back and regroup! Third Unit, fill their position—move! Fourth Unit, provide cover fire!”

Terepun bellowed orders, his voice cutting through the chaos as he directed the battlefield with precision.

The strategy was brutal but effective: sending injured units back for recovery while immediately filling the gaps they left behind.

Harsh as it was for the warriors, the tactic was working flawlessly under the circumstances.

“Fire!”

The Fourth Unit unleashed a volley of magical bombardments, striking a Chimera directly. The monster staggered back, writhing in pain as it retreated several steps.

In that moment, the Third Unit surged forward, shields and spears raised, closing the front line once again.

Their coordination was so smooth it was hard to believe they were an improvised army.

Terepun watched this unfold and allowed himself a bitter smile—a mix of gratitude and guilt, and above all, a spark of hope.

If they can hold like this, we might just survive, he thought with newfound confidence.

For the first time, the battle seemed evenly matched.

The morale of the Naga and Terepun’s seasoned command were beginning to turn the tide.

“Deploy the elite warriors!”

At Terepun’s command, a signal flag was raised from the command post.

Mounted Naga warriors charged into the Chimera ranks from the rear, catching nearly half of the enemy forces off guard.

But then—

“Good. Now pull them back!”

Terepun had used the elite warriors as bait to alleviate the pressure on the front lines.

It was a masterful display of battlefield tactics, and it breathed vitality and hope into a previously desperate struggle.

“Push them back!”

“Hurrah!”

As Hoil, commanding the front line, gave the order, a resounding cheer erupted from the Naga warriors. One by one, the Chimeras began to fall.

From a distance, Nazariou watched the scene unfold.

“Yes, keep winning. Win all you want.”

A sly smile spread across his face.

He hadn’t expected the Naga to have a commander like Terepun, and deep down, he even admired the display of leadership.

It reminded him of past Naga commanders, though their forces had never shown such morale as now.

This, however, only made him all the more irritated.

“Kill them! Avenge the fallen warriors!”

The Naga warriors’ battle cries continued to grow louder, their spirits rising higher and higher.

So much so that they were even starting to push the front line forward.

This brought a smirk to Nazariou’s face.

“Release the heavy units.”

At his command, one of the Six-pointed Star mages smiled and turned to relay the order.

This was the moment Nazariou had been waiting for.

When the Naga, drunk on hope and the illusion of victory, believed they could truly win—when their morale reached its peak.

What would happen when their spirits were crushed at that very height?

Nazariou was certain: the path to the sanctum’s fall would be laid bare.

“Disaster is about to descend upon you,” Nazariou murmured, his eyes alight with intoxicated glee as he watched his prized Chimeras advance.

Thud! Thud!

The sound of massive footsteps echoed as the monstrous forms began their march.

With each booming step, the victorious cries of the Naga warriors faded, their expressions hardening into grim resolve.

The trees trembled, and the ground quaked beneath the weight of the advancing behemoths.

And then—

“Urk!”
“Ugh! Blargh!”

A nauseating stench carried on the forest wind reached the warriors, causing them to gag and retch.

When the colossal figures finally emerged, the shadow of despair fell heavily upon them.