Reborn As Noble-Chapter 445: Wardens of Light ( )

A sudden wave of radiant energy burst outward as 20 white-armored puppet knights materialized in perfect formation. Their armor gleamed with polished brilliance, forged from ultra-rare purified white ore—mana-conductive and blessed against corruption. Each knight held a white ore longsword and tower shield, runes glowing subtly along the edges.

No words were spoken; they didn't need commands.

The white puppet knights charged forward, light mana surging with every step. As they engaged the incoming corrupted beasts, their swords flared, igniting trails of white flame as they cleaved through the monsters' flesh.

Unlike before, the enemies didn't regenerate.

Where the white ore swords cut, no darkness returned.

One puppet spun in a perfect pivot, driving its blade into a lunging creature's core and twisting. Another raised its shield to block a claw, then bashed the monster backward and split it in two with a single overhand slash.

Javier watched from behind, a smile creeping onto his lips.

"Yup. Light-element puppets it is."

He raised both guns and narrowed his eyes.

"Let's make it cleaner."

He channeled mana into the dual barrels—light magic compressing and focusing.

A beam of radiant white energy charged up in each gun, humming like a warning bell of judgment.

Bang—BANG!

Twin shots of condensed light ripped through the battlefield, piercing two monsters in perfect succession. Their bodies exploded into clean white mist, leaving no black sludge behind.

Javier flipped the guns into a backhand grip.

"Let's see how long these fragments can last."

He stepped forward, cloak fluttering, guns glowing, and light-element knights clearing the field with divine precision.

Buddy's wings flared wide as he skidded to a halt beside Javier, his feathers puffed up and eyes sharp with anticipation.

"Ah—there you are," Javier said with a half-smile.

He reached into his magic storage again, brushing past layers of gear until he pulled out a sleek, curved object wrapped in velvet cloth.

With a flourish, he unraveled it—a white ore talon weapon crafted just for Buddy. Each talon curved elegantly, made from the same radiant white ore as the puppet knights' swords. Lightweight and reinforced with mana-weaved threads, they would bind to Buddy's claws naturally. The tips shimmered faintly with holy light, charged to disrupt corrupted essence.

"Here. Try this."

Javier crouched and gently strapped the talons onto Buddy's feet, each locking in place with a soft click and a flare of light.

Buddy looked down.

Cuquawked...? (Translation: "Is this a divine artifact just for me?!")

He tested one leg, then the other—experimentally slashing the air. The talons hissed as they cut through the mana around them, leaving glowing trails behind.

Javier grinned. "That's right. Custom made. It's white ore, so it'll cut through those corrupted things like butter."

Buddy squawked again, clearly thrilled, puffing up proudly like a knight being granted a royal sword.

Javier chuckled.

"Alright, go get 'em."

Buddy didn't need to be told twice.

WHOOSH!!

He launched himself back into the fray, talons glowing bright as he tore through the corrupted monsters—ripping them apart in clean, radiant arcs. Each strike vaporized the enemy on contact. No sludge. No regeneration.

Just clean purging.

The corrupted monsters screeched in fear this time.

Cuquawked!!!

Javier watched, spinning his guns once.

He turned and walked forward slowly, following his partner into the storm of shrieks and light.

The corrupted monsters were thinning, but the air still reeked of cloying darkness—the foul remnants of Celestial rot. It clung to the earth, soaked into the trees, and pulsed faintly beneath the soil like a lingering disease.

"Better cleanse this area," Javier muttered.

He holstered both guns and extended his arms outward, palms facing the ground.

Mana surged through his core, spiraling from his feet into his chest, then flowing through his arms like a controlled flood. Light-element threads shimmered along his veins, and ancient runes ignited in the air around him.

"Divine Protocol—Sanctum Burst."

A ring of light exploded outward from Javier's feet—pure white energy expanding across the battlefield. The moment it touched the ground, the soil shimmered. Trees bathed in its glow sparkled. Every trace of the oily, corrupted aura was burned away, purified at the elemental level.

Even the air felt cleaner.

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Buddy landed nearby, wings half-open, talons humming with residual light.

Cuquawked...

The puppet knights stood silently, still glowing faintly from the residual energy, swords lowered now that the threat had passed.

Javier lowered his arms and exhaled slowly, his breath fogging in the now-crisp air.

"There. That should hold for now."

He looked toward the horizon—the faint flicker of torchlight far ahead marking the outskirts of Beastkin Border Town.

"That's next."

He rolled his shoulders and started walking, the faint crunch of clean soil underfoot the only sound as Buddy followed with a proud strut.

Javier reached into his coat and pulled out a rolled parchment from his magic storage.

The map unfurled with a flick of his wrist, glowing softly with a mana-light enchantment woven into the paper. Red dots blinked faintly—some marking patrol routes, others outlining danger zones.

He crouched and pulled a charcoal pen from a side pouch, marking a clean white "X" on the area he had just purified.

"Hm…"

His eyes traced the winding path that cut through the territory—starting from Armand's border, weaving past the outer forests, and leading toward the Beastkin Kingdom. Farther to the east lay the dwarven border.

He recalled Garius's words:

"You are to cleanse the road from Armand to the Beastkin border, and onward to the dwarves. Leave no corruption behind."

Javier's brow furrowed slightly.

"…Could it be to ensure Ari and Aria won't get tainted by this filth?"

It made sense. If Ari and Aria—sealed within Liana and Gloria—were to fully awaken or synchronize, being near a corrupted zone could trigger contamination or provoke the other Celestials.

He rolled the map closed and slid it back into storage.

"Well… Buddy."

Cuquawked?

Buddy tilted his head, feathers puffed slightly, eyes blinking with innocent curiosity.

Javier smiled and raised one hand.

With a swirl of silver light, the white puppet knights vanished one by one—returning to his magic storage in disciplined silence.

The battlefield, now quiet and clean, felt peaceful once again.

"I think we've done enough for one night."

He turned toward the faint glow of the Beastkin settlement in the distance, shimmering behind the trees.

"Let's head for the Beastkin Kingdom. We'll rest up there—and see what else Father forgot to mention."

Cuquawked!!

Buddy trotted forward eagerly, talons clinking lightly as he picked up the pace. Javier followed, adjusting his coat and giving the sky one last glance.

Whatever came next, he was ready.

And for now… a warm bed didn't sound so bad.

( End Of Chapter )