The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate-Chapter 125. The Queen

The woman gazed down at the ground from the skies. Everyone present realized immediately who she was.

It was the Queen. That word existed for her and her alone.

The overwhelming presence she exuded swept across the battlefield like an unstoppable wave, suffocating everyone beneath its weight.

"...Caron," Leo murmured, almost as if he was hypnotized.

This was a dominant force, a presence that could even surpass Kerra's—a being of utterly overwhelming power.

The raw intensity of her aura pressed heavily on everyone's shoulders, leaving no doubt that she was an unparalleled force.

"...Forget the plan to kill them all," Caron said. This wasn't something he had accounted for. Then again, nothing had ever gone according to plan.

Now, the question wasn't how to kill her—it was how to survive her.

This woman was a calamity. A walking—no, a flying disaster in every sense of the word.

But Caron smiled as he looked at the Queen, seemingly unfazed, and she seemed to have noticed his smile.

"She's coming," Leon said.

Just as she spoke, the griffon carrying the Queen began its descent, streaking toward Caron and his group like a thunderbolt.

Caron drew Guillotine in one swift motion and shouted, "Everyone, get ready!"

The empty air split as the griffon surged forward, a blur of light slicing through the battlefield. In the blink of an eye, what had been a distant dot appeared right in front of them.

Boom!

A blinding flash erupted from the griffon's rider, engulfing Caron's party in its wake.

"Arghh!"

"Urgh!"

"Ughhh!"

Cries of pain escaped them as the violent wave of energy slammed into them.

Even so, none of them faltered. Each clung tightly to their weapons, eyes fixed on the figure above, determined not to lose their composure.

Moments later, a languid voice rang in their ears. "How admirable. You truly are the grandchildren of Duke Halo."

It was a youthful voice, such that no one could possibly guess her actual age.

Caron swallowed the blood rising in his throat and forced a steady smile. Looking up at the Queen, who hovered above them, he greeted her jokingly, "Your first introduction is a bit rough, don't you think, Your Majesty? To be honest, this kind of thing is usually my type... but it was quite fiery."

"Did you enjoy it?" the Queen asked with a smirk.

"This level of spice? It's more like torture than a delicacy. It hurts," Caron answered.

"That was the point. I wanted it to hurt you, so I'm glad it worked," the Queen replied.

"You have... unique tastes," Caron said dryly.

"You'll understand when you're my age. Anyone who's lived as long as I have and reached this kind of position develops a twisted sense of humor. It's the only way to stay sane. And I believe your grandfather is no different," the Queen explained as her piercing gaze locked onto Caron.

It felt as if the entire weight of her presence bore down on him alone, choking the air from his lungs. It was as if the very atmosphere had transformed into a bed of thorns, shredding him piece by piece.

And yet, Caron knew—it was nothing more than an illusion.

Any being who reached the pinnacle of 8-Star had long surpassed the realm of humanity. Even the Queen's appearance made that much clear. She looked no older than her early thirties, at most. It was a testament to how she had transcended mortal limits, reversing the march of time itself.

"Caron Leston," the Queen's voice rang out, echoing in Caron's ears.

Caron looked at her with a strained smile and said, "For the Queen herself to know my name... I must admit, it's quite the honor."

"The divine being of the Ducal Family of Leston," the Queen replied with a faint smirk. "How could I not take notice?"

As she spoke, she leaped gracefully from her griffon. She landed lightly atop the small hill where Caron and his comrades stood. She was nearly six feet tall with a flawlessly sculpted physique and armor tinged with faint crimson hues, magnifying the sheer intimidation of her presence. She held a black spear loosely at her side, her piercing gaze fixed directly on Caron.

"Caron," Leo called out.

"Get behind us," Leon said.

"We'll buy you time," Utula added firmly.

Caron's companions urged him to retreat while stepping in front of him.

The Queen's lips curved into an amused smile at their display of loyalty. "Ah, such touching camaraderie. Are you trying to save the youngest? Truly, it's heartwarming."

Her overwhelming charisma radiated from her in waves, a force that transcended mere mana. It was an indescribable aura, one that made anyone in her presence feel as if they had to drop to their knees.

If even Caron was struggling under that weight, his comrades could only feel worse.

"Caron, you have to live," Leon said, her voice trembling.

With the Queen now in play, there was only one option left—their best and only move was to ensure Caron's survival.

Upon hearing Leon's words, both Leo and Utula nodded silently in agreement.

But Caron, his voice calm yet resolute, replied, "It hasn't come to that."

"Caron, this isn't—" Leon began.

"She seems to want something from me," Caron interrupted, his tone steady. "And let's be honest—if she decides to chase us on her griffon, we won't get far anyway."

Even if he pushed Pluto's abilities to their limit, escape was impossible.

A knight who had reached 8-Star was a force beyond humanity—an absolute being none of them could hope to defy.

The Queen smiled, clearly pleased by his words, then said, "Just as I've heard. You're clever, quick to assess the situation. If only my subordinates were half as sharp as you."

"I get that a lot," Caron replied.

"Ever considered becoming a pirate? It's quite the enjoyable line of work," the Queen suggested.

"I'm not exactly fond of the sea," Caron answered.

The Queen chuckled, then said, "Well, you might want to start liking it now. I'm planning to bury your corpse in the sea."

Murderous intent radiated from her, sharp enough to make Caron's skin prickle.

Whoosh!

Her overt killing intent resonated with Guillotine, the sword vibrating in response to the tension.

Caron smiled faintly as he lifted Guillotine, asking casually, "Is the South Sea cold, by any chance?"

"It's warmer than the North Sea," the Queen replied. "I'm sure you'll like it."

"Oh, but I prefer cold seas," Caron mused before adding with exaggerated politeness, "Your Majesty, may I humbly say something?"

Amused by his theatrics, the Queen nodded with a slight smile and replied, "Why wouldn't I grant a dying man his last request? Go ahead."

"Why don't we settle this with a conversation?" Caron proposed.

The audacity of the statement made the Queen's murderous intent intensify. Her voice, dripping with fury, followed close behind. "You're a funny bastard, aren't you? After what you did to my men, you dare to spew such nonsense?"

"But Your Majesty, you guys attacked us first," Caron countered, his expression calm. "Most would call that self-defense."

"You speak as if you've died before," the Queen said, narrowing her eyes. "You don't seem to fear death at all. Let me remind you, boy, there are limits to how much you can hide behind your family name. And you've already crossed that line."

Whoosh!

The spear in her hand began to thrum with violent and raw mana that gathered at its tip. The air itself seemed to rip apart as her mana surged, the space around the spear darkening into an ominous black.

"There's an unspoken law among pirates," she said with a cold smile. "Blood must be repaid with blood. Simple, isn't it?"

Her gaze bore into Caron as if daring him to react.

"But I am curious to hear the nonsense you'll spout next," she added. "So, let's make a deal."

"I'm listening," Caron said.

"If you manage to block my spear once, I'll grant you the chance to speak your nonsense," the Queen declared.

Caron lifted Guillotine with a faint grin and replied, "How merciful of you."

"And your answer is?" the Queen pressed.

"I'll take the deal," Caron answered.

Taking his stance, he glanced back at his comrades and instructed, "Everyone, get back. You might get caught up in this."

"...Caron, you can't handle this alone—" Leon started, but Caron cut her off.

"Please, I beg you," Caron said firmly. "Leon, take Leo and Utula with you and stay back."

Leon hesitated, but eventually nodded upon seeing the resolute look on Caron's face. She placed a hand on Leo and Utula's shoulders, pulling them away to a safer distance.

As his comrades retreated, Caron let out a small sigh of relief. His expression relaxed slightly as he turned back to the Queen and said, "There's no need to drag this out, is there? Let's get started."

Whoosh!

The seven seas that nestled within Caron's mana core began to resonate violently.

The sight drew a small sound of approval from the Queen. "7-Star at the age of seventeen. Impressive, Caron Leston. But it won't be enough."

Shinggggg!

The spear left her hand, cutting through the air and streaking toward Caron's throat with terrifying speed.

***

The spear hurtled toward Caron.

There was no intricate technique behind the throw, just a simple, straightforward movement. However, that simplicity didn't stem from a lack of skill on the Queen's part. It was because she was so overwhelmingly powerful that no finesse was necessary.

Craaaack!

The 8-Star mana imbued within the spear tore through everything in its path with brutal force. Even the air wrapped around the spear was shredded, leaving a long black scar trailing in its wake.

Whoosh!

The seven seas within Caron's heart roared to life, their waves surging ceaselessly. The mana from those boundless waters flowed outward, forming a new sea that swelled around him.

It was a high tide. The sea, pushed to its absolute limit, slowed everything in its grasp.

Caron held Guillotine at a slanted angle, his eyes locked onto the spear's trajectory. He thought, There's no dodging this.

The path of the spear was cruelly precise. If he tried to evade it, the spear would unerringly tear through his comrades instead.

The Queen's challenge was clear: Would he handle the weight all by himself, or shift the burden onto those around him?

For Caron, the choice wasn't difficult to make. In fact, it was so straightforward that an odd sense of exhilaration coursed through him.

I'll take the hit, Caron thought.

The conclusion was simple. He was going to stop the impossible spear. That was the one thing that occupied his mind entirely.

Boooooom!

The spear collided with Caron's sea, unleashing a shockwave that rattled him. The mana alone felt as if it could shatter every bone in his body. Agonizing pain surged through him, akin to being torn apart while still alive. For a fleeting moment, his vision blurred, threatening to pull him under.

But Caron refused to lose focus.

Whoosh!

He channeled an unrelenting stream of mana into the sea that clashed with the spear. At the same time, he began to wield swordsmanship capable of blocking that spear.

I won't be able to block this spear with the Oceanwolf Sword Arts, Caron thought.

He quickly made his decision. None of the techniques he had mastered in this life could block an attack of this magnitude.

But if he accounted for his previous life... There was one.

There was one technique that was capable of stopping this monstrous spear.

Whoosh!

A dark blue flame ignited at Guillotine's tip, flickering fiercely. Without hesitation, Caron swung his sword, leaving a trail of flames. From the blue inferno bloomed countless petals, falling like a rain of stars.

It was Imperial Sword Form 7: Falling Blossoms.

The long-forgotten blossoms that had been lost to the world fifty years ago with the death of Cain Latorre unfurled at the edge of Caron's sword.

Fwoosh!

Hundreds of petals scattered on top of the sea surrounding Caron. They floated down gracefully, settling upon the surface of the water before swiftly converging at a single point. In mere moments, they coalesced into a massive shield, its surface composed of dark blue petals.

And this time, Pluto's power infused the shield, shrouding it in darkness.

Shhhhhh—

The darkness consumed all surrounding light, rendering the shield nearly imperceptible to the naked eye.

CRACKKKK!

The Queen's spear, slicing through the sea, finally struck the shield with devastating force. The impact warped it violently, scattering petals in every direction.

The resulting shockwave surged through Caron, rattling his entire body. The pain was immense, but he gritted his teeth, pouring every ounce of focus into the swirling petals.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye—a clash of power at a level incomprehensible to most observers.

This was your plan all along, wasn't it? Caron thought as he fixed his gaze on the Queen beyond the spear.

Her once-confident expression had hardened, her composure replaced by cold resolve.

Crackkk!

Finally, the spear pierced through the shield and shot toward Caron's chest. But it was no longer the same spear it had been when it first left her hand. Its speed was visibly reduced.

Whoosh!

Caron reached out, mana surging into his arm as he grabbed hold of the spear's shaft just before it could pierce his chest.

"Argh—"

Blood rose in his throat, a bitter taste filling his mouth as he swallowed the pain. Every inch of his body screamed in agony, barely holding itself together. And yet, Caron tightened his grip on the spear and locked eyes with the Queen.

The Queen let out a short, disbelieving laugh, then asked, "What kind of lunatic are you? A monster? No, even calling you a monster feels... inadequate."

Before she could continue, Caron, still clutching the spear, managed a smirk despite his trembling body. He retorted, "Hey, shouldn't you have aged gracefully? What are you, like eighty? And you're out here throwing a spear at someone young enough to be your grandkid. This is why I can't respect elders."

He adjusted his stance. Although his entire body screamed in pain, he refused to end things like this.

"You said blood must be repaid with blood. And... You told me to block your attack—not that I couldn't strike back," Caron continued.

"What are you planning, you fool—" the Queen began.

"What does it look like?" Caron interrupted, his smirk deepening.

"It's elder abuse."

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After saying those words, Caron gripped the spear tightly and hurled it back toward the Queen with all his strength.