Debuff Master

Chapter 738

C-Cough!

Duke Lorraine struggled to keep himself upright. He vomited blood and convulsed violently before slumping onto the desk.

“W-What?! Cough! What did you give us...?! Argh! What was in that drink?!” he shouted, his bloodshot eyes trembling with fury glaring at Siegfried.

“How do you like it?” Siegfried asked in response. Then, he closed his eyes while savoring his cup of Mint Chocolate Latte.

Ding!

One of Siegfried’s most infamous titles, I Am Backstabbing, flashed above his head. Of course, Duke Lorraine and the nobles could not see it, as they were NPCs, but they could somehow sense that there was something palpable in the air.

“How does it feel? A bit tingly? Fizzy?” Siegfried asked. Then, grinning from ear to ear said, “I hope you like it. I made sure to put an extra touch of my love in it.”

“A-Augh...! W-What is this...?!”

“Radiation.”

“...!”

“How do you like that Radiated Mint Chocolate Latte? It’s my own recipe. It has a unique tingly kick on the tongue. I like it a lot.”

“Y-You insane... basta—”

Siegfried stood up, casting a mocking smile down at the duke, and said, “Do I look like a fool to you? Did you really think you could outwit me?”

“Ughh...!”

“I could see right through your obvious plan. You're planning on buying two—no, maybe three months' time. Wait for us to weaken in the war against the Zavala Kingdom and then strike us from behind. I know your kind; it was too obvious.”

“Y-You!”

“Did you really think I’d let you?” Siegfried sneered. Then, he said icily, “Once you’re gone, I can just fill the council you created with Pro-Proatine people and establish a puppet government. The Bayerische Kingdom will then become our vassal state, and we can do all that without shedding any blood. It's so easy!

"No need for war and no need for a peace treaty!”

“K-Kuheok!”

“Oh well, enjoy the drink that I made for you,” Siegfried said, waving his hand before leaving the council chamber.

“W-We... should have... never trusted you...” Duke Lorraine uttered his final words before falling to the ground.

The remaining nobles either slumped onto the desk or collapsed to the floor, succumbing to the lethal Mint Chocolate Latte laced with radioactive energy.

This was the price they paid for underestimating the man they planned to double-cross and for being foolish enough to believe that they could stab him in the back first. This incident resulted in an adage spreading all over the continent—“Trust Siegfried van Proa at your own risk.”

“Tsk... People just can’t be trusted,” Siegfried grumbled, clicking his tongue. Ironically, he was blaming other people for being untrustworthy. He turned his focus back to the Proatine Kingdom after eliminating the entire leadership of the Bayerische Kingdom in one fell swoop.

It was then.

“Y-Your Majesty!” a messenger sprinted up to Siegfried. Then, he caught his breath before crying out, “Y-You must return to the capital at once, sire!”

“What happened?” Siegfried asked, sounding confused. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

“T-The Zavala Kingdom’s warships are advancing on our capital as we speak!”

“What?!”

“You must hurry, sire! This is an emergency!”

“What are you waiting around for?! Let’s go!” Siegfried exclaimed, bolting for the warpgate.

***

One hour ago, Betelgeuse and Daode Tianzun were lounging around, as usual, while Siegfried was busy concocting his new recipe, the Radiated Mint Chocolate Latte.

Killing time was their job lately, as both sustained grave injuries while repelling the demon invasion of Apocalius. They managed to regain eighty percent of their original strength thanks to just lounging around, but they were still in recovery.

After all, neither of them wanted to involve themselves in worldly affairs anymore, as both of them were Grandmasters.

Money? Power? They had both in abundance and could get more if they wanted to do so.

Moreover, the prospect of pursuing even more power became trivial after discovering the existence of Deus, a mortal who had ascended into the realm of gods.

Thus, Betelgeuse and Daode Tianzun decided to live out their days peacefully, intervening only if and when the world once again teetered on the brink of catastrophe.

This could be considered as some kind of noblesse oblige, allowing themselves to remain detached yet prepared to fulfill their duty as warriors if evil were to threaten the continent once again.

“Come on, just one more match, brother!” Betelgeuse pleaded.

The two played chess whenever they were free, and unsurprisingly, Daode Tianzun would always win one hundred percent.

Why?

It was all because the cognitive powers of an Archmage rivaled that of a supercomputer, and Daode Tianzun could analyze hundreds of moves compared to his muscle-brained opponent, who could only see a few steps in front.

“Did you think you’d win if I gave you a handicap? Keke!” Daode Tianzun chuckled, clearly amused by Betelgeuse’s persistence and stubbornness.

“I can win this time! One more match!” Betelgeuse retorted.

“Isn’t it time to reconsider ever challenging me after losing hundreds of times?”

“You’re messing with me again!”

“It’s not my fault.”

“I could have won if you had just given me another move...”

It was then.

“It seems like you’re enjoying yourselves.”

Deus came to visit the two of them.

“Ah! Welcome, Elder.”

“Hello, master.”

The duo immediately stood up, bowing low.

“Oh? You’re playing chess?”

“Yes, Master.”

“We are just trying to kill time, Elder.”

“Hmm...” Deus muttered, glancing at the chessboard. Then, he narrowed his eyes and said, “Reposition this here, and black will win.”

“...!”

Betelgeuse’s jaw dropped. Deus had nonchalantly moved a piece, but the move showed a path that could win him the game.

“Impossible...” Daode Tianzun gaped. He couldn't help but be shocked at Deus’ ability which far exceeded his. ‘He solved it in a mere glance...?’

“Enough of this trivial game. It’s time you started earning your keep,” Deus said with a wry smile.

“Pardon me...?”

“Master?”

“You should do some work if you’re going to freeload in my disciple’s house. Don’t tell me you were intending on freeloading until the very end?”

“B-But what do you mean by that—” Daode Tianzun asked carefully.

Deus smirked and cut him off, “I’m telling you to earn your keep. At least do something.”

“Do you mean that we should do our dishes and laundry at least...?” Daode Tianzun asked, sounding baffled.

It was then.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions reverberated outside.

“...!”

“...!”

Betelgeuse and Daode Tianzun jumped up and rushed to the nearest window.

“Hmm?!”

“What in the world?!”

There were dozens of airships flying straight toward the castle.

Boom! Boom!

The airships were getting shot down by the anti-air cannons installed around the castle, but they relentlessly continued to fly onward, as if trying to say that all they needed was one airship to reach the castle.

“Hmm... This is getting noisy,” Deus grumbled before leaving the room.

“I believe it is time for us to earn our keep like Master said, elder brother,” Betelgeuse said.

“I think so, too,” Daode Tianzun replied with a nod.

“Shall we go?”

“Let’s go.”

Betelgeuse and Daode Tianzun left the room, ready to finally earn their keep.

***

The Zavala Kingdom’s fleet stubbornly pressed on despite getting shot down by the anti-air cannons of the Proatine Kingdom. Their numbers were dwindling, but that was no big deal.

These airships were all old, outdated models that were waiting to be decommissioned and scrapped. There were also no crew onboard, as they were all being remotely controlled.

In other words, the Zavala Kingdom didn't suffer any casualties, and neither did they suffer any losses, as these were airships waiting to be scrapped.

The outdated airships flew toward the royal castle situated in Preussen.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The airships were shot down and destroyed, but they dispersed a cloud of bright green toxic gas across the skies above Preussen.

Sseuuuu...!

A sinister hiss filled the air as the toxic gas descended on the capital, blanketing it from above the skies.

This was an act of terrorism.

The Zavala Kingdom had filled their airships with toxic gas to terrorize the people of Proatine.

If that cloud of toxic gas was allowed to descend on the city, everyone in Preussen would meet a tragic end.

“Elder Brother!” Betelgeuse exclaimed.

“Don’t worry about it,” Daode Tianzun replied confidently. He looked so confident and unbothered by the toxic gas that he did not even bother lifting his staff. He casually chanted a spell and cast it at the skies up above.

Wooooong!

Fwoooosh! Shwaaaaa!

A fierce storm blew right above Preussen, clearing both the falling debris and the toxic gas. A petty trick like this wouldn't make Daode Tianzun break a sweat. On the other hand, the Commander of the Zavala Kingdom’s mothership was stunned by the sight.

The mothership was the only Iron Warship deployed in this operation, and its mission was to reach the Proatine Kingdom’s royal castle by using the outdated airships as anti-air cannon fodder.

“I-Impossible! What kind of magician is capable of casting such a powerful spell in an instant?!”

The commander was aware that the Proatine Kingdom had a Great Wizard among their ranks, but the spell just now had instantly cleared the debris and toxic gas from the skies above Preussen, and it was something that not even a Great Wizard could cast instantaneously.

The winds were powerful, but they seemed to possess their own ego as well as they swept up every single debris, regardless of the size. It was like they were cleaning the air of rubbish.

A spell of this caliber wasn't something that a Great Wizard could cast instantly.

The only explanation here was that a being far superior to a Great Wizard was present in the castle. This was something only an Archmage could probably do.

‘I should focus on my mission before anything else,’ the commander thought.

He displayed the discernment and cold judgement that a commander belonging to a great power ought to possess. He focused on his mission despite the near-miraculous scene that had occurred right before his eyes.

The mission was simple...

1. Use the outdated airships filled with toxic gas as cannon fodder for the anti-air cannons.

2. Let the outdated airships get shot down in Preussen’s airspace.

3. The mothership will fly to the royal castle and drop the special forces onboard.

The first goal was to commit biological warfare against the Proatine Kingdom, and the mothership landing on the enemy’s royal castle was a backup plan in case the first plan failed.

“Don’t be fazed! Use the airships as our shield and full speed ahead!” the commander exclaimed.

Meanwhile, the brand-new and still-hidden Grandmaster on the continent—Sword Emperor Betelgeuse—finally drew his saber after a long time of absence.

Shiiiing...!

Daode Tianzun had already displayed his powers as an Archmage, so it was Betelgeuse’s turn to make a statement.

“I think it’s time for me to show you the secret technique that I've been practicing recently, Elder Brother,” Betelgeuse said.

“Hmm?”

“I have become a Grandmaster as well, so I think it's only right for me to develop a new technique befitting of my new status. Now, please keep your eyes open and witness the birth of my new secret technique... And please clean up after me, too,” Betelgeuse said.

Betelgeuse cast his gaze at the approaching fleet, seemingly assessing it. Then, he unsheathed his saber in lightning-quick fashion as if using Quick Draw.

Flash!

A single glint of light pierced the heavens, and a long but thin seam manifested in the skies above the Sword Emperor.

A second passed, and another, and finally, three seconds later...

C-Crack...!

Every single airship in the skies above Preussen was split cleanly into two, and even the mothership, an Iron Warship of the Zavala Kingdom, was cut in half despite being protected by dozens of airships.

The airships were sent plummeting straight to the ground.

With a single stroke, Betelgeuse had severed the sky itself. His strike cleaved everything in the sky and as far as the eye could see as if they were nothing but pieces of paper.