The blackened skeleton, possessed by Phillip's consciousness, fought back with all the dark energy at his disposal. Tendrils of darkness sprouted from the cursed crown, attempting to ensnare William and halt his relentless assault. But William's agility and mastery over his unique spell allowed him to swiftly evade the grasping tendrils, never giving the Tyrant a moment's respite.
William's figure warped as if his body wasn't solid at all, but that was only an illusion given by his speed. As the battle raged on, William noticed a pattern in Phillip's attacks. The Tyrant's movements were predictable, driven by a thirst for dominance and a desire for destruction. Drawing upon his instincts, William anticipated Phillip's next move and expertly parried each strike.
In a moment of opportunity, William unleashed a powerful surge of mana, infusing his energy blade with enhancement spells. The blade crackled due to the intense energy as he delivered a devastating blow, slicing through the darkness that surrounded Phillip. The impact sent shockwaves through the chamber, shaking the very foundations of the Treasury.
Thankfully, the battle wasn’t as hard as William had originally suspected, since the current Emperor Phillip was nothing more than a husk of his former self.
The Tyrant staggered his grip on the crown, weakening. Sensing his vulnerability, Vincent intensified his assault, channeling the full might of the [Death Sworn] upon Phillip's weakened defenses. The souls converged, their ethereal forms merging into a swirling vortex of spiritual energy, ready to deliver the final blow.
Vincent hadn’t gone all out since the start and mostly held back since he couldn’t harm his allies inside the chamber. His strength going out of control was the last thing they needed at the moment.
William, seizing the opportunity, mustered his remaining strength. Overdrawing on his mana and aura while also using his aspect had quickly exhausted him. Casting one final enhancement spell on his blade, he launched an attack.
In a swift, calculated motion, William brought down his energy blade with all his might, aiming directly for the cursed crown upon the Tyrant's skeletal head. The blade cleaved through the air, leaving behind a trail of energy, which quickly dissipated.
The crown shifted from its spot, but with Vincent's all-out attack, the skull itself was blown to smithereens. The crown fell to the floor, creating sparks and an ear-piercing noise.
Jerome, having watched the battle unfold from the sidelines, stepped forward. His presence had gone unnoticed amidst the chaos as if it had blended with the surroundings. With a confident stride, he approached the fallen crown, his face emotionless.
Gently, Jerome reached out with his gloved hand towards the cursed crown. Black tendrils erupted from the crown as soon as his hand extended, evidently trying to devour him. However, Jerome wouldn't let such a thing happen.
From his palm, a flat, round, blue sphere launched, engulfing the crown in an instant. After just a few more seconds, the crown was no longer there, seemingly disappearing into thin air.
"It is done; how should we proceed next, my lord?"
Jerome's voice was steady and resolute. The mercenaries, who so far had contributed nothing to the fight, stared dazedly at the trio of William, Vincent, and Jerome, unable to say a single word.
There was a reason why Jerome was William's right-hand man. Not only was he competent in his job, even now as a teenager, but he also possessed an incredibly powerful aspect called [Aetherious].
Activating his aspect bestowed upon him the ability to create and manipulate dimensional pockets. Jerome could effortlessly conjure dimensional pockets of varying sizes and shapes. These pockets possess an inherent connection to the space-time continuum, allowing them to preserve their contents indefinitely.
Food placed within these pockets remains fresh and unspoiled, making it a valuable asset during long journeys or when sustenance is scarce.
Using his aspect to isolate the crown was a brilliant idea since it was now stuck on a permanent loop, unable to perform any action. With one swift motion, they had gotten rid of a serious issue.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The expedition group, still recovering from the intensity of the battle, looked at Jerome in awe and gratitude. They knew that without his quick thinking and mastery of his aspect, defeating the Tyrant would have been much more difficult.
With the threat of Phillip Rothsgomery vanquished William once again took the lead, his voice distorted due to his spell.
"We might have defeated him, but you should all check the area just to make sure nothing else is lying about. If you find any treasures, gather them up here."
All members of the group nodded, proceeding with their exploration of the now-ruined chamber. William turned his head and glanced at Vincent, who had disabled his aspect, realizing that he still had his spell active.
After deactivating it as well, he sighed, his sweat-covered frame shivering a bit. After working out for a prolonged period inside the academy, his physique was in peak condition. His height had also increased, almost reaching 180 cm, despite only being fifteen years old. William was sure it was due to the consumption of treasures that accelerated his growth, plus he was around 190 cm tall in the previous timeline.
He still couldn’t activate the second form of his aspect, however. It seemed like the restrictions were far more severe than he had originally thought. At least now, he could utilize his aspect even outside his body, infusing it into his spells. This gave him hints as to how his next form would function, but he wasn’t yet sure.
Turning towards Jerome, William complimented him, pleased with his quick thinking.
“Good job, Jerome.”
Jerome simply nodded, awaiting further orders.
William straightened up, wiping sweat from his brow as he took stock of the chamber. The remnants of the intense battle lingered in the air—a mix of burnt ozone and the acrid scent of dark magic. His eyes scanned the room, ensuring that no further threats were lurking in the shadows.
"Spread out and search the area."
William commanded, his voice steady despite the fatigue.
"We need to make sure there's nothing left that can pose a danger."
The mercenaries, shaking off their daze, immediately began to follow his orders. They moved cautiously, eyes peeled for any traps or hidden enemies. Vincent, meanwhile, approached William with a concerned look.
"You overdid it again."
Vincent remarked, his tone half scolding, half worried.
William nodded, acknowledging the concern.
"I know. But sometimes, there's no choice. We had to end this quickly."
Vincent sighed but didn't press further. Instead, he focused on the task at hand, helping the others search through the debris and rubble.
As the group scoured the chamber, Jerome stood by William's side, his expression as calm and composed as ever.
"What should we do with the crown now, my lord?"
He asked, his voice murmuring.
"We need to find a way to destroy it for good," William replied. "But for now, your dimensional pocket will keep it contained."
Jerome nodded in agreement.
"Understood. I'll make sure it remains secure."
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After resting for a bit, William also joined the exploration of the ruined chamber, directly heading toward the magic staff that had captured his interest earlier. He needed one at the moment since using his finger as a wand to cast spells was insufficient, especially because using a magic staff enhanced casting speed by at least 50%.
As William approached the magic staff, he noticed its exquisite craftsmanship. It was made of an unknown material that seemed to emit a faint glow as if infused with magical energy. The intricate carvings along its length depicted various mythical creatures, each representing a different aspect of magic.
He reached out to pick up the staff, and as soon as his hand made contact, a surge of energy coursed through his body. There was a slight repulsion coming from the artifact as if it had yet to accept him as its rightful owner.
William smiled at this sight, using a small amount of mana to create a small nick on his index finger and letting a drop of blood drip onto the staff. Soon after, the staff began changing, taking on a more simple appearance, resembling an ordinary wooden staff, matching William's preference. The energy color around the staff also changed, taking on a green hue.
With the staff in his grasp, William could feel his magical power resonating with it as if the two were harmonizing. The staff amplified his magic, making it flow more smoothly and effortlessly. It was an artifact of an extremely high grade. William was confident that even Leonardo would want to get a hold of a staff like this. Suddenly, he felt happy that he had to go through such an ordeal to obtain it. It was worth it in the end.
The expedition members, intrigued by William's discovery, gathered around him to examine the staff. They marveled at its beauty and the power it seemed to emanate. It was clear that this artifact was no ordinary find.
"It looks like you've found yourself a remarkable treasure, boss."
Vincent remarked, his voice filled with admiration. He was not in the slightest bit ashamed to call someone a few years younger than him 'Boss.'
William nodded, a smile playing on his lips, pleased with the magic staff. He quickly handed the staff over to Jerome, who promptly stored it using his aspect. William sighed at the sight; he had missed Jerome’s utility.
“Continue scouting the area. Gold, books, and everything else make sure nothing is missed. And mercenaries, you know your deal. You will be killed on the spot if caught stealing.”
William ordered it, his eyes turning cold. He had to be cruel in these matters and not allow his hard-earned win to go to waste.