CHAPTER 726: THE NEW FACE OF WAR ( 726 )

Armand Region.

Border Wall.

The sky looked like a storm of destruction.

Dark mana swirled above, thick and inky, as thousands of fiery black spheres rained down in an endless bombardment. Each orb screamed through the air like a curse made real, threatening to tear the land apart.

But the wall held.

Javier’s puppet knights stood in perfect ranks, rifles raised, their movements cool and mechanical. The mana cores in their chests pulsed in time as they fired in controlled bursts, each shot a line of light that intercepted the falling doom.

The Anti-air mana guns roared, their barrels glowing white-hot as they spit death into the sky. The cadence never stopped, a relentless symphony of destruction meeting more destruction.

And the cycle continued.

Fresh puppets stepped forward to take their places on the firing line, while the spent ones sank into recharge chairs with a soft hiss of mana conduits. A seamless, endless rotation.

Below, Hesbeirn descended from the observation platform, his boots clicking on the stone. The lower levels buzzed with human resolve.

Armand’s ground soldier stayed focused, eyes sharp, intercepting anything that slipped past Javier’s automated defense lines. Shields flared with protective magic, spears and enchanted bolts struck down stray threats before they could reach the civilian zones behind the wall.

Hesbeirn’s gaze turned upward.

Something huge loomed over Armand’s sky, moving slowly but steadily. Its enormous shadow swept over the wall and the battlefield below.

A deep mechanical hum rolled through the sky. Half of Javier’s puppet knights suddenly stopped firing, their steps synchronized as they pulled away from the defensive lines. The remaining knights kept firing to hold the barrage at bay.

[ Initiating upgrade protocol ]

The fortress above opened its belly with a heavy clank-hiss, revealing a massive hatch. From within, enormous pod-like structures began to descend slowly toward the open field beyond the wall.

Hesbeirn narrowed his eyes.

The puppet knights marched in perfect order toward the landing pods, forming long, straight lines. One after another, each unit stepped inside as the pod doors slid open with a hydraulic hiss.

[ Upgrade System ]

{ Begin Modification }

{ Upgrading Systems... }

The sound of mana surging through metal echoed from inside the pod.

The massive flying fortress roared across the sky, its gatling mana guns spitting out a storm of bright projectiles. Streaks of light cut through the incoming dark fireballs, turning them into harmless sparks before they could rain down. Below, mana rockets ripped toward the ground, slamming into regenerating golems with deafening explosions that lit the battlefield in blue-white flashes.

Then, something new appeared.

The first wave of upgraded units stepped onto the battlefield.

These had once been Javier’s legendary armored knights, towering warriors in ornate medieval plate, wielding longswords and massive shields. But now?

Their bulky swords and heavy shields were gone. Instead, their sleek, reinforced armor featured angular plating, a compact shield mounted on their backs, and in their hands.

A strange, blocky device with a thick barrel, its surface etched with glowing runes.

The knights advanced in perfect unison, their black-and-gray forms radiating an eerie, unfamiliar presence.

Hesbeirn’s sharp eyes narrowed, a smirk playing on his lips.

So this is the young master’s "upgrade."

From noble knights to walking war machines.

His gaze flickered over their equipment again, the short sword at their hips, the shield on their backs, and that thing in their hands.

If we win this war... I’m definitely asking him to make a batch for our own troops.

Imagine these... combined with our Pekko cavalry.

His smirk widened.

That... would be unstoppable.

Hesbeirn watched as the newly upgraded puppet knights ascended the stone stairs in flawless unison, their armored boots striking each step in perfect rhythm.

Upon reaching the battlements, the first squad immediately took over the positions of the older models standing guard. Without hesitation, the older units turned and marched back down, their movements just as precise.

The difference was obvious.

The new weapons sprang to life, releasing rapid bursts of glowing mana projectiles that sliced through the sky. Their firing speed and accuracy far surpassed the old anti-air mana guns. Hesbeirn’s eyebrows rose.

Now that’s an upgrade.

From the open field below, another squad moved forward, each member carrying a heavy crate etched with runes. Despite the weight, their reinforced frames carried it easily. Hesbeirn’s gaze shifted to the older mana guns along the wall.

Curiosity piqued, he leaned in as the crates opened, unveiling sleek mechanical components that pulsed with condensed mana. The designs were nothing like the rugged, bulky parts of the old weapons, these looked almost otherworldly.

The puppet knights worked with efficiency, dismantling the old firing mechanisms and slotting in the new multi-barrel assemblies. Metal clacked into place, and the runes along each barrel flared to life.

Hesbeirn’s smirk widened.

Oh... this is going to be fun.

Unable to resist, he stepped closer, his usual composed demeanor giving way to boyish excitement.

Damn... Young Master Javier really knows how to make armor.

Hesbeirn’s eyes shone as he looked over the upgraded puppet knights, polished plates, reinforced joints, and compact weapon mounts that blended sleek design with deadly efficiency. They didn’t just look strong—they looked smart.

A grin spread across his face.

I’ll definitely ask the Young Master to have Rasdingen and his blacksmiths make something like this for my elites.

In his mind, the image formed instantly, his finest warriors in the same advanced armor.

They’d march forward as an unbreakable wall, crushing enemy morale before the battle even began.

And leading them was himself.

Wearing the most badass version of that armor, custom-fitted to his body, weight balanced for his fighting style. He imagined himself riding his massive Pekko, the war-bird’s claws tearing into the earth with every thunderous step. His berserker sword resting on his shoulder as he barked orders to his unstoppable legion.

Just the thought sent a thrill through him.

Hesbeirn’s attention shifted as five of Javier’s upgraded puppet knights marched toward him, each carrying a massive metal crate lined with faint blue lines that pulsed.

They stopped in front of him with mechanical precision, boots thudding on the stone in perfect unison, then saluted sharply. Without a word, they lowered the crate to the ground.

Hesbeirn raised an eyebrow.

Hm? What’s this?

The puppets didn’t answer, just stood rigid, their visor lenses faintly glowing.

Weird. He crouched and undid the heavy locks. The lid hissed open, and inside...

His eyes widened.

You’ve got to be kidding me...

Nestled inside was a full battle suit—sleek black armor with layered plating for flexibility, tactical pouches along the torso, and reinforced gauntlets and greaves.

Glowing accents traced along the edges like mana veins, giving it a dangerous, almost predatory look. It felt like something pulled from the future... and it was his size.

He pointed a thumb at himself.

"For me?"

The puppet knights didn’t move or speak. They simply held their stance, as if awaiting a silent order from their true master.

Hesbeirn stared at the suit again, a slow grin creeping across his face.

Oh... this is going to be fun.

( End Of Chapter )