Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 139

- Crack! Thud!

Everyone on the battlefield blinked in astonishment as the mansion became instantly encased in ice.

The phenomenon occurred the moment they sensed the massive surge of magical energy pouring from beyond the main hall.

'This is... war magic...!'

Among combat magic, spells capable of affecting an entire battlefield on such a massive scale were classified as war magic.

While those unfamiliar with magic wouldn't know, Countess Rodea—herself bordering on 4-star mastery—recognized it immediately. The large-scale freezing spell emanating from within the mansion was the same Large-Scale Spatial Freezing Spell Lord Melberot had reportedly used during the Northern War.

A spell classified as at least 4-star rank.

In other words, there was another 4-star mage inside the mansion besides Countess Rodea.

"Stay calm! Environmental manipulation spells are common battlefield tactics for mages!"

Countess Rodea swallowed dryly and looked up at the Arch Lich floating in the air.

Despite the fierce battle leaving it riddled with sword wounds, the monster still summoned corpses to block the extermination team's advance.

But with the sudden activation of war magic, numerous magical beasts froze solid in an instant.

True, some extermination team members were also caught in the spell's effect and lost mobility... but most had enough experience to escape its influence.

Enemy casualties far outweighed friendly ones. This was an opportunity.

Left alone, the creature would continue spewing absurd numbers of monsters to halt their advance.

This was a heaven-sent opening. With monster numbers temporarily decimated—

Now was the time to subdue that abomination.

Countess Rodea climbed the frozen railing with this thought.

The Arch Lich roared and attempted to unleash magic upon noticing Rodea's intent, but two arrows embedded themselves near its solar plexus.

- Screeeech!

As the Arch Lich shrieked in agony, an archer with piercing eyes stood among the monster corpses, her platinum hair tied back as her cloak fluttered while she shouted orders to the mercenaries.

- Swish! Thwack!

Jayden emerged from the frontlines after cleaving through goblin hordes, his sword aura cutting a path toward the Arch Lich's position.

But this opening wouldn't last. As more monsters gathered, Elente, Denise, and other forces combined to stem the tide.

Gripping the Holy Blood Sword, Rodea leaped through the gap, finally reaching the Arch Lich.

"Move aside, you abomination!"

Crimson letters engraved on the blade glowed as energy coursed along its edge. Following the trajectory of this slash, the Arch Lich's body was split diagonally from left shoulder to torso.

A single strike meant to bisect the creature, but the Arch Lich's resilient body halted the blade's progress.

- Screeeeeech!

The sword stopped near its solar plexus.

Yet even this proved a critical hit, as the Arch Lich's distorted scream echoed throughout the estate.

Phee's favorite creation—a 6-star necromancy masterpiece nurtured over months with her direct power infusion—had finally sustained a fatal wound against Rodea's Holy Blood Sword.

- Crack! Snap! Thud!

Rodea strained to push the blade deeper, but the Arch Lich stubbornly resisted complete subjugation.

- Bang!

Deflecting the sword, the Arch Lich retreated to the second-floor railing above the main hall.

"Tch! Couldn't finish it in one strike!"

- Crash! Boom!

Rodea rolled across the ground as her Holy Blood Sword clattered onto the railing.

The critically wounded Arch Lich approached to destroy the troublesome weapon, but the 4-star transformation magic-forged blade rejected the unholy creature's touch.

- Clang!

Further damaged by holy energy, the Arch Lich staggered before collapsing onto the railing.

Though it continued summoning monsters with its remaining magic, the creature seemed near its limit.

They'd driven it into a corner.

While Countess Rodea lacked combat magic expertise, with other mages and ranged attackers'support—

Eliminating this nearly defenseless foe wouldn't take long.

Just as she prepared to order the final assault—

- Ooooooooom

A resonant cry—like a massive ship's horn—echoed through the air.

Above the shattered ceiling, the colossal demon summoned by Duke Beltus became visible. The monster that had been demolishing its surroundings as if to swallow the world whole... now gradually dissolved into magical particles.

Soldiers across the battlefield stared wide-eyed.

A 5-star summoning mage's magnificent demon was disappearing. The implications were clear.

Someone had subdued Duke Beltus.

- Whoosh!

The massive form beneath the starry sky gradually faded, dissipating like smoke.

"I-Impossible..."

"They... defeated Duke Beltus...?"

Velderun Mercenaries and Countess Rodea's guards alike stopped fighting to stare at the sky.

As the demon vanished completely, the near-death Arch Lich rose again.

"Don't lose focus! We're still engaged!"

"Y-yes, Countess!"

Soldiers snapped back to attention just as the Arch Lich roared, summoning more monsters—

Then abruptly abandoned the battle, floating toward the mansion's interior.

"Wh-what?!"

"The Arch Lich is fleeing! It's escaping inside!"

Countess Rodea gaped at this unprecedented sight.

Liches from the White Labyrinth and other danger zones never retreated. Their lairs were their strongholds, and fear was foreign to them.

Fear of defeat couldn't explain this.

The Arch Lich's sudden retreat suggested... another motive.

"Damn it! Pursue! We must finish it!"

Grabbing her Holy Blood Sword, Rodea sprinted down the corridor despite her heavy armor.

Following the Arch Lich's path revealed completely destroyed hallways—evidence of Derek and Duke Beltus's battle.

The fleeing Arch Lich descended through a massive hole in the corridor's center.

Continuing downward led easily to the underground wine cellar.

- Crash! Thud! Crack!

Rodea, who'd chased fastest, landed and immediately witnessed an unbelievable scene.

The cellar—where shattered barrels left wine pooling like blood across the floor.

At its center, Baron Derek Raidof Ravenclaw knelt gasping for breath.

His body bore countless wounds and bloodstains, with barely any detectable magic left.

He'd scraped the absolute bottom of his reserves. The usually unflappable Derek fighting to this exhausted state was a rare sight.

And before the collapsed wreck of a man—stood Duke Beltus, completely frozen in defeat.

'What... am I seeing?'

Rodea swallowed hard.

Derek Raidof Ravenclaw—who appeared at best a 3-star mage—had single-handedly subdued Duke Beltus.

Though the Duke had been beaten near-death by Phee, nearly drained of magic, and barely coherent from necromantic madness—

A 5-star mage losing to someone two ranks lower defied all logic.

Each star rank represented an exponential power gap—especially at higher levels. While a 1-star might occasionally defeat a 2-star, a 3-star beating a 4-star was virtually unheard of.

'Traces of ice magic...'

But if not a 3-star mage... how should this be interpreted?

Chilling energy emanated from the exhausted Derek—clearly the source of the mansion-wide freezing spell.

Derek had become a 4-star mage.

The implications were enormous. The gap between 3-star and 4-star was often described as heaven and earth.

The Empire actively tracked all 4-star mages—their power rivaling strategic weapons.

They were regional legends, often key assets even for great noble houses. Some with sufficient merit even became family heads.

A new 4-star mage's emergence would send shockwaves through the southwestern continent's power structure.

At this age? 4-star?

Historically unprecedented speed—matching or surpassing even the Northern Dominator Melberot.

Rodea gulped and refocused.

'Not the time for this...! The Arch Lich came here urgently for a reason!'

Derek was at his limit after fighting the Duke.

He could barely maintain consciousness, supporting himself on the floor while gasping.

Already pushed to extremes, casting a 4-star spell in this state meant excruciating pain as if his body were burning.

Even at full strength, Rodea found 4-star magic draining. Doing so while critically injured transcended ability—entering the realm of sheer willpower.

In this state, Derek couldn't resist the Arch Lich's attack. He was completely vulnerable.

As an Imperial loyalist, Rodea couldn't allow this young genius to die here.

"Over here, monster!"

Drawing her Holy Blood Sword, Rodea roared at the Arch Lich.

- Thwack! Crack!

More silver arrows struck—specially effective against undead. Pellin already aimed from above the corridor hole.

As other troops arrived, Jayden and Orel charged into the cellar with drawn swords.

- Slash! Crunch!

"Protect Baron Ravenclaw! We must save him!"

Rodea's desperate shout echoed.

The Arch Lich was also near death. A full assault could finish it.

But in its death throes, the creature gathered final magic for a massive scream.

- Screeeeeeeeeeech!

Air vibrated.

A 3-star confusion spell—Scream of Madness. Soldiers dropped weapons to cover their ears as overwhelming disorientation struck.

The Arch Lich's last struggle.

Seizing this opening, it flew toward the subdued Derek.

"No!"

As Rodea lunged with her sword—

- Whoosh!

But the Arch Lich ignored Derek entirely, flying past to the frozen Duke in the corner.

Lifeless, his body slumped as the Arch Lich lifted him with magic.

So ended the greedy noble who sought to dominate the world as head of House Beltus.

Wrapping the corpse in magic, the Arch Lich unleashed another massive spell—the same summoning magic used earlier.

But instead of summoning, the Arch Lich itself was being summoned elsewhere.

- Poof!

Engulfed in energy while clutching the Duke, the Arch Lich vanished completely.

- Whoosh!

- Rustle!

Only settling dust remained.

"It escaped..."

"Damn! We almost had it!"

"The monsters are disappearing...! Still... we've won...!"

The destroyed wine cellar.

All that remained... was a man who'd finally bloomed his talent.

Blood pooled on the floor, his body covered in wounds.

He could die from blood loss at any moment.

"No time for victory celebrations! Fetch medics now!"

Rodea splashed through wine as she rushed out.

The battlefield hero who'd fought a necromancer to near-death now lay dying.

- Splash!

Unable to withstand the storm, Derek collapsed into the wine pool.

- Splash! Splash!

As Rodea splashed toward him and soldiers scrambled for medics... Derek's consciousness gradually slipped away.

"Lord Derek! Stay awake! Hey...! Get medics now! Damn it...!"

Even Rodea's fading voice sank into the encroaching darkness.

When had he last risked his life against such overwhelming odds?

A childhood memory surfaced—trembling before a giant wild boar.

His first magical awakening.

How little had changed since then.

With this self-deprecating thought, Derek slowly closed his eyes.

Light from above illuminated the blood-soaked knight in the dark cellar—like a paladin after holy war.

Biting her lip, Rodea removed her gauntlet to apply direct pressure to Derek's wounds.

Yet blood kept flowing. This man had staked his life to defeat a necromancer.

Watching the unstoppable hemorrhage, Rodea clenched her teeth.

She would save this man at all costs.