My Students Regret It After I Retired

69 – I told you, that won’t work.

Rewinding time, before the Dark Shadow unit and Leos began their second fight.

Keltazar was keenly aware that they were at a disadvantage in a direct clash with Leos.

“It’s humiliating, but it’s difficult for us to withstand Leos’ bizarre fighting style, like what we experienced before. Even the massive bombs utilizing Spyrel would have hit us had it not been for that mysterious shield.”

Someone within the Imperial Dark Shadow unit deployed a defense of incredible magnitude, saving the lives of all its members. However, Keltazar wasn’t completely pleased with this.

“It’s good that we were able to block an attack that would have been impossible for any artifact to handle, but it’s bad that there is someone with an unknown kind of power mixed in with us. If the one who deployed the shield during the previous battle is here, speak up. I need to know why you hid your power.”

Naturally, no one spoke up. Brics and Taken, the ones responsible for the defense magic, simply looked at Keltazar, pretending to know nothing.

“It was such an urgent situation, that no one saw… or even knows who used the power… but it did save us?”

Keltazar whispered with a grim expression.

“Sneaky b*stards have infiltrated us. Are they trying to protect us? Or are they trying to use us?”

At that moment, Brics was slightly impressed by Keltazar’s words. Instead of just being happy about surviving, he tried to understand the true intentions behind it. Brics thought:

‘Honestly, he’s a wasted talent. If he weren’t so mad about the Emperor, he’d be quite useful.’

Keltazar scanned the Dark Shadow unit members and spoke.

“I knew the mudfish was hiding. But, the fact that it tried to protect us at least, that means there’s no reason to disrupt our plan. So, just stay hidden like you are now. If you do, your life might be spared.”

Soon after, an Umbra operative approached Keltazar and spoke.

“This is the topographical map you requested earlier. And His Majesty the Emperor has finally authorized the use of the aerial-type superior artifacts.”

The Emperor, who had previously hoarded aerial artifacts solely for his own use under the guise of protecting his assets, had, for some inexplicable reason, distributed a significant number of superior artifacts this time. It made scouting the surroundings easier, and allowed them to prepare for various situations quickly.

With over 20 artifacts nearly identical to Leos’s Spyrel, their power had increased tremendously.

“Also, we received support of an additional thousand soldiers. Our personnel now total one thousand seven hundred. In addition, we received numerous superior artifacts, bolstering our forces to an unprecedented degree.”

20 artifacts similar to Spyrel, 30 long-range artillery-type superior artifacts, 50 barrier deployment-type artifacts, 120 installable explosive artifacts, 250 long-range projectile artifacts, etc.

The Emperor had supplied an astronomical number of artifacts this time.

‘I don’t know what wind blew in, but this is good enough to take them on.’

Unlike the Emperor’s previous behavior of maximizing artifact usage for himself alone, his massive investment this time was questionable. However, Keltazar rejoiced, believing that his feelings toward the Emperor had finally reached him.

“His Majesty is fully supporting us. He has allowed us to use artifacts that were previously prohibited, and he has invested in forces beyond what was necessary. This is, without exaggeration, enough to kill a hundred mutated monsters. Depending on how we use these artifacts, we might even achieve greater feats.”

Keltazar spoke to the Umbra operatives and the additional troops.

“We were defeated. We were overwhelmingly defeated by Leos, and he is definitely powerful. But do not forget. He is also human. A sword will kill him if it pierces his body, an explosion will shatter him. A mana bullet will tear his flesh, and a grenade will rip his body to pieces. We have hundreds of superior artifacts to kill him. It’s different now. We have the soldiers, but also the weapons.”

Keltazar shouted.

“But do not be careless. Leos, and the extermination squad that is beside them. If we consider everyone, they are not an easy target. Our top priority this time is to first shoot down that troublesome Spyrel of his. Then, to collectively intercept Leos who is the core of their forces. And furthermore, to dispatch a thousand soldiers separately to use as a surprise attack.”

Despite having acquired more than enough forces, Keltazar continued to modify and adjust the operation.

Hundreds of superior artifacts.

Considering that Leos had accomplished incredible feats with just one superior artifact, the Spyrel, this was an absurd amount of power. It was enough to be arrogant, but Keltazar wasn’t.

He was wary of everything. He monitored every possibility of defeat. And finally, he began the operation.

“Find Leos’s location first. Deploy all aerial-type artifacts.”

Spire-like, higher-tier artifacts ascended into the sky all at once. Each one controlled by a single operator, they looked like dozens of birds, flying insanely fast through the air.

The search speed was ridiculously quick, and in about an hour, they were able to pinpoint Leos’s location.

“Found him.”

“Did he notice?”

“He isn’t reacting. He’s too far away; I don’t think he’s aware we’re watching.”

They observed Leos and his procession moving from a considerable distance, yet Leos showed no particular reaction.

Whether it was the incredible power of the higher-tier artifacts, or if he was just pretending not to notice, Keltazar couldn’t quite tell. But one thing was certain: they knew the enemy’s position.

“They’re approaching this way. Seems like they believe in something. But it’s futile. We found them first. We choose the battleground.”

Keltazar immediately commanded his subordinates to scout the surrounding terrain with airborne high-tier artifacts. He secured the most advantageous ground for the fight.

In the mountainous terrain, Keltazar occupied the higher ground. Naturally, Leos would be positioned at the bottom upon arrival.

Given the dense trees and undergrowth that made ascending difficult, being on the lower ground would be strategically disadvantageous. Furthermore, they held twenty airborne artifacts. In the event of a surprise mana bomb drop, defending from below would be incredibly difficult.

But even at this stage, Keltazar didn’t relax.

“A thousand troops will spread out to the northeast and west, behind the enemy, to prepare for any contingency. The moment I signal through the communication device, launch a surprise attack from behind.”

“Understood!”

Seven hundred troops were positioned on the mountain’s upper slopes, while the remaining thousand were waiting behind the enemy, ready to strike as they arrived.

And along the mountain ridges, artillery units, equipped with long-range bombardment artifacts resembling cannons, were stationed. At any given moment, the barrage would come raining down when Keltazar ordered.

With each preparation finalized, a smile began to creep onto Keltazar’s face.

The time had come to repay them for all the past defeats.

This time it was different. Terrain, personnel, artifacts, troops, and even the strategy. He was confident that they wouldn’t be outmatched in any aspect.

Keltazar thought, simmering with deep anger.

‘The idea of capturing him is long gone. They’re building safe zones, gathering forces – a rebellion’s their purpose for sure. That b*stard must die. He absolutely has to die for the Emperor. Just his existence will keep rallying more to his side. This time, we win. We *will* win this time.’

Keltazar, who’d vowed countless times not to be arrogant, found it hard to keep his composure this time. He was itching to test it. These vast artifacts and this massive force.

And the chance arrived soon enough.

Leos’s group had reached the base of the ridge, as anticipated, and Keltazar began observing him from above. But instead of a greeting, Leos levitated five swords in the air and instantly killed one of the Shadow Unit members positioned above.

Keltazar, seeing this, shouted,

“He’s using strange powers. Capture Leos is impossible. Everyone, kill Leos! I’ll say it again, the target is Leos! We kill that b*stard today, no matter what.”

At Keltazar’s signal, mana cannons exploded to life.

-BANG!

A massive sound and explosions from all sides erupted, launching mana projectiles at breakneck speed.

-WHOOSH!

The massive mana projectiles arced through the air, starting to fall towards the ground. Upon impact, they would unleash a monstrous shockwave, swallowing everything around them. Or so they thought.

“You rely on such weak things and dare to come again?”

Leos whispered, and then spread his hands and swung his swords in all directions. The swords began rotating at a monstrous speed, like a storm.

-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH-SWISH!

-BOOM!!!!!

The mana projectiles exploded mid-air before they could reach the ground. But Keltazar wasn’t flustered. Such an explosion would surely shatter the swords.

But contrary to his expectation, Leos’s five swords were floating unharmed in the air.

Keltazar, staring blankly at the sight, muttered.

“Fuck… just why… just how far will you go…”

Each time a crisis arose, he came back with new powers. Leos, growing stronger every time he risked death, filled Keltazar with an overwhelming sense of powerlessness and at the same time, a competitive fire ignited within him.

Must kill. Can win. With the thought that there would be no defeat, they ordered the Dark Shadow Squad, manipulating advanced aerial-type artifacts, to simultaneously drop mana bombs.

Watching the falling bombs, Leos looked up at the sky and said,

“I told you, that stuff wouldn’t work.”

Leos’s sword, accompanied by the sound of explosions, began to dance in the air.