Reborn As Noble

Suddenly...

A loud crack echoed across the battlefield.

Then another.

And then another.

One by one, the dark fireball mages collapsed, each struck cleanly through the forehead, chest, or throat.

Panic spread rapidly.

The long line of mages, that had been laughing happily just moments before suddenly broke apart as their comrades fell in the blink of an eye.

Edmund's eyes narrowed. He looked up.

Above.

Thousands of of fast-moving flying units streaked across the sky.

Sleek black mana drones, flying in tight formation. Each one equipped with twin-barrel gatling mana guns, spinning relentlessly as blue-glowing mana rounds rained down with perfect precision.

It was a slaughter.

Dozens of drones swept through the sky in coordinated patterns, weaving through defensive spells and anti-air counterattacks like trained killers.

And they didn't miss.

Every burst of fire hit with deadly accuracy.

Twelve shots per second—per drone.

The front row of mages dropped like puppets with their strings cut.

"W-We're under attack!!"

"THE SKY! THE SKY!!"

"SHIELDS! SHIELDS!!"

Screams echoed through the mage division.

Then..

A massive shield surged into existence above Edmund's temporary throne, dark purple and swirling with corrupted sigils.

Edmund raised a gloved hand, palm out, effortlessly holding the barrier as dozens of mana bullets struck it.

He stared coldly at the aerial swarm, unfazed.

Slowly, he smiled.

Inside his mind.

"So... Garius's kid... the youngest... is finally showing his hand."

His smirk grew wider.

"Hmph. How amusing."

He stepped forward slightly and raised his voice, speaking with absolute command.

"Remaining mage groups."

His tone was calm.

"Target the sky. Shoot down those flying pests."

The stunned mages quickly snapped to attention.

"YES, YOUR MAJESTY!!"

Fire after fire shot into the sky, now aimed at the drone swarm.

Explosions lit up the air.

Some drones were hit.

But…

They didn't fall.

Not even a scratch.

Every time a fireball struck, a white barrier appeared around the drones, shimmering with layered enchantments.

The impact was completely absorbed. No damage. No wobbling.

The drones kept on firing mercilessly.

The spellcasters stared in disbelief.

"W-What?!" For character sheets and glossaries, visit MV|LEMPYR.

"They're—immune?!"

"B-But how?!"

A summoner behind them gritted his teeth.

"Those aren't just machines…"

"They're Armand-class artifacts…!"

Edmund's smile faded slightly.

He narrowed his eyes at the shimmering drones flying through the air—hit dozens of times but still not falling.

"So that brat... isn't just using anti-air guns."

"He's testing me with his real battlefield toys…"

He turned to his side general.

"Give the command to the veteran wyvern unit."

His voice lowered.

"All-out aerial attack."

The general bowed with a grin.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

A loud horn echoed.

Moments later.

Screeches filled the sky.

Over three thousand wyverns burst from behind the camp like a tidal wave of wings. Their riders carried twin dark spears and large fireball launchers enchanted for long-range, guided attacks.

"CRUSH THOSE MACHINES!!"

Dark smoke trails followed them as they soared into the sky, wings beating with thunderous power.

Below, Edmund watched with quiet anticipation.

"Let's see, Javier De Armand…"

"…how far your toys can dance."

Meanwhile — Far from Edmund's encampment

Away from the chaos at the border, Javier stood quietly beneath the wide branches of an ancient tree. His arms were crossed lightly over his chest.

His eyes were hidden behind sleek, rune-inscribed mana glasses, each lens flickered faintly with lines of data and mana flow.

Through those glasses, Javier calmly watched the drone attack he had authorized. Real-time footage streamed directly to his vision: bursts of dark mana fire, wyverns rushing through the sky, barriers flashing and deflecting attacks, and Edmund's distant dark throne protected by that annoyingly stubborn barrier.

But Javier didn't look worried.

Instead, a faint smile played at his lips.

"Interesting… still holding back your main force, Edmund?" he murmured quietly to himself, tracking each drone's status calmly. "Keep underestimating me. It'll make things easier later."

Behind him, the captured soldiers from the Human Kingdom, sat in small groups around several fires, quietly cooking their rations. No chains bound their limbs, but escape was impossible.

Because surrounding them, like silent shadows, were Javier's elite Special Operation Units.

All one hundred and thirty of them.

Clad entirely in dark tactical gear, faces hidden behind black masks and helmets, each soldier stood silently on guard. Their mana rifles, compact, modular, deadly, rested ready across their chests. Their eyes behind visor goggles moved scanning every move the prisoners.

Nearby, under a smaller protective tent, Liana and Gloria moved smoothly and confidently, preparing their meal.

"As usual, Young Master?" Liana asked, glancing up briefly. Her voice was soft and steady.

"Huh?" Javier tilted his head slightly, removing his mana glasses for a moment. "Oh, you mean the meat? Yeah." His grin was relaxed and playful. "You know how I like it."

Liana smiled softly, shaking her head slightly as she turned back to the sizzling meat on the fire.

Gloria stood beside her, slicing fruit into neat, precise pieces. The gentle sound of her knife chopping through the fruit.

Not far away, their Pekko mounts, Buddy, Pikko, and Peanut, lazily sprawled on the soft grass, their eyes half-closed, bellies swollen after eating a huge pile of grilled meat the trio had shared earlier.

Javier exhaled softly, enjoying this peaceful moment even amid the war. He briefly glanced at Liana and Gloria as they moved in practiced unison.

Then he put the mana glasses back over his eyes and returned his attention to the footage.

"Relax while you can, Edmund…" Javier murmured quietly, his expression turning serious again.

"Because more is coming~" Javier smirked, stepping forward into the open field, away from the gentle glow of the campfires and the quiet rustle of his resting Pekko.

He raised one hand, palm open, eyes now sharp and serious once more.

The air trembled slightly. Mana currents twisted visibly around him, rippling outward like silent whispers across the grass.

Then they emerged.

Twenty towering mana missile launchers rose slowly.Long and powerful, resembling artillery but charged fully with intense, concentrated mana cores embedded within their chassis. Their presence alone exuded an undeniable aura of lethality.

Javier tilted his head upward slightly, fingers flexing once.

"Link established," he murmured quietly.

Above, unseen by any eyes but his own, the Sky-Eye hovered silently.

It was scanning the entire battlefield from the edge of the atmosphere, its compressed mana pulses mapping every enemy movement in real-time and transmitting detailed tactical data directly to Javier's mana glasses.

Lines of precise coordinates and live combat information appeared and danced across his vision.

With a calm breath, Javier synchronized the missile launchers to the Sky-Eye's data feed.

"Target lock confirmed," Javier said softly.

The twenty mana missile launchers responded instantly, their barrels smoothly rotating upward, adjusting angle and trajectory with machine-like accuracy. Runes flared across each weapon's surface, lighting up in synchronized order.

"Let's remind Edmund," Javier whispered, his voice cold and steady, "that Armand isn't the only place protected by my toys."

( End Of Chapter )