Reborn As Noble

"This is what you get for mocking me!!"

Edmund's voice thundered with fury, his laughter twisted and cruel.

"I am the powerful king! The one with ultimate power! You, your family—shit! Weak! Nothing compared to me!!"

He kept laughing, the sound echoing over the chaos as his hands never stopped moving. One blast after another tore through the air toward the spot where Javier had crashed.

Dark flames roared, shadow spikes ripped the ground apart, and bursts of corrupt energy cracked the earth in violent tremors.

"That weakling Gumarak was stupid enough not to take you seriously just because you're a brat!?"

Edmund's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

"You shitty, snotty brat!! I'm killing you here and now!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

His magic rained down without pause.

Relentless, merciless. Each strike exploding into fire, shadow, and ruin, as if he meant to erase Javier from existence entirely.

Meanwhile, at the Armand Border Wall.

Garius and Francesca's advance came to an abrupt halt as several of Javier's newly upgraded puppet knights moved in, surrounding them in a tight formation.

"Let me through," Garius said calmly.

[ Access denied. Master's command is absolute. No passage permitted. Purpose: ensure your safety. This directive cannot be overridden. ]

[ Initiating Priority Safeguard Protocol. ]

From above, the shadow of a massive transport drone swept across the wall, its presence heavy and imposing.

The drone's hatch split open with a mechanical hiss, and several of Javier's special unit puppet knights descended in perfect formation, the weight of their armored boots striking the stone with a deep, resonating thud.

They landed in a half-circle around Garius and Francesca, movements precise and calculated.

Each one hefted a reinforced tower shield, locking them together with a metallic click that formed an unyielding barrier.

The faint glow from their eye-slits pulsed steadily as the lead unit stepped forward.

[ Master's orders: Ensure the Count and the Lady remain within secured perimeter. Any breach is prohibited. ]

The rest shifted stance in unison, shields angling to cover all approach paths. The polished plating of their armor caught the light, and the low, steady hum of their internal mana cores made the air thrum with restrained power.

Garius's gaze swept over the wall of armored figures, his expression a calm mask that revealed nothing.

Francesca's eyes narrowed with recognition. The seamless precision in their stance, the flawless discipline in their positioning.

Overhead, the massive transport drone hovered in place, its shadow draping over the courtyard like a vigilant guardian.

Garius took a deliberate step forward, the weight of his boots echoing against the stone. The wall of shields adjusted instantly, the knights pivoting in flawless synchronicity to keep the barrier impenetrable. Not a single gap emerged.

"Your master has grown bold," Garius murmured, his tone even, yet with the faintest thread of pride weaving through the words.

Francesca's lips curved faintly, her gaze still locked on the impenetrable line. "Bold… and thorough. He doesn't leave gaps, even for family."

Garius's voice carried a calm authority.

"I am Garius De Armand. The father of your master. You will let me pass, or I will break through this wall myself."

The lead knight's eyes flared briefly.

[ Initiating identity confirmation… ]

[ Request rejected. Command cannot be overridden. ]

A faint exhale escaped Garius's lips.

"This isn't the time for strict rules like this. As the ruler of Armand and the father of your master, I am concerned for his safety."

The mana core in the knight's chest flickered, processing.

[ Information received from Sky Eye. ]

[ Status update: Master Javier is currently engaged in combat with target: Human Kingdom Ruler — King Edmund. ]

Garius's gaze hardened, his tone sharpening. "That is exactly why you should let me pass. I will go to him."

The puppet knights didn't move. The shields held firm, their interlocked edges reflecting the drone's steady light. The lead knight's reply came in the same cold, mechanical cadence as before.

[ Negative. Master's orders are absolute. Securing Count Garius within safe perimeter is highest priority. Any deviation is unauthorized. ]

Garius's right eye glowed faintly as its hidden enchantment activated, a subtle ripple of mana passing through the air.

"Let me pass."

The lead knight's response was immediate, unyielding.

[ Denied. Master's family safety is highest priority. ]

Garius's expression didn't waver. "Then tell me the update," he said, his voice calm but edged with command.

The knight's mana core pulsed, transmitting data.

[ Status update: Master has issued command to retrieve two high-priority targets — Liana and Gloria. ]

[ Current status: Targets are being escorted by Special Operation Unit. Estimated arrival within twenty minutes. Additional note: Convoy includes transport wagons carrying several hundred prisoners. ]

Garius glanced at Francesca. "You stay here."

She met his eyes with a calm smile. "No. I'm coming with you."

He exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "Suit yourself."

From the side, Alf, Erinnette, and Hesbeirn exchanged smirks, their expressions speaking volumes, this was going to be a direct move into the heart of the action.

Garius's right eye flared again, feeding power into his legs. In the next instant, all five of them leapt high into the air, their movements precise and perfectly timed.

From behind, four Pekko birds surged forward in long, bounding strides. The largest shadow among them belonged to Giddie, the golden Pekko, whose powerful legs launched him into the air.

Garius and Francesca landed smoothly on his back, the bird's feathers gleaming in the light as his claws dug into the stone before pushing off in a burst of incredible speed.

The other Pekko riders followed close, their mounts kicking up a cloud of dust as they charged in formation.

The nearest puppet knight turned sharply, its glowing eye-slit locking onto Garius and Francesca before shifting toward the open sky. The hum from its mana core deepened, resonating like the rumble of distant thunder.

[ Priority Override: Javier Family Protection Protocol — Full Deployment Sequence Initiated ]

Above the border, the massive transport drone's runes flared to life. From its belly, a swarm of smaller battle drones shot out in synchronized arcs, their engines emitting a high-pitched whine as they spread in every direction, scanning and locking onto potential threats.

On the ground, the stone beneath their feet trembled as fifty figures emerged from reinforced storage chambers.

Special White Operation Units.

Each one stood taller and broader than a standard puppet knight, their armor forged from the rare light-infused metal, radiating a faint silver glow. The light in their helm-slits pulsed in unison, giving the eerie impression of a single will commanding all of them.

( End Of Chapter )