Overgeared

The red light from the imperial palace covered the entire capital, Titan. This meant that Grid could witness the sight from the outskirts.

“A very large butcher’s store...!” This was Grid’s impression.

Grid shouted it unknowingly, but fortunately, Basara’s group didn’t hear it. No, they heard it, but they couldn’t afford to worry about it. It was because they were busy worrying about the change in the capital that was now unfolding in front of them.

“The sky and the earth are red... Why is this...?”

“A fearful omen. The 4th imperial prince is crazy, and the empire will be destroyed.”

Basara’s retainers lamented. They felt a great ominous feeling from this incomprehensible supernatural phenomena. This was when Basara’s clear voice awakened everyone’s spirit, “That is red energy.”

“Red energy?”

Anxiety was washed away from the faces of those who learnt the identity of the red light shrouding the capital. The red energy was a symbol of the imperial family. From the standpoint of those who served the royal Basara, the red energy was an auspicious power.

“The red energy could be this widespread? His Majesty’s power is much greater than I thought.”

People believed that the owner of this red energy was naturally the emperor. The emperor’s red energy was the strongest in this era. However, Basara knew...

The emperor’s red energy wasn’t this great. This was at a level that broke even the common sense of the imperial family.

‘Who is it?’

The main characteristic of red energy was the ‘influence on matter.’ In normal cases, the royalty raised their power by infusing red energy into certain substances and distributing it to their subordinates. The emperor’s power was also unique due to his monopoly of red energy and the black mithril.

Yet there was a fact that couldn’t be overlooked. The red energy could strengthen the material it was injected into, but it could also absorb the strength of the material. It was very inefficient to absorb the strength of the material while consuming red energy, so the existing royalty didn’t operate the red energy this way.

‘A person with so much red energy can absorb the strength of all things and exert transcendental power.’

Basara’s expression turned cold. She sensed that the emperor was in a great crisis. Her retainers were also agitated.

“Why is His Majesty personally using the red energy? Don’t tell me...?”

“Is the 4th imperial prince attacking His Majesty?”

The speculation of the retainers shocked the 10,000 cavalrymen. Everyone looked at Basara nervously. Basara was forced to make a bold decision, “Enter the capital in an armed state. We must immediately march to the imperial palace to help His Majesty.”

Some of her retainers made objections once Basara gave the order. They were all opinions that came from their loyalty.

“The soldiers of the imperial family will block the gates. No matter our intentions, we can be regarded as traitors the moment there is an armed conflict. We can save His Majesty and lose everything.”

“Your Highness, this is now an opportunity from Heaven. You can’t help His Majesty.”

“That’s right! First, contact the estate and ask for the army! The moment we hear that His Majesty is in trouble, we can march and occupy the capital!”

Basara was fifth in the line of succession. She was ranked second highest after the princes, and as long as she maintained her duke rank and territory, her actual force went beyond the princes’. Basara was the right person to be next to the throne. Of course, Basara herself didn’t intend to refuse the throne. However, she judged that it was too premature.

‘It is too dangerous until I know what the grandmaster is doing.’

Unlike the other emperors through the ages, Basara had no intention of ruling by force. It wasn’t because she was a nonviolent person or that she was weak. She was just an extremely reasonable person. By coexisting with non-imperial countries and ethnic minorities, it would enrich them, and she would receive more tributes that would help the empire’s future. Her ancestors had already demonstrated how inefficient it was to trample and dominate with unconditional force. It was doubtful if the grandmaster, who had been with the emperors of the past, would agree with Basara’s ideas.

‘The grandmaster is also a person who pursues hegemony, which is why he is on the empire’s side.’

It was clear that her position would be troubling if she opposed the grandmaster. The power of the grandmaster, who had been with the imperial family for a long time, would easily surpass the new emperor. Unless she wanted to live as the grandmaster’s puppet, Basara believed it would be better not to aim at the throne until she read his intentions. Therefore...

“No. We have to help His Majesty. His Majesty still needs to be in place.”

Basara ignored the opinions of her loyalists, and the 10,000 horsemen started their march. The land became turbulent when 10,000 horses started running at once. The birds staying in the small mountains all over the place were startled and flew into the sky.

During the raucous march, Basara called out to Grid, “Overgeared King!”

Having witnessed the white-haired Grid at the Ruins of the War God, she interpreted that Grid was a master comparable to the grandmaster and made a request.

our army to reach the imperial palace. Can you help His Majesty by going to the imperial palace first?” Basara’s request had sufficient

wish was the unity of the Overgeared Kingdom and the empire. Grid running over first and helping

request. It seemed as if he had been waiting for

bitter smile spread on Basara’s face. “You have to go alone to a place where the enemies are

received a proposal from Grid, she had enough affinity to plan

am well aware of your strength. Still, be careful. There are many strong people in the imperial palace who can threaten you. When you arrive, read the situation first and only act when you

Grid answered while putting on

[Berith’s Skin Mask]

[Rating: Legendary (Transcendent)

(can’t

made by Berith processing

boasts a perfect degree of completion because it contains Berith’s magic of lies and distortion. It isn’t only the face that is disguised but the body shape and voice

yourself as anyone you have a reasonable

words with the target

of the target, the better

the disguise depends

the appearance and voice of the target. Be extra careful about your words and actions

Cooldown Time: 12 hours.

Level

Weight: 2]

going,” Grid said through the skin mask. His tone was exactly like Basara’s. That’s right. In order to freely move through the

Basara’s face reddened. “This...”

“...?”

the magic of a great demon isn’t omnipotent enough to replicate all parts of the

act

He couldn’t answer honestly.

***

different city from what Grid had seen before. Knights riding horses raced down the roads, and soldiers with swords were seen in every alley. Signs of battle were found, and some aristocratic mansions were burning. The people, who lost their place in this turmoil, crouched in a corner and

It was simply pandemonium.

‘It’s like a war.’

opportunity to help the emperor and raise affinity.

area found Grid disguised as Basara and

them, “Are you searching for the

“Yes, that’s right!”

you know what is going on right now in the

in the imperial palace. We are worried because a red light suddenly burst out but

see. Continue with what you

“Yes!”

imperial palace. Grid thought about it, ‘No matter how

and infiltrated the imperial palace to attack the emperor. The emperor exploded his red energy during the confrontation, and this influence turned the capital red. Grid

harm to the emperor. As the knights said a while ago, the emperor was protected by the Five Pillars while Grenhal and Morse were visiting the emperor. Above all, the emperor himself was the

need to hurry

but he had to go quickly or he wouldn’t be able to get the emperor’s favor. Grid increased his speed. Unfortunately, this female body was unfamiliar and uncomfortable. His limbs were long, but his hips were too big and his chest shook when he

‘Eh.’

a desperate situation? Grid just grabbed his chest and started to run. The

***

‘How terrible.’

corridor and pillar was sprayed

“D-Duke Basara...”

The Red Knights

is

coughed up blood. Grid, who learned of the situation, equipped the Ideal Dagger

emperor failed to kill the Red Knights and was

could compete with the dukes. Additionally, the Red Knights themselves had

hall, he could hear the sound of friction, explosions, and metal colliding. Grid checked his condition after confirming that the duration of Quick Movements

‘It is perfect.’

skill on cooldown was Quick Movements. All skills were available, his health and mana were maintained at the maximum, and only a

the Red Knights, I will break through the Red Knights and give the emperor a

off the skin mask. There was no need to expose the skin mask to the emperor or the Five Pillars. Moreover, it was necessary to reveal his identity. If they asked how he