Sword God in a World of Magic

Duke Whirlwind looked at Shang. "That message was a good idea. Do you have anything else planned, or did you just want to give me an opportunity to strike?"

A smirk appeared on Shang's face.

"I do have something in mind," he said.

"Tell me," Duke Whirlwind said.

"While traveling through the Blackshadow Kingdom, I noticed that my Affinity has given me a peculiar ability."

"Oh?" Duke Whirlwind uttered in interest.

"My Affinity is very similar to the Abominations' Affinity, which makes me their perfect counter. I have heard from some people that the occurrences of Abominations have increased. That's correct, right?"

Shang didn't actually know that, but he assumed that they did.

He had already realized that his increase in power was also increasing the power of the Abominations.

Duke Whirlwind nodded. "Yes, they now appear more frequently and at increasingly random places."

Shang also nodded. "Surprisingly, I didn't see a single Abomination in the last ten years, which is a bit unusual. That makes me think that I have a deterring effect."

"Deterring effect?" Duke Whirlwind asked with a raised eyebrow.

Shang nodded again. "Yes, and not only that. I can also slightly feel where they will appear. It's not perfect, but I can feel them sometimes before they appear."

An interested gleam appeared in Duke Whirlwind's eyes.

"And, with my deterring effect, I can somewhat control where the Abominations don't appear."

Now, Duke Whirlwind understood what Shang was suggesting, and he took a deep breath.

"Shang, I'm not sure if I'm a big fan of your suggestion," he said. "You are sending the enemy of the entire world to a place with innocent civilians just to hurt your enemy."

Shang only looked evenly at Duke Whirlwind with an even look. "Didn't you do the same thing when you claimed the battlefield for the Ice Wyvern?"

"The Abominations would appear regardless, and I had no hand in where they appeared. I simply put more Ice Mana at the place where they would

"So what?" Shang asked.

what?" Duke Whirlwind asked with

don't see Duke Mithril any different from the Abominations. Both things want us dead. What's the difference between dying to an

point, but it still didn't sit

was his enemy, but Duke Mithril

monsters

appear?" Shang asked. "Your territory or his territory? They will appear regardless. If a calamity is unavoidable, why not, at least,

not a fan of

It felt dirty.

a bit like betraying

Whirlwind thought about the Storm Eagle Zone and all

them to get

was a

took

"Fine," he said.

around in the Storm Eagle Zone and the Empress Cobra Zone, I think

Whirlwind took another deep

will it be?"

two weeks," Shang

secret, and I also want you to remain hidden for a while longer. Your sudden return won't go

Shang nodded. "No problem."

In the meantime,

guards are on my payroll, and their degree of loyalty is high. Even if someone came to investigate, they

and he will refuse to

again.

have helped you already. The intel you brought back from the Grandmountain Kingdom

dealt with the ambushers. They will quickly be replaced by new ones, but this is still a strong

smile appeared on Duke Whirlwind's face. "I think it's only appropriate for me

knew what he

of armor," he

giving you a new set, but that isn't even nearly enough to repay everything. Do