Do Your Own Revolution

#055

“The barrier won’t hold!”

“Damn it, what kind of firepower…!”

Starting with the Fireball I fired to seize the initiative, the offensive from me and the three others began to pressure the Revolutionary Army.

“Hahaha! Every time I use it, I can’t help but feel that this magic bullet is really something else!”

As if intoxicated by the magical power emanating from the magic bullet, it was Ortega who charged to the front line.

With two cavalry sabers in his hands, Ortega’s target was Miles, the three stroke mage positioned at the front.

Even though he was charging at a muscular giant a head taller than himself, no trace of fear could be found in Ortega’s eyes.

“Looks like a wild dog’s gone for a bear’s throat. Matt!”

“I know.”

The moment the one-on-one confrontation formed, Guille, the leader of the trio, stepped in to block the Revolutionary Army members rushing to support Miles.

Dozens of Fireballs exploded in place.

It was the handiwork of Guille, wielding a sawed-off shotgun in one hand.

“Urgh?!”

“What the- how can he cover such a wide area…!”

Unlike Ortega, who specialized in physical enhancement, Guille’s magic imprint focused on firepower suited for crowd control.

He compensated for his lack of physical durability with technique, using magic bullet-enhanced Fireballs to deal with multiple opponents.

In a way, his combat style was the most similar to mine.

“Miles! The others are…! Aargh?!”

“Ren!”

A highly condensed beam of light flew towards the Revolutionary Army mages preparing supporting fire from the rear.

“Supporting fire? Try it if you can.”

Matt sneered as he aimed his rifle from the back line.

Ortega rampaging at the front, Guille handling multiple enemies at mid-range.

Supporting these two from long range were the Fireballs fired from Matt’s rifle.

Unlike regular Fireballs, these were compressed to maximize precision and range.

His physical enhancement was used solely to withstand the recoil of that spell.

‘The magic these three use are [Fireball] and [Physical Enhancement]. Same spells, yet such different applications.’

Ortega, who abandoned Fireball to pour all magical power into physical enhancement.

Guille, who extremely enhanced Fireball’s explosive power to suppress multiple enemies at once.

And Matt, who increased precision and range to support the other two from behind.

“Damn it, we’re being pushed back!”

“There’s only three of them! How is this happening…!”

Once the coordination of the three specialists was complete, the dozens of Revolutionary Army mages could only desperately defend, unable to find a way to counter.

They might have been able to respond somewhat if they were at full strength, but the Revolutionary Army was considerably drained from their fight with Baron Zicklinte.

Unable to use magic bullets due to the risk of overload, they had no choice but to take the beating helplessly.

“Argh?!”

“We lost one!”

“Damn it, maintain formation and prepare to retreat slowly!”

“Claude!”

Now then, what might our hero be doing while he should be commanding the Revolutionary Army in this situation?

What else? Having a grand old time trading blows with me.

“Haaaah-!”

With a roar, Claude’s sword came crashing down towards me.

Red flames wreathing the blade, and fireballs targeting me from behind.

However, just before that sword reached my face, my [Hellfire] that I had activated on the ground erupted.

“Ugh?!”

“Your form falls apart too easily? Don’t tell me you flinched at a mere suppression spell?”

“Suppression, you say…!”

Even if it was meant for suppression, getting hit would still mean death all the same.

I charged in for close combat against Claude, who wore a strangely indignant expression.

As much as I hated to admit it, the techniques I learned at Knifehead were proving incredibly useful.

Knife fighting with a single dagger and bare hands, joint locks, and the binding spell [Helios’s Reins] woven between them.

When he tried to dodge the dagger in my left hand, my right hand would grab his collar, and when he tried to avoid both, the red magical power chains would target his back.

What if he tried to create distance, you ask?

“Argh?!”

The second long-range spell inscribed in the fourth stroke, [Spear of Mithra].

The extremely compressed red beam mercilessly pierced through the barrier Claude deployed.

Come to think of it, this skill ignored defense in the game too, didn’t it?

Using it in reality proved it to be an absolutely vicious spell.

‘By the way…’

Continuous bombardment from range, and close combat weaving through the gaps.

Watching Claude gradually being overwhelmed, I began to see just how much he had grown.

‘As expected, he hasn’t unlocked the fourth stroke for long.’

Right now, I wasn’t even using the spells inscribed in the fifth stroke.

The fact that there was this much difference despite that meant he couldn’t properly draw out the performance of his newly unlocked magic imprint.

Though the degree differed, it was the same situation as when I first received the seven stroke inscription.

‘His body can’t keep up with the imprint’s growth rate. At this rate, it’d be pointless to pit him against magic nobles.’

Come to think of it, the time it took Claude to defeat Zicklinte was much later than the original protagonist’s timeline.

For someone of noble blood who received surgery early to develop slower than a protagonist who awakened magical power at 17…

‘At this rate, the Revolutionary Army card will be taken out by the magic nobles or Randall before I can even use it.’

Can’t be helped.

Having made my decision, I watched Claude desperately trying to break through my barrage.

‘Since it’s come to this, might as well experiment.’

What came to my mind was one of [Revolution Empire]’s systems.

The original protagonist ‘Eugene Lorentz’ awakened his magical power late, forcibly using incompatible imprints while struggling to build his strength.

Nevertheless, his growth rate surpassed the current Claude, and in the extreme late game, he grew into a mage capable of using all seven stroke imprints inherited from Maximilien.

How was that possible?

The reason was a system called ‘Indomitable’ that manifested in moments of crisis.

‘In the original game, Indomitable’s activation chance increased the more the protagonist’s body was pushed to its limits, and the more psychological crisis they faced.’

In manga terms, it was the protagonist’s power-up during crisis moments implemented as a game system.

Through this, the original protagonist explosively grew his magical power in a short time, and was able to raise the magical power he developed at the late age of 17 to a high level.

Of course, his body was completely wrecked as a consequence.

‘If Claude has replaced the protagonist’s position, he should be able to trigger this Indomitable phenomenon.’

No, he had to trigger it.

While it’s true he had superior qualities compared to the original protagonist, Claude’s magical power was still far inferior to the magic nobles.

If we couldn’t increase his growth rate while he was still young, the piece I’d carefully crafted might be lost before it could even be used.

“Guh…?!”

I drove my fist into Claude’s stomach as he charged in close.

Claude froze with the sound of air leaving his lungs.

Without delay, I followed up with a kick to his defenseless face.

Claude’s body rolled across the ground, unable to withstand the force.

Looking down at Claude’s dirt-covered face, I spoke in a cold voice.

“Get up.”

“Kuh, cough…!”

You can’t succumb to this level of adversity.

One who awakens in moments of crisis, surpassing the expectations of villains like me.

One who creates miracles that everyone calls impossible, breaking through situations deemed inescapable.

Isn’t that what a hero is supposed to be?

“If you’re really Maximilien’s successor.”

If you’re another possibility to fill my vacant position.

“There’s no way you’d fall here. Right?”

“…!”

The moment I said that, Claude’s attempts to stand froze.

Looking closely with [Eye of Horus], Claude’s half-opened eyes were completely unfocused.

“Tch.”

Anger welled up.

To think it wouldn’t activate even after going this far.

Was this guy not hero material after all?

‘If he’s the type to give up and fall here, he had no value to begin with.’

I drew Heresy and aimed at Claude’s forehead.

Rather than dying at the hands of magic nobles and elevating their authority, dying by my hand would be far more beneficial.

As for Randall and the remaining Revolutionary Army… Should I discuss it with Keiren?

Pushing aside such complicated thoughts, I pulled the trigger.

With the gunshot, a red beam of magical power headed towards Claude’s head and-

A red magic circle intercepted the magical power bullet I fired.

“Won’t… give up…!”

“Ha!”

I examined his condition using [Eye of Horus].

The magical power surging around his body, and the Red Wings gradually appearing on both his shoulders.

And the flames spreading around them.

“W-what, Claude?”

“What is this? His magical power…!”

I looked around.

Miles, Ren, and the other mages who had been pushed to the brink of exhaustion were gradually regaining their vigor.

Claude’s wide-area buff from the main story, [Wings of Burning Freedom].

Seeing this, my body trembled with rising exhilaration.

“Yes. That’s how it should be!”

Just like in the game, ‘Indomitable’ had activated.

The spark meant to burn alongside the magic nobles had finally awakened.

For the first time, he deployed a barrier to defend against my incoming spell.

Claude walking towards me with his sword ablaze, wings of flame spread wide.

It was a sight reminiscent of his appearance in the main story, where he was known as the ‘Wings of the Revolutionary Army’.

“Eugene-!”

Starting with the winged Claude, the other Revolutionary Army members began raising their momentum to face the trio’s attacks.

“Whoa, these bastards suddenly got powered up? Just like Eugene said?”

“Did these rebels have this much energy in reserve? What should we do, Guille?”

“We still have magical power to spare. Maintain pressure and switch to Plan B.”

Claude awakening in crisis, the Revolutionary Army recovering their magical power, and me and the trio gradually being pushed back.

A protagonist’s awakening scene straight out of a picture was unfolding.

“We can win!”

Claude gritted his teeth as he broke through my barrage and closed in.

His fourth magic imprint operating at maximum output, and the magnificent magical power erupting from it.

“With this, the humiliation at Belkers estate…!”

Just as Claude sensed his reversal victory at that moment.

“Good. With this growth rate, breaking through the next chapter shouldn’t be a problem.”

“…What?”

At my sudden remark, cracks appeared in Claude’s face that had been burning with determination.

“The first crisis encountered. Awakening in the moment of crisis. And finally achieving explosive growth. It’s more than enough to be called a revolutionary hero.”

“This bastard, where does he get such composure…!”

“But you know.”

An explosion right in front of him sent Claude’s body flying far back.

Claude stared at me with eyes filled with shock.

Looking at such a Claude, I opened my mouth with a smile.

“That doesn’t mean you can beat me.”

Now that I’ve helped the new protagonist grow, it’s about time I claim my share, isn’t it?

Thinking that, I activated my magic circuit at maximum output.

The fifth magic imprint that had remained silent throughout the battle was glowing red, craving my magical power.