Chapter 20 - Duel of the Ages II

“In one move…” The Adjutant to General Otto remarked.

That one has strength seeing as how he wields that much mettle. In other words, Knight Otto thought that soldiers who utilize a heavy weapon like an axe are the ‘strength’ type of character.

Another Knight was sent, but much younger. He was Sergeant Major Hove, the highest ranking in the enlisted side of the Carceron army, and was born in a Knighthood Household. A fully grown man at 21, he is the next leading generation as an astute swordsman and strategic thinker.

Foolish Gunnarson! You were unable to sense the level between you and the opponent! Unlike most soldiers, Knight Hove keeps his hair combed like a gentleman befitting the aristocratic class. Those who rely on brute force are usually dimwits, but, the reaction to Gunnarson’s attack was perfect. Knight Hove was perceptive.

Step! Step!

Knight Hove approached with a low stance. Saix reacted by swiftly sweeping the poleaxe horizontally.

KACHING!!

“GHAA!” If I hadn’t used Blade Energy at the last moment! Knight Hove felt his entire arm numbing with pain. He wields the poleaxe like a twig! Knight Hove timed his counterattack quite well and attacked a wide-open Saix.

?!

What Knight Hove had thought was nothing but bait, Saix had reeled the 3-Star Knight to fall into a trap. In such a trap, the technique, “Reverse Whirlwind Axe Kick” was performed and connected to the face of the young Knight. Although more capable than Knight Gunnarson, Hove hadn’t thought that Saix would be dextrous for such a tall and strength type of character.

“Next up!” Saix proclaimed his victory once again.

This time, another Sergeant Major stepped up, a much older soldier. Nothing is known about such a person since Saix killed such a person in an instant by decapitating his head before introducing himself.

“Another!” Saix has won three times in a row.

“Send another!” Another nameless soldier who could activate Blade Energy had crumbled to the surprising dexterity of the tall soldier.

“Any more?!”

The fifth enemy soldier was different, “H-Hold!” Saix acquiesced. He had thought that this soldier might show something new.

“I go by the name…”

Slice!

Before such an introduction would come into play, Saix would not hear the next words as the nameless soldier was easily cut in half.

5 Commanders by himself?! Knight Otto could not believe what he was seeing.

Now their morale has dwindled. Cheers from the palisade could be heard as Lukedonia celebrated the consecutive victories. Fall back Saix! Loutch will continue. A telepathic message was sent.

Loutch has always held a lax expression out of all his friends, even in combat. I can’t believe it, but, Loutch, your swordsmanship is great. Originally, Krist had remembered that Loutch was not much of a swordsman and mainly focused on bowmanship, however, this lifetime has proved Loutch to be a master in several martial arts. I doubt that any loss would occur. Krist held a sacrosanct trust with his friends.

Unable to perceive the true power of the opponent in front of him, another nameless 3-Star Knight was sent. This one looks much weaker than that tall one! Activating Blade Energy through the sword as a medium, the Carceron performed a downward swing.

“KAHA! The world is too big for you!” Following the downward slash with a crescent slash from right to left, Loutch had dodged a well-performed blade technique.

!

In an instant, Loutch had decapitated the cocky knight, “AGH..!” Loutch as a swordsman is known to be a “Clinch Master,” an individual that is a third faster in overpowering their opponent in a clinch. Quick and decisive, Loutch was not one to waste time much like his direct and precise bowmanship.

In truth, Loutch is a lazy fighter, and killing enemies with one shot is the ultimate satisfaction. Therefore, when wielding a sword, every move was efficient, and not a single wasted. Truly, Loutch was an efficient master in both swordsmanship and bowmanship, a dual talent.

“You talk too much…” The decapitation was performed splendidly when the blade had connected to the neck, blood had yet to squirt out due to the technique of the slash being precise.

“Demon Bow!”

“Demon Bow!”

“Master of sword and bow!”

Cheers began emanating from the palisade once again due to the flawless victory performed by Loutch.

This time, General Otto was to send his special forces immediately, “Daniel! Redeem the dead!” Knight Otto is a true, 5-Star Knight, and his command reverberated throughout the regiment.

“Roger!” Knight Daniel had complied.

Out of all the characters representing the Carceron Kingdom so far, Knight Daniel was from the Fenrir Clan, “Daniel Orkis from the Fenrir Clan.” He was a shrewd man in his 30s with black hair a noticeable battle scar on the right side of his face and cold-blooded eyes that had seen many battles. Most importantly, he is a 4-Star Knight.

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Wielding a flamberge, Daniel had a lowered stance. The General had sent out the Foltest Elites from the Fenrir Clan. We’ll counter that by sending someone with experience in this regard.

Next up would be Sergeant Major Laciel versus Knight Daniel, one on the level of a true Master, while the other on the verge of becoming a 5-Star Knight.

Laciel leaped and disappeared.

?!

Relying on the refined instincts of a veteran, Knight Daniel blocked a slash from the right.

KACHING!!

Knight Daniel felt his arm go numb. Fuck! He’s a Master! Realizing the difference in level, Daniel took the approach, of not letting Laciel get the chance for a quick succession. However, Laciel had been expecting such a reaction as described by Krist through telepathy.

“When he realizes the difference in strength, await the impatient approach.” This is what Krist had messaged Laciel. It was a bit cryptic, but, Laciel is of the blue-blooded, he knew such sophistry would resonate well with the nobleman.

What Knight Daniel had thought was a bright idea to gain the match was met with an axe kick to the head immediately knocking the young Knight unconscious. Not all opponents needed to be killed. Krist had instructed some of his friends to keep some of the Carcerons alive while the others were up to their discretion.

“As expected… ‘Clinch Master’...” Saix was amazed by Laciel’s performance.

Out of all the practitioners of the Divine Art of Lionturtle Breath, Laciel had benefited the most. This Mana Breathing Method is a Divine Rank capable of enlightening an individual to the Mystic Realm, therefore, it is probably the top three in the whole world. However, this is not the reason for the seamless success, it was because Laciel was the sole person to have learned the Enlightenment, “Autonomy.”

It is a skill gained when practicing the Divine Art of Lionturtle Breath for years, or have progressed the technique to perfection. Simply put, it is a type of “Augmentation” that whenever in solo combat, all status attributes increase by one hundred percent. Such a monstrous perk had been learned by Laciel.

KEKEKE! Krist was internally seething. With each passing day, he was progressively beginning to display the aspects of intelligence, an amoral and devilish organ (brain).

“Nice and simple,” even Loutch had complimented his friend.

“At this rate, the morale of the corp will falter! Assaulting the fortress is our only means!” The Adjutant protested.

Stab!

General Otto had stabbed the subordinate’s throat, “AGH!” Such words for an inferior officer are punishable by death in any military. The Adjutant had forgotten his place and met an end for speaking the wrong words.

“Fucking piece of shit! To think we would lose to these brats?!” Knight Otto no longer held back and sent the rising star of the Carceron Kingdom, “Rastul! Get ready!”

“Yes sir!” Soon, the main character on the enemy’s side shows up.

“Sir Otto! May I go first?” The Fenrir Clan’s Battalion Commander (Sergeant Major), Nodyr Wulf. He is similar to Saix in terms of height and innate strength.

“Magnificent. Sparing Knight Daniel was the correct choice. There was no need to kill off a talent like him,” although Krist intended to show no mercy to an enemy, it did not mean it was wise to kill anyone without repercussions of future events. Krist was sure not to dwindle Carceron’s forces if it could not be helped, after all, he is a humanist at the end of the day.

“Reddas, you’re up next!” Krist was patient that his turn would be the last. Rastul, you’ve yet to show…

Knight Nodyr Wulf was from the collateral line of the Fenrir Clan, hence, the enlisted rank that was given to him. Otherwise, someone on the level of Knight Wulf is of the Major Class, Aura Knights that can infuse mana at a concentrated level.

This is a great match-up for Reddas. Krist thought.

Reddas looked as confident as ever. Out of all the warriors out there, Reddas represents the epitome of “unorthodox,” given that wielding two battle axes in the reverse-grip position. In effect, Reddas is a “hard-hitter.”

Knight Wulf has a lot of battle experience with that sword and shield, however, Reddas has an immense amount of experience in all categories regarding strategy and warfare.

So far, Knight Wulf could not defend against the onslaught of the dual-wielding warrior who moved swiftly compared to the fighting style. In the end, Krist gave the order via telepathy to kill the enemy before you.

“ARGH…” Knight Wulf had been heavily cut by the edge of the axe and had received an “x” pattern type of injury. Not everyone can be spared. Krist made this point clear and Reddas to fulfill his will.

“Even Nodyr would lose… what the…” General Otto was perplexed amid these losses.

Suddenly, a young man stepped up, “General, allow me to go this time.” Rastul made his appearance. A young-looking man with hair touching the shoulders, equipped with steel gauntlets alongside steel pauldrons and steel boots. He is Carceron’s youngest superstar, Rastul, the future Sword Saint who was written down in history to have successfully conquered this fortress.

I can see you have yet to realize “Sword Unification.” Krist could instantly tell what level the current Rastul of this time.

“If I may, Demigod,” Rastul spoke plainly.

The appearance of the “Demigod,” Krist Ceringer ringed in the Carceron Kingdom for some time, however, after witnessing the subordinates dominating fights had held their reputation in high esteem.

“Go on,” Krist replied.

“Whoever wins will end this battle,” Rastul stated the terms.

“I agree. Now, let’s fight!” In this duel, Krist had brought a knife that is used for assassinations or blade work. Out of thin air, Krist manifested copies of eight knives that orbited the user and were controlled through thoughts.

In essence, what Krist was displaying was the pinnacle of mana control, “Formless Blade Arts,” a type of technique that manifests highly condensed Aura that mimics the user’s attack or is shot towards an enemy or object. The creme-de-la-creme of mental control, Krist has achieved the Mystic Realm once again.

Appearing in front of Rastul, Krist displayed afterimages that were impossible to keep up with. Krist swung the knife as if it were a sword: “ARGH!!!” Rastul felt his whole body shiver.

“Wanna know the difference between me and you?” Krist showed his dark humor and spoke in a way that would lead Rastul to Sword Unification. Within that instance when Rastul had successfully parried the attack, Krist instantly felt exactly what level the young star was currently in terms of overall power.

Unbelievable… almost close to a Force Master. Seeing a teenager reach such a level before entering his 20s was amazing.

He’s too powerful! Those floating knives mean he’s at the pinnacle of Master Rank! Rastul understood that the legendary Demigod's power was akin to using Telekinesis, a technique that only a top Master Knight could achieve.

In a sequence of techniques and combinations, each attack was reinforced by the Limitless Sword Formation, a technique that requires true mastery over mana.

Falling back, Rastul felt the pressure of each basic attack. Even normal skills have a massive impact! So this is the pinnacle of Sword Unification.

Although Rastul was missing such a component to cross into the Master level, Krist had shown the absolute pinnacle at which one could actively perform to reinforce each attack with however much the user wishes to manifest the Limitless Sword Formation.