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Chapter 18: Knight Beasts

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An image.

Image from his memory, flashed through his mind.

He and his comrades were underground, running.

Wide and small tunnels here and there, dimly lighted.

Blue and white crystals filled their sides, the source of light.

They jumped from twenty metre high, down to the bottom.

Splash.

Ankle-deep water filled the surface, dripping from the top, flowing from the sides.

As soon as they stepped down, they continued their run, one as if sliding.

Sliding, on the water’s surface, into a tunnel.

Minimizing their mana and stamina, they combined Air Sliding with their run.

Exiting the tunnel, there was a large space, with an underground river.

Water was flowing, sparkling blue, full of life.

The crystals around made the view so serene, tranquil.

As if the place was an ideal stop, in the road towards paradise.

Yet these twelve knew; that was not the case.

“It’s close, to the left.”

A lady in white, a sensor acting as their guide, pointed.

Finding a rift, when it was underground, was a real pain.

Thus, having a sensor was a must.

They jumped across the fifty-metre wide river.

Red, blue, green, yellow; colours of their mana made contrails as they slid.

The leader, him, had white contrail.

As they reached the tunnel, the lady gasped.

“Ambush!”

They stopped right before entering, dispersing.

As they did, a silhouette of something passed by.

Clang!

A boom.

The whole place shook.

Water spread through the whole area, partly vaporized.

‘That was way too close!’

A massive crater now on the blue ground, water came down.

An elephant-sized axe, with five metre long handle, had struck the ground.

“Ju, Rin, Orlan, stay behind.”

He pointed to the ground across the river. Following his instruction, three of his members crossed the river, including the lady in white.

He had to place support members away; it was simply too risky. He did not confirm the enemies yet, but even High Beasts cannot conceal their mana this good.

For a sensor of Juanna’s caliber to have sensed them so late, the most logical explanation;

‘It’s those guys.’

These guys were real trouble; never did he expect them to be in such a remote location.

Meaning, this mission was much more important than he thought.

He made hand-sign; a fist. He pointed to several locations, the eight frontline knights moved, hiding behind rocks. Two, kneeled with him behind pillars of large crystals.

‘How many?’

Klak, klak.

Soon, the first came out.

Humanoid creature, just over three-metre, was bearing a thick spear. Fully clad in yellow-green carapace, it had a one-hand shield latched on its left hand. Its head had helm with a sharp aerodynamic design, naturally build.  

Steadily, it walked out of the tunnel.

No rush, no roar. Its eyes scanned its surroundings.

It turned to his direction.

Yellow light shone from its eyes, as though recognizing the one behind the crystals, him, as leader.

‘Damn, a commander-type!’

He cursed his luck. The commander-type had detection ability, and a good sense of command.

Ambush would be very hard now.

Ka!

The heavy axe was lifted.

The second, over five-metre, took ahold of the long axe. Feet as though elephant’s, this humanoid beast had round head, bulging muscles and wide shoulders. Thick, red carapace clad its muscular body. Easily took the heavy axe with one hand, it placed it on its shoulder.

Its single red eye, circled the surroundings. Red light left trails as the eye moved around, from one side to another. The eye stopped for each group of knights.

As if it was locking on them, one by one.

Looking at the heavy axe and the muscles, he shuddered.

A Punisher…

‘Just one hit from that, and…’

Thud, thud, thud.

Steps as though giant’s; echoed.

At the back, a silhouette of blue stood tall, reaching eight metre. With a wide body, it was fully armored in blue carapace, a design similar that of a beetle. The head was as though a Hercules beetle; upper and lower horn protruding to the front.

To each of its hand was a large shield of its height. Each shield had nasty-looking claws on its bottom, side and upper position; clearly not mere decoration.

Super-heavy Gigan.

‘This slowpoke’s blocking the way, they knew we’re coming.’

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They were waiting for them; the infiltrators.

They were just three.

Was it confidence? Was it arrogance?

These twelve infiltrators were Shurran’s elite; knights forged in battle, united.

With conviction of steel; none could compare.

Yet the three were there.

‘Damn it, Knight Beasts.’

These beasts, they deserved every right to be confident, should they really felt so.

Those who were arrogant against them, had all paid their own dear price. At first, their humanoid figure, smaller size and calm fighting style, had prompted some to try besting them, one by one.

After the fall of the North, none dared challenge these guys on their own.

Forget honour, you will die for sure!

‘But if we retreat, the city will not last.”

These beasts were way too calm.

It was a testament of their superior battle temperament.

He, as the leader, weighed his options.

The life of half a million people, over the life of his comrades.

He had to choose.

…

‘The mission takes priority.’

The rift here must be destroyed, as soon as possible. It was starting to evolve.

And that was no good at all.

Plus, they had paid a huge price coming this far, there’s no turning back.

Twelve knights, three beasts; locked in conflict.

None had any intention of withdrawing.

‘It’s do, or die.’

Thus, their clash was inevitable.

…

====

Pa!

He slapped his own cheek, stopping his reminiscence.

The result was too painful to remember, he hated himself for it.

‘That time, I should’ve… No, it’s not happening here.’

Regretting something already happened, or not even happening yet, was futile.

He stood still, wondering what he should do.

‘Julia S. Garde, had a core.’

From his observation, it was finger-sized. However, the quality was the problem.

‘High-level Core. It’s shining, the texture was similar. Small, but it’s exactly like theirs.’

He compared it with what he had. The core was still small, yet it was a living core.

Meaning, it can further grow.

No, it had to grow further, in order to grow into that.

‘What’s her identity? A spy?’

This information, would it merit as enough to take action?

If it was enough, what action should be taken?

‘Capture, interrogate, or perhaps, experiment? Wait, what dangerous thing I’m thinking?’

He shook his head.

The question of whether the information was enough or not, still unanswered.

Even if it was enough, what action to take? What about the consequence?

Moreover;

‘Is she aware of such thing inside her body?’

He could not answer that, he was doubtful.

Thanks to Shurran’s teaching, he was confident of his ability to tell human’s nature.

He however, was well aware of his own limitation; there’s no way his ability could be accurate all the time. Facing against an expert performer, or a capable spy, there was a chance he missed some details.

Those guys had polished their acting to the level of art; even he could be fooled.

Another problem would be;

‘If she’s really innocent…’

If that was the case, he would not be able to determine she really was a spy or not. He would be puzzled by her innocent and natural behavior.

That was the case for most spies; over 95% of them were not aware they were spies. For these people, Kharlussian Intelligence called them Informer. They were people who were recruited in providing seemingly harmless information to either contracted party or undercover enemy agents.

‘What’s their intent, sending her here? Is she really just an informer? No, a mere informer wouldn’t have direct connection to them.’

Having a living core signified her connection. Though Kharlussian had close to no information about cores now, after more years passed, the risk of her being discovered multiplied.

Thinking of the years, he wondered how much time he had.

‘There’s still news of her doing her duty well, very well until…’

He twitched.

‘The Northern Campaign, the one against Narland.’

What relation the Northern Campaign had with her?

“She perished, along with her brigade, and,”

His mind ran in full motion. He recalled every bit of details he still remembered.

He clenched his teeth.

“Their first appearance.”

====

“Alright, stop.”

With that command, the two candidates stopped. They were using spears, and the result was a tie. They were number 111 and 113, thus the time had come.

Natalia sighed. She really will lecture him when he got back.

“Tsk, he really…”

Pa!

Someone landed next to her. The mana signature was familiar, so she knew instantly who it was. Kent just chuckled; knowing the boy had just used Air Sliding without others took notice.

The audience had just noticed him. With mana residue around him; they wondered what the hell he just did. Julia, next to him, barely noticed his Arte.

It was executed and ended in such a short moment, the mana residue dissipated in a few second.

Natalia sighed, rather deliberate.

“Candidate Krone, you’re late.”

“Forgive me, Ma’am, I got lost.”

“Nevermind, just see me after the test. Number 114 and 117, step forward!”

Krone plunged the butt of his green spear into the ground; it stood still, as if becoming an audience to his soon-to-be performance.

He took a short spear from the arsenal.

Stepping forward, his eyes sharp, yet his mind was elsewhere.

No longer did he care about the test, he just wished to figure out his best course of action.

His opponent, seeing his eyes, trembled.

‘Oi, brother… You’re so skilled, no need to be so serious?’

The soft-looking boy had his heart thumping.

Sweat filled his neck and palm, his spear was vibrating.

Krone swung his short spear; running it around his back, around his body, back to his hand.

It was as if it was circling around him.

It was a skill level beyond a mere beginner.

‘Is he showing off his skill already?’

‘What a show-off!’

‘No need to be so arrogant, damn!’

“Just cause you’re a bit better, hmph.’

He did not care what they think.

Playing around with a spear was one of his ways to keep his body occupied while thinking.

It was also the time to familiarize yourself with a weapon, so the judges did not comment.

“Ready?”

Natalia asked. Krone stopped moving his spear. Both candidates seemed ready, serious.

“Start!”

Her hand went down.

=============             

…

“You’re kidding me…”

“This is no longer a sparring test.”

“It’s a bullying session.”

“A bully, aii…”

“This is unfair, hey.”

The candidates murmured.

They saw how unfair the sparring was.

“Skilled.”

“Just how much he’s going to surprise us. Enough is enough, gosh.”

The judges commented.

Every time his opponent attacked, he responded to it with a move.

First swing, his spear barely touched his.

It went down.

He stood still, his eyes looked down at his opponent. The audience had an eerie feeling from him. It was as if he saw him as nothing more than a bug.

“So arrogant!”

“Shh! Don’t be so loud.”

“He’s arrogant alright. Look at those eyes.”

“So what if he’s skilled?”

“He probably just sees us as leaping stones.”

They drew their conclusion.

Yet, within him, he was busy weighing his options.

He knew it was wrong to think too much to make a decision, but he had time.

The time, crucial for him to make the right decision.

‘Julia, what to do with you?’

He looked down at his opponent. It was because after the spear fell, his opponent fell down as well.

His eyes moved, purely physical.

He thought nothing of him, true. However, he never thought lowly of the youngster. That was because he did not stay down for long, he stood for another strike.

He did a piercing move.

Krone’s stepped back, raised his spear to touch his. Touching, the opponent felt it; it was latching to his.

Using its momentum, Krone pulled it and him forward.

It happened in an instant.

He fell down, Krone turned his spear up, then down.

The spear touched the opponent’s Life Armor.

Yet he put no force behind it, thus the armor did not lose its light.

The opponent rolled to right, stood up and attempted more attacks.

Krone responded similar as before .

With only a little bit of push, pull or swirling motion from him, he made the opponent fell;

To the sideway, to the front; the poor boy slipped, and rolled.

Krone’s spear, his leg, his hand only seemed to pat him.

However, it was done at crucial places, at the right time.

The opponent did not relent, he kept standing up.

This time, he used his spear in short bursts.

He pulled it immediately when he confirmed the attack did not connect.

It had some effects, since it was harder for Krone to latch his spear onto his.

‘Good judgement.’

Krone finally put his focus on the sparring. His eyes knitted, he did a half step, his hand changed position; closer to the spear’s head.

‘Now!’

Confident his attack will connect, the boy pierced all the way.

With Krone’s hand being in an awkward position, too close to the spear’s head, he judged it was the time.

In that split moment, Krone’s hand turned into a silhouette.

The boy shot forward.

Krone stepped forward.

His hand on the back of the boy's neck, his right foot lightly kicked his feet.

He pushed him down.

His spear was on his back, as if ready to plunge into the armor.

Seeing this, Natalia whispered;

“Sir Kent, he’s using The Flow?”

“Yes, you noticed?”

“I’m still not sure, but since you confirmed,”

“He’s way beyond Adept already. Whoever trained him; I’ve no idea. I can only name him as a top Grandmaster.”

“This is without mana, if he combined them?”

Her heart thumping, Kent’s face smiling.

For all they know, they could very well be witnessing a legend in progress.

Such thought crossed their mind.

Natalia noticed Krone looking at her, prompting her;

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Hearing this, he released his opponent.

At the time, three minutes had passed.

The audience no longer commented or quietly hurling insults.

Instead, many of them started to think;

If he achieved such ability at our age, then the hell’s we’ve been doing?

What if, we worked as much as him?

What if, we use the same method to train?

Then, wouldn’t we, at the very least, reach a height higher than average?

Such thought rushed through them like a raging tsunami.

Some of them even made the decision right here, and then.

Krone’s opponent had similar thought.

‘I’m not good enough.’

He rolled, but did not immediately stand.

His eyes were on the tranquil clouds, filling his sight.

The blue sky was so wide, the sunlight was so bright.

‘Did I fail?’

He was made a joke in front of so many.

Not to mention landing a blow, he could not even pressure his opponent.

He fell for more than twenty times, even when he already knew his intent.

No doubt, news of this sparring would be spread further than even this city.

In the future, people might even call him The Fallen One.

He, who worked so hard by himself, day and night.

He, who carried his grandfather’s wish; an old soldier’s wish.

The wish that, his grandson could become a knight in his stead.

He was not capable, and had no opportunity back then.

The opportunity called Knight Apprentice Test, did not exist back then.

His eyes on the blue sky, he pondered how disappointed his grandfather would be.

He had hoped to make the old man gleeful from his passing; then ran around the village like a happy child, boasting to his fellow oldies, finally able to refute them.

See? I knew he could do it all along! What do you mean he’s too ladylike?!

The old man’s imaginary voice echoed, soon starting to disappear.

‘I had to meet the best candidate, just my luck, huh…’

He gave out a stuttered sigh.

As he did, a shadow blocked his view.

It was a hand.

He turned to look.

It was his opponent.

Solemn expression, and eyes of acknowledgement. He nodded.

The boy did not know why, but he took the hand, soon pulling him up.

Standing side by side, Krone said;

“Krone Kozak, Lithia village. You’re?”

“...Kyril Adamant, Minatte village.”

“Kyril, huh. I’ll remember your name. It’s been fun, see you later.”

“Uh, sure?”

He turned around, walking out of the ring. He left Kyril behind, a little confused.

He was being truthful.

He did not think much of him at first, but the fact that the boy kept standing up immediately appealed to him. The boy did not lose his temper, and did not lose hope.

He was a little dejected after the judge stopped their spar, but that was understandable.

His performance was better than average. Most importantly, his mindset fit his criteria well.

‘Well, that’s another one in the notebook.’

He missed this one before, probably since he looked like such a softy outside. If this guy cross-dressed, ninety percent would say he’s such a lovely lady.

He smirked, but soon that disappear.

'Julia.'

Just next to him, he made eye contact with her, with her giving him a nod.

A pure smile on her face, as if happy her rival was better than expected.

As per courtesy, he nodded, but soon turned and walked away.

She frowned, his cold manner puzzled her.

‘Is he being shy? No matter, there’s a lot of chance later.’

She thought, leaving him be.

Actually, he just did not wish for her to see his expression.

‘Julia S. Garde, if you really are one of them, then…’

His eyes turned sharp, he closed them.

‘Then excuse me, I’ll have to get rid of you.’

 ...

====== Chapter 18 End ======