The soldier was facing a challenging opponent capable of abilities like him. No, perhaps challenging was an overstatement. His enemy was mighty with the sword, but he was no one to be so concerned about. The enemy apparently lacked the necessary patience. Unlike the soldier who was observing his enemy, learning how the enemy approached and struck.

The soldier just wanted to be careful. Impatience was a warrior’s greatest bane. Perhaps, add to it the greed. The greed to strike and kill, to not lose a chance to land a blow.

The enemy before him was likely a kind of elite among their ranks. Such a man could have served the wealthy businessmen within the Eventon Republic. He could have even become a Sentinel, working directly with the councilors of the republic. It was disappointing to see such a skillful man working amongst vile criminals.

However, perhaps the soldier himself wasn’t one to judge. Every person wants to become what they want.

The soldier had worked up how his opponent fought. And thus, he stepped forward and used the bottom hilt of his sword to flick off the enemy’s blade. The latter’s eyes widened, caught off guard. And before he could react against it, the soldier swung his sword upward, making a deep slash into the trafficker’s torso. Blood spurted out and smeared the wooden floor.

The soldier watched as the enemy dropped to the ground, making sure he was truly dead. He could have used his Armament Magic to end the fight a little earlier. However, he was concerned about overdoing it, and causing irreparable damage to the ship. They still needed the ship to return.

However, a question popped into the soldier’s mind.

Can I even return? Should I even?

Should one be happy, excited to return to a place where you have nothing to return to? He was conflicted, and he felt lost. However, he should stop thinking about this. For now, he should finish the job here and take over control of the ship.

After regaining his thoughts, he rushed towards a group of captives struggling to fight off an enemy. As the trafficker was distracted, he swiftly stabbed him in the back. The enemy groaned for a moment as he looked behind him at the soldier. The enemy stiffened for a moment as though intending to fight back as blood leaked out of his mouth. But a moment later, he limped, and the soldier pulled out his sword. The dead enemy dropped to the ground with a thud.

The captives sighed in relief.

“Thanks.”

“No time to rest, the fight is not over yet,” said the soldier.

“Can we even win this?”

The captive asked, he was sweating profusely, fright evident in his eyes. It was obvious that he had never been in this kind of fight where his life was on the line. The rest with him was not so different. But, despite that, they still pushed themselves to fight the superior opponent. And that was something to be admired.

The soldier looked around, there were fewer enemies than it first started. The white-haired girl from before, she took down several enemies, and it greatly helped their chance to win. If she hadn’t done that, the captives could have gotten more trouble in winning any fight.

“Of course we can.” And with those words, the soldier urged them to go and continue fighting.

He watched them for a moment before the soldier rushed towards one enemy and disposed of him a short while later. The enemies that were not capable of magic were the easiest to face.

Looking around, he discovered one trafficker who was giving the most trouble to his allies. He extended his sword forward to meet the enemy’s blade coming at one ally, ultimately saving him.

The trafficker frowned and stepped back, glaring at the soldier.

“I’ll take care of him,” the soldier said to his allies.

They nodded their heads in acknowledgement and left him to help the others. After that, the soldier and the trafficker clashed. This enemy was weaker than the one from before. He could use Armament Magic, but it was weak. Too weak to be even considered a threat.

The soldier released a weaker slash of light and it shattered the trafficker’s blade. The latter glanced at his broken sword and quickly backed away, frightened. He couldn’t even cast proper magic to coat his blade. The soldier stepped forward and cut him down without hesitation.

Bright flashes of light and booms of magic erupted above them. The soldier looked up to see an intense fight. It was the monster and the white-haired young lady. Several magic spells were flying all over, and they fought directly. Each of their attacks was deadly. And even the soldier couldn’t help but watch with wide eyes, him who had seen his fair share of battles. This one was different, he had never seen such a dangerous and intense battle.

“Look out, big guy.”

There was an enemy struck down behind him. He turned a casual look at the one that killed the enemy. It was a thin man with a confident grin on his face.

“Don’t get too distracted now,” the thin man added.

“I knew someone was coming.”

“Oh?”

“But, their battle above. I didn’t think I would get to witness something like that.”

The thin man looked up in the air, seeing two figures speedily soaring in the sky.

“Indeed. What a fearsome battle. One flies with the grace of beauty, while the other with the blaze of hell. But I humbly suggest we finish our job here so that we can finally rest well.”

“Are you supposed to be some kind of poet?”

“Heh. I am many things, a storyteller, a poet, a bard. But all are me, giving joy and curiosity to everyone’s hearts.”

The poet was quite young. He may be twenty years old. He had neck length brown hair, light brown complexion, and dark blue eyes. And he was around six feet of height. He was a looker. Thin he may appeared, the way he carried himself, he must have plenty of muscles built up. It wouldn’t be strange that he would be considered a charming performer.

“What’s the difference between the three?” the soldier couldn’t help but ask.

“Hm? What do you mean?”

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Aren’t they basically the same?

The soldier shook his head. “Never mind.” He then noticed the ship's captain fighting off a group. “I’ll go take care of the captain. You help the rest.”

“Yes. But remember what the white-haired lady said. I think it’s better to capture the captain alive.”

“... Very well.”

After saying so, the soldier rushed to the ship’s captain who was fighting one of the captives. He quickly stood between the two and pointed his sword at the enemy captain.

“I’ll take care of him,” the soldier said to his allies. “Help the others.”

“Got it.”

With that, the captives left him. This way, if they keep supporting the others that couldn’t really fight, they would have a better chance of winning. There was no need for them to support the soldier. He was plenty strong enough.

The soldier faced the captain. “Give up. We’re winning anyway.”

“Screw you! This is my ship. You are my cargo!” The captain flexed the swords in each of his hands.

The soldier was trying to demotivate him, but as expected, it wouldn’t work so easily. If this was to end early, the fewer casualties they would have to endure when this was all over. And that was the outcome the soldier preferred.

“I’m not planning on killing you. The best choice is for you to surrender.”

Without giving a response, the captain charged towards the soldier, his swords coated with magic. He swung one sword, which the soldier evaded, then the latter blocked the other incoming sword with his. The soldier took a step to the side and thrust his sword forward, but the captain parried him and subsequently swung down both his swords.

The soldier took a step back, deflecting the subsequent attacks the captain was swinging. He studied the captain’s movements. The way he swung his swords, the way he took a step forward and back, the way he watched. The captain was quick to use his two swords. Skillful in his swordplay as well.

The captain swung down his swords in the air, sending two arcs of light at the soldier. The latter held out his hand, erecting a Palm Shield spell, blocking the two arcs. At the same time, the soldier stepped forward, pouring mana into his flesh, using Physical Enhancement to strengthen his arms. He was not too proficient in that aspect, but it was enough to help him in various situations.

With a heavy swing, he slammed down his sword at the captain. The latter blocked with his two blades. However, the power of the soldier’s swing was too strong, and his arms were pushed back as he staggered, the vibration crawling up his arms. Subsequently, the soldier thrust the tip of his blade into the captain’s left hand, his less dominant hand.

The blade didn’t go all the way through the left wrist, but it was enough for the captain to react to the pain, involuntarily letting go of his sword. He stepped back with a displeased face, glancing at the sword, and glaring at the soldier.

The soldier kicked the sword away and pointed his blade at the captain again.

“Give up before I am forced to hurt you even further.”

“No fucking way! If I don’t deliver you, I’m fucked!”

He sounded desperate. If he were to guess, the captain’s superior would severely punish him, that was for certain. Messing up in one criminal organization’s activities or business, you would basically be doomed. Unless the superior was patient. But the soldier didn’t care about that, nor did he care for his enemy’s fate. The two of them glared at each other, waiting for one to attack first.

Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind went above them. The ship rattled violently as everyone looked at the two figures fighting in the air. Their attacks caused loud booms to echo throughout the dark ocean.

The captain looked stressed. “Dammit, what the hell is going on?!”

“Who is the man that was with you?” the soldier asked him.

The captain clicked his tongue as he glanced at the mighty battle and watched out for the soldier.

“A damn demon.”

“Demon…”

He didn’t imagine he would see such a monster. And for it to be that powerful, it was a bit unbelievable. Truly monsters to be feared. But he was curious how one ended up here.

And then there was a bright pillar of light. It was a pillar of magic. It was obvious which one was the demon, for he had flames. Therefore, there could only be one person that could have cast such a conspicuous and large spell high in the air.

The spell crashed down on the ocean.

Immediately, cold air could be felt on the ship. Everyone paused their fighting to watch that great magic spell take effect. They were mesmerized by it, and also feared it. Ice immediately spread throughout the ocean water. The ship shook as ice formed around it, forcing it to stop moving.

“W-What the hell happened?” the captain muttered, his forehead beaded with sweat.

The soldier looked around, the same case with the others. And they could not believe what they were seeing.

“The, the ocean…”

“It’s f-frozen.”

It was indeed frozen. And it covered a mind-boggling distance. None of them could have thought something like this was possible. No one should be capable of such a thing. Even the soldier was so surprised to witness it all. Even to the magic casters that he knew, this would be impossible.

Just who is that girl?

If that demon was fearsome, then that young lady was something else entirely.

And then, particles of snow began to fall onto them. The captain stared at the falling snowflakes. He watched one land on his blade.

“H-How is this possible?”

“That girl is on our side. Do you really want to face her before we’re done?”

The soldier tried intimidating him. What the girl had achieved beat common sense. Someone that could freeze this much water was not someone to be fought against. The captain gritted his teeth, he was hesitating. But it was pretty apparent that he was thinking so hard about it.

The soldier could guess what he was thinking. It would be foolish to try fighting against someone that could achieve such a monstrous and godlike feat. And thus, a moment later, he dropped his sword, and raised his hand.

“I, I surrender.”

The soldier approached and kicked away the sword on the floor.

“Kneel down.”

The captain slowly knelt on the floor. The soldier placed his blade right next to the captain’s neck. He took a deep breath.

“Hear me!”

The people on the deck turned towards him.

“Your captain has surrendered! If you wish to be spared, drop your swords and follow his choice!”

The few enemies that remained looked at each other. At first with hesitation, but of course there was no other choice. They knew they had lost. So instead of losing their lives pointlessly, they dropped their swords and knelt on the floor.

“Separate and tie them all up,” the soldier ordered his allies.

They looked for ropes and quickly tied the traffickers. Meanwhile, the soldier was the one to tie the captain to the stairs. As everyone was doing so, they paused and witnessed as the white-haired girl conjured a great number of spells at her opponent.

And as the battle grew in intensity, they watched with agape mouths. Powerful spells that could obliterate a group of knights at once, even destroy a small town. No, it could potentially destroy an entire city.

Even they could not comprehend how the girl was able to conjure giant pillars of ice.

The poet approached the edge of the ship, next to the soldier. He watched with wide eyes, a wide smile on his face, as if he was astonished to witness such a sight. He barely blinked, as if he didn’t want to miss a single second of it.

Their eyes followed the two as they moved across the sky.

“It’s like a battle of gods,” the poet said.

The soldier glanced at him for a moment before returning his eyes to the mighty battle.

“Gods, huh… But one is a demon…” the soldier said.

Perhaps he was right, it was akin to a battle of gods. No normal person, even elites, could reach the level of this battle. Where the sky flashes and cries, where even the seas stop and freeze over.

Just what kind of circumstance brought these beings here? They didn’t belong here, in this realm of weak humanity.

Eventually, they returned fighting to the ice floor. No, could it even be called fighting? The demon was thrown into the air, and he violently landed around forty meters away from the ship. The people on the deck moved and watched everything unfold.

The girl was brutal.

She pulled out the demon’s wings, and shortly after, decapitated him. And not by a blade, but by a cruder method. With her bare hands, she pulled his head out of his body. To possess such physical strength to achieve that, the soldier could not even imagine how much power she possessed.

“A white-haired maiden whose beauty surpasses all,” the poet began muttering. “Slain a monstrous demon. That… that would make for a wonderful tale.”

However, once everything was over, they noticed she seemed to be weakened. And then, a moment later, she suddenly collapsed to the frozen floor.

“Ah. Is she dead?” the poet asked.

“No, she doesn’t seem to be wounded. She merely passed out.”

Perhaps the strenuous fighting finally got to her. The soldier turned to the poet.

“I’ll watch over the ship. Go and retrieve her.”

“Right… She won’t kill me, right?” he awkwardly chuckled.

“... Why would she? Just handle her with care. Bring a couple of men with you.”

“... Alright.”

The poet was likely scared of her.

Who wouldn’t be?

Even the soldier felt a bit wary of her.