The vast southern plains made it difficult for anybody to exploit the terrain to his advantage. Hence, the battle between the armies of Miran and Nirvania largely became one of attrition here, as both forces were comparable in strength.
After all, unlike the battle at the Western Front where the Miran Army suffered from a shortage of magicians due to Neptune's arrogance, in this battle, Miran did not hesitate to display their firepower, bringing magicians and gunners into the fray.
Of course, Nirvania recognised that in this situation, the victor is simply the one with greater power as they pulled out their big guns as well. When the battle began, though the commanders on both sides attempted to exercise as much control as possible, all tactics and formations were simply thrown out of the window the moment they engaged.
What was originally structured fighting had degenerated into a savage bloodbath, with both sides simply seeking to obliterate the opposition. Commander of the 2nd Division, Martial Duke Ken, watched on stoically as the flames of war burned ever brighter. He closed his eyes momentarily before speaking softly, "I'm going in."
One of his direct subordinates, a man with slick hair who was in his 30s, exclaimed, "What? You're going to leap right into that mess? Shouldn't you conserve your energy for the big fish that has yet to appear? Hey, old man, don't forget that your age is catching up with you. Sit back and take a chill pill!"
This was the Left Hand of the Martial Arts Federation, Delvin. In response, the Right Hand of the Martial Arts Federation, an old man around Ken's age named Feng, hissed, "Delvin, where are your manners? I'm sure Master Ken has his reasons for intervening now. Instead of questioning his actions, as his aides, shouldn't we make his life easier by clearing the path ahead?"
As Ken jumped right into the fray without speaking further, Delvin calmly drew a cigarette and lit it, exhaling a single puff before discarding the half-burnt cigarette. Feng glared at him and Delvin simply shrugged his shoulders, exclaiming, "What? Can't I even enjoy a single puff, which might well be my very last? You know, a fighter got to relax before the big fight, right, mate?"
Feng shook his head as he sighed before turning around to face a young, slim lady with auburn hair. "Breeze, you'll take command of the command post till the commander returns. Understood?" Breeze replied meekly, "As you wish, fath-, no, Master Feng. Stay safe." Feng gruffly nodded before he picked up speed to catch up with Ken.
Delvin whined, "Ah, this war business is really a drag! I could be playing poker right now! Roulette would be nice too! Definitely more exhilarating than battle!" Breeze added sarcastically, "Is there nothing more important than gambling in your life? You really live up to your moniker, the 'Daredevil Gambit'."
Delvin rudely dug his ear before jesting, "My, you really behave 50 years above your age! Do all your family members enjoy nagging like you and your father? Jeez, I guess that's why you're still single and NOT ready to mingle. Guys need their space, you know? Before you can nag any further, I'll be on my way now, bye!" Delvin quickly sprinted off while laughing, leaving a fuming Breeze whose face was flushed red with embarrassment.
One of the sentries stationed at the command post asked, "My lady, pardon me for being rude, but I simply don't understand how a lackadaisical person like him can end up as one of the top members of the Martial Arts Federation. I mean, he doesn't embody discipline like your father and Duke Ken, not to mention all those vices he possess!"
Breeze drew a deep breath before replying calmly, "Well, he was not like this at the beginning. Father told me that he only became like this since his wife died from a terminal illness incurable by both science and magic. Since then, he lost all faith in working hard to fight against one's fate, believing instead that destiny was insurmountable. That led to a long term depression which caused him to sink into all those vices, as he no longer has a good purpose to carry on living."
The sentry replied with an astonished expression, "If things were really that terrible, why did Duke Ken keep Master Delvin by his side following those years, not to mention the war we're currently embroiled in?"
Breeze explained, "The grandmaster must have believed that martial arts was the only way for Master Delvin to rediscover his purpose in living. It was to ensure that he had something to occupy his mind with instead of dark thoughts of self-harm. After all, Master Delvin's late wife was a fan of martial arts too, she often visited the Grandmaster when she was well."
The sentry lowered his head, wearing a guilty expression as Breeze returned her attention to the events unfolding in the battlefield.
Upon the entry of the top 3 members of the Martial Arts Federation, the landscape of the battlefield instantly changed. From his gigantic leap, Ken landed straight in the middle of the Miranian forces. A Miran soldier cried in surprise, "What the hell? How did an unarmed old man get here all of a sudden? Let's get him!"
Miranian warriors and magicians alike started turning their attention towards Ken, as they raised their blades and staves towards him. Suddenly, an invisible shockwave rippled through the Miranian ranks in front of Ken from his left to right, instantly blowing several soldiers away.
The other Miran soldiers froze in fear temporarily before resuming their charge, thinking that the earlier phenomenon was merely a fluke. Ken adopted a unique stance, with his palms facing each other and one above the other, such that his fingers were pointing in opposite directions. He slowly drew his right palm backwards to his waist, before thrusting it forward swiftly while twisting his wrist concurrently.
A shockwave emerged from Ken's empty palm, engulfing a large number of enemies in front of him, instantly clearing an open path. The Miranian soldiers behind Ken frantically launched their spears towards his seemingly unguarded back, only to have him jump a few metres into the air, avoiding the attacks. He then quickly spun around to face them while in mid-air, thrusting his palm downwards to the ground.
To everybody's surprise, a huge palm imprint with an area of approximately 100m2 suddenly appeared on the ground, sending an omnidirectional shockwave that blew back everyone caught in its periphery. The unlucky ones caught in the centre of the attack were simply crushed to death.
The same sentry at the command post stammered as he witnessed Ken sending Miranian troops flying one by one with punches and kicks, "What m-monstrous strength, is he even human? What technique was that earlier? I've never seen a martial arts form so…destructive before."
Breeze calmly replied, "That's Grandmaster Ken's [Buddha Palm] technique. Only those who've reached the pinnacle of mind, body and soul can hope to acquire and master this technique, for it is extremely demanding."
As Ken continued to wallop more enemy troops with ease comparable to flicking a fly, a giant among the Miranian troops pushed his way forward to engage him. The Miranian knight towered over Ken, his height almost 2 times that of Ken's. His body was also far bulkier than Ken's, with his broad shoulders and bulging biceps in contrast to the lean and toned body of Ken.
The Miranian knight barked, "To think a frail old man is the cause of all these problems! Move away! I, Sir Gelrin, would settle this instantly!" Gelrin drew the enormous 2-handed sword on his back and swung it down on Ken with all his might. Ken calmly thrust his left palm upwards to counter the incoming strike. The resultant clash created a shockwave that knocked the weak off their feet.
To Gelrin's horror, the blade of his great sword broke at the point which Ken made contact with it, sending it spiralling uncontrollably into the air. Ken glared at Gelrin, declaring solemnly, "Now, this is what you call an ATTACK." before twisting his body sharply, his right side facing Gelrin as he swiftly swung his fist across his body, striking Gelrin in the gut with the back of his hand.
Gelrin's abdomen slowly caved in from the impact, before his entire body took flight suddenly, launching him through the ranks of Miranian troops. Ken looked up and scanned his surroundings, muttering, "It's about time you showed yourselves, 5 Pillars of Miran!" as the enemies around him cautiously approached him.
Meanwhile, the Right Hand, Feng, was occupied with his own battles. Watching his superior tear through ranks of Miranian troops, he remarked, "I've got to help Master Ken thin out the enemy ranks!"
Facing his opponents who were all charging towards him brazenly with their weapons raised, Feng simply rushed past them, using his [Finger Pierce] technique from his martial arts style, the [Superhuman Kung Fu Style] to swiftly execute all incoming enemies.
A magician behind him readying an offensive spell had his skull cracked by Feng's [Finger Pierce - Flying Bullet] technique, which he used to snipe down a few more enemies with a few flicks of his index fingers.
Upon seeing a large horde of enemies rushing towards him, more than he could possibly execute in one run if he was to charge in blindly, Feng quickly placed his left plant foot forward while twisting his body in a clockwise fashion. Leaning forward till his body was parallel to the ground, Feng swiftly performed a roundhouse kick in a wide arc, unleashing his [Wind Leg - Grand Arc] technique.
The huge blade of wind effortlessly sliced through his foes, their cries echoing through the air as Feng continued his rout without mercy.
Delvin watched his 2 comrades continue their individual rampages before smirking, "I won't get outshone by 2 old geezers! Come on, you imbeciles!" He quickly adopted a boxing stance, with his 2 feet shuffling rapidly as he weaved from side to side.
The sentry at the command post enquired, "What's with that unorthodox boxing style? I've never seen boxers with such peculiar footwork before!" Breeze proudly declared, "That's Master Delvin's [Shadow Boxing Style], a boxing style which deviates from traditional boxing that predominantly focuses on upper body movement. By combining rapid footwork with intense punches, Master Delvin becomes nearly untouchable while delivering fatal counterattacks."
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The sentry nodded as he personally witnessed the [Shadow Boxing Style] in action, as Delvin weaved and bobbed through the waves of enemies, launching straights right into their faces immediately after dodging their attacks. Delvin muttered, "This is taking too much time and effort, perhaps I should throw some harder punches."
After narrowly dodging an incoming spell, Delvin drew his right arm back, concentrating more mana on his right fist as he landed his fist instantly on his adversary's face in a blur. This was Delvin's go-to technique, [Sonic Straight], a punch which combines speed and strength to generate power.
The unlucky foe was flung back a considerable distance, crashing through his allies. Delvin followed up with a few more [Sonic Straight] techniques that enabled him to clear his enemies more efficiently.
Just as Delvin was starting to get bored of simply overwhelming his opponents with considerable ease, a loud, commanding voice boomed, "All of you, stand down! He's not an opponent you can face with your calibre! You guys focus your efforts on the advancing Nirvanian troops, these powerhouses are merely serving as a distraction from their true objective of seizing this territory! Leave this man to me!"
The owner of the voice was literally a behemoth dressed in titanic armour. On the sides of his shoulders and shoulder pads were spikes, and he wore a helmet with a pair of horns the length of swords.
Delvin scoffed, "What a ridiculous-looking armour, is it supposed to kill me by laughter? On a serious note, this guy does exude a more formidable presence than the rest. Maybe he would prove a better match up?"
One Miranian soldier stammered, "I-It's Sir Bull! Let's get out of their way lest we get caught in their rampage!" Delvin smiled before he blitzed towards Bull in a zigzag pattern, aiming quickly at Bull's right flank. Delvin cried, "Eat this, [Blitz Hook]!" as he threw a left hook towards Bull's waist. The attack clearly connected, generating a miniature shockwave as Bull stood firm.
To Delvin's surprise, there was not a single scratch or dent on Bull's armour. Delvin muttered, "Not even a small dent…how about this?" Delvin increased his speed to the extent that he created 3 afterimages of himself at any point of time. Delvin shouted, "[Trident Straight]!" as all 3 afterimages launched converging strikes on Bull's midriff, generating an even larger shockwave than before.
Delvin's eyes widened in horror as his attack once again appeared to have no effect on Bull. Without warning, Bull quickly grabbed Delvin by the waist and hoisted him into the air above his head. Twirling Delvin in the air, Bull then leapt slightly, smashing Delvin's body head-first into the ground with his [Hammer Bomb] technique, creating a large shockwave noticeable to all in the battlefield.
Delvin emerged from the rubble after a short while, his forehead bleeding rather profusely. He remarked casually, "Wow, that actually hurts! If I hadn't covered myself with mana armament that would've been really dangerous!"
Bull smirked arrogantly, "I'm actually surprised your skull didn't split open with that attack. Not that it matters, you can't land a single decent blow on me after all. The combination of 3 factors. my [Iron Body] technique from the [Superhuman Kung Fu Style], my immense mana reservoir and this armour, the D-Rank [Adamantine Armour] makes my defence absolute! There's no way you can win me if that's all you've got!"
Delvin replied begrudgingly, "[Superhuman Kung Fu Style] you say? Darn, it's that annoying geezer, Feng's techniques, he really ought to exercise some control over the teachings of his techniques! Ah well, so long as you're not a master of the [Superhuman Kung Fu Style], even if you're tough as hell, you can't beat me into submission!"
Bull replied confidently, "I don't dare to declare that I'm a Master of the [Superhuman Kung Fu Style], but my mastery over these 2 techniques from it should be sufficient to defeat you!" Bull disappeared in a blur, only to reappear instantly behind Delvin, giving him a good hard tackle with his shoulder.
Delvin was sent flying uncontrollably like a ragdoll where he bounced off the ground a few times before finally skidding to a halt. At the command post, Breeze watched Delvin's duel with anxiety.
Breeze exclaimed, "Delvin's opponent is a user of my father's [Superhuman Kung Fu Style]! What's worse is that this is the first time I've seen someone actually combine 2 or more techniques from the [Superhuman Kung Fu Style] to form such a devastating attack!"
Delvin helped himself weakly to his feet as he said, "Wow, this attack hits harder than the previous one. To think that you actually managed to combine the [Iron Body] technique with the [Flash Step] technique into your shoulder charge, not to mention the mana armament and the weight of that armour of yours, I guess I'd really underestimated you, perhaps it's time to test this baby out."
Delvin drew a fingerless glove from his pocket and wore it over his right hand. Bull remarked, "I give you credit for surviving my [Iron Flash Tackle]. However, whatever weapon you draw now wouldn't make your battle any less futile."
Delvin jested, "Ho? I got this baby from the boss of a casino I frequently visit, he told me this weapon fits my personality to a tee. Let's test it out to see if it's true. Gamble thy life, [Fortune Gauntlet]!" Delvin's right glove morphed into a gauntlet with a display screen on the back of his hand.
All of a sudden, Bull disappeared and soon enough, it became an intense competition of speed between the 2 duellists, with Bull on the attack and Delvin focusing on dodging. Delvin soon noticed a chance to land a clean strike with his [Fortune Gauntlet] and he immediately did so without hesitation.
Delvin cried, "Eat this, [Jackpot Straight]!" as he aimed a straight at Bull's gut with his right. Bull's eyes widened with shock as he expected something big to happen. Much to everybody's disappointment, the attack was pathetic and pretty much the same as a normal [Sonic Straight].
Bull noticed that the number reflected on Delvin's gauntlet was 2. Delvin quickly leapt backwards to safety as he cursed, "How unlucky! Ah well, the golden rule of gambling is that you have to keep trying if you want to win the lottery! Same here, the more I try, the closer I get to the perfect 10!"
The heated exchange between Delvin and Bull repeated a few more times, with Delvin sneaking in strikes rated between 2 to 5. Bull couldn't feel any considerable damage for ratings between 2 to 4, however, 5 was actually pretty near to bypassing his defence and hurting him.
During their exchange, Delvin had suddenly drew a 6 on his [Fortune Gauntlet] as his attack successfully connected, creating a fist-sized dent on Bull's armour and pushed him back a few metres. Bull coughed out blood in surprise as he rubbed his sore gut gently.
Delvin flashed a Cheshire grin as he realised that his current tactics were working. On the other hand, Bull thought, "If a 6 could already break through my absolute defence so easily, what if he really draws a super high number like 10? Won't it obliterate me completely?"
Bull drew a deep breath as he calmly said, "Hhhm, it seems that you actually managed to hurt me. Very well, I can't afford to play games with you any further. I'll show you how scary I really am." Suddenly, Delvin broke into cold sweat as he could sense an immense amount of mana welling within Bull.
Bull took off instantly, and Delvin barely dodged his [Iron Flash Tackle] with a twist of his body. Just as it appeared that Bull had missed his mark, he suddenly twisted his body towards Delvin and swung his right forearm towards him. Delvin was sent flying into the air by Bull's [Iron Flash Lariat] as he coughed out blood from the impact.
As Delvin was plummeting back to the ground uncontrollably, Bull leapt towards him with so much force that a crater was formed where he had took off. Lowering his head, Bull pierced Delvin's body with the 'horns' on his helmet, as both crashed hard onto the ground. This was Bull's ultimate technique, the [Iron Flash Megahorn].
After the dust cloud had settled, it was clear that Bull was the only one left standing, as Delvin lay on the ground unconscious in a pool of blood. Bull turned around and walked away from Delvin's body. He declared, "Victory is mine! It's time to continue crushing these Nirvanian twats, who's with me?" The Miranian troops all yelled in jubilation as their morale had gone up with the defeat of one of the enemies' strongest fighters.
On the other hand, the Nirvanians became more dispirited with the fall of one of their leaders. At the command post, tears flowed from Breeze's eyes as she couldn't believe what laid before her. She stammered, "H-How could he go just like that? G-Get up, you fool!"
Amidst his battle, Ken glanced in the direction of Delvin and muttered, "Delvin…" On the other hand, after dispatching one more foe, Feng turned towards the direction where Delvin was and cursed indignantly, "That fool! Now, the momentum is against us! Got to quickly clear these areas and re-establish our momentum. That idiot!"
Delvin's eyes slowly fluttered open as he realised that he was lying on smooth, comfortable grass. He sat up and discovered that he was in the Naran Plains, a large field found in the neighbouring rural areas of Nirvana, the capital. This was where he would frequently visit with his wife, Elaine, whenever he had any spare time.
The vastness of the plains, the fragrance of the air, and the absence of noise increased the ambience of the Naran Plains, making it the perfect location for a nice, relaxing vacation. A gentle voice suddenly disrupted Delvin's chain of thought. "Delvin, I hope you've been well all this time."
Delvin turned his head sharply to come face to face with his late wife, Elaine. Delvin stuttered, "W-What’s going on? Am I dead? Nah, it doesn't matter. It's so good to see you, Elaine. To think that we can finally be together after so long."
Elaine shook her head gently, "Your time to join me has yet to come, Delvin. I'm only here to give you a message that I had longed to deliver since time immemorial. Do you know why I love it when you practise martial arts in front of me?"
Delvin was taken aback by the sudden question, and replied honestly, "As a matter of fact, I don't. I guess the forms are beautiful in your eyes or they are a symbol of my discipline?"
Elaine smiled gently and answered, "Aesthetics and personal commitment are only superficial answers to my question. The truth is, ever since the day we first met, I've always viewed martial arts as a manifestation of justice, as the strong arms that would protect the weak. You, of all people, have been my idol in this regard. My heart never fails to flutter in joy when I see you standing up for what's right, fighting with those techniques that you've honed for so long in the name of justice.
Every single scar on your body from training or bouts is to me, a mark of love for your fellow men, a mark that displays your willingness to bear the price of protecting your loved ones. Hence, I beseech you, to carry on living and carry on fighting for those around you, including me, for those who know you best understand that every punch you throw is not in cold blood and hatred for your enemies, but in warmth and love for those whom you protect."
At this point of time, tears had already flooded Delvin's eyes. As his surroundings became brighter, he asked slowly, "Elaine, is this all real? Or is it just happening inside my head?" Elaine smiled and winked as she chirped, "Of course it's happening in your head. But who's to say it isn't real? Now off you go, to continue your duty as a sentinel for love and peace."
Delvin opened his eyes suddenly and winced from the pain of Bull's earlier attack. He then slowly struggled to his feet, much to the horror of all the Miranians present. Even Bull wore a surprised expression on his face when he turned back to see the focal point of the commotion.
Bull stammered, "I-Impossible, that attack should have killed you!" Delvin smiled as he snickered, "Well, I just received some enlightenment from a loved one. The way I've been approaching battles these past few years is wrong. I was wrong to have simply desired the destruction of my enemies."
Bull cried, "What nonsense are you blabbering? In battle, the victor is the one who eradicates his foes. Apart from annihilation of your enemies, what else can you focus on?" Delvin smiled, "That's where you're mistaken. Now, I no longer fight solely to destroy my enemies. Come, I'll show you what true power is."
Bull's face turned livid as he bellowed, "I'll put an end to your nonsense right here! Die, [Iron Flash Megahorn]!!" Bull leapt towards Delvin at breakneck speed, the mana surrounding him severely dense as his horns looked set to rip Delvin apart. Delvin calmly muttered, "Fortune favours the brave." as the number on his gauntlet, unbeknownst to his adversary, became a 10.
Timing his punch perfectly, Delvin muttered as he launched his fist forward, "[Jackpot Straight - Lottery Strike]." A gigantic, dazzling beam of light emerged from the end of Delvin's fist, engulfing Bull completely before he could reach Delvin.
The attack was so huge that it cut through the entire length of the battlefield, decimating hundreds of Miranian troops including some at their command post. Due to Delvin's fearsome attack, the battle between both sides halted momentarily as both sides needed time to absorb the new reality of the situation.
Upon complete dissipation of Delvin's beam, Bull was found dead, his entire armour shattered leaving only his underwear. Delvin muttered to himself softly, "I hope you saw that beautiful light from up there, a representation of my overwhelming desire to protect my comrades and loved ones, Elaine." as he slowly lost consciousness again.