Chapter 10
Chapter 10
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Duel of Commanders
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On a typical battlefield, it was rare for a one-on-one duel between commanders to occur.
There were several reasons for this.
First was the distance. Typically, there was a considerable distance between the commanders of opposing armies. And between them, regardless of number, were the soldiers of both sides. This made it difficult for commanders to even encounter one another in the first place.
Second was the fact that, unless under special circumstances, commanders avoided one-on-one duels. A commander's role on the battlefield was to lead and command their soldiers. If they charged out to show off their martial prowess only to meet an untimely end, it wouldn't just be one commander's death.
In the worst-case scenario, it could ruin the entire battle.
‘Of course, this was all true for a typical war.’
But in Knight Saga, things were different. While it was true that commanders still avoided duels for those two reasons, there was a variable that created a decisive difference from the conventional battles Ingong knew.
Aura and magic, psychic and divine powers, and various other supernatural abilities, along with diverse races possessing physical capabilities that transcended human limits.
Among the commanders of Knight Saga were individuals who possessed such immense combat power they could be called one-man armies.
General Bandal in the Red Lightning Tribe subjugation was one such example, as were Chris and Caitlin in the Lycanthrope subjugation.
‘Hitman Units.’
Independent forces on the battlefield that focused solely on targeting enemy commanders.
The biggest reason Chris and Caitlin were called the Bloody Monsters during the Lycanthrope subjugation was that the two of them operated their Hitman Unit in an extremely radical way.
Forced Breakthrough.
To charge forward, crushing all who stood in their way, and assassinate the enemy commander.
Naturally, the ones acting as the Hitman Unit were Chris and Caitlin themselves.
Ingong's gaze sharpened. At this very moment, he had to accomplish something similar to what they had done.
‘Though I plan to be a bit more refined about it.’
Draco ran as if it were flying. The sky, standing on the border between twilight and night, was red, yellow, and dark.
Ingong looked at the path ahead and the mini-map simultaneously.
The Drake Ogre Captain he had targeted was rampaging on the front lines. There were other Drake Ogres around him, but there was no need to cut through an army just to get to one target.
‘Open a path.’
Create a stage where a direct confrontation with him is possible. He already had a method in mind.
“Green Wind.”
At his soft call, a gentle green light emanated from the sacred object of Green Wind nestled against his chest. Green Wind's voice reached Ingong's mind. No, it didn't stop there; an illusion of Green Wind made of light appeared by Ingong's side. He hadn't offered any particular explanation, but she understood his intentions.
“Successor of Ainkel, I shall follow your will.”
He would command the Treants. He would receive aid from Green Wind, the nature spirit.
Ingong reached his hand out toward Green Wind. He knew what to do, as naturally as when he first obtained Enkidu.
“I ask for your cooperation.”
As he spoke with a slightly awkward smile, Green Wind sighed as if she had no choice. Then, she gave a gentle smile reminiscent of Ainkel and nodded.
“I accept.”
Green Wind did not shy away from Ingong's touch. Instead, she opened her arms and pulled him into a sudden embrace.
The Power of Conquest activated on its own. Green Wind permitted it, and she temporarily submitted to Ingong's dominion.
Transforming into light, Green Wind coiled around Ingong's arms and legs. Green rippled through his pure white aura, and feeling the power of the wind coursing through his entire body, Ingong commanded.
“Open a path!”
The command was transmitted across the distance. The Treants responded with silence, following Ingong's direction. Ingong's command, overlooking the battlefield through the mini-map, was faster and more precise than anyone's.
The Treants moved in perfect unison, pushing back the Drake Ogres. The Drake Ogre Captain, who had been swinging his greatscythe like a madman, suddenly realized he was alone. Though Drake Ogres and Treants still populated the battlefield, he was distinctly alone.
Mustafa—the leader of the Drake Ogres—was strong. Instead of charging the Treants again, he instinctively read the situation and understood the meaning of the wide-open path.
A cruel smile spread across Mustafa's goat-like face. As if this was the very situation he had been hoping for, he readjusted his grip on his greatscythe and roared at Ingong.
The thunderous cry seemed to shake the entire battlefield. Ingong, who bore the full brunt of that shout and killing intent, forced a smile with all his might. Cold sweat trickled down his spine, but instead of running, he stared straight at Mustafa.
‘You can do it. You can win. O, you who have become my master, however temporary.’
Green Wind whispered. Despite being on the verge of a life-or-death struggle, Ingong had the absurd thought of whether it was really necessary to add the word 'temporary'.
And thanks to that, his tension eased. Ingong reminded himself why he was standing before Mustafa.
He had a chance. He stood here because he was confident he could fight and win.
“Dragon Blood.”
He activated the Draconian-exclusive skill. The dragon factor residing in Ingong's body and soul awakened a new power.
Both his Aura and magic power were enhanced. Not only that, but all of his stats increased. He didn't open his status window, but it was clear they had jumped by at least 10%.
Furthermore, Dragon Blood had an unexpected effect.
Earthquaker let out a low growl. It emitted red and yellow light from between its black iron plates, transforming its shape into something more aggressive.
Earthquaker was an armament imbued with the power of the great Enkidu. It was only natural for it to react to the dragon factor above all else. This could be called Earthquaker's true form.
[Earthquaker Internal Skill - Gigantic Piston Lv. 1 has been acquired.]
[Earthquaker partially unleashes its true power. Earthquaker's stat correction effect has increased.]
[Strength has increased by 20.]
[Agility has increased by 15.]
[Stamina has increased by 20.]
[Magic Control and Aura levels have each increased by 1.]
Green Wind didn't remain idle either. She didn't just infuse Ingong with power; she bestowed upon him her protection and blessings.
[Strength has increased by 10%.]
[Agility has increased by 10%.]
[Durability has increased by 10%.]
[Stamina has increased by 10%.]
[Blessing of the Wind has been cast. Your movements have become nimbler.]
[Regeneration of the Plains has been cast. Your injury recovery speed has increased.]
[Blessing of the Wind Lv. 1 has been acquired.]
[Regeneration of the Plains Lv. 1 has been acquired.]
The clear voice continued on without pause, almost as if it were rapping. He felt a sense of dissonance from the sudden, massive increase in his stats.
But Ingong didn't panic. He conquered the newly increased stats as well. Facing Mustafa, who looked ready to charge at him at any moment in a fit of rage, he clenched his fists.
“Let's do this.”
Instead of charging, Ingong leaped off Draco. He took the Stance of the Beast Fist and unleashed the Aura of the Beast God Fist.
A pure white aura.
The red and yellow light of Earthquaker blooming amidst the jet-black.
The soft green light originating from Green Wind.
Ingong, plastered with all sorts of buffs, gestured tauntingly at Mustafa.
Mustafa did not hold back. He roared again and charged toward Ingong like a bull in an arena.
‘Fast!’
It was a speed unthinkable for a body over four meters tall. It was like a runaway locomotive bearing down on him.
Ingong gritted his teeth and stared straight ahead. Green Wind read Mustafa's trajectory for him.
The greatscythe came crashing down mercilessly—from the front, from an angle, diagonally.
He kicked off the ground. Barely leaping over the arc drawn by the greatscythe, Ingong rolled across the ground. He sprang back up and unleashed Earthquaker on Mustafa's exposed lower flank.
Explosive Fist!
*BOOM!*
The aura exploded, sending Mustafa's massive body flying diagonally about a meter into the air. But immediately after, the greatscythe Mustafa swung grazed past the top of Ingong's head.
Ingong, having narrowly dodged the attack, knew instinctively. Attacking the lower body, covered in thick scales, was futile. Moreover, Mustafa's reflexes were astonishing. The reason he had been launched a meter diagonally was that he himself had jumped at the very moment the attack landed. Although the angle of his jump prevented him from completely nullifying the attack, it had clearly been effective.
Mustafa was just as surprised. Ingong's blow had far exceeded Mustafa's expectations. Mustafa swung his greatscythe again, as if to hide the pain. Instead of retreating to dodge Mustafa's attack, Ingong rushed toward him, restricting the arc his greatscythe could make.
‘I can't let this drag on.’
Thanks to all the buffs, his stats had skyrocketed, but it was taking a toll on his body. Furthermore, a fight focused solely on evasion like this was rapidly draining his concentration. The longer it went on, the more disadvantageous the fight would become for Ingong.
It had to be a one-shot fight. Aim for his upper body and end this in a single blow.
Ingong focused his aura into his right arm. He didn't just focus it like he did for Explosive Fist; he condensed it into Earthquaker. A sound like a sports car engine emanated from Earthquaker, now imbued with pure white light.
Instinctively sensing danger, Mustafa quickened his attacks. As Ingong continued to dodge, Mustafa grew enraged, coating his greatscythe in a violet miasma and increasing the very thickness of its trajectory.
A mere graze would mean death.
The moment he thought that, the greatscythe struck like a lightning bolt. As Ingong barely dodged the attack by half a step, Mustafa opened his mouth wide. It wasn't a simple roar, but the Drake Ogre's unique battle cry that could induce mental collapse.
For Mustafa, it was a carefully aimed, decisive blow. But for Ingong, it became an opportunity. The moment his battle cry erupted, a violet light shone from the Tear of the Dark Elf around Ingong's neck, completely blocking Mustafa's mental attack.
The opening created.
Ingong reacted instantly. He unhesitatingly executed the plan he had devised the moment he'd landed that first blow.
“Karak!”
It wasn't a simple shout. It was a call made using a skill.
King's Knights—Summon!
Karak leaped through space and appeared before Ingong. Karak was startled by the sudden summons and teleportation, but he was an Orc. The moment he faced Mustafa, instead of asking what was happening, he acted on the instincts of a warrior race.
“Kuraha!”
He roared and slammed his axe into Mustafa's leg. The blade didn't sink in, but Mustafa's leg buckled for a moment. And in that instant, Ingong was already leaping. He used the dependable Karak's back as a foothold to jump again, looking down on Mustafa's head.
Mustafa hurriedly raised his head to look at Ingong. Ingong pulled back his right fist and unleashed his hidden card.
‘Psychokinesis!’
Mustafa's head tilted. It was only by a few centimeters at most, but that was enough. Mustafa lost sight of Ingong, and the sudden development left him unable to respond properly. Ingong's fist shot out like a flash of lightning and struck Mustafa's head.
This wasn't Explosive Fist, but something else. The secret technique of Earthquaker, which detonated aura that had been condensed over and over!
Gigantic—Piston!
Earthquaker roared. It let out a deafening boom like a great roar and unleashed the condensed aura. An impact like a giant's blow pierced not only Mustafa's head but his entire body.
Mustafa's head shattered. Unable to withstand the tremendous force, all four of his legs buckled.
Ingong landed on the ground. He staggered from using too much aura at once, but he did not fall. He let out a ragged breath and raised his head.
Mustafa's giant body collapsed. It fell to the ground with a loud thud, and a violet miasma surged up from its corpse. It seemed to rise high into the sky before shattering into pieces and scattering.
The Drake Ogres screamed. The Cassius, having lost their violet miasma, also howled in confusion.
Exhaling another deep breath, Ingong didn't bother to cover his ears from the cacophony of monstrous cries. A clear, beautiful voice was already protecting his ears.
[You have leveled up.]
A pure white light enveloped Ingong's entire body.
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