Chapter 3: I Became the Sword Saint (3)
“Impressive reflexes, but that's utter nonsense. My soldiers were defeated by you, who has no mana at all? It's the essence of a human that even these lowlifes have faint mana flowing through them, but you have nothing at all. You're nothing but trash.”
Klein laughed and looked up at the Empire's general.
“If you don't believe it, how about a bet with me?”
Utibek sneered as he looked down at Klein.
“You and I, one on one. By this fight, you'll naturally learn that I alone wiped out those guys, including you and your subordinates. Everyone will know I'm the culprit, and if you win here, the mistake of losing the reconnaissance squad in one night will be erased. However, if I win, order your subordinates to return home.”
“A young brat with guts. Fine! I'll use you, a piece of trash, as an example and announce the start of the continental unification war.”
Utibek dismounted and shouted at his subordinates.
“If I lose, return to the Empire without a word!!”
Utibek lifted his massive steel club/mace.
“You're the first one I've seen who doesn't have mana at all, clean and neat. How should I kill you to make it fun... Hmm... Okay, I'll start by breaking your legs.”
“For a general, you're quite talkative.”
Utibek's expression twisted.
“Oh, just kill you right away.”
Utibek's face hardened as he immediately swung the mace at Klein.
-WHOOSH!!
The sound of a steel mace the size of a human body swinging made it seem like fierce wind was blowing across the battlefield.
-WHOOSH!!
Every time Utibek swung his weapon, the Empire soldiers' cheers grew louder.
“WAAAAAHHHH!!!”
-WHOOSH!!
But the general Utibek's attack clearly started right in front of Klein's eyes.
Yet it wasn't reaching Klein at all.
“Hmm... Strange. I'll give you credit for your reflexes. Dodging my body's attack.”
“Do you know what your problem is?”
-THUD!!
Right after Klein's words, he disappeared from the ground and instantly approached, stabbing his sword into Utibek's side.
“Kuhk!”
Klein's attack didn't pierce the sturdy artifact heavy armor of Utibek, only making a deep wound.
But that single attack succeeded in surprising everyone there.
Originally, it was an attack with strong mana, but piercing the artisan-grade artifact armor that even the Empire's general could withstand is an impossible situation.
Yet a boy who appeared to be an adult with no mana at all had done it with an old steel sword.
The Empire soldiers who had been cheering were now quiet,
“What the hell did you do, you bastard!!”
Utibek, agitated, swung his attacks more fiercely.
-WHOOSH!!
-WHOOOOOO!!
But again, Klein struck Utibek's weak point at a speed no one could see, stabbing the sword between the armor.
-THUD!!
“What kind of trick is this! How can a guy with no mana move like this... Did he have some hidden artifact!!”
“It's not an artifact. It's basic implant.”
-WHOOSH!!
Utibek shouted and continued swinging his weapon, but it was useless.
-CRACK!!
“Where the hell are you appearing from!!”
Again swinging the weapon.
-WHOOOOOO!!
-THUD!
After stabbing dozens of times, Utibek sensed something was wrong.
“You... what kind of guy are you?”
Klein swung his sword in the air, shaking off the blood from Utibek's armor on the sword, and shouted coldly.
“A mercenary performing subcontracted gatekeeper duties.”
***
Enemy Combat Pattern Learning Complete. Weak Point Identification Complete
After exchanging a few words and moves with the guy, Ai successfully learned the enemy's data.
With the nanites in my body perfectly implementing the military implant functions, I'm clearly superior in speed.
It's like the body of an implant addict who's gone psycho, surpassing common sense for normal people.
But because the weapon is weak, or perhaps because the guy's armor is tough, I can't land a decisive attack.
“Ai, if I keep fighting like this, it might take a lifetime. Is there no solution?”
“Sounds too overpowered... No recoil?”
No recoil?
[If used for more than 5 minutes, the body will overheat and enter forced cooling mode.]
“If used for more than 5 minutes, I'll fall asleep... ”
That's enough. It's better to finish it than to drag it out.
Caution the limit
-BOOM!!
Right after Overclock Mode activated, I rushed at Utibek who started to guard.
The aggressive nature from before was gone, and he was firmly defending, becoming more difficult, but now with Overclock on, I could find a gap.
-CLANG!!
!!!!
The first attack, the sword broke.
What kind of trash weapon did they supply me with!
When my sword broke, Utibek smiled faintly.
“The time for your bragging is over!!”
“No.”
[Close-Quarters Combat Protocol Activated]
I threw the broken sword handle strongly at Utibek's face.
He flinched and raised his arm for a short moment, and I dove deep into the completely open lower gap.
“GYAAAAAHH!!!”
I yelled and put all my strength into my body until it felt like it would burst.
“This guy!!”
Nanites were operating to the limit, muscles swelling as if about to burst, and my body became insanely hot.
The huge body of Utibek, twice as big as mine, rose and was slammed to the ground.
-BOOM!!
It was like an earthquake, the ground shook, and before the guy could recover from the shock, I quickly rolled behind him and wrapped my arm around his thick neck.
“What is this guy doing right now...!”
The neck crank went deep into Utibek's neck.
“Kuuuugh”
The guy's face turned red instantly and he groaned.
He tried to throw me off with his hand, swinging his fist, but in this position he couldn't hit hard.
His judgment was impaired because his neck was being choked, so he kept struggling desperately.
-CRACK!
I squeezed with all my strength to choke his neck.
Once I let go, I die, so before Overclock ends, I need to knock him out.
“Kuuuugh...”
“Die, you bastard!!!”
I shouted at the top of my lungs, squeezing out my last strength.
Body ability overload, Overclock limit point accelerated
“Kuuuugh...”
“Die!!!!”
“Uuuugh...”
Soon the groaning sound became smaller and the struggling movements slowed.
-THUD!
Utibek's huge body fell face down on the ground without moving.
“Haah... haah... So this is a general, his durability is really good.”
Seeing the movement stop, I finally released my neck.
And, rising from the ground with difficulty, I pointed at the fallen Utibek and shouted at the Empire soldiers.
“I won!!! If you honor your reputation, take your general and immediately leave the Kingdom's territory!!!”
My voice echoed over the battlefield, showing the Empire soldiers panicking.
“This is so hard...”
At that moment, a soldier on horseback quickly approached and stopped in front of Utibek.
“He hasn't died... Easy to handle. Good that there's someone responsible alive. I'll take General back to the Empire. Unknown mercenary.”
A person who seemed to be of quite high rank called a few more soldiers and barely lifted Utibek onto the horse.
“This incident is not the will of the entire Empire but something Utibek did alone, so when you return, please explain it well.”
“If you win, it's the Emperor's will, and if you lose, it's solo action, huh, interesting.”
“That's how the world is. Then...”
The cold-eyed soldier bowed his head to me, greeted, and led the Empire soldiers away slowly.
“Klein... You... really won...”
Wilhelm, who had been watching my figure from a certain distance, ran over.
“Brother... This is enough to pay for the money.”
The vision gradually blurred.
Forced Cooling and Stabilization Mode Entered
“With this much, I've done enough...”
His ears were ringing, his whole body was burning hot as if it would burst, and blood was flowing from his nose, making it hard to breathe.
I lay flat on the battlefield looking at the sky.
The voices of my chattering comrades and Wilhelm faded.
**
Was I asleep...
Instead of the blood smell pricking my nose, the medicine smell from the infirmary pricked my nose.
I hadn't opened my eyes yet, but voices were murmuring around me.
“It's unbelievable that a former hero of the Empire, Utibek, was defeated by one person.”
“How can a guy with no mana at all do something like this...”
Quite a few people were gathered, and the murmuring continued.
“News has spread across the Kingdom. A regular soldier with no mana defeated the enemy general alone, it's an amazing story. While being called a hero, the people are in frenzy.”
“His Majesty the King has already heard the news. He said he'll personally award a medal.”
Um...
Well, it seems I've become a huge celebrity in just a few days.
I feel like my future path is a bit twisted...