Flames Before the Sun (Part 2)

< p > The twin swords were not a weapon Vesta knew well.

< p > “They’re not the kind you see every day.”

< p > In real combat, their use was even rarer.

< p > Simply picking up a second blade did not make you stronger.

< p > If you could not handle it properly, it would not function as a sword. It would only become a burden.

< p > A sword was a weapon to be swung large and compact, channeling power through the blade’s edge. It demanded perfect posture and a flashing intensity of focus.

< p > “Twin swords require using both hands.”

< p > That was no easy path. Most warriors never reached the end of it.

< p > Yet Tei’s skill far exceeded the average. His twin blades would be something else entirely—fully realized.

< p > Tei had forged his own style along the treacherous road of life.

< p > Facing a master wielding a foreign weapon was no welcome sight for a gladiator.

< p > “I’ve seen Arin swing twin swords before. I’ll use that memory to adapt.”

< p > The day when Vesta had faced an orc raid led by Narinhoon Ibahtar, Arin had drawn her twin blades.

< p > If her master had been that man, swordsmanship would have been shared as well.

< p > “I am coming.”

< p > Tei began to stomp his feet. His movement was so light, almost like he was bouncing off the ground.

< p > “A body heavy as an ox moving like that.”

< p > Those who fought him would have been filled with terror at the sight. It was a scene that shattered all reason.

< p > Thud-

< p > His sturdy legs pushed off the earth, launching his massive form into the air.

< p > “Which hand will he use? Left or right?”

< p > Since he wielded twin blades, Vesta ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could not predict the attack direction.

< p > Speculation was possible.

< p > When wielding a single sword, he had held it in his right hand, so the probability was high that Tei was right-handed.

< p > “The chance he uses his right hand is high.”

< p > A user of twin blades was practically ambidextrous, but in battle instinct and instinct collided. The dominant hand would prevail.

< p > Tei was also likely to extend his right hand.

< p > “Then I’ll go the opposite direction.”

< p > Vesta prepared to dive into Tei’s left side.

< p > Kung-

< p > The massive form closed in as if it could be brushed aside with a human body. Tei’s shoulder moved. It was the draw of the blade.

< p > Right hand or left hand?

< p > “What?”

< p > Neither. No, in this case, both.

< p > Tei swung both swords simultaneously.

< p > A horizontal slash. He gave a slight delay to the sword in his left hand, allowing the blades to cross without clashing and pass through.

< p > “This…!”

< p > Horizontal slashes were not commonly used in real combat. Twin swords executing them at once?

< p > That was a style that broke all frames.

< p > One of Tei’s swords aimed for Vesta’s temple, the other for his thigh.

< p > Vesta had only one sword, so he had to yield somewhere.

< p > Vesta gritted his teeth and made his choice.

< p > “What’s that?!”

< p > “Heh. Not half bad for a sky leopard.”

< p > Vesta threw his body into the gap between Tei’s two blades, the empty space. Mid-air, he twisted half a turn to dodge the strike.

< p > Before becoming a Bestiarius, Vesta had served as the youngest member of a circus troupe. That was why such a high-risk stunt was possible for him.

< p > Of course, even for him, it was bordering on madness.

< p > As Vesta’s head hit the ground, he twisted his waist in mid-air.

< p > Crash-!

< p > Tei’s front kick was blocked by Vesta’s sword pommel.

< p > Vesta was sent flying like a rider hit by a horse.

< p > “Lord Vesta!”

< p > The elves rose from their seats in alarm.

< p > Vesta flew several meters and rolled across the dirt.

< p > “You’re not hurt, are you?”

< p > “I’m fine.”

< p > The elves stomped their feet in worry. Ushun calmed them. He nodded with eyes sparkling.

< p > “You executed a proper landing. You still have a clear mind.”

< p > As a wrestler, his words held truth. Vesta had rolled on the ground but did not fall.

< p > He rose again.

< p > “Wow, that was lucky. This time was dangerous.”

< p > Ushun clicked his tongue at the sub’s words.

< p > “Tsk. The Keshik girl has no eyes for this.”

< p > “Hehe. My specialty is the bow.”

< p > Ushun did not answer. He had been too absorbed in the match.

< p > “Hm.”

< p > Tei, who had been kicked, looked at his own ankle.

< p > The front leg he had used for the attack was throbbing. It was a wound from Vesta’s counterattack, not mere defense.

< p > “A warrior.”

< p > Tei spoke those words, then stamped his injured foot.

< p > Kung.

< p > “There is no steppe man who hesitates to fight even if injured.”

< p > He did not know about other races, but at least such a centaur did not exist.

< p > Once a champion started running, its legs would not stop even if broken.

< p > “I must thank the Great Khan.”

< p > The woman called Sword Saint—Aranthor Muran—hummed a tune.

< p > “I never thought I’d see this.”

< p > The corner of her eye curved mischievously.

< p > The centaurs’ strength had spread across the steppe, but honestly, the power they pursued was nothing like Muran’s “martial way.”

< p > It could not be helped. Centaurs were more like cavalrymen than warriors, so they had developed their martial arts accordingly.

< p > Muran had not thrown her life into a single sword.

< p > That was why Muran acknowledged centaur strength but did not rate their martial arts highly.

< p > Even Muran saw that Altangerel Tei was an outstanding warrior. Judging purely by technique, he would rank among the greats of the steppe.

< p > “Then what about the little one fighting such a centaur?”

< p > Cavalry versus infantry, centaur versus human. An age far too young to accumulate experience against ten times the weight. A fight that should never have existed.

< p > “Is this the ‘real’ gladiator?”

< p > Muran tapped her sword scabbard.

< p > “Show ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me more. Gladiator.”

< p > “If you raise your hand in surrender at the end, this Aranthor Muran will clap for you before everyone.”

< p > “Hoo.”

< p > Vesta exhaled heavily and faced the front.

< p > A warrior approached slowly, with the sun at his back.

< p > Their eyes met. Hot eyes burned like flames.

< p > Even Vesta would not be much different.

< p > Kung-!

< p > The man began stomping his feet again. The centaur’s signature move was about to unfold.

< p > As a human, Vesta could not block the pre-movement.

< p > “One ankle must be normal, yet he’s running despite the pain. Tough guy.”

< p > Vesta lowered his stance slightly, like a bullfighter facing a bull.

< p > Kung. Kung. Kung-!

< p > “It looks like a fireball is coming.”

< p > Tei, enveloped in light, swung his sword. It was so fast Vesta could not react with his eyes. He had to read the opponent’s intent.

< p > “Right hand.”

< p > Tei drew with his right hand, a classic upward sweep. Vesta’s wrist would be torn if he blocked it.

< p > Swish-

< p > The sword pommel swept past Vesta’s bangs. The moment Vesta spotted the opening.

< p > Tei slid sideways in a diagonal motion. Not the ordinary centaur movement.

< p > Tei’s left hand aimed at Vesta’s head. If Vesta reacted, his right hand would immediately strike with the second blade.

< p > The world spun. His head throbbed with a splitting headache.

< p > Tei’s chest, hard and heavy as a horse’s, came close enough to knock Vesta back.

< p > Vesta did not back away from the body that felt like a wall. Instead, he leaped and ran along it.

< p > Vesta’s left foot targeted Tei’s chin. Tei tilted his head to dodge.

< p > Vesta brought the pommel of his sword down.

< p > Tei discarded one sword and grabbed Vesta’s pommel. Vesta also let go of his blade. Tei’s strength was not something Vesta could counter.

< p > The moment he let go, Tei pushed Vesta’s chest. Vesta rolled on the ground. Vesta picked up the sword Tei had discarded; Tei kept the one he had taken and used it.

< p > Vesta held one sword.

< p > Tei still wielded two.

< p > But nothing had changed.

< p > “Is this the centaur’s neck blade? It’s a bit longer than mine.”

< p > Hoo-

< p > Vesta exhaled roughly. He did not create distance; he dove into Tei’s space.

< p > “Creating distance is meaningless against a centaur.”

< p > That thought was easy, but executing it was another matter.

< p > A soldier charging toward a knight is driven more by fear than courage. It was nearly a suicide.

< p > Vesta was different. He had spirit, a desire to win.

< p > He charged not expecting defeat. Only to win.

< p > “He’s coming. He’s really coming.”

< p > Just as Vesta did, Tei looked into Vesta’s eyes.

< p > The boy’s eyes burned quietly like a flame. Small, yet it would not be extinguished even if a centaur trampled it.

< p > “Can humans become this strong?”

< p > It was a strength of character the centaur could not understand.

< p > The strength a weak person can possess.

< p > To survive, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠they had faced the impossible every moment and overcome it. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

< p > In other words, a miracle-like strength.

< p > The south dragon trembled at Vesta’s power.

< p > Tei swung the sword in his left hand.

< p > Vesta took a stance as low as crawling on the ground. Outside the reach of Tei’s blade.

< p > As Tei swung his left sword, his weight was shifted to the left, that is, the left ankle.

< p > Kkuk-

< p > Vesta’s sword pommel struck Tei’s ankle. Pain twisted his face.

< p > “That leg was the one I allowed a counterattack on earlier.”

< p > The ankle had worsened because Tei had run despite the injury. Vesta had allowed the attack in that situation.

< p > As the weight left his leg, Tei’s body sagged.

< p > Kung-!

< p > Just by sheer will not to kneel, Tei stomped his injured foot hard.

< p > In truth, he did not fall.

< p > But the height he had looked down on Vesta from dropped a bit, and Vesta was satisfied with the result.

< p > Vesta charged his sword with all his remaining strength.

< p > Tei did not retreat.

< p > Tung-!

< p > The impact of Tei’s single strike sent Vesta’s helmet flying off.

< p > Tei, seizing the opportunity, swung two swords at once.

< p > That attack had been deemed impossible to dodge or block.

< p > The only way to break it was not to give ground.

< p > “Then what is this boy?”

< p > Vesta stood within that distance of death.

< p > Once seen, the technique no longer seemed frightening.

< p > “Ah, so that’s it.”

< p > As he swung the sword, Tei realized.

< p > The neck sword in his right hand was one the human boy had used.

< p > Its length was relatively short.

< p > Vesta dove into the short-range space on the right.

< p > “On the other hand, the neck sword the boy used is what Tei wields.”

< p > Vesta swung the centaur-style neck sword as easily as a long sword.

< p > Its blade tip was long enough to hook Tei’s chin.

< p > Tung-!

< p > The battlefield fell silent.

< p > Vesta defeated Tei. He took a few steps toward the elves who stood there.

< p > “Ashtien.”

< p > The swordsman looked at his Khan, not the emperor.

< p > He raised one arm high.