I Am a Swordmaster (3)
'.....No way I'm taking that twice.'
The moment I blocked her axe strike and hauled myself back to my feet, the verdict was clear.
A blow like that? I absolutely couldn't survive a second one.
I had to end this against Skadi with this one strike. Fail, and I'd be the one hitting the dirt.
She's not looking so hot either.
I lifted my head and scanned her from head to toe, reassessing my opponent.
I'd taken the hit, but that full-power clash had to have taken a toll on her too—Skadi didn't look anywhere near normal. Her breathing was still ragged, unsteady, and her limbs trembled ever so slightly.
I can do this.
A weakened body breeds a weakened mind.
Right now, Skadi was nursing major injuries across her body and bracing for my next strike. She had to be considering every possibility.
I have to cut her down.
I kept my expression as neutral as possible.
By showing no sign of pain after tanking that devastating blow, I could make her feel the pressure. Agonizing pain clawed at every inch of me, trying to buckle my knees, but each time, I gripped Excalibur's hilt tighter, steeling my will and planting my feet.
At last, I stood before Skadi once more.
"From up high to the left. One strike."
A Swordmaster's blade cuts through anything. No doubt about that ironclad truth.
With utter conviction, I declared it arrogantly. Then I approached slowly, taking position right in front of her like I was putting on a show.
Locking eyes with her resolute gaze, I channeled the surging aura into my sword, gradually swinging it back.
"Block it if you can."
You're strong, Skadi. Strong enough to be called the Khan of the Snowfields.
Far beyond what a nobody like me could ever dream of touching.
But you lacked conviction.
In your victory. In my defeat.
That's why you could never beat me.
".....!!!"
The sword traced its arc from up high to the left.
Exploding forward, it cleaved through space—only to smash dead-on into Skadi's axe blade.
No more taunts, no more probing. Neither of us had time for that.
We poured every ounce of focus into unleashing even greater power amid the unrelenting clash, refusing to yield an inch.
A little more.....
In that instant, Skadi's axe visibly buckled under my blade.
Her eyes flicked there, registering that she'd been pushed back. I don't know exactly what flashed through her mind next, but a surge of even fiercer power flowed from Excalibur.
Riding the momentum, I swung again, detonating the condensed aura at the tip.
"It's over."
The sword pressed on undeterred.
Shattering her guard, it surged toward Skadi without mercy.
The blade struck true. The impact sent her flying back.
Her axe spun away into the distance, her solid stance crumbled, and Skadi was swept away by the shockwave.
".....Hoo."
The duel was done.
Everyone witnessed the outcome, yet silence hung heavy—no one dared speak.
Standing at the center, I broke it calmly.
"The Khan has fallen."
She was strong. The destructive force in that strike was incomparable.
But in the end, I stood tall, and she lay broken.
"The war is over."
Cheers and roars erupted behind me.
Northern knights blew their horns, proclaiming victory far and wide, flags whipping in the wind to celebrate the triumph.
Bathed in their fervor, I turned to the warriors and announced the duel’s result plainly.
"The Empire wins."
Just moments ago, she'd blocked the Empire's Swordmaster's strike.
She'd parried his thrust with her axe, their auras exploding on impact.
She remembered channeling every last drop of mana to hold, the overwhelming force that refused to relent, even being pushed back slightly.
".....Is it over?"
Everything after was a blur.
One moment, her vision flickered bright; the next, she looked up to see warriors surrounding her.
She, who should have been locked in fierce combat at the battlefield's heart, now lay on the ground amid her tribesfolk.
No need to check—the duel's result was obvious.
"I lost."
".....Yes, my Khan."
Defeat.
For the first time in her life, she faced that word.
She could have raged or grieved at this first taste of loss, but not a shred of regret crossed her.
The gap was clear.
He was stronger.
Even swinging a sword with no proper form—like he was just flailing in desperation, giving her every opening— he'd still claimed victory in one strike.
The Empire's Swordmaster outclassed her decisively.
"I have no face left."
Countless tribes and warriors had answered her call.
They'd staked their futures here for their loved ones, only for her to squander it all so pointlessly.
And after provoking the Empire into full alert? She could never face them again.
"Even now, we could...."
"No. We can't win. They have a Swordmaster at full strength."
One warrior cautiously suggested ignoring the duel and pressing the invasion.
The others nodded in agreement, but Skadi cut them off with a shake of her head.
She'd already burned through most of her power. Yet Lia Agehis still stood ready on their side. War meant defeat.
"If it's a war that gains us nothing, shouldn't we at least cling to our last thread of pride?"
She could've tossed pride aside for a chance to feed her tribes—but no.
She couldn't throw everything away in a hopeless fight.
They'd lost too much already; she wouldn't forfeit another thing.
"That's a fine sentiment."
As she finished, someone approached, offering light applause and praise.
The man she'd just dueled.
With silent steps she hadn't even noticed, he wove through the warriors to stand before her.
"......Do you have words for me, Empire's Master?"
The duel was over—they'd lost.
Why bother coming back instead of leaving? Confirming victory or demanding surrender would've been easy enough. But if he wanted something else...
It wouldn't be simple for them.
"My name is Ian."
"I see. Ian. I'll remember that honorable name."
Tense and resolute, she faced him—yet he said nothing more.
Just stated his name, then fell silent, pondering something.
After long minutes, he finally spoke again.
"Just a few questions. Answer them."
"It's the victor's right. I'll comply."
He nodded at her response, then swept his gaze around.
His pupils dilated briefly, like he'd spotted something. He scanned a few more times to confirm, then met her eyes and murmured low.
"No granaries."
"....."
"Things that bad?"
".....Yes."
"How bad?"
".....Possibly beyond enduring."
He'd already figured it out. He was asking because he knew.
So she answered honestly, no lies or evasion.
Situation critical, on the brink.
Ian fell silent again, deep in thought for minutes before the next question.
"....Skadi. What do you, as Khan, truly desire?"
"Only the eternal peace of my tribes and the snowfields. That is the path of the Khan."
The Khan sought only the peace of tribes and snowfields.
Yet paradoxically, she'd declared war today—the farthest thing from peace.
Shame rising, she clamped her mouth shut. Ian mulled her words, then asked plainly.
"Then, if your tribes' peace is assured, you have no reason to oppose the Empire?"
"Of course. The Empire is stronger than the snowfields. Without this winter, we never would've come down."
She nodded firmly.
No idea if it mattered post-invasion, but she had to show zero intent to antagonize.
"....I'll remember that."
Ian nodded slowly.
His unfathomable eyes gave nothing away.
"Questions done. No more business."
Without lingering, Ian turned away.
Glancing back over his shoulder with a wave, he spoke softly.
"Go home. This is farewell enough."