Chapter 186: A Brat Who Drives People Crazy (3)
Chapter 186: A Brat Who Drives People Crazy (3)
The moment he finished speaking, Patrick vanished.
Rather than trying to track his movement, Sierion let his instincts take over and swung his sword.
“Aaaaaah!”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
His desperate swings swept through the surroundings like a hurricane, obliterating everything in their path. Nothing within that space should have been able to maintain its form.
Whack!
Except for one person.
“Where the hell do you think you’re swinging that blade? You want a beating?!”
He’d already given him one.
“Ugh…”
His face stinging, Sierion moved his sword again even in the midst of the pain.
Whoosh!
His blade, wreathed in an Aura Blade, possessed enough destructive power to cleave an ogre in half with a single hit. Most opponents would feel pressured by such overwhelming force, becoming intimidated and hesitant to even parry the blow.
Usually, they would end up retreating passively until they were crushed by Sierion’s powerful strikes. That was his standard winning pattern: using overwhelming physical and mental pressure to dominate the opponent before delivering the finishing blow.
However…
“Sure, you’re strong. But what’s the point? You can’t land a single hit.”
Boom! Crack! Thud!
Patrick was weaving through Sierion’s strikes as if he were taking a casual stroll.
“Grr…”
Sierion gritted his teeth and swung. He kept swinging, mixing irregular rhythms and paths into his swordplay. For the love of god, have a conscience and let me hit you just once—
“You little…”
Smack!
“Can’t you do it right?”
Crack!
“Watch your lower half, you brat!”
Thud!
He was getting hit. The problem was that it was entirely one-sided.
Strikes delivered not with the edge, but with the flat of the blade, sent Sierion’s head spinning and battered his ribs and knees. Finally, driven to a frenzy of frustration, Sierion roared.
“Why can’t I hit you?!”
“Wow… you really thought you could hit me with a sword that slow?”
“……”
“Do you even have a conscience?”
“You’re the last person I want to hear that from.”
In the distance, Patrick’s companions, who were listening in, nodded in unison as if to say, He’s got a point.
Patrick shot them a brief glare before turning back to Sierion.
“You don’t know how to apply the principles of the Heavy Sword.”
“What?”
“Forget it. Just keep taking your licks.”
Sierion seemed to be trying to learn something from this duel, but Patrick felt no obligation to play along. Thus, even though he knew exactly what the problem was, he offered no advice.
Tsk, tsk. If your sword is slow, your eyes have to be precise. He has no idea how to read the Optimal Sword Path.
When martial artists clash, a path is naturally formed between them. This is what’s known as the Battle Flow—the Turo.
The path the sword must take.
The path the body must pass through.
The path where the feet must be placed.
Even in a free-flowing exchange of offense and defense, if you can grasp the opponent’s intent, you can read that flow. And if you can read the flow, you can compensate for a disadvantage in speed. Even if you are slow, you simply thrust your sword into the bottleneck where the opponent is forced to go.
Then, the opponent has no choice but to take the hit. That is when the destructive power—the greatest advantage of the Heavy Sword—truly shines.
Patrick called this the Optimal Sword Path.
Well, it’s not exactly easy.
To read the Optimal Sword Path, one must be able to predict the opponent’s intentions and attacks in advance. In other words, their levels must be somewhat comparable. For someone at Sierion’s current level to predict Patrick’s path and seize it…
Boom!
“Huh?”
Patrick, who had circled to the right blind spot to whack the back of Sierion’s head, was startled. Sierion’s sword was already flying toward the very path Patrick intended to take.
He was forced to parry the attack. To neutralize the sheer, ignorant force of the Heavy Sword, Patrick had to leap back a considerable distance.
It was a strike that perfectly utilized the essence of the Heavy Sword by seizing the Optimal Sword Path.
…Was that a fluke?
To confirm, Patrick moved again. His body seemed to split into five, and his swords multiplied into dozens, filling the air. It was a far more complex movement than before. Sierion’s eyes couldn’t track Patrick’s position at all.
As I thought, it was a fluke.
Just then, Sierion took a large step forward, spun his body, and swung his sword violently toward his own rear. His blade, swinging in a semi-circle…
Craaaaash!
Caught Patrick’s form once again.
“Haa… haa…”
Seeing Sierion, whose eyes shone clearly despite his swollen face, Patrick spoke as if he found the situation absurd.
“Look at this brat.”
“…What’s wrong? Are you out of tricks?”
“Your grit and balls are seriously insane.”
Patrick shook his head. He hadn’t realized it at first, but the second attack made it clear. This wasn’t about reading the Battle Flow. It was something far more insane.
“You’ve got a death wish. Do you have about five spare lives or something?”
“Haa… haa…”
What Sierion had done was a lure. And he had used his own life as the bait.
Given the difference in their skills, it was impossible for Sierion to read Patrick’s flow and counter with the Optimal Sword Path. However…
He could lure the opponent into the worst sword path. He intentionally exposed a gap, leaving open the most dangerous and fatal route to his vitals. Then, he swung his sword the moment the opponent committed to the timing.
As a result, Sierion’s sword was able to catch Patrick.
Naturally, it was a suicidal gamble. If Patrick failed to read his intent, or if he read it but ignored it to strike elsewhere, Sierion’s head would have been lopped off instantly.
He had caught Patrick’s movement twice with such an absurd lure. It was a technique that could never be used unless one viewed their own life as a disposable resource.
Isn’t this guy royalty? This shouldn’t be possible unless he’s survived some incredibly harsh, real-life combat.
In the Martial World, the only ones who used such techniques were ronin who had survived at least a hundred brushes with death. People so crazed that they would use their own lives as tools for victory. Beyond their level of martial arts, such people were dangerous.
Because those were the kinds of people who occasionally took down those stronger than themselves.
“Huuuu…”
While Patrick pondered his doubts, Sierion managed to catch his breath. He looked at Patrick and said with a smirk:
“I think I’m starting to get it.”
“……”
“So this is what it means to make the first move in a sequence. Heh… it’s just like chess.”
Sometimes, a life-or-death gamble can etch a lesson into a survivor that a thousand days of training could not. A truth realized by crossing the line of death. By crossing that line twice against Patrick, Sierion seemed to have grasped a thread of understanding.
“Then, this time, I’ll go first.”
For the first time, Sierion initiated the attack. Kicking off the ground, he closed the distance and swung his sword fiercely.
“Woooooah!”
Boom!
A powerful strike left a long scar on the earth. Patrick dodged and tried to circle to the blind spot, but…
“Hyaaaap!”
Clang!
He was forced to stop and block as a sword flew in, preempting his path. This time, it wasn’t a lure. It was pure prediction, and it was successful. While making his first move, he had already predicted the second and prepared his body for it.
Look at this guy.
Patrick looked at Sierion with genuine surprise. Sierion, his blade locked against Patrick’s, spoke.
“The real fight starts now. Patrick Schneideeeer!”
Then, Sierion’s massive two-handed sword began to drive Patrick back savagely.
Bang! Boom! Crash!
Aura exploded, sending shockwaves in all directions. Sierion’s massive sword, wreathed in an Aura Blade, no longer cut through empty air. Patrick began to use his twin swords to parry Sierion’s attacks, and the duel transformed into a fierce exchange of blows.
*
“O-oh… ohhh!”
“Your Highness…”
“Your Highneeeess!”
The knights of the Yuzef Kingdom were ecstatic. Seeing their lord being one-sidedly beaten, kicked, and rolled across the ground had been agonizing. If it hadn't been a formal duel, they would have drawn their swords and intervened immediately. But now…
The situation had changed.
Sierion’s sword had begun to catch the ghost-like movements of the Double Dragon, and for the first time, an exchange worthy of a duel unfolded between them. Or, to be more precise…
“Your Highness!”
“Blow him away!”
“You can do it, Your Highness!”
It looked as if Sierion was the one doing the pushing. Against the world-renowned Double Dragon, no less. Just as hope began to sprout that victory might actually be possible…
“This is absurd.”
Someone interjected with a displeased tone. The knights of the Yuzef Kingdom turned around, ready to snap back, but they instantly lost their words.
Why?
Whoa…
Wow…
Uh…
Witnessing April at close range was enough to make anyone lose their senses for a moment. Marveling at the fact that a human could be so beautiful, the knights were momentarily speechless. However, after snapping out of it a few seconds later, they glared and spoke.
“What do you mean by that?”
Seeing the knight challenging her, April gave a faint smile.
“Do you truly believe your King can defeat the Young Master?”
“Can’t you see the situation right now?”
The Yuzef knight smiled triumphantly. Even as they spoke, Sierion was pushing Patrick back with all his might. April watched the scene and thought:
He’s actually quite good.
Sierion was currently cutting off Patrick’s movement paths by predicting his flow, albeit crudely. Yes, he was quite impressive. He was the most formidable opponent among those who had challenged Patrick so far. However…
“That is exactly his limit.”
“What?”
“I will admit your King is a fairly excellent knight. But our Young Master is on a different level entirely.”
The Yuzef knights were about to flare up again at April’s words. But then…
Boom! Crash! K-boom!
The explosions grew louder, and the bursts of Aura became more violent. The clash between the two was reaching a fever pitch. And then…
“Uh… huh?”
“Wait… that’s…”
“No way!”
The tide of the battle began to shift. Patrick’s twin swords began to emit terrifying destructive power as he attacked Sierion, who was now barely managing to block and hold on for dear life. The Yuzef knights stood with their mouths agape, and April spoke as if to drive the point home.
“Your premise was wrong from the start.”
“……”
“Did you think you could win with strength?”
“……”
“Really?”
A cold smile, uncharacteristic of her, played on April’s lips.
*
Craaaaaash!
“Kh…!”
Blood trickled from Sierion’s mouth. He forced himself to swallow the blood surging up from his stomach. But every time he parried Patrick’s attack, more blood rose in his throat.
The impact felt as if every bone in his body was shattering. A clear strain was being placed on his Aura Hall. Amidst the staggering pressure that made it difficult even to stand on two feet, Sierion was horrified.
I’m being pushed back even in strength?
This was something he had never even considered. He had accepted that Patrick was far superior in technique, speed, and—inexplicably—experience. But he had believed that he at least held the advantage in raw power.
Yet, the moment Patrick decided to put his weight behind his attacks…
Craaaaaash!
“Gah…!”
Blood mixed with bits of internal tissue sprayed from his throat. What on earth… what was this? It reminded him of the time he had taken a hit from an ogre back when he was a 2-Star Knight. Patrick’s attacks were that heavy.
He had no choice but to admit it. There wasn’t a single field in which he could defeat Patrick.
“You monster… cough…”
Patrick spoke to the blood-spitting Sierion.
“Do you finally realize how big the world is?”
“……”
“Let’s end this now.”
Patrick’s swords crossed diagonally behind his back. It was Patrick’s primary technique used in contests of pure strength…
Twin Dragons Eight Sword Styles
Second Style
Great Dragon Cross Sword
Two massive waves of Aura intersected in the shape of a cross. Among the Twin Dragons Eight Sword Styles, this was a ‘Hard’ technique designed for a direct frontal confrontation. The destructive power at the intersection of the two Auras was strong enough to kill a King Ogre and turn a Dullahan into dust.
Facing that strike head-on, Sierion…
“Woooooooooooooah!”
Met Patrick’s attack with every ounce of his Aura Blade. He didn’t know how to dodge in the first place. The sword he had spent his life learning was one that won by facing challenges head-on.
Rumble…
A direct clash. The massive Aura Blade rising from Sierion’s two-handed sword held its ground against Patrick’s attack.
“Khhh… ugh…”
Sierion’s courage was commendable. However…
“Cough…”
Crack… crunch…
He was being crushed. He was being flattened. More clearly than at any other time in his life, the shadow of death loomed over him.
Is this how I die? Here? Am I paying the price for my reckless bravado with death?
Sierion trembled with fear. Was he afraid of losing his life? No. What he truly feared was failing to fulfill his duty by dying here.
[Run, Sierion!]
[Mother! Mother!]
[Sir Carvan! I entrust my son to you!]
[…I will protect him even at the cost of my life.]
[I beg of you.]
[Motheeeeer!]
[Become a great king, Sierion.]
His mother, who died to protect him…
[Your Highness, are you… alright?]
[Sir Robin, don’t die. I told you not to die. It’s an order. An order from me!]
[Please… stay ali—]
[Open your eyes. I said open your eyes!]
[……]
[Robiiiiiiin!]
Those who died to protect him…
If he met his end like this, even their lives would become meaningless, wasted deaths. He could not allow the sacrifices of those who gave everything, believing he would become king and change this reality, to go to waste.
He could not die yet. He still had duties to perform while alive.
Grit.
Find the strength. He must not lose. Had he not sworn? For his people… Had he not sworn to become a king who would never be broken by any enemy?
That was his King’s Path.
That was his Way of the Sword.
That was…
“I am Sierion Baisus Yuzef!”
With a piercing scream, the Aura Blade on Sierion’s sword grew to an enormous size with terrifying momentum. Growing abnormally to over 5, 10, and then 20 meters, the massive Aura Blade became a brilliant, colossal light.
Patrick was stunned by the sight. That wasn’t just an enlarged Aura Blade. That was…
“Intent-Infused Aura?”
The stage of manifesting a form by infusing one’s intent into the Aura. It was the first time he had seen someone in this world actually use it. No, more than that…
Could that be…
“Begone!”
With a powerful shout, the King’s Sword created by Sierion shattered Patrick’s attack into pieces.
Shatter!
Amidst the fragments of Aura scattering in all directions like falling snow… Patrick stared at Sierion with vacant eyes.
“No way.”
The form was completely different. But that… The ‘Intent’ and ‘Will’ clearly transmitted from that sword were definitely from a style Patrick knew well.
The Namgung Clan, the world’s greatest sword family. A secret ultimate art passed down only to the direct bloodline of the Clan Head, even within the most prestigious family in the Martial World.
Patrick, not even wiping the blood flowing from his forehead down his nose, spoke as if possessed.
“Imperial Sword Form.”