Chapter 187: A Brat Who Drives Me Crazy (4)
Chapter 187: A Brat Who Drives Me Crazy (4)
Patrick was at a loss for words.
What had that brat just done?
The Imperial Sword Form?
That brat?
‘How is that even possible?’
It defied logic.
He could concede, by some miracle, the manifestation of Intent Aura. But of all things, the technique he chose to manifest was the Imperial Sword Form?
“This is absurd.”
Martial arts are honest.
The traces of one’s heart and the life one has lived melt into a form that manifests outwardly.
The Shaolin Sect embodies the dignity of the Buddha.
The Wudang Sect embodies the harmony of the Taiji.
The Mount Hua Sect embodies the cycle of life, blooming and withering.
That is what martial arts are.
The Imperial Sword Form.
It was the ultimate technique of the Namgung Clan, the family that had reigned as the overlords of Anhui Province. What that technique sought to capture was the resolve of the Namgung Clan.
As the masters of Anhui, they were a people born to protect—from the small circle of their own family to the commoners of the entire province.
It was not for oneself.
It was a sword forged from a ruler’s resolve to strike down enemies for the sake of those they must protect. Created by the first patriarch of the Namgung Clan and passed down through generations, the Imperial Sword Form was the very history of the Namgung Clan itself.
And for Sierion to have unleashed that same essence meant…
‘Is his resolve as a king truly sincere? Can he truly imbue his sword with such noble determination and resolve while committing such filthy acts behind the scenes?’
Patrick was conflicted.
“You… what exactly are you?”
“……”
No answer came.
He was already unconscious.
Thud.
Having exhausted every ounce of his soul and strength, Sierion collapsed onto the ground.
Seeing him fall without giving an answer, Patrick brushed back his hair and muttered, “A brat who drives me crazy.”
What on earth was he supposed to do with this guy?
As Patrick stood there deep in thought…
“Your Highness!”
“My Lord!”
The moment Sierion fell, the knights of the Yuzef Kingdom rushed forward.
They moved swiftly, supporting Sierion to move him to safety while simultaneously drawing their swords and taking up positions against Patrick. Their stance made it clear: if Patrick tried to attack Sierion now, they would stop him at any cost.
At that sight, Patrick let out a short, dry laugh.
“You draw your swords and take a stance?”
“……”
“And? What then?”
“……”
“You think you can stop me?”
A blade-like momentum erupted from Patrick’s body.
“The likes of you?”
“Ugh… urgh…”
“Guh…”
The knights’ bodies trembled violently.
It wasn’t a tremor born of fighting spirit or rage. It was a purely reflexive reaction to overwhelming terror. The fear of death, inherent to all living things, threatened to consume them. And yet…
Pant… pant… pant…
“Ugh… bleargh!”
“Khhh…”
One man lost his reason and entered a state of frantic agitation. Another couldn't overcome the fear and vomited everything in his stomach. Another was a pathetic mess, weeping with tears and snot streaming down his face.
It was a disaster. And yet…
‘Impressive.’
Not a single one of them fled.
Though they stood before a massive enemy they could never hope to defeat, they fulfilled their duty. The duty of a knight to protect their king.
Patrick glanced at them and asked, “Is that brat really such a grand existence to you all?”
“……”
“If he dies, someone similar will just take his place and do the same things anyway, won't they?”
“How dare you…”
“Double Dragon…”
Gritting their teeth, the knights of the Yuzef Kingdom glared at Patrick as if they wanted to tear him apart. Patrick didn't even blink at their hostility.
Then, Matthias Carvan stepped forward from behind the knights.
He looked Patrick straight in the eye and spoke.
“You will never know.”
“Know what?”
“What it means to serve a true king. You will never know it as long as you live.”
“And why do you think that?” Patrick asked with a smirk.
Matthias answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“You have no need for a king.”
“……”
“A king is an existence that unites the weak and powerless. An existence that leads them and serves as a pillar of support to help them endure through adversity. But…”
“……”
“You have no need for such a thing.”
“……”
“Because you are strong. Because you are a born absolute.”
“……”
“There is no way someone like you could understand our feelings—the hearts of the weak.”
“……”
Matthias glanced back briefly.
Seeing his lord’s pale face, he bit his lip hard and said, “If I had known it would come to this, I should have stopped my lord by any means necessary. If I had known what kind of person you were… if I had known from the start that it was absolutely impossible to bring you to our side, I would have stopped him at all costs.”
Matthias let out a sigh, then pointed his sword at Patrick.
“Double Dragon.”
“Speak.”
“You will never understand. How precious this person is to us. And…”
A terrifying fighting spirit began to billow from Matthias’s body.
He continued, staring directly at Patrick.
“Just how far we are willing to go—how mad we can become—for his sake.”
“……”
“You will never, ever understand.”
Patrick stared intently at Matthias.
Then he looked at the other knights of the Yuzef Kingdom behind him.
To a man, they were all glaring at him with expressions of desperate resolve.
“Whew…”
With a small sigh, Patrick withdrew his killing intent.
It was pointless.
No matter how much he threatened them with savage bloodlust, these men would never back down. Threats do not work on humans who have steeled their resolve to protect something more precious than their own lives.
Patrick sheathed his sword and spoke.
“I…”
Patrick looked down at the unconscious Sierion.
“I use two yardsticks when judging a person.”
“……”
“One is the person’s own words and actions. And the second is how those around them treat them.”
“……”
“No matter what you say, I do not acknowledge this bastard.”
The knights of the Yuzef Kingdom bristled.
Watching them glare at him with bated breath, Patrick continued calmly.
“No matter what grand cause is invoked, I neither trust nor follow a man who sacrifices the few for the sake of the many.”
Because that was how he had been taught.
“However…”
Patrick hesitated for a moment before continuing carefully.
“That is my way.”
“……”
Following his Master’s teachings and living by that philosophy was his own choice. He could not force it upon others.
“If there are those who truly need him, then perhaps his life should not be taken so recklessly.”
“……”
Originally, he had intended to kill him. At the very least, he had planned to destroy his Aura Hall and drag him down from his position as a powerhouse. He believed such punishment was necessary for someone who had joined hands with a dark mage and sacrificed the few for the greater good. But…
‘Is the King’s Path something that cannot be measured by the standards of an ordinary man?’
He didn't know.
Perhaps, as someone born of the Jianghu, it was something he would never understand.
Patrick let out a small sigh and his lips moved slightly. He left a message for Matthias via Sound Transmission.
“You…”
“Deliver it exactly as I said, without hiding anything.”
“……”
“Now, go.”
With that, Patrick turned his back completely.
Patrick Schneider vs. Sierion Bysson Yuzef.
The winner of the duel was Patrick Schneider.
Later, this duel would go down in history. As the first duel between the Double Dragon, Patrick Schneider, and the Overlord, Sierion Bysson Yuzef.
* * *
“Ugh… nngh…”
The first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was the roof of a tent.
“Your Highness!”
“Are you awake?”
The area around the bed was packed with knights. Sierion struggled to open his eyes and spoke.
“How many people are crammed into this tiny barracks?”
The knights smiled in relief.
“It is a relief to see you safe.”
“You haven't opened your eyes for three days.”
“Hahaha. Look at you all worrying… I knew you would wake up safely, Your Highness.”
‘Three days, huh…’
Sierion tried to sit up… or rather, he attempted to. But…
“Khhh…”
He groaned in pain as if his entire body were breaking and lay back down.
“Your Highness!”
“Are you alright?”
“We must return to the capital immediately and have a priest examine you.”
At his subordinates’ concern, Sierion frowned and said, “I’m fine. More importantly, bring me my sword.”
“Your Highness?”
“You must rest.”
“It is important. Bring it at once.”
Seeing Sierion’s serious expression, the knights had no choice but to bring him his sword.
Sierion took the sword and used it as a cane to force himself upright.
“Urgh…”
It felt like his body was shattering, but he couldn't put this off. This was something that had to be done now.
Sierion took one painful step after another and walked out of the barracks.
Outside, an even larger number of knights were watching him with worried faces.
“Your Highness?”
“Are you feeling alright?”
Sierion gestured for his concerned subordinates to step back, then took a stance with his sword.
“Your Highness, what are you trying to do?”
“You mustn't overexert yourself.”
He knew they were worried. But he had to check this right now. Before the sensation left his body.
Woooooom.
An Aura Blade bloomed on the sword. However…
“Huh?”
“Was it always like that?”
“No, it’s… a bit different?”
His Aura Blade was significantly different from before.
Normally, an Aura Blade forms as the momentum of the Aura grows increasingly intense until it crosses a threshold and explodes into a blade of light.
But Sierion’s Aura Blade now formed with a stillness that brought to mind a calm lake. There was no waste of power, and the creation of the Aura Blade was incredibly natural.
And that wasn't all.
“Whew…”
Sierion closed his eyes and steadied his breathing. Then, his Aura Blade…
“Wh-what…”
“Whoa!”
“What is that?”
It began to grow.
Passing five meters, then ten, the Aura Blade grew larger and larger until it became a massive King’s Sword over twenty meters long.
A giant sword of light standing tall alone in the dark forest. Its brilliant white radiance was so majestic that it enchanted all who saw it.
Sierion looked at the sword and spoke with a satisfied smile.
“I gained something.”
What he had gained by crossing the threshold of death in his duel with Patrick. It was his own sword.
And he could feel it. He had finally crossed the wall into the 7-Star realm.
“Congratulations, Your Highness!”
“Congratulations!”
“You have finally crossed the wall!”
The knights cheered.
How could they not be happy? Their lord had been defeated, but he had used that defeat as a foundation to become even stronger.
“Whew…”
Sierion withdrew the Aura Blade and spoke.
“Sir Carvan.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Did he leave any message?”
“…He did.”
“Deliver it. Do not change a single word.”
At the king’s solemn command, Matthias let out a sigh and spoke.
“He said… ‘Bear this in mind. I am watching you…’”
“Is that all?”
At Sierion’s prompting, Matthias continued calmly, as if he had no choice.
“‘If I judge that your actions have crossed the line and are harming the world…’”
“Go on.”
“‘I will take your life with my own hands.’”
“Is that so?”
“……”
“I see.”
Sierion chuckled. For someone who had just received a death threat, he looked almost refreshed. Then, with a face full of regret, he said, “I really should have brought him to our side somehow…”
“Your Highness, that is impossible.”
“……”
“He will never stand with you.”
“Yes. I suppose so.”
Sierion gave a small laugh and said, “Let us return to our country first. And then…”
Sierion’s eyes gleamed.
“I will end the civil war. As quickly as possible.”
“Yes, sir!”
Sierion returned to his country immediately.
And three months after his return, every faction that had opposed him knelt before him, and the civil war came to an end.
As a result, Sierion established an absolute and powerful royal authority in the Yuzef Kingdom, stronger than any king in its history.
The journey of the Overlord, Sierion Bysson Yuzef, had begun in earnest.