Chapter 206: You Really Don’t Listen (3)
Chapter 206: You Really Don’t Listen (3)
The identity of the masked man was revealed to be a member of the Demon Clan.
With his mask and upper garments torn away by April’s attack, his true form was finally laid bare.
The horns on his head, the deep black pupils, and the unique demonic tattoos etched across his body—it was as expected.
April had suspected as much from the moment he corrupted the elves into Dark Elves and summoned demonic beasts from the Demon World. Only the Demon Clan was capable of such feats. However…
“How dare those bastards exiled to the Demon World so long ago show their faces in the Middle World!”
“I’ll kill you!”
“You filthy, cursed thing!”
Knowing it in one’s head was one thing; facing it in person was quite another. Everyone who confirmed the presence of a demon erupted in a frenzy of rage.
Watching them, the demon snorted in derision.
“Insignificant insects, barking despite their lack of power.”
He bared his teeth in a murderous grin.
Those pieces of trash didn’t matter. He could wipe out all these elves who couldn’t even use spirits by himself if he put his mind to it. The only one here who posed a threat to him was…
“Human woman.”
“…”
“State your name.”
“April.”
When April gave her name, he nodded.
“My name is Brody. A brave warrior of the Demon Clan.”
“…”
“April, I officially recognize you as my enemy. Therefore…”
The Demon Clan was a race that worshipped strength. Even if they were enemies, they showed a minimum level of courtesy to the strong. Though…
“I shall do my best to kill you as painfully as possible.”
Their way of showing that courtesy was certainly unique.
“Fuuuu…”
Facing the demon’s blatant killing intent, April remained unshaken. She simply regulated her breathing, preparing for the next moment.
The next moment.
The next sword style would be the final strike of her life.
It was fine.
She had made a vow the day Patrick saved her: that she would devote her entire being to him.
So, she had no lingering attachments or regrets. If her life could be even a tiny bit of help to his future, why would she begrudge it?
She drew up the Innate True Energy from deep within her Dantian and spoke to Brody.
“Come and try.”
At the very least, she would take this demon with her as a traveling companion to the afterlife. A look of terminal resolve settled in her eyes.
“Splendid.”
Did the opponent sense her determination?
“You are worthy, April.”
Brody reached out into the air.
“Grau.”
Something tore through space and emerged from the void.
It was a sword.
The blade was a murky, dark red. A living eye was embedded in the guard, rolling around wildly. The hilt was made of the flesh of a living creature. The sword emitted an aura as repulsive as its appearance.
Holding the sword, Brody spoke to April.
“Consider it an honor. That a mere human gets to offer her blood and soul to my beloved blade…”
“…”
April did not answer. Her body and mind were focused solely on the single move to come—the move she would perform by burning away her very life.
“…”
“…”
The noisy surroundings faded away. The battle between the elves and the demonic beasts was still in full swing, but neither of them heard it. They had entered a world of their own.
No other noise reached them. In that silent world of martial arts, Brody was the first to move.
The moment he took a step forward.
Whoosh.
Space folded.
The distance of over twenty meters between them vanished in a single stride, bringing him right in front of her.
Every demon possessed a unique Authority. Brody’s Authority was this:
Spatial Distortion.
Having closed the distance instantly, he swung his sword, laden with ominous demonic energy, down at April.
I’ve got her.
At that moment of certain victory…
“…!”
A chill ran down Brody’s spine. April was wearing a faint smile.
You’re the one who’s caught.
[This move… I’ll teach it to you for now, but you must never use it.]
[Why is that?]
[It’s not a technique meant to be performed by a human who intends to stay alive.]
[…]
[Just know that such a thing exists.]
[If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be better not to learn it at all?]
[I was going to do that, but your talent is too good to waste. Just knowing this will greatly improve your understanding of the sword.]
That was indeed how she had learned it. She was told to use it only as a guideline and never to actually perform it.
But in this situation, she had no choice.
Young Master. Please…
Twin Dragons Eight Sword Styles.
Eighth Form: Ultimate Secret Art.
Dragon God—
“You really don’t listen.”
“…!”
In the middle of initiating the technique, she heard a voice.
Another powerhouse had nonchalantly stepped into this martial domain created only by April and Brody. There was no need to wonder who it was.
Clang!
“Gah!”
Kaaaaang!
A streak of light blew Brody away while simultaneously landing lightly to block April’s sword path. It was a god-like movement that accomplished two actions at once.
Only one person was capable of this. His appearance made the crowd erupt in cheers.
“Lord Patrick!”
“It’s Lord Patrick Schneider!”
“Patrick, you bastard!”
It was the arrival of Patrick Schneider.
*
After lightly blowing Brody away, Patrick looked around and frowned.
“What on earth is this mess? Wasn’t the battle over?”
Immediately after emerging from the World Tree, Patrick hadn’t had time to grasp the situation. He had sensed the signs of battle from afar and rushed over. Fortunately, the barrier created to protect the World Tree had vanished, so he was able to reach his destination just by running straight.
The first thing he saw upon arriving was a sight that nearly gave him a heart attack.
“April.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I believe I told you not to use that?”
“…”
Patrick interrogated April with a stern expression. Realizing she had disobeyed an order, April avoided his gaze.
“It feels like you’ve been ignoring my orders a lot lately. Is it just my imagination?”
“I am sorry, Young Master.”
Patrick ran a hand through his hair. There were a dozen things he wanted to say to April, but that wasn’t the priority right now. Even at this moment, the elves were struggling against the mysterious monsters. Therefore…
“We’ll talk later.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Patrick turned into a streak of light. That light first rushed toward a giant wolf rampaging among the elves. And then…
Slash!
“Awooo-!”
The demonic wolf that had been biting elves and breathing fire was cleanly sliced in half. Its torso severed, the wolf let out a final death rattle and collapsed, twitching.
“Next.”
Moving immediately, Patrick appeared atop the crown of a one-eyed giant that was trampling elves with its four arms. Patrick stood arrogantly on the rampaging giant’s head. This infuriated the giant.
“Graaaaaah!”
The one-eyed giant reached up to tear apart the insolent human standing on its head. However…
Slice! Slice!
The two arms reaching for Patrick fell to the ground with clean cutting sounds.
“Graaaaaah!”
The one-eyed giant screamed in agony. But the pain didn’t last long.
“Farewell.”
Slash!
Two streaks of light fell vertically, cleanly dividing the giant’s body into three. The monster collapsed, its intestines spilling out.
The last one remaining was the giant eagle, but…
Thwack!
“Screeeeeech!”
The battle ended just in time. Riman Sierra, who had been fighting the giant eagle from the start, finally succeeded in plunging his sword into its body.
The monstrous bird shrieked in pain. As if refusing to die alone, it tried to spit lightning from its beak, but Riman was faster.
“Ignil Lagios!”
Through his sword, the attributes of fire and wind burrowed into the enemy’s body. And then…
Boom!
The giant eagle’s body swelled up before exploding in a spectacular burst of flames.
Having finished his enemy, Riman landed heavily on the ground and caught his breath.
“Phew… I won.”
“Oh, you’re earning your keep.”
Patrick clapped at the sight. Riman turned to him.
“Patrick, I heard you went inside the World Tree. What happened?”
“Huh? That? It’s a long story, but…”
K-boom!
Demonic energy exploded in the distance. Seeing this, Patrick tapped his twin swords against his shoulders and said, “Let’s take care of that first before we talk.”
He then began walking slowly toward the direction of the exploding demonic energy. The urgent fires were out. Now, it was time for the main event.
*
Brody, who had been struck by Patrick’s blow, couldn’t believe it. To be attacked like this in the Middle World, and by a human?
To make matters worse, he seemed to have lost consciousness for a brief moment. This was impossible. Such humiliation. Such disgrace. He could not tolerate it.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
K-boom!
He stood up, his demonic energy exploding outward. He glared at Patrick, who was walking leisurely toward him.
“Who are you?”
At Brody’s question, Patrick replied with an air of utter nonchalance.
“Patrick Schneider. Why?”
Brody’s eyebrows twitched.
“So, you’re the one…”
“Oh, I guess I’m pretty famous now. Everyone seems to know me by name.”
Patrick muttered, nodding to himself. He then pointed his sword at Brody.
“So, who are you? What kind of guy are you to be making such a mess here? Huh?”
“My name is Brody. A glorious warrior of the Demon Clan.”
“A demon, huh… Ah, so that’s why you have horns. And your eyes are weird.”
Only then did Patrick nod as he looked at Brody’s horns.
“I was imagining some human interest story about how you were abandoned by your parents because of the horns, turned crooked, joined the dark mages, and ended up here today. I guess I don’t need to feel sorry for you.”
“You dare… A mere human, insulting me, a demon?”
“Is there a law saying a human can’t insult a demon?”
“…”
There wasn’t. No such law existed. Brody frowned and spoke.
“I have no intention of trading jokes with you. Since you dared to interfere in my duel, I assume you’re prepared.”
“Prepared? Eh… do I really need to be?”
“…”
“Preparation is for the one getting beaten, not the one doing the beating. So, you’re the one who needs to be prepared.”
“You dare…”
“You really love that ‘you dare’ line, don’t you?”
Patrick sighed and shifted his aura.
“Enough talk.”
“…”
Brody fell silent at Patrick’s changed atmosphere. The human who had been joking around just a moment ago had completely transformed. The sharp, refined pressure Patrick emitted made even Brody, a demon, tense up.
“From now on…”
Patrick vanished. Then, his voice came from behind Brody.
“It’s time to talk with our bodies.”
Brody reacted instinctively. The moment he felt an attack coming to cleave him in a cross shape, he dodged. Normally, he would have relied on his demonic energy to tank the hit, but…
“Tch…”
Brody quickly folded space to move and avoid Patrick’s attack. He realized instinctively that he must not block this strike.
Patrick’s voice came from behind him again.
“You’re showing me something interesting.”
“I’ll teach you your place!”
Brody roared and lunged at Patrick, and the two began a fierce exchange of blows.
Clang! Boom! Crack! K-boom!
Patrick’s Aura Blade and Brody’s demonic energy collided head-on. As they traded strikes, Brody felt a chill.
What is this power…
It was destructive force incomparable to the Aura Blade of the human woman, April. No, it wasn’t just that the power was superior. This was…
The very nature of the aura was different. If he had tried to block that earlier attack with just his demonic energy, the fight would have been over already.
“Fine. So you have some skill?”
“…”
“Then I shall treat you accordingly.”
Brody began to fight in earnest, incorporating his Authority. He swung a blow meant to split Patrick’s head. When Patrick moved his feet to dodge, Brody folded space to take Patrick’s back. Without hesitation, his follow-up attack flew toward Patrick’s neck.
Swish!
A decisive strike. However, Brody’s sword only cut through air. Patrick had lowered his stance, dodging the blade completely. Then, as Patrick’s body rotated halfway back, the sword in his right hand split into three like a bolt of lightning.
“Hup!”
Upper, middle, lower. Facing Patrick’s sword qi aimed at his entire body simultaneously, Brody chose to fold space and dodge rather than parry.
As he reappeared in the space behind, Patrick’s sword lunged out like a streak of light.
“Haaaaah!”
Brody didn’t dodge this time; he swung his sword head-on to meet it.
K-boom!
A direct collision of strength against strength. Patrick and Brody both retreated to neutralize the aftershocks, landing on the ground. And as soon as their feet touched the earth…
Whoosh!
Boom!
One sprinted while folding space, and the other became a flash of light as he kicked off the ground.
“Oh, World Tree…”
“Was he this strong?”
“A swordsman who can go toe-to-toe with a demon without being pushed back…”
The elves watched in awe as Patrick fought Brody on equal terms. Rumors of the Double Dragon had reached their ears, but they had thought it was just talk. They assumed it was just humans exaggerating, no matter how strong he might be. They believed that once the World Tree was restored and the Elven Knights could show their true prowess, there would be someone among the elves who could match the Double Dragon.
But Patrick’s current performance was shattering those assumptions. This demon, Brody, was undoubtedly a high-ranking demon. One could tell just by the Authority he used and the presence of the demonic energy he emitted. He was the real deal, not some random grunt. He was a foe that would normally require the full might of the tribe and result in massive casualties. And yet…
Clang! Boom!
“Urgh… you human brat!”
Patrick was fighting Brody as an equal. No, rather than equals, Brody had been on the defensive from the start. He was desperately holding on using his Authority, but the difference in basic skill was clear. Patrick was overwhelming Brody, who moved by folding space, through pure speed alone.
And finally…
“Gah…”
Between a series of sword attacks, Patrick’s mid-section spinning back-kick landed squarely on Brody’s abdomen. The impact sent Brody flying backward, coughing up blood.
What kind of kick is this…
He hadn’t even been hit by an Aura Blade, yet the impact felt like his internal organs were being crushed. Brody desperately regained his balance, swallowing the blood rising in his throat.
Patrick appeared before him silently, like a mirage. The moment Brody reflexively tried to swing his sword, Patrick’s body dropped low. Simultaneously…
Whoosh!
Patrick’s body spun like a top, his exquisite sweep kick taking out Brody’s legs. It wasn’t an attack meant to deal damage, but one meant to break his balance and knock him down. This wasn’t a technique that could be resisted with demonic energy.
“Tch…”
Brody fell toward the ground, back of his head first. And in his vision…
“Die.”
He saw Patrick already above him, plunging his sword down with a reverse grip.
“Dammit!”
Brody hurriedly used his Authority to fold space while rolling his body to the side. As a result, he narrowly avoided the strike, and Patrick’s sword buried itself deep into the ground.
“That’s quite interesting.”
Patrick marveled at Brody, who had escaped over ten meters away with just a half-roll. Should he call it a new concept of the Lazy Donkey Roll? It was a move that might change the perception of the Lazy Donkey Roll if it were spread throughout the Martial World.
Patrick licked his lips. Brody stood up and looked at Patrick with a calm, murderous intent.
“Impressive.”
“I know.”
“Patrick Schneider. I’ve heard the name, but I didn’t expect you to be this good.”
“I said I know.”
“You have clearly surpassed what humans call the 7-Star Realm. Remarkable.”
“You keep repeating yourself. Can you stop flapping your gums and get back to the swordplay?”
Despite Patrick’s provocation, Brody did not explode in rage. Just as he had with April earlier, he now recognized Patrick as a true rival.
“You may consider this an honor, Double Dragon.”
Brody changed his stance. He tilted his sword diagonally by his waist and spoke to Patrick.
“You are the first human I have ever used this technique on.”
“Oh, looks like you have a trump card—”
Swish!
Patrick couldn’t finish his sentence. The moment Brody swung his sword from a distance in a surprise attack, the slash elongated and flew toward Patrick at ultra-high speed.
An attack that should never have reached him from over ten meters away was stretching out. It was a surprise attack that completely caught his consciousness off guard. The power contained within it was also extraordinary.
I’ve got him.
Brody was certain of his victory.