Chapter 302: Let’s Settle This (3)
Chapter 302: Let’s Settle This (3)
Both had leaped into the air, but humans were not born with wings.
As they began their inevitable descent toward the earth, the Sword Saint waited for the exact moment Patrick was about to hit the ground.
"Hmph!"
Reinardo Style.
Shooting Star.
A massive sphere of aura, nearly five meters in diameter, plummeted from the tip of the Sword Saint’s blade toward the ground.
It was a technique that sacrificed all speed for pure, unadulterated power. Under normal circumstances, Patrick was not the type to be hit by such a telegraphed attack, but with his feet dangling in the air, he had no way to dodge.
His only choice was to block it, but…
‘Go ahead and get buried in the dirt.’
That was the plan.
Even if Patrick managed to block the attack, he couldn't completely offset the momentum while suspended in mid-air. He would inevitably be slammed into the ground.
This was the Sword Saint’s trap, designed from the very moment he launched Patrick into the sky.
‘Got you.’
The Sword Saint was certain of his victory.
But then, he saw it—a faint smirk playing on Patrick’s lips.
Twin Dragons Eight Sword Styles.
Third Form.
Flash Dragon Strike.
It was the technique Patrick was most confident in.
The one he used most often.
This technique was Patrick’s trademark and his pride.
But could it truly destroy that terrifying sphere of light and pierce through to the Sword Saint beyond?
No, that was likely impossible.
However…
"What?!"
The Sword Saint’s eyes widened in shock.
The moment Patrick unleashed the Flash Dragon Strike, he didn't aim for the Sword Saint. Instead, he lightly stepped off the Shooting Star itself and fired the technique toward the ground.
Using the downward momentum of the Shooting Star, Patrick propelled himself toward the earth even faster.
Boom!
A streak of lightning-fast light slammed into the ground. And then…
KABOOOOM!
Right behind it, the massive meteor of light crashed into the earth.
The Shooting Star—the Sword Saint’s concentrated aura—unleashed its devastating destructive power upon the terrain.
"O-Oh… my god…"
"This is insane."
The knights spectating the duel stood with their mouths agape.
The moment the Sword Saint’s technique hit the ground, a massive cloud of dust, dozens of meters high, billowed into the air.
The mushroom-shaped cloud was a testament to the terrifying power of the Sword Saint’s attack.
There was no way anyone could survive a direct hit from that.
The Double Dragon was surely…
"Dead, right?"
"Huh? Who?"
The knight who had been speaking jumped in fright.
Reflexively, he swung his sword toward the source of the voice. And then…
Clang!
"Whoa, easy there! Why the sudden sword swing? I almost counterattacked without thinking."
"Ugh… gack…"
He already had.
The knight, who was stumbling as he tried to steady himself, was a member of the Glory Knight Order—a man who had reached the Supreme Realm.
He stared at Patrick and stammered, "You… you didn't die?"
Patrick replied nonchalantly.
"Why would I die? I just figured the blast radius was going to be a bit much, so I dodged over here."
After using the Shooting Star as a stepping stone to launch his Flash Dragon Strike as an escape maneuver, Patrick had unleashed another Flash Dragon Strike the moment his feet touched the ground to clear the area.
To truly master a signature technique, one must be able to do more than just perform it; they must be able to adapt it freely.
In that sense, Patrick’s Flash Dragon Strike was the perfect primary skill.
Though it was an offensive form, it could be used for evasion depending on the situation.
It was truly versatile.
Having escaped the Sword Saint’s attack, Patrick turned to the knight, who was looking at him as if he were a ghost.
"Want some advice?"
"What…?"
"You should probably move."
As he spoke, Patrick’s body blurred and vanished. Immediately after…
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A terrifying barrage of aura blades swept through the spot where Patrick had just been standing, along with the surrounding area.
"Tsk, tsk. I gave you advice, and you still couldn't dodge."
Well, the man looked to be around 7-Star, so he probably wouldn't die.
Probably.
Regardless, Patrick didn't have the luxury of worrying about some 7-Star extra right now.
"DOUBLE DRAGOOOON!"
"That old man sure is fiery."
His excitement reaching a fever pitch, the Sword Saint charged toward Patrick with everything he had.
His face was a mixture of irrepressible joy and fierce fighting spirit.
Yes, that was it…
"The face of a true martial artist."
A smile spread across Patrick’s face.
He knew he shouldn't be doing this. This wasn't why he had come here. He knew that, but…
‘I guess I’m just hopeless.’
Those beyond-saving humans who find joy in martial arts even when their lives are on the line.
That was the breed known as martial artists.
Patrick sprinted forward to meet the charging Sword Saint. The moment the two collided…
Boom! Crash! Bang!
To the spectators, it was nothing but a blinding display of exploding aura and thunderous roars.
But within that chaos, the Sword Saint and Patrick were exchanging life-or-death blows.
And in the midst of it, the Sword Saint…
‘How long has it been?’
…was drenched in thrilling ecstasy.
How long had it been since he could swing his sword with such abandon?
It had been so long he could barely remember.
Even the Paladins of the Holy Kingdom couldn't withstand the Sword Saint’s full power.
But now, it was different.
Before him was an opponent who could comfortably take everything he threw at him.
Reinardo Style.
Weapon Buster.
Aura blades exploded from the tip of the Sword Saint’s sword, splintering outward.
But they weren't ordinary aura blades.
Swords, spears, arrows, axes, hammers…
A diverse array of aura blades, resembling every weapon used by knights, swarmed Patrick simultaneously.
"There’s a limit to 'All Rivers Return to the Sea,' you know."
Patrick gave a bitter smile and initiated his sword form.
He could have dodged if he wanted to, but there was something he wanted to test.
So, in this instance…
"Force against force."
Twin Dragons Eight Sword Styles.
Sixth Form.
Nine Dragons Under Heaven.
Aside from the ultimate secret art, Radiant Dragon’s Reign, this was the most powerful technique in his repertoire.
The Sword Saint had seen this before.
In fact, he had faced it head-on.
During the finals at Arcana, hadn't those nine demonic beasts tried to tear his precious grandson apart?
The Sword Saint had stood in their way to prevent that tragedy.
Back then, it had been a mere feint, but now…
‘He’s serious this time.’
The Sword Saint did not back down.
Facing the nine dragons flying toward him with bared fangs, he poured even more power into his erupting aura blades.
Boom! Crash! Roar!
*
"Ugh…"
"He’s not human… hup!"
The knight quickly shut his mouth.
He realized his words weren't just directed at Patrick.
But it was his honest feeling.
This was the first time he was seeing the Sword Saint’s true martial prowess.
Of course, as a knight of the Empire, he knew the Sword Saint was on a completely different level.
Yet, as a knight who had reached the Supreme Realm himself, he had harbored a small hope.
Could I reach that level one day?
‘What a ridiculous thought.’
He was so embarrassed he couldn't lift his head.
After seeing these 'monsters,' he felt ashamed to have ever called his own level the 'Supreme Realm.'
Looking around, it seemed everyone else was thinking the same thing.
After the massive collision.
The two figures were visible again, facing each other. And…
"Huh?"
"How can this be?"
What they saw was Patrick standing perfectly fine, while the Sword Saint had been pushed back significantly, his armor reduced to rags.
It was clear at a glance who had held the upper hand in that exchange.
"The Sword Saint was pushed back?"
"Impossible."
It was the moment the Empire’s pride began to waver.
*
"I look like a mess."
The Sword Saint used his hands to tear away the remaining pieces of his shredded armor.
As he revealed his bare upper body, Patrick spoke.
"You’re in great shape."
"A knight must always be ready for active duty."
"True. It would be a bit awkward if the Sword Saint had a beer belly."
Patrick nodded in agreement.
Seeing his relaxed demeanor, the Sword Saint gave a wry smile.
‘How can he be like this?’
This young man hadn't even lived a third as long as he had.
He was younger than his grandson, Garcia.
How could someone so young possess such strength?
The previous attack had been his full power.
Yet, he had only managed to suppress five of the nine demonic beasts Patrick had unleashed.
The remaining four had bitten and clawed their way across his body.
It was truly astonishing. Even though…
"Though it didn't do much damage to me."
Indeed.
His armor was in tatters and he had been pushed back, but there wasn't a single scratch on the Sword Saint’s body.
His exposed torso revealed only bulging muscles and old scars.
He was perfectly fine, as if he hadn't just taken a direct hit from a powerful aura attack.
Seeing this, Patrick grumbled.
"Aren't you relying a bit too much on that Indestructible Diamond Body?"
"I don't know what that is."
"The thing where swords don't cut your skin."
The Sword Saint chuckled at Patrick’s words.
Right. There was no point in hiding it anymore.
"It is a Reinardo Style defensive technique. We call it Absolute."
"What an arrogant name. So, 'Absolute Defense'?"
"The name simply reflects what we strive for. But after taking your attack just now, it seems I’ve reached it to some degree."
Patrick scratched his head.
Even if he had neutralized half of it, the man hadn't sustained a single scratch after being hit by Nine Dragons Under Heaven.
In terms of pure defensive strength, this might be on par with the Shaolin’s Indestructible Diamond Body.
But here was the thing.
"No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange."
"What is?"
"Old man, you aren't 9-Star yet, are you?"
"……."
"Strictly speaking, the Indestructible Diamond Body is in the realm of Mind-Body Manifestation. Meaning, you have to be at least what you guys call 9-Star."
"……."
"But from what I can see, you’re stuck at the very edge of 8-Star. So how is the Indestructible Diamond Body possible?"
Patrick’s martial arts were based on a system very different from this world’s.
In the Martial World, realms were divided into Third-rate, Second-rate, First-rate, Peak, Transcendent, and Profound. But here, it was different.
So, Patrick usually categorized the realms like this:
7-Star: Can emit aura. Annoying because they act like it’s a big deal when it’s not.
8-Star: Can project their will into their aura blades. Most of the Sword Saint’s techniques and the Overlord brat’s fake Imperial Sword Form fall into this category.
And although he hadn't seen it personally, 9-Star was likely…
"Likely the realm where one can manifest the ideals of their mind into reality. In other words, at least the Profound Realm in the Martial World."
"……."
"No matter how I look at it, your sword isn't at the Profound Realm. At best, the very peak of the Transcendent Realm?"
"……."
"So how can you use a technique that should only be possible at the Profound Realm?"
As far as Patrick knew, to master the Indestructible Diamond Body, one had to truly believe their body was diamond and manifest that belief into reality.
Naturally, a human body is not diamond.
But the highly developed mental strength of a martial artist can manifest their belief into reality.
That is the proof of the Profound Realm.
The realm of Mind-Body Manifestation.
It was a technique that required enlightenment and conviction beyond mere training.
What happens if someone without that enlightenment tries to use it?
At best, they become a cripple due to Qi Deviation.
Usually, they just die.
Like a crow-tit trying to walk like a stork and tearing its legs, someone lacking enlightenment and cultivation trying to manifest a Profound Realm technique is committing suicide. However…
"Hmm, you look perfectly fine."
The Sword Saint seemed fine.
There wasn't the slightest hint of Qi Deviation.
Watching the pondering Patrick, the Sword Saint spoke.
"What are you doing in the middle of a duel?"
"Oh, what? I’m thinking."
The audacity.
A vein popped on the Sword Saint’s forehead.
"You seem to have plenty of leisure."
"Why? Why is that? How?"
"I’ll make sure that leisure disappears starting now."
"Wait a sec. Hold on. I’m about to realize something… You son of a—!"
Boom!
Patrick quickly threw himself aside to dodge the Sword Saint’s attack. Defending against the continuous follow-up strikes, he shouted:
"Attacking while someone’s thinking?! That’s cheap!"
What did this brat think a duel was?
"The games are over! I’m ending this!"
The Sword Saint charged relentlessly, swinging his sword.
Patrick clicked his tongue and rapidly swung his left sword to block the Sword Saint’s wild charge.
More than twelve slashes were unleashed in a single breath. However…
Clang! Bang! Boom!
The Sword Saint ignored them and kept running forward.
His defense wouldn't be pierced by those aura blades anyway.
So, he simply ignored them.
And the moment he closed the distance, he unleashed a heavy blow.
KABOOM!
It was blocked by Patrick’s twin swords, but the force still sent him sliding backward.
Without giving him a chance to create distance, the Sword Saint caught up immediately and swung his sword fiercely.
Zero defense.
A relentless, purely offensive assault.
Under the savage pressure, Patrick was forced to keep retreating, stuck on the defensive.
‘Tsk, this really is a cheat code.’
This was the most annoying thing about the Indestructible Diamond Body.
Normally, the exchange of martial arts consists of attacking an opponent’s openings and defending or dodging those attacks.
But the Indestructible Diamond Body eliminated openings entirely.
If a sword can't cut you, what does it matter if you have an opening?
You can just charge in like a wild boar.
Patrick’s swordsmanship was superior to the Sword Saint’s.
But as long as he couldn't pierce that Absolute Defense, he couldn't win.
‘Come to think of it, how did I win back then?’
Patrick recalled a duel at the Shaolin Temple in his past life. His opponent had used the Indestructible Diamond Body, and they had clashed for about fifteen minutes. Then…
[Ho ho ho, I concede, Benefactor.]
[…Huh?]
[My internal energy is completely depleted. I can no longer maintain the Indestructible Diamond Body.]
[…What?]
[It is my defeat. As expected of the Radiant Dragon Hero, Jincheon. Your reputation is well-deserved. This humble monk is impressed—Gack!]
[You bald bastard! Where do you think you’re going after only you got to land hits?! Did you offer your conscience to the Buddha?!]
[No… Benefactor, I said I lost—Gack! Ack!]
[Forget it! Hold your head still!]
[Augh… Benefactor, what is this savagery…?]
[Hitting someone and then running away is the thirtieth thing I hate most in this world, you damn monk!]
[…You… son of a…]