Chapter 195
Chapter 195
'Ah. Now I remember.'
Blake Evendor.
Also known as Fierce Strike Blake.
In his past life during the Imperial War, he was the transcendent who led the Empire's vanguard, the first to cross Grandia's borders.
And yet, he was also the Empire's first transcendent to fall—defeated by the Duke of Esperanza's forces and the Sword Duke, who commanded less than a tenth of his troops.
Though his name would later be remembered as a disgrace within the Empire, he had ultimately succeeded in trading his life to kill Grandia's mightiest transcendent.
With its core strength lost, the Grandian royal army crumbled helplessly before the Empire's subsequent forces.
'And yet, back then, he was considered among the weakest of the Empire's thirty transcendents.'
From the Kingdom's perspective, it was like sacrificing a queen to take a knight or bishop—a loss, no matter how you looked at it.
Of course, that was ignoring the disparity in troop numbers. Suppressing the rising tide of killing intent within him, Logan forced himself to focus on this absurd situation.
"This is too much to accept. For a transcendent of the Empire to volunteer as my escort—such excessive courtesy. I must respectfully decline."
"Not at all. This is merely a precaution to prevent any mishap from befalling His Majesty's honored guest. Please do not refuse."
Why go this far?
Seeing the Empire's transcendent bow his head left Logan utterly bewildered.
No matter how weak Blake might have been among the Empire's transcendents, he was still one of the thirty strongest individuals in the land.
And yet, here he was, lowering himself like this over a mere handwritten invitation?
'The Emperor... just what kind of man is he?'
The conqueror he had only known through vague records—Logan felt as though he was catching a glimpse of his true nature, and his chest grew heavy.
Then—
"Hey. If something happens to us, having you around won't make much difference, you runt."
THUD.
The towering half-giant stepped forward, radiating an oppressive aura as he loomed over Blake.
A transcendent of Grandia, unapologetically flaunting his power.
Yet Blake's eyes showed not the slightest flicker of hesitation. Instead, he scoffed, deliberately provoking Luther.
"Playing boss in some backwater village doesn't mean you can strut around like that in the wider world, brute."
"What?!"
"I'll let it slide this once since we're before His Majesty's guest. Know your place and stay down."
"Hah? What the hell are you talking about, you madman?"
CRACKLE.
The manifest killing intent of two transcendents clashed, rippling through the air.
As Logan frowned at the sudden confrontation—
"L-Lord Logan. You must stop your companion."
"Hm?"
"Sir Blake is a general of the Empire. He's not someone a transcendent from a minor kingdom can handle."
The mayor's words struck a nerve.
Blake's words and actions had already left Logan uneasy, and now the mayor drove the wedge deeper.
'Even if Luther's words were harsh...'
It was clear Blake was only courteous to Logan—whom he referred to as the Emperor's guest—while looking down on the rest of the party.
If Luther's words were mere provocation, Blake's felt less like deliberate taunting and more like his true thoughts slipping out.
The mayor's words followed the same logic—completely unaware of how his words sounded to someone from the Kingdom.
To them, it was simply ingrained ideology, as natural as breathing.
'Fine. Let's see just how impressive this so-called transcendent of the Empire really is.'
Luther Kyle was more than capable of exposing the limits of a low-ranking Empire transcendent.
Though personal feelings played a small part, Logan shook his head at the mayor, making the more strategic choice.
"Mayor, I apologize, but once Lord Luther makes up his mind, even I can't stop him."
"Huh? T-Then...?"
"Can you stop Sir Blake?"
"W-Well, that's..."
"Same for me."
"S-So you're saying if your companion is seriously injured, it won't be my responsibility? Understood?"
"Sir Blake. If you defeat Lord Luther, I will accept your escort."
At Logan's sudden declaration, all eyes—including those of the two transcendents—snapped toward him.
"However, should any mishap occur, let it not become an issue between our nations. Would you act as witness, Mayor?"
"W-Why escalate this...?"
"I accept, Mayor. Not a bad chance to teach this backwater fool how vast the world is."
Seeing the mayor's conflicted expression, Blake smirked and shouted confidently—as if the thought of losing had never crossed his mind.
Left with no choice, the mayor nodded.
"V-Very well."
Meanwhile, Logan exchanged a glance with Luther and gave a slight nod.
Catching the signal, Luther bared his teeth in a fierce grin and hefted the massive warhammer from his back.
THUD.
"Then let's see how vast this world really is."
"Still lugging around that crude weapon even as a transcendent. Tsk tsk. Let me teach you a lesson, brute."
Blake drew a sinister mana-infused sword from his waist.
In an instant, two crimson auras collided violently.
BOOOOM!
The relentless clash of red light.
Blocking the shockwaves from the destructive flashes, Logan shouted to those around him.
"Knights, evacuate the bystanders!"
Following his orders, the knights of MacLaine and Ruspelheim swiftly cordoned off the area in front of the magistrate's office, creating space for the transcendents to fight.
And within that space, everyone's attention was fixed on the battle.
In this moment, nationality didn't matter—they simply wanted to witness, as knights, the clash of those at the pinnacle: aura users.
Of course, only a select few could truly follow their movements and grasp the flow of the fight.
And among those few, only one person could accurately predict the battle's outcome.
Logan watched the duel with a grave expression.
'He's being pushed back. Luther Kyle, of all people...'
It was an unexpected turn.
"You damn rat!"
BOOOOM!
Luther's warhammer smashed into the ground, unleashing a devastating shockwave—but Blake was already beside him, having vanished from the impact point.
SCREEEECH!
A crimson greatsword scraped against Luther's aura blade.
"Hmph. Sturdier than I expected."
"What?!"
BOOM!
The same scene repeated over and over since the duel began.
Logan's gaze grew increasingly rigid as he watched.
The pattern was similar to Luther's fights with Wicken Calria, his famed rival in the Kingdom—but with one key difference.
'He's faster than Wicken. His attacks seem slightly weaker, though.'
In terms of strengths and weaknesses, Wicken might have been the better opponent.
But for Luther right now, Blake being 'slightly' faster than Wicken was proving fatal.
A perfect counter.
-There are many ways to dominate space, but the best is speed. If you're the fastest on the battlefield, you can gain the upper hand against most matchups.
Blake's movements embodied his master's teachings.
Unlike Luther, whose face burned red with frustration, Blake's expression remained composed.
His attacks weren't strong enough to breach Luther's defenses in one blow, but they were steadily accumulating damage—while Luther's strikes couldn't even graze him.
Logan was deeply impressed by that speed.
It didn't seem like he was using any special movement technique like Ghost's Shadow, nor did he appear to wield a unique attribute like Wicken.
'A transcendent specialized in speed?'
As Logan recalled his recent conversation with Luther about transcendent traits—
"I'll crush you to pieces!"
The red-faced Luther, unable to endure the relentless assault, finally erupted.
Crimson light engulfed his body. The fading aura barrier flared like flames, concentrating around his beloved weapon, Warlord.
Then—his warhammer swung faster and fiercer than before, smashing into the spot where Blake had stood.
BOOOOOOM!!
The violent impact shook the earth like an earthquake, and even Blake—who had darted toward the opening—was staggered by the aftershocks.
And in that moment—
A crimson wave of aura erupted from the point of impact, engulfing everything in its path.
RUMBLE—
Luther Kyle's secret technique: Ore Wave.
A devastating strike embodying his philosophy—If you can't catch them, obliterate everything in range.
Yet Logan could only grimace.
Even with his extraordinary eyesight, he could barely make out the countless afterimages of Blake's sword strikes—swung so fast they seemed to overlap.
And the concentrated aura from those slashes was piercing through Luther's Ore Wave, still advancing—
CRAAASH!
As the deafening explosion faded—
And the dust from the Ore Wave settled—
The knights gathered around the scene saw Blake's blade resting against Luther Kyle's throat.
With Logan standing between them.
SCREEE—
"This should suffice, Sir Blake."
"Huh?! How...?"
Blake was genuinely stunned.
He had fully intended to run Luther through—yet Logan had blocked his sword without even using aura.
And in that moment, he understood.
"Truly, you are worthy of His Majesty's summons. Astonishing."
The phrasing was slightly grating, but thankfully, Blake sheathed his sword.
Though Luther's face twisted in humiliation as he glared at the man who had nearly taken his life, he managed to suppress his rage.
"Grrr... I've disgraced myself."
"It's alright. The matchup was unfavorable."
Logan's consolation was little comfort.
But the defeated had no right to speak.
Gritting his teeth, Luther shot Blake one last glare before retreating silently.
Watching him go, Blake chuckled and turned to Logan.
"Then may I have the honor of escorting you to the imperial capital?"
How could he refuse now?
Logan could only offer a bitter smile and nod.
"Very well. Though I doubt you need to trouble yourself personally."
"Merely serving His Majesty's guest is an infinite honor for me."
The sincerity in those words only weighed heavier on Logan's heart.
A transcendent of this caliber was considered low-ranking in the Empire?
And such a man would lower his head without hesitation over a single imperial summons?
'The Emperor... just what kind of man is he?'
The ultimate enemy he must defeat.
Merely glimpsing his shadow was overwhelming.
'No—no. Pull yourself together. No matter what, we have to overcome this.'
No matter how strong the Empire was.
No matter how exceptional the Emperor might be.
He was simply another enemy to be conquered.
So for now, even if it meant bowing his head, the priority was learning more about the foe ahead.
"Ah, Sir Blake. I'm deeply impressed by your martial prowess. In fact, there's something I'd like to ask of you."
"Hm? Oh, please, go ahead."
"Well, you see..."
Logan's smile—a stark contrast to the stiff expressions of his companions—burned itself into Blake's mind.