Chapter 224
Chapter 224
The moment golden aura and crimson aura crossed at the heart of the battlefield.
Every eye in the vicinity turned toward them.
While ordinary soldiers might not have understood, the commanders on both sides knew full well that the outcome of this duel would determine the fate of the war.
And Patrick, who believed his son was at a disadvantage, clung to one hope despite Logan's plans.
'Even if the Sword Duke wins, he won't kill Logan. Surely, master and disciple wouldn't truly try to kill each other?'
They'd settle it with victory or defeat.
Perhaps they wouldn't even fight seriously.
That faint glimmer of hope lingered in his mind.
But then—
BOOM!
CLANG! CRACK!
SHIIING!
The duel, which began with an explosive clash, was drenched in blood from the very first moment.
Logan staggered as a spray of crimson erupted from his side, and the Sword Duke seized the opening—kicking him hard enough to send him crashing to the ground. Without hesitation, the Duke's blade slashed downward, carving through empty air as Logan barely rolled away. In retaliation, a golden aura grazed the Duke's neck, drawing a thin line of blood.
BAM!
After that fierce exchange, master and disciple were flung in opposite directions.
Their gazes were heavy, yet brimming with lethal intent as they staunched their bleeding wounds.
Patrick's jaw hung slack.
"T-That's...?!"
The only consolation was that Louis, standing opposite him, seemed just as stunned.
A cold wind whistled between them, as if trying to extinguish the blazing tension—but the fire in their eyes burned fiercer than anyone had anticipated.
"You've improved."
"Thanks to you, Master... Hup!"
BOOOOM!
The moment Logan answered, the Duke lunged forward, exploiting the opening.
Logan reflexively parried, but without enough force behind his block, his body skidded backward, every nerve screaming with pain.
Yet the Sword Duke showed no intention of stopping.
Crimson aura surged toward Logan's vitals—each strike precise, merciless, and without hesitation.
'Damn it!'
Having lost the initiative, Logan had no choice but to push himself beyond his limits. The instant his will flared, thirty-two layers of golden aura erupted before him like crashing waves.
CRACKLE—BOOM!!
The sheer force erased every incoming slash in an instant.
But the Duke's crimson aura only faltered momentarily before surging back stronger than ever.
With a brief, approving hum, the Sword Duke vanished—only to reappear behind Logan in the next breath, unleashing another storm of attacks.
"Hup!!"
CLASH! BAM! CRACK!
Fortunately, Logan managed to deflect most of the strikes and even counterattacked.
This was partly due to his transcendent physical abilities, but more fundamentally—he was intimately familiar with his master's swordsmanship.
SLASH!
SHIIING!
As their bodies crossed, blood sprayed from Logan's arm while a deep gash appeared on the Duke's cheek.
The difference in their skill was evident, yet their expressions told a different story.
The Duke let out a low sigh as he saw Logan smiling.
"Truly remarkable talent. You've memorized every technique I showed you."
"You bestowed me with too much kindness. How could I ever forget?"
The Duke's expression, which had remained impassive despite the battlefield's brutality, flickered for a moment.
"...Pointless words."
But to Logan's dismay, his master's hesitation vanished as quickly as it came—replaced by an even fiercer assault.
The Duke's body blurred, closing the distance instantly before reappearing right in front of Logan.
SHIIING!
Logan barely dodged—and the ground where he had stood split apart.
Cold sweat trickled down his back as an illusion of unbearable weight pressed down on him.
'Gravity Blade!'
The very first technique the Duke had taught him was now bearing down with lethal intent.
- If executed properly, it's quite effective against weaker opponents. I'll demonstrate slowly. Pay attention!
The memory of that first lesson surfaced.
Of course, the power now was incomparable—but so was Logan himself.
HUM.
A similar force emanated from Logan's sword, neutralizing the Gravity Blade.
But at the same time, the Duke's crimson aura cleaved through the space Logan had occupied.
SWOOSH.
"Wha—?!"
A fading afterimage—devoid of sensation.
The Duke instantly recognized it: Ghost's Shadow, the movement technique he had taught Logan, pushed to its absolute limit.
His counterattack was swift.
BOOOOM!
Golden and crimson auras clashed once more.
Master and disciple locked blades, their gazes meeting in midair.
CRACK.
"...You've learned well."
"You taught me well."
"Indeed. And that's what makes this all the more regrettable."
BAM!
"Ghk!"
Despite the melancholy in his eyes, the Duke's kick to Logan's abdomen was devastatingly brutal.
As Logan was sent flying, the Duke pursued—his expression grave, yet the crimson aura surging from his blade ruthlessly carved into Logan's body.
- The pinnacle of my swordsmanship lies in dominating space. And I chose speed as my means to achieve it.
The memory of those teachings resurfaced as the Duke's swordplay accelerated beyond comprehension.
His movements, now even faster, were impossible to block through familiarity alone.
But.
'I still have strength left.'
- Ghost's Shadow is the essence of my swordsmanship—the very foundation that allowed me to become an Aura User. Even I consider it a miracle of technique.
- Don't grow complacent just because you've grasped the theory. Train it alongside your swordsmanship for life. Even I have yet to see its limits.
SWOOSH.
As Logan recalled his master's words, he took a single step forward—
—and his body split into two.
Twin Logans swung their swords simultaneously.
CLANGCLANGCLANG—BOOM!
"Wha—?!"
The Duke's eyes widened in shock.
Logan smirked inwardly.
'Afterimage. This is the pinnacle of Ghost's Shadow that I've attained.'
One of the reasons he had been confident in facing his master.
But.
"Still not enough."
With a solemn voice, the Duke's form flickered—leaving behind an afterimage of his own before vanishing.
In the next instant, eerie crimson light erupted from all sides, carving into Logan's body.
CRACKLE—BOOM! CLANG!
"Kgh!"
Dozens—no, hundreds—of slashes rained down in a single breath.
Even though Logan predicted the trajectory and defended with everything he had, deep and shallow wounds littered his body.
This was the power of the Duke's second secret technique: Sonic Blade.
SPLURT.
Blood gushed from countless cuts.
But the real problem wasn't the wounds.
The accumulated shockwaves left Logan's mind reeling—forcing him to unleash his last resort.
'Damn it.'
FLASH.
The Bracelet of Regeneration activated, rapidly healing his injuries.
"And you dare use the late king's blessing like this?!"
The Duke's hardened expression didn't waver as his blade descended once more.
Instinct drove Logan's body into motion.
Fortunately, perhaps due to the Duke having just unleashed a major technique, a slight opening appeared in his movements.
'Afterimage.'
Logan's body split again—two figures darting past the Duke.
SLASH.
A faint tearing sound marked their crossing paths.
The Duke's eyelid twitched as he landed opposite Logan.
A deep gash now marred his right arm—the first proper wound he had sustained in this battle.
But Logan felt no joy—only fury.
Master and disciple, drenched in each other's blood.
Why must we come to this?
Logan poured his heart into his words.
"Is there truly a reason we must fight to the death? Master, I beg you—consider the greater good! Just as we once joined forces to end the civil war!"
The Duke flinched.
Had his words struck a chord?
Seizing the moment, Logan pressed on.
"Master. The king is now walking a path of utter ruin—"
"I know."
"...What?"
"Do you think I'm unaware of the wrongs His Majesty has committed against you? But to me, you are the greater danger."
"What do you—"
"Logan. After overthrowing His Majesty—what do you intend to do next?"
"Naturally, I would restore the kingdom—"
"You don't plan to become king yourself?"
The unexpected question froze Logan's expression.
"I have no such—"
Intention.
Had this been before his time in the Empire, he would've answered without hesitation.
But absurdly, standing before his master now, the words wouldn't come.
He had never considered it before—yet the thought surfaced unbidden: If I were king, preparing against the Empire would be far easier.
"...I never had such intentions. Truly."
But that brief hesitation was all it took.
The Duke's face hardened further.
"That hesitation is your answer. And that is why this is my greater good, Logan."
Crimson lightning erupted from the Duke's blade—obliterating the last shred of hope.
"Let us end this now."
HUM.
A resonant hum filled the air as crimson aura condensed along the sword's edge, transforming into scarlet lightning.
Logan's face tensed—he knew better than anyone what this meant.
'Lightning Chaser.'
The Duke's ultimate technique.
A manifestation of Felix Esperanza's martial philosophy—dominating space through sheer speed.
By all rights, this should have been Logan's moment of desperation.
Yet his eyes burned with resolve.
Countless times, he had imagined this duel in his mind.
And the moment the Duke used this technique was when Logan's chance of victory was highest.
- Ultimate techniques that expend all your strength are double-edged swords. Never use them unless absolutely certain.
- Me? Even I struggle to control Lightning Chaser perfectly. That's just the nature of such techniques.
The weakness his master had unwittingly revealed.
'The very strength of the technique is its own flaw...'
It was almost laughable—yet Logan saw his opportunity.
'Now!'
The unique trait engraved in his soul activated—and another glowing core lit up within his heart's Force Core.
Despite practicing daily since his Transcendent awakening, the sudden elevation of his existence still felt overwhelming.
Power surged through him, his senses expanding.
A rush of invincibility flooded his mind—but Logan knew better than to indulge in such delusions.
'Even now, my abilities are at best equal to Master's.'
Before the war, he had believed this state would surpass his master in raw physical prowess.
But facing the Duke's full power now, he knew otherwise.
Only by combining his ascended state, unnatural physique, and heightened senses could he barely match the Duke.
Fortunately, Logan had prepared a few more tricks.
'Boots of the Wind God, Gauntlets of Titan's Might, Pauldrons of the Guardian.'
HUM.
The specially crafted artifacts he had named resonated with his Force, amplifying his physical abilities to new heights.
Though they were always active, Logan had sealed their full output—knowing mere enhancement wouldn't be enough to defeat the Duke.
Now, they activated at full power—disrupting the Duke's senses at the critical moment.
And then—
'Time Acceleration.'
The innate magic within Lux, his beloved sword, activated for the first time in ages—accelerating his consciousness.
Time itself seemed to slow around him.
Only when this sensation merged with his heightened power did Logan feel certain—he had surpassed his master's physical capabilities.
- Relying on artifacts will only stagnate your true skill.
The Duke, stubborn in his beliefs, wielded only the sturdiest of mundane weapons.
It almost felt like Logan was challenging his master's philosophy head-on—but he had no choice.
'Without this, I stand no chance.'
Of course, overwhelming the Duke with artifact-enhanced strength wasn't his only plan.
He had prepared an even greater trump card to counter the Duke's ultimate technique.
HUM.
Logan focused every ounce of power from his Force Core into a single point.
'I can do this!'
The Duke's body, now wreathed in crimson lightning, began accelerating at an impossible rate.
As the Duke zigzagged toward him in an erratic, blurred motion, Logan calmly swung Lux.
Golden Force transformed into aura—then, rippling outward in strange wavelengths that engulfed everything before him.
CRACKLE.
The moment gold and crimson collided, the Duke's expression twisted in shock.
But Logan's resolve didn't waver.
'You won't be able to stop this. I never showed you this one.'
The fifth form of the Divine Sword Secret Art—following the four techniques for cutting waves, metal, earth, and flame.
Beyond the first three forms, designed to sever tangible things.
Beyond even the mid-tier forms, meant to cut that which lacks fixed form.
This was the second of those three.
'Life-Severing Slash.'
Logan's golden aura began shattering the Duke's crimson light completely.