Chapter 186
Chapter 186
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 186
Chapter Title: Opening of the Era of War (2)
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“No, well... You don’t have to go that far...”
The remark caught even Talran off guard, but Rokan had already made up his mind.
“No. As a superior, I should set an example, shouldn’t I? What would be good? Yes, a sparring match sounds perfect. Ordinary training won’t mean much to masters like you anyway.”
“A sparring match...? Heh... There are rather a lot of us. Are you sure you’re up for it...?”
Talran’s expression shifted subtly as Rokan cut him off. It seemed he wanted to show off his power now that he knew they were all master-level. But his own subordinates were no pushovers.
If it were just one or two, that’d be one thing, but there were thirty master-level fighters here alone. Challenging all of them would be like digging his own grave, or so Talran thought.
He could always grab a few and make a show of it to save face, and that wouldn’t be bad either. If he played the situation right, he could make the marquis look like he was backing down.
With a sly grin, Talran shot back, and Rokan responded with an identical smile.
“There are a lot? Hardly. Just two, right? I’m a bit worn out, but that’s nothing I can’t handle.”
“...Just two?”
Talran and Delas’s faces hardened at his words.
They knew Rokan had earned his marquis title through pure martial merit, rising to master level. But that didn’t change the fact that he was still just a master—at least, that’s how they saw it.
They’d included him in the grand alliance against the ancient emperor only because he was a disposable pawn in case things went south. So his casual remark was more than enough to bruise their pride.
Wasn’t he basically saying he could take on high masters like them—and win handily, at that?
‘You gonna let him get away with that?’
How could high masters like them just sit there after hearing it?
Their slouched postures straightened, and a subtle killing intent emanated from their bodies.
Even a master couldn’t help but feel the pressure of an aura designed to crush and subdue.
[You are exposed to Battle Frenzy. Unyielding Will negates all effects.]
But Rokan stared them down without flinching.
‘What? Bring it.’
His expression said it all—he wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. With Unyielding Will, ordinary intimidation had zero effect on him.
To faze him with sheer presence alone, you’d need grand master level at least.
“Fine, if it’s not just two, then more it is. Since we’re at it, let’s start with you.”
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go...
No matter how much more pressure Talran applied, Rokan’s face didn’t change. Talran sensed something off. This wasn’t the reaction he’d expected.
He’d figured Rokan would sense the skill gap, bow out, or change the subject by now. But not only was there no change—he looked almost irritated. Unease began to creep in.
“If we do it here, there won’t be anything left, so let’s head to Kalog Fortress where you were ‘training.’”
With that, Rokan took the lead and marched straight to Kalog Fortress.
They worried something might happen in the meantime, but with no signs of other races stirring, a quick trip should be fine. Even Delas tagged along.
Still, leaving one high master to guard Kazantia Fortress was wise, but curiosity won out. They had to know why Rokan was so confident.
Until they saw it with their own eyes, the anxiety gnawing at their chests wouldn’t fade.
“Alright, shall we start the ‘sparring’?”
Upon arriving at Kalog Fortress, Rokan immediately set the stage.
Since Delas held a rear position, a spot a bit away from the gates posed little assassination risk. He positioned the observing masters to both watch and provide security.
Thus began the one-on-one duel.
Talran, pride wounded, flushed red as he raised his spear.
Most masters and high masters favored swords as their primary weapon, but he was a rare high master who wielded a spear.
“As the challenger, I won’t hold back.”
Talran declared it before the fight even started. He’d planned to give some leeway and win with ease, but now he intended to crush him without mercy.
For a native who could truly die, it might be different, but knowing Rokan was a visitor meant no need to pull punches.
[Duel between Rokan and Talran begins in 10 seconds.]
[Duel conditions set. Talran: Defeat if HP falls below 5% of maximum. Rokan: Defeat upon death.]
[Duel starts. Prepare. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. Begin!]
The win conditions differed slightly. Rokan lost only if killed outright, while Talran lost at 95% HP damage.
It seemed heavily in Rokan’s favor, but it was necessary to avoid wasting talent. Rokan’s class let him grow stronger even at zero HP anyway.
Above all, it was possible only with Talran’s overconfident approval.
‘Look at this guy.’
Clang!
At the start, Rokan swung his battle axe briefly to deflect Talran’s spear thrusting at his neck like a sneak attack, then lowered his stance.
One moment of carelessness, and his throat would be pierced before he could react.
“Charge.”
But Rokan anticipated it, using a movement skill to close in even faster. Close range was the bane of spear users who relied on distance.
Tadadak.
Talran was no slouch either. The moment his first strike failed, he stepped back swiftly.
Whether from a skill or high agility, Rokan’s charge couldn’t bridge the gap.
Kakang! Kang!
Instead, Talran swung his spear even while backpedaling, forcing Rokan’s hands to stay busy.
Blocking a light weapon like a spear, focused on speed, with a heavy one like an axe demanded precise control.
“Tch, Bombardment!”
After a dozen exchanges over a few steps, Rokan gave up chasing. He halted, instantly switching weapons.
Hand axes. Each packed destructive power like a potent spell, raining down with timed precision.
Jjeoeong! Burrr.
“Urk!”
Recombined into a master-level combo skill with Explosion infused, each Bombardment was devastating. The moment one grazed Talran’s shaft as he deflected it, immense pressure made the spear waver.
“What kind of power...”
It was top-tier even among master-level feats.
But he was a high master. Even with agility-focused stats, his strength wasn’t lacking.
Snapping to attention after the first clash, he deftly knocked away the rest.
“Gale Incarnation!”
Yet he didn’t realize it was just a stall for Rokan.
As Talran shook off the energy along his shaft, Rokan absorbed golden and blood-red auras, swelling to three times his size into a giant’s form.
“Kraaaaaah!”
Madness Cry plus Madness Contagion.
The gap between high master and master was vast, but Talran felt his stats dip slightly, cowed.
Still not decisive. Gritting his teeth, he activated his own master skill.
“Linked 72 Strikes!”
Strikes that grew stronger with each hit—the 72連刺!
Light-speed thrusts shot from Talran’s hands toward Rokan’s heart.
“Berserk Pulse!”
The speed was so blistering, even Rokan struggled to track it.
But that was nothing. Powerful on its own, Linked 72 Strikes truly shone with multiple hits—a conditional master skill.
Rokan tanked them with his body, charging back at Talran. Before all 72 could land, he’d bulldoze him—enduring the master skill to close distance.
“Overdrive! Time of Madness!”
He unleashed every movement skill in his arsenal.
With Lion King’s Relics and Silver Lion set reducing damage massively, plus immortality effects, what was there to fear?
Talran backpedaled rapidly, already stacking over ten hits, but Rokan’s colossal frame bore down.
“Shoulder Charge!”
“Illusion Warriors!”
As acceleration turned to explosive impact, Talran hastily triggered a master skill. It split him into three, shifting position while assaulting from all sides—evasion and attack in one.
Dididang! Peong!
The illusion at his original spot burst, but the onslaught intensified. The real Talran and one clone stabbed from both flanks.
Stacks overlapped, chipping away huge HP chunks despite Rokan’s mighty defense.
“Wheel Wind!”
Peong!
Realizing the charge failed, Rokan spun instantly. Rotating like a top, he smashed, slashed, and obliterated the thrusting spear tips and illusion warriors.
“Urk! Origin Return!”
Talran could no longer aim for more stacks. He triggered another master movement skill, snapping back to his pre-push position.
It seemed predictable once you knew the effect, but it likely let him choose the return spot.
Kakang kang kang kang.
But switching spots didn’t help—Wheel Wind’s range was vast.
The expanded attack zone quickly engulfed him, shoving him back repeatedly.
“Chains of Annihilation!”
“Thorns of Retaliation!”
Teodeodeok!
Spotting his position, Rokan unleashed Chain Storm. Talran clenched his jaw, activating his final master skill. A defensive power mimicking his spear’s aura enveloped him.
Thorns of Retaliation.
A defensive master skill that solidified barriers and reflected a percentage of incoming impact as damage.
Designed for large-scale defense, narrowing its range boosted both defense and reflection massively.
“Fancy tricks.”
Charruruk.
Rokan grasped its effect the instant chains hit the barrier. He canceled the skill and lunged personally.
“Lightning 10 Strikes!”
“Wild Dance!”
He aura-smashed Talran’s attacks, which rejected external shocks while firing inner blades.
Pummeling the spear tips to shards, he raised his chain-wrapped left fist, loaded with his weight for a devastating straight.
“Strike of Destruction.”
Jjjeojjeok. Kwaang!
Thorns of Retaliation shattered. Talran spewed blood and flew back.
“Oops, went a bit overboard?”
Without even using Bloodbath, Rokan scratched his head lightly, watching the guy hemorrhage fountains of blood as his HP plummeted.