Chapter 182
Chapter 182
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: 75. Swordmaster (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Black Knight's charge had no superfluous movements.
It evoked the image of a well-trained racehorse.
As if he had repeated the same motion hundreds of times, he approached with natural ease and stepped onto the springboard at the perfect angle.
His body soared into the air.
Unlike ordinary knights, there was no sensation of being propelled by the spring. The Black Knight controlled every movement himself.
"Damn..."
And Yuri, watching the scene, gave a wry smile.
The moment the Black Knight's body lifted off, he knew.
He was coming straight for him.
Yuri filled his entire body with the power of chaos. He then infused his sword aura with the principle of the rotational vortex, generating a fractal.
"He's coming."
The moment of first contact was ferocious.
An explosion rang out, and the ramparts shook as if they might crumble.
As the Black Knight and Yuri collided, their two sword auras clashed for dominance before distorting and collapsing together.
In the aftermath, surrounding knights were slammed into walls or tumbled down from the ramparts.
Yuri gripped the railing and held firm.
Brioll knights who fell outward were shredded by the imperial forces, and the same went for the imperials.
Amid the screams of unlucky victims, Yuri pulled himself up toward the Black Knight.
The eyes behind the mask were serene.
"Black Knight."
Yuri spoke first.
"We met in the imperial palace, and now here again. I hope you've been well?"
His tone was like that of someone catching up with an old friend.
The Black Knight nodded as well.
"Of course. You seem to be doing fine yourself."
"So far."
"Must be the gods looking out for you."
"Doesn't feel like they're watching today."
"Who knows."
Through the gap in the mask, Yuri could see the Black Knight closing his eyes.
Battlefield dust had settled on his long eyelashes.
"He never misses a single soul. He's always watching."
"Us too?"
"Of course."
"What if one of us dies today?"
Yuri raised his sword as he asked. The Black Knight raised his own.
"It would simply be His will."
With those words, the two swung at each other.
Each clash sent bone-rattling pain through Yuri.
The Black Knight's swordplay had no weaknesses. Power, speed, precision, mana density, technique depth, and understanding of the blade—everything was perfectly balanced.
If visualized as numbers, it would be an enormous, perfectly regular hexagon.
Yuri was of a similar type, but the Black Knight was superior.
He moved like a machine.
Finding an opening was nearly impossible.
To beat an opponent like this, the orthodox way was the only path: possess an even larger hexagon.
But that was next to impossible.
No matter how steeply Yuri had grown, he couldn't bridge the gap of time the Black Knight had accumulated.
Yuri curled his lips.
"The gods' will, huh..."
He thrust his sword at the Black Knight as he spoke.
"Black Knight. I have one confession to make."
The swords clashed, unleashing a bursting sound.
"Speak."
"I..."
Yuri gripped Guilty tightly.
"...don't believe in any damn gods!"
He then kicked off the railing behind him and charged forward again.
Chaotic energy surged through his entire body.
His sword aura was no longer pure white. Murky fumes rose thickly. All possibilities in existence swirled around him.
There was definitely a path to victory over the Black Knight. Tiny as it might be, it existed.
Yuri moved desperately to trace its trajectory.
"There's no need to deceive yourself."
The Black Knight said this as he swung back at Yuri.
"I can feel your faithful heart more than anyone."
It seemed like a light swing, yet Guilty was pushed back with every clash.
He yielded nothing in power or speed.
Though both were among the Ten Strong, this was leagues beyond Yalta.
This was the true power of the Ten Strong.
Yuri was flung back into the railing and spat blood. He staggered to his feet immediately.
"I really don't believe."
"You're deceiving yourself."
"I can prove it right now. Want me to curse the heavens?"
"He is not one to be insulted by mere words."
"Fucking dog of a god..."
"That's the tantrum of a child."
"You son of a bitch..."
"Tsk."
Yuri kept talking.
Because he had no confidence in winning with the sword alone.
He glanced around, buying time as much as possible. He needed help from someone.
As if sensing his plight, reinforcements arrived for Yuri.
"Your Highness, I'll assist you!"
Ainzer Ustan joined the fray.
Rolang and Jared tried to approach as well, but Yuri waved them off.
"Stay back, both of you."
"Your Highness..."
"The ramparts are narrow. Too many people will just get in the way."
Yuri gestured around with Guilty.
"This is war. Stopping the others is helping me."
"Understood!"
Jared shouted. Rolang gave Yuri a regretful look before turning back to the imperial forces, swinging his sword once more.
Yuri turned to Ainzer.
"Sir Ainzer. I leave it to you."
"Yes, sir."
He was a veteran knight hardened by countless battlefields. Stronger than Rolang or Jared.
They'd never fought in sync before, but he'd be more useful against the Black Knight.
"To face one of the Ten Strong together—quite an honor."
"I'd rather skip the honor and not fight."
"Truth be told, me too."
"Can't be helped."
"Can't be helped."
Watching them, the Black Knight raised his sword again.
No more words.
Yuri and Ainzer fell silent as well.
No need to discuss coordination.
Against a foe like the Black Knight, plans were meaningless. They had to move on pure instinct, desperately, in every moment.
And it was possible precisely because Yuri and Ainzer had reached such lofty realms.
Yuri gripped Guilty reverse.
His eyes organically tracked the Black Knight and Ainzer's movements.
Loosely aware of the imperial and Brioll forces around them, he focused on the two.
The ramparts weren't wide.
And Yuri and Ainzer had the Black Knight surrounded, front and back.
His attention was significantly divided.
"Hoo..."
Yuri took a deep breath.
Ainzer swung first. His sword aura flew at the Black Knight.
The Black Knight leaned aside to dodge.
Yuri didn't miss the opening and charged.
The Black Knight leaped onto the railing, counterattacking, and in an instant seized Yuri's rear.
His speed was tremendous. His movements were like the wind.
"Whoa, Your Highness?"
"Sir Ainzer."
Now facing Ainzer, Yuri gave an awkward greeting and turned.
The Black Knight approached leisurely.
The encirclement broken, fighting together was no longer efficient.
The Black Knight lunged.
Yuri and Ainzer pressed their pincer attack, careful not to hinder each other.
"Kuh!"
"Urk!"
Two swords against one, yet the Black Knight landed more strikes.
He pressured them as if wielding three or four blades. Yuri and Ainzer could only defend desperately.
Occasionally, Yuri risked it all for a gap. But the Black Knight blocked as if he'd foreseen it.
"Damn it!"
In the flurry of blows, the Black Knight's sword sliced Yuri's forearm.
He managed to keep hold of Guilty, but pain flared with every exertion.
The Black Knight's blade cunningly carved wounds on their bodies. Gradually, Yuri and Ainzer's footing slowed, their movements dulled.
His sword began tracing freer arcs.
Wounds multiplied rapidly.
At some point, battered and broken, Yuri and Ainzer collapsed in place.
The Black Knight approached with steady steps.
Yuri summoned his mana.
Chaotic energy rose from his body.
He still had fight left in him against the Black Knight. Until the castle fell, he'd thrash about.
"Hoo..."
Sensing Yuri's resolve, mana boiled from the Black Knight's body as well. His sword aura was pristine and clear.
The Black Knight thrust it at Yuri like a spear.
Dangerous.
"Yuri Brioll."
The Black Knight called out.
Yuri responded.
"What, asshole."
The tip of the Black Knight's blade wavered for an instant. Yuri pressed on informally.
"What? You gonna die soon, and casual speech is a big deal?"
"..."
"You feel the Emperor's gone mad too, right?"
"..."
"Yet you babble about gods while invading? Screw that. Black Knight bastard, go confess your sins to Him."
Yuri kept yapping.
To buy time.
"If invading an innocent kingdom is the gods' will, I ain't believing in that crap. But you, Black Knight? He's watching? What bullshit from a hypocrite like you..."
Meanwhile, he drew up his chaotic energy to the max.
This power was hard for him to handle fully, so he'd always limited it.
But now, he resolved to unleash it beyond his limits.
Then.
"I'm sorry."
The Black Knight apologized.
"But this can't be helped. I can only hope He watches over us..."
His voice was heavy. He seemed to feel pangs of conscience too.
Yuri kept talking, trying to create an opening for change.
"Can't be helped? Where's the 'can't be helped' in this, Black Knight? Let's end this tragedy together."
"Back to formal speech..."
"That's what I'm saying. I must've misunderstood. Black Knight, let's stop fighting for now and..."
But the Black Knight didn't lower his sword.
"Duty is duty."
He advanced on Yuri.
Yuri gritted his teeth, ready to unleash the slowly gathered chaotic power in full.
But.
In that instant.
Yuri turned to the side.
The Black Knight turned as well.
Ainzer beside them, and countless knights battling madly on the ramparts—all stared in the same direction.
Not a soul made a sound.
Silence suddenly blanketed the battlefield.
Yuri opened his mouth, then closed it. Soon, he began to laugh.
Something was approaching.
And what it was needed no explanation.
Any knight with a sword in hand would think of the same name.
"He's here."
One Brioll knight murmured, regaining his senses.
"His Majesty has come."
His form wasn't visible yet, but everyone on the battlefield understood who owned this aura.
"His Majesty is here!"
With that cry, horn calls echoed from within the castle.
And he appeared.
Descending from the sky like a bird.
A man with black hair, black eyes, and an impassive face.
The king of Brioll, the strongest swordsman of this era.
Fiore Brioll.
He landed atop the ramparts.
"..."
Fiore scanned the ramparts once.
Brioll knights' faces lit up with joy. Imperial knights instinctively stepped back.
His gaze slowly swept around before settling on Yuri.
Yuri deliberately made a pitiful expression.
"..."
Fiore turned his eyes to the Black Knight.
The two stared at each other for a time.
The battlefield, locked in mortal combat, seemed to freeze.
"Black Knight."
Fiore spoke.
His voice wasn't loud, yet it rang across the entire ramparts.
"Go back. Or I'll kill you."
The Black Knight gave no reply.
Fiore placed his fingertips on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Answer."
Then, the Black Knight spoke.
"Impossible."
With that, their exchange ended.
The pristine white blade of Fiore's beloved sword, Raging Wind, began to emerge.