Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Sword Master's Fury
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"What was that?"
"What sound was that?"
The men who had rushed out of the barracks turned their heads toward the source of the loud boom.
Birds could be seen fluttering up from the forest in a panic.
They hadn't noticed amid the noise, but one man's head had exploded like a watermelon.
"Argh!"
"What the hell!"
The men cried out in shock, leaping back.
That was when Yakim and Berro burst outside and quickly scanned their surroundings.
Another man's head exploded right beside them.
Boom!
"Huh!"
Bang-!
Yakim's head snapped toward the sound as the gunshot rang out belatedly.
Berro stared into the forest and shouted.
"It's the enemy!"
"You dare!"
Yakim drew his sword and charged toward the forest like a bolt of lightning.
***
"Hmm."
Arthur swiftly loaded a round into the Cheytac. He then aimed the barrel at Yakim.
Killing him would minimize friendly casualties.
'Definitely.'
Arthur targeted Yakim through the scope.
He waited for the enemy to close the distance to improve his accuracy.
150 meters, 100, 70...
And down to 50 meters!
'Now!'
He pulled the trigger.
"...!"
The moment Yakim felt a chill run down his spine, he drew up his mana.
An object hurtling toward him at tremendous speed entered his vision.
"Cheap tricks!"
He swung his sword, wrapped in deep blue aura, like a flash of lightning.
Boom!
He deflected the bullet outright.
Bang-!
Arthur, who had been watching the scene, widened his eyes as the delayed gunshot echoed.
"Damn it!"
He quickly evacuated the area while reloading the Cheytac. Then he dove toward cover.
Shortly after.
Yakim burst through the underbrush to where Arthur had been hiding.
"You rat!"
He slashed down at the rock.
Boom!
The rock shattered into pieces.
Confirming the enemy was gone, he swung his sword in all directions. Aura blades flew out, slicing through the surrounding trees.
Boom! Boom!
'What the!'
Hidden behind cover, Arthur heard the explosions and glanced at his former position.
The area was devastated, and the large rock had been pulverized.
He had heard Sword Masters were strong, but he never imagined this level of destructive power.
It was like being bombed by howitzers.
'Damn it!'
Arthur quickly aimed his barrel forward.
For a moment.
Through the cloud of dust, the faint silhouette of a person appeared.
'It's him!'
Arthur tensed up.
If this shot failed too, he would be in grave danger.
Even if he couldn't kill him, he had to inflict some damage.
'Just a bit closer.'
Arthur poured all his focus into the scope.
Yakim smirked, sensing the killing intent.
"Hiding there, are you?"
He swung his sword lightly.
Whoosh!
He swept away the trees and rocks blocking the path like they were mere obstacles.
"Hmph."
At that moment, as he sneered viciously!
"...!"
Yakim instinctively swung his sword at the lightning-fast incoming object.
Boom!
He deflected it again.
Bang-!
With the delayed gunshot, Yakim felt that eerie sensation once more.
"Back-to-back?"
Yakim's eyes flashed.
It seemed too late to deflect with his sword, so he thought to hurl himself aside.
Thud!
"Argh!"
Yakim slammed his sword into the ground and collapsed to his knees.
His left ear had been torn off, blood streaming down.
The moment Arthur saw Yakim take damage, he drew his kukri and charged like a bullet.
'One chance!'
He drew up his mana.
Immense power surged through his body.
"Die!"
He swung the kukri at Yakim's head with all his might.
"You dare!"
Whoosh!
A ferocious aura exploded from Yakim.
'T-This!'
For an instant, Arthur faltered under the pressure, his body stiffening.
At that moment, Yakim launched himself at Arthur. Arthur's ambush had been faster than expected, making a sword swing awkward, so Yakim opted for his fist instead.
Thud!
The two tumbled to the ground, entangled, trading punches.
Thud! Thud thud!
"You bastard! You dare wound me?"
Straddling Arthur's stomach, Yakim rained down merciless fists.
Thud thud thud!
"Ugh!"
Arthur guarded his face with both arms, blocking the blows, but the tremendous force sent shocks through his bones.
At this rate, both his arms would shatter.
"Die!"
Yakim drove his fist down.
"...!"
In that instant, Arthur's eyes flashed as he whipped his head aside like lightning, dodging the attack. He then quickly grabbed Yakim's left ear and yanked.
"Aaaargh!"
Yakim screamed.
The pressure from above weakened.
Arthur seized the moment, shoving him aside and snatching up his kukri.
But Yakim moved like lightning too, launching an elbow strike.
Arthur, with his hyper senses and mana activated, dodged just as swiftly and countered with a kick.
Thud!
Yakim lowered his arm to block and threw a punch.
Arthur swung his kukri at the incoming fist.
"Damn!"
Yakim hastily withdrew, and Arthur rammed him with his shoulder.
Thud!
Yakim flew backward.
"Captain!"
"Where are you?"
"Over there!"
His subordinates from the front rushed over, eyes bulging.
Arthur scanned around for the Cheytac.
It lay beside the fallen Yakim.
"Damn it!"
As Arthur dashed to grab it, Yakim sprang up like a spring and charged.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Yakim threw a punch.
Arthur blocked with the Cheytac and kicked him square in the chest. Then he fled with all his strength.
"Brother!"
As Berro hurried to Yakim, he shouted.
"Catch him!"
Berro glanced at the fleeing Arthur and yelled to his men.
"Pursue him! One of you report back to base!"
His men bolted after Arthur.
Berro watched them briefly before turning to Yakim.
His left ear was half torn off, and half his face was bloodied.
To wound a Sword Master like this, the opponent must be...
Berro asked gravely.
"Are you alright?"
Boom!
Yakim smashed a rock on the ground with his fist, radiating killing intent.
"That rat..."
Rage blazed in his eyes.
"B-Brother..."
Berro's face stiffened.
He had never seen him this furious.
Once, a subordinate got drunk, picked a fight with bandits, and lost an arm.
Yakim had massacred the entire bandit group.
But this was his own ear severed—not a subordinate's.
What would happen next...
Yakim stood and said.
"Prepare to mobilize."
"B-Brother... That's the Rose Knight Order's..."
Berro couldn't finish as their eyes met.
Eyes filled with murderous intent!
Defying him would mean his head rolling.
To survive, he had to obey without question.
"Right away!"
Berro ran toward base.
Yakim glared toward where Arthur had fled, his face like a demon's.
Then he put two fingers to his mouth and blew a shrill whistle.
Pweeeee-!
A piercing sound echoed through the forest, ear-splitting.
A signal for his men to withdraw.
"I'll kill him with my own hands."
As Yakim turned to head back to base.
Bang-!
That boom rang out again.
One of his men must have fallen to the enemy.
His left ear throbbed, and his head felt like it would burst.
Yakim's killing intent thickened further.
"I'll turn it into a sea of blood."
"Vice Captain!"
As Berro returned to the barracks.
One subordinate rushed up.
"The prisoners escaped!"
"What?"
Berro's face twisted.
Now he understood their plan.
Distract attention one way, then rescue the prisoners.
But sentries surrounded the barracks; intruders couldn't slip in unnoticed.
Even if ambushed, someone else would have spotted it.
Yet no alarm signal...
Berro scowled and asked.
"How many?"
"W-Well... two. Pursuit teams are after them now."
"How..."
Berro stood stunned, as if in shock.
Even the sentries were at least Sword Actor advanced level.
For them to die silently meant Sword Experts specialized in assassination.
Plus someone who could face a Sword Master like Yakim.
"Hmm..."
The veiled power of the Phoenix Knight Order was gradually revealing itself.
'Had we underestimated them?'
As Berro's eyes deepened.
Bagrann and Hans of the Rose Knight Order approached with stiff faces.
"What happened?"
Berro glanced at Bagrann and replied.
"The enemy infiltrated and took the prisoners."
"What?"
Bagrann looked incredulous.
Hans shook his head in disdain.
"What were you doing? Don't tell me you were drinking since midday?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
As Berro's gaze turned feral, Hans scowled.
"You mercenaries dare challenge me?"
"What did you just say?"
As Berro's aura intensified, Bagrann cut in coldly.
"Watch your eyes."
"Or what."
Berro growled, glaring savagely.
At that moment, the knights behind Bagrann placed hands on their sword hilts.
"Shall I kill them all?"
"...!"
Berro whipped around.
Yakim approached, drenched in blood, radiating unrestrained killing intent.
Bagrann and Hans gaped at his appearance.
"H-How..."
Yakim stopped before them and asked menacingly.
"Is there something on my face?"
"N-No, it's not that..."
Bagrann's mind reeled.
He had heard from Berro that Julius Count's men had infiltrated.
'Then he got injured fighting them... Does the Phoenix Knight Order have someone who can match a Sword Master?'
Only Skevin Maximus...
'No way, him...'
Bagrann wanted to ask who did it but decided against provoking him.
The truth would come out in time.
First, assess the situation.
"Are the intruders dead?"
"We lost them."
"...!"
Bagrann's eyes widened.
"I'm heading to Grada Territory right now to wipe them out. You lot do whatever."
As Yakim turned, Bagrann spoke.
"This is a territorial war. You can't decide unilaterally; you know that."
"As you can see, now's not the time for debates."
Yakim's killing intent thickened further, his breathing ragged.
He seemed ready to rampage any second.
Bagrann sensed he couldn't be stopped.
"Do as you like. Just wonder if Yarve Count will forgive you."
"...?"
"Attacking Julius Count today would defy the Emperor's orders. Think about Yarve Count's position then—and who he'll blame."
Yakim stared at Bagrann.
Yarve Count never took losses.
If reprimanded by the Emperor, he might void their contract on that pretext.
The thought of the rat drove him mad, but he couldn't throw everything away.
He had to swallow his rage for now.
He strode toward the barracks and declared firmly.
"We mobilize at dawn tomorrow."
***
At that moment.
Dark and Perry supported Poshe and Ramni as they raced down the mountain path.
After dealing with the sentries and entering the barracks, no one else was visible—only Poshe and Ramni.
Both had one ear severed and were unconscious; they had carried them out on their backs.
Soon, pursuit teams followed.
Even burdened with one person each, Dark and Perry outpaced them.
Thanks to daily mountain runs.
But as time passed, stamina waned, and they were caught and surrounded.
"Impressive bastards."
"Yeah, first time seeing anyone run this fast up a mountain carrying someone."
"Time to die now."
The enemies charged at Dark and Perry, swinging swords.
"Who said so!"
Dark dodged and hid behind a tree.
But Perry was caught.
"Damn!"
One enemy pressed a sword to Perry's nape and said.
"If you don't come out by the count of three, he dies."
The man smirked viciously and began counting.
"One, two..."
"Run!"
As Perry squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.
Bang-!
"This sound!"
Perry's eyes snapped open.
The man's head aiming at him had exploded.
In the distance, Arthur came charging like a bullet.
His heart pounded wildly as he yelled without thinking.
"Captain!"
Arthur loaded a round into the Cheytac and aimed at another enemy.
"Get lost."