Like a Worn-Out Horse
The training grounds of the Restis Ducal Residence's outer guards, located on the outskirts of the massive estate. Normally, it was a place where off-duty guards sweated it out half-heartedly or ran through drills. But right now, the air was thick with taut tension.
Clang—!Kaaang—! Harsh metallic clashes echoed across the grounds.
“Urk!”
“Gaaah!”
Two guards flew through the air with screams, crashing into the dirt. The crude iron swords in their hands rolled limply away.
“Huff… huff… Who's next?”
Standing tall in the center was Weger, glaring around with heavy breaths, gripping his iron sword at a slant. His worn leather armor was torn in places, caked in sweat and dust, but his eyes burned sharp as blades.
“That crazy bastard! What the hell did Weger eat to get like this!?”
“No way! Just a few years ago, he was rotting away in the annex, a total weakling!”
Dozens of guards encircling the grounds recoiled in shock, backing away. At Weger's feet lay over ten men foaming at the mouth or clutching limbs in agony. Even the squad leaders—top dogs in the main house guards—had scattered like leaves in the wind from a single heavy blow.
In the shadowed entrance, Cael watched the chaos with arms crossed, intrigued. Beside him stood Ella, hands clasped tight, gazing anxiously at Weger.
Hoo, not bad at all.
A faint smile tugged at Cael's lips. Weger's movements still looked crude and full of openings to him, but the momentum was impressive.
There were no flashy techniques or feints in Weger's swordplay—just straightforward chops, thrusts, and parries in stubborn repetition. Yet woven into that simplicity was the profound essence of the Eight Heavenly True Sword, the ancient Kongnam Sect style.
No ordinary guard could block such strikes.
“No one else stepping up? Then fetch the captain right now!”
Weger spat blood-mixed saliva and bellowed. It was outright insubordination, calling out the direct superior who'd unilaterally canceled his assignment and demoted him to patrol grunt.
“You bastard! You think you can cause a scene here!?”
Then, the barracks door at the far end slammed open, revealing a hulking man. A scarred, fierce-faced middle-aged brute—the captain of the main house guards.
“Ha, finally showing your precious face, Captain. Fuck it, let's throw down!”
Weger raised his sword with a shout. The captain sneered, drawing the massive longsword from his belt.
“Babysitting the young master in the annex bloated your balls, huh? Forget reassignment—today you'll get beat half to death by me and rot in the brig.”
“Bullshit! I'm challenging for promotion under guard regulations fair and square! Beat you, and I pick my own post, right?”
“Crazy fuck. Puppy don't know the tiger's fangs. Brain rotted in that annex? Come at me. Win, and your reassignment's approved.”
A faint aura shimmered around the captain. Not as dense or sharp as a formal knight's, but the bluish energy cloaking his blade marked him as skilled.
“Hup!”
Weger kicked off the ground ferociously, charging. His iron sword cleaved the air, slamming down heavily toward the captain's head.
Kaaaaang—!!
Their blades met head-on amid a deafening screech. The shockwave scattered sand everywhere.
“Urgh…!”
Pain leaked from Weger's gritted teeth. His feet dug deep into the sand, shoving him back three steps. His hands tingled like they'd been shocked.
The captain stood rock-solid, smirking viciously.
“This your big power? Just a dumb hick with brute strength.”
Hmm, impressive. He's teetering on first-rate.
Weger's realm was barely second-rate entry-level. Even within second-rate, the gap between beginner and peak was vast. Cael's eyes narrowed from the sidelines.
But not an insurmountable one. Show me, Weger.
Weger clenched his teeth and charged again.
“Not over yet!”
But the fight turned one-sided. Each swing of the captain's longsword tore Weger's armor, carving shallow cuts into his skin.
Clang! Kaang! Thud—!
“Gahk!”
Weger's sword flew aside again as the captain's heavy kick nailed his gut. He soared into the air, crashing and tumbling across the dirt.
“Weger!!”
Ella lunged forward from the entrance, but Cael extended an arm, blocking her.
“Watch quietly.”
“But young master! He'll get killed!”
“Didn't I tell you to leave it to him? Don't mock a man's vow. He's staking his life right now, Ella.”
Ella teared up but halted at Cael's firm tone.
Blood trickled from Weger's mouth as he lay in the dirt. His body screamed in agony, head spinning, the urge to pass out overwhelming.
But in his mind flashed his vow in the annex courtyard days ago.
—I'm ready to die for you anytime, young master!
And Cael's cold yet warm rebuke.
—You two—don't you dare die before me without permission. Got it?
Right. If I break here, who guards our young master? This trial? Don't make me laugh!!
Fierce flames reignited in Weger's dimming eyes. Trembling, he gripped his sword like a cane and staggered up.
“Stubborn bastard. Still not learned after all that?”
The captain irritably raised his blade.
“I got shit to do!!”
Weger roared with bloodshot eyes, clutching his sword two-handed. Deep in his dantian, the Tai Chi Profound Heaven Heart Method's inner energy surged wildly.
Before, he'd unconsciously channeled it into his blade. This time was different.
The first essence of the Eight Heavenly True Sword Cael taught: the heavy sword bends for no will. Unyielding intent to crush the foe.
His energy responded.
Woooong—!
Weger's iron sword hummed and vibrated. Air around the blade swirled, sucked toward the tip.
The captain's eyes widened.
What the—? A mere guard handling that kind of energy!?
The aura from Weger's sword was heavier, fundamentally different from any soldier he'd faced.
“Tch! Same old trick! Think I'll wait!?”
Sensing danger, the captain unleashed full aura and swung down. Weger's blade rose fiercely to meet it.
Eight Heavenly True Sword, First Form: One Sword Opens Heaven—the opening strike to claim all eight directions. In mastery, it could sunder the skies. Weger unleashed it.
Kaaaaang—!
Imperfect, but enough.
“Gaaaaah!!”
The captain screamed in pain. His prized longsword shattered, fragments flying. The shock hurled his bulk backward, rolling across the ground.
Thud—!
Dead silence fell over the grounds.
“Huff… huff…”
Weger leaned on his near-breaking sword, panting raggedly. Soaked in sweat and blood, his presence overwhelmed—no one dared approach.
“Cough… you damned fuck…”
The captain rose shakily, spitting blood, glaring. His right arm hung limp, grotesquely broken.
Weger staggered forward.
“Fight's over. My post's mine now.”
The captain gnashed his teeth.
“Arrogant shit! Break my arm and walk free? I won't approve your damn reassignment! It's the acting duchess's order!”
Weger's face hardened at the excuse—
“Acting duchess's command, eh? Quite the backing.”
A chilling voice shattered the quiet. Silent footsteps approached: Cael.
As he walked, blocking guards parted like the Red Sea in fear. His invisible pressure dwarfed the captain's imagination.
What… the…? The eldest young master this strong?
Rumors painted him sickly, out of succession. But up close, he was anything but.
Cael stopped before the fallen captain, looking down.
“Scared of the acting duchess's word? Then my command as the duke's heir sounds like a joke?”
The captain stammered under the pressure.
“Rules? I respected them. No power plays. Weger earned it all himself. Didn't he?”
“B-but!”
“Crushing his effort with 'acting duchess's order'? Fine. Then I'll kill you here with the heir's authority.”
The captain shut up at the veiled threat. No guard captain could defy the heir's public order before witnesses, even with secret backing. It was beyond his hands now.
“…I obey. Young Master Cael.”
He bowed through the pain.
Weger, tension draining, turned dazedly to Cael.
“Y-young master… I did it.”
Cael grinned, patting his shoulder.
“Yeah, from start to finish—brilliant.”
“I did it, young master.”
“Yep, outstanding, Weger. One hell of a strike.”
“Heh heh… better than Oliver, right…?”
Cael chuckled.
“Comparing to a dog, even?”
“Might be nothing to you, young master, but I went all out… Gotta be better than a dog, yeah…?”
“Still miles from Oliver, you.”
“Ah, damn.”
Weger's goofy grin faded, eyes glazing. Thud— his massive frame collapsed into the dirt, utterly spent and unconscious.
Like a worn-out horse, huh. Heh heh. The guy.
“Weger!!”
Ella rushed over, struggling to support him. Cael gently lifted the big man onto his shoulder.
“No fuss. Just exhaustion. Hurry and prep a soft bed.”
With unconscious Weger slung over, Cael shot a mocking glance at the encircling guards and strolled out.
You lot better pick your sides wisely.