Humiliating the Kingdom's Greatest Sword
“W-Who the hell are you!”
“Who are you?!”
“I'm Arthur, lord of Valkas Territory, currently at war with Arhan Territory.”
Arthur scanned them as he spoke.
“Lord Arthur?”
They erupted into noisy chatter.
Thanks to the implanted thoughts tailored to the situation, they knew Arthur was skillfully slaughtering the orc forces.
But could this lone kid really topple the territory? That doubt lingered.
Arthur scanned the troops.
'As a hidden system unit, they're supposed to be secretly recruited from the territory, but their levels are lower than expected.'
It made sense, considering they were lord judges.
And for Arthur, it was all the more welcome—with open arms.
“I'm Cataloc, the one leading these men. Seems we share the same goal.”
Cataloc.
He was an elderly man with wild white hair.
Yet his sturdy build and the sword sheathed at his waist suited him perfectly.
'Cataloc's a retired knight order captain, per the setting?'
Arthur thought.
“Even so, we can't just trust you and charge in, only to get wiped out. We need a core strike team. Can you prove you're it?”
Arthur had already declared upon entering that he'd kill 'Roden'.
This was them asking again.
Cataloc and his men were skeptical.
They'd heard of someone sowing chaos among the orcs, but never dreamed it'd be such a young boy.
Arthur nodded faintly.
'If I take down just Roden, the hidden quest should trigger.'
Time was short.
About 15 minutes left on Mad Injection.
No time to waste.
Earlier, while hunting orcs, he'd spotted a group watching him from afar.
They reeked of danger—not weaklings by any means.
Probably Roden and his crew.
He'd hurriedly sent out Fenrus and Bread to lure them.
'Piss them off good.'
Even at C-rank, with a setting as the kingdom's greatest swordsman, their pride would pierce the heavens.
Arthur's taunt would draw them out.
“You all just watch. Roden and his gang will come to kill me soon enough. I'll take their heads from the clock tower.”
Cataloc nodded.
They could hide and spectate—no skin off their backs.
Roden scanned the territory with intrigued eyes.
In the drizzling rain, he searched for where the bastard had hidden.
'Beyond my expectations.'
He'd come out for a casual look, figuring the enemy would fall fast.
But the opposite happened. The foe used cunning tactics to dodge damage while steadily thinning the orc ranks.
Then—
Whoosh!
A stone flew in.
Arms crossed, Roden just tilted his head to dodge.
“Hm?”
Roden furrowed his brow. His comrades did the same.
In the distance, a dark elf astride an ash-gray wolf came into view.
'That dark elf's the guy's summon?'
Roden and his men eyed him closely. Bread hurled another stone.
Roden dodged with a head tilt again, his face twisting.
He nodded at a nearby soldier.
The soldier rushed forward, but the ash-gray wolf sped off.
Then a stone came from the opposite side.
Roden rubbed his forehead.
“Hm.”
He chuckled in disbelief.
Grrr!
Fenrus growled at Bread like he was scolding him. That all you got?
Fenrus dashed away, clip-clopping.
Soon, at about five meters, he spun around, mooning them and shaking his ass.
Wiggle wiggle.
“……”
Roden's group scowled.
Then—
Pffft! Splat!
“……Fucking wolf pup.”
“That shitty little—”
Fenrus ripped a massive fart, contorting their faces.
Being provoked by a mere wolf? Infuriating.
“That's a taunt. Enemy ploy to lure us out.”
“I know. But it's just so……”
Fucking ridiculous?
The words nearly escaped the soldier.
Roden smirked.
“Seems the bastard wants a fight with us.”
His hand rested on his sword hilt.
“Fine by me.”
His nose was sky-high. The opponent? Just some lord in protection period.
Pretending to take the bait, they chased Fenrus and Bread.
Grrr.
Fenrus grinned at Bread like, 'See? My taunt worked.' Bread went, 'Ooh.' in awe.
Arthur could see Fenrus gleefully leading the group from behind.
'Having a blast, huh.'
Arthur smirked. He'd never expected the taunt to work.
He'd just predicted Roden's ego would be off the charts.
They'd chased Fenrus on purpose—to kill him.
Not far from Arthur at the clock tower base, Cataloc and his men hid, watching.
“Fun little brat.”
Roden drew his sword as he spoke.
'Thanks for the gift.'
Roden blocked his charging troops with an outstretched arm.
“Been wanting a real matchup.”
Shing.
The blade sang crisply as it cleared the sheath.
Even in the pouring rain, it gleamed flawlessly—polished to a shine.
Arthur thumped the ground with Kazaven's unique spear and grinned.
“I'm under Lord Zakan right now. Though a guy like me belongs under 101 lords, he'll reach that spot someday. Folks call me the Kingdom's Greatest Sword. Brushing my collar might even qualify you.”
“Oh yeah?”
Arthur nodded like, impressive.
Chuckling inwardly.
'The Kingdom's Greatest Sword wants to be my summon.'
How delightful.
Kingdom's Greatest Sword's Sense of Powerlessness
📍 Objective: Shatter his arrogance.
Arthur scowled as he checked it.
A quest mocking him outright—crush his arrogance.
Not his style, but the risk was huge.
All stats -20.
Maybe it'd lead him better, though.
Stomping him flat would earn more rebel trust.
“Come on, let's clash.”
Roden assumed position.
Quest accepted—he'd play along.
Rewards were juicy too.
'Even predicts Death Painting on him?'
If humiliated, reward: Summon him via Death Painting at 70% power (60% base +10% bonus).
Arthur relaxed his body completely.
One hand sheathed the spear; the other went behind his back.
Roden scowled at the arrogance.
“You little……”
“How dare you before Sir Roden!”
“Fucking psycho. Your throat's getting pierced soon.”
The soldiers spat venom, but Arthur stood firm.
Then, hand from behind—he beckoned.
Come here.
Roden wouldn't bite on that alone.
Just—
'Time for a beating.'
He swung for Arthur's neck.
Everything slowed for Arthur.
Absolute Sense.
A phenomenal stat.
His senses sharpened extraordinarily; hearing and reflexes soared.
Arthur tilted his head, effortlessly dodging the slash.
“……!”
The soldiers gaped—must be luck.
Roden kicked for Arthur's knee.
Leap!
Arthur hopped lightly, stomping the leg.
Crunch!
“Guh!”
Roden spun back, thrusting.
Arthur twisted aside, flicking the spear tip to parry.
Clang!
Arthur slung the spear shaft behind his neck, arms draped.
“Kingdom's got Greatest Swords popping up like stray dogs these days.”
Not his temperament, but if ordered? No one better.
Roden trembled with rage.
White aura cloaked his blade.
Low Sword Expert aura.
Bound by setting to low, but growth with a lord could hit top-tier.
Fwosh!
The faintly glowing sword thrust at Arthur.
Arthur dodged, spun, flowed—evading effortlessly.
Then flicked his knuckles at Roden's solar plexus.
Thud!
“Kuhak!”
Roden hacked from the shock.
“S-Sir Roden!”
“You bastard!”
“Don't move!”
Roden roared like a beast.
'Tch, so your pride's that fragile.'
Arthur? He'd have attacked with his men.
Pride? Foolish before survival.
Swoosh!
Swoosh!
Bang!
Roden's sword stormed relentlessly.
Arthur evaded with minimal motion.
Gaps everywhere.
'Kingdom's Greatest Sword, my ass.'
Asgan had a few with similar titles.
This sufficed.
Dodging, Arthur's spear tip slammed Roden's blade tip.
Clang!
Blade pinned to ground.
Arthur thrust full force.
“Hng!”
First strike.
Roden couldn't believe it.
Sword since childhood; genius by all.
Age ten? Floored a knight harassing his dad.
All cheered.
'You're a genius.'
'The man to be Kingdom's Greatest Sword!'
Yet mocked so lightly by this boy.
“They called me the Ghost of the Battlefield.”
Arthur's voice flowed as he swung.
Perhaps courtesy.
He'd toyed before, but now affirmed Roden wasn't weak.
Knights prized pride over life—foolish, yet admirable.
Such men loyalized strongest once broken.
Twaang!
Spear clashed Roden's plated left chest.
Armor Break.
Craaaack!
The parry should have rebounded—instead, it pierced the plate gap.
Craaaaaack!
Plate armor cracked, crumbling.
Spear tip—
Squelch.
“Cough.”
Straight into Roden's chest.
“Called me something childish like Dalliron Continent's Greatest Spear.”
Arthur didn't smile. Dead serious.
“You're not weak. Just picked the wrong foe.”
Eyes locked.
Roden's: disbelieving, quaking.
Arthur's: steadfast. Merciful, unlike the toying—vowing no more mockery, knight's honor.
“Thanks……”
He'd been played, yet acknowledged. Arthur's eyes promised knightly respect.
Splurt!
Instant death.
Arthur's courtesy.
Spear yanked free; blood gushed from Roden's chest.
“Sir Roden!”
“No way……”
Without Mad Injection, it'd have been dicey.
Equal stats? Same outcome.
“Charge!”
“Kill him!”
Soldiers swarmed, fiercely loyal—not the scum to civilians, apparently.
Bread and Fenrus blocked them.
Level 5 Accelerated Drawing: 20x speed now.
“Death Painting.”