Time to Bite
"W-we're going to die.... We're all going to die...."
Dorian crawled across the training-ground floor, his jaw trembling. The focus had gone out of his eyes.
"The sun's already up. Khehehehehe!"
Burren lay spread-eagled, staring at the rising sun with a hollow laugh. His usual composure had packed up and left; he wore the face of a man who'd lost his mind.
"Fuck. Fuck. Fuuuck!"
Marta hurled curses at the empty air, using her own ragged breathing as a rhythm. Exhaustion was draining the volume from her voice with every word.
"Raon's the ugliest...."
Runaan kept her face planted in the training-ground floor, muttering over and over that he was ugly. Every so often she also mumbled about how much she missed last night's ice cream.
"Wh-why is that guy's training always this brutal?"
"You never get used to it. The second you think you've adapted, he cranks the intensity up. I'm seriously going to die...."
"I-it's also because of those Black Rings."
"I told you to smash those things!"
"Wouldn't do any good. That bastard Dorian can duplicate them from his belly pouch...."
"Then let's smash Dorian."
The rest of the Light Wind Squad's swordsmen were sprawled across the training ground as well. They all looked vacant, muttering nothing but nonsense.
Raon stood before the collapsed Light Wind Squad looking no different than he had when the training began.
"Listen while you rest."
"Wh-what are you going to make us do now...."
Dorian's hands trembled, his eyes wide with terror.
"From here on, it's theory."
Raon straightened his back and clasped his hands behind him, just like the instructors who had once taught the trainees.
"We'll start with the Owen Kingdom. The hallmark of Owen swordsmanship is a sharp, precise blade that hunts for openings. They'll thrust into a gap no bigger than a needle's eye without missing."
"Openings...."
"Precision, then."
"On top of that, their senses are exceptional. When it comes to reading an opponent's weaknesses and the flow of a fight, their eye is the best among the Six Kings. You cannot afford to let your guard down for even a single instant."
At the words best eye among the Six Kings, the Light Wind Squad swallowed dryly.
"Next, the Beast Alliance."
Raon raised a second finger.
"The warriors of the Beast Alliance possess the finest physiques among the Six Kings and Five Demons. Even with their bare bodies, without circulating a scrap of aura, they can withstand a well-honed blade."
"Urgh...."
"Then aren't they just monsters?"
"Well said. Monsters."
He nodded at the swordsman who had used the word.
"The Beast Alliance is called a pack of monsters across the continent. Bodies like steel, monstrous strength that can tear through rock, and martial arts honed by wild instinct. They fight bare-handed, and they are several times more dangerous than warriors who carry weapons."
"They did seem a bit simple, though?"
"Right. They had that monster-like feel to them."
The swordsmen smacked their lips, recalling the Beast Alliance warriors they had seen at the banquet hall.
"It's because they're simple that they're more terrifying. They ignore strategy entirely, take sword aura on their bodies, and charge in like wild boars. Your knees will go weak, I promise you."
Raon gave a cold smile and raised aura over his fist. The fist, already blazing with heat, swelled to the size of a boulder. A blow from that wouldn't merely injure — it looked as if it would burst a body apart.
"This is how the Beast Alliance wields aura."
"Ugh...."
"Th-that's actually scary."
"If that hit you, you'd d-die...."
The Light Wind Squad's swordsmen shuddered from head to toe, a chill running through them.
"Third: the mages and knights of Valkar. The defining trait of Valkar's mages is the speed of their spell deployment. Blessed by mana, their incantations are both fast and precise. If you try to finish them in a blitz the way you would ordinary mages, you'll get dropped by a counterattack."
Raon held up three fingers and clicked his tongue briefly.
"By contrast, Valkar's knights have made protecting their mages their primary duty, so they've trained in defense-oriented swordsmanship and aura. Breaking through a defensive blade harder than steel will not be easy."
Valkar was a kingdom with mages at its center, but that did not mean its knights were weak. The defenses of the knights who shielded those mages were not something even the warriors of the other Six Kings could shatter lightly.
"Last, House Robert."
As he spoke the name, Raon circulated the Ring of Fire so he would not lose his composure.
"Their swordsmanship resembles the southern sea."
"Isn't the southern sea clear and calm?"
Dorian asked, rolling his eyes upward.
"It is. Calmer even than the Gazelle River we visited. Their swordsmanship was modeled on that sea — soft, and elegant. It also has the quality of erasing the aura and the flow contained in an opponent's blade."
"Huh...."
"E-erasing the flow of a sword, and the aura besides...."
"Doesn't that make them invincible?"
At the mention of erasing a sword's flow, the Light Wind Squad's swordsmen's mouths fell open.
"That isn't all. In the south, there is a period of about one month each year when the waves rise all the way to the sky. Like those waves, House Robert's swordsmanship endures calmly and flexibly — then, when the opening comes, it raises a blue surge. The offensive power in that moment becomes stronger than any other house. Be careful."
After finishing his explanation of House Robert's swordsmanship, Raon let out a low breath.
It's frustrating that I can only teach them the basics.
He wanted to teach them how to completely dismantle House Robert's swordsmanship as well, but doing so would only put spurs to Derus's suspicions. For now, he had to make the Light Wind Squad's swordsmen defeat their opponents with the skills they already possessed.
"But Vice-Captain, how do you know all of that? You've never even been to the other Six Kings."
Dorian tilted his head, looking puzzled.
"...I learned it from the squad leader."
He hesitated for a moment, then used the Rimer Pass, which always worked.
"Nnngh...."
"C-can we even beat monsters like that?"
"They're all older than us, too."
"Ugh, I suddenly feel sick."
Having heard the characteristics of all four factions, the Light Wind Squad's swordsmen trembled at the lips, looking terrified.
"You cowardly bastards!"
Marta staggered to her feet.
"You think any of them have walked a harder road than we have? They're all small fry!"
She ground her teeth, glaring at the swordsmen behind her.
"For once, you're not wrong."
Burren gave a short laugh and nodded.
"It hasn't been once or twice that we've clawed our way out of a brush with death. That's not an experience the other Six Kings can claim so easily."
He, too, smiled with his fist clenched.
"You said you were sick of just being protected."
Runaan looked at Raon as well — not with her usual vacant gaze, but with eyes shining like starlight.
"That's true."
"Right. The Light Wind Squad of Zieghart can't freeze up before the fighting even starts."
"We should be thinking about how to beat them."
Bolstered by their squad leaders' words, the Light Wind Squad's swordsmen all rose and took their places.
"That's a good look in your eyes."
Raon smiled as he looked at the Light Wind Squad's swordsmen, their eyes burning with heat.
"Then, for the first thing I explained — Owen's sharp, precise swordsmanship — what's the way to stop it?"
"Victory to the first strike. If we attack faster than the enemy, wouldn't that do it?"
Crain raised a hand, a little tentatively.
"Or we could hold a defensive line and strike once the enemy's strength is spent."
Burren pushed himself up, smacking his lips.
"Neither is bad. But there's a better way."
"A b-better way?"
Marta's voice trembled, as if she had sensed something ominous.
"There is. You just don't create any openings."
"Uh...."
"Eliminate openings?"
"I-is that even possible?"
"There's only a day left."
"Of course it's possible."
Raon smiled, and the smile was cold. The sun had risen, but his smile looked darker than it had the night before.
"When you push a human to the brink of death, they grow for certain. I know because I've done it."
"Th-the brink of death?"
"Push us?"
"H-his eyes have gone crazy! They're spinning worse than yesterday! They're going to pop out of his skull!"
Dorian scrambled backward on all fours. He started pulling rocks and sand from his belly pouch and stacking them into a wall.
"You're imagining things."
Raon approached the Light Wind Squad, his voice gentle. Then the Heavenly Sky Sword, blazing with fire, smashed through the wall Dorian had built.
KRAAAAAANG!
Through the collapsing fragments of stone, Raon's crimson eyes flashed with a chilling gleam.
"Hieek!"
"Uwaaaagh!"
"Kyaaah!"
It wasn't only Dorian. The entire Light Wind Squad screamed in horror.
"By tomorrow, I'll kill you— no. I'll draw out your true strength."
"Is he drawing out their true strength, or drawing out mad dogs?"
Rimer let out a hollow breath as he secretly watched the training ground where Raon and the Light Wind Squad were. He trembled at the lips as he looked at Raon's eyes, burning darker than the sun itself.
"Tsk. If the name Mad Dog Squad starts spreading here too, we'll have a problem."
"I like it, actually."
Sheryl smiled faintly as she watched the Light Wind Squad trembling too hard even to run.
"Mad dogs that bite everything are a lot better than cowards who freeze up before the fight even starts. Don't you think?"
She glanced back as if seeking an answer.
"I agree."
Roen nodded slowly.
"If defeat is the alternative, it's better to sink your teeth into their throat and take them down with you."
He delivered those chilling words with a kindly face.
Is everyone here actually insane?
Rimer shook his head and turned to Glenn, who was standing right beside him.
"My lord, what do you...."
"Raon's training method is designed to draw out the latent potential stored in the Light Wind Squad children's bodies and minds. He isn't teaching martial arts they haven't yet acquired. He's bringing to the surface the parts they've already learned but haven't adapted to."
Glenn nodded as he watched Raon driving the Light Wind Squad.
"To think he even knows a training method like that. I can't fathom how he can be so intelligent and wise."
"Eh?"
"That warm heart, thinking of his comrades rather than himself right before the tournament, teaching them. Truly, the boy has not a single shortcoming."
"A warm heart?"
Rimer frowned and turned back toward the training ground.
That kid? Warm? He's the devil himself.
Raon was beating the Light Wind Squad with a face like a malevolent spirit. Rimer could not, for the life of him, see where the warmth was supposed to be.
"If you look, his eyes are spinning...."
"He's been training the children since last night, so of course he's tired."
"No, the kids' screams...."
"What refreshing kiai. It seems everyone is enjoying themselves."
No words could get through to Glenn, who was already wearing rose-colored glasses for his youngest grandson.
"Rimer."
"Yes?"
"To think you taught Raon about the Six Kings. So even you work properly from time to time."
Glenn patted Rimer's shoulder as if to thank him for his trouble, then climbed down from the tree.
"You're not an entirely worthless bastard."
"Heh heh."
Sheryl and Roen smiled as they followed Glenn down.
"Ahahaha! I do have my moments."
Having been praised, Rimer grinned and scratched the back of his head.
"But...."
He narrowed his eyes, looking at Raon, and tilted his head.
"Did I ever say anything like that?"
The day of the duel tournament preliminaries.
Even with about an hour remaining before the preliminaries began, the royal arena was packed with spectators who had gathered from every direction. There was not even room to set a foot down.
"Khhh, getting to see the Six Kings' warriors duel with my own eyes... I'll never shed another tear as long as I live."
"This is the kind of thing you couldn't see even if you piled up gold and handed it over. Not unless it was a day like this."
"The weight of the Six Kings is in it. They're still promising young talents, and the tension's already overflowing, isn't it?"
"Time's crawling. Can't they just start already?"
The spectators seated in the arena bloomed with laughter, already savoring the duels they were about to watch.
"Who do you think takes the championship?"
"Owen, obviously. In a hastily arranged duel like this, the host side always has the advantage."
"I'd buy that if there weren't so many heavyweights in the mix."
"At the Expert level, His Highness the Third Prince will win, surely."
"I wouldn't be so sure. Malcor of the Beast Alliance tore a bishop of the White Blood Cult apart with his bare hands."
"There's also Princess Jayna of Valkar. You can watch her magic coming and still not stop it."
"House Robert's swordsmen are outstanding, every last one of them."
The spectators smacked their lips, turning over who today's winner would be. In some corners, betting rings had already opened, hidden from the knights.
"Then what about the main event — the Master matches?"
"That's already settled. Kadis Robert, fifth among the Continental Twelve Stars."
"Well, first through fourth didn't enter, so."
"Not necessarily. I heard Sir Borini Kitten, ranked seventh, has improved a great deal."
"And there's Garona of the Beast Alliance, the Dragon-Cleaving Asura — not one of the Continental Twelve Stars, but they say he's a match for an Upper Master."
"Ah, my heart's pounding. I wish they'd just start already."
The spectators clenched their fists, already imagining the Master duels that would follow the Expert bracket.
"What about Zieghart?"
"Mm, not bad — but winning? That's a stretch."
"For one thing, they're behind the others in experience and age."
"At that age, a two-year gap is huge. They're not ready to take it yet."
"Honestly, they look easy."
"If that man ranked second among the Continental Twelve Stars had come, it might be different, but...."
"Lord Glenn is acknowledged as the strongest of the Six Kings, but the other swordsmen are a bit lacking."
Glenn's recent exploits had been so tremendous that every spotlight had fallen on him, and the other Zieghart swordsmen had received almost no attention at all.
"There's the Frost-Flower Sword Hero, Raon Zieghart."
"He made a name for himself, sure — and then he got kidnapped by the enemy."
"Right. He couldn't even get out on his own. In the end he needed his family's help."
"Setting all that aside, he's still young. Going up against the Spear-Point Sword or the Wave Sword, who've reached the Upper Master level, is too much."
The spectators waved the idea off, insisting that Raon was still too young to put up a good showing even if he entered the Master matches.
KOOOONG!
While everyone was lost in their own thoughts, anticipating the day's preliminaries, the main gates of the arena opened.
CLANK.
With the angular clash of steel on steel, Owen's knights, clad in silver armor, entered the arena. They advanced toward the center seats, their gazes lofty.
"Wooooaaaaah!"
"Owen! Owen! Owen!"
"It's the Blue Eagle Knights!"
"The Spirit Cloud Knights are here too!"
"The Spear-Point Sword!"
This was Owen's home ground, and the spectators filling the arena roared the name of Owen until their throats tore.
A cool wind rose, like a breaking wave. The second to enter was House Robert. The Robert swordsmen, dressed in blue uniforms, took their places on the right with gentle smiles.
"Uoooooooh!"
"House Robert!"
"The Gilyeon Sword Corps is here!"
"It's the Wave Sword! The Wave Sword, Kadis Robert!"
"The Continental Twelve Stars!"
It was not quite Owen's volume, but a cheer worthy of House Robert's reputation burst out all the same.
KRAAAANG!
The earth itself rumbled from their footsteps alone. The warriors of the Beast Alliance, their bare bodies uncovered by any protective gear, entered the arena trailing a wild, primal aura.
"It's the Beast Alliance!"
"Yaaaaaaaah!"
"The Dragon-Cleaving Asura is at the front!"
"That's not just one or two of the Vicious Eye Tribe!"
"Today's going to be insane!"
Bare bodies and bare hands. The Beast Alliance, which waged violent combat with the strongest physiques on the continent, enjoyed a popularity that did not fall short of the Owen Kingdom's.
ZZIIIIING!
With the ringing of refined mana, the mages of Valkar entered the arena. A vivid blessing of mana accompanied the mages draped in silk-like robes.
"Uoooooh!"
"Valkaaaaar!"
"Salaman came too, of course!"
"Princess Jayna! I'm dying!"
"It's the Magus of Annihilation!"
Valkar was a kingdom neighboring Owen, and their fame, too, soared high enough to pierce the sky.
THUD.
A resonance unlike any that had come before swept through the arena.
It was not lofty like Owen's, not gentle like House Robert's, not heavy like the Beast Alliance's, and not mysterious like Valkar's.
THUD.
It was nothing more than a rough footstep — and yet it was a strange ringing that forced every ear to prick up and every gaze to turn.
THUD.
With that nerve-tightening tread, Raon and the Light Wind Squad crossed the arena gates. In eyes sunken deep as the ocean floor, a bright yellow madness was blazing.
"Uooo...."
"Th-this is...."
"Zieghart?"
"Th-the atmosphere is different."
"...And we said they looked easy?"
Crushed by the savage madness pouring off the Zieghart swordsmen, the spectators could not even manage a cheer.
"Mm!"
"Those ones...."
"What in the...."
The warriors and mages of the other Six Kings swallowed dryly as well, confronted by the ghastly presence rising from the Zieghart swordsmen.
Hoooooo....
Having silenced the arena, the Zieghart swordsmen took their places on the left and exhaled murky breaths. It looked as if gray smoke were wrapping around them.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Raon turned. He looked at the eyes of his swordsmen, wrapped in scorching killing intent and frigid madness, and a satisfied smile touched his lips.
"You followed well these two days."
Looking at the Light Wind Squad cursing him with their eyes, he shattered the invisible leashes around their necks.