Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Chapter 14: Demon Subduing Hall (6)
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“……Are you serious, big brother?”
“There’s no way I’d joke in a setting like this, right?”
“Even so…….”
“I don’t mind.”
Martin answered in place of the hesitant Claudia.
He knew what she was worried about.
This banquet had been held to celebrate her birthday, but it had another purpose as well.
It was to announce the alliance formed between her and himself.
And now, if he, the key figure of that alliance, showed himself being pushed back by Richardt?
Not only would his own standing fall, but hers would plummet alongside it.
It would make more sense to avoid the duel altogether than to suffer that.
Still, the reason he accepted was simple.
Just as he was evaluated as possessing the greatest talent since the founding head of the Adalbert family, his opponent was said to be the most outstanding among all the imperial kin of the Altria Imperial Family throughout history.
So, he wanted to properly gauge that skill, that talent.
Conversely, he was aware that this would leak information about his own abilities and combat style.
That was why he had dodged when Heinz Schwarzweck proposed a match.
‘The situation’s different now.’
A clash with that guy had been inevitable.
There was no greater folly than giving away his own information in a duel with someone he was destined to fight.
In contrast, there was no immediate conflict with Richardt or his faction.
‘He might act on his whims, but that man is extremely cautious as the head of his faction. He won’t move recklessly until he judges that a proper opportunity has arisen or that his advantage is shaken.’
Either way, it would take time.
By the time they actually clashed later, both sides’ abilities would have changed significantly.
So, a light skirmish like this posed no problem.
“But I have one proposal.”
“Go ahead.”
“The purpose of this duel is to liven up the atmosphere, isn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
“Then let’s keep it moderate. Nothing that draws blood.”
“Ah. I don’t wish for anyone to get hurt on such a joyous day either. I’ll follow your lead.”
With those words, Richardt headed first toward the rear garden of the annex palace.
Jurgen Ferdinand sighed and followed behind.
Then, those aligned with the First Prince’s faction moved along as well, their faces brimming with confidence.
Meanwhile, Claudia approached with a face full of worry.
“Are you really okay, young master? I know you’re strong. Even in terms of genius, you surpass big brother. But he reached the 7th Circle years ago, and it wouldn’t be strange if he hit the 8th Circle anytime now.”
“Doesn’t Her Highness the Princess know as well? That victory isn’t decided simply by the difference in realms.”
“That’s true, but…….”
“Don’t worry so much. The scenario you’re fretting over won’t happen.”
“Whew. You really are impossible.”
“Once an alliance is formed, that’s the risk you take.”
Martin smirked, but Claudia’s expression remained unrelaxed.
Even those following the First Princess looked anxious.
But Martin didn’t care in the slightest.
‘Not just the First Prince’s side—I need to dunk on those guys too.’
His gaze turned toward the Second Prince and the nobles around him.
Unlike the Second Prince, who wore a grave expression, the rest were openly sneering.
‘I wonder if those faces will stay the same later.’
Thinking that, Martin made his way to the rear garden of the annex palace.
* * *
Martin and Richardt faced each other, keeping some distance between them.
They had agreed to go easy, but that didn’t mean he could let his guard down.
Richardt Altria was a 7th Circle powerhouse, after all.
Moreover, the “Gravity Dominion” unique only to direct descendants of the Altria Imperial Family was a problem.
It was the pinnacle ability of the gravity system, rivaling in danger the Adalbert family’s Space Dominion.
Wooong.
Martin opened his subspace and drew out the holy sword Kaizen, then gripped the hilt.
‘I’d like to unleash the Lotar Martial Arts…….’
The Altria Imperial Family had wielded powerful martial arts for generations.
He wanted to test how well Lotar Martial Arts would hold up against them, but he held back.
This wasn’t the situation to satisfy his curiosity.
Still, he wasn’t particularly disappointed.
He had never fought Richardt even before his regression, and now he finally had the chance.
That alone was satisfying.
Flash!
A golden aura blade wrapped around Kaizen’s blade.
Not to be outdone, Richardt circulated his mana, and a deep green aura blade enveloped both his arms.
With both sides ready, Nicholas von Royce stepped forward one pace.
This was a matchup between the First Prince’s faction and the First Princess’s faction.
Thus, someone from the neutral Second Prince’s side had to officiate, and Nicholas had been selected.
Only someone of his caliber could handle a clash between 7th Circle powerhouses.
“No deep wounds or strikes to vital points with weapons. Absolutely no threatening the opponent’s life. Both of you, keep that in mind.”
“Understood.”
“We will.”
Richardt and Martin replied.
Then Nicholas slightly lifted his right foot and stamped it down.
Shaaa!
A pure white light bloomed, forming a massive barrier that enveloped the rear garden.
Now, no matter how they fought, the shockwaves wouldn’t threaten bystanders.
“Then begin.”
The moment Nicholas declared, Richardt kicked off the ground first.
He could have used his unique ability right away but didn’t.
He was curious about the pure swordsmanship of Martin, who was called a genius.
Martin instantly read his opponent’s intent.
‘He lives so freely.’
Honestly, it was enviable to act purely on one’s inclinations.
So he resolved himself.
To properly play along, just once.
“Hah!”
While Martin reached his decision, Richardt closed the distance.
He immediately thrust out his right fist, the green aura blade flickering like flames.
Boom!
The air tore with a resounding crack as the fist reached near Martin’s face.
If it landed properly, his head would surely explode.
‘Of course, that won’t happen.’
Richardt anticipated as much, and reality followed.
Martin swiftly drew a circle with holy sword Kaizen, parrying the incoming fist.
Kwaaaang!
A deafening roar shook the eardrums as if they might burst.
A fierce shockwave rippled out, rattling the barrier Nicholas had formed.
But Richardt paid it no mind, ducking his body and launching his left fist upward with full force.
It aimed precisely at Martin’s chin.
Martin countered by slashing down with Kaizen like an axe.
Kwaang!
Another explosion rang out, caving in the ground where they stood.
Whirrl!
Martin pivoted on his left foot, swinging his sword.
The blade arced toward Richardt’s side, but the opponent didn’t stay still.
He raised his knee, wrapped in green aura blade, blocking the attack head-on.
Seeing that, Martin clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘His looks and combat style are completely different.’
Richard was the picture of a refined noble young master.
So he’d assumed he’d fight flashily, but it was nothing like that.
It was extremely simple and direct.
Easy to read, yet so fast and powerful that countering wasn’t simple.
Boom!
From the blocked stance, Richardt thrust his right fist.
Martin drew a circle with his sword to lightly deflect the attack, then leaped back to create distance.
“This should be enough warm-up, right?”
“I agree.”
Richardt nodded at Martin’s question.
It meant one thing: unique abilities were now fair game.
And once more, Richardt moved first, extending his left hand toward Martin.
Wiiiing!
Green air currents poured out simultaneously, locking onto Martin’s body and yanking him in at high speed.
‘So this is Gravity Dominion.’
Martin furrowed his brow slightly.
The green currents gripped him firmly, and it didn’t feel pleasant.
The pressure was immense; ordinary foes would struggle to shake it off.
‘But not me.’
Martin stared at Richardt.
The opponent had clenched his right fist tightly.
Likely to smash him the moment he closed in.
But Martin foiled his plan.
Wooong.
By using spatial teleportation to shift elsewhere.
‘It’s true he’s overcome the Dragon’s Curse to some extent.’
Richardt observed Martin cautiously.
In less than two seconds, the opponent had executed spatial teleportation flawlessly.
Meaning the pain from the Dragon’s Curse was negligible.
In that interval, Martin appeared behind Richardt.
And immediately slashed down with holy sword Kaizen.
Infusing it with spatial slash techniques.
Kwaaang!
As if waiting, Richardt spun and swung his right fist upward.
Sword and fist collided squarely, unleashing a powerful shockwave that swept the surroundings.
“Urk!”
“Ugh!”
Screams erupted here and there.
Nicholas’s barrier blocked physical impacts reliably, but the unresolved shock reached the others.
“Strong gravity interferes with space itself…… That’s why facing Gravity Dominion is such a hassle.”
“It’s no wonder the Adalbert family’s founding head lost to His Imperial Majesty, the empire’s first emperor.”
Kuuooo!
Richardt’s aura intensified further.
Matching it, his right fist began slowly pushing back Martin’s sword.
“You know it too, don’t you, young master? Space Dominion excels in versatility, while Gravity Dominion boasts raw power. The force of gravity makes it possible.”
Kwaduduk.
No sooner had Richardt finished speaking than cracks appeared in the golden aura blade enveloping Kaizen.
They weren’t large, but Richardt held the edge in aura blade perfection.
Yet Martin didn’t seem to care, grinning instead.
“Come on. Doesn’t Your Highness know as well? At our level, unique ability superiority doesn’t mean much.”
Shaaa!
The aura blade around holy sword Kaizen shone brilliantly, and the cracks vanished instantly.
“Ability this, ability that—whoever wins is right.”
Martin grinned.
His opponent was at the peak of the 7th Circle, ready to ascend to the 8th anytime.
In fact, before his regression, he had succeeded in reaching the 8th Circle exactly two years from now.
But when Martin was at the 8th Circle, he was called the Sword Saint and evaluated as equal to those who had reached even higher realms.
Richardt, by contrast, had not.
He would show that difference from now on.
Shiver.
The moment Martin’s aura blade shone brilliantly, Richardt Altria felt chills across his entire body.
It felt as if his opponent had become a single sword.
‘So this is the real start.’
He felt genuine joy.
Proving it, Richardt smiled brightly.