Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Annihilation
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The red sword insignia on their breastplates and shields was the seal of Count Karzan.
Judging by their gear and warhorses, they appeared to be the Karzan Knight Order.
And the swordsmen in blue armor following them were knights of the Felton family.
Their valor was the very pride of the Felton Sword Family.
'Those bastards led the charge back then, too.'
I recalled the scene of the Felton knights surging forward like a tidal wave.
The memory stirred a deep-seated rage that began to boil within me.
Vwooom!
As if reading my mind, the Black Dragon Sword let out a fierce hum.
"It's obvious they're outmatched."
The Karzan Knight Order had twice the numbers, but they seemed far inferior in skill.
That must be why they're fleeing so desperately.
'Not a bad first target for the Black Dragon Sword.'
Before I knew it, my heart was burning with anticipation.
As I drew upon the subtle aura of the Konntraeger Energy Arts, a faint haze spread around me.
A suspicious fog that had appeared abruptly on the plains.
One might have found it strange, but no one paid it any mind.
To properly detect the Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique, one had to observe carefully from outside its imperceptible range.
I swiftly approached the pursuing column from the side.
As I sprinted at full speed, the gap closed rapidly.
But the Felton bastards failed to notice my approach.
The very moment I, shrouded in the mystical fog, cut into their ranks.
Shwaaak! Pshk! Pshuk!
"Gah!"
"Ugh!"
"Hee-hee-hing!"
Men and horses were swept away in an instant, their mangled remains scattering gruesomely across the ground.
Stunned by the sudden turn of events, the Felton knight captain shouted in alarm.
"Vanguard, halt!"
"Halt!"
Thud-thud-thud! Clip-clop! Clip-clop!
As I landed lightly on the grass, the eyes of the Felton knights immediately fixed on me.
Ah, this is a problem. Staring so passionately at me.
My handsome face might wear out.
"When the hell did you catch up? Who are you?"
The knight captain glared at me, his face twisted like a demon's.
He had lost over a dozen of his men in a single ambush; it was no wonder he was seeing red.
"Do you really need to ask after seeing this? I guess the blockheads of Felton have brains the size of a pea."
I taunted him with a light sneer.
"If that's what you want, you'll get it. Take care of that reckless fool and resume the pursuit. Charge!"
The knight captain didn't hesitate, immediately ordering his men to push forward.
Despite losing so many men, he seemed to think I had simply capitalized on the element of surprise.
'Right. Rushing in headfirst without a second thought once you've identified an enemy... just like a Felton.'
Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Forming a wedge, the Felton knights began to charge ferociously.
But the outcome was entirely different from what they expected.
Because before their mounts could even reach full speed, I leaped in and unleashed my attack.
Shnk. Thunk!
Moving silently, the Black Dragon Sword pierced the throat of the knight charging at the front.
The blade plunged deep and withdrew, yet there was barely a sound of tearing flesh.
"Huk!"
Sliiiide! Crack! Thud!
The second knight was also pierced through the chest and fell from his horse.
Pshuk! Pshk!
"Don't panic! Execute Tactic Five! Five!"
With five men dead in an instant, the knight captain urgently gave the order.
The captain, forming a small wedge with four of his subordinates, fell back before rapidly approaching again.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
Meanwhile, having already claimed my tenth victim, I glanced back at the approaching group.
"A familiar tactic. These guys never change."
Vwooom!
As the Black Dragon Sword hummed, a pale blue energy flared to life.
It flashed only for the moment I swung the sword, making it difficult to tell if it was the glint of sunlight or an aura.
I stepped to the left, unleashed two streams of aura, and drew my sword in a wide horizontal arc.
Shwaaaak! Pshak!
"Gah!"
"Kuaargh!"
And just like that, one corner of the wedge formation completely collapsed.
A single sword strike had neutralized the knights' tactic.
The power of the Heaven-Severing Nine Harmony Sword's first form, the First Harmony: Heaven-Severing Flash, was quite satisfying.
"Th-This is...!"
His horse's ankle severed, the knight captain was thrown onto the plains.
Crash!
"Ugh!"
While he was still dazed, I mercilessly slaughtered the remaining knights.
There was some resistance at first, but it quickly faded.
They seemed to realize they were no match and tried to retreat.
The last two surviving knights began to flee across the plains.
'And where do you think you're going?'
Shwiiik! Shwik!
I pulled two short pieces of metal from my coat and flicked my wrist.
The knights' bodies flinched, and they staggered violently.
Thwack!
"Guhh!"
Finger-sized throwing knives were now lodged in the napes of both knights.
It was the Swift Cloud Dagger Arts, a technique all members of the Rantzverger Assassination Guild were required to learn.
And so, the forty knights of the Felton order were annihilated by a single person.
No, there was still one man left alive.
"Ugh...!"
While I was finishing off the last two, the unhorsed knight captain had regained his senses.
He pushed himself halfway up and bellowed at me.
"Wh-Who in the world are you? You think you can get away with... Hup!"
Kla-chang—!
But I had no intention of listening to the captain's bullshit.
I swung my sword to shut him up, but he drew a spare and blocked it.
He then rolled backward and sprang to his feet.
Though he was alone, he hadn't lost his will to fight.
"You've got some nerve."
"The swordsmen of Felton know no fear."
"It's not just fear you don't know. You don't seem to know shame, either."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Go ask your ancestors. They can tell you what this is, too."
Shnk.
As a presence-less sword strike flew at him, the knight captain couldn't hide his confusion.
My sword style certainly resembled the Rantzverger family's Silent Assassination Arts.
But the sword path was completely different, infused with a much more advanced swordsmanship.
'I've mixed the Sun-Formed Flowing Sword with the Silent Assassination Arts. He must be incredibly confused.'
I could say with certainty that a knight captain of his level could never discern the origin of this sword style.
"Kugh!"
However, both the Silent Assassination Arts and the Sun-Formed Flowing Sword were basic sword styles.
They could confuse an opponent for a moment, but it was difficult to overwhelm someone with them alone.
'I should end this quickly. The Karzan Knight Order is approaching.'
I immediately switched to the Wheel Energy Arts, and the unique energy of Riverune enveloped the blade.
Vwooom!
The Heaven-Severing Nine Harmony Sword was a sword style practiced by everyone in the Riverune family, from the main disciples to the elders.
The knight captain's eyes widened when he saw the streak of pale blue light and its dividing form.
Seeing it for the second time, he finally recognized the Heaven-Severing Nine Harmony Sword.
"Th-That technique is...!"
Shwaaaaa! Ch-chank! Pshk!
Before he could say anything more, the Black Dragon Sword pierced his throat in a single thrust.
He tried to resist by drawing up his aura, but the Heaven-Severing Flash tore through his breastplate in one go.
"Kuh-huuuh..."
Thud! Sssshhh!
Clutching his throat, the fallen knight captain coughed up thick streams of blood.
Soon after, he passed into the next world.
"Whew. That was refreshing."
I stood there, gazing blankly at the hellscape filled with blood and flesh.
It felt as though some of my old resentment and bitterness had been relieved.
However, if it were discovered that I had slaughtered the Felton knights, things would get quite complicated.
The best choice was to leave this place without encountering anyone else.
First, I planned to find my two throwing knives, retrieve them, and then leave.
But the Karzan Knight Order didn't seem inclined to let me go just like that.
Clip-clop! Clip-clop!
The commander leading the knight order closed the distance somewhat, then dismounted and walked slowly toward me.
'This clueless old man is making things difficult.'
Regardless of their approach, I cast the Form-Shifting Invisibility Technique and vanished.
"Hah! You appeared like a ghost and vanished just the same. I wanted to thank you somehow..."
The man who appeared to be the commander looked around with a disappointed expression.
But it was impossible for them to find me now that I had left the battlefield.
I had already moved toward the forest where I'd been practicing the Heaven-Severing Lunar Eclipse.
I may have saved their lives, but whether or not I accepted their gratitude was my choice.
Forming ties with them would likely bring more trouble than benefit.
For now, it was far better to simply disappear.
Glancing back at the Karzan Knight Order, I swiftly cut through the forest.
'Don't just stand around. Go on your way.'