Ch.26Knight Order Competition

Saeeorin’s next opponent was Jeraon Sigurd, a man who carried a greatsword as large as his own body.

Infinitely solemn and quiet. Like facing an enormous boulder. Saeeorin swallowed dryly as she watched her opponent approach from a distance.

As the tournament progressed, numerous competitors had walked into the Colosseum to showcase their swordsmanship. However, among them, Sigurd was the only one who wielded a greatsword as large as his own body.

A type she had never seen before. Yet she wasn’t nervous. Saeeorin tried to anticipate Sigurd’s movements through the memories imprinted in her mind.

Power-dependent linear attacks, spatial dominance through wide slashes, but consequently, vulnerability in close combat.

‘Is that really true?’

Even she, seeing him for the first time, could identify potential weaknesses. The swordsmanship of a noble family built over many years would not be so easily overcome.

There must be specific countermeasures.

Her thoughts couldn’t continue any longer. She would soon have to cross swords with her opponent.

Saeeorin drew her sword and stepped forward.

Faint dust clung to the soles of her shoes.

Sigurd didn’t charge. Unlike other competitors, he slowly walked to close the distance with Saeeorin.

Was it to conserve energy? Or was it mere arrogance? Saeeorin put aside these small questions and stepped forward.

Crack-!

The moment her foot touched the ground, blue lightning raced through Saeeorin’s mental landscape. The lightning that crossed the snow-white plain soon embraced a blue chill.

Frost Wolf’s Step

Blue lightning wraps around the steps of a wolf prowling across snow-white plains. A predator approaching its prey silently sometimes needs to explode with speed.

Now is that moment.

Whoosh-!

The moment she pushed off the ground, Saeeorin’s form blurred. Where the biting cold dispersed, a faint afterimage stretched out as she rushed toward Sigurd.

At that moment, Sigurd raised his right leg and stomped the ground.

Boom-!

The shockwave erupting from the ground disrupted her stance. Beyond her collapsed posture, Saeeorin could see Sigurd raising his greatsword.

‘He released mana…’

He created a shockwave by releasing condensed mana. A technique to compensate for the weaknesses that come with using a greatsword. A method only possible for nobles who have trained in mana cultivation since childhood.

She could replicate it two or three times, but doing so would deplete all the mana in her body. Yet she had no choice but to follow suit.

Saeeorin gritted her teeth. Her stance had collapsed. To regain the flow that had shifted to her opponent, she needed to escape this position.

Whoosh-!

The moment the massive greatsword grazed her hair, Saeeorin’s small form disappeared, leaving only an afterimage. She had used a rapid mana release to escape.

The moment one escapes danger, opportunity follows.

Crash-!

The instant the greatsword struck the ground, Saeeorin didn’t miss her chance. Though the mana release had strained her ankles considerably, she could still move.

Clang-clang-clang-!

Moving swiftly, Saeeorin leaped over the massive greatsword and swung her blade. Her consecutive strikes hit the greatsword, creating strange resonances.

Her strength was lacking. The flow of mana cultivation that had been smooth was interrupted due to the sudden mana depletion. A mistake from misjudging her own condition. As the blue slash cut through the air, Saeeorin smiled.

She had achieved her purpose anyway.

Clang-!

The moment the blade flashed, a dark hand shot up from below and caught the blade.

‘A gauntlet.’

She had heard it was a glove that protected the hand. It wouldn’t damage the hand even when catching a blade and was excellent equipment that could be used as a weapon itself.

“Your movements are decent… but your swordsmanship lacks depth.”

At Sigurd’s calm tone, Saeeorin bit her lip. She knew that. How could there be depth? The swordsmanship she had improvised was just taking its first steps.

Crack-!

No matter how much force she applied, the sword wouldn’t budge. Saeeorin immediately twisted her body and extended her leg.

Thud-!

It was a strike aimed at his head, but it was caught with disappointing ease. At that moment, Sigurd threw Saeeorin, whom he was holding, to the side.

Whoosh-!

“Ugh…!”

The force applied was tremendous. Unable to recover her collapsed stance, Saeeorin could only fly away spinning.

In that moment, Sigurd moved. He pulled out the greatsword embedded in the ground and struck the earth.

Thud-!

Another mana release erupted. A massive roar echoed as the ground exploded. The impact gave Sigurd tremendous speed.

Sigurd’s form, shot like a beam of light, approached Saeeorin.

‘I’m going to get hit.’

An intense intuition sent chills down her spine. Saeeorin drew up mana in preparation for the imminent impact. Mana racing from her heart enveloped her entire body, delivering a biting cold to the tip of her sword.

Whoosh-!

A slash approaching while tearing through the air. Eventually, Saeeorin’s sword and the greatsword collided.

Bang-!

A massive explosion occurred as the mana-infused swords clashed. Saeeorin immediately twisted her sword upward. The sword that had been making clanging sounds shook violently, and with a “tang!” sound, Saeeorin’s body and sword were flung away.

Whirl-

Spinning as she flew far, Saeeorin landed on the ground and knelt. The fatigue accumulated throughout her body was considerable. With two mana releases, the mana in her body was almost depleted. Her sword had also fallen far away.

However, Saeeorin’s gaze did not turn toward her distant sword.

Instead, she drew the longsword embedded right beside her.

When knights hold competitions, it’s common for swords to break or fly away. Various types of swords were placed throughout the Colosseum to prevent situations where one couldn’t continue fighting.

The sword Saeeorin drew was also such a spare weapon.

Since it hadn’t been touched by human hands, there were no memories imprinted on the sword. Saeeorin swung the gleaming sword and pointed it at her opponent.

It was a signal that it wasn’t over yet.

“Huff…”

Following the low breath, a biting cold scattered. At this rate, she would lose. Saeeorin’s gaze swept over the numerous swords scattered across the Colosseum.

Swish-

Her posture changed. Her two legs supported her body with the momentum of a great tree, and her raised hands gripped the sword.

Her breathing also began to change. The marten’s breath, which had been low and prolonged, began to exude ferocity. There was no need to follow it perfectly.

She took only what she needed through memory. Simultaneously, a change came to Saeeorin’s mental landscape. The snow-white plain disappeared, and a massive mountain began to take its place.

The mana in her body moved rapidly, enveloping her entire body. It was impatient, violent, and simple. It had one purpose: Power. To achieve this purpose, the mana moved to expand all of Saeeorin’s muscles.

‘The gaze that looks down upon the world from the highest mountain peak carries the momentum of a hegemon, able to command the world…’

Crash-!

Sigurd stomped the ground again. Saeeorin didn’t dodge. She merely faced the approaching opponent with a fierce smile.

As the incantation continued, the mana became more wild. In that moment, Sigurd could see the massive mountain unfolding behind Saeeorin.

Thunder-Breaking Mountain Sword

The sound of the striking sword resembles thunder, hence “thunder,” and the ferocity imbued in the sword is said to be able to break mountains, hence “breaking mountain.”

Crash-!

Saeeorin’s sword struck Sigurd’s greatsword, which had extended in a straight line. The moment a powerful sound, different from before, shook the arena, an ominous cracking sound echoed.

The resulting shockwave was tremendous. Scattered weapons around flew away, and Saeeorin’s hair was blown back.

Neither Sigurd nor Saeeorin retreated. And the next moment, with a “clang!” sound, the massive sword shattered like glass. Metal fragments scattered as it couldn’t withstand the immense mana.

Looking down at the sight, Sigurd spoke.

“Was this your aim?”

Saeeorin didn’t answer. She had no leisure to respond. She had poured all her mana into that technique. Saeeorin’s condition was so poor that it wouldn’t be strange if she collapsed right away.

Sigurd looked down at the sword with only the handle remaining. His sword, which would remain intact even after striking a massive boulder, had broken.

Before participating in the competition, he had never failed to check the condition of his weapons. Yet it had broken. A sword that had been perfectly fine.

“What on earth did you…”

First encounter, three times, then once more. In total, Saeeorin’s sword had struck his sword four times. He had thought it was meaningless resistance, but it wasn’t.

Saeeorin had persisted. Smiling as she faced her opponent.

‘I’m dying…’

“I concede.”

Sigurd acknowledged his defeat. His sword had broken. Despite being weaponless, his opponent hadn’t attacked him.

It wasn’t that they couldn’t continue fighting. Spare weapons were prepared inside the Colosseum. But he didn’t want to flee disgracefully to continue the fight.

His opponent possessed perfect chivalry. It was his defeat.

“The winner is Saeeorin!”

The moment the match result was decided, Saeeorin barely managed to move her hand. Her small hand, trembling weakly, formed a fist and tapped her chest twice.

The White Frost Tribe’s greeting shown only to the strong. Saeeorin acknowledged Sigurd as a strong opponent.

The moment Sigurd left the Colosseum, Saeeorin exhaled the breath she had been holding.

“Ugh…!”

Dark red blood trickled from her mouth. The forced transition of mana cultivation had upset her insides. Saeeorin sat down with a pale face.