Ch.295EP.63 – A Knight’s Valor Contains No Recklessness (6)

…A wind, no, a typhoon was blowing.

Though infinitely compressed, its power rivaled that of a cyclone, and as this typhoon exploded in all directions, the word “disaster” felt woefully inadequate to describe it.

“Divine punishment” might be the more appropriate term, as people ducked down and resisted to avoid being swept away by the wind.

Whoooosh-!

Gulp…

If that typhoon explosion had not occurred hundreds of meters away, Modred’s fortress would have been blown away long ago, and all the soldiers would have been forcibly launched into the air, fallen back down, and bid farewell to this world.

No, before that, they would have been torn apart by the supersonic wind blades emitted by that typhoon explosion.

As evidence confirming this speculation…

Boom…!

Swish…

Over 20,000 Wraiths were also swept away and annihilated, and while this was undoubtedly gratifying, it was a chilling sight that made one’s blood run cold.

And at the center of that typhoon explosion.

Crack!

From the explosion’s center, eerily calm like the eye of a storm, strange sounds continued to ring out.

It was the sound of bones breaking, or rather, being distorted—a terrible noise that made anyone who heard it wince in pain.

Gulp…

The battlefield had fallen silent due to the typhoon explosion, with both humans and monsters affected, and amid this quiet, those strange sounds echoed vividly in everyone’s ears.

“Damn it, seriously, if I ever use bone compression and reverse dragon technique at the same time again, I’m not human. Really. If I use it again, my body will literally explode.”

From the settling dust storm, a giant with piercing blue eyes emerged, muttering incomprehensible words.

Crack!

“…Ah.”

A gasp escaped from among the soldiers.

They couldn’t help but admire the man’s silhouette visible even from a distance.

“Perfect…”

The knight known as Fighting Dog, particularly devoted to physical training, couldn’t help but make such an assessment.

Though not the right thing to say in this situation, he couldn’t suppress his amazement and shock.

‘H-how can such a physique…’

His size and height were modest compared to his own.

But it would be wrong to call that physique modest.

Compression.

Yes, that body was remarkably compressed, like a diamond with not a single unnecessary muscle.

Yet what made it reminiscent of steel was its purity without any imperfections and the traces of countless hours of effort and training.

‘How much effort, no, what kind of impossible feats would one need to achieve such a body!’

Even he, born with a giant’s physique, wouldn’t know how to create such a body.

That physique, completed through unorthodox training—no, forged like metal and tempered through life-threatening battles—was beyond what talent or effort alone could achieve.

Thus, Felix de Modred, the Fighting Dog, nodded deeply.

He had wondered how someone could create such an impossible typhoon explosion…

‘This man can do it. No, it would be wrong if he couldn’t do at least this much!’

For the first time in his life, Felix felt inferiority, admiration, and a sense of defeat toward another person.

It was the moment he witnessed a superior being he could never surpass at present.

However, this was neither a base inferiority nor a humiliating defeat.

Rather.

“It feels good. I can still become stronger!”

Because he now knew such a level of training existed.

It couldn’t help but be a pleasant sense of defeat, and Felix burned with fighting spirit.

“…What is that madman saying in this situation?”

Hearing the booming voice even from a distance, he clicked his tongue.

What a strange person, he thought.

* * *

The reason Ihan hadn’t released his bone compression and reverse dragon technique until now was simple.

Namely.

– If I release this anywhere, it’s going to cause trouble.

Because he feared it might cause casualties.

Was it because he was using these two techniques—bone compression and reverse dragon technique—together for the first time?

An unexpected side effect had occurred, and he only realized after four days of being Santa Rihan that the repulsive force trying to return his body to normal was far more intense than imagined.

Such intense repulsive force meant the impact upon release would also be fierce, and if he released it thoughtlessly…

– This has enough power to easily collapse a building.

A living biological bomb.

His body had such a side effect.

The problem was that despite accumulating explosive-level repulsive force, he had neither the space nor time to properly release it, causing the repulsive force to build up more and more.

Ironically, while most knights would be unable to withstand such accumulated repulsive force and would either lose control or have their bodies collapse, Ihan’s body was too “robust.”

Ihan already possessed a steel-like strong body, but after consuming the [Heart of the Demon King] and receiving the [Fairy’s Blessing], the capacity of his body transcended understanding.

Even Aura users had admired his physique, so what more needs to be said?

Because of this, he succeeded in suppressing repulsive force that couldn’t normally be contained.

For dozens of days, no less.

– No, this isn’t right…

Of course, suppressing the repulsive force for dozens of days wasn’t his intention.

It was an absurd accident caused by others not giving him any respite.

From the Wales Unification War to the sudden appearance of Wraiths, and additionally having to urgently head to Modred’s secret base, what made matters worse was that these intense activities and battles only increased the accumulating repulsive force.

It was already powerful enough to collapse buildings, but now he couldn’t even gauge how much power this repulsive force would release, which is why he had to firmly hold onto his consciousness to prevent the technique from releasing.

It was a time of endurance that only he, with his adamantine body, could withstand, and now that the repulsive force had been released…

“…I couldn’t do that again if asked.”

Boom…!

He could only click his tongue as he confirmed the results of his actions.

‘I’m really not doing this twice.’

Though powerful, it required too much time and too many elements to accumulate and prepare.

Above all.

‘If I try this two or three more times, my body will collapse.’

Because bodily durability isn’t infinite.

It was only natural to give a bitter smile.

Even a barbarian would be shocked by such a crazy act.

…Well, still.

“The result is good, so it’s fine?”

Ihan looked at the spotlessly clean surroundings and smiled contentedly, as if he had never given a bitter smile.

The refreshing area where all monsters and evil spirits had been erased.

Well, this was…

A refreshing sight, like scrubbing off old grime from an iron plate.

* * *

[Neigh!]

“…You have good sense.”

A gift arrived, seemingly in consideration of Ihan whose clothes and armor had been torn to shreds.

The ghost horse of the Border Count, Kain, delivered the luggage, and Ihan escaped his beggar-like appearance by putting on the clothes and armor handed over by the ghost horse.

Clank, click.

Confirming that there was not only clothing but also water, combat rations, an axe, and a sword, he leisurely opened a combat ration.

Very slowly.

[[[…..]]]]

Far away, monsters still littered the area, but even in the middle of such a battlefield, he remained relaxed.

Furthermore, he equipped the sword and axe, filled his stomach with dried fruits, meat, and bread, and even drank water, yet despite this, the monsters did not charge at him.

Flinch…!

…Or rather, to be precise, they couldn’t even think of charging at him.

Whenever he moved or tried to do something, they would flinch and hastily back away.

This was not at all how monsters would typically react to humans, but even if humans were here instead of monsters, they would have shown the same reaction.

That’s because…

[-What an incredible aura. Just standing there, he has a presence that overwhelms thousands… You! You’re a hero of this era!]

The “aura” he naturally emitted was overwhelming beings known as evil species.

“As expected… That much doesn’t kill you.”

[No, it was really dangerous. If my 2,000 slaves hadn’t become a wall, I would have taken a big hit.]

“……”

[Hmm, I’m personally speaking to you, and you’re just leisurely drinking water?]

“Replenishing water and protein is more productive than talking to the likes of you.”

[……]

He didn’t stop the act of chewing his food thoroughly while moving his mouth, and finally, after drinking water and potion to complete his energy replenishment, he lightly stretched his body.

His joints were still stiff, and there was some awkwardness as he had returned to his original form after dozens of days, but.

“…I feel light.”

His body felt lighter than ever and overflowed with strength.

It wasn’t just a placebo effect; perhaps his physical abilities had increased more than before because he had unintentionally performed weight training for dozens of days by enduring the repulsive force.

It wasn’t exact, but roughly 2-3 times?

Well, regardless of how much it had increased, what was important was…

“Aren’t you running away?”

Whoosh!

Eliminating that evil spirit.

In an instant, Ihan’s will directed toward the enemy, and a blade of wind arose.

It wasn’t the supersonic wind blade shown earlier, but nevertheless, its heavy, hammer-like force was showing enough intensity to sufficiently pressure the enemy.

[Run away? Why would I run away?]

Surprisingly, the Great Archfiend, who had been waiting quietly, sneered at Ihan’s question.

Kikikik!

[You couldn’t eliminate me when I was off guard? Then you’ve used up all your chances. Do you know who I am?]

Know your place—.

Showing contemptuous arrogance, the space behind the Great Archfiend began to ripple like waves, and something started to be summoned.

[Yes, you certainly appear to be a hero of this era. It’s true that you’re strong enough to call yourself a hero. But in the end, you’re human, a utterly worthless human. Do you think someone like you can defeat a god? A human who doesn’t even have medium abilities-?]

Kikikikikik!!

It was a giant bull.

Only, all flesh had disappeared, leaving only bones, but its size boasted a massive scale comparable to a 30-story building.

[Know your place, hero of humans. Although you may be a hero, you’ve disappointed me. To abandon beauty and become like that, you’re not worth living.]

The Great Archfiend liked beautiful humans but merely despised and considered ugly humans lower than livestock.

Therefore.

[Consider it an honor to die by my <Celestial Bull>.]

The Great Archfiend intended to make this irreverent human who ignored its consideration pay for his sins-.

Thwack!

[?]

…Before finishing its words, the Great Archfiend’s head turned.

And that too.

[Ugh…!]

In a truly unsightly manner.

“You said you’d make me know my place?”

[???]

“What are you doing?”

Thwack!

[Kuhak!]

Smack!

“Go ahead and try?”

Ihan asked with a smile.

Why is the one who said they’d make him know his place…

“Rolling on the ground?”

Like an ‘insect’ that had eaten pesticide.

Crack!

The Great Archfiend’s face caved in, and it looked just like what it so despised.

Crash!

…An ugly sight.