Ch.63Escape Under the Moonlight (4)

# Sword Seeker.

Those who not only weave mana to draw out sword energy, but have reached the level of imbuing their sword energy with their own mental imagery. The swordsmanship they display follows a different trajectory from ordinary swordsmanship.

This is only natural.

The sword energy drawn out by Sword Seekers has its own form and properties. Some scatter sword energy resembling flames, while others disperse sword energy like snowflakes. Even when executing the same swordsmanship, the range and area affected by the blade varies according to the form of the sword energy.

Swinging a sword to burn vegetation.

Swinging a sword to cut down someone far away.

As befits those who stand between humans and superhumans, the swords they wield sometimes defy common sense. Just like now.

Swoosh!

Najin staggered backward.

Blood was flowing freely from his shoulder blade. Though he thought he had fully blocked the sword, Najin gritted his teeth at the gushing blood.

* * *

Najin is by no means weak.

He ranks among the top Sword Experts, and among Experts, there is no one who can defeat him. His physical abilities and sword energy output have long surpassed that of an Expert, and his instantaneous judgment would not lose even to a Sword Seeker.

However, despite all this, Najin is still a Sword Expert.

He has not yet reached the realm of a Sword Seeker.

People say not all battles are decided by one’s level of attainment, but most battles are. The level of strength accumulated is simply different.

Slash!

Najin pressed down firmly on his bleeding shoulder blade and raised his head. Before him stood Knight Commander Griffin, who had drawn out his sword energy.

The sword energy rippling above his sword was red.

The crimson sword energy took the form of something like a thorn bush, with sharp branches extending outward. Keeping his distance, Najin narrowed his eyes.

‘I thought I blocked it.’

The moment he blocked the sword, the extending sword energy deeply cut his shoulder blade. Najin had only fought against those who drew out sword energy with fixed forms. For him, sword energy that changed shape was unfamiliar.

…Unfamiliar, but he would have to get used to it.

This wasn’t training where they weren’t aiming for each other’s lives, but a real battle with lives at stake. Naturally, there was no luxury to simply observe. He couldn’t choose to flee either, as it was a situation where he had to block the man’s path.

Don’t let Knight Commander Griffin reach Dieta.

Stall for time against this opponent until the objective is achieved.

That was the mission given to Najin. With this engraved in his mind, Najin moved. He steadied his breathing and adjusted his sword. By the time Najin had composed himself, Griffin was already approaching him.

Tap.

Though Griffin had only taken one step forward, Najin suddenly found himself face to face with Griffin. Najin reflexively swung his sword.

Clang!

Sword energy clashed with sword energy. Though Najin had grown to the point where he had no equal among Experts, he couldn’t fully withstand Griffin’s sword energy. He was overwhelmed in terms of density, output, and the organization of the sword energy itself.

With each block, his sword energy was chipped away.

Even as Najin forcibly maintained his stance, Griffin broke it with sheer power. Each time he swung his sword, Najin’s body shook violently.

Clang!

Finally, his stance shattered.

Najin’s sword arm was flung backward. He couldn’t withstand the repulsive force of the sword energy. Thus, Griffin’s kick struck Najin’s exposed torso. He saw it coming but couldn’t avoid it.

Thud.

A kick armored with greaves and military boots creates an impact greater than being struck with an ordinary blunt weapon. The breath he had been holding was expelled in an instant, and Najin’s eyes widened. His body was lifted into the air.

Swoosh, the sound of air being cut reached Najin’s ears. His body was flying through the air.

By the time one becomes a Sword Seeker, their physical abilities have already reached a realm that can no longer be called human. Even an Expert like Najin can send a large knight flying with a kick, so there’s no reason a Sword Seeker like Griffin couldn’t do the same.

Scenery flashed before Najin’s eyes.

The figure of Griffin standing before him grew distant.

No, it wasn’t growing distant. Griffin planted his leg, which had been extended for the kick, firmly on the ground. The moment Griffin stamped the ground, his distant figure suddenly drew near. He had immediately pursued Najin, who was being sent flying.

‘This is insane, truly.’

Najin gritted his teeth while inwardly cursing.

If he stayed like this, he would be cut down. Najin twisted his body in mid-air. Fortunately, they were in a forest, and there was something to grab onto even while flying.

Grab.

Najin stretched out his arm and grabbed the trunk of a tree passing by his side. He twisted his body to avoid the sword swung by Griffin who had pursued him. The sword, which missed Najin by a hair’s breadth, cleanly cut through the base of the tree Najin had been holding onto.

There was no time to rest after evading. The tree was falling, its base cut. Najin kicked off from the tree and moved out of the range of Griffin’s sword.

Swoosh, sliding to a landing on the ground, Najin caught his breath. His struck abdomen was throbbing. It felt like a rib or two might be broken. Spitting out saliva mixed with blood, Najin looked at Griffin.

Crash!

As the tree collapsed to the ground, dust rose. Walking out through the dust, Griffin’s eyes were fixed directly on Najin. There wasn’t the slightest sign of fatigue, and the red sword energy rising from his sword was terrifyingly eerie.

Truly, there was no other monster like him.

To Najin, the knight before him seemed even more terrifying than the Fallen Knight who regenerated no matter how many times he was cut.

‘No mysterious swordsmanship, no flashy techniques, no special movements.’

He simply swings his sword steadily and applies pressure.

Yet, it was sufficiently threatening. This is a Sword Seeker, a swordsman who has reached a realm that Najin has not yet attained. Trying to regulate his uneven breathing due to the blow to his abdomen, Najin lowered his sword.

‘Let’s use the terrain.’

Move by kicking off trees. Avoid direct confrontation and aim for blind spots. Najin roughly knew how to deal with someone stronger than himself.

Just as Najin was about to move.

Thud.

Griffin took a step.

The ground shook. He gripped his sword with both hands and pulled it back behind him. The red sword energy surged and coiled into one.

“…!”

Najin’s eyes bulged.

His instinct sounded an alarm. For a moment, Najin’s heart beat violently. Instinct, reaction speed, and immediate judgment. Najin accepted more mana into his body than the permissible amount, without hesitation.

The surging mana within his body caused extreme pain, but that didn’t matter.

He needed to move now. Because he had absorbed more mana than the permissible amount, Najin was able to leap high off the ground. The moment Najin jumped, Griffin swung his sword, and the red sword energy on the blade was wielded like a whip.

Crack, crackle… and boom.

Najin, who had leaped into the air, widened his eyes.

Looking down, what he saw were trees all swept to one side, as if a giant had cleared them with his hand. With one swing of his sword, Griffin had blown away all the trees within a radius of about twenty paces.

‘Insane.’

If he hadn’t enhanced his body in that instant to jump, he would have ended up like those completely shattered trees. Landing in the clearing created by the destroyed trees, Najin couldn’t help but stick out his tongue.

“……”

Griffin, standing at the center, merely looked at Najin in silence. He didn’t say anything, but Najin could understand what he was trying to convey.

There’s nowhere to run.

Nowhere to hide.

If you thought this place was advantageous to you, abandon that thought.

The various techniques Najin had been using, the movements utilizing the terrain, the techniques of penetrating blind spots—none of them would work against the man before him. The difference in realm meant that he could maintain the upper hand even considering all of that.

‘Indeed, I cannot win.’

Unless he draws Excalibur, he cannot win. If he’s truly cornered, he might have to draw it, but Najin hadn’t considered that far yet.

‘But stalling for time is possible.’

It would be nice if he could win, but Najin’s original purpose was to stall for time. If Dieta reaches the gate and shows the invitation… the knights of the Marquis’s household will rush here. If he can hold out until then, it’s his victory.

So think.

Keep thinking constantly.

Najin moved in sync with Griffin’s steps. The moment Griffin raised his sword, Najin accelerated his body. Closing the distance, Najin’s sword struck Griffin’s blade before he could fully swing it.

Clang!

Amidst the thunderous sound, Griffin and Najin locked eyes.

Griffin narrowed his eyes. He felt something was off. The opponent before him was undoubtedly an Expert, but those movements were certainly not those of an Expert.

The sense of incongruity didn’t end there.

Najin moved before Griffin could swing his sword, and as if anticipating his movements, he persistently pierced through the openings. Though the blade wasn’t threatening, it was undeniably annoying.

And most notably.

Thud!

The young man’s instantaneous judgment.

Griffin was pushed back. The armor covering his chest was dented. Najin had struck the armor with his elbow, having closed in right before him. Pushing him back with the elbow strike to the armor, he secured distance and swung his sword.

The connection between movements was smooth.

Looking at Najin’s sword flying towards his neck, Griffin felt surprise. He hadn’t expected him to penetrate at that moment. Griffin swung his sword to deflect Najin’s blade.

‘To charge in even after seeing such a strike.’

A strike that had blown away the surroundings.

To close the distance after seeing such a strike is impossible with ordinary courage. The normal judgment would be to maintain distance and observe cautiously, which was the movement Griffin had intended to induce.

By maintaining distance, he, who could sweep a large area, could continue to hold the advantage.

But the young man’s movement, not intimidated by that technique and immediately closing the distance, was something Griffin hadn’t anticipated and was also the best judgment. If he probed for openings this close, Griffin couldn’t use his large techniques.

‘I can respond, but if I miss, it becomes a fatal blade.’

Though he was clearly facing someone weaker than himself, Griffin acknowledged that he couldn’t let his guard down. Compared to himself, who had wielded a sword for many years, the young man’s judgment was not inferior in the slightest. In fact, his reaction speed and judgment might even be superior.

Not an opponent to take lightly.

Therefore.

He cannot kill him if he takes him lightly.

Griffin adjusted his stance, showing respect to the young man before him. He too didn’t wish for this to drag on any longer.

2.

Dieta ran towards the Marquis’s gate.

Perhaps “ran” is the wrong expression. Dieta was dragging her immobile ankle as she moved forward. Her speed was slow, and her posture was awkward.

But if one were to see Dieta’s face as she took each step, no one would be able to urge her to hurry.

Sweating profusely and gritting her teeth, Dieta was walking as best she could. Each time her malfunctioning foot dragged on the ground, a dull pain ran up her spine. Though she had recovered, her other leg wasn’t in great condition either.

Nevertheless, she walked.

Perhaps, she ran.

The sound of clashing swords from behind her began to fade. Dieta widened her eyes, gritted her teeth, and hastened her steps. She continuously whipped her body forward.

Najin was fighting.

He was risking his life, clashing swords with the Knight Commander to buy time. Dieta had to respond to that effort. She hoped that Najin’s efforts, who didn’t abandon her until the end and tried to keep his promise, would not be in vain.

The sooner she arrived, the higher the probability of Najin’s survival. Mulling over this fact, Dieta took steps with all her might.

‘Please don’t die.’

Dieta murmured inwardly.

The man who had opened his heart to her.

The person who had made her feel… not just fondness, but something more for the first time. She hoped that person wouldn’t die. She wanted to talk with Najin once more after all this was over.

“Ugh!”

Dieta rolled on the ground after tripping on a stone.

However, she immediately grabbed a tree and stood up, limping towards the gate. As she emerged from the forest, the gate began to come into view.

Dieta ran.

Just like when she had fled from the Duke’s villa as a child, she ran towards the gate with all her might.

3.

A Sword Seeker learns swordsmanship that suits them.

Swordsmanship that best utilizes the form of their sword energy, the mental imagery contained within it, and its special properties. After finding such swordsmanship, Sword Seekers often incorporate their sword energy to create their own techniques.

Griffin is no exception.

He was the Knight Commander of the Albania Ducal family and Ottoman’s first sword. Ottoman spared no investment for Griffin, his most cherished knight, and helped Griffin, who had reached the realm of a Seeker, to learn swordsmanship that suited him.

The swordsmanship Griffin acquired was.

Originally, a secret swordsmanship kept in the core of the Empire.

The swordsmanship of the war hero “Arta Trigadian.”

The swordsmanship of a hero who wielded his sword to protect the Sacred Tree from demons and heretics. There was no swordsmanship more fitting for Griffin’s sword, which bore the mental imagery of a thorn bush. Thus, for decades, Griffin honed his swordsmanship.

…Normally, it’s not a technique to be shown to a ragtag adventurer who isn’t a knight.

But Griffin acknowledged the opponent before him. That’s why he displayed the swordsmanship he had honed. Griffin stamped his raised foot towards the ground.

The foot placed down is the root of a great tree planted in the ground.

Standing on the ground, the body is the trunk of the great tree.

The raised sword is the branch of the great tree stretching towards the sky.

The red sword energy on Griffin’s sword spread out in all directions like a thorn bush. Mental imagery was imbued into the sword energy, and swordsmanship was incorporated. What was created was a technique unique to Griffin. Facing this technique, Najin smiled, inappropriate for the situation.

The swordsmanship of a Sword Seeker. The opportunity to see such swordsmanship up close was rare. Najin etched the movement of mana within Griffin’s body onto his retina. Of course, it’s impossible to replicate it immediately.

Impossible, but.

That doesn’t mean he can just give up. It didn’t seem like he could survive being swept up by that sword energy resembling a great tree.