episode_0053

Guildmaster Akir seized the initiative first, wielding his greatsword and shouting, “You half-penny brat! Do you think I’ll lose to you just because you can’t even use a single spell!”

Kael rushed forward immediately. However, Guildmaster Akir’s swordsmanship was far from monotonous.

Clang!

A sharp sound echoed as the swords clashed. The strength and thickness of the greatsword were incomparable to a regular sword, prompting a revision in Kael’s counterattack strategy.

Clang!

Yet, whether Kael’s strategy was anticipated or not, Guildmaster Akir promptly pursued the man trying to retreat, followed by an overwhelming display of swordsmanship.

In an instant, the swords clashed five times in succession. Kael’s hand trembled. However, he did not give up, raising his sword, parrying, and then deflecting. Nevertheless, unable to withstand the weight and strength of the consecutive blows from the greatsword, his sword shattered.

Crash!

Kael’s sword broke into pieces. Guildmaster Akir looked at him and sneered, “Foolish wretch. Did you boast about your skill only to end up being nothing special when it came down to it?”

The man’s words struck Kael’s heart.

“If… it were not me but Macderas.”

If it had been Macderas instead of himself facing the man, he would have been swiftly defeated. Unlike himself with mediocre sword skills, Macderas possessed refined swordsmanship and could unleash overwhelming sword techniques and even mana.

Despair engulfed him. A dreadful reality loomed before him, questioning whether he was fated to be unable to succeed even without magic, more than the sense of loss from losing his weapon. Then,

“Pick up the sword lying next to you.”

Macderas’ voice resonated.

‘How on earth…?’

Currently under Macderas’ control, he was holding the sword. But how was Macderas communicating with him mentally? Although puzzled, it was not crucial. What mattered more was that Macderas was guiding him.

“If you give up, that’s when you lose. As long as your head and body are intact, and your arms can move, keep fighting until you die. Once you engage in battle, you must struggle until your last breath.”

Swish.

Kael clenched his fist and began to sidestep.

“Where are you going!”

Guildmaster Akir attempted to strike Kael immediately, but Kael evaded the sword strike by throwing himself aside and successfully picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground.

Only then did Kael survey his surroundings. Macderas’ victims lay around him, and weapons they had used were scattered on the ground haphazardly.

“I lack the skill to dodge or parry a greatsword, but I can be certain of one thing—my determination never wavers.”

“Ahh!”

Kael screamed as he charged forward. Once again, Guildmaster Akir indiscriminately shattered Kael’s sword, but this time Kael did not foolishly give up. As the sword broke, he threw himself to the ground and picked up a new sword to engage once more.

Guildmaster Akir tried to stop him, but it was futile. Kael was acting with the willingness to risk getting cut, so stopping him was pointless.

Slash!

His arm was cut, his leg was cut, and even his neck was almost sliced, yet Kael did not retreat.

Scratch…

Little by little, the greatsword started to show signs of wear.

“Damn it.”

For the first time, a sigh escaped Guildmaster Akir’s lips. Eventually, he exclaimed, “Cowardly brat. Fighting so desperately. Are you devoid of even the slightest honor?”

“I don’t want to hear such words from a cheat, a murderer like you. Aren’t you the kind who lacks any hint of honor, selling fake potions and preying on the weak?”

Akir, the guild leader, charged forward in anger at Kael’s words. However, his approach was different this time. Instead of wildly swinging his sword in rage as before, he provocatively taunted while carefully wielding his blade with precision.

It seemed like his intentions had shifted. While initially determined to overpower Kael completely, now his focus had changed to a relentless pursuit of ending Kael’s life by any means necessary. Like a snake patiently eyeing its prey, Akir’s movements were gradually tightening around Kael’s neck.

“To the right, it’s open.”

At that moment, Macderas’s voice rang out as expected. Kael immediately attacked the man’s right side with his sword.

“Argh!”

Akir, the guild leader, swiftly stepped back. Momentarily taken aback by the unexpected strike, he hesitated, only to come back into the fray.

“Now the sword is exposed. Defend the left and aim for the right knee with your sword,” Macderas instructed.

Kael focused his mind, keenly assessing the sword’s movements to anticipate the next strike. Following Macderas’s guidance, the sword initially aimed straight for Kael’s left but then redirected towards his neck. However, was it due to anticipating the move beforehand? He effortlessly parried the attack, even…

*Swoosh*

For the first time, he managed to wound Akir, leaving a small gash near his knee.

“I… I can do this.”

Confidence surged within him. His blood boiled with excitement. For the first time, he had wielded a sword against someone, even if it was against Akir, considered the worst criminal. He felt for the first time that his efforts had not been in vain.

This was his first experience of defeating someone with swordsmanship. His hands trembled. His breath faltered. Dizziness threatened to overwhelm him.

“Don’t get too excited. The battle is just beginning,” Macderas cautioned.

Upon hearing Macderas’s words, his breathing steadied once more. Having observed the man’s actions, Kael felt a sense of complete trust in his words.

However…

“You’re still acting up like a brat, you little punk!”

There was a stark difference in the battle experience. As the fight continued, the opponent resorted to dirty tactics, pressuring Kael and causing him to accumulate wounds one by one.

The pain from the wounds slowed his movements, creating further constraints on his actions.

*Crack!*

The sound of flesh tearing began to echo. Macderas remained silent, offering no further words. Yet, the man continued the duel relentlessly.

As fatigue set in, despite wanting to release the sword, he clenched his hands tightly.

“Just once… even if I die, just once…”

He wanted to achieve something with his own hands. To protect something. To gain recognition from someone. His intense desire turned into determination.

But determination alone wasn’t enough.

*Thud*

In the end, Kael collapsed to the ground. Levya cried out, “Stop… please… why…”

Levya’s cries mixed with screams. Kael stared blankly at her face.

Even as tears streamed down her beautiful face, he knew he wouldn’t be able to see the girl he once cherished again. However, despite that…

“I will… with my own hands…”

Kael rose from the ground once more, glaring down at Akir with a look of disdain.

“You fool. You possess the pitiful talent of swordsmanship. Just moments ago, I thought you were quite useful, but the moment we engaged in combat, you turned into a worthless worm. Have you become afraid? I was even wary of you earlier, but now you’re nothing but a pathetic coward.”

The reason was simple. Before, MacDarras wielded the sword, and now it was Cael who wielded it. The opponent felt it too. It was the difference in their alien talents.

But Cael did not despair.

Yes. One must acknowledge what is to be acknowledged. He was a knight without talent. However, despite that, he did not stop striving. If he had not trained his sword to the fullest, he would not have been able to engage in combat with this man for so long.

This is good enough. He has done his best. With his meager talent, this is his limit.

[Don’t give up. You can do it.]

For the first time, MacDarras affirmed the man.

[You can defeat him.]

It’s impossible. It’s an unbelievable story. There exists too great a gap to capture Akir, the guild leader, with his swordsmanship skills alone. However.

[Believe in me. You can defeat him.]

[Focus your mind differently. Infuse the will to protect someone into your sword. Pour all the strength in your body as if you are willing to sacrifice your life for it. Put your desires, the discrimination and humiliation you have endured, and the feelings of frustration into the sword. By doing so.]

[Your sword will reach the enemy.]

Listening to MacDarras’ words, Cael closes his eyes. He senses the enemy’s aura. The opponent is now running towards Cael. The sound of pounding footsteps. The sound of breaths exhausted from a long battle. And further, the sound of bodies spilling blood shed by corpses.

Time seems to stand still, becoming quiet.

He channels it into the sword held in both hands.

The oppression, humiliation, and disdain he has endured so far. He fills the sword with them. He faces them without ignoring the countless nights of frustration.

He acknowledges his shortcomings. He does not deny his meager sword talent and humble status. At the same time, he yearns. In this possibly final sword strike, he vows to dedicate his soul.

He infuses the desire to protect, the longing for approval from the countless hours he wanted it, into the sword.

And then.

A radiant light emanates from the sword.

“Sword energy…”

The [Aura] that many people have seen abundantly, considered a symbol of talent,

It began to flow into Cael’s sword.

His hands tremble. But he calms his heart coldly.

“You bastard! Are you hiding your strength and leisurely provoking me to fight!”

Guild Leader Akir approaches. In that moment.

Swish!

Cael’s sword strikes towards Guild Leader Akir.

A white aura surged towards him as if to engulf everything.