Chapter 364 Fourth Day 3
Sword duel.
A special type of duel where usage of Aura and Mana is prohibited.
Contestants would simply use their swords and clash according to them one by one. It was mostly used by those who simply gave their lives in the path of the sword.
Contrary to what one would expect, in the world of Aeria, the swordsmen are not some sort of muscle-headed people.
No.
Just like scholars who pursued the knowledge of magic and the depths of this universe rather than 'strength,' there are also those who sought perfect [Sword] rather than acquiring 'strength.'
Those are known as 'Swordsmen,' not knights. They may not be strong enough to be acknowledged, but they are those who pursued the path of the sword to the core.
[Sharpened] was a club that wanted to achieve the perfect sword, at least that as what was written in the description of the club.
Therefore, they naturally had the necessary tools to restrict their Aura and Mana so that they could only show the [Swordplay] they had developed.
So, the moment Callius accepted the duel invitation, immediately both contestants were given the restrictive bracelets to limit their Aura and Mana.
The tension in the courtyard was palpable as Callius and Lucius faced each other, their hands firmly gripping the hilts of their swords.
Callius had his own sword [Nihil] in his hand; however, something was essentially different.
Rather than the pitch black color of his blade, this time [Nihil] looked like a simple gray blade. ((N1))
It was like any ordinary blade one could find, though it was still in the form of estoc.
The gathered crowd, a mix of students and onlookers, watched in hushed anticipation. The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the stone pavement.
Callius, with his sardonic grin still intact, took a step back and gave a mockingly exaggerated bow. "Such chivalry, Senior Lucius, agreeing to a sword duel without resorting to magic. I'm impressed."
Even though his words looked like he was praising Lucius, in fact, everyone knew Callius was remarking on the fact that he was a mage here.
Lucius, his face flushed with anger, didn't dignify Callius's remark with a response. Instead, he adjusted his grip on his sword and readied himself for the impending clash.
'How sad...Future best dog of the Baskerville Family is getting angry at my words here.' Callius thought, observing Lucius.
In fact, there was a reason he went this far: to provoke Lucius and get a reaction from him. It was because Lucius was one of the characters in the game that discriminated against the commoners the most.
Even though he looked like someone who wanted to protect his pride, he was someone who was taking his anger out on the people he kidnapped.
He was a bastard who enjoyed assaulting women and forcing himself on them.
Of course, for Callius, these were not the main reasons.
'I need to cut his connection right here.'
It was because this boy before him actually had a hidden talent he had yet to acquire and know about.
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Name – Lucius Montgomery
Age – 17
Class – Swordmaster
Mage Rank – 2-star
Knight Rank – 5-star
Attributes – Wind, Space(unawakened)
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'Indeed, his space talent is yet to bloom:'
The boy before him, Lucius Mongomery, was a boy who would be very famous in the future. He was a boy that would be the most famous dog of the Baskerville family.
"The Space Cutter."
Callius mumbled, looking at the name.
'And, it is too late to recruit him.'
Of course, at first, he thought about recruiting this bastard and using him, but as he watched him for a while, he naturally discarded this idea.
'He is already brainwashed enough.'
At that moment, the referee, a neutral senior student appointed to oversee duels within the academy, stepped forward to officiate the duel.
"Gentlemen, this will be a clean and honorable duel. No magic, no tricks, just your swords and skill. The duel will end when one of you yields or is incapacitated. Are you both ready?"
Both Callius and Lucius nodded in agreement.
"Very well, on my mark," the referee announced, his voice carrying authority. "Begin!"
The courtyard seemed to hold its breath as the two young students faced each other cautiously.
However, no matter what, Callius was not a boy who was known for his sword skills. In fact, most people here had already searched his background, and they knew about his knight rank.
"Hey, isn't Callius Augustride a mage?"
"Yes. From what I know, he is a fire mage."
"Then, why is he fighting with the sword?"
"Go ask him. Why are you asking me?"
"Tch."
"I am sure Lucius can beat him easily. His swordsmanship is refined."
"I say we wait before speaking. It is pretty odd that Callius would randomly accept the challenge."
"Nah…He is just putting up a strong front before the crowd."
"They said the same thing yesterday as well; look at the results."
"….."
Just as they said, Callius, despite his mocking demeanor at the beginning, was now excluding a weird pressure. It was as if he was the blade itself.
Lucius, knowing he couldn't afford to underestimate him, was circling around the young freshman. He had to defend his family's honor, but that was actually an excuse.
'They will reward me if I do well.'
In fact, in reality, he wanted to prove himself.
'You are full of openings.'
After circling Callius for a little while, Lucius concluded from his posture alone.
'You are a mage, after all; how dare you think you can beat me.'
SWOOSH
With that, Lucius struck first, a swift and precise swing aimed at Callius's shoulder.
CLANK
However, contrary to what he thought, Callius parried the blow with ease, his sword ringing as it met Lucius's.
The clash of steel echoed through the courtyard, and the crowd watched with bated breath.
SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH
Following that immediately, Callius countered with a series of rapid strikes, testing Lucius's defenses.
Like the flowing water and swift wind, he flawlessly executed three rapid stabs, each of them aiming at fatal locations.
CLANK CLANK CLANK
'Huh?'
Surprised, Lucius managed to block each blow, his face a mask of determination. The attacks were incredibly swift like the person before him was a seasoned fighter. His sword didn't contain any ounce of hesitance.
However, he was determined to prove that his 'family's lineage' was not to be trifled with.
SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH
However, Callius didn't stop after Lucius blocked his attacks.
Like the tsunami, his attacks got swifter as he constantly attacked.
His estoc, with its reach long, was stabbing again and again.
CLANK CLANK CLANK
'Just what is this swordsmanship?'
Lucius asked himself, as he couldn't understand what was happening before his eyes. Callius was incredibly agile, not befitting of a mage. However, this was not the real problem.
The problem was the way he stabbed.
It was simply unpredictable.
CLANK CLANK CLANK
He kept blocking and blocking, but with each strike, he felt the sword in his hand getting heavier.
PAT
And as the small sound of blood hitting the ground was heard, naturally, his attention was drawn there.
'I am bleeding?'
In fact, he was not injured directly. It was his hand that was bleeding.
Callius' attacks, that was overwhelming him like a tsunami, made the grip in his hands painful as blood dripped from the wound.
SWOOSH
'Where?'
As Callius' sword flashed once again, Lucius asked himself.
'From the left?'
He tried to predict where the attack would come from as his vision turned to the left.
'No! It wa-
STAB
"Grr….."
However, his thoughts immediately came to a close as the estoc pierced his right shoulder.
The pain spread like wildfire, his shoulder burning.
If it was a duel with aura, he could use his aura to cover his body, but it was not.
"Is that the best you can do, Senior Lucius? I've seen more skill from a blindfolded squirrel!"
At that moment, he heard a mocking voice coming from before him.
"W-what?"
Lucius gritted his teeth in response, his anger fueling his determination.
"You bastard."
SWOOSH
Ignoring the pain in his right shoulder, he swung his sword with renewed vigor, trying to land a blow on Callius.
SWOOSH
However, that was impossible.
'This bastard is too slippery.'
Let alone hitting an attack, his sword couldn't even enter the [Aura Zone]—a zone where the aura would damage the enemy without hitting with a sword.
SWOOSH SWOOSH
He continuously attacked, trying to hit even once. He desperately wanted to prove himself.
'Sword of Montgomery – Triangular Trap.'
A movement style that aimed to trap the person rather than landing a hit. It was a movement used to make the fourth attack peak.
SWOOSH
Attack with a slash from right to left.
Step forth.
Diagonal upper swing from left bottom to peak.
Step forth.
Diagonal lower swing from top to bottom right.
A complete triangle.
'Heh, I completed it.'
As he saw Callius constantly evading his strikes just as the technique wished, a smirk plastered on his face.
'Sword of Montgomery – Denouement.'
A simple stab that is aimed to finish the trapped prey. It is a complete technique suitable for such a sword style.
"You are finished."
With his sword concluded, Lucius was sure his attack would land.
CLANK
However, it wasn't what he expected.
The sword strike that he was sure would land was parried.
"Huh?"
However, that wasn't the end.
SWOOSH
The moment Callius parried his attack, he started pushing forward.
CLANK
First, an attack with a slash from right to left.
Step forth.
CLANK
Diagonal upper swing from left bottom to peak.
Step forth.
CLANK
Diagonal lower swing from top to bottom right.
A complete triangle.
'This?'
It was his family's sword.
'How?'
That bastard was using his family's sword.
'No….This is a lot better?'
In fact, his attacks were different.
"Senior Lucius, can you understand now?"
As those words left Callius' mouth, the sword flashed.
SWOOSH
And stopped right before his neck.
"How does it feel to be trapped by the one you served your whole life?"
Those words…..
For Lucius, they contained a different meaning…
------------------------A/N---------------------
N1 : Nihil can change her form and her looks. This is the second ability she acquired after eating the core of a demon, and this was how she showed her human form.
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