Chapter 234: Legion Commander
Hartstead was located in the southern inland region of the Empire.
The imperial capital lay in the north, extremely far from Hartstead.
Because of that, Imperial power in this area was relatively weak.
At present, the rebels were still not strong enough.
Their main range of activity had been suppressed to the south.
While resisting the Empire, they also continued absorbing fresh blood to strengthen themselves.
Whenever they discovered someone with unusual strength, the rebels would do everything possible to recruit them.
Only then would they have a chance of contending with the Empire’s high level combat power.
An army formed only from ordinary people could never be a match for the Empire.
That was also the main reason the rebels had been suppressed in the south.
They were seriously lacking in high level fighters.
Among ordinary people, the rebels had a decent reputation.
Although their hidden supporters were nobles, ordinary people did not know that.
They only knew this was an army formed by people from the bottom of society.
An army that dared resist the tyranny of the Empire.
Besides, the rebels did treat ordinary people fairly well.
They would not burn, kill, and loot commoners at will the way Imperial troops did.
On this point alone, the two sides could not be compared.
The arrival of the rebels sent the townspeople of Hartstead into delight.
The mayor was extremely excited and led the townspeople in warmly receiving Tekular and his troops.
"He is strong."
Cedran looked at Tekular’s figure.
He sensed the aura from Tekular that only powerful people possessed.
That meant his strength was definitely not weak.
A swordsman’s desire to win stirred restlessly.
Fighting spirit lit in Cedran’s eyes.
He wanted to challenge Tekular immediately.
"You are not his opponent."
Caelum poured cold water over him without hesitation.
His words were direct.
"He is much stronger than you. I suggest you do not go looking for embarrassment."
"How do you know?"
"I can tell. He is an expert in martial arts."
Cedran could tell that Tekular was skilled in martial arts, but he had no clear idea of exactly how strong the man was.
Curious, he asked, "Who is stronger, you or him?"
"I am a little stronger."
Caelum’s attitude remained calm.
Before long, Tekular walked over to them.
With great sincerity, he invited Caelum and Cedran.
"You two, would you be willing to join us and overthrow this rotten and dark Empire?"
The fact that the two of them had wiped out three hundred Imperial remnants was enough to prove their strength.
How could Tekular easily let such an opportunity to recruit high level fighters pass?
Caelum refused cleanly.
"Not interested."
"Same here."
Cedran’s attitude matched Caelum’s.
The future of the rebels was bleak.
Their path was destined to become a tragedy.
He had no desire to become a sacrifice in the struggle between the nobles and the Empire.
Tekular refused to give up and continued trying to persuade them.
"The Empire now imposes brutal taxes and endless levies. Commoners go hungry. Nobles treat common lives like livestock."
"You have seen with your own eyes what Imperial troops do. Can you truly continue tolerating the Empire and the nobles exploiting and persecuting us like this?"
Caelum did not want to hear a long speech.
He yawned and walked away.
Cedran had also wanted to slip off, but Tekular grabbed him by the arm, and he could not break free at all.
This man’s strength is ridiculous.
Cedran was secretly alarmed.
From that day onward, the turning point of Cedran’s fate arrived.
When he next appeared before Caelum, he had come to say farewell.
He had joined the rebels.
Of course, he had not done so for some noble ideal like overthrowing the Empire.
Tekular had simply noticed keenly that lofty ideals could not move Cedran.
So he decisively changed his argument.
After a round of persuasion, Cedran was convinced.
He decided to join Tekular’s unit and fight the Empire alongside the rebels.
This way, he would have opportunities to challenge even more Imperial experts.
"That is how it is."
Cedran set off with the rebels and called out to Caelum.
"One day, I will become a Sword Master known across the world. When that time comes, I will challenge you again!"
Cerys had been unable to break through to the Steel Cutting Realm and also wanted to follow the rebels to the battlefield for training.
The master stopped her without mercy.
She said angrily, "Why will you not let me go with them?"
The master shook his head firmly.
"You are still too young. It will not be too late to see the world once you turn sixteen. Until then, stay here and train properly."
The outside world was cruel beyond imagination.
Cerys’s mind was still not mature enough.
She could not yet face the darkness of the Empire and the world alone.
Cedran, a seasoned wanderer who had long struggled through the outside world, was different.
Strength did not represent everything.
Even an extremely powerful person could become a blade in someone else’s hand if they lacked brains and experience.
People like that were everywhere.
Three months later, Cedran’s reputation gradually spread.
The title Silver Sword became known.
His battle record at the front was impressive, and he killed many Imperial officers.
When a caravan passed through Hartstead, it brought Cedran’s wanted poster.
That proved he had already drawn the Empire’s attention.
Cerys was deeply envious.
She also wanted to build a reputation and make her name resound throughout the world.
Time flowed away like water.
Before anyone knew it, a year had passed since Caelum arrived in this world.
In June of Imperial Year 1245, a caravan brought news.
The Legion Commander of the First Imperial Legion had personally arrived in the south.
The rebels suffered a heavy blow.
The Second Regiment of the rebel Third Army led by Tekular was defeated in one strike.
Tekular was badly wounded, and his fate remained unknown.
After that, Hartstead lost all news of Cedran.
The mere arrival of one Legion Commander had severely damaged the rebel forces in the south.
And the Empire had five such Legion Commanders in total.
Above the Legion Commanders were two Grand Marshals.
One could imagine the vast gap in strength between the rebels and the Empire.
If the rebels did not possess high level combat power capable of opposing someone at the level of a Legion Commander, then they had no future.
A year had passed, and the data on Caelum’s proficiency template had risen greatly.
Swordsmanship Proficiency: 3500000
Observation Haki Proficiency: 720000
Armament Haki Proficiency: 720000
Conqueror Haki Proficiency: 720000
The overall strength of his three forms of Haki had increased by seven times.
Conqueror Haki in particular had grown more and more powerful in both intimidation and impact.
The destructive force of Conqueror Haki coating had become terrifying.
Observation Haki could now see as far as seventy two seconds into the future.
Its sensing range had expanded to a radius of twenty one kilometers.
It was practically a human radar.
Barring any accidents, Caelum would probably have stayed in Hartstead for a very long time.
Unfortunately, a sudden change forced him to alter his plans.
One day, a brilliant streak of light crossed the sky.
It tore across the heavens at astonishing speed and left behind a dazzling trail.
At the same time, the game system displayed a special mission before Caelum.
Caelum was surprised.
Under normal circumstances, the game system would not issue missions to players.
At least, nothing like this had ever happened before.
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