Chapter 195
Boom!
Rather than the sound of metal clashing against metal, each collision between Cain and Baron Ashbal’s weapons created a resounding boom, similar to explosions.
From top to bottom, Cain’s slashes didn’t discriminate. Baron Ashbal was focused on making sure that he wouldn’t get hit. Unfortunately for Baron Ashbal, their weapons seemed to be magnetically drawn to each other.
Baron Ashbal looked perplexed as he noticed his own sword being drawn into the opponent's weapon. ‘What's going on here?’
“Heup!” Cain exhaled and leaped into the air. He lifted his gigantic sword, which was as huge as his figure, above his head. With both hands tightly gripping the handle of the gigantic sword, he swung it down at Baron Ashbal’s head.
Boom!
A loud explosion rocked the earth as Cain’s gigantic sword made contact with Baron Ashbal’s sword. In the blink of an eye, Baron Ashbal’s feet were buried deep into the floor as he was unable to withstand the force of Cain’s sword strike.
The sharp pain that ran throughout Baron Ashbal's body caused him to frown.
Cain grimaced when he saw that Baron Ashbal managed to withstand his strike.
“One more!” exclaimed Cain. This time, he would jump a bit higher. Cain leaped into the air and raised his gigantic sword up above his head. He swung his sword once again, but he was still using his raw, physical strength as fuel for his sword strike.
To use raw, physical strength against a strong knight was tantamount to an insult and was frowned upon in battles like this. Naturally, Baron Ashbal erupted in fury because Cain had basically trampled on his pride once more.
“Boy!” Baron Ashbal exclaimed in fury.
Wooong!
He mustered his mana with a bit more effort and focus than before.
Baron Ashbal ended up coalescing a mana that was way above the standards of B-Class. The mana widely fluctuated, and it looked as if it would explode at any time.
However, Baron Ashbal wasn’t done just yet as a blue mist superimposed on his sword.
“Aura Blade!” someone exclaimed, but no one had no idea who shouted.
Bang!
Cain was sent flying away.
“Argh… Ugh!” Cain coughed bloody phlegm, wincing at his bruised innards, and smiled bitterly when he saw the blood in his hands. “I didn’t expect you to reach A-Class so fast.”
“This is what a proper teacher gets you, rather than learning from some shady con man,” said Baron Ashbal.
“...” Cain remained silent at that.
Witnessing Cain’s silence, Baron Ashbal sneered. “If you crawl like a dog, lick my boots, and kneel before my crotch as well—I’ll spare your life. I’ll probably cut off a few limbs or a muscle here and there… Maybe gouge out an eye or two? Still, I will let you live.”
“Hahaha!”
Some of the enemy’s knights burst out laughing as Baron Ashbal thrust his hips.
“Sir Cain…!”
Charles looked worried as she stared at Cain.
“Ptoooey!” Cain spat a glob of blood and phlegm before saying, “I’ll think about it if Lord Ashbal manages to withstand a few blows of mine.”
“See that? That’s a person who still can’t tell distinguish his asshole from a hole in the ground. Ahhhh… I guess I’ll just have to beat it into his head.” Baron Ashbal wagged his finger at Cain. “Come here. I’ll make you understand how weak and worthless you are.”
“You didn’t have to tell me…” Cain’s muscles tensed as he stood taut like an arrow about to leave its bowstrings. “I’ll be going to you anyway.”
Boom!
Cain shot out like a cannonball.
Baron Ashbal’s eyes widened. Cain was moving faster than he had expected.
The second round did not go like the first. Their swords met with just as much explosive force as before, but Cain wasn’t as wild as he had been earlier. Baron Ashbal also realized that he couldn’t snap Cain’s gigantic sword into two. Supposedly, an Aura Blade could cut everything in the world, making it the ultimate weapon. However, something was stopping him from unleashing its full power.
Sparks flew everywhere as Baron Ashbal started swearing. “This crazy bastard…!”
Baron Ashbal’s cursing seemed to be a reflection of his inner turmoil.
Becoming an A-Class Knight was a dream of every knight out there. The moment a knight became A-Class, their mana would undergo a unique qualitative change. Unlike Baron Ashbal’s deep blue mana, Cain’s mana was persistent and incessant.
It didn’t pose as much destructive threat as Baron Ashbal’s blue mana, but it was menacing, similar to an apex predator on the prowl.
However, the evidence of Cain’s true level was his refined and vigorous mana superimposed over his sword, similar to Baron Ashbal’s mana.
Cain was using an Aura Blade as well. Therefore, he was also an A-Class Knight like Baron Ashbal. It was a bit unbelievable, but the facts had been laid bare, and they couldn’t be disputed.
Boom!
Another loud boom reverberated, and a figure was sent flying away.
“You… What did you—Ugh!” Baron Ashbal puked a mouthful of blood. It was the sequela of recklessly mustering his mana. He struggled mightily but eventually collapsed to one knee.
“What did you say earlier?” Cain grinned cruelly and hefted his gigantic sword over his shoulder, reminiscent of a certain someone. “Oh, right: ‘Crawl like a dog, lick my boots, and kneel before my crotch.’ Cutting off your limbs and eyeballs is going too easy on you, don’t you think?”
”How about we feed your eyeballs to an orc or something while you’re still conscious? Like, I’ll take them out and dangle them in front of you for the monsters to eat.”
Gnash!
Baron Ashbal could only grit his teeth before Cain’s scathing tongue. He couldn’t believe it, even after seeing it with his own eyes. It took him nearly fifty years of hard work to become an A-Class Knight.
Fifty years were sacrificed before an A-Class Knight was born in the Deogrant Family.
However, a brat who looked to be barely thirty years old was actually an A-Class Knight like him?
“Don’t make me laugh!” Tears of blood welled in Baron Ashbal’s eyes. His hoarse cry bordered on a scream laden with jealousy and envy of Cain’s strength. It felt as if his entire life’s work had been invalidated with one word—talent.
He was furious. He couldn’t take it at all. His mana trembled in response to his fury toward Cain as the air around Baron Ashbal deformed and rumbled before suddenly becoming still.
And then it collapsed…
“Ah!”
“This is a bit dangerous…” Cain awkwardly smiled and took a few steps backward.
Boom!
“W-what’s going on?!”
“F-fire!”
The reed field went up in flames, and the knights panicked as the thick smoke obscured their vision.
‘Excellent timing.’?Cain grinned and flicked his hand.
In response, a shadow captured the weakened Baron Ashbal.
Cain turned his back on the cloud of dust without saying anything.
“S-Sir Cain?”
“Very soon, the most powerful reinforcement in history will carve a path for us to escape. Lady Charles and everyone else just has to follow my lead.”
“Y-Yes!”
The phrase ‘most powerful reinforcement in history’ piqued Charles' interest, but she wasn't in a position to inquire about it given the circumstances.
However, a scream quickly gave her an answer.
“T-The Dark Knight…!”
“The Dark Knight of Dennis River!”
“R-run…!”
Cain strode onto the path without any hesitation.
“Let’s go! The other knights should follow me closely while covering the flanks.”
“Sir, yes, sir!”
Charles’ group slipped out of the encirclement and used the growing flames to escape.
***
Leo de Grans and the Lion King peered anxiously at the Reinhardt-Avalon border. The other Wilhelm Knights wore similar expressions. Honestly, the reason they looked so anxious was that there were three thousand troops standing in their path.
“Why are there so many interesting people on the outskirts of Reinhardt?”
“This seems like a bit much. There are usually only a thousand of them, but they look like three thousand at the very least.”
“Ah, this is troublesome,” muttered the Lion King while scratching his head.
Joshua in the lead moved forward and introduced himself.
“I am Joshua Sanders, a Baron of the Avalon Empire.”
Someone on the other side moved to meet him. The aged knight wore a red cloak over his plate armor, identifying himself as the troops’ commander.
“I am Count Castar. I oversee the protection of Reinhardt’s border. We welcome Baron Joshua Sanders, proud Master of Avalon.”
The Wilhelm Knights puffed their chests out in satisfaction. It seemed that their king was favored.
“We have been granted the honor of escorting the pride of Avalon home.”
“I appreciate your hospitality.”
“But…” Count Castar peeked at the Wilhelm Knights behind Joshua and said, “I was unaware you would be accompanied by a party like this.”
”These knights, well… I won’t question your relationship with them, but I must inform you that I cannot allow them to pass. Their identities are unknown. I’m sorry, but I have the duty of prioritizing the security of our borders.”
“Ah…” Leo de Grans sighed despondently.
It was only to be expected. Count Castar’s response was completely reasonable. After all, who would let a hundred unknown knights wander through the border unchecked?
If something bad were to happen involving the unknown knights, then the responsibility would fall on Count Castar alone.
The Wilhelm Knights wanted to follow the king’s journey to its conclusion, but it appeared that their journey would be cut short.
The Lion King looked around for a while. He stepped forward and started. “I am—”
However, Joshua interrupted him and said, “These people are my knights.”
“...!”
Joshua said such words in a casual, nonchalant way with an indifferent look on his face, but why was it that it struck a chord in the Wilhelm Knights’ hearts?
The Wilhelm Knights clenched their fists.
‘Your Majesty…!’
Right now, the Wilhelm Knights had the same thought as Leo de Grans.
Joshua finally noticed that everyone was staring at him, and he reacted by saying, “Is there any problem?”
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