CHAPTER 202: THE UNBOUND GUARD

Following the restructuring of the Obsidian Orcs, Caius turned his attention to the final remaining elite force within the bastion: the mixed legion of Dark Elves and human barbarians. Unlike the subjugated, mind-scrubbed orcs, these warriors had fought at his side voluntarily. Bound by contract, shared conquest, and mutual ambition rather than mental chains, they had served throughout the unification wars with absolute distinction.

Standing before the assembled legion in the great courtyard of Castle Precipice, Caius announced the formal disbanding of their unit. Their original obligations were fulfilled, and the campaign that had brought them together was complete. He granted every soldier the choice to lay down their arms and return to their homelands, or to step forward and remain in his service under a permanent arrangement.

For those who chose to depart, Caius ensured their past sacrifices were rewarded without hesitation. Based on the meticulous merit records compiled throughout their campaigns, heavy chests of gold and choice spoils of war were distributed among the ranks. In addition, each departing warrior was gifted an obsidian bead. Rather than a tool of control, these beads served as tokens of high honor, granting them absolute safe passage, trade privileges, and standing across all territories governed by the crown.

When the departing soldiers cleared the courtyard, roughly five hundred warriors remained standing. A stark blend of silver-haired Dark Elf spell-swords and battle-hardened barbarian vanguard, they knelt in unison before the stone dais, choosing to tie their fates permanently to Caius.

To solidify their allegiance, Caius bestowed upon each of the five hundred a high-tier obsidian bead. Though these warriors had chosen to stay voluntarily, Caius was a pragmatist who refused to leave room for future betrayal or shifting loyalties. The tether guaranteed their unshakeable devotion above all else. Unlike the orcs, whose minds had been scrubbed clean to leave only base instincts, these elite warriors retained their full consciousness, sharp intellect, and tactical free will.

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With the beads bound to their meridians, the five hundred assembled across the central castle grounds. Caius stepped down from the dais, drawing a pair of worn, dual wooden short-swords from his side. The atmosphere shifted instantly as the veterans braced themselves.

"Those that will remain standing when I strike will come with me," Caius said, his voice carrying clearly across the stone courtyard. "Those that fall will stay and guard the castle."

Without relying on destructive spellcraft or spatial tears, Caius engaged them through pure, elite swordsmanship. He closed the distance using Moonless Step, blurring into sudden lateral angles rather than charging head-on, striking from changing side flanks before the front rank could react.

The dark elves and barbarians responded instantly, raising their shields and blades to form a defensive wall. Yet Caius integrated Sereth’s secret dual-blade art into his movements, fluidly combining his short blades to bypass their guards. He initiated Black River, linking successive parries, redirects, and strikes into an uninterrupted, relentless sequence of martial pressure.

Whenever a warrior attempted to break his momentum, Caius executed Black Fang, delivering direct, decisive counter-strikes that cracked through defenses and sent heavy bodies tumbling to the flagstones.

Wooden blades clashed against steel, leather, and bone in a swift, masterclass display of dual-sword combat. Within moments, the courtyard was transformed as wave after wave of seasoned combatants were swept off their feet by the precise, non-lethal barrage.

When Caius finally lowered his wooden blades, the separation was complete. Exactly two hundred warriors had managed to weather the storm and remain upright, earning their place as his elite personal escort for future journeys beyond the realm. The remaining three hundred who had been struck down rose to their feet, accepting their assigned roles as the high-ranking household guards of Castle Precipice.