Chapter 412 - 367: Clash of Knightly Ideals, Great Tutor of Vengeance

He took a slow step back.

Sipia fought back the searing pain of a broken rib piercing his left lung. His voice was low as he said, "Reinhardt, this fight between us... it’s just a means to an end for both of us.

You want to win this war to secure the power and status you just gained as the Great Tutor of Vengeful.

And I only came to your ship for the reward Claudius promised.

So, how about we make a deal?

I’ll tell you Claudius’s plans, and you let me go. I swear on my honor as a Knight—if you let me leave, I will never stand against you again for the rest of my life."

But his only answer was silence and the sound of Reinhardt’s heavy footsteps.

As Reinhardt advanced on him, War Axe held in one hand, a deep unease grew in Sipia’s heart. He knew that in the face of true power, all schemes were rendered meaningless.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Sipia’s cheek. He quickly raised his right hand. "Wait! I have a private armory on Ostia World! And my authority as a Lord—it’s all yours! How about it?"

They were men of entirely different principles.

From the very beginning, Sipia had failed to understand that his offers meant nothing to Reinhardt.

Seeing Reinhardt remain unmoved, Sipia readied himself to bolt at a moment’s notice and roared, "Reinhardt—! Isn’t this enough for you?!

Risking your life for a damned Empire... Just look at your people, look at yourself!

I know you disappeared into a Void Storm for over a year to save the Radiant Angels. Everyone thought you were dead.

But what did you get in return?

No land, no commendations, not even your own personal Battle Group. Inside the Governance Council, you don’t have a single Governor on your side.

A broken-down ship and the hollow title of Great Tutor with no real foundation—is that really worth dying for? Even if you kill me, even if you slaughter every rebel in Cyrenaica, do you honestly think you’ll get the credit?"

When Reinhardt still gave no reaction, Sipia’s voice grew more frantic. "Everything you’re doing is just paving the way for that greedy bastard Sedon!

He sends you to the front lines to risk your life!

But he’s hoarding the power of Grand Governor and Supreme Commander of the Administrative Region for himself! Aren’t you two Battle Brothers? You can really stand for that?!"

Having heard enough of Sipia’s nonsense, Nelom stepped into the middle of the corridor, blocking the path. He gave his Knight’s Broadsword a brilliant flourish with his right hand. ’What a joke,’ he thought with contempt, then said mockingly, "It must have been so hard for you, fighting for the Empire for so long. What, do you need the Emperor to show up and personally reward you for your ’outstanding contributions’?

Maybe we should make you Regent King. We could just give you the Radiant Holy Sword while we’re at it, how does that sound?"

As a true Imperial Knight, Nelom had his own ideals and convictions. He despised vermin like Sipia—those who had received the Divine Emperor’s grace and wielded Knight Power, yet still groveled for personal gain.

If not for their kind, the great rebellion would never have torn the Empire apart.

Hearing Nelom’s mockery, Sipia’s face went white with rage. ’If I weren’t so badly injured, and if Reinhardt wasn’t watching me from nearby, I’d kill this foul-mouthed idiot first!’

’The man is brainless. Not only did Claudius use him for who knows how long, but he was also the first to scramble aboard to assassinate Reinhardt. Talking to him is like talking to a brick wall.’

As Nelom finished speaking, Sipia was still waiting for a response from Reinhardt.

The next moment.

His pupils abruptly shrank to pinpricks.

’Damn it—!’

Domain Power: Optimal Solution. It manifested as a massive energy pack on his back, humming with black energy and exuding a sense of sleek, deadly design.

Its twelve directional thrusters moved in perfect sync with his will, extensions of his own body.

Annular jets of high-pressure gas blasted out like a physical shockwave of sound, releasing a terrifying noise powerful enough to shatter reinforced steel!

The cast-steel floor beneath his feet bore the brunt of the assault, buckling and denting before shattering completely!

If the Spiritual Power Spectacle unleashed by Koller hadn’t still been enveloping the Avenger Flagship, the sound wave alone, infused with Domain Power, would have instantly killed everyone aboard weaker than an Earth Knight.

Even Nelom’s brow furrowed as he summoned his Ashen Battle Armor to counter the piercing noise.

In a flash, a massive burst of thrust propelled Sipia’s body just out of the way of Reinhardt’s ferocious War Axe attack, clearing it by mere millimeters.

The two landed, having passed each other in mid-air.

Sipia opened his mouth to say something, but the words died on his lips. To his horror, he saw massive jet nozzles, similar to the thrusters on his own pack, extending from Reinhardt’s back.

The realization that Reinhardt’s Extraordinary Armament might also be speed-based...

...sent a fresh wave of terror through him, and cold sweat drenched his back.

If his judgment was correct, then his greatest asset, the Extraordinary Armament: Raptor Flying Bag, would have no speed advantage whatsoever.

The pressure of facing Reinhardt didn’t lessen as the fight dragged on and he gained more information; on the contrary, it intensified.

The crushing pressure was like the Death God itself whispering mocking taunts in his ear.

It made him seriously wonder: ’Can an Imperial Knight this powerful... truly exist in this world?’

When streams of azure, high-temperature energy flared into Sipia’s field of view, his eyelid began to twitch uncontrollably. ’That bastard... It really is a speed-type Special Ability.’