Radiant Dragon’s Otherworldly Reincarnation

Chapter 172. This is perfect (1)

The ground he stood on with both feet was muddy.

It was because of the mire created by the blood spilled on the ground.

The smell of blood stimulated his sense of smell with every breath.

The corpses of enemies piled up in layers.

And the enemy looking at him, terrified.

All of this was familiar.

“Ptooey.”

Patrick spat out the blood-mixed saliva that had collected in his mouth and then spoke to the enemies.

“What are you doing?”

With a cruel smile at the terrified enemies, he continued.

“You have to bring it on.”

As if that word was a signal, the surrounding enemies, who had been encircling him, charged, shouting as if their throats would burst.

“Uwaaaaaaaah!”

“Dieeeeee!”

“Attack! Pour everything you’ve got!”

The soldiers charged, screaming.

Arrows, javelins, and iron nets flew into the sky, and the mages began to chant again.

“Do not retreat! Stick together and resist!”

The knightly order, heavily armed in full plate mail, also huddled together and approached Patrick as if to pressure him.

Taking in the scene, Patrick muttered.

“Yeah. This is it.”

This was the battlefield.

Born as the son of a noble family, he had forgotten while playing student at the Academy, but….

‘This was originally my place.’

He remembered something he had long forgotten.

Radiant Dragon Great Master, Jin Cheon.

He was a man who had originally lived on the battlefield.

How many battlefields had he fought through to become known as a hero of the orthodox faction, coming from a third-rate sect?

How many countless life-and-death situations had he overcome?

He didn’t have the virtue of his Master, nor the brilliant fame of the high-ranking members of the prestigious orthodox factions.

The only thing he could do for the world was to swing his sword at those who were worse than him. So….

“Yeah. I… am better off like this.”

And he threw himself towards the enemies.

As if it were the most familiar thing in the world.

* * *

“What kind of guy is that?”

Count Ziegler looked at Patrick with a weary expression.

In his eyes, Patrick was fighting bravely without being the least bit intimidated, even while surrounded by thousands of troops.

No, it was beyond bravery….

‘He looks familiar with it. A brat like that?’

Patrick swung a sword with only a minimal amount of aura imbued in it.

Without fail, the neck of the enemy in front of him would fall, and if they tried to surround him somehow, he would immediately move and escape the encirclement.

And in that spot, a spray of blood and the screams of allies would erupt again.

“Uwaaaaaah!”

Anyone could see it.

It was a combat style that achieved maximum results with minimum movement against multiple opponents.

He couldn’t understand.

Double Dragon.

The Arcana champion.

The youngest 7-star swordsman.

He had many grand titles, but wasn’t his essence that of an Academy student who had never experienced any real combat?

But how could he employ such calm and efficient combat in the midst of such a brutal battle?

Looking at his fighting style alone, one would believe him to be a battle-hardened veteran trained through countless real fights.

“Uwaaaaaaah!”

“Die! Just die!”

“Patrick Schneiderrrrr!”

The soldiers of the Kaisar Kingdom were also fighting bravely.

No, could that really be described as brave?

If what was imbued in the spearheads they were thrusting now was courage and fighting spirit?

Why was there fear in their expressions?

Why was there desperation in their voices?

That was not courage.

It was like the fit of a cornered rat lunging at a cat.

Count Ziegler spoke as if he couldn’t believe it.

“Against just one person, what is all this….”

At first, when he received the order to capture Patrick and saw the mobilized forces, he was dumbfounded.

10,000 regular troops.

Six knightly orders.

Twelve mages.

And crucially, four 7-star knights.

Even if the goal was to capture him alive and not kill him, it was an excessively large force.

Frankly, he thought it was too much.

This was enough military power to attack one of the four eastern nations.

Still, well, since excessive was better than insufficient, he went along with it and participated in the operation. But….

Look at the situation now.

“M-Marquis. I think we need to bring more troops.”

“What did you say?”

“I think we need to mobilize the troops on the outskirts of the forest as well. At this rate…”

“Does that make any sense!?”

“But….”

The knight reporting the situation to the shouting Marquis Ruide had a grim face and trailed off.

At this rate, we can’t handle that monster.

How could he dare to say such a thing?

Just two hours.

It had only been two hours since they had surrounded Patrick and started the full-scale battle.

But they had already lost over 1,000 troops.

Of course, if you put 1,000 regular soldiers against a knight who has reached the supreme realm, you can win.

You would surely win.

But the story changes if you form an encirclement with over 5,000 soldiers, with the knightly orders providing checks and the mages attacking.

Could other 7-star knights do what Patrick was doing now?

Count Ziegler, watching from the side, also had a serious expression.

‘I can’t. At least… I can’t do it.’

He had no choice but to admit it.

Patrick Schneider’s level was not 7-star.

At least 8-star, or maybe even higher….

“No. No. That’s absurd. How old is that brat?”

Count Ziegler vehemently rejected the ominous delusion that had popped into his head.

He pushed aside his stray thoughts and spoke to Marquis Ruide.

“Pushing in more regular troops seems pointless.”

“…So?”

“I think we need to step in ourselves.”

“We, you say.”

“……”

“Not you.”

At Marquis Ruide’s words, Count Ziegler’s face flushed red in an instant.

What he had just said was a suggestion for the three of them to attack Patrick together.

Three superhumans, known to have reached the supreme realm, against one much younger Academy student.

Regardless of victory or defeat, if this fact became known, the honor of these three would be tarnished to a point where it could never be restored.

But it wasn’t as if Count Ziegler didn’t know this when he made the suggestion.

“This is a real battle and a war.”

“Keuk….”

In that moment, Marquis Ruide’s expression contorted as if he had been punched in the gut.

“You know it well too, Marquis. This is a battle where justification can no longer be found….”

“……”

He couldn’t say anything.

It was beyond tragic; it was pathetic.

Patrick had been fighting fiercely for over two hours now.

In the process, he had expended his stamina and sustained quite a few injuries, both large and small.

In particular, the mages’ magic attacks had hit him squarely about two times, attacks with such immense firepower that an ordinary person would not have even left a corpse behind.

Even after taking such attacks, Patrick was still fighting.

In fact, if not for his current state, it would be difficult to guarantee victory even if the three of them attacked together.

“Capturing him alive is impossible.”

Just then, Count Helios Gilsion, who had been silent, opened his mouth.

He looked at Patrick with an expression of awe and continued.

“Let’s ignore the royal palace’s orders. Since capturing him is impossible, his life must be ended here.”

“……”

“And if we are to take the life of that great genius, it is something that should be done by someone of the same stature. We cannot let him die by the blind spears of common soldiers. That… that is….”

Trailing off for a moment, he continued as if squeezing out the words.

“The least courtesy.”

At those words, the expressions of Count Ziegler and Marquis Ruide changed in a complex and subtle way.

Count Gilsion was right.

They couldn’t let Patrick die like that, torn apart by jackals.

Marquis Ruide squeezed his eyes shut and let out a sigh. And when he opened his eyes again….

“Stooooop!”

Marquis Ruide’s shout echoed resoundingly.

At that, the movements of the Kaisar Kingdom’s army, which had been attacking Patrick, stopped all at once.

Marquis Ruide stepped forward and said.

“All soldiers, fall back! Widen the encirclement as much as possible.”

Marquis Ruide parted the soldiers in front of him and advanced towards Patrick.

And with a tired expression, he spoke solemnly to Patrick, who was catching his breath.

“From now on, we will be your opponents.”

Hearing those words, Patrick let out a snort of laughter.

“Kuk….”

At that small sneer, the expressions of the Kaisar Kingdom’s knights contorted.

Was there anyone here who didn’t know the meaning of that laugh?

Patrick wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and said.

“I was wondering when you’d step up….”

“……”

“Looks like you think you’ve got a chance now, huh?”

At Patrick’s words, Marquis Ruide squeezed his eyes shut and said.

“You were magnificent.”

“Ahem!”

“……”

“Cough, cough….”

In this situation? Really?

Marquis Ruide struggled to compose himself and spoke.

The situation and place were both unsuitable for pointing out the frivolity of his actions.

And crucially, he didn’t want to.

Although they met as enemies, as one who walks the same path, the first thing he wanted to express to that great talent was….

“Magnificent. Patrick Schneider.”

Pure respect.

Patrick had an indifferent expression, but Marquis Ruide continued his words.

“If you had grown up safely like this, you might have surpassed the Imperial Sword Saint and left your name in history as the true strongest on the continent.”

And from behind Marquis Ruide, Count Gilsion came out and stood beside him, saying.

“I hope you don’t call this cowardly.”

“What?”

“This is war, and this is a real battle. So, I hope for your understanding.”

At that, Patrick said with an annoyed expression.

“This bastard, just because he has a mouth…. Put yourself in my shoes, would you hear something like that in this situation and say, ‘Ah, I see. Then it can’t be helped.’?!”

“……”

“Cough…. Damn, I’m so pissed…. Are kids these days clueless? Or shameless?”

“Ahem….”

He really couldn’t be beaten with words.

Count Gilsion let out a dry cough and drew his weapon.

The weapon he used was a large greatsword, bigger than a standard bastard sword.

It wasn’t as freakishly large as the two-handed sword used by Cierion of the Yusef Kingdom.

But this too was a greatsword that an ordinary person would find difficult to even lift, let alone swing.

He held it respectfully in the center of his body, and a clear Aura Blade formed on his sword.

Kwaching!

The Aura Blade he emitted, combined with the size of his original weapon, created a sword of light far larger than his own height.

And as if waiting, Count Ziegler, who stood beside him, also drew his weapon.

A round shield in one hand. A mace in the other, he….

“Oh, Yupinel. Look upon your servant.”

Despite not being a paladin, he made the sign of the cross and prayed to his god, and then Aura Blades formed on both his mace and his round shield.

Wooooong.

Was it because the weapons were different?

The properties of the Aura Blade were also very different.

The form of the Aura Blade on the mace was like a giant, glowing blue flail, and the shield, originally a small round shield, had transformed into a shield of light more than three times its size.

And finally, Marquis Ruide unleashed an Aura Blade on his own longsword and kite shield and took his stance.

“Cough cough….”

Patrick coughed repeatedly and glared at them.

‘My body’s in a mess.’

He still had some strength left.

But that was just on the outside; the inside was a wreck.

He couldn’t avoid internal injuries from taking magic attacks with his protective energy.

In this state….

“Three 7-star knights….”

The corner of Patrick’s mouth curled up.

“This is perfect.”

The moment they heard Patrick’s words, the expressions of the three crumbled.

Just how much further did this arrogant brat have to shatter their pride?

“Know your place… Huk!”

A gasp erupted from Count Ziegler’s mouth as he was about to shout.

And the moment he hurriedly raised his shield….

Kwaaaaang!

A terrifying roar echoed.

And only after that roar did the others see it.

The figure of Patrick, who had somehow reached within arm’s length of Count Ziegler and delivered a blow.

And Patrick bared his teeth and said.

“You called this a war?”

“Keuuk….”

“You said this was a real battle, right?”

“Ugh…. Ughk….”

Patrick pushed down with a single sword, as if pressing firmly, and Count Ziegler held his ground.

He held on with all his might, but he was gradually sinking downwards.

Or should one say he was being crushed?

Patrick, in that state, leisurely looked back at the other two and said.

“With these skills?”

“Uuuugh….”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He was just pressing down with one hand, yet Count Ziegler felt as if he were being crushed by a giant rock.

He wanted to raise the mace in his other hand to counterattack, but he couldn’t.

He was certain that the moment he relaxed his strength even a little to make another move, his body would be split in two.

Normally, the fight would have ended at this point, but the situation was different now.

“Haaaaap!”

He had allies.

Count Gilsion’s bastard sword fell from the sky.

With the force to shatter even a boulder.

No, an attack with the power to actually shatter a boulder into dust fell towards Patrick.

The moment his attack reached right above Patrick’s head….

‘Got him.’

Count Gilsion was certain of his success.

But….

Swiiiiiik!

The sword in Patrick’s other hand disappeared at a speed invisible to the eye. And then….

Kwaaaang!

It struck Count Gilsion’s sword, which was falling at a terrifying speed.

The point of impact was not the front, but the side.

He had struck the opponent’s sword, which was falling on his head, from the side.

As a result, Count Gilsion’s sword missed Patrick and was driven deep into the ground beside him.

Kwaaaaaang!

Leaving a long, deep sword mark on the ground, Count Gilsion gritted his teeth.

Grit.

‘This crazy bastard.’

Strength, timing, and speed.

If even one of the three had been lacking, he would have died.

Was this something a human could do?

Did he have spare lives?

He gritted his teeth and tried to lift the sword embedded in the ground. But then….

Tat!

Patrick lightly stepped on his bastard sword and leaped forward. And the next moment….

Thwaaaack!

Not even a scream came out.

A kick powerful enough to send his head flying struck his jaw.

Before his eyes, the faintly dawning sky of dawn spun dizzily.

“Count Gilsion!”

“Get a grip!”

Startled by his allies’ shouts, Count Gilsion forced himself to hold onto his fading consciousness.

To him, who had barely managed not to fall, Patrick spoke in a voice mixed with mockery and admiration.

“You’ve got a tough chin.”

“You bastard!”

“Die!”

Marquis Ruide and Count Ziegler had already flanked Patrick and attacked him.

Faced with the attack of two 7-star knights, Patrick lightly stepped back, creating distance.

Right after escaping the flanked position….

Pit!

As soon as his feet touched the ground, Patrick’s body blurred and vanished.

And the place where he reappeared was right in front of the opponents.

“Keuk….”

“Ugh….”

Marquis Ruide and Count Ziegler were momentarily flustered and tried to step back to create distance.

But before that, Patrick’s two swords displayed a dazzling and bizarre movement.

[ Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms: First Form: Black and White Twin Dragons Dance ]

The first form, said to contain the true essence of the Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms.

It was a sword art that showed at a glance why the Twin Dragon Sect pursued dual swordsmanship, a non-mainstream practice even in the Murim.

The left-hand sword moved with a flowing and gentle elegance.

The right-hand sword drove forward with speed and destruction along the shortest path.

In Patrick’s hands, two opposing sword arts unfolded simultaneously.

“Keuk…. Keuu….”

“What is this….”

The two men, frantically blocking Patrick’s swords, were terrified.

They were, after all, powerful figures who had stepped into the 7-star realm.

They knew very well how absurd what Patrick was showing them was.

This was beyond common sense.

It was a crazy act that completely deviated from the common sense of swordsmanship they knew.

They had never even imagined in their dreams that something like this was possible, so how maddening was it to be experiencing it in reality?

It felt as if two different types of swordsmen using completely different sword arts were exquisitely coordinating a joint attack.

They had heard he used two swords, but they had never imagined something like this.

“Keu… Uuuugh….”

“Damn it….”

The two were constantly pushed back, busy just blocking Patrick’s swords.

It was only because there were two of them that they were somehow holding on; if they had faced this alone, their heads would have been sent flying long ago.

Just then, Count Gilsion, who had been staggered by a blow, shouted loudly and charged.

“Do not ignore meeeeee!”

At the sight of him charging again, emitting a fierce and powerful Aura Blade, Patrick grinned.

“Oh, really?”

And then, he turned his sword path that way and said.

“Then I won’t.”

Patrick’s body rotated horizontally with the ground, and the two sword energies that had been moving separately merged into one.

As if a black dragon and a white dragon were mating.

[ Black and White Twin Dragons Dance: Modified Form: Mating Dragons Mad Dance ]

Patrick’s attack, lunging forward with the force of a writhing dragon, clashed head-on with Count Gilsion’s Aura Blade, which was striking down with all its might.

A contest of strength against strength.

Kwachaaaaang!

“Keoheok….”

The result was clear.

Count Gilsion’s massive Aura Blade shattered into pieces.

And Count Gilsion himself was pushed back, vomiting a large amount of blood, and stared at Patrick with a look of disbelief.

‘I was pushed back by strength? Me, by strength?’

He might be lacking in other areas, but he was more confident in the destructive power of his Aura Blade than anyone else.

After all, he had honed only that without looking elsewhere. But how could something like this happen?

Just then, Patrick’s voice reached his ears.

“Tsk tsk, you think it’s strong just by randomly spewing out power.”

Patrick slung his twin swords over his shoulder and said with a bitter smile.

“The line is stronger than the surface, the point is stronger than the line. Don’t you know such basic principles of force concentration?”

“……”

“Tsk tsk tsk, kids these days have no basics. No basics….”

Count Gilsion’s face was colored with unparalleled humiliation.