Novel Full Chapter 185 : Chapter 185
Chapter 185. This Brat Drives Me Crazy (3)
The moment the words ended, Patrick’s body disappeared.
Rather than searching for his traces, Cierion first trusted his instincts and swung his sword.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Kwakwakwakwakwang!
His desperately swung sword swept through the surroundings like a storm, destroying everything within it.
Nothing would be able to maintain its form in this space.
Poooow!
Except for this guy….
“Where do you think you’re swinging that sword? I’ll beat you to a pulp!”
He already did.
“Ugh…”
Cierion, his face throbbing, moved his sword again amidst the pain.
Fwoooosh!
His sword, imbued with an Aura Blade, could split an ogre in half with just one hit.
A normal opponent would feel pressured by its immense destructive power and become intimidated, hesitant to even receive the blow.
Eventually, they would be forced into a passive stance, retreating until they were defeated by Cierion’s powerful attack.
That was Cierion’s usual winning pattern.
Overwhelming the opponent with physical and mental pressure using overwhelming destructive power, then landing the finishing blow.
However….
“Alright. You’re strong. But what can you do? Not a single hit lands.”
Kwang! Kwajik! Kuuung!
Patrick was weaving through Cierion’s sword strikes as if he were taking a stroll.
“Yiik….”
Cierion gritted his teeth and swung his sword.
He continued to swing, mixing erratic flows into the timing and path of the sword.
Please, if I do this, for conscience’s sake, at least one hit should….
“You little….”
Whack!
“Can’t you do it properly?”
Whack!
“Your lower body, you bastard.”
Thud!
He was getting hit.
The problem was that only he was getting hit, one-sidedly.
Attacks coming not from the blade of the sword but from its flat side turned Cierion’s face and struck his side and knee.
Eventually, Cierion got fed up and shouted loudly.
“Why aren’t you getting hit!?”
“Wow… you think you can hit me with a sword that slow?”
“……”
“Have you no shame?”
“That’s one thing I don’t want to hear from you.”
For a moment, Patrick’s companions, listening from afar, all nodded their heads in agreement, saying, ‘That’s true.’
Patrick glanced in their direction before turning back to Cierion.
“You don’t know how to apply a heavy sword.”
“What?”
“Forget it. Just keep getting beaten.”
It seemed Cierion was trying to learn something from this duel, but Patrick had no obligation to play along.
So, even though he knew what the problem was, he didn’t give any advice.
‘Tsk tsk tsk, if your sword is slow, your eyes need to be precise. He doesn’t know how to read the optimal path of the sword at all.’
When martial artists fight each other, a path is formed between them.
It’s what is called the Path of Combat.
The path the sword must take.
The path the body must pass through.
The path the feet must be positioned on.
Even in a free exchange of blows, if one can grasp the opponent’s intentions, one can read that Path of Combat.
And if one can read the Path of Combat, the disadvantage in speed can be sufficiently compensated for.
Even if one is slow, one just needs to thrust the sword into a path the opponent is forced to receive.
Then the opponent has no choice but to receive that attack.
From that point on, the destructive power, the advantage of a heavy sword, shines.
Patrick called that the optimal path of the sword.
‘Well, it’s not that easy.’
To read the optimal path of the sword, one must be able to predict the opponent’s intentions and attacks in advance.
In other words, their levels have to match to some extent.
For Cierion at his current level to predict Patrick’s path of the sword and preempt it was….
Kwaang!
“Huh?”
Patrick, who was about to circle to the right blind spot and strike the back of his head, was startled.
On the path he was about to take, Cierion’s sword was already flying towards him, having preempted the position.
He had no choice but to receive that attack.
And to offset the brutal blow of the heavy sword, he had to retreat greatly.
This was a blow that capitalized on the subtlety of a heavy sword, having preempted the optimal path of the sword.
‘…Was that a coincidence?’
To confirm, Patrick moved once more.
His body split into five, and his swords split into dozens, filling the air.
A much more complex movement than before.
Cierion’s eyes couldn’t grasp Patrick’s position at all.
‘It was a coincidence after all.’
At that moment, Cierion took a large step forward, then abruptly turned his body and swung his sword sharply towards his back.
And his sword, swinging in a semicircle….
Kwaaaaang!
Once again, it caught Patrick’s figure.
“Huuu…. Huuu….”
Looking at Cierion, whose eyes shone clearly through his swollen face, Patrick said in a dumbfounded tone.
“Look at this bastard.”
“…What is it? Have you run out of tricks now?”
“Your grit and guts are insane.”
Patrick shook his head from side to side.
He didn’t realize it at first, but the second attack made it clear.
This wasn’t reading the Path of Combat.
It was something much crazier.
“You’ve got guts. Do you have about five spare lives?”
“Huuu…. Huuu….”
What Cierion had done was a lure.
And he had used his own life as bait.
In fact, considering the skill difference between the two, it was impossible for Cierion to read Patrick’s Path of Combat and counter with an optimal sword path.
However….
He could lure the opponent with the worst possible sword path.
He deliberately exposed an opening by leaving the attack route to his most dangerous and vital points vacant.
And he swung his sword in time with the opponent’s entry.
As a result, Cierion’s sword managed to catch Patrick.
Naturally, it was an extremely dangerous act.
If Patrick failed to read his intention, or if he read it but ignored it and attacked from another direction, his head would be cut off.
He had caught Patrick’s movements twice with such a ridiculous lure.
It was a technique that could never be used unless one saw their own life as an expendable item.
‘Isn’t this guy royalty? This would be impossible without going through some considerably harsh real combat.’
In the Jianghu, those who used such techniques were at least ronin who had survived over a hundred life-or-death situations.
Those who were so insane as to use even their own lives as a tool for victory.
Beyond the realm of martial arts, such men were dangerous.
Because such individuals often took down those stronger than themselves.
“Huuuuu….”
While Patrick was pondering the question, Cierion recovered his breath, which had risen to his chin.
And he looked at Patrick and said with a smile.
“I think I’m starting to get it.”
“……”
“So this is what it means to take the initiative in a move. Hehehe… it’s like chess.”
Sometimes, a life-risking gamble can etch a lesson into a survivor that a thousand days of training cannot.
An enlightenment gained by crossing the line of death.
Cierion seemed to have grasped something by crossing the line of death twice against Patrick.
“Then, this time, I will go first.”
And for the first time, Cierion initiated an attack.
He kicked off the ground, approached Patrick, and swung his sword fiercely.
“Wooooooh!”
Kwaaang!
A powerful blow that left a long scar on the earth.
Patrick dodged the attack and tried to circle to a blind spot, but….
“Hyaaaap!”
Kaaang!
He had to stop, blocking the sword that flew in, preempting that path.
This time it wasn’t a lure.
He had purely predicted it, and succeeded.
As he made the first move, he had already predicted the second move and prepared his body for it.
‘Look at this bastard.’
Patrick looked at Cierion with quite surprised eyes.
And Cierion, facing Patrick’s sword, said.
“The real fight starts now. Patrick Schneideeeer!”
And Cierion’s massive two-handed sword fiercely pressed against Patrick.
Kwang! Kwaang! Kwaaang!
Aura exploded, and shockwaves burst out in all directions.
Cierion’s massive two-handed sword, imbued with an Aura Blade, no longer cut through the empty air.
Patrick also began to block Cierion’s attacks by swinging his twin swords, and their duel progressed into a fierce exchange of offense and defense.
* * *
“Oh… ooooh….”
“Your Highness….”
“Your Highneeeeess!”
The knights of the Yusef Kingdom were greatly excited.
The sight of their lord being one-sidedly beaten, kicked, and rolling on the ground was painful to watch.
If it weren’t a duel, they would have wanted to draw their swords and intervene immediately.
But now….
The situation had changed.
Cierion’s sword began to catch the Double Dragon’s ghostly movements, and for the first time, a proper exchange of blows unfolded between them.
No, strictly speaking….
“Your Highness!”
“Send him flying!”
“You can do it, Your Highness!”
It was a situation where Cierion was pushing him back.
Against the infamous Double Dragon, no less.
The moment hope that victory might be possible began to sprout….
“How absurd.”
Someone interjected with a displeased tone.
The knights of the Yusef Kingdom, with a surge of anger, turned around and were momentarily speechless.
Why?
‘Woooow….’
‘Wow…’
‘Uh oh oh….’
To witness April at close range was synonymous with being momentarily entranced.
The knights, astonished that a human could be this beautiful, were momentarily at a loss for words.
But after a few seconds, they regained their senses, put strength in their eyes, and said.
“What did you just say?”
Looking at the knight who was challenging her, April said with a light smile.
“Do you genuinely believe your king can defeat my young master?”
“Can’t you see the situation?”
The knight of the Yusef Kingdom smiled triumphantly.
Even as they talked, Cierion was pushing Patrick back with all his might.
April, also watching the scene, said.
‘He’s quite something, I’ll give him that.’
Right now, Cierion was awkwardly predicting Patrick’s Path of Combat and cutting off his movement routes.
Yes.
He was really quite something.
Among all the opponents who had challenged Patrick so far, he was putting on the most impressive display.
However….
“That’s as far as he goes.”
“What did you say?”
“I will admit that your king is a rather excellent knight. But my young master is on a different level.”
At April’s words, the knights of the Yusef Kingdom were about to get angry again.
But then….
Kwang! Kwaaang! Kwaaaaang!
The explosions grew louder, and the bursts of aura grew more powerful.
The clash between the two began to grow more intense.
And….
“Uh…. Uh oh?”
“Wait… that’s….”
“No way!”
The tide of the battle also began to change.
Patrick’s twin swords unleashed terrifying destructive power, attacking Cierion, and Cierion was barely managing to block the attacks, struggling to hold on.
At that sight, the knights of the Yusef Kingdom’s jaws dropped, and April said as if to show them.
“The premise was wrong from the start.”
“……”
“Did you think he could win with power?”
“……”
“Really?”
A cold smile, unlike her usual self, formed on April’s lips.
* * *
Kwaaaaaaang!
“Keuuut….”
Blood trickled from Cierion’s mouth.
He forced himself to swallow the blood that had surged up from his stomach.
But every time he received Patrick’s attack, blood rose in his throat again.
A shock that felt like every bone in his body was crumbling.
A clear strain on his Aura Hall.
Under an immense pressure that made it difficult to even stand on two feet, Cierion was horrified.
‘I’m being pushed back in terms of power too?’
This was something he had truly never imagined.
He had acknowledged that Patrick was far superior in skill, speed, and for some incomprehensible reason, experience.
But he had thought that at least in terms of power, he had the upper hand.
But when Patrick actually started to put weight into his attacks….
Kwaaaaaaang!
“Keoheok….”
Blood mixed with his innards spurted from his throat.
What in the world… what in the world was this?
It reminded him of the time he had taken a blow from an ogre when he was a 2-star knight.
Patrick’s attack was that heavy.
He had no choice but to admit it.
That there was not a single area where he could defeat Patrick.
“You monstrous bastard…. Cough….”
To Cierion, who was coughing up blood, Patrick said.
“Do you understand now how wide the world is?”
“……”
“Let’s end this now.”
And Patrick’s swords crossed diagonally behind his back.
Patrick’s main technique used in a contest of strength….
[ Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms: Second Form: Great Dragon Cross Sword ]
Two great streams of powerful qi intersected in a cross shape.
Among the Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms, it was a form of Strength that engaged in a direct confrontation of power.
The destructive power at the intersection of the two streams of powerful qi was strong enough to kill a King Ogre and turn a Dullahan to dust.
Cierion, who faced that blow head-on….
“Woooooooooooooo!”
He met Patrick’s attack with his full-powered Aura Blade.
In the first place, he did not know how to dodge.
The sword he had learned his entire life was a sword that fought head-on and won.
Kwakwakwakwakwa….
A head-on confrontation.
The massive Aura Blade that bloomed from Cierion’s two-handed sword met Patrick’s attack and held its ground.
“Keuuu…. Ugh….”
Cierion’s courage was commendable.
However….
“Cough….”
Kwajik… Kwajijijik….
It was crumbling.
It was being crushed.
More clearly than at any other time in his life, he could feel the shadow of death.
‘Am I going to die like this? Here? Am I going to pay the price for my reckless bravado with death here?’
Cierion trembled in fear.
Was he afraid of losing his life?
No.
What he truly feared was failing to fulfill his duty by dying here.
[Run away, Cierion!]
[Mother! Mother!]
[Sir Karvan! I entrust my son to you!]
[…I will protect him with my life.]
[Please.]
[Motheeeer!]
[Become a great king, Cierion.]
His mother, who had died to protect him….
[Your Highness, …are you… alright?]
[Sir Robin, don’t die. I said don’t die. It’s an order. This body’s command!]
[Please… survive….]
[Open your eyes. I said open your eyes.]
[…….]
[Robiiiiin!]
Those who had died to protect him….
If he met his end like this, even their lives would become meaningless deaths.
He could not let the sacrifices of those who had given everything, believing that he would become king and change this reality, turn to nothing.
I cannot die yet.
I still have a duty to fulfill while I am alive.
Creeeak.
Gather your strength.
You must not lose.
Hadn’t you sworn?
For my people….
Hadn’t you sworn to become a king who would never be broken by any enemy?
That is my path as a king.
That is my path of the sword.
That is….
“I am Cierion Baisus Yusef!”
With a tearing scream, the Aura Blade formed on Cierion’s sword grew to an immense size with tremendous force.
5 meters, 10 meters, over 20 meters, the freakishly grown massive Aura Blade became a brilliant and colossal light.
Seeing that, Patrick was startled.
That was not just an enlarged Aura Blade.
That was….
“Formed Qi of Intent?”
The state where one infuses the Sword Qi with one’s will and intent to manifest its form.
It was the first time he had seen someone in this world actually use it.
No, more than that….
Could that be….
“Begone!”
With a powerful shout, the king’s sword created by Cierion shattered Patrick’s attack to pieces.
Kwachiiiiing!
Amidst the fragments of aura that scattered in all directions and fluttered like falling snow….
Patrick stared at Cierion with a blank look.
“No way.”
The form was completely different.
But that was….
The Intent and Thought clearly conveyed from that sword was a sword Patrick knew well.
The greatest sword family under the heavens, the Namgung Clan.
A secret ultimate art passed down only to the direct line of the head of the family, even within the most prestigious family in the Jianghu.
Drip.
Without wiping the blood that flowed from his forehead down the bridge of his nose, Patrick spoke as if possessed.
“Emperor Sword Form.”