Novel Full Chapter 301 : Chapter 301
Chapter 301. Let’s Have a Match (3)
Although the two had leaped into the air, humans were not born with wings.
They were gradually falling back to the ground, and just as Patrick was about to reach the surface…
“Huuup!”
Reynardo Style. Shooting Star.
A massive sphere of aura, seemingly five meters in diameter, fell from the tip of the Imperial Sword Saint’s sword toward the ground.
It was a technique that sacrificed speed, focusing solely on power.
Normally, Patrick would not have been hit by such an attack, but with his feet in the air, he had no way to dodge.
So, in the end, he had to block it…
‘Just get slammed straight into the ground.’
That was right.
Even if Patrick managed to block that attack, he couldn’t completely offset the impact in mid-air, making it impossible to avoid being slammed into the ground.
This was precisely the Imperial Sword Saint’s plan, designed from the moment he had sent Patrick flying into the air.
‘Got him.’
The Imperial Sword Saint was certain of his victory.
But then, he saw Patrick flash a smirk.
[ Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms: Third Form: Flashing Dragon Strike ]
The technique Patrick was most confident in.
The technique he used most often.
This technique was Patrick’s symbol and his pride.
So, could he use this to destroy that terrifyingly powerful sphere of light and pierce through to the Imperial Sword Saint beyond it?
No, that was probably impossible.
However…
“Hmm?!”
The Imperial Sword Saint was momentarily startled.
The moment Patrick used Flashing Dragon Strike, he lightly stepped on the Shooting Star and used the technique toward the ground.
Thanks to this, Patrick used the momentum of the falling Shooting Star to descend even faster.
CRASH!
A streak of light burst upon the ground. And then…
KABOOOOOOOOOM!
Following it, a massive meteor of light crashed into the ground.
The Shooting Star, created from the Imperial Sword Saint’s aura, left behind immense destructive power on the surface.
“Oh… ooooh…”
“No way.”
The knights watching the duel couldn’t close their mouths.
The moment the Imperial Sword Saint’s technique hit the ground, a huge dust cloud, dozens of meters high, erupted.
The cloud, shaped like a mushroom, showed just how terrifying his attack had been.
There was no way anyone could survive a direct hit from that.
The Double Dragon was probably…
“Dead, I suppose?”
“Huh? Who?”
The knight who had spoken was startled.
He reflexively swung his sword toward the direction the voice came from. And then…
CRAAACK!
“You surprised me. Why the sudden sword swing? I almost counterattacked without thinking, you know?”
“Kuh… kugh…”
He already had.
The knight, staggering to his feet, was still a member of the Glory Knightly Order, one who had pioneered the ultimate realm.
He looked at Patrick and said.
“You didn’t die?”
Patrick answered indifferently.
“Why would I die? The attack’s range seemed unusually wide, so I just dodged all the way over here.”
After stepping on the Shooting Star and using Flashing Dragon Strike as a means of escape, Patrick had deployed it once more as soon as his feet touched the ground to evade the attack.
A true main technique was one that could be applied freely, going beyond mere execution.
In that sense, Patrick’s Flashing Dragon Strike was a truly perfect primary skill.
Though an offensive form, it could be used for evasion depending on its application.
It was truly versatile.
Having escaped the Imperial Sword Saint’s attack, Patrick spoke to the knight who was staring at him as if he had seen a ghost.
“Want a piece of advice?”
“What…?”
“You’d better dodge.”
Simultaneously with his words, Patrick’s body blurred and vanished. And immediately after…
KABOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
A terrifying volley of Aura Blades swept through the spot where Patrick had been and the surrounding area.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, can’t even dodge after I gave you a warning.”
Well, that man seemed to be around 7-Star, so he probably wouldn’t die.
Probably.
And right now, Patrick was not in a situation to care about that extra 7-Star side character.
“Double Dragooooon!”
“Seriously, what a hot-blooded old man.”
The Imperial Sword Saint, his tension at its peak, sprinted toward Patrick with all his might.
His face was a mix of unconcealable joy and fierce fighting spirit.
Yes. This was…
“The face of a martial artist.”
A smile graced Patrick’s lips.
He knew he shouldn’t be like this. This wasn’t why he had come here. He knew, but…
‘I guess I can’t help myself either.’
Hopeless humans who found joy in martial arts even when their own lives were on the line.
That was the kind of breed martial artists were.
Patrick charged to meet the approaching Imperial Sword Saint. And the moment the two clashed…
CRASH-CRASH-CRASH-CRASH! KABOOM!
All that others could see was the dazzlingly brilliant explosion of aura and the deafening roar.
But within it, the Imperial Sword Saint and Patrick were exchanging a life-or-death battle.
And in the midst of it all, the Imperial Sword Saint…
‘Just how long has it been?’
He was soaked in thrilling ecstasy.
How long had it been since he had swung his sword with all his strength like this?
It was so long ago he couldn’t even remember clearly.
Not even the Paladins of the Holy Theocracy could withstand the Imperial Sword Saint’s full power.
But now was different.
An opponent who could easily take everything he threw at him stood right before his eyes.
Reynardo Style. Weapon Burster.
From the tip of the Imperial Sword Saint’s sword, Aura Blades split and advanced as if exploding.
But their forms were by no means ordinary Aura Blades.
Swords, spears, arrows, axes, hammers, and so on…
A diverse array of Aura Blades, looking like a collection of all the weapons used by knights, attacked Patrick simultaneously.
“There’s a limit to how all things converge to one.”
Patrick gave a bitter smile and deployed a sword form.
He could dodge it if he wanted, but there was something he wanted to confirm.
So here…
“Power against power.”
[ Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms: Sixth Form: Nine Dragons Under Heaven ]
The most powerful technique of the Twin Dragons Eight Sword Forms, aside from the final secret art, Dragon God’s Reign Under Heaven, had emerged.
And the Imperial Sword Saint had seen this before.
No, he had even faced it head-on.
Hadn’t those nine demonic beasts tried to tear apart his precious grandson in the Arcana finals?
The Imperial Sword Saint had stood before them to prevent that tragedy.
Though it had only been a feint back then, now…
‘This one’s for real.’
The Imperial Sword Saint did not retreat.
Against the nine dragons flying toward him, baring their fangs ferociously, he put even more power into the Aura Blades he was emitting.
KABOOM-BOOM-BOOM! KABOOOM!
***
“Kugh…”
“Not human… Hup!”
The knight hastily shut his mouth.
Because the words he had just spoken were not directed solely at Patrick.
But it was his honest sentiment.
This was the first time he had truly witnessed the Imperial Sword Saint’s martial prowess.
Of course, he was an Imperial knight and knew that the Imperial Sword Saint was a warrior of a much higher caliber than himself.
However, on the other hand, he too was a knight who had pioneered the ultimate realm.
Wouldn’t the day come when he, too, could reach that level?
That was what he had thought.
‘What an absurd thought I had.’
He was so ashamed of himself he couldn’t lift his head.
After seeing those ‘monsters,’ he was too embarrassed to raise his head, ashamed of himself for having paraded around calling the level he had achieved the ultimate realm.
Looking around, it seemed everyone else was thinking something similar.
After the massive clash.
The two figures, once again in a standoff, came into view. And…
“Huh?”
“It can’t be!”
What they saw with their own two eyes was Patrick standing unscathed and the Imperial Sword Saint, his armor in tatters, pushed far back.
It was a scene that showed at a glance who had the upper hand in the recent collision.
“The Imperial Sword Saint was pushed back?”
“Impossible.”
It was the moment the Empire’s pride began to waver.
***
“You’re in a sorry state.”
The Imperial Sword Saint, who had been sent flying back, tore off the remaining parts of his tattered armor with his hands.
As his well-toned upper body was coolly revealed, Patrick commented.
“You’ve got a great body.”
“A knight must always be on active duty.”
“True, it would be a bit much if the Imperial Sword Saint had a potbelly.”
Patrick nodded in agreement.
Seeing his relaxed demeanor, the Imperial Sword Saint gave a bitter smile.
‘How can he be like that?’
He was a young man who hadn’t even lived a third of his own life.
He was even younger than his grandson, Garcia.
Yet how could he have obtained such strength at that age?
The attack just now had been his full power.
But it was all he could do to suppress five of the nine demonic beasts Patrick had sent.
The remaining four beasts had gnawed and clawed at his body as they passed.
It was truly astonishing. Although…
“It caused me no real damage, mind you.”
That was right.
His armor was in shambles and he had been pushed far back, but there wasn’t a single scratch on the Imperial Sword Saint’s body.
Indeed, his revealed upper body bore only bulging muscles and scars from ages past.
He was so unscathed it was hard to believe he had taken a direct hit from Formed Qi of Intent.
At that sight, Patrick spoke as if complaining.
“Aren’t you being a bit too reckless just because you have that Diamond Indestructible Body?”
“I don’t know what that is.”
“The thing where swords don’t pierce your body.”
At Patrick’s words, the Imperial Sword Saint smiled bitterly.
Right. Having come this far, there was no point in hiding it any longer.
“Reynardo Style defensive technique. It’s called Absolute.”
“What an arrogant name. So it’s an absolute defense?”
“I simply named it after the goal I pursue. But after taking your attack just now, it seems I have reached it to some extent.”
At the Imperial Sword Saint’s words, Patrick scratched his head.
Even though he had been hit by Nine Dragons Under Heaven—albeit only half of it—he didn’t have a single scratch on his body.
In terms of pure defensive strength, this might be on par with Shaolin’s Diamond Indestructible Body.
But still.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”
“What is?”
“Imperial Sword Saint, you’re not a 9-Star yet, are you?”
“……”
“Strictly speaking, Diamond Indestructible Body is in the realm of Manifestation of the Mind’s Image. In other words, you have to be at what you people call 9-Star.”
“……”
“But from what I can see, you’re lingering at the very edge of 8-Star. So how is a Diamond Indestructible Body possible?”
Patrick’s martial arts system was very different from this world’s.
In Jianghu, realms were divided into third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, peak, transcendent, State of Harmony, and State of Profundity, but it was different here.
So, how Patrick usually divided the realms was…
7-Star. Can shoot out Aura Qi. Annoying because they act all high and mighty over something trivial.
8-Star. Able to project one’s will into an Aura Blade. This includes the Imperial Sword Saint’s general techniques or the fake Emperor Sword Form that Hegemon King brat used.
And though he hadn’t seen it directly, 9-Star was probably…
“Probably a realm where one can manifest the ideals of their mind into reality. In other words, in Jianghu terms, you had to be at least at the State of Profundity.”
“……”
“No matter how I look at it, your sword is not at the State of Profundity. At best, it’s around the edge of the State of Harmony.”
“……”
“So how can you use a technique that should only be possible upon reaching the State of Profundity?”
As far as Patrick knew, to master the Diamond Indestructible Body, one had to believe their body was made of diamond and manifest that belief into reality.
Of course, a human body was not made of diamond.
But the spiritual power of a highly trained martial artist could manifest their beliefs into reality.
That was the proof of the State of Profundity.
The realm of the Manifestation of the Mind’s Image.
It was a technique that required not just training, but enlightenment and conviction.
What if someone lacking that enlightenment used it?
At best, they would become a cripple due to Qi Deviation.
Ordinarily, they would just die.
Just as a crow-tit trying to follow a stork would tear its own legs, it was akin to suicide for someone lacking enlightenment and cultivation to try and manifest the impossible of the State of Profundity. But…
“Hmm, you look perfectly fine.”
The Imperial Sword Saint looked fine.
There wasn’t the slightest sign of Qi Deviation.
Seeing the pondering Patrick, the Imperial Sword Saint said.
“What are you doing in the middle of a duel?”
“Ah, what? I’m thinking, aren’t I?”
So brazen.
A vein popped on the Imperial Sword Saint’s forehead at the sight.
“You seem to have a lot of leeway.”
“Why? Why could it be? For what reason?”
“From now on, I will make that leeway disappear.”
“Wait a minute. Hold on. I’m about to realize something… Hey, you…”
KABOOOOM!
Patrick swiftly threw himself aside to dodge the Imperial Sword Saint’s attack. And as he defended against the continuous barrage that followed, he shouted.
“Are you attacking me while I’m thinking? That’s cheap!”
What the hell did this bastard think a duel was?
“The fun is over! I will settle this!”
The Imperial Sword Saint charged forward ferociously, swinging his sword.
Patrick clicked his tongue briefly and rapidly swung the sword in his left hand to block the Imperial Sword Saint’s rough charge.
More than a dozen slashes flew toward the Imperial Sword Saint in a single breath. But…
CRASH-CRASH-BOOM! KABOOM!
The Imperial Sword Saint ignored them and ran forward.
His defense wouldn’t be pierced even if he was hit by an Aura Blade anyway.
So he just ignored them and ran.
And the strike that fell as soon as he closed the distance…
CLAAAANG!
It was blocked by Patrick’s twin swords, but it still pushed his opponent back.
And without giving him a moment’s distance, the Imperial Sword Saint immediately caught up and swung his sword fiercely at Patrick.
There was no defense whatsoever.
Only an onslaught of fierce swordsmanship focused solely on attack.
Faced with that rough assault, Patrick was gradually pushed back, forced onto the defensive.
‘Tsk, this is seriously a cheat.’
This was the most annoying thing about the Diamond Indestructible Body.
Normally, the exchange of martial arts consisted of attacks aiming for the opponent’s openings and a defense to block and evade those attacks.
But the Diamond Indestructible Body eliminated the concept of openings itself.
What did it matter if there were openings or not when a sword couldn’t pierce the body?
One could just charge forward like a wild boar.
Patrick’s swordsmanship was superior to the Imperial Sword Saint’s.
But as long as he couldn’t break through that absolute defense, he couldn’t win.
‘Come to think of it, how did I win back then?’
Patrick recalled his duel at Shaolin in the past. His opponent had used the Diamond Indestructible Body, and they had fought for about half a kank. And then…
[Hohoho, I have lost, benefactor.]
[…Huh?]
[My internal energy is completely depleted, so I can no longer maintain the Diamond Indestructible Body.]
[…What?]
[It is my defeat. As expected of the Radiant Dragon Great Master, Jin Cheon. This humble monk is in awe that your reputation is not in vain… Keok!]
[Where does this bald monk think he’s going after hitting me all by himself?! Did you offer your conscience to Buddha?!]
[No… benefactor, I said I lost… Keok. Gack!]
[Enough, just hold your head still!]
[Eok… Benefactor, what is this savage….]
[Letting someone hit you and then run is the thirtieth thing I hate. You bald monk bastard!]
[…Son… of a… bitch….]