Chapter 269
Training grounds of the Sevec Marquisate.
Mart Sevec had created a demonic barrier within which he and Moraf Arcariz were enclosed, though this time, the fight could be seen from the outside by the recruits aspiring to become soldiers of the marquisate and by some soldiers and deputy commanders who remained in the marquisate’s main territory.
"Let’s put the experience you gained on Mount Marrac to the test."
"As you command, Marquis."
Moraf infused his sword with a stable, sharp demonic aura; it was evident that he had become a full-fledged master of the sword and, at the same time, had reached the Sixth Rank (Starting Point).
Moraf’s blue-black eyes were fixed on Mart’s movements.
Mart, for his part, was using his "Perception of All Things" to monitor even the slightest of Moraf’s movements.
"Why don’t they start?"
"What’s going on?"
"Be quiet—they’re just sizing each other up."
"Seriously, this is awesome!"
The recruits seemed quite excited to see a Sixth-Rank demon fighting an Eighth-Rank demon who was suppressing his power to the Sixth Rank.
The demonic aura coursed through Moraf’s body as easily as his blood, increasing Moraf’s speed, strength, and endurance.
Bang!
Several cracks appeared where Moraf had been standing the moment he leaped to attack the Marquis.
Mart Sevec raised both hands and created more than thirty blades of concentrated demonic energy, using his chained demonic diagrams to enhance each of the blades’ offensive capabilities.
Bang! Bang! Bang!...
Mart launched several simultaneous attacks at Moraf.
Moraf narrowly dodged each blade, causing them to crash into the ground and inflict considerable, devastating damage.
The recruits were in shock as they watched large chunks of the ground’s surface be torn up or violently flung in different directions.
"That looks dangerous."
"Are they really fighting?"
A demon dressed in the marquisate’s uniform with the rank of vice-commander—with dark green hair, black horns, and grayish skin—replied:
"They’re fighting for real. The marquis holds Moraf Arcaris in high regard, which is why he wants Moraf to prove himself worthy of the expectations he has placed on him."
"But what if he gets seriously injured?"
"Just watch. This is also an opportunity the Marquis is giving you."
Moraf Arcaris had a determined look in his eyes; his speed was extraordinary, and he had no trouble catching up to Mart Sevec and cutting through the demonic barrier protecting Mart. But this time, Mart wasn’t relying on just one barrier.
Moraf’s sword struck a barrier capable of dispersing part of the damage, which gave Mart the opportunity to levitate away from his enemy while simultaneously launching the remaining demonic energy blades at him.
"Not this time!"
Moraf swung his sword in a horizontal slash through the air, and his sword intent severed each blade, causing them to explode before they even reached him.
But Moraf hadn’t just cut the blades; he had also cut the nearly 50 needles that Mart had left hidden and buried in the ground.
"So that’s the antagonist’s potential."
That was the thought that crossed Mart’s mind.
Outside the demonic barrier, everyone was surprised and nervous to see that the area inside the barrier was in such bad shape, even though the two demons had only just begun training.
Mart Sevec watched his opponent’s movements very closely. It wasn’t part of Mart’s plan to reveal all his powers to the recruits, but it was clear to him that Moraf was an opponent that not just anyone in the same Rank could face.
Mart extended his hand toward Moraf.
Above Mart, one of his special demonic diagrams appeared on the right and another on the left, and in front of his left eye appeared another of his demonic diagrams, which he had perfected some time ago.
These were three of the five demonic diagrams he had created for himself.
The diagram in Mart’s left eye increased the accuracy and range of his vision. The diagram on his right greatly increased the speed at which he could create demonic barriers, and the diagram on his left was a dangerous demonic spell that infused other offensive spells, causing everything struck by those other demonic spells to implode.
Hundreds of blades of concentrated demonic energy appeared within the barrier.
However, Moraf was not intimidated; at that very moment, Moraf’s horns—which had resembled blue crystals—turned black and emitted a dark aura, and likewise, the aura enveloping Moraf’s sword took on that same dark miasma.
"You’ve exceeded my expectations."
Mart Sevec’s words served as a brief prelude to the hundreds of blades of demonic energy that were fired at Moraf, who leaped forward, brandishing his sword in the direction of the Marquis.
Everyone watched as hundreds of slashes of demonic aura—produced by the intent of Moraf’s sword—vanished upon coming into contact with the blades of demonic energy, which also vanished upon striking the slashes of demonic aura.
One demonic barrier after another fell before the powerful demonic aura emanating from Moraf’s sword.
When the sword was in front of him, Mart touched it with his left hand, and both Mart’s hand and Moraf’s sword were compressed; with his right hand, Mart had already created a demonic diagram from which a demonic blade shot out, piercing Moraf’s abdomen.
Moraf fell to the ground, on his knees, vomiting blood and feeling excruciating pain, but at no point did he scream or beg for help.
All the recruits were horrified yet at the same time admired the marquis, whose left forearm had vanished, leaving a horrific wound with hanging flesh from which blood flowed unceasingly.
"Never let your guard down; you never know what the enemy is willing to sacrifice to win. War isn’t about honor—it’s about winning."
Mart stopped suppressing his Power Rank, and the regeneration of his left forearm and hand began immediately; first the bones regenerated, then the nerves, veins, arteries, and muscles, and finally the skin.
A few minutes later, Mart placed his left hand on Moraf’s shoulder and healed him.
"You did well, Vice-Commander Arcaris."
"I appreciate your guidance, Marquis."
"Come to my study in a week if you want to raise your Rank, but if you want to do it without taking shortcuts, you can keep training on your own—it’s your decision."
Moraf watched the Marquis’s back as he dissolved the barrier after restoring the training ground.
With his own perception as a Sword Master, combined with the drop of Demon God’s blood, Moraf could see that Mart’s demonic energy was in a chaotic state.
"I must become stronger."
That was Moraf’s thought upon seeing that Mart Sevec was in such a weakened state and yet still did not neglect his duty as a marquis.