Chapter 53
Breaking through the encirclement took just a single strike.
When the knights surrounding the Berserkers collapsed in an instant, the surrounding knights also fell one after another, and a path soon opened up.
In the meantime, our members burst through the breach in the encirclement and broke out.
No, they began to retreat, fiercely beating down the tangled and fallen knights as they went.
Their swords and the Berserkers' greatswords are completely different.
Their swords cannot pierce the alloy armor of our members, but the Berserkers' greatswords not only crush armor plate, they punch right through.
As the fallen knights were beaten truly like rats, screams erupted everywhere.
Donnie, the last to escape, shouted out.
"Take out all the archers!"
The Berserkers charged toward me, and I walked among them. Just as I brushed past, for a brief moment—
I caught my members' eyes.
A strange thrill and sense of pride.
And trust.
In this moment, I was truly proud of my warriors. Their eyes were unwavering, their expressions full of certainty.
I had only just come to realize it.
They had broken through the royal guard, said to be the empire's greatest knights, as if it was nothing.
What more proof did I need?
Now I knew it clearly. That they would not be easily defeated by anyone.
That they could become the greatest warriors in the empire.
Counting Donnie, eight in all leaped to the left and right of the corridor.
They had each conserved magic power for what was to come. As if the real fight was just beginning, unfazed by the encirclement.
I walked slowly toward the knights of the Syren family.
The knights, startled by the rear line crumbling so quickly, were hurriedly regrouping.
They had meant to catch the eight who escaped, but when one man suddenly started walking toward them, they all looked baffled.
I stood before them, slinging the greatsword onto my shoulder. My appearance now was pitch-black all over.
Unlike when I took out the royal guard's deputy-commander, now I wore a mask.
"To those who wish to live, I speak."
Was it too abrupt a statement?
The knights of the Syren family glanced at one another. Few wore helms.
As always, it was the confidence of those who saw themselves as the empire's greatest knights.
"Those who leave this place right now, and forever sever ties with the Syren family, will live."
No response from the knights.
No matter where they went, they would be treated with respect, and perhaps their superiors were not giving any other orders.
"I say again. If you wish to live, leave this place. Whether you die today or die tomorrow, anyone who becomes the Syren family's dog will not survive."
It was quiet.
They did not snicker or murmur. Only a few wore smirks at their mouths. They were, after all, nobles of very high standing.
Then a voice called out from behind.
"Seize that man."
The words had barely left the elder's mouth when the knights leaped forward all at once.
Now they looked the part of knights.
Time for the chain attack!
As simply as possible!
Thud—
Kicking off the ground, I shot forward with force.
With a horizontal slash, I took out three or four, and then instantly unleashed Whirlwind.
Purkukukukung—
The knights tried to block by imbuing their swords with magic power, but it was meaningless.
Those who tried to stop my whirlwind charge were helplessly flung away.
After breaking through the defense, I rampaged as if I were mad. Targeting the densest groups, I swung my sword crazily.
With one horizontal slash, I cut down six at once; when three or so gathered together, I cleaved down vertically.
Bang—
Again I kicked off the ground and shot forward.
Cut down to the left, slammed three aside, then a right slash at the same time!
When four or five fell at once, a smashing downward strike!
Crash—
The greatsword crashed down on the fallen bodies. Flesh was severed, blood spattered high.
As blood splashed down on me, I shot forward again. It was at this point that the knights began to panic.
Some attacked, others retreated. For those still trying to counterattack, I pounced like a beast.
Another crazed massacre!
Left slash!
Right slash!
Pushing through the ones who rushed at me, then again left slash!
Right slash!
When their swords came at me, I spun on the spot and swatted them all away.
Then, a body slam!
From the right, I leapt instantly to the left, kicking off the ground.
The knights tried to counter in a panic, but a single sweep of my greatsword was all it took!
With each strike, at least three or four were knocked away.
Those hit by the clash of magic power were beyond counting! Those who didn't block with magic power had already lost a body part.
Again, a body slam to break through those charging from the right. Any who hesitated were split in half with a single horizontal slash.
Then left slash!
Right slash!
Advancing in a zigzag, when enough of them gathered I dived in without hesitation.
With a few spins, I brought them down and slammed down again!
It was a one-sided slaughter.
Like wolves rampaging in a sheep pen—no, like a furious tiger unleashed among savage wolves.
I swung the massive sword more lightly than they handled their longswords.
They thought it light, but when they blocked, it struck with the shock of an iron pillar.
If they tried to stop it, they were knocked aside; if not, they were cut down.
If they tried to dodge, I was instantly upon them, and even if their attack hit, their armor was never breached.
My sword technique was nothing but bizarre, ignoring all sense of range.
My spinning attacks made approaching me impossible. And that magic power—what was it?
That was the look on the Syren family knights' faces now.
The stunned eyes and fear of seeing something unreal.
And deep doubt.
They were coming to realize it.
If they wanted to survive, they had to run. Knight or not, that was the only way to live.
And sure enough—
As I moved again, some suddenly fell back and a multitude of knights collapsed all at once.
Most had lost the will to fight.
"Die!"
One rushed at me with a scream, leaping with a considerable amount of magic power, bringing his sword down hard.
This time—a greatsword uppercut!
Purk—Chwaaaak—
The knight lunging at me was sliced in half in midair.
"Argh—!"
Six or seven knights, seeing their comrade die, charged at me screaming.
These must be the last who still had the will to fight.
Thud—Sekeok—Pufupung—
I spun on the spot and mercilessly drove my greatsword at the oncoming knights.
Two got their heads cut off while rushing in, a few had their arms severed while still holding their swords.
Some were torn in half and flung aside before me.
Chwaaaak—
It all happened so fast that only then did the blood start to spray and gush.
Whirlwind and blood storm battered the knights, spattering their faces and bodies with blood.
I stood, soaked in blood.
Some three hundred lay fallen.
A hundred remained. The rest had either fled or were being dealt with by the Berserkers.
Those still standing were the ones still clinging to the Syren family.
Understandable, as they had lived well as the empire's top knights.
Paid plenty, looked down on knights of other houses. Hunted the survivors of fallen houses.
Provoked people and killed innocents on a whim.
It was hard to give up that way of life.
Even with death at their nose.
I walked toward the remaining hundred knights.
They no longer tried to attack, only retreated. The ones left with any will to fight had already died.
"Stop him! What are you all standing around for?!"
Another order from their superior.
Without hesitation, I dashed toward the direction of the cry. An old man shrank back with a startled expression.
At once, several knights formed a barricade in front of him.
Without breaking stride, I spun and swung my sword.
Tukukukung—
Chwaaaak—
A single decisive blow ended their hesitation.
All the knights who had been wavering until then now started running all at once.
No more defensive formation, no more ranks.
Dozens fell in a chain reaction at the front, while to the left, right, and rear, knights began fleeing.
Those trying to defend the old man were barely thirty. There was no need to bother with them.
From where I stood, I leapt!
Shuuuuuk—
In an instant, I closed the ten paces between us.
The knights turned their eyes to my flying body.
The old man and his guarding knights as well.
Just a moment ago, I'd been quite a distance away, but in the blink of an eye, I was right in front of them.
I brought my greatsword down on their leader.
The force of a single slice!
The other knights tried frantically to do something, but nothing worked.
A man named Tando was cut in two by the same blow, and Art Syren lost an arm, unable to respond properly.
It wasn't that these two powerhouses were careless, but their bodies were pinned by the overwhelming force!
And this time was no different.
I didn't know how strong this old man was, but he, too, wasn't able to swing his sword properly—just twisted his body in haste.
At the moment the greatsword fell on the old man's shoulder—
Suddenly, a blurry form entered my field of vision.
While the old man and knights moved sluggishly, only this form seemed to move normally!
The greatsword was already falling, and I couldn't stop my descent.
That was how fast the sudden appearance was—faster than me.
Thuk—
My descending greatsword struck something and sparked.
At the same time, a surge of magic power and shockwave blasted through the sword into my body.
It was as if someone had struck me aside—I tumbled to the side.
I landed lightly but had to take two steps back. It was such a blow that I might have lost consciousness for a moment.
Jing—
The blade of my greatsword vibrated, ringing out. Even the elemental with me sent a shudder of surprise.
A sharp pain radiated through the arms holding the greatsword. The magic power inside me roiled like mad.
No major internal injuries, but I hadn't felt this kind of jolt in a long time.
It meant someone this strong had taken my blow.
A man stood before the old man, wielding a one-handed sword. He wore no armor.
His hair was long and unkempt, a beard covered half his face.
He was the one who blocked my sword.
Only then did the man nonchalantly lower the sword he had raised.
He was the guest warrior.
Perhaps the man reputed to be the strongest on the entire continent: the Sword of Light.
He looked unharmed, but he wasn't. His right hand—gripping the sword—was trembling.
The man quietly tucked his right hand into his sleeve.
Then, letting the sword hang, he stepped forward in front of the old man.
I calmed myself and rested my sword on my shoulder.
A standoff ensued.
His hair was so long, his eyes were barely visible.
His clothes were old, barefoot, his sandals nothing but leather thongs.
He stood before me, with no visible guard at all. His stance was sloppy, but there were no openings.
He must have stepped up because he thought he had to save the old man—he couldn't be accused of having done nothing.
As we squared off, the knights behind him slowly retreated, encircling the old man.
While the guest warrior blocked me, they planned to escape.
But behind them, berserkers stood blocking the way.
They had already rounded up the few archers and formed their own encirclement, though only eight of them.
As I was about to speak first, the man—who, until now, looked intent only on blocking me—spoke quietly.
"Just let them go."
His tone was low, calm.
From the look and now the tone, I guessed my assessment of his nature had been correct.
"You think you can stop me?"
At that, the man swept his bangs aside and looked at me.
Listless, forlorn eyes.
Impossible to judge good or evil.
Yet, a subtle surprise shimmered in those lifeless eyes.
He seemed genuinely startled by my sword's power and magic. He tried to hide it, but it showed.
"I didn't know someone like you existed in the empire. But I won't lose to you."
"Quite confident, aren't you."
"I have no reason to fight to the death with you and your men. But if you mean to kill the commander, you'll have to get past me. And if you try, you will die."
"That remains to be seen."
A faint smile appeared on his lips. In those previously lifeless eyes, a sharp will began to glint.
He switched his grip on his sword.
"Don't regret this."
"Likewise."
The man approached me.
And I too—
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I thought he's going to be recruited...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】