Chapter 179. Breaking Fingers (3)
"It's a fatal wound."
Claude glanced at the sword in his hand and then shifted his gaze to the man in front of him.
A body drenched in blood.
Though his 'thrust' hadn't hit its mark, Yulian's entire body was riddled with shards of 'dark star iron'.
For this one strike, Claude had scattered fragnts around and attacked while retrieving them.
As a result, Yulian sustained what could be called a 'fatal wound.'
"Indeed... the phrase 'Sword Saint's top disciple' isn't an empty boast, is it? To evade my sword in that fleeting mont."
Even as he bled and looked at Claude, Yulian was on the brink of collapse because of the 'fragnts.'
With even a small gesture, his life was in danger.
Yet, despite the situation being firmly in his favor, Claude still ensured all safety until the very end.
"How do the fragnts of dark star iron in your body feel? Since aura is blocked, proper mana operation must have beco impossible."
Even as he spoke, wondering if there might be a counterattack, Claude maintained his distance from Yulian.
For the sake of caution, he was acting prudently.
Even if wounded like a lion, Yulian still possessed sharp teeth and claws.
Though he couldn't wield mana, Yulian's swordsmanship closely resembled that of the 'Sword Saint'.
If he showed an opening, he would surely be bitten.
'Slowly, and surely, I will finish him.'
Claude began to manipulate the fragnts of 'dark star iron' within Yulian's body using his aura flowing through his fingertips.
Crick, crack───!
There ca a sound of skin tearing within Yulian's body, and blood continued to pour out as if it were visible to the eyes.
"...... A monstrous guy."
The pain must have been imnse, yet Yulian endured it, maintaining his stance and glaring at Claude.
He instinctively knew that if his posture crumbled due to the pain, his life would be at risk.
'He indeed deserves the praise from the Sword Saint.'
Nevertheless, due to Claude's continuous aura control, the 'fragnts' burrowed further into Yulian's flesh.
"Ugh...!"
In the fleeting mont that Yulian's posture slightly wavered,
Claude launched himself forward, closing the distance.
Clang──!
The collision of swords.
With sparks flying in disarray, Yulian, having no strength left to move, took a step forward to make the final stand as Claude approached.
"As you might know very well!"
A mistake borne of haste.
Claude anticipated this.
"The closer an aura is to the caster, the stronger its influence."
Wooom.
Claude quickly activated 'Fragnt Cohesion'.
The fragnts of 'dark star iron' beca even more manageable and started swirling inside Yulian's body.
As Claude raised his hand skywards, responding as if in harmony,
Squelch──!
Blood gushed out from Yulian's body like a fountain.
Another fatal wound, surpassing the previous one.
Even though losing consciousness due to excessive bleeding wouldn't have been strange for a normal person,
'He doesn't even kneel.'
Claude, contrary to his thoughts, felt relieved inside.
Had Yulian not lost his concentration for a brief mont, he wouldn't have had such an advantageous position.
Of course, losing focus in battle was a misstep for third-rate warriors, but it was unlikely that the renowned 'Yulian' had faltered.
There must have been another factor.
But what did it matter now?
'I've won.'
Once again, Claude leaped toward Yulian.
Despite almost collapsing from his wounds, Yulian adjusted his stance, though not perfectly.
Clang──!
The blade of the 'Moonstone Sword' deflected Claude's attack with great difficulty.
"Ugh...!"
Letting out a groan, Yulian moved back as Claude positioned the 'dark star iron sword' held in his hand high above his head.
He then attempted a downward blow with the sword.
Thunk──!
But Yulian's kick sent the 'dark star iron sword' flying into the distance.
"So naive!"
Claude stretched out his hand toward the flying sword, causing the 'dark star iron' attached to it to scatter into the sky and reform in his hand.
A small dagger.
'Though I could only form this much due to the distance, it's enough.'
Squelch──!
The dagger instantly pierced Yulian's side.
Amidst excruciating pain, Yulian continued to launch counterattacks.
As the Moonstone Sword, reduced significantly in the moonlight, aid to carve Claude's upper body.
'Too slow.'
As he leaned back, dodging the sword, Yulian's roundhouse kick then ca flying at him.
Thud!
Perhaps because he couldn't stabilize himself properly, it lacked the intended force.
As the kick was blocked by the aura enveloping Claude's leg, a dark shadow-like 'magic' subtly approached.
'I anticipated this too.'
Dodging the 'shadow' with a roll, Claude plunged the reford dagger back into Yulian's abdon.
'It's over.'
At this level, not even a knight would survive, let alone an ordinary person.
If he lived, he would genuinely be called a monster...
Grap──!
In the mont Claude wore a victorious smile.
Yulian's hand gripped Claude's shoulder tightly.
"... Finally caught you."
Crrrack──!
"Ugh, ughhhh...!"
The grip of terrifying strength, unfathomable for soone so battered.
Uncontrollably groaning, Claude looked at Yulian in his bewildernt.
'His, his eyes...?'
Eyes that normally showed no emotion were now wide open.
Red from burst capillaries, they resembled those of a demon.
'This monster... is sothing else.'
Crushed by the near-breaking pain, Claude detonated the dagger's fragnts in Yulian's body.
Boom, boom──!
Hundreds and thousands of fragnts moved positions, inflicting pain.
However, undeterred, Yulian endured the 'explosion' and advanced slowly.
Sstep. Sstep.
The montum behind each step caused Claude's body to tremble with goosebumps.
Even amidst a victorious scenario, Claude was overwheld by Yulian's spirit.
Was there a way to kill this guy?
Claude shook his head vigorously and, to remove him, kicked Yulian away.
Thud─!
Like a paper doll, Yulian was sent flying away.
Despite the fierce montum, he apparently lacked strength, as Yulian's body rolled down the steep hill below the graveyard.
"Huff... Huff..."
Watching Yulian like that, Claude regained his composure.
'... I must end his life.'
Because it was completely unlikely Yulian could survive and beco an obstacle in the future.
Fortunately, it seed he sohow won this fight, but against Yulian, Claude couldn't guarantee a 'next' ti.
Especially, the spirit Yulian showed at the end was extraordinary.
Despite assuming survival, the thought occurred that this demon might return once more, as relentless as death.
Tap, tap-tap──!
"... Rain?"
At that mont, raindrops began to fall from the sky.
Already being a moonless night, the thick darkness grew even deeper as heavy rain poured down, making it hard to see an inch ahead.
If a magic lamp existed, it would be sowhat discernible, but no light was to depend on here.
"... He must be dead."
A wound like that was bound to cause death.
Especially rolling down such a ridge, even more so.
The unease continuously rising was probably due to the spirit Yulian had shown a while ago.
'For now, I will retreat from here.'
Now was the right ti to withdraw.
If he dawdled, the knights' pursuit would beco more ticulous.
'Besides, I need to take Donathien out as well.'
Turning his eyes away from where Yulian had fallen, Claude returned via the secret passage leading back to the encampnt.
***
"What are you doing right now?"
Within the residence of the 'Six Fingers', commander Karina of the 'Branded Knights' clicked her tongue at the sight unfolding before her.
"Karina! Just in ti!"
Her gaze fell upon 'Commander Theo Lenok of the Indomitable Knights', who was covered in wounds and drenched in blood.
"These guys! These guys succumbed to poison and lost their minds! So, make them faint!"
Theo shouted with his usual gruff voice towards Karina.
Various weapons—spears, swords, and more—were embedded in Theo's body.
The original owners of those weapons were knights of the 'Indomitable Knights'.
Having lost their senses, they frantically tried to extricate the weapons lodged in Theo with a zombie-like deanor.
"Poison, you say...."
Watching the situation, she understood.
It seed to be the notorious poison used by Annaru, a high-ranking mber of the 'Six Fingers' who had broken out of prison previously.
"If they're poisoned with that troubleso venom, wouldn't it solve by killing them?"
Karina couldn't comprehend Theo's actions.
"That's nonsense!"
Theo imdiately retorted, dismissing Karina's pragmatic stance.
"A knight must serve the royal house! It's a commander's duty to save and return them safely!"
Feeling burdened by his words, Karina grimaced slightly.
"Isn't it the royal policy to let worthless knights be phased out?"
"Protecting the citizens is also part of the royal duty!"
Crunch──!
Bleeding profusely, Theo, who was struggling to keep the lodged weapons from being pulled, stared at one of the knights holding a spear.
"Emilen, dread of being a painter, but beca a knight at his father's request!"
Turning to the right.
"Tolin! This guy, despite being a commoner, showed talent to climb the ranks to beco a knight! Of course, it doesn't an he's remarkable compared to other knights, though!"
He looked right again.
"Willand! This guy..."
Even in such a critical situation, uncharacteristically emotional was Theo when Karina interjected sharply.
"Alright, alright! I understand, keep it shut!"
"Yes! They all have stories! It's a commander's discipline to return them to their lives!"
Wahahaha!
Laughing heartily, Theo seriously watched Karina.
"I must return them alive! It's the commander's duty! I'll hold them here, Karina! Will you eliminate the toxicologist?"
"... What?"
"The vice commander has pinpointed the location! I'll convey the position, please!"
At Theo's plea, Karina scratched her head and spoke to her subordinates, mbers of the 'Branded Knights', and the vice commander of 'Indomitable Knights'.
"Hey, I'll lend my knights, so take them."
"Ah, yes, understood!"
"And you?! What will you do!"
"I'm here to catch this 'Finger' boss. Just be thankful I lent you my knights."
Ignoring Theo's earnest plea, Karina turned away in a direction.
***
'... Teacher Yulian.'
The face she hadn't seen in ages.
Karina smiled recalling the visage of the one who advised and enabled her to beco a 'knight'.
'Teachers see potential regardless of origins.'
She brushed her red hair gently.
The nation of Palatan, which revered the Sky God Atloon, in opposition to the Sun God Solarun, thus destroyed in a religious war.
The Imperial citizens disliked the 'red hair' characteristic of Palatan citizens for straightforward reasons.
Before being absorbed by the Empire, the nation called 'Palatan' committed various war cris and executed nurous Empire citizens in na of 'holy war.'
Therefore, imperial citizens have long harbored a disdain for the 'red hair' trait of Palatan lineage.
Hatred was repeated.
Discrimination persisted.
However, Yulian was different.
—'While concentrating on aura in combat style is novel and good, swordsmanship fails to back it up.'
One who distinguished people not by 'race,' but 'talent'.
—'If you have no confidence in swordsmanship, why not employ another style of swordsmanship?'
Hence, Karina reached where she stands now.
'I must repay my debt.'
While harboring such thoughts, she was called upon to be part of the expedition against the 'Six Fingers'.
Receiving this, she learned Yulian was the overall commander and was elated.
For the sake of being slightly helpful to him, to achieve her long-pending objective.
She began swiftly scouring through the maze-filled residence of the 'Six Fingers'.
Facing the boss of Six Fingers, wouldn't he recognize her growth? She mused.
"Huh?"
Then, amidst rummaging through the shelter, she identified an oddly familiar man.
"Is he... the Commander?"
The man too recognized Karina, shifting his gaze toward her.
"Claude Febrance."
While Claude didn't seem to recognize her, Karina knew roughly who he was.
At least by face and na.
Quite the renowned man he was.
She thought quickly.
Claude was a criminal, once the commander of 'Blind Eyes', signifying substantial skill.
Having collected her thoughts, she touched the edges.
"Ah, so you're the one heading this place?"
"... After Yulian now a Commander? Today is truly tiring."
"What?"
Startled, hearing Yulian's familiar na from Claude's lips, Karina reacted.
"Why is Teacher Yulian's na coming from your mouth?"
"Not much to it. I just killed him, that's all."
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