Brad's longsword wasn't some legendary treasure, but it was a powerful Mystic Code. True legendary treasures were exceedingly rare in the world; even the White Knight, who had lived for centuries, didn't possess one. Moreover, each treasure held its own history and glory, so even if he were given one, he probably wouldn't be able to use it… Brad only hoped that his own longsword, through the passage of time, could one day be elevated to a treasure.
After just one exchange of blows, the previously quiet and beautiful park had become a pitted ruin. Rubble, wood chips, debris, and deep craters created a scene that looked as if it had just survived a war.
No wonder the Church wanted to exterminate these Ancestors… The combat of such beings, with just the aftershocks of a single move, caused so much destruction. If they fought unreservedly and were given enough time, destroying a city would be child's play.
The clang of swords was incessant, and dazzling flashes of light erupted from the weapons in Brad's and Ryougi Raku's hands. The aftershocks of each attack, the residual sword energy from every missed strike, subtly altered the terrain.
Their battle had, by tacit agreement, long since left the park and entered the deep mountains and old forests of the wilderness. If a group of ordinary people had witnessed it, it would have surely caused trouble. As for the damage to the park, how the relevant authorities would explain it was no longer their concern.
Altrouge Brunestud, Strout, and the Primate Murder stood on a nearby hill, observing their battle.
"Lord Strout!" Altrouge's noble and indifferent voice, even amidst the whistling of blades, was still beautifully and clearly audible.
"I am here, Your Majesty!" Strout stood behind Altrouge, to her side, his hand on his chest, bowing slightly as he responded to his sovereign's inquiry.
"Find an opportunity later to capture that boy…" She paused, then added, "Just keep him alive, even if he's crippled, it doesn't matter…" Cold, murderous words emerged from her noble form, creating a stark contrast.
The wound on her abdomen had already healed automatically, but she hadn't had time to change her clothes. A tantalizing glimpse of pure white skin peeked out from the torn fabric, the half-concealed view adding countless layers of allure.
"Yes, Princess!" Strout lowered his head, accepting the task.
"Then, please be careful… Brement, I entrust the Princess's protection to you." After giving his final instruction to the White Beast, Strout slowly retreated, heading towards the battlefield. He would obey the Black Princess's command, seize an opportunity, and capture the boy in one swift move.
Altrouge waited until Strout had left before muttering, seemingly displeased, "Am I really that weak…?"
"Brement, what do you think?" She cast a sidelong glance at the large dog lying at her feet.
The white dog licked its paw, just like a real canine, then gave Altrouge a very human-like eye-roll. "Princess, do you still claim you're not weak? You were actually injured by a human!" There was a hint of teasing in its tone.
"That boy isn't an ordinary human, you know." As if making an excuse for herself, Altrouge spoke weakly.
"Indeed…"
Brement wrinkled its nose like a human. "That boy isn't human at all, is he…? But, in my perception, he truly is human…" Tilting its head in confusion, Brement was quite puzzled by the question.
"That's why I need Strout to capture him alive, isn't it…? Such an interesting thing, I need to study it thoroughly."
Altrouge, as if she had discovered a fun new toy, wore a mischievous yet queenly smile.
She lightly touched the spot where she had been injured earlier. "He ambushed me, and yet he dared to say such misleading things?"
Brement gave Altrouge a strange look, then continued to watch the battle in the distance with great interest. She was also very curious about the boy. If necessary, she wouldn't mind joining the fray, but for now, protecting the Princess was paramount.
"Maximum Iron Sunder Flash!" Countless sword energies, as if guided by a mysterious force, rotated and converged like a black hole at a single point, then, like a violent whirlwind, were unleashed as Ryougi Raku swung his sword, shattering every obstacle in their path like a true hurricane!
"Hmph! Great power, but what good is it if it can't hit!" In that instant, Ryougi Raku's eyes seemed to see countless White Knights, moving in an uncanny manner, as if crossing space, circumventing the hurricane-like spiral sword energy, and appearing before him.
Such speed made Ryougi Raku's pupils instantly dilate, but he reacted extremely quickly, retreating swiftly before the White Knight's slashing longsword. Brad's longsword missed, but the sound of it cutting through the air only came after the swing had completed—the speed of this strike had exceeded the speed of sound!
After Ryougi Raku landed with a sharp jump, he pushed off with his right leg, using the momentum to charge at Brad!
"Then try this move, Rock-Shattering Sword!" The longsword in his hand seemed to ignite with a raging fire—that was his true power, the Power of Origin!
Just like a mage casting a spell on themselves, this Rock-Shattering Sword, infused with the Power of Origin, magnified his strength tenfold, a hundredfold!
Brad, seeing Ryougi Raku's charge, showed no fear. The longsword in his hand was also fully charged, and he similarly slashed towards Ryougi Raku! He didn't believe his strength would lose to a mere boy!
However, reality often takes unexpected turns. With a deafening clang, Brad finally felt the immense force coming from the other side. But by then, it was too late for regret. He could only clench his teeth and hold on for dear life, his feet pressed into the earth by the downward force. Yet, he successfully blocked Ryougi Raku's meticulously planned, peak strike!
The web of skin between his thumb and forefinger, where he gripped the sword, split open, and threads of blood seeped out. But Brad had no time to tend to it, because Ryougi Raku's left hand suddenly left the hilt, clenching into a fist. Blood-red flames erupted from that fist, causing Brad's body to shiver. It felt as if this flame was fundamentally far more powerful than he was!
The distance was too close, and Brad was pinned by Ryougi Raku's previous strike, unable to dodge. He could only watch helplessly as Ryougi Raku's fist landed on his right shoulder!
Although the powerful force in the fist wasn't as great as the previous sword strike, it made his arm feel as if it had broken. The clothing around his right shoulder also ripped under the force. But most importantly, the flame that had previously made his heart palpitate also surged into his body through that punch.
In that instant, he felt the greatest pain he had ever experienced in his life, like an ordinary person suddenly tasting all the flavors of the world at once—sweet, sour, bitter, salty—all appearing simultaneously. And these sensations came so fiercely, they were utterly unbearable.
Brad felt as if his right shoulder was being corroded by a virulent poison, his entire flesh festering. The next moment, it was as if he had plunged into molten lava, violently impacted. Before he could adapt, it was as if he was suddenly transported to a land of extreme cold, with biting winds.
Within all this, there was also a curse that suppressed immortality, which he detested, and a burning sensation like holy light!
Everything instantly invaded his soul. The agony in his soul made him instinctively open his mouth, but no sound escaped.
Ryougi Raku saw Brad's expression and felt the sudden decrease in power from the longsword they were still clashing with. His lips twitched into a victorious smile, and he prepared to give Brad no chance, to seize the fruits of victory in the shortest possible time!
But Brad's experience was immensely rich. In that instant, he knew that victory or defeat hinged on this moment. If he were caught by Ryougi Raku's ensuing barrage of attacks, he probably wouldn't even be able to use his final trump card before suffering a tragic defeat!
Every one of the Twenty-Seven Ancestors was not to be trifled with; they were beings who reigned at the pinnacle of power. Even if the previous asymmetry of information had put him in a losing position, Brad still grasped the crucial point!
With his absolute will, the White Knight forcefully suppressed the trembling pain in his soul, suddenly erupting with unprecedented power. He pressed forward with the longsword gripped in both hands, breaking the stalemate!
Ryougi Raku, holding his sword with one hand, was straining against Brad's two-handed sword. He had thought his sudden attack would exhaust his opponent, but he hadn't expected that at the critical moment, his opponent would unleash even more terrifying power than before. He was at the point where his old strength was depleted. In that instant, his mind raced, knowing that it was impossible to continue, and he prepared to retreat to await his next attack.
But the White Knight gave him no chance. Just as Ryougi Raku was about to retreat with the momentum, he lifted his right foot, as if to return all the previous pain and humiliation, and kicked Ryougi Raku squarely in the chest.
Ryougi Raku felt as if he had been hit in the chest by a speeding train. He flew backward with the speed of an exiting cannonball. The trees in his path couldn't slow him down in the slightest, until his entire body slammed into a giant boulder at the foot of a mountain, and only then did the excess force dissipate from his back.
A mouthful of blood spewed from his mouth. Ryougi Raku knew that his sternum and spine were probably completely shattered, and fragments of bone had pierced various internal organs. His entire body was numb. If he were an ordinary person, he would be dead beyond dead by now. But although Ryougi Raku was in agony, his first priority was to quickly circulate his power to heal his injuries. The enemy hadn't been dealt with yet!
'This time I was careless… I didn't expect Brad to be able to counterattack in that situation. I wanted to end it quickly, to prevent him from using his final trump card. It seems this battle is going to be a long one…' While healing his injuries, Ryougi Raku analyzed his gains and losses.
Thinking of the Black Knight who hadn't yet made a move, the Primate Murder, and the still terrifying Altrouge, despite her injuries, Ryougi Raku could only give a wry smile. These were figures as powerful as, or even more powerful than, the White Knight. Defeating even one White Knight was already so troublesome.
Now Ryougi Raku's mindset had completely changed; he was already thinking about an escape route…
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If he were to stubbornly confront them, fighting for days and nights, risking true death, he was confident that in such extreme circumstances, he could push his power to its limits, completely analyze their immortality, and thus kill them!
However, a wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall. He was a battle maniac, but not a madman, nor did he want to be an unkillable protagonist. What if one mistake cost him his most precious possession—life!
With seemingly endless life, powerful strength, and a bright future, unless there was no other option, putting himself in a life-or-death situation was a foolish act!
As for the so-called glory of the strong, in his opinion, it was nonsense. Only those who lived were called strong; the dead were the weak crushed by the strong! Countless people faced life-or-death situations and maintained their glory, but those who could reverse their fortunes were only a few irreplicable miracles. Between life and death, living and dying both had a 50% chance. Ryougi Raku would not leave his fate to a probability!
Ryougi Raku could not endlessly unleash his cosmos like a Saint Seiya. Now, he would use the strongest of the Thirty-Six Stratagems: running away is the best policy!
...After kicking Ryougi Raku away, Brad finally caught his breath. In that brief moment, cold sweat streamed down his face, and he was slightly panting.
"Is he dead?" He asked himself, but he couldn't answer. That guy was too bizarre. That last strike, if it had been an ordinary mage or Executor, would indeed have been fatal, but for Ryougi Raku, he had already felt an unknown terror. That pain just now was still fresh in his memory!
Brad really wanted to go and confirm the outcome of the battle, but he had just used magic to suppress the power that Ryougi Raku had struck his shoulder with. Until it was completely expelled, he dared not approach.
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