Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Dormant Dragon Now Stretches (3) >

Theo let out a small, dry laugh inwardly.

‘This isn’t exactly what I had intended.’

The reason Theo had spread the rumors and gathered people was to crush those deeply mired in their inferiority complexes and change the rumors about him.

But it seemed there was something he hadn’t quite anticipated.

-These were also swordsmen who carried the pride of Ragnar in their hearts.

He thought provoking them would lead to all of them ganging up on him at once.

Contrary to his expectations, they seemed to have a strong aversion to lynching.

Was it because they considered it a shameful act unbefitting a Ragnar swordsman?

Moreover, when Theo had shown his true skills, they realized their mistake and even bowed their heads.

It wasn’t only Sybil who reacted that way.

Most of the onlookers couldn’t even look at Theo properly or, with reddened faces, were busy sneaking glances at him from time to time.

‘Well, this isn’t bad either.’

If the opponent sincerely apologized, responding properly was also the conduct befitting a swordsman.

Step!

Theo relaxed his posture and followed the formal gesture of a swordsman’s greeting.

“Theo Ragnar. An apprentice swordsman from the Rose Palace, and since the Blossoming Ceremony is approaching, I have not yet taken on a separate master.”

Sybil immediately raised his head.

He recognized this gesture as a formal introduction shared between swordsmen before an official duel.

It meant Theo no longer saw him as an object of punishment but as an equal dueling partner.

Sybil felt a slight twinge of emotion at his nose, but he suppressed it, responding in a booming voice.

“Sybil Dreigh. I am a swordsman from the Southern Gate Guard. I have been trained in the swordsmanship of House Kurei, and I am skilled in fast swordsmanship. I hope we have a good match.”

Theo nodded and lowered his Zweihander once again.

Clang!

The two swords lightly clashed in the air.

After putting some distance between them, each adopted a different stance.

Woooosh!

Theo’s fighting spirit began to swirl around him once more.

Gulp!

Sybil swallowed nervously, gripping his sword tightly.

It had been a long time since he stood in an official duel, and he felt as though Theo’s presence had grown even more imposing than before.

Thump! Thump!

Meanwhile, his heart kept pounding. But why was it beating so fast?

Was it because of the tension?

Or maybe...

‘Am I being moved by Lord Theo’s aura...?’

That thought was as far as Sybil got.

Because Theo was already making his move.

Thud!

Swiiiish—

‘As expected, he’s fast!’

Theo moved so swiftly that it made one question if it was really possible for him to wield a Zweihander with such agility.

But this time, Sybil didn’t panic. Calmly, he raised his sword to a middle guard, blocking the attack.

Claaang!

“Ugh!”

It felt as if he had been struck hard in the chest by a hammer. Sybil staggered back several steps but immediately regained his stance, planting his feet firmly to counterattack.

Cha-cha-cha-chang!

[You have gained recognition from ‘Sybil Dreigh’.]

[Your Luck has increased by 1.]

[You have gained some experience.]

‘So, fast swordsmanship is his specialty, as expected.’

Theo compensated for the cumbersome movements of his heavy Zweihander by squeezing every ounce of strength from the Dragon’s Heart, blocking each of Sybil’s rapid strikes.

When Sybil aimed for his ankle, Theo deflected it with the flat of his blade. When Sybil targeted his neck, Theo skillfully widened the gap between them, barely dodging the strike before closing the distance in an instant.

It was a seamless chain of moves, transitioning from the technique to .

Rumble!

Sybil became a perfect sparring partner, allowing Theo to test each of his hidden sword techniques.

And then...

Clang!

Theo swung his Zweihander upward with all his might.

Whirr!

Sybil’s sword flew into the air before landing with a dull thud on the training ground floor.

Though Sybil grasped his torn hand with his left, he had a bright expression, not one of someone who had just lost.

“I’ve lost.”

“It was a good fight.”

As Sybil turned, a smile spread across his face, brighter than ever.

Theo glanced around.

– Title: Heir of the House of Narcio

– Talents: Swordsmanship genius. Keen senses. Relentless hard worker.

– Status: Surprised by the unexpected appearance of a rival.

—

Among the vassals and cadet families supporting Ragnar, six families held exceptional power and were referred to as the “Six Snow Families.”

The House of Narcio was one of the most prominent among them.

Wellington was the sole heir of the Narcio family, a genius who, in the future, would develop the family to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the House of Ragnar.

Back then, Ragnar had been so wary of the Narcio family’s influence that tensions eventually led to the family’s withdrawal from the Six Snow Families, which triggered a large-scale conflict.

It was during this period that Wellington earned the title ‘Lion of the Snowfields,’ symbolizing a beast aiming to tear at the throat of the dragon, Ragnar.

However, Theo remembered him in a different way.

– A genius he had always wanted to surpass.

Fifteen years old.

Wellington was the same age as Theo.

They both went through the Blossoming Ceremony at the same time and were thrown into the field simultaneously.

But the outcomes were drastically different.

Wellington always shone brightly, while Theo was perpetually in the shadows.

Theo had always envied Wellington.

He was one of the people Theo had longed to meet in the Blossoming Ceremony.

‘But to run into him here...’

Moreover, Theo could read the emotions in Wellington’s eyes.

Competitive spirit.

Or perhaps, an eagerness to test himself.

‘Someone like him... wants to duel me? Does that mean I’ve improved enough for him to want to face me?’

Thump, thump, thump!

Theo’s heart raced.

The fact that he could now face this peer, whom he had once only admired from afar, on equal footing.

‘Can I handle this in my current condition?’

Theo coolly assessed the stamina he had left.

It was clear that a long fight was out of the question.

Wellington was a genius among geniuses, who had been making waves in the northern territories since the age of five.

Even if Theo were at full strength, a victory would be difficult to guarantee.

‘But still, if I could clash with him!’

The intense desire to finally duel his former idol fueled his resolve.

‘It has to be a short match, nothing else will work.’

Thunk!

Theo silently drove his Zweihander into the ground of the training field.

It was an unexpected action.

Wellington’s eyebrow twitched.

“Surrendering?”

“Of course not.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Wellington slowly took his combat stance.

“My name is Wellington Narcio, a low-ranking knight of House Narcio. Before I undergo the Blossoming Ceremony, I’ve come early to witness the swordsmanship of the Lord of Ragnar. And now, here, I have achieved what I sought and am grateful for the chance to cross swords with you.”

“Theo Ragnar. The 31st son of the great northern guardian and master of the Winter Mountains, Kyle Ragnar. I am an apprentice swordsman preparing for the Blossoming Ceremony. I, too, am grateful for the opportunity to duel with the famous heir of House Narcio.”

Theo responded politely, taking a moment to catch his breath.

Suddenly, Wellington’s expression shifted slightly before returning to its usual composed state. The change happened specifically when Theo mentioned “Kyle’s son.”

‘Was he already conscious of the gap in status between my family and his, even back then?’ Theo wondered as they both prepared to face off.

Flash!

Both moved at the same time.

Wellington aimed for Theo’s forehead, concentrating on the swift swordsmanship for which House Narcio was renowned.

In response, Theo squeezed every last bit of strength from the Dragon’s Heart, unleashing a burst of overwhelming power as he pulled his Zweihander upward.

It was a strike relying purely on strength—a deadly move intended to finish the battle in one blow.

Claaang!

The deafening sound of clashing metal was so intense that it seemed as if everyone’s ears might be torn apart. Something flew into the air.

“Fast! So fast!”

“How did he move like that? I couldn’t even see his speed!”

“Wait, what?”

“That sword...!”

The onlookers gasped in awe, but then noticed something crucial: the broken sword was the Zweihander.

-Oh, Wellington won.

That thought crossed the minds of all the spectators, though none voiced it.

Even though it felt like the natural outcome, they couldn’t ignore the fierce determination Theo had shown throughout the duel.

Some felt a sense of disappointment at the thought of Theo’s fight ending here, while others were disheartened that, as a swordsman of Ragnar, he hadn’t been able to defeat Narcio.

However...

“...I have lost. Thank you for granting me a great match.”

Suddenly, Wellington bowed his head respectfully toward Theo, showing him proper courtesy.