Chapter 191: Stay Away From Me, All of You. (2)
Jaimon still couldn’t believe the situation unfolding before his eyes.
The enemy’s strategies and tactics were so bizarre that they seemed out of place in this world. And the destructive power and speed of the invaders were equally unbelievable—both overwhelming and swift.
The number of Fenris soldiers charging toward both walls amounted to just a few dozen.
In contrast, the number of soldiers they had stationed in defense was several times that.
‘And yet, they’re breaking through so quickly! How on earth did Fenris produce knights like these?’
Count Cabaldi’s soldiers were primarily heavily armored infantry, covered in full armor from head to toe. This gave them a significant advantage in defensive battles.
No matter how skilled a knight was, killing heavily armored infantry this quickly should have been impossible.
‘Are all of them at the level of advanced knights? No, that’s not it. It’s not the entire group. The problem lies with the ones leading them.’
Jaimon fixed his gaze on the knights at the forefront of the attack—Gillian and Kaor.
Gillian, in particular, demonstrated an overwhelming presence in this chaotic skirmish.
In the previous war, he had been in a role close to a bodyguard, merely following behind Ghislain, which limited his opportunities to stand out.
But now, leading a separate unit and attacking the enemy head-on, Gillian displayed a completely different side of himself.
He appeared draped in an array of weapons strapped all over his body and showcased his skills without restraint.
Swish!
Before Gillian even closed the distance, his thrown weapons shot through the air, piercing through the heads of his enemies.
Each swing of his sword sent the heads of Cabaldi soldiers flying as they dared to charge at him.
Even the Cabaldi forces’ attempts to stab with their spears and swords were effortlessly blocked by Gillian’s shield.
“F-Fall back!”
“It’s a monster!”
“This isn’t an enemy we can face!”
There was simply no way to counter him.
If they could land even a small wound, they might find the courage to continue attacking.
But terrified, the enemies retreated step by step, raising their thick shields in a desperate attempt to defend themselves.
Clearly amused, Gillian smirked arrogantly. He tossed aside his sword and shield, reaching for the axe strapped to his back.
Crash!
“Ughhhhhh!”
The shields proved useless. Gillian’s axe smashed through them, splitting both the shields and the men behind them in half.
With every step he took, the enemies were swept away like leaves floating on water.
It was hard to believe that these were the elite heavily armed soldiers of Cabaldi, one of the North’s most renowned forces.
Eventually, three knights commanding the other soldiers rushed forward to confront Gillian, swords raised.
Slash!
Gillian dodged, but the edge of a sword grazed his cheek, drawing blood.
Seizing the opportunity, two of the knights flanked him and launched a coordinated attack.
“Die!”
Knights from the North were often described as rougher and more aggressive compared to those from other regions.
True to their reputation, Count Cabaldi’s knights, as Northern warriors, charged at Gillian with relentless ferocity.
But Gillian’s counterattacks were even more devastating.
Without even bothering to dodge, he swung his axe mercilessly at one of his opponents.
Crash!
The axe shattered the knight’s sword and drove straight into his chest.
“Guhhh!”
The knight collapsed with a guttural scream, his chest split wide open.
Seizing the opportunity, another knight swung his sword at Gillian.
However, Gillian twisted his body and blocked the strike with his thick forearm.
Thunk!
The sword was stopped with a dull sound.
“W-What is this?!”
The Cabaldi knight froze in shock. How could a mere arm stop a blade imbued with mana?
It was only possible because Gillian was wearing bracers made from the hide of a Blood Python, which could amplify and release mana. But the knight would never have the chance to solve this mystery.
Crunch!
Gillian’s axe came crashing down, splitting the knight’s head in two.
“You bastard!”
The last remaining knight, now enraged, poured all his strength into a frenzied strike.
Gillian narrowed his eyes, focusing on his opponent. This was the knight who had managed to land a cut on Gillian’s cheek earlier—likely the leader of the knights, given his superior skill.
Clang!
Gillian blocked the incoming sword with his axe. In the same motion, he swiftly pulled a shorter, broader sword from his waist and slashed across the knight’s abdomen.
All of this happened within just a few minutes.
Seeing the Fenris forces rapidly breach both sides of the fortress walls, Jaimon felt a chill run down his spine.
‘The walls are done for.’
It was only a matter of time before the walls fell, and the command tower where he was stationed would be attacked.
There was just one last shred of hope.
They had to hold out—somehow—without opening the main gate until reinforcements arrived.
But even that was nothing more than wishful thinking on Jamon’s part.
The man slaughtering the troops defending the gate was far more monstrous than those breaching the walls.
Jaimon’s voice turned hoarse as he screamed at his men.
“Stop him! No matter what, protect the gate!”
The fighting near the gate was even fiercer than on the walls. Cabaldi had concentrated more troops there to defend it.
Even so, their defenses were being torn apart without mercy.
Boom!
“Aaargh! It’s a monster!”
With his blood-red eyes gleaming, Ghislain moved, cutting down Cabaldi’s soldiers with chilling ease.
His movements were nothing short of lightning-fast.
After consuming the poison of the Blood Python, Ghislain’s mana had surged to an astonishing degree. To control this newfound power, he had relentlessly trained his body.
Day after day, without rest, he had honed his strength—and now, at last, it erupted on this battlefield.
Cabaldi’s soldiers didn’t even dare approach Ghislain. Even if they wanted to surround him, they couldn’t manage it.
Slice! Slice! Slice!
Every time the crimson streak moved through the darkness, several heads would roll to the ground.
Behind him, the Fenris knights pushed forward, throwing themselves into the fight without hesitation, further driving the Cabaldi forces into chaos.
Unable to endure any longer, Cabaldi’s knights all shifted their focus to Ghislain.
“Out of the way! Fall back!”
As they pulled their soldiers back, five of Cabaldi’s knights charged directly at Ghislain.
They knew full well that Ghislain’s skill was formidable, which was why they had opted for a coordinated attack from the start.
Taking down this monster was their only chance to turn the tide of the battle.
It was only natural that the strongest among them were stationed to defend the most crucial positions.
As the knights, who appeared quite skilled, approached, Ghislain waved his hand to signal the Fenris knights to step back.
Clang!
In an instant, space opened up, and the fight between five knights and one man began.
The knights who swung their swords at Ghislain were stunned.
He easily evaded or deflected every attack they unleashed from all directions.
And then, the counterattack followed.
Swish.
As Ghislain’s sword spun in a single arc, one knight’s head was sent flying.
The knight who had attempted to strike in that moment of opportunity saw a crimson flash as his final vision before losing consciousness.
The three remaining knights quickly realized they were no match for this opponent.
Speed, strength, technique—there was not a single area in which they could best him.
Even the captain of the Cabaldi Knights, known for his exceptional skill, wouldn’t have been able to hold a candle to this man before them.
Slice!
Another head fell, so fast they didn’t even see him move.
Each time Ghislain moved, a beautiful crimson streak was drawn in the air.
It was as if the line painted a masterpiece in the darkness, or as if it followed the rhythm of a powerful symphony.
To the knights’ eyes, that crimson streak was all they could see. If there were ever such a thing as the pinnacle of swordsmanship, this was it.
Slice!
Mesmerized by the stunning arc, they found themselves unable to move—and another knight’s head rolled to the ground.
“Sword Master...”
The last remaining knight could do nothing, but murmur as he lowered his sword, overcome by awe.
Though he had never seen a true Sword Master in person, who else but this man could display such mastery? Who else could deserve the title?
If the title of Master were to be bestowed upon anyone, it had to be this man standing before him.
This man was truly a lord of the sword.
The crimson arc came closer once again, flashing like lightning.
The Cabaldi knight abandoned all thoughts of resistance and closed his eyes.
He had spent his life dreaming of attaining the ultimate truth of the sword as a knight. And now, he had witnessed it with his own eyes.
Slice!
There was no regret. That was his final thought.