Chapter 223

There was no need for the word ‘beginning’.

Both Encrid and his opponent had taken their stances, and that was enough.

The woman raised her shield forward.

Encrid thought that his opponent would base her fighting on defense.

That’s the strategy that maximizes the usefulness of a sword and shield.

That’s how those equipped like her had fought until now.

Experience guided Encrid.

One step forward.

It was a move to secure a favorable position in the fight.

As he raised his sword and advanced, the shield expanded. It grew larger. In an instant, it covered his view.

‘Damn.’

He cursed inwardly. There was no time for the words to escape his mouth.

A gray iron wall approached until it was right in front of his eyes. Nothing else was visible.

In a split second, Encrid crossed his arms holding the sword in front of his chest and face, taking a defensive stance.

Bang!

The gray iron wall struck his forearms.

His vision shook with the impact and the sense of floating, and soon a second impact followed on his back. Reflexively, he slapped the ground with his left hand, doing something like a breakfall.

It was thanks to the intense training in Valaf-Style Martial Arts.

His insides felt like they were turning over, but he didn’t vomit.

The timing was unexpected, a single blow.

He flew backward and landed on his back, collapsing into an awkward posture.

“Phew!”

Encrid exhaled, took a deep breath to absorb the shock, and tried to stand up immediately, but there was no time.

Something swooshed over his head. He didn’t have time to check what it was.

Of course, there was no time to catch his breath properly.

Feeling his heart constrict, Encrid, in a half-reclined position, swung his sword upward.

Clang!

He struck while kicking off the ground with his right foot, rolling to the side.

He couldn’t use the Middle Sword Technique. His posture, position, and timing were all disrupted, leaving him no choice.

He attempted a deflective move similar to the Fluid Sword Technique, but it was only half-successful.

He deflected the sword, but he couldn’t block the follow-up attack.

The opponent let the sword slide and used her foot.

It felt like a steel mace was flying toward him.

‘Steel Boots.’

The iron boots caught his eye.

Wham!

The toe struck his chest.

As he took the hit, Encrid rolled backward, the distance he rolled was more than twice as far as when he was hit by the shield.

It meant he went far compared to the impact.

“Phew.”

Rolling, Encrid planted his left hand on the ground and sprung up. Then, as if doing a somersault, he stood up immediately.

“Impressive.”

The female warrior spoke. She had already adjusted her stance, pulling her shield to cover her body, in the same stance as before, just like at the start.

It irritated him. It was hard to find an opening.

More than anything, her combat style was formidable.

‘Skilled.’

She knew how to exploit her opponent’s weaknesses through her equipment and posture.

It meant she was experienced in both battle and fighting.

Drip.

When he was hit and flew back, a sharp rock must have grazed his forehead, as a drop of blood trickled down his temple.

The blood, flowing sluggishly, ran down the side of his face and dripped from his chin.

As if it were a signal, the female warrior, presumed to be a half-Giant, kicked off the ground again.

Bang!

With a noise, the gray iron wall appeared before his eyes again.

A round shield large enough to cover half of her body, made of solid iron, and a weapon that could be considered a blunt weapon when swung.

Even a well-trained person would find it heavy, and it would be hard to handle unless they were a Giant or a Frog.

It was the same tactic, but a winning move. How could one block a broad, fast, and powerful weapon like that?

‘If I can’t block it.’

There was no need for the word “beginning.”

Both Encrid and his opponent had taken their stances, and that was enough.

The woman raised her shield forward.

Encrid thought that his opponent would base her fighting on defense.

That’s the strategy that maximizes the usefulness of a sword and shield.

That’s how those equipped like her had fought until now.

Experience guided Encrid.

One step forward.

It was a move to secure a favorable position in the fight.

As he raised his sword and advanced, the shield expanded. It grew larger. In an instant, it covered his view.

“Damn.”

He cursed inwardly. There was no time for the words to escape his mouth.

A gray iron wall approached until it was right in front of his eyes. Nothing else was visible.

In a split second, Encrid crossed his arms holding the sword in front of his chest and face, taking a defensive stance.

Bang!

The gray iron wall struck his forearms.

His vision shook with the impact and the sense of floating, and soon a second impact followed on his back. Reflexively, he slapped the ground with his left hand, doing something like a breakfall.

It was thanks to the intense training in Valaf-Style Martial Arts.

His insides felt like they were turning over, but he didn’t vomit.

The timing was unexpected, a single blow.

He flew backward and landed on his back, collapsing into an awkward posture.

“Phew!”

Encrid exhaled, took a deep breath to absorb the shock, and tried to stand up immediately, but there was no time.

Something swooshed over his head. He didn’t have time to check what it was.

Of course, there was no time to catch his breath properly.

Feeling his heart constrict, Encrid, in a half-reclined position, swung his sword upward.

Clang!

He struck while kicking off the ground with his right foot, rolling to the side.

He couldn’t use the Middle Sword Technique. His posture, position, and timing were all disrupted, leaving him no choice.

He attempted a deflective move similar to the Fluid Sword Technique, but it was only half-successful.

He deflected the sword, but he couldn’t block the follow-up attack.

The opponent let the sword slide and used her foot.

It felt like a steel mace was flying toward him.

‘Steel Boots.’

The iron boots caught his eye.

Wham!

The toe struck his chest.

As he took the hit, Encrid rolled backward, the distance he rolled was more than twice as far as when he was hit by the shield.

It meant he went far compared to the impact.

“Phew.”

Rolling, Encrid planted his left hand on the ground and sprung up. Then, as if doing a somersault, he stood up immediately.

“Impressive.”

The female warrior spoke. She had already adjusted her stance, pulling her shield to cover her body, in the same stance as before, just like at the start.

It irritated him. It was hard to find an opening.

More than anything, her combat style was formidable.

‘Skilled.’

She knew how to exploit her opponent’s weaknesses through her equipment and posture.

It meant she was experienced in both battle and fighting.

Drip.

When he was hit and flew back, a sharp rock must have grazed his forehead, as a drop of blood trickled down his temple.

The blood, flowing sluggishly, ran down the side of his face and dripped from his chin.

As if it were a signal, the female warrior, presumed to be a half-Giant, kicked off the ground again.

Bang!

With a noise, the gray iron wall appeared before his eyes again.

A round shield large enough to cover half of her body, made of solid iron, and a weapon that could be considered a blunt weapon when swung.

Even a well-trained person would find it heavy, and it would be hard to handle unless they were a Giant or a Frog.

It was the same tactic, but a winning move. How could one block a broad, fast, and powerful weapon like that?

‘If I can’t block it.’

He dodged.

The Heart of the Beast awakened his senses.

Focus Point created immersion.

In that immersed state, he opened his eyes, enhanced his senses, and moved.

Encrid’s body bent to the side like a shadow stretching and blurring under a lamp’s light at night. It appeared so due to his rapid acceleration.

At the same time, he aimed his sword at his opponent’s sword-wielding arm. It was a Middle Sword Technique slash.

Then the opponent’s shield also moved sideways as if swaying.

She blocked with the shield and pushed forward. The sword and shield collided.

Their strengths met through the sword and shield.

Bang!

A loud noise erupted. One had awakened the Heart of Great Strength, and the other, though partially, had the blood of a Giant.

The spectators, hearing a noise as if an explosion spell had gone off, all covered their ears.

“Ugh!”

“Ow!”

Various cries naturally burst out.

While Encrid’s sword struck the opponent’s shield, he saw the blade graze his side.

He twisted his body to avoid it, but there was no way to avoid being grazed.

It wasn’t a deep wound, but blood flowed. His side quickly became damp.

He wore thin leather armor, but the opponent’s blade was sharp. It wasn’t an ordinary weapon.

Its cutting power was at least as good as his sword.

Though it looked dull at a glance, it was like this.

The blade was twice as thick as a regular sword.

It was a modified longsword, but given the opponent’s large build, it looked like an ordinary arming sword.

“You’re quick.”

The opponent spoke.

Her expression and attitude were still indifferent. She looked as if she felt no enjoyment.

‘Strong.’

She fought well, cut well, and her reaction speed was excellent.

He wanted to meet an opponent other than Rem, Audin, Ragna, and Jaxon, and now such an opponent was before him.

Like a long-awaited rain in a drought.

“Oh, let’s try again.”

Encrid smiled unconsciously. It was a rare expression that appeared only when he was truly delighted.

“Look at that expression. She’ll think he’s crazy.”

It was a tough opponent. Rem and everyone else recognized it at a glance.

In the meantime, Rem, who was watching their madly grinning Commander, opened his mouth.

“Hmm, if it’s your first time seeing it, it can be surprising.”

Ragna responded to that.

“She wouldn’t know he’s originally like that.”

Jaxon also spoke up, which was rare.

“Haha, it seems the sister warrior is displeased.”

Audin added. Rem nodded internally at those words.

Even before he had the Heart of the Beast, he was like that.

In Rem’s view, it wasn’t even progress, he clung to something like a rotten tree trunk, climbing with that grin.

Who knows when it will break?

What’s so enjoyable about it?

‘I thought he’d die soon back then.’

Before he knew it, he was trailing behind Rem. The man who couldn’t be seen from a distance was now within shouting distance.

‘I don’t want to be caught up.’

Rem thought, observing the fight.

No matter how he looked, the female warrior was there to kill their Commander.

So, should he intervene?

He would have before. If this were a battlefield, he would have stepped in. But now, he couldn’t.

He’s a man who paved his path toward his dream.

‘If I intervene now, he’ll resent me immensely.’

Of course, if he were on the verge of dying, Rem would step in.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one thinking that.

Next to him, Ragna subtly took half a step forward, the sly stray cat’s presence faded, and Audin, while laughing, leaned his body slightly forward.

‘These crazy bastards.’

He thought he was the only sane one. His Commander was obsessed with fighting, whether he died or not.

None of the others were normal either.

‘I have to stay focused. I have to.’

That’s why he half-killed the warrior Dunbachel.

‘Warriors are tough.’

It’s also satisfying to beat them.

Well, they’ll recover quickly. Knowing this, he pushed them excessively.

Rem watched the subsequent fight.

Encrid had a cut on his side, but he didn’t seem to feel any pain.

Once again, the shield charged.

‘It looks like it could be split.’

That wouldn’t be easy.

Previously, he dodged and aimed for an opening but was blocked.

This time was no different.

He stepped sideways, leaving something like an afterimage. At first, it seemed the same, but it wasn’t.

When the shield followed, Encrid moved even faster.

Usually, he was told to use only half of the Heart of Great Strength, but now it seemed he was using his full power.

Encrid’s body moved even faster.

Soon, he was behind the half-Giant, and his moving sword followed a circular path around his opponent.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

As his sword scraped past the surface of the gray iron shield, sparks flew as it repeatedly struck and rebounded.

For most people, it would be hard to see with the naked eye due to the speed.

Afterward, Encrid’s blade grazed his opponent’s side.

But his opponent didn’t just take the hit.

As she lost sight of Encrid, she struck vertically behind her without looking.

Whoosh!

The modified longsword, with a thicker blade than most swords, sliced through the air.

Encrid, who had barely grazed her side, was already back.

Having dodged the blade, he immediately charged again.

It seemed like he was avenging the earlier shield strike.

Charging, Encrid seemed to turn his body into a bow and his sword into an arrow.

‘That.’

It was a technique used by his last opponent in Martai.

‘He used it on me relentlessly!’

He pulled it out again here. The sword seemed to fly out of its sheath.

Bang!

The opponent blocked it again.

However, this time, she didn’t block it completely.

Encrid’s sword scraped past the edge of the shield and struck her shoulder guard, which flew off with a thud.

Of course, he didn’t just hit the shoulder guard.

Thud, thud.

Blood flowed from the half-Giant’s shoulder.

She didn’t care. She simply continued her next move, positioning the shield in front of her left side instead of fully covering her front, while holding the sword awkwardly in her right hand.

It was a textbook stance for sword and shield.

The half-Giant didn’t even let out a shout.

Instead, her jaw muscles tightened as if she clenched her teeth.

She charged again. Encrid withdrew his thrusting sword and spun half a turn, slashing.

It was a Middle Sword Technique spinning slash. The heavy force combined with the speed of a thrust, rivaling that of a Giant.

Bang!

The half-Giant blocked with her shield and stood firm.

While blocking his weapon with her shield, she swung the sword in her hand. That’s why she wielded both sword and shield.

Her sword came down again from above.

The timing was perfect, catching Encrid off guard and disrupting his rhythm.

Rem unconsciously twitched his right index finger.

He almost threw his axe.

He wasn’t the only one.

Ragna, Audin, and Jaxon did the same.

But they stopped. There was no need to intervene yet.

At the moment they thought it was a crisis, Encrid drew his second sword.

Bang!

With one block, the middle of his sword cracked, but it had done its job.

The sword he drew with his other hand blocked his opponent’s sword.

“…Left hand?”

The half-Giant, with her sword still clashing against his, spoke up. Encrid nodded.

“It’s one of my specialties.”

“Do you have any other specialties?”

“Plenty.”

“You might need to show them all before this ends.”

It was a prompt to show everything he had. The typically taciturn half-Giant was having her first lengthy conversation.

Encrid responded with a smile.

“I can’t show everything. That includes my skill of seducing women.”

Rem, overhearing the conversation, chuckled.

‘His mouth is another of his skills.’

Encrid’s tongue was his greatest weapon.

“Are you crazy?”

The half-Giant, briefly summarizing Encrid’s nature, swung her sword again.

It was a standard sword-and-shield technique.

Strictly speaking, it was a Correct Sword Technique combined with shield handling skills.

Encrid threw away his half-broken sword and held up only one sword.

‘Dual-wielding is only for crucial moments.’

A sound strategy.

Their battle lasted until sunset.

If you had to judge the outcome.

‘I lost.’

Encrid’s defeat was clear.

His cheek was slashed.

When his cheek was cut – or rather, after it was cut since most people couldn’t properly see the exchange – a few female spectators screamed.

Encrid’s reputation in the city was at its peak.

He was considered the best candidate for a husband, and some women were willing to give up everything for him.

That Encrid had his cheek slashed and a few ribs broken.

His body was covered in minor wounds.

In close combat, he managed to land eight blows while taking one, which broke his ribs.

The opponent took hits to the jaw and chin but endured.

It was the resilience of a Giant.

Encrid did not underestimate his opponent.

However, even a trained body couldn’t withstand overwhelming violence completely.

‘Defeated by decision.’

Everyone likely reached a similar conclusion.

Encrid was breathing heavily. His irregular breathing indicated exhaustion and that he was reaching his limit.

The half-Giant realized she couldn’t finish him off.

The mission had failed. She had underestimated the challenge, thinking it wouldn’t be too difficult even if the opponent was formidable.

‘He’s strong.’

The man before her was strong.

In skill, determination, and especially in spirit.

‘Is he strong because he’s crazy?’

As a wave of doubt rippled through the warrior’s mind, Encrid calmly assessed his condition.

He looked at his body and then at his opponent’s body.

Both were in bad shape.

“Let’s do this again tomorrow.”

“…What?”

For the first time, the half-Giant showed surprise at Encrid’s words. Before she could respond, an axe deftly wedged between them.

“Didn’t you hear? If you want to continue, do it tomorrow or the day after. Rest up, the inn is free, meals are free too. Courtesy of the gentleman who got beaten by the lady over there.”

Rem pointed his thumb at the injured Encrid as he spoke.

Even if they fought now, she couldn’t kill him. The chance would be during the battle only.

Now, there were too many dangerous people around.

Including the guy holding the axe right in front of her.

As the warrior pondered, Rem spoke again.

“Or you can just leave if you prefer.”

He acted as if he didn’t care at all. Even though she had turned his Commander into a bloody mess, this was his response.

Of course, that bloody mess was still standing.

His resilience was astonishing. Not quite on par with a Giant, but it seemed like he was naturally different.

In reality, it was thanks to the Isolation Technique and the demon Audin, but the half-Giant couldn’t know that.

“So, you’re planning to interfere in the fight,”

The warrior asked.

“No, after seeing today, I don’t think that will be necessary.”

The warrior couldn’t easily grasp the meaning of those words. However, she understood that she had another chance.

She couldn’t leave immediately anyway.

Failing the mission and returning unscathed?

People would speak of betrayal and treachery.

Every action and deed would be questioned.

“Then.”

The warrior silently stepped back.

“Well, are we good now?”

Rem turned to look at his Commander.

“Yes, we’re good.”

Encrid expressed satisfaction. Would his injury-riddled body heal in just one day?

Audin had said that regeneration would make him stronger after being broken and healing, so for now, he could only rest.

“I learned a lot.”

“Is that so great for you?”

Rem supported Encrid, whose legs had given out. With his arm around his shoulder, Encrid replied.

“Moderately.”

Moderately, my foot, he was practically drooling.

Rem cursed inwardly as he supported him and walked away.

The next day came.

The female warrior realized it would be difficult to achieve her goal easily.

Encrid, on the other hand, wore a smile twice as bright as the day before.

Anyone who knew him would recognize that such a bright smile was something rarely seen.

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