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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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Chapter 223: A Bird Regains Its Wings
"Pardon my forthrightness, Young Master."
Harold, dressed in the Special Operations Division uniform, gazed at me with calm, steady eyes.
"Last time, I didn't lose because of a difference in cultivation level, but because of a gap in talent and wit."
"Of course. In terms of pure skill, I would have found it difficult to defeat you."
"Today, unlike then, you probably think you can defeat me with skill alone—"
Harold spoke with resolute eyes.
"But it won't be easy. I'll be going all out today."
I nodded.
"If I find myself unable to handle you and must resort to using my ultimate techniques, that in itself would be my defeat."
There were no observers or spectators present. Lady Ulbhild was busy with other matters, and moreover—
"Since this is a spontaneous sparring match, there's no need to show off in front of others."
"Precisely."
Besides, Harold's loyalty to Ulbhild was genuine. There's no need for him to show his defeat twice in front of his lord.
"Here I come."
I ignited the power of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique and compressed it using the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique.
'Strong, fast, and solid.'
In this moment, my combat power had evolved to another level.
BOOM!
The ground cracked beneath my step.
SHRIEK!
Transferring that power directly into my sword strike, a massive slash that tore through the air descended upon Harold.
'Like a small boat facing an enormous tidal wave.'
However, Harold's martial prowess was like a tower built by a talented individual who had refined his skills through training and real combat for many years...
BOOM!
The massive tidal wave halted in place, unable to overcome what was merely a small boat.
"Ughh!"
Harold grimaced in pain.
"I thought my wrist was going to break, damn it!"
"This is just the beginning, so deflect it gently!"
My body, wrapped in the mana of the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique, was demonstrating overwhelming strength like a 100-year-old Twin-Headed Ogre.
Such a reaction couldn't come simply from the high mana contained in a slash.
'But it's not just my strength that has increased.'
"Hup!"
As I deployed my lightness technique and kicked off the ground, the clouds suddenly seemed closer.
'Wow, I'm not a grasshopper.'
Having leaped to a dizzying height, I looked down. I could get vertigo from this. But I wasn't worried about landing.
WOONG!
I wrapped my fist in Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique and shouted.
"Hyaaa!"
When the first strike of the Cloud Thunder Fist met with the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique, it gained tremendous power like an ultimate technique performed with powerful fist mana.
"Damn it!"
Harold couldn't dare to counter the attack and dodged to the side.
BOOM!
The ground shattered, sending gravel and sand flying upward.
"Wow, it's like an explosion spell went off."
"Take it easy, would you? Take it easy!"
"That's not an option!"
I made my body extremely light, then shot a blast of air pressure behind my back. The propulsion sent my body shooting toward Harold like an arrow.
"Hahaha!"
Regaining my weight, I swung my mana infused sword down at Harold.
BOOM!
Having received the sword head-on, Harold's feet sank into the ground.
"Ankles deep in the earth. Are you alright?"
Harold couldn't even open his mouth to respond. With bulging eyes, he thrust his fist toward me.
"Shwoop."
Using the subtlety of the Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path that had become second nature to me, I redirected his punch and drove my fist into his side.
THWACK!
Having dropped his sword, Harold blocked my fist with his forearm.
'Solid.'
His reinforced aura technique was indeed excellent. Harold, at the early stages of the 6th tier, possessed skills sufficient to lead a battalion of knights or royal guards.
'In other words, on par with Karl.'
And below Verdzig and Ulbhild.
'Defeating this man would mean I've surpassed Karl.'
However, the difference between me, having just crossed the threshold of the 6th tier, and Harold, who had trained at that level for a long time, was by no means small.
'That would be the case normally.'
I sheathed Voyager of the Night and concentrated the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique in my hands.
PAPAPAPAK!
We exchanged fist techniques, palm strikes, kicks, and finger jabs, striking each other's bodies.
Rapid combinations leveraging speed, powerful blows packed with strength, and grappling techniques exploiting the opponent's balance were displayed in a chaotic dance.
Harold's close combat skills were not inferior to mine, but as the exchange continued, it was Harold who took more hits.
The reason was simple. I was faster, tougher, and stronger.
"Ugh!"
Having taken several hits in an instant, Harold's reinforced aura wavered dangerously.
"I'll use my sword again!"
"By all means."
Harold smoothly retrieved the sword he had dropped earlier.
SHRIEK!
A powerful and swift sword strike came without warning. I strongly parried it head-on, and then—
"?!"
I grabbed the sword with my hand covered in mana.
"Huh, what's this—"
Harold muttered in astonishment.
It was remarkable that my hand wasn't injured by the sword energy imbued by a 6th tier swordsman.
It resembled a scene where a gauntleted knight catches an opponent's sword.
"Let go!"
"Not a chance."
I strongly pulled Harold's sword. Then, exploiting the force of his resistance, I pushed him back while tripping his leg.
"Ugh!"
Harold, who fell without resistance, quickly rolled on the ground and stood up, but I waited patiently and then...
"Argh!"
I unleashed an offensive, pushing Harold back.
BANG BANG BANG!
The sounds were like hammering rather than sword strikes.
The power of the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique that more than compensated for my mana disadvantage, combined with the solidity of my sword energy that cracked the opponent's sword energy with each clash, made it difficult for Harold to withstand even a dozen exchanges.
"Damn."
I showed restraint each time, and Harold, recognizing this mercy, accepted it to recover his breath.
'The outcome has already been determined.'
From now on, this would become a process of examining my own martial arts.
"Try to hold on well."
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!
I drove Harold back, mixing sword forms from the Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship with techniques from the Karzan memories.
"Damn it, I can't even, catch my, breath!"
Harold shouted as if determined to speak despite his broken breathing.
"This time, I'll take the defensive."
Harold smiled as if willing to help me train, or perhaps seeking some revenge with a smirk.
"Hehe, prepare yourself!"
"As much as you want!"
Activating the Dark Star perception ability, I observed Harold's attack.
'Five feints, two real strikes.'
Without moving a single step, I swung my sword just twice to block Harold's ultimate techniques.
"Ha!"
Harold exhaled in frustration as his best technique was easily blocked.
'Wow, what was that just now? That's no joke.'
I was equally surprised. With a bit of exaggeration, it felt like seeing the future before moving.
It was as if I could clearly see the opponent's intentions, the attacks that would follow, and the sequences that would come after.
"What did you just do?"
Harold asked while continuing his offensive.
"You reacted just like the Second Commander!"
Indeed, the scenery visible in the Dark Star state was granted only to those who had pushed their mana senses to the extreme.
"It's probably a similar principle."
I avoided Harold's thrust using only footwork as I spoke.
"Have you ever seen such a crazy person like me?"
Whether Harold was shocked or not, I focused only on becoming familiar with the Dark Star perceptive ability.
'With less movement, at a slower pace, more precariously.'
My defense and evasion became more precise. Eventually, they became as strange as if I were performing acrobatics, until—
CHANG!
Finally, my sword attacked Harold before his sword could even emerge.
"...Pre-emptive c-counter?"
"It seems so."
I was convinced that my current level had already caught up to at least 80 percent of my previous life's ability.
'No, perhaps 90 percent.'
This skill could only be deployed when Karzan's martial arts were honed to the extreme, and only in a state of absolute immersion.
"...Young Master."
Harold, lowering his sword, said.
"If it's alright with you, would you show me the ultimate technique of the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique as a final demonstration?"
"No way. Didn't I say earlier that using that would be my defeat?"
I joked, but Harold seriously requested again.
"The outcome was decided long ago. This is just a request driven by my personal curiosity."
"Well, if that's the case."
I grinned.
"There's one technique I can use at my current level."
"I'll observe it carefully."
"Be careful."
The Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique has several predetermined techniques that can be used at each level.
Among them, the name of the first technique at the first level, using compressed air, was...
"Celestial Chain Breaker."
BOOM!
Like a kite with its string cut, Harold was thrown backward, flying dozens of meters before finally stopping as he scraped along the ground.
"Cough!"
I quickly approached Harold, who was coughing, and asked.
"Harold! Are you alright?"
"Wow, I thought I was going to die."
"I'm sorry about that. I tried to control my strength."
Harold, covered in dirt, sighed.
"This is hopeless. Next time, ask the Second Commander or the Sixth Commander for a sparring match."
The gap between us had already widened to this extent.
***
Lusatia Grunewald had lost her clan and family to annihilation, and after seven years in seclusion, her standing within the clan had been reduced to nothing.
Nevertheless—
Her position as the Duchess and the reputation of her son, Allenvert, were not to be taken lightly by anyone.
"...First, I'd like to increase our staff, centering around Friederun."
In a private meeting with the Head Butler, Lusatia presented various measures to regain her influence.
"To establish Allen's dignity, I, Lusatia, need to first restore my own dignity. I don't enjoy extravagance, but appearances are important."
"How could I object, My Lady."
"Please discuss the details with Friederun. I plan to have new formal attire made, return to social circles, and arrange meetings with my three relatives."
Lusatia was preparing to make confident and dignified strides, as if her seven years of seclusion had been a mere illusion.
'Truly remarkable.'
Head Butler Count Aiden thought.
'Young Master Allenvert's brilliance was clearly inherited from both the Master and the Mistress.'
"...And, Head Butler."
As Lusatia's voice changed, the Head Butler also straightened his posture.
"Yes, My Lady."
"Actually, there is something I need your understanding on."
"May I ask what it is?"
Lusatia said in a low voice:
"Tomorrow night, I will be going out with Allen."
"...!"
The Head Butler asked:
"Are you meeting the survivors of Eisenach?"
"Yes."
"...Please be careful. One never knows what might happen outside."
Lusatia smiled gently.
"Whatever happens, Allen will protect me, so it's fine."
"...I see."
The Head Butler understood. Allenvert, and by extension Karzan, had built up enough martial reputation to warrant such confidence.
"I understand. And you don't need to ask for my permission, My Lady."
"Still, isn't it better to let you know? Everything that happens in the castle falls under the Head Butler's purview."
"Thank you for your consideration."
The Head Butler bowed his head, then asked.
"However, since one hand can rarely handle ten, may I assign a few guards from the Special Operations Division to escort you? Given the nature of the matter."
"Very well."
Lusatia nodded and answered concisely.
"But don't interfere."
Despite drawing a clear line, how could it sound so gentle? Lusatia had a strange talent for putting others at ease.
"Of course. I will propose this to His Grace right away."
"Please do so."
"...I shall take my leave."
The one question whether she had plans to reunite with her husband, the Head Butler couldn't bring himself to ask.
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[Translator - Pot ]
[Proofreader - Kawaii ]
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