Chapter 126 EPISODE 126 ENGAGEMENT CEREMONY (3)

The chapter is finally here. And Im finally free now, so chapters will be released in its usual release schedule starting on Monday.

Terms used in this chapter:

Dynamic vision

the ability of the eye to visually discern the fine details of a moving object.

Equal breathing

a breathing technique where inhalation and exhalation have the same/equal duration. It is a yoga technique that helps in lowering stress and calming the mind and body.

Beyond the skies

an expression that means something is so high or great that it is higher than the sky.

Sword and fist.

Jude could fight using both, but the truth was, he was not properly trained in either.

Because I was born with Gueumjulmaek.

Jude Bayer never properly learned any martial arts until he was 17.

Training with a body that couldnt even exercise every day was like a death wish.

But after he got the Suns Necklace, the symptoms of his Gueumjulmaek weakened and he became able to fight quite well.

He also passed the Bayer familys test and didnt have much difficulty in using techniques and skills when he fought against monsters.

And the reason was simple.

I learned some techniques in my previous life.

Kang Jin-ho lived in the modern times, so what was called swordsmanship there was the knife fighting he learned a little. But it was a different situation for fist technique or more precisely, bare-handed combat.

Because Kang Jin-ho had the experience of learning various martial arts that were utilized in kickboxing.

Of course, that doesnt mean Ill be fighting that way.

The martial arts that one could learn in Pleiades enabled humans to move in superhuman ways, and it was also possible to materialize a destructive force that could not be created with ordinary martial arts.

The opponents were also monsters or demonic humans, and not the same human beings, so he had no choice but to fight in a different way from modern martial arts.

But even if that is so.

Kang Jin-ho was a man who was good at bare-handed combat, so Jude naturally continued to fight with his bare fists rather than using a sword.

He used a sword from time to time, but he mainly used his fists.

So Ill be using my fists.

It was possible for him to fight with a sword too.

Jude and Lucas had an enormous difference in physical abilities, so it was possible for him to win with just a sword.

But he didnt want to do that.

He can tell.

Lucas was a genius of the sword.

He had been training with swords for a long time, so he developed eyes that could tell his opponents strength.

Lucas knows it too.

The fact that he was no match for Jude.

But nevertheless, he challenged Jude.

Even though he knew that he would lose, even if he knew that he would get beaten.

So Ill do it seriously.

Ill sincerely respond to your sincerity.

He obviously didnt mean that he would use his full strength to defeat Lucas, but he at least wouldnt fight Lucas carelessly.

Haa!

Lucas yell cut off his thoughts.

No, Judes focus was already on Lucas in the first place.

Lucas movement.

The trajectory drawn by his sword.

Jude naturally calculated it.

He read Lucas next move and intention based on the information he obtained by using not only the visual information but also his five senses.

And he responded to it.

His body had become so powerful that it couldnt even compare to the days when he was Kang Jin-ho.

His muscular strength, agility, endurance, and so on were already on the level of a superhuman, and his reflexes and dynamic vision were also incomparable.

Add to that was his Cheonmujiche.

His heavenly talent for martial arts made it possible for him to analyze his opponent by just looking at his opponents sword.

Lucas swung his sword.

Jude avoided the sword with minimal movement. By doing so, he penetrated into that gap and threw a punch.

Kla-clang!

Lucas sword blocked Judes fist.

To be exact, he hastily pulled his sword halfway to forcefully block Judes fist which was close to hitting him.

Either way, he managed to defend himself.

Lucas took a step back and Jude chased him.

Klang! Klang! Klang!

Sharp sounds burst as the sword and fist collided.

Lucas with his sword had a far better advantage in terms of reach, but its complete advantage didnt work on Jude.

Judes arms that were covered with the black dragons energy continuously blocked Lucas sword, and Lucas got cold sweats from Judes kick attack which he rarely experienced fighting against.

Hes barely holding his ground.

Cordelia thought as her eyes narrowed.

If Jude increased his speed a bit more, Lucas would lose a bit of his concentration and

It would end at once.

Jude knew it, and Lucas knew it.

And Count Hrsvelgr knew it too.

Unbelievable.

Count Hrsvelgr was a warrior too.

He was a competitive man, so he was quite interested in Count Bayer, who was considered as one of his best rivals by people everywhere.

Therefore, he was familiar with Jude.

Not so long ago, Jude was a child who couldnt even go outside as he pleased because of his Gueumjulmaek.

But the current Jude was beating Lucas, who the famed sword genius himself, Count Hrsvelgr, admitted as having more talent than himself in his youth.

It was like a fight between an adult and a child.

Perhaps the difference was even more than that.

How odd.

Is it possible to have such an explosive growth in just a few months?

Did Count Bayer deceive everyone by saying that his son had an illness?

No, thats not important.

The important thing was the fact that Judes skills were real and different from what was known in the past.

I want to see it.

Judes real skills.

The greatest power he could exhibit.

Clang!

Lucas stance collapsed along with the loud sound.

The sword that could not withstand the onslaught of Jude rolled on the floor, and Judes fist stopped right in front of Lucas chest.

Lucas exhaled a rough breath.

But he looked at Jude and held his breath. He declared it after he clenched his teeth for some time as he suppressed his emotions.

I lost.

It was a good match.

When Jude withdrew his fist, Lucas sank on the floor.

At the moment he declared his defeat, the tension on his legs no, his whole body loosened.

I lost.

He knew that he was going to lose, but he had lost for real now.

And he confirmed it.

The absolute gap between them.

At least one or two months.

The time when Lucas himself did not see Jude.

In that time, Jude achieved a seriously tremendous growth.

Hahahahaha

Is this what frustration is?

Is this what despair is like?

He was born as a genius, so he had never felt something like this before.

He was shattered by the overwhelming gap that he couldnt even feel like he would ever catch up to Jude.

Lucas, get up.

Lucas body involuntarily stiffened upon hearing the voice behind him.

He forced himself to stand up.

Good job. Youve improved.

Lucas was stunned at the words of Count Hrsvelgr.

But Count Hrsvelgr was telling the truth. Lucas had naturally become more skilled than what he had previously seen.

Ill talk more about it later. Take a break for now.

Yes, father.

Lucas obediently responded this time before he headed to the side. Only then did he saw the restless Cordelia standing alone that he realized that Jude and Count Hrsvelgr were left in the training area and facing each other.

Father?

Lucas turned around and upon seeing Count Hrsvelgrs eyes, he realized it.

His father had a serious look.

Can we have a match, if its all right with you?

Count Hrsvelgr said, and Jude bitterly smiled.

He had expected this to happen, and now that it became real, he couldnt help but feel pressured.

Still, this is also an opportunity.

Count Hrsvelgr was a considerably strong man even in the entire Pleaides.

After all, he was one of the best in the Slen Kingdom, and one of the continents strongest.

The so-called swordmaster.

A swordsman, a great swordmaster.

How many times would I have a chance to fight against the sword of a swordsman at his level?

Of course, there will be many opportunities when I arrive home.

After calming himself a bit with his idle thoughts, Jude did some equal breathing before he nodded his head.

He turned to Cordelia at that moment.

Ill do it.

Are you sure?

Their conversation with their eyes was almost like telepathy.

Jude clenched his fist, and Cordelia repeatedly stamped her feet before deeply sighing. She likewise clenched her fists and looked at Jude.

Hit him once if youre going to do it! Okay?

If its possible.

No, its not

if its possible

. You must seriously do it!

Okay.

Cordelia widely smiled after being satisfied with Judes answer, and Jude was pleased too.

He faced Count Hrsvelgr again and said.

It would be an honor.

Lets begin then.

Count Hrsvelgr held up a wooden sword, and Jude took a long breath before getting into position.

Its quite the opposite now.

The opposite of his spar with Lucas.

No, perhaps it was more than that.

Jude ended his smile and erased his useless thoughts. He focused on Count Hrsvelgr and then charged at some point.

Bang!

A sudden noise.

And countless sounds resounded one after another.

Jude poured a barrage of fierce attacks, and Count Hrsvelgr stopped all his attacks.

He ignored, blocked, or sometimes avoided it.

He used his battle aura.

Count Hrsvelgr used his battle aura for Jude.

So that Jude could seriously give it his all.

Booooooom!

The energy of the four black dragons jumped from Judes hands.

The surface of Count Hrsvelgrs sword was filled with a faint glow, and a pure white aura soon appeared on his blade.

Lucas even forgot to breathe as he watched the fight of the two.

Count Hrsvelgr stopped defending from Judes attacks.

As soon as Judes energy reached its peak, Count Hrsvelgr began his attack at that moment.

A straight downward cut.

It was a simple attack but was hard to block or avoid.

Jude saw the downward cut rushing before him.

He couldnt even think on what he should do, so he just moved frantically. He evaded the sword attack by gaining distance as far as possible.

He couldnt do anything else except to step backwards.

But it was just the beginning.

Count Hrsvelgr took a step forward.

Jude had tried his best to evade but he didnt manage to get far away yet, so Count Hrsvelgrs one step immediately closed the distance between them.

And his sword struck again.

It was an ordinary horizontal slash this time.

No, it was by no means ordinary.

Jude realized it at some point.

Sage Kings Cross Sword.

Count Hrsvelgr was now using the Sage Kings Cross Sword.

An invisible flow of Qi energy was incorporated into the Sage Kings Cross Sword with his every move.

As expected of a great swordmaster.

It continued. Each of his small movements embodied the Sage Kings Cross Sword.

A smile spread over Judes face.

He had no choice but to do that.

Several more sword attacks assailed Jude.

Each time he evaded, blocked, and ignored the attacks, Judes movement increasingly became more unstable.

Cordelia was feeling amazed and distressed at the same time.

She was happy that she witnessed Count Hrsvelgrs swordsmanship that was close to a superhuman skill, but it was very distressful for her to see Jude being driven into a corner.

Moreover, Cordelia could see it.

The next attack would be the last.

Jude would be completely defeated by the Sage Kings Cross Sword with the next attack.

I hate it.

She knew it was unreasonable, but she still hated it.

She did not want to see it.

Because he was Jude.

Because he was Outboxer009.

Because he was the guy who always wanted to be number one.

Cordelia grit her teeth. With clenched fists, she wished and wished again.

She stubbornly wished and prayed for Jude.

And at some point.

When Count Hrsvelgr finally raised his sword for the last attack.

Eh?

Cordelia unknowingly uttered.

Because she saw it.

Because her talent for skipping the process and grasping the results had informed her.

Something unusual.

Something that broke the natural flow.

The corners of Cordelias mouth were raised.

She saw the eyes of Jude, and brightly smiled again. She calmed her pounding heart and cried out in her mind.

Jude!

Bang!

Jude stepped on the ground.

He observed Count Hrsvelgrs sword.

It was still incomparable.

An insurmountable wall.

But something changed. No, Jude himself made it happen.

Sage Kings Cross Sword.

He caught a glimpse of it from Lucas. He felt it through Count Hrsvelgr.

And he could tell.

It was the same as the martial arts of the Guardians of the Holy Cross.

That it was a martial art that once walked along the same path as the other.

But that was not the important thing.

Jude could feel it.

He sensed the Sage Kings Cross Sword itself.

Cheonmujiche.

The incarnation of martial arts from the heavens.

Something added to that.

Nine heavens and nine worlds.

The power of the Ninth Heavens Nine Doors that could flow into all things, as it encompassed the entire heavens and earth.

He was not conscious of it.

His body had naturally moved at some point.

He wondered if this was the world Cordelia usually saw.

No, he was wrong.

Because Jude was still making calculations at that moment.

Count Hrsvelgrs sword was perfect. So he tweaked it. He twisted the path of the sword.

All he needed then was power.

The strong energy that rose was something that Jude himself had yet to use, and it caused Count Hrsvelgr to be confused.

Bang!

Cordelia witnessed it.

Jude kicked the ground strongly. He shifted his center of gravity at once, clenched his fist, and reproduced what he saw and felt into a mnemonic chant of Ninth Heavens Nine Doors.

Sage Kings Cross Sword.

Sage Kings Cross Strike.

The dragons energy gathered in Judes fist.

Count Hrsvelgr was flustered at that moment.

Because he understood at the very moment he saw it.

And Judes attack burst.

It crushed Count Hrsvelgrs attack!

Shwaaa-!

The cross of the Sage King, which was the symbol of the Sage Kings Cross Sword, was drawn in the air.

Count Hrsvelgr was pushed back, and his attack became useless.

But it was just a moment.

Count Hrsvelgr swung his sword again. It broke and destroyed Judes cross at once, and by the time Jude raised his head, his sword had already touched Judes neck.

The conclusion.

The match was decided.

Jude was defeated.

But Cordelia jumped from her spot and liked it, while Lucas couldnt close his op