Chapter 227: The Best Skill (2)

CLANG!

Kuh

At Duke Schweikers light swing, Jerome staggered backward.

Ill keep going.

And as Duke Schweiker moved to continue to aim for his neck

CLANG!

Jerome leaned so far back that he was almost horizontal with his horse, but managed to push Duke Schweikers sword away from him. He judged that he didnt have the strength to block the attack head-on and had instantly moved to hit the side of Duke Schweikers sword and pushed it away. Thanks to that, he had been able to dodge Duke Schweikers attack but because of it, his form crumpled and he fell off his horse.

Good.

Duke Schweiker smiled at the sight and got off his horse as well. As long as Jerome had fallen off his horse, itll be difficult for him to escape. Not to mention, it was better to fight on the ground than on horseback to make full use of a Masters ability and skills.

Is he treating me like Im some kind of entertainment?

Jerome felt anger boiling inside him as he looked at Duke Scheikers smile. With his skills, there was no way Jerome didnt know that Duke Schweiker was currently treating him like a toy. Of course he was outraged. But he managed to calm down his anger and regain his logical coldness.

Its better this way.

Was it possible for him to stop Duke Schweikerwithhis current level?

No, thats almost impossible.

Maybe it would be different if they met 10 years from now, but right now, it was difficult. Although Jerome didnt have the ability that Milton had, he could still feel with his whole body that there was a large gap between himself and Duke Schweiker.

If he wanted to protect Milton from Duke Schweiker, then all Jerome could do right now with his current skill level was to stall him. He was like the mouse who had become a cats toy, but it couldnt be helped.

If there was one thing he had to put ahead of his own honor, then it was...

The safety of My Lord.

Having resolved himself, Jerome once again rushed towards Duke Schweiker. It wasnt to win. He was charging towards Duke Schweiker so that the man wouldnt lose interest in himself. Jerome was staking his life

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

After dismounting from their horses, the two mens fighting pattern definitely changed. Ordinary knights would be much more powerful when they fought on horseback, but it was different for Intermediate or Advanced Experts. They rode horses to lead the cavalry and maximize their charge, but it was a means of increasing efficiency when targeting multiple soldiers. It was much more effective to dismount from their horse if they were fighting against a truly strong opponent.

No matter how good a knight was with horses, it was easier to control his center of gravity on his two legs than on a horse. And unlike horses, a humans two legs gave them a surprisingly diverse range of movement that allowed them to freely move back and forth while attacking at close range.

Jerome furiously attacked Duke Schweiker like waves coming at him from all directions. He attacked from the right and before the first even ended, he rotated and attacked from the left, and thenfeintedright again only to leave behind a faint afterimage to attack Duke Schweiker from the back.

Good. Very impressive.

Duke Schweiker smiled widely as if he was becoming more excited by Jeromes desperate attacks. Then, he struck Jeromes sword, just once, but Jerome lost his grip and the sword flew out of his hands. Duke Schweiker lifted his sword saying, Either block it or avoid it.

The distance between the two of them was more than 5 meters, but Jerome felt a chill go down his back at that warning. Then

Hup!

With that short exhale, a wave of Aura was pushed out from Duke Schweikers sword.

Kakakakaka!

Destroying the ground as it rushed forward, the wave hit Jerome in a flash.

Jerome!

Milton had been retreating, but at that, he shouted out in shock. Thankfully, after the dust had settled, Jerome appeared looking okay.

Hu

After getting his breathing under control, Jerome gulped as he looked at the crack in the ground next to him. Just looking at that was evident of the destructive power in that single blow.

Hes a monster.

It had never occurred to him that Aura could be sent out from a distance, but Duke Schweiker had done it easily. For the first time in his life, Jerome felt terror on the battlefield. He had thought he wasnt afraid of death, but the overwhelming difference in skill inevitably caused him to feel both despair and fear.

It was the same for the other Masters. Not only the Masters of the Lester Kingdom, but the other Masters of the Empire all looked shattered by it. But, there was one exception.

Die!

With a sharp shout, someone charged towards Duke Schweiker from the side.

CLANG!

Ooh Thats pretty sharp.

Duke Schweiker smiled faintly as he blocked the attack. But that relaxed smile only made his opponent even angrier.

Piss off, you monstrous bastard!

The opponent attacked Duke Schweiker again. Violent and sharp attacks poured down on Duke Schweiker.

The only person who hadnt been overwhelmed by the difference in their skills was Violet, Miltons wife.

Why now?

Milton looked troubled after checking her stats.

Recklessness LV.9 (MAX): Able to fight while ignoring your own injuries during battle. However, your rational judgement will be greatly reduced.

Fierce Combat LV.9 (MAX): Activates when you are in a precarious situation. Brings forth an ability up to 100% higher than normal.

Two of Violets Special Traits were being exercised to the fullest right now.

Thanks to her Recklessness, Violet didnt see anything else in front of her and because of her Fierce Combat, she was twice as powerfulthanusual. With howVioletwas right now, it might even be possible to win against Dominic Florian. However, the opponent she was fighting against right now was too difficult. The one in front of her was acknowledged as the continents strongest man.

Then, its my turn now.

Duke Schweiker had been on the defensive this whole time, but now, he swung his sword to face her.

Kuh

Cha Cha Clack Clack Clack CLACK!

Violet had to step back at Duke Schweikers attack.

You motherf*ing monstrous bastard

Hahaha What an unruly girl.

Duke Schweiker laughed out loud as he bore down on Violet.

His current attacks were different from when he had been attacking Jerome. Before, he had fought against Jerome using traditional swordsmanship with each strike containing strength and power, but right now, he was attacking her with a series of breathtaking attacks that were so fast that it was difficult to even see his sword. When he fought against Jerome, he used Jeromes forte, when he was fighting against Violet, he was using hers. But nonetheless, he still held the upper hand.

In the midst of a dizzying flurry of attacks, Duke Schweikerssword entangledwithViolets.

Ugh

Violet looked troubled as she looked at Duke Schweikers sword that wouldnt release hers. Then

Still a long way off. Too practical that you dont know the beauty of a sword.

After saying that, Duke Schweiker moved his sword oddly. His sword began to climb up Violets sword like a living snake.

Gah

Violet freaked out. At this rate, it seemed like it would take her hand that was holding her sword. But thankfully...

BANG!

Duke Schweiker backed down before his attack succeeded. Trikes Aura Arrow had stopped him.

Marquis Taker! Take the Grand Duchess and retreat!

Having shouted that, Trike placed another arrow onto the bowstrings.

Hahaha The Lester Kingdom is like a treasure chest. Theres a lot of interesting people.

Duke Schweikers attention moved from Jerome to Violet and now to Trike. He had met many strong people before, but he had never seen a person able toput in thismuch power into an arrow. According to Antras, there were people in the Southern continent who had reached the level of a Master using a bow, but this was the first time he had seen one in his continent.

I cant miss an opportunity like this.

Schweiker targeted Trike like he was a food connoisseur who had finally discovered a delicacy after a long time.

***

Whooo

Trike was calm. Despite the continents strongest man running towards him, Trike remained calm. Even he thought it was surprising.

Based on the distance and his speed, I can only fire one arrow. If the first shot misses, thats it.

If he thought about it, life was certainly odd. He had just been the leader of a mercenary corps but had become a knight, then received a title and was now confronting the continents strongest man.

Ive lived a wonderful and fulfilling life.

Trike gritted his teeth and concentrated his power on the arrow.

Whoowhoowhoowhoo!

Trikes bow sucked in more of his life force than usual.

Kuh

Trikes complexion deteriorated dramatically as his red hair gradually turned white.

Trike! Stop!

Milton knew right away what Trike was about to do. The bow Trike used was originally made out of a parasitic tree called the Dryad that sucked in the users life force, but after training, Trike was able to utilize it properly. But right now, Trike was deliberately allowing it to suck his life force. Trike believed using his life to take down the strongest man on the continent would be profiting.

I owe you a great deal, My Lord!

Stop it, you son of a bitch!

Milton shouted furiously at him, but Trike had already released the arrow.

BOOM!

The moment Trike let the arrow go; there was a tremendous roar. For the first time, the relaxed look on Duke Schweikers face disappeared.

Hup!

Duke Schweiker held his sword in both hands. Then, he struck out with all his might in the direction of Trikes arrow.

Chachahchacha...

Ugh

It was a battle between power vs. power.

Duke Schweiker managed to block Trikes arrow, but he was slowly being pushed back. The arrow contained the history, the life, and the will of the genius archer. It was so powerful that it even pushed back the great Duke Schweiker, but

Piss off!

BANG!

It wasnt enough to claim Duke Schweikers life.

Damn it

Trike collapsed when he saw his arrow break. He didnt have any strength to pull his bowstring, let alone stand on his two feet.

How remarkable.

Duke Schweiker sincerely praised Trike. How long had it been since he went all out? Jerome, Violet, and even Trike Every single one of them might have been inferior to him, but he still respected them for giving it their all to fight him.

And Duke Schweiker knew who was responsible for them fighting so vigorously.

Werent you going to retreat?

Tsk, I was going to.

This time, the opponent standing in front of Duke Schweiker was Milton. The moment Duke Schweiker had entered the fight, Milton had ordered the army to retreat. But in order to help Milton retreat, Jerome, Violet, and Trike had remained behind to fight desperately. That sight had haunted Milton and he couldnt bear to retreat.

In the end, Milton turned his horse around and was standing in front of Duke Schweiker now.