Chapter 81: The Power of the Sword of the King

Chapter 81: The Power of the Sword of the King

The two clashed midway, the blade of the long sword meeting the edge of the battle axe with a fierce spark. They whirled past each other, seemingly unscathed.

Although Arthur had the advantage of a warhorse, in the muddy terrain, his steed wasn’t much help.

His previous success was mostly due to the Dwarf King being unprepared.

He had enjoyed the element of surprise.

With that thought, Arthur turned his horse and halted, dismounting to face the Dwarf King, who had also turned back to him, readying for a foot battle.

The Dwarf King glanced at Arthur and said in human tongue, “Young man, how arrogant you are to dismount and challenge me to a duel on foot.”

Due to their height, and existing in a mountainous area, dwarves rarely had cavalry units, giving human cavalry a notable advantage against them.

Not only was it about speed but also the impact they could deliver to a knight.

“In a place like this, foot combat is better; it allows for more agility, don’t you think?” Arthur replied with a smile, suddenly adopting a serious stance.

“You shall pay for your arrogance!” The Dwarf King’s voice simmered with anger.

“Then come at me!” Arthur shot back, a powerful battle spirit surging within him.

“Die, human! Remember, the one who slays you is the mightiest king of the mountains—Soron!” The Dwarf King roared as he charged at Arthur, axe raised high.

Yet the axe bore two notable dents from their earlier clash.

The Dwarf King hadn’t noticed this, but Arthur, observing closely, did.

It was no surprise to him.

After all, the sword in his hand was no ordinary blade; it was the legendary Sword of the King, also dubbed the “Magic Sword” by Airael.

Arthur had deliberated for some time before taking up this sword.

Ultimately, he believed he could wield it.

As if to affirm his thoughts, the sword felt surprisingly comfortable in his grip.

With his “treasure” in hand, his fighting power surged.

Taking a moment to assess, he devised a plan.

As the Dwarf King charged, Arthur readied himself, dodging the King’s leaping strike, then surged toward the Dwarf King even before he could regain his footing.

His long sword soared, only to be intercepted by the Dwarf King’s axe.

The impact reverberated through the Dwarf King’s frame, shaking the ground beneath them.

During their standoff, the Dwarf King swung his shield toward Arthur.

Noticing this, Arthur quickly broke off, retreating while smiling at the Dwarf King.

“I must admit, human, you have some skill. But with just that, you’re no match for me.”

The Dwarf King brimmed with confidence.

He was a strong Dwarf King, outfitted in exquisite armor and weapons, virtually unbeatable in close combat.

The outcome of their duel had been sealed the moment that young human chose ground combat over cavalry.

“Soron, the battle has only just begun! It’s far too early to decide the outcome! Also, my name is Axi; I hope you will remember it!” Arthur declared, charging once more at the Dwarf, and they fully engaged in combat.

Throughout the fight, Arthur unleashed every technique he had, maintaining control of the battle’s rhythm.

The heavily armored Dwarf King, though powerful, found it hard to defend against Arthur’s relentless assaults.

When he gathered strength for a counter, Arthur effortlessly slipped away, leaving him swinging at air.

This situation was dire for the Dwarf King.

Moreover, he was oblivious to the growing damage to his axe.

The earlier dents were only widening, and upon closer inspection, fine cracks had formed on the blade.

After breaking away for a moment, Arthur panted, eyeing his opponent.

Dwarves truly were formidable warriors.

Even though the Dwarf King appeared bulky, he managed to defend flawlessly against Arthur’s attacks.

His axe and shield were skillfully employed.

Yet, Arthur’s ultimate target wasn’t the Dwarf King himself.

He shifted his gaze to the axe in the Dwarf King’s hands.

His objective had always been to destroy the weapon wielded by his foe.

With the opponent’s weapon neutralized, their battlefield prowess would undoubtedly diminish.

The Dwarf King remained unaware of the unsettling condition of his weapon.

Or perhaps he was overly confident in Dwarven craftsmanship.

Most renowned swords and armor in the world were forged by dwarves.

Surely the weapon wielded by their King was no ordinary tool!

Noticing Arthur’s distraction, the Dwarf King seized the opportunity to launch an attack.

“Ah! Break for me!”

This time, Arthur did not choose to evade the charged strike like before but braved forward.

His gaze locked tightly on the Dwarf King’s axe.

According to his calculations, this should be the final strike.

Then in a clash, their weapons met mid-air.

Crisp sounds like shattering echoed, and in that moment, Arthur beamed triumphantly at the now-crippled axe before him.

The Dwarf King’s eyes widened in shock.

His weapon… broken by the enemy?!

Arthur gave no time for the Dwarf King to react, swiftly slipping past him and turning immediately to follow up with his attack.

The Dwarf King was still in disbelief.

His weapon had fallen short against that of his opponent.

Such a thing seemed utterly impossible.

After all, they were dwarves—powerful warriors and master craftsmen by nature!

Arthur struck mercilessly down on the Dwarf King’s back.

The Dwarf King stumbled forward a couple of paces, nearly toppling over, a long scratch marking his back armor.

Arthur was not surprised by this outcome.

He pressed on, shifting tactics; one strike wouldn’t suffice, then two might do the trick… three if necessary…

After all, with the axe broken, he would surely find a way to breach the Dwarf King’s defenses.

Given the intelligence he’d gathered, succeeding with the sword in hand already felt commendable.

The surrounding human soldiers watched in enthusiasm as Arthur dominated the Dwarf King.

“Humans shall prevail!”

In grim contrast, the dwarven side grew despondent.

After all, their king seemed destined to fall.