Chapter 303

The distance between Oungula and Tenitia was nearly 30 meters.

However, in the battle of the superhumans known as the Sword Expert, 30 meters was not such a great distance.

Ta-at!

The moment Tenitia stomped the ground, her red cloak fluttered behind her like an afterimage.

In just two strides, she crossed 20 meters, leaping as if she were folding the earth.

She looked down from a height that could barely see Oungula’s crown.

As if the sun were shining among the clouds, the Mana Blade shining on Hwanhan sparkled.

Saaak!

It seemed she could turn Oungula into a mere puddle of blood at any moment.

“Ugh, ha!”

However, the scaled giant accurately thrust the trident in his right hand upward.

At the same time, a purple light flashed, and the purple Mana Blade blazed, precisely intercepting Tenitia’s Hwanhan.

Ta-ang!

Oungula’s trident lunged skyward, clashing with Tenitia’s sword that came down from above, creating a loud explosion of flames.

Chijijijik!

The mana blades of both colors shook, and a powerful backlash enveloped them both.

The knight absorbed the recoil while clutching his wrist, and the scaled giant pushed the spear upward, stepping forward to try to drive the knight back.

Buwong!

“Ugh!”

Tenitia was taller than most men, wearing 25 kg of plate armor, and she focused her weight to strike.

The moment Oungula’s forearm swelled to bursting, Tenitia was sent soaring back into the sky.

Thung!

The knight squinted inside her helm, exclaiming.

“It seems it’s been a while since I’ve faced someone stronger than myself!”

She attempted to kick up her legs in the air and land steadily.

“Huh!”

The scaled giant rushed forward, unwilling to let that happen.

Saaak!

The wicked hook in place of his left hand ignited with a Mana Blade.

The scaled giant swung the hook down, while Tenitia horizontally positioned her sword to block.

Kwang!

The hook and sword collided, and Tenitia’s body sunk down beneath the impact.

“Guh!”

Crack!

The cobblestones of the dock cracked, and her steel boots pressed into the earth.

Once she became a superhuman wielding a Mana Blade, her strength was dictated more by the power of mana than by her flesh.

Yet, the force generated from a giant over 2 meters tall was tremendous.

“It seems it’s not my time to die yet!”

Oungula crushed down with the intent to obliterate Tenitia.

Kwang-!

“Knight!”

“Help Lady Tenitia!”

“Bring the battle magicians over here!”

The eastern soldiers screamed, and Tenitia groaned.

“I don’t need that!”

For a few seconds, her body slowly bent, and the knight raised her left hand to catch Hwanhan’s blade.

Chijijijik!

The gloved hand that touched the blazing Mana Blade sparked in flames.

Kkiik!

Her body, which had been sinking indefinitely, came to a halt.

“Indeed, it’s hard with just one hand.”

“!”

In the next moment, the knight pushed Hwanhan upward with her left hand and executed a sweeping motion to the right.

Swish!

“Oof!”

Oungula shrieked as the hook and his left hand turned.

He raised the trident as if to wield an axe, but Tenitia had already burrowed in close to him.

The distance between the two was less than several centimeters, not far enough for a spear or long sword, but close enough for a dagger, elbow, and knee.

Knowing this, Oungula planned to tackle her with wrestling moves.

‘First, I’ll kick up with my knee, create distance with a kick, and grab her with the trident.’

However, the knight seized the middle of Hwanhan’s blade with her left hand.

This technique was called “Half-Swording,” using the front of the longsword like a short spear and the crossguard like a sledge.

‘I’ve practiced close-quarter techniques because of that assassin. I can use the longsword in this distance as well. I have no intention of creating distance!’

Chijijijik!

Once more, the Mana Blade and the gauntlet clashed, spitting sparks.

Puhpuhpuh!

The edge of Hwanhan pierced Oungula’s chest and abdomen, smashing hard against his collarbone with the sturdy crossguard.

“Graah!”

Though Oungula was covered in thick scales, Tenitia had been sparring daily with a man who wore scales even sturdier than that.

Kwazijik, kwazijik! Clatter!

She inserted her sword as if to peel fish scales, and Oungula staggered backward.

“Lady Tenitia!”

“Oooooh!”

“Is it true that she is the Platinum Knight?”

The eastern sea men erupted with cheers, and Tenitia raised her left hand high into the sky.

“Hah!”

“To the highest place!”

“To the deepest place!”

The eastern soldiers cheered exuberantly as Oungula stumbled, bleeding.

Tenitia raised Hwanhan once more and spoke.

“Oungula. Surrender. At least let me send you off properly.”

Oungula shook his head as he leaned on the trident.

“I’ve run away all my life. I’ve lived as a cowardly thief.”

“…”

“In fact, I knew. More than the world fearing me, I fear the world more.”

“…”

“Yet, look. Platinum Knight.”

Before the scaled giant stood nearly a hundred soldiers.

Powerful battle magicians, elite soldiers wielding heavy ballistae, and even eastern knights were mixed among them.

Leading them was Tenitia, whose reputation was gradually spreading throughout the empire.

“When will I ever stand on such a stage? When shall I receive such glory? Even if death awaits me, can I escape if it’s you, my lady?”

Tenitia shook her head.

“You won’t be able to.”

Oungula roared, shaking the entire port.

“I am the same, Knight!”

Tenitia whispered with a slightly awkward smile beneath her helm.

“… A thief’s leader, huh? But not bad.”

In the next moment, both prepared for one final charge.

Having exchanged blows once, the scouting phase was more than enough.

Oungula aimed the trident forward.

‘Strength is definitely on my side. Disarm her longsword with the spear and strike her neck with the hook in one swift move.’

Tenitia raised Hwanhan above her shoulder.

‘Even if I use mana and unleash a Mana Blast, I could win. But it’s not desperate enough for that. I’ll finish you off quickly, you ill-fated monster.’

Tak!

Tenitia launched herself as if she were folding the ground beneath her.

Her red afterimage trailed behind her like the tail of a meteor.

It seemed Oungula attempted to pierce that meteor with his spear.

Saaak!

Kang!

At the moment Hwanhan struck between the tines of the trident, Oungula twisted his wrist to try to knock Hwanhan away.

“Ugh!”

Disarm the weapon, then stab the neck with the hook.

That was the best technique that had kept him alive until now.

However, Tenitia did not hesitate and released Hwanhan.

“What!”

Oungula, wide-eyed in surprise, saw the knight leap forward like a wolf with her ribboned helm flowing behind her.

Tak!

The scaled giant raised the hook, but the knight drew out her one-handed sword Mana faster.

Srrrung!

A gleaming sword, neither bone nor metal, emerged, glowing.

The red Mana Blade enveloped it.

Tsukaaak-!

It traced a red arc.

“Huff.”

The knight landed lightly on the ground.

With a thud, the scaled giant’s massive body crumpled to the floor.

Immediately after hearing that sound, she raised her fist to the sky once more.

Chak!

“Wooaaah!”

“Knight! Knight! Knight!”

“Let’s go! It’s our turn now!”

“The knight has captured the pirate leader.”

“Charge! Charge! Charge!”

The eastern soldiers cheered as they charged toward the crumbling right side of the city wall.

* * *

Cariosa stopped glancing at Tenitia and Oungula, refocusing on the siege of the left side of the city wall.

“Indeed. Valenciaunos is a fine knight. The bravado that blocked my path back then was no mere arrogance.”

Around her were four admiral-level pirates rolling on the ground.

All were former Sword Experts.

“Ugh!”

“K-Kariosa.”

“Please spare me. My loyalty…”

Cariosa shook her head, leaving them to die painfully.

“You should have said that before you let your people bite my people in my sea.”

“Please!”

“Keep crying. Show me your sincerity. Tell me how desperately you want to live.”

The pirates, sensing death was near, screamed.

“No! No!”

“I can’t die! Not me, not ever!”

“You damned monster!”

“I’ll curse you even in death!”

Those who had lived by killing and stealing all their lives shed their violent masks in front of the terror of death.

Cariosa looked down upon them with a sardonic smile.

“I take joy in mocking you. You ocean trash.”

She genuinely despised them by contemptuously valuing life over death.

“Ah. What a good day.”

Tenitia glanced back at Cariosa, perhaps wondering if she needed help.

‘No need for that.’

She quickly reached a conclusion and headed toward the collapsed city wall alongside the eastern soldiers.

Ziiing, ziiing!

Something sounded like dragging along, but it was drowned out by the noise of battle.

“Ahhh!”

Just then, flames erupted behind her.

Tenitia startled and turned around, realizing Oungula was crawling up behind her.

“… Ah.”

“Be careful, my lady. Scaled ones have strong vitality, just like me.”

Valenciaunos came down from the right mountainside.

Against the dark clouds, his pristine white garb was striking.

Tenitia felt a somewhat awkward feeling seeing him.

“Your Highness Valencia. You are safe.”

“Yes, my lady. I’m glad you are safe as well.”

“What about that one?”

Valenciaunos carried a hooded man over his shoulder.

His limbs hung limply as if all the joints were dislocated.

It was the elf and leader-level pirate, Arins.

Valenciaunos handed the pirate to an eastern soldier.

“Assist him well. Have him follow me.”

“Y-Yes? But we were ordered not to take prisoners…”

“Ah. Just do as I say.”

The soldier ultimately succumbed to authority, and Tenitia offered a faint smile while Valenciaunos pointed to the crumbled wall.

“Shall we go, my lady?”

* * *

I walked alongside Lady Tenitia inside the city wall.

Thud, thud!

The sky was thick with dark clouds, and a few raindrops began to fall, but it was not a torrential downpour.

It seemed as if the rain was holding off until after the fighting had settled.

Perhaps it was a subtle courtesy extended to a pyromancer like me.

Inside the city wall had already turned into a slaughterhouse.

Saaak!

Pu-puh!

Tsuka-gak!

“Kill them all!”

“Rend them apart!”

“Go and smash them!”

The eastern soldiers, with their eyes gleaming like sharks catching the scent of blood, toppled the pirates.

The triple city walls had already fallen more than half to us, and it seemed Cariosa would soon topple the remaining half.

Upon entering the third wall, I saw a fairly bustling village beyond the city wall.

A woman with long, curly red hair and healthy brown skin stood atop the wall, commanding the pirates.

“Beyond here are our families! Cariosa will kill them all! Fight! It’s a battle to put an end to piracy!”

Her clear, ringing voice resonated even to the base of the wall.

The pirates, standing atop the toppled remnants of the wall, swung their swords.

Several captains and admirals were mixed in, making it difficult for just the eastern soldiers to break through.

“Run!”

“The White Shark’s army has come!”

“They’ll kill us all!”

In the village behind the wall, a significant evacuation was taking place.

Women, the injured, children… aside from occasionally hearing Eastern tongues, they resembled any other group of refugees.

They indeed appeared closer to a private fleet and their families than to a group of pirates.

Lady Tenitia jangled her armor.

“…”

As if waiting for orders.

I looked at the woman with brown skin standing on the wall.

Her desperate gaze was striking.

“Ah. It feels like I’m becoming the villain.”

Huaar!

I conjured a spear of fire into the air.

“Was I ever not like this?”

And I hurled it toward the woman on the wall.

Swaaa!

I thought as I heard the chilling splitting sound.

The Nayt Archipelago resettlement project is also essential for the imperial court.

Cariosa’s power must thrive to keep the Eastern Kingdoms in check.

Whenever the Eastern Kingdoms got greedy beyond the seas, the eastern shores always burned.

The enemy behind me was merely infiltrators.

And those folks were not innocent people; they lived by devouring the wheat they stole from us and making our people their slaves.

The spear of fire flew through the air.

I believed the woman on the wall and the pirate guards would turn to ash.

Kwang!

Just then, a green Mana Blade blocked my fire spear.

Another admiral had emerged.

I stepped bitterly among the eastern soldiers.

“Of course, things couldn’t go this smoothly.”