Chapter 94

Episode 94. The Law of Trash Preservation (2)

In Sephira, there is no one who doesn’t know about Keter’s achievements (?).

On the first day, he immediately defeated Anis and Catherine, and on the second day, he captured a knight from the Baydant family.

However, few or no one witnessed the process. In other words, as the members of Sephira thought, Keter was indeed an extraordinary person, but only those who had faced him knew if he was truly strong.

Keter’s origin and status gave rise to such misunderstandings.

Since he was from the Lawless City, he must be cowardly, and since he was the Lord’s illegitimate child, one couldn’t act recklessly towards him.

Thus, his victory over Anis was packaged as a cowardly ambush, and it was widely believed that he had intimidated Catherine with his authority.

Of course, Luke knew. Keter’s strength and his foresight.

But the other four couldn’t accept it. Who do you think you are, telling us not to worry? Do you have the right?

Anis, who had been defeated by Keter three times, and Taragon, who was listening to his advice, both thought this was excessive. Brooks and Darkin, who were seeing Keter for the first time today, were no exception.

“Keter. I acknowledge that you are strong. But you leading us is a completely different matter.”

As Anis gripped his bowstaff, Brooks and Darkin also chimed in.

“I believe that age doesn’t matter in the path of learning, but currently, the only ones who can teach me are Elder Panir or Lord Basil.”

“I have already received teachings from the Lunar Knight Commander. Can you, Young Master Keter, teach better than the Lunar Knight Commander?”

Keter stepped forward and replied.

“That’s more like it. It wouldn’t be fun if you just agreed obediently.”

Snap!

In Keter’s left hand, the black bow Amaranth appeared.

Everyone was startled by the appearance of Amaranth. They all knew of its infamous reputation.

“Scared? I won’t use Mana Arrows. It’s too wasteful to use them on you. Shall we start with the prepared player?”

Keter pointed at Anis.

“Number 2. I will kill you three times starting now.”

“Hmph! Finally, the moment has come. This is what I wanted.”

“All of you, remember this. When facing me, think of me as your parents’ sworn enemy.”

Keter distanced himself from Anis.

Anis shouted at Keter.

“Keter, what are you doing? Bring the arrows. There’s an armory over there.”

“It’s not Keter, it’s Instructor. I’ll let one mistake slide, but not twice.”

“Don’t think of me as the old me.”

Anis nocked an arrow. The arrowhead was not removed.

Twang!

The duel began with Anis’s first strike.

Keter casually swung Amaranth and deflected the arrow.

“Hmm, blocking the Yaksha Bow so easily.”

“He must have borrowed the power of Amaranth.”

The eyebrows of Brooks and Darkin, who had become spectators, rose.

Anis’s first strike was the fastest archery technique, the Yaksha Bow.

Keter, who had effortlessly blocked the Yaksha Bow, which hits faster than sound, stood still without moving.

Anis was about to shoot another arrow but stopped and shouted.

“What are you doing, Keter? If your hand is numb and you can’t move, surrender now.”

“I’ll give you three chances.”

“What, what did you say?”

“I won’t attack until you’ve attacked three times.”

“You bastard! Are you looking down on me?”

Anis, who had never been ignored in his life, couldn’t bear the humiliation he was feeling for the first time.

‘Let’s see if you can keep that smug face after seeing this!’

Anis grabbed six arrows from his quiver.

Darkin marveled.

“It seems Young Master Anis is going to use a combination technique. I wonder what combination he will show us.”

A combination technique using the Twelve Palaces of the Zodiac in succession.

The first was the 6th form, Yaksha Bow.

Followed by the second. Three arrows were nocked simultaneously. The 2nd form, Taurus Bow, shoots three arrows in a triangle.

The final third was the 5th form, Leo Bow, shot with two arrows.

“Two Leo Bows at the same time…! Has he already reached that level?”

The Leo Bow, which can pierce even thick metal shields, has such immense recoil that even the user suffers damage. There are very few in Sephira who can shoot two such powerful arrows simultaneously.

Moreover, Anis didn’t use the Leo Bow alone. He used it as the finale of his combination technique.

Darkin was certain. Keter could never block this. No, even dodging would be difficult.

‘If it were me, I would have used the Twin Arrow Bow to shoot down all of Anis’s arrows. But Keter can’t do that. He hasn’t learned the Twelve Palaces of the Zodiac, nor has he prepared any arrows.’

As soon as the thought ended, Anis’s combination technique reached Keter.

Everyone thought Keter would have to leap aside to survive.

But, it was no different. Just like when he blocked the first strike, Keter casually swung his bow like a staff.

Ting, tang! Clang!

It wasn’t just relying on Amaranth’s durability to block the arrows head-on. He deflected them all at an angle.

Even the Leo Bow, which can pierce shields, was no exception. However, it made a louder sound.

“Huh?”

“What?!”

Anis’s confident combination technique was futilely blocked. Everyone except Luke was shocked.

“What, what?!”

But no matter how surprised they were, it couldn’t compare to the person involved.

He had shot three techniques in succession. The finale, the Leo Bow, was shot with two arrows simultaneously, eliminating even the option to dodge.

Yet, it was all blocked. Every single one.

Keter didn’t even show any extraordinary technique. He just swung his bow like a staff from his standing position.

And so, Anis’s opportunity ended.

As promised, Keter started running.

“Grrr!”

Combination techniques are like ultimate moves. Anis’s fingers trembled from the recoil of his ultimate move, but he gritted his teeth and started shooting arrows at the charging Keter.

The Twin Arrow Bow. He shot three arrows in rapid succession to stop Keter’s charge.

But Keter’s charge didn’t stop. As if there was no need to stop for arrows without proper force, he deflected them without hesitation.

“Ughhh!”

Anis screamed and shot the Leo Bow.

If he faced the powerful Leo Bow head-on while accelerating, he would receive a much greater impact.

There was only one solution: stop and block.

But Keter didn’t stop. With his bow filled with aura, he struck the Leo Bow from below.

Crash!

The arrow disintegrated like dry sand under the overwhelming force. Keter, who had closed in on Anis, struck upwards with his bow in the same manner.

Anis, thinking Keter was aiming for his torso or face, blocked with his bow.

And that was his first death.

Crunch!

Keter’s bow shattered the quiver fixed at Anis’s waist. Arrows spilled onto the ground.

“Gasp!”

Realizing too late that he had been tricked by Keter, Anis switched to offense. It was a good decision, and his actions were quick. But his mind couldn’t keep up.

In the environment Anis had been practicing in, there were no obstacles on the ground.

But now, there were.

The spilled arrows. Anis stepped on an arrow while retreating, and that small factor caused his body to tilt slightly.

As a result, the speed of his bow swing slowed. In numerical terms, 0.5 seconds. A mere moment, but in battle, it’s an eternity.

Keter’s consecutive attacks were much faster than Anis’s counterattacks.

Thud.

Keter pressed his index finger into Anis’s solar plexus.

“Move!”

Anis’s bow aimed for Keter’s neck, but the movement was too large.

Swinging is like that. You have to use your arm widely. Originally, using a bow like a staff leaves no choice but to swing. It’s too short for thrusting, and the elasticity makes thrusting power negligible.

Keter doesn’t use the bow for thrusting either. Instead, he actively uses its elasticity. Keter pulled back the bowstring and released it.

The fully elasticated bowstaff sprang forward.

At that moment, its speed was faster than an arrow.

Thwack!

The bowstaff struck Anis right in the face. Anis, not even realizing what had hit him, stumbled back, tripped over the arrows on the ground, and fell.

There was no time to think calmly.

There wasn’t even a moment to shout.

Keter’s attack wasn’t over yet. This time, his target was Anis’s legs. Keter swung his bow hard, aiming for the lower body.

Anis, trying to get up, got hit in the ankle. His mouth opened wide.

The pain from the face hit was bearable, but the ankle strike was so painful he couldn’t even scream.

One word popped into Anis’s mind.

‘Fear.’

The fear born in his mind quickly spread throughout his body. Imagining Keter’s next attack, the fear grew uncontrollably.

But, Keter’s attack didn’t come.

Instead, he slung his bow over his shoulder and spoke with a disappointed look.

“As promised, I killed you three times. It’s disappointing how easy it was.”

“……”

“Once when you lost your arrows, the archer’s lifeline, twice when your solar plexus was hit, and three times when your mobility was lost after your legs were attacked. Even if you object, I won’t accept it, you brat.”

* * *

The duel between Anis and Keter.

No, it wasn’t a duel.

A one-sided slaughter. Anis was slaughtered. There were no tricks in the process, no authority. It was an undeniable fact.

Even if he easily deflected arrows with the power of Amaranth, the close combat he showed at the end was undoubtedly Keter’s pure skill.

Keter left Anis and approached the remaining three members of the Southern Sword.

Taragon, Brooks, Darkin.

The three were even more surprised seeing Keter up close.

Keter’s face was spotless. Meaning, he didn’t even break a sweat killing Anis three times.

“That was truly an astonishing level of martial arts, Young Master Keter.”

Brooks, the vice-commander of the Holy Knight Order, stepped forward first. Darkin, who had been preempted, looked regretful.

“Not using arrows on purpose seemed to be to show how powerless an archer is against a swordsman. Young Master Anis’s archery was excellent. The combination technique was powerful. But he was inexperienced in dealing with knights. I am different. I have faced many swordsmen and survived to be here. May I have a go?”

Since becoming the vice-commander of the Holy Knight Order, Brooks had forgotten what competitiveness was.

But just now, seeing Keter fight Anis, that lost competitiveness returned.

“Tsk tsk.”

Keter clicked his tongue and waved his finger, pointing at Darkin.

Darkin’s eyebrows rose.

“Not the vice-commander of the Holy Knight Order, but you want to face me? Certainly, I don’t have as much experience as Sir Brooks. However, I have also fought and defeated many swordsmen. I am by no means an easy opponent…….”

“What are you babbling about, number 5. You’re included too.”

“…What! Are you saying you’ll face both Sir Brooks and me at the same time?”

“The instructor’s words aren’t finished yet.”

Swoosh.

Keter’s finger moved again, this time stopping in front of Taragon.

“I’ll kill all three of you at once.”

Before the three could react, Keter leaped.