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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Aura Blade.
A realm all martial artists aspired to reach.
Every martial artist dreamed of wielding Aura Blade.
The ability to use Aura Blade meant one could contend for the pinnacle of the Martial World, a realm where less than a hundred could stand as equals.
However, less than a hundred meant very few reached that level.
Therefore, while the audience admired the Alliance Leader’s Aura Blade, they were astonished by William’s.
He was officially in his early twenties.
Even reaching the peak expert level at that age would be considered exceptional, but Aura Blade…that was practically unheard of in the history of the Martial World.
The transcendent expert realm wasn’t easily achieved in one’s twenties.
It was no wonder everyone was stunned.
Some looked at William with awe, others with shock, some with envy, and some with admiration. William, ignoring the countless gazes, focused solely on the Alliance Leader.
“Hmm. A transcendent expert at your age. This news will shock the entire Central Plains.”
“I’d prefer it if it didn’t spread…”
“Too late. A young martial artist wielding Aura Blade…how could Jianghu ignore you? You’ll be in the spotlight whether you like it or not.”
“I wanted to avoid attention until the Demonic Cult was dealt with.”
“Because of your lover? Or…”
“Information is crucial in war. Doesn’t the Central Plains have a saying, ‘Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated’?”
“It’s strange hearing the Art of War from a Westerner. Has it spread to the West as well?”
“No, I simply read it for leisure after arriving here.”
A lie, of course.
He had read it long before arriving in this world.
William brushed off the question and assumed the Ox Guard stance, gripping his sword, now shimmering with a vibrant blue light.
Even with Aura Blade and all its variations, a duel between swordsmen ultimately came down to skill.
Aura Blade without proper swordsmanship was like a pearl necklace on a pig. Even with ordinary Aura Blade, a skilled swordsman could defeat an opponent with Aura Blade.
However, it was rare for a martial artist capable of using Aura Blade to lack swordsmanship, making such a scenario practically impossible.
‘I can’t maintain Aura Blade for long.’
Even among transcendent experts, there was a vast difference between someone who had just reached that level and someone who had been a master for over a decade.
The disparity in their internal energy was evident.
‘It wouldn’t be surprising if he had two or three times more internal energy than me.’
The Alliance Leader’s Aura Blade was a cheok longer than William’s, almost negating the difference in their swords’ lengths.
‘How many times can I block it?’
It wasn’t his preferred strategy, but—
“Let’s begin.”
At the Alliance Leader’s signal, they clashed in the center of the arena with a resounding boom. The sound of Aura Blade against Aura Blade.
The audience held their breath, watching the two swordsmen locked in a power struggle.
A clash of Aura Blades.
A sight rarely seen.
“Aura Blade is truly something else.”
“Indeed. That’s why it’s called Aura Blade.”
Aura Blade could cut through steel. The clash between two such forces was a tremendous strain.
If this were a life-or-death duel, there would be no time for conversation. They would be fighting with all their might.
Unleashing Aura Blade on the battlefield was a declaration of intent to kill.
“I’m starting to get a feel for it.”
“A feel for what?”
“For how to defeat you.”
William released his left hand from his sword.
Two hands against one. He should have been pushed back, but he wasn’t.
It was a difference in physique. William was a cheok taller than the Alliance Leader.
While he couldn’t maintain this indefinitely, he only needed a moment.
“You’re quite bold.”
“One must be bold when boldness is required.”
“You’re right.”
William’s left hand gripped the tip of his aura-infused blade, lowering the point and raising the hilt.
Simultaneously, he leaned forward.
Breaking away from the clash, he thrust the base of his blade towards the Alliance Leader’s throat. A swift and precise move. An ordinary martial artist would have been decapitated.
But the Alliance Leader was no ordinary martial artist.
His sword moved to block the incoming Aura Blade. His attack neutralized, William retreated five steps and reduced the size of his Aura Blade.
There was no need to waste aura by maintaining a larger Aura Blade.
A knight’s battle wasn’t about Aura Blade.
“You’re quite troublesome.”
“You flatter me.”
“I’m serious. Even among transcendent experts, you’re a difficult opponent.”
Grabbing an aura-infused blade.
That alone spoke volumes.
It forced the opponent to consider another variable.
A seemingly insignificant detail, but such details often determined the outcome of a battle.
“As I said before, gripping the blade isn’t unheard of. However…wielding a sword while holding the aura-infused blade…that’s not something you see every day.”
Very few swordsmen would even consider such a technique. It was too dangerous.
“We practice gripping aura-infused blades from the moment we learn to use internal energy.”
Half-Swording.
One of the core techniques of longsword combat.
Essential for fighting armored opponents and in close quarters.
They had learned to grip blades with their bare hands to survive on the battlefield.
“I believe the audience is getting bored. Shall we make things more exciting?”
“I agree. I’ve been itching for a good fight.”
‘This is truly enjoyable.’
Compared to the tedious paperwork of his daily life, this exhilarating exchange of blows was pure bliss.
‘Perhaps I should retire and hand over the position to someone else.’
He had been the Alliance Leader for nearly twenty years. It wasn’t unreasonable for him to consider retirement at his age.
Even martial artists had their limits. He didn’t want to spend his final days buried under a mountain of paperwork.
‘But I can’t bring myself to lose intentionally.’
What martial artist would willingly accept defeat?
A martial artist only conceded after giving their all.
“Alliance Leader, I’m coming.”
“Come.”
William, maintaining his Half-Swording grip, lunged forward.
Closing the distance in a single step, he thrust his longsword like a spear. The unorthodox grip allowed for faster and more precise attacks.
The Alliance Leader parried each thrust, searching for an opening, but William had sacrificed range for speed. The Alliance Leader’s eyes gleamed with amusement.
“A fascinating technique.”
“It’s nothing compared to yours, Alliance Leader.”
“No, it’s quite impressive.”
Their swords clashed, Aura Blades flashing, illuminating the arena.
Neither of them yielded an inch. Retreating meant being at the mercy of the opponent’s attacks, but it was also a matter of pride.
‘Time to push him back.’
The Alliance Leader’s sword became a blur.
An attack so fast it defied description. It hurtled towards William’s shoulder.
William stumbled back three steps from the impact.
Clearly at a disadvantage.
“Your Protective Aura is quite resilient.”
“Aura Blade is a bit too much for me.”
The Alliance Leader’s Aura Blade had been blocked by William’s Aura Armor.
But William wasn’t unscathed. Even he couldn’t completely negate the force of Aura Blade.
Still, it was a minor scratch compared to taking a direct hit.
William felt a surge of aura drain from him and calmly assessed the situation.
‘I can’t block Aura Blade many more times.’
Aura Blade was the symbol of absolute destruction.
Aura Armor was the symbol of absolute defense.
The clash between an unstoppable sword and an impenetrable armor ultimately depended on the user’s skill.
William realized his Aura Armor couldn’t withstand his Aura Blade as easily as it could block ordinary Aura Blade.
‘Two, maybe three more blocks, and I won’t be able to maintain Aura Blade.’
He was walking a tightrope.
The difference in their power was becoming evident.
Therefore, he had to gamble.
He charged towards the Alliance Leader again, faster than before. The Alliance Leader smiled and swung his sword, meeting William’s enhanced Charge Step head-on.
A simple, direct attack.
Not flashy or fast, but heavy with power.
Their swords collided.
A deafening boom, and a brief stalemate.
William shifted his weight and slid his right hand from the hilt to the base of his blade.
Mordhau.
The technique reappeared in the arena.
The longsword’s crossguard, like a hook, pulled the Alliance Leader’s sword forward.
“You’re quite strong.”
“A thousand geun, to be precise.”
‘A Thousand Geun Weight…should I learn that later?’
If he couldn’t pull, he would push.
At close range, William’s sword shot forward, past the Alliance Leader’s blade.
The Alliance Leader’s response was simple. He leaned back to evade the attack. And then…
“This is the Meteor Fist.”
An explosive force slammed into William.
He stumbled back from the powerful blows.
“Impressive power.”
“You make it sound like I’m holding back. I hit you with all my might.”
‘Empty.’
Three punches in rapid succession.
Each blow powerful enough to shatter his internal organs.
An ordinary martial artist would have been pulverized.
“Aren’t you moving a bit too much for someone your age?”
“An old man needs to stretch his legs.”
They both smiled and adjusted their grips.
Then, William raised his hand.
“I yield.”
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