Chapter 41 Strength


    Gritting his teeth, Walt withdrew a step as the deviant half-breed took offense, targeting his wounded side. The wound still stung like cold iron drilled into his skin, burning away his energy.


    The mongrel clearly didn''t possess two-thirds of his strength or agility. His dark power was something to be avoided, but Walt shouldn''t have any problem dealing with him. Yet, he found himself defending now.


    The foul-mouthed bastard''s sword seemed to have a nasty enchantment that broke through the defense and impaired him. He was breaking his imbuing over his body with the first attack and attacking the same spot again. This made his attack more predictable, but the bastard was intelligent enough to target other spots throughout.


    Within a few minutes of the fight, Walt''s leather armor was soiled with blood. His own blood. He didn''t expect this before starting the battle. He thought he would show off in front of the students and the few guilds'' men, who clearly seemed to have some delusion about his abilities. That he didn''t get his post rightly and whatnot.


    It was a brilliant position to disy his might and show them their ces. Even if there was some nepotism in y in his appointment as a Junior Instructor at the academy, he''d show them he deserved it. He would get their respect and reverence, either through his act or through sheer fear. It didn''t matter which one it was.


    The de ran over his cheek, drawing a sleek trail of blood. It showed how the white-haired deviant withheld his de so as not to end his life.


    "Are you satisfied now?" the bandit asked, his purple eyes ring at him.


    No, he couldn''t end it this way. The others were watching. He would be aughingstock if he let the bastard get away with this.


    Then he finally noticed the signs of exhaustion on his opponent''s form. Of course, how did he forget that? The guy clearly had lower attributespared to him. The deviant should be using some high-cost ability to contend with him but would be unable to keep it up for a longer time.


    "You''re not even a true swordsman," the words rang in his mind like a curse. Bastard, I''ll make you pay for this.


    Walt released all his reserved power, boosting his agility and spirit power to reverse the situation. He took offense as his foe seamlessly changed his y into defending. With each move, Walt made the bastard take a step back, clearly at a disadvantage under his relentless assault.


    "Good, if I keep on going like this," Walt thought, "I''ll have thestugh."


    He came in heavier, his de radiating fierce golden light. Althoughcking finesse, it was terrible and sharp. Any direct blow would cut through his armor like a piece of cake.


    Just because he had a good sword, didn''t mean he could defeat me. His victory was already decided.


    Then the white-haired swordsman''s cloak turned ethereal and swathed him in the same murky, dark energy field, protecting him from all directions. His sword couldn''t find purchase even when he managed to get a strike. Bastard, where did he get such equipment?


    It wasn''t just that the equipment was great; itplemented his abilities perfectly, as if they were made for him, and a part of him. Even the deviant looked surprised at how it turned out.


    ***


    [The Cloak of Void Radiance] was a totally different beast with the full power of two opened apertures. The defense and flexibility [Void Shroud] provided him were immacte. He could literally float around in the air, using it. With a swoosh, Warden thrust the shroud on the ground to lurch up in the air. It felt like flying, albeit only for a moment. As he came down again, he had to manipte [Void Shroud] again to avoid falling on his butt.


    Walt lunged at him, but with Warden being ten feet in the air, the battle was already decided, no matter what Walt came up with.


    "It''s over, Walt," Warden said, grinning. "I have the higher ground!"


    A prickling sensation crawled up in his mind, but he ignored it, knowing he could endure it.


    "No," Walt screamed, losing theposed self he showed in the beginning. "Mongrel, I won''t lose to the likes of you."


    "You''ve already lost," Wardenughed and finally smashed the noble to the ground. Walt thoroughly saw the deing, but he couldn''t manage to draw his de to block it. Blood gushed out from the straight, deep cut, even though his armor took the most brunt of the blow. But at thest moment, Warden withheld again, deciding the deep wound would be quite enough to shut him up.


    "Murder!" Walt screamed. "Murder! Murder! Kill him!"


    Warden clicked his tongue and let him squirm on the ground. He turned to find Tifan locked in battle, though mostly the former bandit was running around, waiting for him to finish his battle. Finding the professor dealt with, Tifan crept fast towards him, with two of the other men following.


    "I''m surprised you managed to keep them at bay for so long," Warden said with approval.


    "Long?" Tifan sighed in relief. "Not even five minutes have passed since you started battling." n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    "Five minutes is quite a long time for a battle," Warden muttered. "Well, I was worried about identally killing him, so I restrained a lot in the beginning."


    Walt coughed out blood upon hearing him. Warden turned towards the two men who faltered on their chase. Uncertainty wed their movement, as they had no clue if they should keep on attacking or begin negotiating. "It won''t end well for you if you take it too far," Kevin said. "You can''t just thrash someone from the Arcane Society, and call it off. Let us pass through now, and we''ll..." Warden snorted. "I would have let you do your business freely before," he said. "But now..." "What are you nning?" Warden smiled. "How many of those domination handcuffs do you guys have?"