NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 132
“Grandmaster Gakywon, what are your thoughts on this forthcoming Martial Prohibition?”
The question was posed carefully by Nagarikan to Grandmaster Gakywon, who had come to spectate the event.
“Hmm… isn’t it going to be an interesting Martial Prohibition?”
“That young face barely looks like it’s passed the Coming of Age Ceremony… I mean, aren’t teenagers all about the same level? Sure, I’ve heard he’s a peak expert, but for someone to agree to this favor…”
“Ho ho. Do you truly believe that?”
“Uh…”
“You should step out and socialize a bit more. Are your eyes rusting from staying at home all the time?”
“Ho ho, I should indeed.”
‘Hmm.’
Nagarikan’s gaze moved toward the Martial Arena, settling on William. Even from a distance where he appeared thumbnail-sized, his massive stature and unusual sword were striking.
“Is it true his sword resembles the one used by Wudang?”
Curiosity tinged Nagarikan’s glance as it swept over William’s figure.
He wasn’t alone.
Every person present at the Martial Arena was focused on William.
…The swordsman from the Western Regions.
Just what kind of display would he produce?
“It depends on how far the Alliance Leader is willing to let this go, but I hope it’s a fight worth watching.”
A figure rarely seen in public, Grandmaster Gakywon’s very presence here was enough to draw considerable attention.
‘He’s garnering a lot of attention out there.’
William adjusted his grip on his sword and slowly assumed a stance.
The Ox Guard.
A posture frequently used in longsword techniques and one that allows for flexible responses against numerous attacks.
In contrast, the Alliance Leader stood with a stance resembling complete relaxation, sword in hand, simply staring at him.
“I’ll yield three moves.”
“Three moves… Understood.”
William refrained from arguing against the Alliance Leader’s statement.
With the Alliance Leader at the pinnacle of his martial abilities and William not yet there, it was only logical to yield three moves, given the vast difference in experience.
Certainly, if William was merely known as a peak-level expert, such an offer would be standard.
‘But these three moves are merely a prelude.’
Neither the Alliance Leader nor William expected their Martial Prohibition to end within just three moves. With the mutual respect for each other and acknowledgment of the effort that went into arranging this contest, it shouldn’t last less than half an hour.
Thus, these three yielded moves would serve as a gauge for William’s true strength.
‘To block or evade?’
William’s blue eyes locked onto the Alliance Leader’s sword.
‘The first and second moves should only be setup moves. Staking everything on the first move isn’t wise.’
William’s mind worked as tightly as it had during the days he tussled on the battlefield.
Against an opponent who was clearly superior, raw martial prowess simply wouldn’t suffice for a win.
Deep thought. But only in a fleeting moment.
William’s right leg lunged forward.
“I shall begin.”
“Come on.”
As William’s feet rolled forward, a thunderous sound echoed, and his figure shot ahead like a streak of light, a surprising speed for such a towering figure.
The Alliance Leader, with an almost leisurely gait as if he were out for a stroll, slowly raised his sword.
A blue sword sheathe enveloped the sword.
A sheathe of sword energy.
‘Will he slash down from above?’
William’s sword ascended above his head.
A textbook downward slash. The straightforward action prompted a fleeting gleam from the Alliance Leader’s sword.
In that instant, William’s sword trajectory bent, narrowly escaping the path carved by the Alliance Leader’s blade.
‘It was a feint?’
The Alliance Leader’s calm gaze followed William’s longsword, which now traced a circular motion clockwise, rising from below to aim for the chest.
‘Is he testing the timing?’
The Alliance Leader’s sword effortlessly crossed the path William’s blade took. A clear chime sounded as the two swords clashed mid-air.
“You have a sharp sword.”
“Isn’t that the essence of a blade?”
William’s sword naturally slid along the blade’s edge, making contact near its hilt. Longsword combat fundamentally relies on these large hilt interactions. Observing the sword moving inward, the Alliance Leader swung his other fist.
An appropriately casual swing, yet an astute move.
A move a true warrior should definitely evade.
But William did not dodge.
Instead, he leaned in further.
“Is he going to absorb the strike with his body?”
The fundamental martial principle is dodging and countering.
William’s reckless advance—ignoring this dictum—caused a flicker of astonishment in the Alliance Leader’s eye.
‘Is this a show of bravado?’
The Alliance Leader’s fist continued forward.
Then, it made contact with William’s shoulder.
Instead of pain, the Alliance Leader felt as if he’d struck a sturdy rock. After withdrawing his fist, he swiftly unleashed a palm strike to push William back.
Even someone as powerful as William couldn’t ignore the force of a peak expert’s strike and took five steps back to dissipate the shock.
“Ho ho. You, sir, are truly amusing. What was that just now? Certainly not the Indestructible Diamond Body… but it must have been internal energy hardened to deflect attacks. Quite an intriguing skill you have there.”
‘The martial arts of the Western Regions… intriguing.’
A rare sense of excitement dawned upon the Alliance Leader’s face. Having occupied his current position for a while, opportunities to engage in such exciting contests were rare. His task now revolved around nurturing the peaceful Martial Realm post-war.
“In the battlefield, mounted soldiers are the top targets. Yet, those leading the charge shouldn’t even entertain the thought of dodging or having the time to do so. Hence, we first learn how to survive enemy attacks.”
“A soldier… I see.”
‘So, that strong smell of blood came from this.’
Soldier survivors inevitably carry a thick aroma of battle.
Because to survive, they had to kill countless foes.
But maintaining sanity after such bloodshed is rare. The Alliance Leader looked again into William’s eyes.
‘Yet, the killing intent is well-controlled. Those whose blades have spilled so much blood often struggle to contain it.’
“Since the first move has concluded in a draw, let’s proceed to the second.”
William’s stance shifted to the Pflug. Specializing in thrusting.
‘Is it a thrust? Or merely preparation to deceive the blade path?’
Until the attack actually began, one couldn’t be sure.
William had famously clinched victory in previous tournaments with soft yet unconventional swordplay.
“Ho ho, this is enjoyable.”
What kind of move will he make?
How will it surprise me?
Anticipation gleamed as the gaze followed William’s path.
Like a lion rushing toward its prey, William charged again.
A simple yet unorthodox footwork.
And simplistic movements.
Though lacking finesse, the simplicity made the Alliance Leader sense an even greater challenge.
‘A movement unseen during the tournament. Is it a feint? Or…’
As William paused a step away, he was indeed within thrusting range.
The Alliance Leader’s eyes tracked the stationary blade.
‘It’s not… is it?’
Just as doubt flickered through the Alliance Leader’s mind, the sword shot forward like an arrow.
A straightforward thrust.
Without any tricks, just an honest thrust.
The Alliance Leader deflected William’s sword with his own. Naturally, William’s sword was pushed aside by the Alliance Leader’s force, and his posture destabilized—or it should have.
‘This was a feint. The force wasn’t complete.’
An honest attack is easily dismantled the same way. Upon confirming this, William pulled back his sword, redirected his wrist, and swung upward.
The Alliance Leader’s sword lightly swung to block the path. Both swords, enveloped in Sword Qi, clashed mid-air, then William’s sword spun around the Alliance Leader’s blade, targeting its wielder.
‘A sword style that uses the opponent’s sword as an axis. How interesting.’
The sword’s edge hovered near the neck. However, the Alliance Leader wasn’t so easily defeated.
William stepped back three paces, expelling the force from his sword’s repulsion.
“Indeed, Alliance Leader. You’re remarkable.”
“You’re quite remarkable yourself.”
‘To use a pure deflecting technique to push me back!’
Truly, attacking someone proficient in both palm techniques and swordplay was no simple task.
‘This is the final turn.’
The only opportunity for a unilateral attack.
‘It might not work, but attempting to surprise him is necessary.’
The last move.
Setting up with two foot movements and two sword strikes, aiming for a decisive hit on the final move.
‘What an occasion.’
Zornhut.
His sword moved behind his back. Gradually, it rested horizontally behind his neck, and his rear leg bent.
A posture designed to maximize rotational force for an all-out swing.
A stance so potent that even a farmer could fell a knight.
“This is the last turn.”
“I shall proceed.”
“Come on.”
Once more, William’s feet left the ground.