On that day, Kevin wasn’t the only one unable to sleep.
“In the upcoming war, those who have fought alongside Roman Dmitry are essential for the Kingdom Alliance’s victory. Leave this task to me. If you defeat Hannibal, I will soon join you.”
Chris kept Count Nicholas’s words in mind. Understanding that Count Nicholas’s sacrifice would be in vain if he wavered, Chris made the decision to grit his teeth and run.
At the time, he believed that it was just the way it was. Hannibal’s aura was intimidating, and he knew he was a formidable monster, impossible to defeat with a couple of attacks.
It was a total defeat. Leaving the Western Front in ruins, he couldn’t bear to look back, using strategy as his excuse.
And just a few days ago, he heard about Count Nicholas from the people.
“Those who witnessed Count Nicholas’s final moments confirm that he was slain by Hannibal, unable to defend himself for long. He was a truly skilled swordsman. If Count Nicholas hadn’t intercepted the Kronos Empire, we would’ve faced complete annihilation without a trace.”
It was a calamity. The messenger attempted to paint Count Nicholas’s actions in a favorable light, but Chris, gazing at the heavens, couldn’t help but feel utterly helpless.
Following in the footsteps of Roman Dmitry, he led a perilous existence, constantly flirting with death.
In the meantime, he had made rapid progress. Paradoxically, the stronger he got, the more he realized he was just a frog in the well.
The world was so wide. In order to stay by Roman Dmitry’s side, he couldn’t justify defeat every time just because the world was wide.
Barbossa and Hannibal. There were more strong people like them. If nothing could be done against such monsters, the same thing that happened with Count Nicholas was bound to happen again.
Even in such circumstances, was it morally justifiable to survive at the expense of another?
No, even if he managed to survive in such a manner, could he truly consider himself an indispensable presence for Roman Dmitry?
Then he clenched his teeth in frustration. The lofty objective Chris aspired to achieve was to collapse with a feeling of disgrace.
He yearned to surpass Roman Dmitry. However, if he were to succumb to shame like this, it appeared that he would never be able to assert that he could surpass Roman Dmitry once more.
Chak.
He wielded the sword. And from that moment on, everything changed. Chris embarked on his swordsmanship journey alone.
How could he wield the sword with more speed and strength?
If only he possessed enough skill to aid Count Nicholas, he would have triumphed over Hannibal in a surprise attack. His mind was in disarray due to Roman Dmitry’s ambush and the covert abilities of Knight’s Commander Jonathan.
Unleashing his sword, he moved forward with determination. And as always, from afar, Chris gazed at Roman Dmitry.
A day passed, then two, and time continued to elapse with his burning desire to be taught. However, he couldn’t, as Roman had requested that he grow on his own.
The memories of that time flooded his mind, one by one. How did Roman Dmitry wield the sword, and for what purpose?
Through the manner in which Roman Dmitry embraced the mana, he carried the weight of countless years of accumulated knowledge within his mind.
His thoughts gnawed at him, driving him to desperately seek the truth that had remained hidden from his view.
‘The Lord’s method doesn’t prioritize the aura’s explosive strength.’
By simply accepting and preserving the mana in its original state, the aura took on a completely unique form. It greatly differed from what is typically taught in this world.
While some may dismiss this method as counterfeit, he understood, standing by his Lord’s side, that this was the true and correct answer.
The answer. Only one person determined the first correct answer. He built walls along the path of the continent, merged it with Roman Dmitry’s path, and forged a unique path of his own.
Having already embraced the ways of the continent, he sought a means to fully unleash his dual strengths.
The sun rose and set. And amidst the eternal flow of time, Chris fell into a deep trance.
Then suddenly…
Swish.
Hududud.
His bones began to reform, causing a profound transformation within his body.
In the early morning, Pooky and Volcan walked into the training room, their faces exhausted.
“What brings… uh?”
“M-Mr. Chris, your face is glowing.”
Both were shocked. As Chris called out to them, they were taken aback by his changed appearance, which was different from their memories. The person who was usually called the most handsome in Dmitry was Chris.
But with his jade-like skin and flowing blonde hair, Chris’s appearance had been upgraded a few steps. However, Chris didn’t even pay attention to the compliment on his appearance.
“From now on, I will attempt to attack you. If you can block my attack, I’ll give you your salary for the whole year.”
“Are you being serious?”
“I won’t change my words.”
His eyes shifted.
Having followed Roman Dmitry and received numerous rewards, Pooky and Volcan, who were born as war mercenaries, didn’t hesitate when it came to money. So they followed Roman Dmitry without further hesitation. It was because he wasn’t just demanding loyalty, but rather rewarding it based on the hard work they did.
Chris’s words were a mistake. They knew his sword technique was as swift as lightning, but neither of them could be described as normal swordsmen.
Both of them wielded swords in their hands, and in the tense air, Chris said,
“Exactly 10 seconds later, I will cut Volcan’s shirt and Pooky’s hair.”
“…what now?”
They found it absurd. Training involved blocking attacks, but Chris was explaining how he would attack instead.
They felt he was looking down on them. Even though they had fought countless times, they couldn’t defeat Chris every single time, but blocking was a completely different matter. There was no possibility of defeat.
And their slightly flushed faces indicated that their pride was wounded.
A second passed, then five seconds. They swallowed nervously. They kept track of the time, and when nine seconds passed, the two of them raised their mana. In that instant,
Swish!
Pat.
The wind blew gently. The pieces of Volcan’s clothing and Pooky’s hair flew before they could even notice Chris.
They didn’t even feel any pain. Actually, the attack lacked killing intent, so their skin wasn’t burned, but the two showed a fascinated expression as they looked at Chris.
The attack was swift. Even after being attacked, they couldn’t understand how it had happened.
“…just how?”
Chris tightly clenched his sword. The last few days had been eventful. He had now stepped into a new realm.
In the midst of the excruciating pain, as his body shattered and his muscles snapped, Chris discovered a newfound strength that he had never been able to attain before.
This was Roman Dmitry’s martial art, and it wasn’t even Jonathan’s secret technique. It was his own. And Chris had now joined the ranks of these extraordinary individuals.
The day was tranquil. The Kronos Empire, which had been idly standing guard, was taken aback by the reports from the scouts.
“At this very moment, Roman Dmitry is approaching with his troops!”
As the enemies advanced, a meeting was convened. The report seemed entirely unbelievable to them.
“It is evident that Roman Dmitry has gone mad! Declaring an all-out war against 300,000 troops!”
“There is no need to make hasty decisions. The Southern Front alone proved that Roman Dmitry had a knack for tactics in battle. The enemy’s advances are likely due to unforeseen strategic reasons, and we don’t really want a full-blown war. So let’s maintain our current position. If we rush out, we will never know the outcome.”
Was it because it was an unusual situation?
No, there was a conflict of opinion instead. The leaders’ voices were intermingled and muddled, and Duke Bamford’s expression turned angry.
Kwang!
“Everyone, lower your voices.”
Anger surged. In the presence of the furious Duke Bamford, the leaders finally fell silent.
“It doesn’t matter what Roman Dmitry’s intentions were. The problem is that they tried to provoke an all-out war against the Kronos Empire. Isn’t it really the same thing? To believe that a single kingdom could emerge victorious against a place like the Kronos Empire. From now on, it becomes a matter of pride. If we don’t crush the spirit of Roman Dmitry, who holds his head high, we will undoubtedly be mocked by the continent even in victory.”
The commander was cowardly but devoted to the defense of the Old Castle despite having an army of 300,000. This was an unacceptable situation. If the enemy had intended to provoke anger, they had certainly succeeded.
A trap? There was no need to worry. Whatever the enemies had prepared, they would crush it with their overwhelming force.
“Command the soldiers of the Kronos Empire. We shall personally punish Roman Dmitry.”
“We will follow your orders.”
The fuse ignited. There weren’t any complicated plans, but the power of the sword would determine victory or defeat on the battlefield.
Above the plains, the troops of both armies surged forward. The difference in numbers was overwhelming. While the Kronos Empire resembled a crashing wave, Roman Dmitry’s army seemed to fade into the distance.
Their troops couldn’t be considered small. The forces that had withdrawn from the Western Front also joined, but the Kronos Empire’s forces were so numerous that they overpowered them.
They marched at consistent intervals and were then joined by the others. In a tense moment, Roman Dmitry stepped out towards the enemy.
Step.
Step.
He closed the distance. Then he came to a halt and raised his voice to the enemies.
“I am Roman Dmitry, hailing from the esteemed Dmitry Duchy. I humbly request a grand battle of skilled warriors from the esteemed authority of the mighty Kronos Empire.”
A mighty clash of warriors was waiting, and whispers spread throughout the crowd. Speculations arose as they pondered Roman’s desire for a glorious battle, igniting a surge of emotions.
Shock, surprise, and outrage asserted their presence among the observers. The majority of them were consumed by anger. In this place, where Roman Dmitry mentioned the great warrior battle, Hannibal stood out. He wasn’t just any swordsman, but the 2nd Ranker in Kronos.
It couldn’t be that Roman Dmitry didn’t know about it. However, Hannibal’s expression twisted at the thought of it.
“I will deal with him and return.”
“No, that’s not allowed.”
Duke Bamford was resolute, knowing the opponent’s intentions. Roman Dmitry aimed to combine practical advantages and create a captivating ambiance by wielding the formidable sword owned by the Kronos Empire.
Hannibal’s expertise was duly acknowledged by the Kronos Empire. Even Roman Dmitry couldn’t prevail against an opponent of such caliber, but it was still important to be ready for any variables.
Barbossa and Hannibal. In a clash between the two, who would emerge victorious?
Hannibal would undoubtedly come out on top, but it might not be inconceivable for Roman Dmitry to overcome him given enough time.
And the Kronos Empire acknowledged it. Roman Dmitry wasn’t just a frog in the well. He was strong enough to be discussed as the best on the continent.
Then there was no reason to accept it. The power of the Kronos Empire was something that could be proven through results rather than occasional battles.
“Roman Dmitry. Do you really want to fight by forcing us?”
He couldn’t believe it. There were 300,000 troops.
Hannibal and Shefir. It was absurd to go against the strength of the Kronos in this attempt. If that was all, there wasn’t any point.
After thoroughly analyzing the existence of Roman Dmitry, the Duke of Bamford didn’t allow a fight between Roman Dmitry and Hannibal.
It was at that moment that Roman Dmitry said,
“If you’re afraid of facing me in battle, I can alter the plan. I’ll appoint two warriors to take my place, and you can do the same. However, if you persist in rejecting this proposal, I’ll simply pretend it was never made.”
Those words were deliberately aimed at provoking Duke Bamford and unsettle him.
