Chapter 40: A Master’s Duty

[King Darius's POV]

Heading out of the woods, with Lymbard just a mile away. I proceed forward with caution, prepared for everything. Then, I heard it. 

Thumkph.

Thhumph.

Thumphhh.

A Thunderous Boom was being heard in the direction of Lymbard. The damage was pretty apparent. The bell tower where you could see for a mile away, has collapsed. At the entrance of the town, you could see many of the soldier's body turning purple and passed out. All the priest in town were casting healing magic and using as much holy water as possible. One patient was already bad enough, they had over 30 people who was affected that needed immediate treatment. One of the soldier on site came to me and greeted me.

"Your Majesty! Thank you for coming. Currently we ate still shor___"

"They are on their way, where is the beast."

"Go straight and turn right, your Majesty."

I alight from my horse, passing it to one of the stable boy. I still had that uneasy feeling ever since I left the forest. It's weird, I know this feeling but it's just that I forgotten it.

Thumph.

Thump.

Thumphh.

The Thumping continues as I walked along the streets towards that direction of the sound. The soldier followed me and informed me.

"Your Majesty, the creature was slain but____." The soldier hesitated speaking, as if something caught his throat.

I took a peek around, noticing that everyone in town, the citizens and the soldiers were all trembling. Trembling in fear. As I got closer, the pressure in the atmosphere felt thinner and thinner. Almost as if the air itself is trying to suffocate me.

In the corner of the town. Was a person, holding on to the giant blade. Chopping something up. It was unrecognizable to see what was being chopped but I had a general clue. The bottom half of a lion can be seen on the other side. Blood was splattered everywhere, into the wall, the floor and most prominently the person himself is covered in blood.

I notice that there were two bodies at the far end, mutilated. Most probably eaten by the Manticore. However looking at his physique, it was easy to identify that it was Red.

"Red. Enough. Let's go." I said, taking a small step forward.

[Look out!]

In my years ascension to being a King. I went through a lot. From overthrowing a tyrant King, to slaying beast to survive. It took years to hone my skills and experience to get where I am today.

But there were only 2 times where life was almost killed over and over. One being fighting the said Tyrant king who had complete Sword Mastery and the Great Demonic disaster that threatened the world years ago.

Today, a 3rd time appeared.

In that 0.001 second I stepped a step forward. A spear was flew right in my eyes, just barely piercing it through, I swung my sword while leaning back to dodged it. And I widened my distance between him.

Yeap, I remembered this feeling. Bloodlust. Extremely heavy ones, like a feral beast.

"Yyyyour Majestyy!" The soldier exclaimed.

I checked the ground seeing a line, made by him intentionally to keep anyone out from stepping in.

[How are thou planning to solve this.]

"Beating the shit out of him."

The problem with dealing with a feral beast is that, it's easier to kill it then to subdue it. So, how do I make my way about this....Hmmm.

I took my great sword out going to a stance and readied myself. 

"Tell the rest to evacuate, It's going to be rough here."

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I took step forward again, just before the line and, slashed the line, disrupting it.

Like a beast who's territory is being threatened, he starts retaliating attack at my aggression , with that spear, which looked very familiar. 

The current fighting style he had was different from previously. I could still feel emotion like annoyance and anger when we first sparred, which I could read him like an open book, predicting his movement.

Now he stood on his ground motionless, with no expression on his face, holding a weapon and attacking in such an unpredictable way.

He starts striking his spear horizontally and vertically in a very quick pace as each blows starts to increase the pace faster and faster. 

Klunk-!

Kleokk-!!

Klithhh-!!!

Blocking every blow as I hold my sword tighter, I aim his legs sweeping my feet on his, he jumped and prepared to throw his spear at such a close range even though he was just right infront of me.

I lift my sword up to guard, just for him to stabbed it on the ground, and dropped kicked me. It was a magnificent feint from him. I recovered from the blow he landed on me, expecting to fight me bare-handed. 

However he appeared with a Greatsword, as he drags it from the bottom of his hip, rotating it to my face, exploding with strength. 

"Crap." I replied as I used a skill to prevent myself from getting sliced off in half.

[Ruler's Grip]

A Unqiue Skill

Using One's Mastery over Aura. One can manifest part of their aura in a physical form, gripping onto something from the physical realm.

Skill Cooldown: None

Duration: Infinite 

Using my Aura, I Imbued it to my arm, stopping the blade's impact and retaliated with a punch. However, he was fast enough to leave cut wounds in a shape of a spiral across my arm. I checked to see how, when I noticed he inflicted it using the normal knife I got him. 

That normal looking knife was able to make me bleed? The more I think about, the more annoyed I got. 

"Fine. No more playing around."

I raised my sword, Imbueding it with aura and prepared myself. He dashed towards me with the spear, thrusting it forward, trying to pierce a hole in my body. I dodge it all with [Light Footwork] and when through his attacks. He retracts the spear head trying to hit me from my blindspot. I stomped on the ground shaking the entire area, as he lost his step. I pounced forward, using my palm and grabbing his face. I dragged his body across the streets where I proceeds to throw him in the air. He recovered, just to throw a knife at me. I stepped to the side, only to find him already below me aiming his greatsword from below. 

I parried the sword and we both started exchanging blows after blows. Like a Wind of Hurricance, the attack was ruthless and relentless, striking one after another and changing to a different weapon mid way in battle. It was unpredictable. As the exchange went longer, it seems that I was inflicted more damage, judging by the amount of cuts I have currently. I cast [Reinforce defense] and [Regeneration]. So that I can last longer in a one to one exchange.

However suddenly he stopped and he stood back. Now he grabbed his spear on one arm and the giant blade on the other. As he makes his way slowly towards me. I closed the gap, trying to end the battle and wear him out but that was where he shines. He made no unnecessary movement when dodging and proceed with a Cut when I missed.

He stood in a very awkward manner, where the spear is held closer and the sword was help further.

Thinking that I only had to deal the sword for close range, I ran towards him preparing for the spear to appear. Instead a Giant Blade appears where I had to guard using aura as a shield. He appeared again from below, thrusting a few shots of the spear on me, I proceed to dodge all except one where I stopped with with my hands.

 

He side kicks me in my belly and using the spearhead as launching pad, jumps up and slammed it against me.

It ended with a barrage of attacks from both the spear and the giant blade, both attacking at different section of the body. I lift my sword up and slammed it down evoking a skill.

[Boulder Strike]

Single or Multiple Target depending on how it is used.

Slamming a weapon on the Target and exerting a huge amount of pressure in enemy until the Target either gives up or get crushed under the weapon like a Boulder.

Requirement: Greatsword Mastery.

Red tries blocking with both his spear and Blade. But the longer he tries to blocked, the heavier it gets and eventually crushing it on him. He tried standing up and throwing me a punch.

But from there, I used both of my arms to subdue him by grabbing him on his shoulder and putting so much strength in it that he stops and dropped.

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