Chapter 71: The Lord of Ten Thousand Blades (1)
My entire body’s senses had become unusually sharp. It meant I was acutely aware of any hostility my opponents carried. I could faintly sense animosity from the riders galloping toward me.
What reason could they have to harbor hostility toward someone they had never met before? I thought about it as I ran.
A strong stench of blood drifted through the air, irritating my sense of smell. It wasn’t the blood of an animal but distinctly that of humans.
The sticky sensation clinging to the air seemed to hint at the usual deeds of the approaching riders.
“Scatter!”
As the distance narrowed, a man who appeared to be their leader shouted. From atop his horse, he drew his sword with practiced ease.
His companions followed suit, spreading out smoothly in formation. The closer they came, the stronger the stench of blood grew.
They were raiders.
The kind commonly found in the wastelands. In truth, nearly everyone in the wastelands could be called a raider.
Here, it wasn’t unusual for those you encountered one day to stab you in the back the next.
My gaze lightly swept over the raiders’ faces. Grins stretched across their faces as if they hadn’t even considered the possibility of losing.
I adjusted my grip on my sword as I ran. The strength dwelling in this body of mine was enormous, far beyond what could be explained by simply saying I was in good condition.
My heart pounded as though it might burst, not from fear, but from anticipation for the battle to come. As I sprinted forward on all fours like a beast, I suddenly leaped and spun in midair.
I could distinctly feel the wind brushing against my skin. I could even sense the gaze and breaths of my opponents.
My eyes scanned the blade as it passed close to me, its polished surface gleaming under the moonlight and reflecting my elongated figure.
The next thing I noticed was the expression of the man swinging the sword at me.
His smile had vanished, replaced by a look of growing shock. Had he not expected me to evade his attack?
‘They seem to know this terrain well…’
I adjusted my grip on my sword instantly. Instead of using the blade, I struck the man’s face with the flat side of my sword.
Smack!
A crisp sound rang out as the man staggered and fell from his horse. In contrast to the clumsy way he tumbled, I landed softly on the ground after a smooth rotation.
“Y-You… Argh!”
He was surprisingly tough. Even after taking a solid blow, the man didn’t lose consciousness.
He quickly picked himself up and swung his sword at me without hesitation. His movements showed a certain familiarity with chaotic skirmishes.
Clang!
Although his skills were decent, they were no match for me. With a casual swing of my Moonlight Blade, I unleashed the Quick Sword Technique of the Tai Baek Snow Dragon Sword. Thin cuts began to appear all over the man’s body.
The fresh scent of blood caused my heartbeat to quicken further. I licked my lips as I pressed my attack. I didn’t care how I might appear to others. My throat burned with an intense thirst, a relentless craving.
“W-We’re fighting, right?”
“Do you even have to ask?”
Theo and Flora had arrived, each drawing their swords. Theo’s gaze hardened as he peered through the dusty air at the raiders still circling on horseback.
Crackle!
Lightning flickered vividly around Theo’s body. The mounted raiders hesitated to approach, instead continuing to circle and kick up more dust.
Clang!
As I clashed swords with the man, I could read his intentions. His attacks were bold, but the force behind them was weak. He was constantly keeping an eye out for an opportunity to retreat.
Not only that, but he frequently adjusted his grip and stance to avoid revealing the direction of his gaze. He was clearly waiting for something.
‘He’s waiting for his horse.’
It was obvious he was stalling for time, hoping his horse would return. From a distance, I could sense faint traces of its presence, lingering just outside the fray. It was a clever animal. A faint smile played on my lips.
“Haah!”
With a shout, the man launched a charge. I stepped forward to meet him. As my foot lightly touched the ground, a powerful shockwave burst forth.
Boom!
I released mana to steady my stance while disrupting his balance. The intense pressure pushed the man slightly off-kilter. I didn’t let the opportunity slip by.
This wasn’t an attack meant to kill. Using my sword would only result in unnecessary bloodshed.
I ducked under the man’s swinging blade and slipped into his guard. My movements were as fluid as a painting in motion.
I gently extended my hand, pressing it against his chest.
Perhaps sensing what was about to happen, the man’s expression shifted to one of utter disbelief. I glanced up at him and smiled faintly.
“I’ll take this.”
My words carried layers of meaning.
Boom!
A dull sound rang out as the man’s body spun and was hurled into the air. Through my palm, mana surged into his body, creating a violent vortex that wreaked havoc inside him.
The Whirling Vortex Palm.
This was a martial art usually executed with a fist, but I had used my palm to reduce its destructive power.
Even so, it had been through extensive modification, and if I’d failed to control it properly, the man might’ve died.
“He’s down!”
The moment the leader fell, the remaining raiders scattered in panic. They were still on horseback, and having hung back during the fight, they fled quickly, too far ahead to chase.
If only they had come closer, I could’ve taken more from them.
Perhaps this was wisdom born of life in the wastelands. They abandoned their comrades without a second thought.
It was natural for a group bound solely by mutual gain. Shaking off idle thoughts, I approached the fallen man.
“Urgh…”
He was trembling, coughing up blood as the mana wreaked havoc inside his body. The pain must’ve been excruciating. Without timely treatment, he would never be able to use mana again.
“Your name?”
“P-Please spare me…”
“Your name.”
“M-Max…”
The name slipped from his lips. Whether it was his real name or not didn’t matter. I just needed a word to call him by. Sitting on top of him, I looked toward my companions.
They, too, had managed to capture a raider. Using ropes they had brought, they had already bound their captive and were now waiting for me.
Even without words, they understood my intentions and followed my lead. Just looking at them lifted my spirits. It felt as if I were with family.
I spoke.
“Good job.”
“You scared us, charging out like that. Do you know these people?”
“Of course not.”
I replied to Theo’s question as Flora dragged over the raider she had captured.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“No.”
“These guys are raiders from the wastelands, right?”
“Yes.”
Flora looked at her friend with a peculiar expression. Saeran, a beautiful girl from beyond the mountains, occasionally displayed behavior that was difficult to understand. This sudden outburst wasn’t all that surprising, given her track record.
‘This must be the essence of the wild…’
Saeorin was the first among them to sense the raiders’ approach. Truly, an incredible, untamed instinct.
The spoils of the battle were considerable. The three of them had transformed into raiders themselves, stripping their foes of anything valuable. The loot they gathered included:
Sweat-soaked leather clothes
Two horses
Two swords
Provisions and miscellaneous items
A bag filled with gold coins
The defeated raiders knelt on the ground, nervously watching for any sudden moves. Having realized they wouldn’t be killed, they obeyed every command without resistance. Saeorin turned to Max, who was still coughing up blood.
“Max.”
“Y-Yes, ma’am!”
“What’s out west?”
“W-West, you say…”
“I mean the place the Reincarnators have been flocking to lately. I also heard the Lord of Ten Thousand Blades is there.”
As Saeorin spoke, she raised her small hand. Her fingers twitched in an almost playful manner, but the sight made Max’s face turn pale. He sputtered and shouted as if his life depended on it.
“T-There’s been talk recently about a city being built out there. I believe that’s what you’re referring to…!”
“A city? In this land?”
“Y-Yes, ma’am!”
“Do you know where it is?”
“Of course…! Cough!”
Their destination was now clear. Saeorin turned to her companions.
“We need to check it out, don’t we?”
“We’ve got the information—no point in just sitting here. Let’s go.”
They were all on the same page. Saeorin nodded.
One of the raiders was left behind. With only two horses, and each horse able to carry two people, someone had to stay. Max was placed on a horse with Theo, while I rode with Flora.
“W-Wait! Don’t leave me behind!”
The abandoned raider screamed, thrashing helplessly against his bindings. He couldn’t even stand.
“What are you going to do about him?”
At Flora’s question, I turned my head to look at the man. If he survived, that was his fate. In the wasteland, the rules were simple: those destined to die would die no matter what, and those meant to live would survive against all odds.
He probably wouldn’t die easily, though. Perhaps he’d get eaten by monsters or succumb to starvation and thirst. Either way, his end wouldn’t be pretty.
“Max. Which way?”
“That way!”
Max shouted for his life, his voice desperate.
‘Damn it… Why did I mess with her…’
He cursed himself, briefly recalling the unspoken rule of the wastelands: never touch the elderly, children, or especially young girls. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes as regret washed over him.
As I rode, I looked up at the sky. The full moon, which had been shining so brightly, was now shrouded in dark clouds.
The excitement that had been bubbling within me slowly subsided, replaced by a quiet calm.