Chapter 256
Banatel gazed at the Aura Users and shouted.
"Who will deliver their teachings to them?"
At this moment, however, Russ’s prediction was slightly off.
"Hm? That, uh…"
"One-on-one, huh… That’s a bit…"
The ten Aura Users, each radiating Blade Aura, had gathered from all over the continent. Yet, rather than stepping forward, they merely exchanged glances, hesitating.
It wasn’t because they feared for their lives or lacked honor like mere ruffians. For warriors, dueling against the strong was a dream come true, under different circumstances, they would have eagerly accepted the challenge.
However, at this moment, they couldn’t ignore the presence of the other Aura Users.
Aura Users could grasp each other’s techniques to some extent just by observing. That was why they avoided sparring with one another whenever possible and were extremely reluctant to reveal their own techniques.
Yet here, there were ten of them, eleven if they included Sword Star Banatel. And they were supposed to expose their skills in front of them?
If it had been an all-out brawl, where everyone’s techniques would be laid bare, it wouldn’t feel so unfair. But stepping forward alone would mean revealing only their own techniques to the others.
Besides, Russ and Tassid weren’t opponents they could afford to face while holding back, relying only on basic Aura skills to conceal their true abilities.
"Those guys… No matter how you look at it, they’re not easy opponents…"
"If it were just a one-on-one duel, maybe… but with so many eyes watching…"
No one openly backed down, yet no one stepped forward either. Instead, they kept exchanging nervous glances, hoping that someone else would be reckless enough to go first. That way, they could observe their opponent’s techniques and possibly discover a weakness.
Banatel frowned at the sight of the Aura Users hesitating, stealing glances at one another.
"Tsk…"
But he couldn’t entirely blame them.
The fact that they had gathered from across the continent was the real issue. If they had been Aura Users from within the Empire, they wouldn’t have been this hesitant. But these warriors weren’t just ordinary fighters, they were the core forces of various nations. Even if they were free warriors, they all had alliances and responsibilities to uphold.
Recklessly revealing their full strength would weaken not only themselves but also their entire nation’s military power. And for knights who had sworn loyalty, that was a price too great to pay. In the chivalric code, loyalty to one’s liege held greater value than personal honor.
'There’s no helping it.'
Banatel also served the Empire, so he could fully understand their hesitation. Though he was frustrated, he wasn’t so thoughtless as to call them cowards.
Clicking his tongue, Banatel clasped his hands behind his back and stepped forward.
"Fine! You lapdogs of the heretics! I, Banatel of Basutalon, shall accept your challenge!"
Russ's expression hardened. Tassid looked at him in shock.
‘Huh? This isn’t how it was supposed to go, Russ.’
‘Tsk, there’s no choice. We can’t back down now, can we?’
Though the situation wasn’t unfolding as expected, there was no room for hesitation.
Swallowing hard, Russ fixed his gaze on the old man before him.
Sword Star Banatel.
A legend who had spread his name across the continent long before Russ was even born, hailed as the greatest swordsman of this era.
Even the sheer force of his presence sent Russ’s senses into overdrive, sounding alarms in his head. But he did not waver. Steeling his shaken heart, he pointed his sword with unwavering resolve.
"I, Cyrus of Tenes, challenge you!"
If he faced Banatel first, Tassid would at least have a slightly better chance of survival.
Realizing Russ’s intent, Tassid flared up and stepped in front of him.
"No! Tassid of the Blue Bear challenges you!"
As the two argued over who would fight first, Banatel shook his head. Their friendship was touching, but to him, they were nothing more than two reckless pups fighting over who would be eaten by the tiger first.
Banatel roared.
"This is tiresome! Both of you, come at me together!"
Russ and Tassid’s ears perked up. They exchanged glances, their eyes locking.
Both of them? At the same time?
This was a grave insult to the honor of knighthood. Banatel had essentially declared them ruffians who knew nothing of chivalry.
Though Russ had softened over time from mingling with other races, he had been raised as a knight through and through. And among the orcs, ganging up on a single opponent was an unbearable dishonor.
The decision weighed heavily on them.
"But… going in alone would just mean throwing your life away, Russ."
"There’s no choice, Tassid. It’s disgraceful, but… it’s for their sake."
Though it went against their convictions, if they lost here, innocent lives in the White King’s Castle would be wiped out. This was no time to argue about honor.
Resolving himself, Russ unleashed his Aura.
"Taah!"
With his determination set, Tassid also activated his Spirits Weapon.
"My sworn ally, Dakar!"
Two streams of Blade Aura flared up like blazing fire. With a fierce battle cry, both warriors launched themselves forward simultaneously.
* * *
Watching the incoming blue and teal Blade Auras, Banatel calmly drew his sword. From its blade erupted a radiant crimson Blade Aura, a clear, brilliant hue reminiscent of the finest ruby.
With a swift motion, Banatel swung his sword. The crimson Aura clashed against the twin Blade Auras.
Fwoosh!
A shockwave of Aura rippled outward in a perfect circle. The sheer force of the impact sent both Russ and Tassid flying backward. However, neither of them allowed themselves to be pushed away entirely. Instead, they twisted their bodies midair, redirecting the force to stay on their feet. They were far from weaklings who would be helplessly overpowered by such a direct counterattack.
Using the momentum, both warriors launched their next strike.
"Haaap!"
Russ’s blade came slicing down toward Banatel’s crown. At the same time, Tassid’s Dakar carved through the air with a deafening whoosh, aiming for the swordsman’s waist.
Banatel’s sword moved in a wide arc, leaving behind a crimson trajectory. Their attacks were intercepted mid-swing, triggering yet another explosive wave of Aura shock.
Boom!
This time, Banatel took the offensive. As soon as his sweeping motion ended, he planted his stance and unleashed a lightning-fast thrust, a blinding flurry of sword flashes stormed toward his opponents in mere seconds.
Russ and Tassid swiftly evaded, each using their unique footwork to avoid the deadly barrage. Banatel’s strikes were undoubtedly fast and powerful, yet they were also linear and straightforward. By reading his movements and tracking the flow of his Aura, they could predict his sword’s trajectory.
"You brats move pretty well!"
With a sharp remark, Banatel intensified his assault. His crimson Blade Aura painted brilliant streaks of light through the air as his sword performed an intricate dance of blades.
Russ and Tassid responded by accelerating their movements.
Amidst the storm of Banatel’s relentless slashes, the two warriors remained composed, either parrying or dodging while continuously holding their ground. At their level, battle wasn’t just about attack and defense; it was a battle for territory.
Both Russ and Tassid extended their Aura, weaving through Banatel’s relentless strikes like a fierce wind slicing through a storm.
The three streams of Blade Aura clashed wildly, screaming with destructive force. Each time an attack missed or was blocked, the residual energy carved through the ground like a planer shaving wood. Dirt and stone fragments scattered into the air like sawdust, and the very surface of the earth peeled away, rolling back upon itself.
With every impact of their Aura, shockwaves radiated outward in brilliant rings of light, ruthlessly shattering the surroundings. It was a display of devastation befitting Aura Users.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Amidst the deafening explosions, cheers erupted from Sir Azrael and the knights and soldiers above White King’s Castle.
"OOOOHHH!"
At first, they had assumed Russ and Tassid were as good as dead. But to their astonishment, the two were holding their own remarkably well. Even though it was a two-against-one fight, they were going toe-to-toe with the Sword Star himself!
"Sir Russ is incredible!"
"As expected of Lord Tassid!"
Hope shone in their eyes.
However, the expressions of the two warriors locked in battle were far less optimistic.
"Hmm…"
Russ frowned slightly.
"Something… feels off…"
Blocking another barrage of Banatel’s slashes, Tassid’s face also darkened.
By all appearances, they were fighting Banatel on equal footing. His swordsmanship was manageable, something they could deal with. However, this didn’t mean that Russ and Tassid had reached Banatel’s level.
Rather, the real issue was that Banatel’s swordsmanship was too ordinary.
This was the great Sword Star, Banatel. And yet, there was nothing particularly unique about his technique. He was just fast and powerful. Of course, speed and power alone could become ultimate weapons at a high enough level. But in a fight between Aura Users, swordsmanship and tactics were also critical factors in determining victory.
And yet, Banatel’s swordplay was too simple. At first, they had assumed it was a feint and remained on guard. But it didn’t seem that way. Compared to an average knight’s swordsmanship, Banatel was certainly elite. But for Aura Users, his movements were too straightforward and full of openings.
Something wasn’t right.
There was no way the Sword Star’s skill was only at this level.
"Is he just toying with us?"
That would make sense. From Banatel’s perspective, Russ and Tassid were far below him, mere amateurs in comparison.
And yet, if that were the case…
"Ahem!"
Clearing his throat, Banatel deflected Russ and Tassid’s attacks with a dignified expression. His crimson Blade Aura flashed, launching a counterattack aimed at their vital points. However, since he had prioritized defense before striking, there was plenty of room to evade.
Twisting his body to dodge, Tassid frowned.
‘He looks too serious for this to be a joke…’
That didn’t mean Banatel was struggling.
He was still effortlessly fending off Russ and Tassid’s combined assault with a single hand. His expression remained composed, almost as if he were an old man taking a casual stroll.
Yet, if he were truly fighting at full strength, he should have already defeated them both. Instead, his attacks remained straightforward and unremarkable.
There was no indication that he was holding back out of mercy, his strikes were filled with genuine killing intent.
It made no sense.
Russ even entertained a ridiculous thought:
‘Could the title of Sword Star be nothing but an empty name?’
But no, that overwhelming presence Banatel had displayed at his first appearance was real. That wasn’t something that could be faked with mere bravado.
Either way, they couldn’t afford to hesitate any longer. Russ and Tassid exchanged glances.
For some reason, Banatel wasn’t fighting at full strength.
And that meant this was their chance!
"Huaaah!"
With a fierce battle cry, Russ swung his longsword, weaving an intricate azure trajectory. Blade Aura danced wildly, blooming into a dazzling spectacle of swordsmanship.
Falling Blossoms!
A technique inspired by Iniya, created through sheer ingenuity.
The sky was filled with countless sword flowers, their glowing blue petals swirling chaotically. Blade Aura petals fluttered in the air, encircling Banatel’s entire body.
"Graaaah!"
At the same time, Tassid’s muscles bulged as he let out a ferocious roar.
His sword, Dakar, blazed like white-hot steel as he unleashed a twin horizontal cleave.
Blue Scorpion’s Assault!
A nearly simultaneous left-right slash, an attack so powerful that even the most resilient Aura User would struggle to withstand the recoil.
This was a technique that only Tassid, with his orc-born monstrous physique, could execute.
SWOOOOSH!
With a resounding whoosh, Russ and Tassid’s slashes rained down like a storm, occupying every angle around Banatel.
In response, Banatel swiftly traced circles with his sword, forming layers of crimson Blade Aura around himself. The glowing arcs overlapped, creating dozens of circular shields that intercepted every attack.
At that moment, Russ’s eyes gleamed.
The Azure Sword Flower blooms twice.
The swirling Blade Aura petals were nothing more than a distraction. Hidden within them was the true strike, waiting to ignite.
Full Bloom!
At the same time, Tassid roared.
The Blue Scorpion’s pincers, the left and right slashes were nothing but a feint. The true finishing blow was the venomous tail crashing down from above!
Using the momentum from his earlier twin slashes, Tassid shifted into a devastating overhead strike.
"Taah!"
For the first time, Banatel’s expression subtly twisted.
"Hm?"
He was still in a defensive stance, blocking their initial assault. And in that precise moment of vulnerability, Russ and Tassid’s weapons found their mark.
Twin streams of Blade Aura pierced toward Banatel’s solar plexus and shoulder.
Strike!