Kingdom's Bloodline, page 612
However…
Thales took a few steps forward and moved around Procca.
The Sin of Hell’s River rose in his body again. The waves rose and fell one after another before they connected with each other, longing to launch the second charge.
Yet, this time, the waves of his Power of Eradication, which had suffered a setback, gave Thales the illusion that they were burning more fiercely than before…
They were akin to a demented monster that wanted to tear apart its enemy’s throat regardless of its own injury.
Nevertheless, Thales suppressed them with all his might like an animal trainer pulling tightly on the chains.
As Thales moved, Procca also systematically moved his feet and turned around. He faced his enemy constantly.
Thales did not rush to launch his attack.
He was thinking.
Earlier, his sword had met his enemy’s sword.
Both swords intersected with each other in the air.
But Procca did not manage to defend his attack.
If he had stepped forward a little more, Thales could have struck down his enemy.
‘Then…’
Thales carefully processed it.
Then, the moment victory was decided in a flash…
Procca’s sword started to spin.
It contained his condensed, unreleased, strong, and sturdy… Power of Eradication.
‘Then…’
Thales’ face tensed up.
He slowed down. He recalled the previous scene while his Sin of Hell’s River burned more intensely.
The two swords had intersected with each other.
Within that one second, Procca and Thales turned their swords
They each turned their swords in the air.
He remembered that, the second they drew close to each other, Procca’s wrist moved in a unique flexible angle. The movement lasted for a long time as well.
Thales’ sword then deviated from its track, while Procca’s sword…
Thales clenched his teeth.
After that, the teenager could only cast away his word pathetically because his charge was too fast and he could not pull back in time. He blocked before…
The part on his left arm where he was struck earlier began to hurt a little.
Thales stopped remembering.
This time, he did not pace around anymore.
The Royal Guards noticed the prince step forward.
While the Sin of Hell’s River surged into his right arm, he launched another attack with his sword again!
*Clang!*
Amid the sound of metal clashing, Procca calmly blocked Thales’ sword.
Then…
Thales felt shocked.
He saw, and even felt it in his hand, that Procca’s sword had started to move again, and together with it was his Power of Eradication.
The teenager did not hesitate.
Thales stopped moving. He pulled back his sword since he never placed a lot of power in it in the first place, and he quickly retreated.
*Clang!*
Another clear and sharp sound rose.
Thales utilized the agility he gained after he threw away the shield and managed to block Procca’s attack by a hair’s breadth, taking two steps back in a rather pathetic manner.
Thales panted harshly while he looked at the uninjured Procca in disbelief.
His frustrated Sin of Hell’s River roared indignantly again within his body.
When that round ended, the Royal Guards resumed their discussion again.
“Ah, it’s another attack in vain,” said Doyle after he clicked his tongue. He looked gloomy as if he could not bear to witness the sight anymore. “I must say, even if Mallos doesn’t like him, he’s going overboard. He’s doing this in front of so many people—”
But Glover interrupted him. “No, it’s not.”
Doyle was puzzled. “It’s not what?”
At that moment, a familiar voice was heard in the crowd, and it silenced the Royal Guards.
“Over the past six hundred years, Eastern Sea and South Coast have passed down their own unique battle skills to their people. They inherited the battle skills that originated from the knights of the south during the age of the Empire and Church Knights.”
The voice was calm and cool.
They were very familiar with it.
Thales calmed his breathing and turned his head around in surprise.
He saw the culprit who caused him to fall into such a predicament. Watchman Tormond Mallos folded his arms over his chest and stood over there leisurely.
“Many families still use the practices found in the knight-attendant legacy system to nurture new fighters. It even has great local and personal styles contained in them.
“Compared with martial arts in other parts of Constellation, this faction is more classical and elegant. The sword and sword style become one, and the skill is exquisite as well as ingenious.”
Procca pursed his lips, and he also turned to the commanding officer.
Mallos said indifferently, “So, in the kingdom, these people who represent the knights of the south are known as the martial arts faction.”
‘Martial arts faction?’
Doubt filled Thales’ mind.
Mallos paused for a while and sighed slowly.
Of course, due to many reasons, the martial arts faction, which was once famous, had slowly fallen into decline, and they were not what they used to be.
Perhaps they may even disappear one day and fade into nothingness…
Just like other countless factions that appeared for a short while in the long span of history.
Mallos raised his head.
“What now? Why are you daydreaming?”
Mallos reminded both of them, being completely unbothered. It was as if he had just been sleep talking just now. “Continue your fight.”
Thales took a deep breath while he reflected on Mallos’ words. Then, he looked at his opponent again.
Meanwhile, the logistics officer held his sword, stood there, and showed him a wan smile.
Thales decided not to think anymore.
The next second, he walked to the left, then to the right before he made a feint and slashed outward again!
*Clang!*
This time, Procca also moved and changed the distance between him and Thales to block the prince’s attack.
His attack landed.
Thales’ expression became slightly darker.
He still did not land a solid hit.
The Sin of Hell’s River boiled in him as it moved about his body. It could only roar madly and in vain.
It was similar to an orc running into a cavalier. It had no way of using its strength.
Thales, who had failed to attack, blocked his opponent and gritted his teeth to persevere.
However, Mallos’ words traveled into his ears again and distracted him.
“Procca’s ancestors come from a traditional family of knights in Eastern Sea Hill, and it is a well-respected family. One could say that they are greatly influenced by the martial arts faction.”
Suddenly, the contest of strength with Procca ended. The force in his sword changed again.
Thales was shocked.
*Clang!*
The edge of Procca’s sword intersected with Thales’ weapon for the second time!
Both swords separated immediately after they briefly clashed into each other, and only the sound of metal trembling was heard.
“As you can see, he has his own way of doing things when it comes to his position and movement before he draws his sword, not to mention his choice of whether he wants to deliver a powerful or weak blow when your weapons meet.”
Mallos’ voice rang like a buzz. He sounded like the background noises in the live broadcasts when Thales dreamed of his previous life.
“It makes you very uncomfortable.”
‘Choosing the right position and movement…
‘Choosing the force in the sword…’
Thales trembled slightly, but the situation in front of him did not allow him to ponder further, so he could only take advantage of the opportunity and slice horizontally.
*Clang!*
Their weapons clashed against each other for the third time.
Mallos’ voice just kept traveling into his ears. “When your weapons clash and you are locked in a stalemate, Procca is very good at Sensing the strength of the hit and making judgments…”
‘Clash. Stalemate.
‘Sensing the strength of the hit… judgment.’
After he heard those words, Thales suddenly had a feeling that something bad was about to happen!
Indeed, at the next moment, Procca’s sword happened to appear in a position where Thales was not be able to defend!
“…He is a defense and counterattack expert.”
Right then, Thales felt goosebumps all over his body. He recklessly gathered up all the Sin of Hell’s River in his body!
*Clang!*
He successfully avoided the edge of Procca’s sword, which was aimed at his neck, by a hair’s breadth. His right shoulder fell to the ground. He rolled out of the attack range in an incredibly sorry manner.
Mallos smiled gently outside the field. “Just like that.”
After that round, the Royal Guards could be heard discussing again.
Thales wiped off the sweat on his forehead, which had appeared without him realizing. He felt numb because his body had gone past the limits of what he could bear.
He stood with great difficulty, and his body was covered with dust.
This instance, however, he did not rush toward the apologetic Procca. Instead, with a puzzled gaze, he turned to Mallos, who was standing at the side of the field.
“If you think the head-on attacks that those Northland barbarians use will be effective against him, then you should think twice, Your Highness.” Mallos stared at Thales with a bright and piercing gaze.
Thales gasped as he started to think.
Leo Procca shook his longsword and said in resignation, “Commanding officer, we know that you have traveled far and wide, and that you are very knowledgeable, but please keep the sharing in moderation. I rely on this for a living.”
Mallos smiled and said nothing.
But Thales seemed to have understood something.
‘Choosing the right position and movement, Sensing the strength of the clash, and judgment.
‘It sounds like…’
Thales had a thought in his heart.
A name appeared in his mind.
‘Miranda Arunde.
‘Wya mentioned before that her Power of Eradication…
‘Her… Pegasus’ Music.’
When he noticed that his opponent looked slightly awkward in front of him, Thales understood.
He was at a total disadvantage during the first round not because Procca was too strong, but because… he did not use the correct strategy, and he landed straight in the realm Procca was the most skilled with…
Defense and counterattack.
Thales clenched his fists.
“Think of a way, Your Highness.” Mallos scratched his chin and appeared bored. “Use all methods conceivable. The enemy is in front of you.”
‘All right.’
Thales eased the numbness out of his body and composed himself.
He looked at Procca again.
Thales’ expression became serious.
The prince’s attack came in the next second.
*Clang!*
Procca deflected Thales’ sword attack once again, but when he was about to counterattack, he hesitated for a moment.
The Duke of Star Lake’s strength… was currently very weak.
*Swish!*
The wind from the sword brushed past his body. Thales stepped back and avoided his opponent’s counterattack.
Both of them separated from each other once again.
Thales calmly thought, ‘Leo Procca… His ancestor is a knight from Eastern Sea Hill. He’s from the martial arts faction. He’s good at defenses and counterattacks.’
His mind started to turn, and he started to think about his opponent’s advantages as well as his own strategy.
‘Procca can instantly listen to the strength of the blow and make judgments through the contact he makes with his opponent.
‘This is not just beneficial in defense, but helpful in finding the best moment to attack.
‘If the opponent attacked more fiercely, had more strength in his blows, and exposed more areas vulnerable to attack, his counterattack would be even sharper.
‘So…
‘The sword strike I delivered with all my strength just now utterly helped him in his counterattack.’
Thales felt indignant.
‘Wait.
‘Sensing the strength of the clash, judgment?’
He suddenly thought of Nicholas.
He remembered the instantaneous changes in the Star Killer’s attack trajectory and the strength in his sword.
Thales then came to an understanding.
If he had to face dead face, Procca would not stand a chance because he would not able to judge the Star Killer’s strange skills, which could change three times in one single attack, through contact with the weapon alone.
‘So…’
Thales held the hilt of his sword tightly.
‘The Twist of Fate, right?’
As the thought occurred to him, the Sin of Hell’s River surged in him as if it had life. It wanted to change into that silver energy that resembled millions of fine needles just like it did countless times before.
It could allow its owner to make unbelievable changes in an instant.
Thales took a deep breath.
‘At most, I’ll just find an excuse later and tell them that I inherited the Power of Eradication from that dead face…
‘But…’
“‘The Sin of Hell’s River opens up so many functions and possibilities for self-improvement… but you chose the most foolish, ineffective, time-wasting, and boring one.”‘
‘”This is your Power of Eradication, and it’s also your current self. You’re forced to move forward, be dragged around without a goal and direction. You stagger about and get carried along the tide. In fact… you don’t have a self.”‘
Thales felt his mind wander.
He looked up and saw Procca, who smiled bashfully while he waited for him to attack.
‘”More importantly, when you rely on imitating other people’s Powers of Eradication and ignore all these things, it means that you lack the most basic thing for the Power of Eradication, which others used their lives to form. You lack this one thing against all the people you imitate, all the opponents you fight, and even yourself.
‘”You lack respect.”‘
‘Ricky, that damn demon.’
Thales frowned.
At that moment, his Sin of Hell’s River disappeared like the tide and left behind only a small amount of dispirited strength. Thales could feel some degree of sentimentality coming from it.
It was like a lover who had arrived in excitement but returned in disappointment.
‘No.
‘This isn’t a martial arts lesson.
‘This isn’t a simple investigation of my Power of Eradication.
‘It’s a truer and purer form of battle.’
While he sensed the people’s gazes on him, Thales bit his lip and closed his eyes.
‘No.
‘If I still rely on Nicholas’ power to survive…
‘If I can’t even make it through this obstacle in front of me…’
‘”Remember, the point is how you navigate your power, not the strength of your opponent’s power. It is about how much you gain, not how well you can imitate them.”‘
‘No.
‘If I really want to get through this obstacle and truly want to be free of this situation, where I am surrounded by suspicion…’
Thales lowered his head and sighed slowly in his heart.
‘Damn it, Ricky.
‘Damn you.’
From the distance, Mallos, who was observing Thales, moved his eyes a little.
A few seconds later, Thales raised his head.
‘But he’s right. If I’m too afraid to try it out right now, when am I ever going to try it? The next time my life is in danger?’
That instant, Thales cast aside all unnecessary worries about hiding his strength, hiding his Sin of Hell’s River, and the gazes from Renaissance Palace as well as the Royal Guards.
At least for that moment, he wanted to become a warrior without any distractions.
‘”The flexibility found in the Sin of Hell’s River is not there to allow you to almost perfectly mimic your opponents’ powers and become your opponents. Rather, it allows you to face all of your opponents fearlessly and with composure.”‘
The Sin of Hell’s River burned once again, but it was much tamer now.
Thales wondered whether it was because he had used up too much of his Power of Eradication, or whether it was because he had failed too many times.
It was as if the crazy beast had become a calm hound and hidden in a dark corner to lick its wounds. It would only cast cold stares at its enemy from time to time.
When it faced its enemy outside the cage, it would bare its sharp teeth to show its ill will.
“This is the true ‘omnipotent Power of Eradication.'”
Thales opened his eyes slightly.
The Sin of Hell’s River did not surge throughout his whole body like it usually did. Instead, it was focused in his eyes and ears. It also filled his senses.
At that moment, the teenager entered a stage that he was familiar with.
Hell’s senses.
Thales’ eyes started to become glazed over, as though he had lost focus.
However, only he knew right then that the world in front of him had become very colorful.
He could see the thick and solid Power of Eradication in Procca. It surrounded his arms and center of gravity while it moved around slowly.
Thales suddenly realized that the number of times and ways he used his Hell’s senses were… very useless.
He had used it either to mimic another’s strengths, look for his path at night, eavesdrop on others, or even… see ghosts.
But the real moment he should use his Hell’s senses…
