Episode 676: The Piercer, the Protector (4)
The aura on the knight’s sword flashed.
The swordplay of the Knight Crawler Knights hurt Alex’s eyes.
‘Wow, this is amazingly sophisticated and practical.’
The Nightcrawler Order did not let their guard down against Alex.
They thoroughly assumed Alex was stronger than themselves and had no hesitation in attacking him accordingly.
Usually, knights are full of pride and rarely bend it under any circumstances.
But the Knightcrawler Order was different.
Unlike other knights, they are armed with rationality.
Even if there was only one enemy, he did not let his guard down and thoroughly carried out his assigned role.
Attack, retreat, defend, and find an opening.
There was no excessive attack, and perhaps because of that, there were no conflicts with other colleagues.
‘The attack itself is so dirty and smooth.’
If you block one sword attack, three sword attacks will fly in.
If you try to block or avoid it, another attack will come from somewhere else.
When I was attacked as tightly as a net that did not allow any gaps, I felt uncomfortable even breathing.
‘Even if you try to kill just one of them, the one who attacked you will notice it and run away like a ghost.’
It’s as if he’s not going to be greedy anymore.
The entire Order was like an elaborate machine.
The Knightcrawler Knights were the cogs that operated such a machine.
‘I think I know why the Nightcrawler Order is bothering the underworld.’
Stella Siren has strong powers in a special environment limited to the sea.
If Cold Steel adapts to the harsh environment and the individual knights have superior fighting power,
Nightcrawler’s greatest strength was cooperation.
A fighting style that is armed with rationality and restrains individual emotions for the sole purpose of victory.
The fact that the article was carried out was not only annoying but also creepy for the person on the receiving end.
It was only natural that the criminals of the underworld feared the Knights of the Nightcrawler.
Their punishment of evil was not a matter of justice or any kind of duty, but rather a labor like harvesting ripened rice.
Of course, Alex wasn’t embarrassed or anything.
‘I’ve already fought enough with those mindless monsters.’
Elf Kingdom Renard-Tyrone
That’s what happened with the wood zombies that Bentmin summoned there.
Wood zombies, created based on the biological genes of past elf heroes stored in the World Tree, were soldiers who did not fear death.
Compared to those guys, the Knights of the Nightcrawler Order were quite impressive and threatening, but not so much that they were scary.
‘There is no way that a person can be free from the fears that they must have.’
They are just trying to suppress it.
If you just take it out, the crack will spread in no time.
After thinking about it, Alex immediately put it into action.
First of all, a sword flying in front of your nose.
Alex flicked it off.
Even though it was a strike intended to restrain, it was a blow that contained an aura.
Alex’s way of swatting it away like a fly proved that his skill was far superior.
The knight, who had to pull out his sword with the usual counterforce of striking it, frowned at the strange flow of power he suddenly felt.
‘The sword is sucked in?’
The sword that lost control did not bounce back, but instead changed direction and shot at another comrade.
Of course, this is something that cannot happen in the usual Nightcrawler Knights’ association.
Both the knight who stabbed the sword and the knight who was almost attacked were confused.
It was Lloyd who stepped forward at that time.
He shouted as he blocked the knight’s sword in the middle of the screen.
“Don’t panic! I’ll cover any shortcomings!”
The joint attack, which was almost destroyed by Lloyd’s shout, was strengthened again.
Alex clicked his tongue inwardly.
There were guys who moved separately to prepare for such cracks.
Like a lubricant that makes gears turn more precisely and prevents them from breaking down.
But Alex didn’t seem too disappointed.
“Rather, if it had collapsed because of such trickery, I would have been disappointed.”
A total of five swords with auras flew towards Alex, who was spitting out his true feelings mixed with jokes.
All of them are fatal blows aimed at Alex’s weak points.
Alex spun around lightly on the spot.
At the same time, his sword, filled with an ashen aura, spun around, drawing a large circle around him.
The auras flying from five directions began to be sucked into the gray circle.
The auras, pulled by a huge force as if riding a rapid current, gathered together and shot out in one precise direction.
Towards Lloyd, who is acting as a lubricant.
“this·”
Lloyd looked embarrassed behind his glasses, but he raised his sword imbued with aura and blocked the flying aura.
Boom!
Lloyd’s body flew backwards with a huge impact.
The attack of five knights was combined into one, and it was further strengthened by Alex.
Even if Lloyd took on the role of Terina’s adjutant, it was a power that was difficult to block.
Naturally, Lloyd was left with an opening, and Alex tried to swing his sword at him.
“also·”
A great sword that approached close by while deceiving one’s own feelings.
Alex, as if he had known this would happen, gently rotated his sword as he swung it at the greatsword.
The trajectory was so natural that it seemed like he was aiming for this greatsword from the beginning.
Kwaaaaang!
The swords imbued with aura clashed with each other, sending sparks flying.
The impact was so strong that even the Knight Crawler Knights were forced to take more than ten steps back.
The only one who stood still was the person involved, Alex.
And standing opposite him was Terry Ryanhowl.
“It would be a shame if the core power source of the machine device were to disappear.”
Alex said that while looking at Terina.
Lubricants that make sophisticated machinery and parts work.
More important than all that was the power source core that made the machine itself move.
“That swordsmanship”
Terina, holding the Giant Killer, frowned at the swordplay Alex had just shown.
The swordsmanship that Alex demonstrated using the flow of power.
It was clearly the Tempest used by Luther Wardot.
“How on earth did you do that?”
“Why, you think I’m using this? I could have been taught by that old man.”
“That’s not something you can learn just because someone teaches you.”
“Well, that’s true. In reality, that old man isn’t the type of person to teach his swordsmanship to others.”
Alex smiled playfully, revealing his teeth.
“So I just stole it.”
Before Terina could even ask what it meant, she felt a strong pull as if she was being drawn to something dark.
A small change that can cause your posture to collapse in a moment.
Taking advantage of the gap, Alex’s sword aimed for her heart, but Terina skillfully regained control in the flow of power and swung the Giant Killer with a big swing to shake Alex off.
“How much do you think I’ve dealt with that swordsmanship? I know the destruction method well.”
“Wow, that’s amazing. I can’t believe he was able to shake off this much manpower with just his strength.”
Alex stabbed the floor with his sword.
It was just a light poking action, but the result was not like that.
Crunch! Crunch!
The ground began to twist into a spiral shape, as if it were a twisted doughnut.
All the members of the Nightcrawler Order were staggering.
The idea was to destroy the terrain itself to create a gap here.
“Where!”
Terina lifted the Giant Killer up and swung it with all her might.
The great sword that struck down as if to split the world apart struck the ground, and the great force split the earth in two.
The power of the vortex that Alex unleashed also suddenly stopped in the middle.
The ground split open with a huge impact and debris flew out.
Terina’s eyes followed Alex’s figure.
‘does not exist?’
He was not visible when he was supposed to be standing.
“Are you looking for me?”
The voice came from right behind me.
Alex, who had been hiding among the large debris of the ground flying in the air, appeared.
Terina quickly turned her body and swung her sword, but nothing caught her.
Only the poor fragments are cut off by the Giant Killer and disappear.
Terina’s gaze swept around, left and right, then turned upward.
Debris floating in the sky
Alex was stepping on the debris as if defying gravity and looking up at it from the other side.
Like a bat hanging from the ceiling.
Terina took up her stance to swing her sword again, but her body staggered slightly against the collapsing ground.
‘Are you aiming for this?’
In order to wield a greatsword like the Giant Killer, you naturally need the strength to back it up.
In particular, in order to perform this kind of swordsmanship, you had to firmly plant your feet on the ground.
The ground was now breaking and collapsing, so Terina’s sword was not properly powered.
Alex was aiming for just that.
Now is the time to act, as the other knights have no chance to interfere due to the collapsing ground.
Alex’s movements, kicking away the crumbling debris, were as free as a bird with wings.
At that moment, just as Alex’s sword was aiming for Terina’s neck, a dagger flew in from afar and struck Alex’s sword.
Kaang!
In the sparks flying through the air, Alex saw the dagger flying away after being hit by the sword.
It was a knife with a familiar design.
Alex’s eyes turned to a woman glaring at him through the dagger.
Enya and Alex’s eyes were entangled in the air.
It was only a moment, but it was more than enough time for Terina.
Terina immediately took a stance and swung her sword again at Alex.
A sword of immense power.
The wind pressure alone from swinging the sword was enough to pulverize nearby debris.
Since it was mixed with Aura, its power was like a natural disaster.
Of course, Alex had already retreated far enough.
Since the surprise attack failed, it was obvious that there would be a counterattack.
“Hmm, that’s not good.”
Alex lightly dusted off his clothes.
I just wasted the opportunity I had just created.
“You sold your eyes”
“Well, it can’t be helped”
Alex smiled and adjusted his grip on his sword.
This time, unlike before, I tried to confront it head on.
Terina frowned at the sight.
Even though you stole and learned Tempest, you still want to fight me head-on while holding the Giant Killer?
Terina’s doubts changed the moment she saw Alex’s weapon.
“Do you think you’re the only one with Gladius Arts?”
The shape of the sword Alex was holding had changed.
It has the exact same shape as the Giant Killer sword that Terina is holding.
And the stance Alex took with his sword was exactly the same as the stance Terina took.
As if looking into a mirror
“If you want to become a great calligrapher, you must first use good tools.”
Gladius Arts·
[copy cat]·
* * *
Pantos took up the harpoon.
The tendons on his forearm, which held the harpoon handle, squirmed like earthworms.
Just like that, the surrounding atmosphere started to shake and rumble.
It was natural that the water, which had reached up to the thighs, would sway accordingly.
John, the leader of Stella Siren, felt a chill run down his spine at the sight.
When was it that I felt a similar sense of crisis?
When you were a reckless 7 year old kid, you jumped into the ocean and came face to face with a great white shark?
Or when you were flirting with Terina’s friend, Elisa Willow, and got hit with a 6th-tier magic spell?
When did you have a big fight with Captain Luther recently?
All of this was a threat to the life of Johann Oceanus.
A new one has just been added to that list of dangers.
Chomp!
The sea is divided
Even though it is a pseudo-field created through aura, its properties are similar to the sea.
Even though it was an environment that was a natural threat to the Suin tribe, Pantos did not care.
Because the sea split left and right as if by some miracle, from the impact of his harpoon.
A harpoon with a huge anchor chain is flying in, aiming for that gap.
However, Reinhardt, who was waiting, struck the flying harpoon instead.
“Ugh·”
The power of the harpoon was so strong that even though he struck with a sword full of aura, Reinhard was pushed back.
It was Pantos who jumped high and grabbed the harpoon that was flying into the air.
Instead of just retrieving the harpoon, Pantos spun the anchor on the other side of the chain like a windmill and threw it at Johan.
It looks like a meteorite is falling.
“Is that really a Suin tribe?”
John muttered in a voice of disbelief and dodged the flying anchor.
* * *
As the fighting intensified in the first checkpoint city,
The remaining forces of the Crusade passed through the First Checkpoint and headed towards the Citadel of Galahad.
The plan was to finish off the Demon King as quickly as possible while the Imperial Knights were buying time.
But they couldn’t help but stop when they saw the huge tree spread out before their eyes.
“Why is this in front of the castle····”
A single tree that towers high as if it were piercing the sky.
It resembled the World Tree that I had only heard of.
