༺ A Far Away Tale. The Sword And The Spear – Finale ༻
“Good. Good. Very good.”
Patraxion, holding a spear broken in half, quickly got up. Having rolled on the ground several times, his body was covered in dirt and dust.
Yet, his face was filled with a pure smile, like that of a child, unable to contain his joy.
“This feeling…It’s been a while. Sense is lacking compared to the power of the weapon, but that’s something you can learn over time. I am really…really pleased. Sense can be honed, but such strength is not easily acquired, after all.”
Looking at the half-broken spear shaft, Patraxion combined the two pieces. His Qi seeped through the break, binding it more firmly.
Those whose Qi Arts was stronger than steel could turn even straw into a weapon. Even though a weapon that wasn’t even a relic broke, there was no loss in the Sunderspear’s power.
No, on the contrary…
“Since you used a technique, I shall show you my Peerless Technique as well.”
Patraxion spun the spear shaft.
When he did so, it whirled like a windmill with its broken middle as the node; it was more like an iron club than a spear.
The broken spear precariously shook around the axis of the node that was created.
This half-splintered weapon looked more dangerous than ever.
“The spear is straight and rigid. It draws a simple line to take the enemy’s life. However, people should be soft and flexible. Strength comes from softness, after all.”
In the past, Patraxion went through 100 duels and was left in tatters.
At the boundary between life and death, he walked to the Royal Castle, holding a blood-stained spear. At the gates, the Guardian, the kingdom’s last defense, stood like a mountain blocking his way.
The Guardian, known as the strongest of the era, was more formidable than anyone else. With a swing of his spear, mountains split and the earth was swept away. Patraxion caught in this storm, was thrown to the ground, rolling several times. His spear split in half, his armor shattered miserably, and it seemed like the giant halberd would take his life at any moment.
In his gradually blurring vision, Patraxion swung his broken, dangling spear. Then suddenly, he saw the tip of his spear move faster than ever before.
“Straight lines are short. But not always the fastest. After all, we have this body and stand on this earth. That is why the fastest trajectory draws a curve close to a circle.”
Back then, though only a brief moment, Patraxion touched the Axiom. He couldn’t fully grasp it and was only able to skim it with the tips of his fingers.
But that was enough to take the life of the Guardian.
“Take this.”
“…Tch!”
Shei drew out Jizan and used Earthweave to flip the ground.
Spikes of rock erupted like bamboo shoots. The earth became a massive wall, blocking Patraxion. The elongated Chun-aeng fell upon the ground which was utterly shattered in all directions, as if some giant had played with dirt.
However, Patraxion avoided all of it with his peculiar steps.
He gently rode the waves of the earth, dodging the falling slashes from the sky by a paper-thin margin.
As he detected attacks with Qi Sense…
And pushed and pulled the ground naturally…
This person, who had reached the realm in which he was capable of controlling his whole body at will…
Unfolded an acrobatic movement that narrowly dodged death, as if walking on the edge of a knife.
Just like that, he jumped over all obstacles and when he finally got within the range where his spear could touch the opponent, the Sunderspear held the weapon split in half with both hands. Like a leaf fluttering in the wind, the tip of the spear trembled softly.
In a space where the earth surged like a wave and the heavens crumbled, Patraxion unleashed the Peerless Technique that was connected to his life itself.
The half-broken spear drew its trajectory.
It was a curve utterly close to a straight line.
From his legs…
Waist…
Shoulder…
Arms…
Hands….
To the node of the split spear shaft….
A tremendous amount of experience was infused in every inch, shooting out power from all these spots.
This was the Axiom that the Sunderspear was enlightened to.
It drew a straight line, but was ultimately the sum of numerous curves existing in his spear and body.
It was inescapable.
It was unblockable.
A trajectory that had touched the Axiom swept past Jizan and targeted Shei’s face. The straight line he drew was one of the few correct answers the tool called the spear could receive from this world.
This was the secret technique that gave the Sunderspear his name.
The only way to counter it was…
“Chun-aeng!”
To contort space itself.
Chun-aeng’s power was unleashed to the fullest extent. The Arcane slid through that gap, swelling the space.
The Sunderspear’s Peerless Technique, which had never been blocked nor deflected, narrowly missed Shei’s ear. Her cut black hair scattered into the darkness.
“Hm. I meant to scratch the skin.”
A conspicuous brilliance circled in Patraxion’s eyes. He had originally aimed the trajectory to slightly graze the cheek, but it deviated much further than expected.
At the center of this was Shei, wielding an invisible sword, but that wasn’t all there was to it.
“You’re quite sensitive, it seems. Your weapon is good and so is your ability. Especially in terms of defense.”
The two, as if by agreement, put some distance between them. Shei muttered with an extremely displeased face.
“…You went easy on me.”
“It’s common in a confrontation. Besides, wasn’t that the case for both of us?”
Neither had used their full power. Perhaps, they had just exchanged one technique each.
Yet, Shei was dissatisfied with the outcome. While it wasn’t impossible to win, she felt overwhelmed by the fight itself.
“I see why you appear weak. The Qi Arts you’ve mastered is extremely defense-oriented.”
That was true for Patraxion as well, who had been fighting weapon against weapon with her just moments ago. He spoke, resting the half-broken spear on his shoulder.
“The countermeasure was perfect. You were able to follow all my attacks. Moreover, you even reacted somewhat to the Peerless Technique you had seen for the first time today. Impressive. However, as you know, defense alone can’t win.”
“…I know!”
“Reworking one’s Qi Arts is extremely difficult. You’ll need to devise your own methods for that.”
Heavenly Counter Domain was the ultimate Defensive Qi Arts.
At the same time, that meant the capability of attack fell far short of it.
Thanks to recalling and embodying her experiences from past regressions, Shei’s abilities to survive and respond with countermeasures increased with each cycle. It allowed her to see more and do more.
However, at no point did Shei ever overpower an enemy of a similar level.
“It seems like it’s too much for you alone. Seeing that not much has changed even after entering the Abyss.”
Shei’s abilities were mostly due to Heavenly Counter Domain. She had observed attacks while dying and overcame them one by one in the next round.
However, compared to the increasingly proficient Heavenly Counter Domain…
Her attacks still relied on simple force.
“Become a general officer. As my disciple, no. As my equal, I shall give you insight. You can gain experience and I can introduce you to other powerhouses. It’ll be helpful.”
Even with the offer from the Sunderspear, Shei felt no joy in being recognized.
That was because she had already experienced it in a previous round.
When Shei was roaming the Military State to gather information about the Abyss, she had once received instruction from the Sunderspear.
At that time, Shei didn’t disguise herself as a man. She knew the Sunderspear dearly loved his daughter and was generous to children of her age.
However, the Sunderspear was excessively generous to Shei back then. He strongly opposed Shei going to Tantalus, causing a lot of time to be wasted.
And as Shei received his teaching…
Though it may be uncertain in terms of defense, what was certain was that Shei’s offense didn’t improve at all.
“…I’ll refuse.”
There was no need to ponder, having already experienced failure before. Patraxion clicked his tongue.
“Is that so? That’s a shame.”
“I don’t particularly feel that way.”
“What? Hey. This isn’t an opportunity that comes easily. Even just a few days ago, someone wanted to be taught by me.”
It was when the two had reached a brief lull, fixing the grip on their weapons.
“That’s enough.”
A faint voice came from the darkness. Black night, like ink scattered in the air, dispersed, and a silver-haired vampire walked forward confidently.
And in Tyrkanzyaka’s hand, there was a person dangling.
Patraxion’s eyes widened.
“Eh? Hey, Gand. What are you doing there?”
Colonel Gand, Patraxion’s disciple and adjutant, was caught by the scruff of his neck by Tyrkanzyaka while taking guard nearby. He struggled, unable to shake off the slender arm, and shouted.
“…I have…no excuse! But, Master, please step back! We cannot win against….! The Progenitor!”
“What?”
Patraxion saw the vampire’s hand and quickly realized what had happened.
Tyrkanzyaka’s right arm, from the palm to the elbow, was pierced by a spear. Surely the work of Gand.
However, to Tyrkanzyaka, a penetrating wound was as trivial as being pricked by a needle. Tyrkanzyaka, with her arm impaled, walked straight ahead, still grabbing Gand by the scruff.
“You are quite skilled. Not many have inflicted such damage on my body.”
Patraxion asked with an incredulous face.
“Wait, you don’t bleed even when stabbed?”
“Damn…it…! Run away! The compatibility is…!”
Though called the Sunderspear, the true essence was to draw a trajectory that pierced anything.
However, the Progenitor of Vampires was unkillable even when pierced.
Thus…
“You cannot kill me. It has always been so and it will continue to be so as well.”
Tyrkanzyaka murmured languidly.
It was not for no reason that she was called the Knight Killer. Tyrkanzyaka, being immortal and inexhaustible, was the natural enemy of knights, who wielded swords and spears.
Tyrkanzyaka pulled out the spear from her arm. During this process, not a single drop of blood flowed out of her body. Even a stick being pulled out of a mud doll would have been a more tragic scene than this.
Realizing the situation, Patraxion muttered.
“Wow. Wait a minute. Was it this severe? I guess it wasn’t for no reason that they ordered ‘Active Engagement Avoidance’.”
“I, too, wish you had done so. In the case you continue to resist, I’ll have to turn this fellow in my hand into my shadow.”
“Okay!”
Patraxion immediately threw away his broken spear. Simultaneously, Tyrkanzyaka also released Colonel Gand and he staggered back.
Patraxion playfully hit Gand in the head as he returned.
“Hey, why are you pointlessly messing around with her? If it seemed like you couldn’t win, you should have just let her pass after clashing adequately.”
“…I have nothing to say even if I had a hundred mouths.”
“Look at this fucker, losing his confidence. Do you understand now? Exactly how many strange things there are in the world?”
Meanwhile, Tyrkanzyaka, who had approached Shei, reprimanded her with somewhat cooled eyes.
“Just enjoy yourself moderately. We have a purpose to find Hu, don’t we? If you unluckily happened to die here, where would that leave me?”
“…I understand. I’m sorry.”
“Mm? You are so obedient for once. It is fine. I’ve seen many men build friendships in such ways.”
“…Men…”
“However, if something like this happens again, you must call me. After all, I missed quite a good spectacle…”
With that, the two sides headed in opposite directions as if nothing had happened.
The duel of the century had ended, but there was no audience. The events of today faded into oblivion, as the night in Falkaris came to a close.
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