Chapter 172: Clash Of Monsters

Those whom Rayrn was welcoming were the members of the Teas tribe. Originally active in the southern part of the Maite Kingdom, were they not one of the three great tribes?

The two tribes had agreed to bring down Hamira, but the situation had only been stagnant. Under those circumstances, it was only natural for each side to have differing opinions.

Like the Bifs attacking Yound Barony, the Teas tribe also wanted to launch a solo attack. However.

“The front line can’t be pushed back any further, can it?”

The problem was the front line formed with Count Hamira.

If the Teas tribe pulled out from the front line centered on the southern part of the county, the result was obvious. The Maite Kingdom would be pushed back.

For them, who had nearly captured the Teas tribe, that was also a painful matter. Pushing the Teas tribe this far was already a great harvest.

All they needed was to drive the wedge in a little more.

But retreating? That was nonsense.

However, staying in this state was also a problem.

That was why the Teas Tribal Chief stepped forward.

“Then we’ll use other available forces.”

“Huh? So you’ve been hiding your strength all this time?”

“Aren’t you the same?”

“Hehe, isn’t that the case for everyone?”

Each side had been concealing their military power from the other.

In that situation, the Teas tribe was simply taking the lead to reveal their hidden strength.

‘That’s all there is to it. It’s about time to reveal it anyway.’

The unbalanced equilibrium had lasted too long.

If all three tribes had used their full strength, the situation would have been different.

No matter how skilled Count Hamira was, he would have already been destroyed.

Because the power of the three tribes was absolutely greater than the power of a mere earldom.

Outsiders thought the strength of the three great tribes was equivalent to that of an earldom in the Kingdom of Malexia.

‘It’s different.’

In reality, it was different.

Those who called themselves warriors had not been idle. Moreover.

‘Now it’s even surpassed that.’

The Teas tribe clearly possessed power beyond what others knew.

For instance, they had what could be called trump cards, and even higher-dimensional power.

“Well, fine. Good. As long as you step up like that.”

The Atid Tribal Chief from the North, laughing mockingly, was surely the same.

They too had not revealed all their power. They must have power they hadn’t even shown the Teas tribe.

‘That’s always the problem with the Maite Kingdom.’

He didn’t even expect all the tribes to unite.

But many believed that if the three great tribes alone combined their strength, the Maite Kingdom could rise to match Malexia.

Because it was obvious that one united entity was better than three divided ones.

But it never happened.

‘It’s been a long time since the Great Duel was held.’

The king was not being elected, and few stepped forward to claim the right to become king.

There were three ways to obtain the right to become king: resolve a crisis facing the entire Maite Kingdom, become the chief of a great tribe, or possess absolute martial prowess.

Many had forgotten the ways passed down from the old Maite Kingdom army and no longer used them. But.

‘Soon. Once this battlefield is over…’

The Teas Tribal Chief was already thinking of a way to bring the forgotten practice back.

A way for the three tribes to combine their strength again.

But first, priority was to crush Count Hamira, who was barely holding on with all his might!

Thus, he had simply drawn his sword.

“If the Teas tribe steps up like that, I suppose I’ll have to start pushing the Count too.”

“Is that possible?”

“Hehe, just watch. You’ll see if it’s possible.”

The Atid Tribal Chief, as if unwilling to lose, also brought out his hidden strength.

‘It’s not the worst.’

Since the Teas tribe had drawn their sword, he would do the same.

‘Not bad.’

Since both tribes had revealed one hidden blade each, what remained was.

“Let’s pierce Count Hamira’s heart next.”

“We’ll see who pierces it first.”

“Such ambition. Then I’ll make the first move.”

It was to destroy the thin wall blocking them—Count Hamira.

Count Hamira, called the mediator of the battlefield.

‘I’ll tear him apart so he can’t even mediate.’

If they could bring him down completely, what would be revealed behind him was the rich southern region of Malexia.

If they could obtain that land, so different from the barren Maite Kingdom, or at least strike it to trouble Malexia for several years.

‘It will be mine.’

The Teas tribe was confident they could gain power in the meantime.

‘I wonder how far he’ll go. Hmm…’

The Atid Tribal Chief, watching him, gave an unreadable look and left the tent.

That was a while ago.

Having drawn their swords, they moved to crush Hamira from the west.

“Has Count Hamira seen this far?”

At the western fortress, there were already people waiting for them.

What had happened to Hayok, which they thought they could pass through easily?

“High. At this rate, it will be difficult to hand over Hayok to the Tribal Chief before he arrives.”

Aphin, known for his excessive composure, swallowed a groan.

Unlike the bellicose Maite Kingdom people, he had a deep eye for assessing the surrounding situation. Perhaps for that reason, the Teas Tribal Chief employed him in an important role.

Even though his martial prowess was somewhat lacking, he had been sent as the commander of the Hayok fortress battle.

But still, the Tribal Chief knew Aphin’s composure and somewhat weak aggression.

“The situation has only changed a little. That thing is all empty inside!”

“Is that so?”

“It’s absurd to build a fortress now. It’s all just a facade.”

“Hmm…”

‘That might be true. Still, let’s check.’

“Then I’ll go and check!”

“Oh? You will?”

“Yes!”

The Tribal Chief had assigned him adjutants who were relatively aggressive within the tribe.

Because they had the aggression that Aphin lacked, they worked quite well together.

‘Good!’

Aphin just needed to handle those aggressive ones well.

Aphin’s job was to coordinate not only the adjutants but also those waiting behind them.

Aphin thought.

‘At first, it’s right to give the chance to the adjutants.’

Let’s give an opportunity to the adjutant who had followed him for so long!

“Then will you go and see?”

“Of course!”

Aggression didn’t just go away.

As soon as the adjutant heard Aphin’s words, he started running off.

“I’ll show you right away that it’s a scarecrow! Hah! Tribesmen, follow me!”

BAM!

The moment he clashed the huge swords in both hands.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG.

From behind the adjutant, the sound of clashing huge swords rang out in succession.

A total of fifty soldiers.

They were the soldiers allotted to one adjutant, a unit tailored to each adjutant’s personality.

One might think only fifty, but those here knew their power.

Those here were one of the swords of the Teas tribe.

They were swords with more hidden power than revealed power. So even after sending these fifty.

“I’m entrusting it to you!”

Aphin was not uneasy.

CLANG!

Every time they clashed swords and sparks flew.

“Huh, huh…”

He washed away his unease.

‘Come to think of it… where did a fortress suddenly come from? It’s all just a bluff.’

He felt relieved.

But.

“There are enemies over there!”

“Oh, I’ll go catch them!”

After the adjutant faced the enemy, in just a few minutes, no, a few seconds.

“Kuaaaaagh!”

The moment he screamed and lost one arm.

“Huh!”

Even Aphin had no choice but to open his eyes wide.

BOOM!

Hoden, who was guarding the forefront, kicked off the ground.

‘I was told to crush them overwhelmingly.’

He was told that the stage would be set, so he should cut with all his strength.

Not as a mere mercenary.

As a loyal subordinate of Rayrn, in the name of reinforcements and as the vanguard of Opern, he was told to cut everything.

Wasn’t this the perfect stage?

To properly reveal his name.

“I’ll take the remaining arm too.”

He kicked off and thrust his sword.

“Ugh!”

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

BOOM!

The two swords clashed.

“Hmm…”

“Hmm…”

They each felt the other’s strength.

Was it just luck that he cut off one arm?

‘What? Aura…’

The one blocking his sword with his remaining arm was by no means weak.

But.

‘…Still weak. Compared to my lord, I mean.’

Hoden was someone who had swung his sword unceasingly against strong opponents.

Thud.

If not with a sword, then with his body. If not with his body, then with his mouth, he was someone who could bite and take down his opponent.

He was one who had not mastered a polished sword, but had learned the War Sword of the battlefield to reach his current state!

Pulling back from the clashing swords.

He put power into his internal energy, created a recoil, and then.

“Kuaaaah!”

Hoden kicked with his well-trained foot.

The form might have been somewhat comical, but his trained foot shook the opponent’s entire internal organs.

That was the beginning.

“Let’s play!”

As if displeased that someone had blocked his sword twice.

Whoosh!

He summoned his aura and danced a dance.

It was a massacre performed with the War Sword.

CLANG.

When he deflected a sword.

“Kuh…”

There was no one to take it.

SLASH!

Those who dared to try to take his sword.

“What! Power! Kuaaaaah!”

Were cut down as they were.

It was the same aura. It could cut anything, and was a weapon that could block each other.

But the level was different.

Even those who barely blocked.

They tried to block by summoning their aura, but couldn’t withstand a few exchanges and collapsed.

As the vanguard.

As the subordinate of the lord who led the front, it was a performance without flaw.

CLANG, CLANG.

Deflecting, cutting, swinging swords.

Creating a single painting, he cut down fifty soldiers. In the midst of the well-trained fifty, only Hoden moved freely.

That was when.

“Hm!?”

Instinct. Something touched Hoden’s senses, honed from the battlefield’s sixth sense.

Swoosh!

Something was coming, cutting through the air.

It was a spear.

“Huh?”

A long, sleek, extremely thin spear. But because of the intense power contained within, the spear did not look like a shabby, thin spear.

Above all, it looked like a thick, massive spear. The aura within possessed that kind of power.

‘Dodge? No, it’s too late. Then…’

He had to block the spear.

There would be some damage. The spear, thrown suddenly, had that much power.

“Hmph.”

He had intended to show a good blow.

He had almost cut down half of them, but who knew a suddenly flying spear would interrupt his stage?

Hoden frowned in displeasure but still roused his energy.

He drew out the power rising from his dantian, swung his sword around to finish off any who dared interfere, and tried to block the spearhead.

CRAAAASH!

For a moment, it seemed he had successfully blocked the spear. If he just cut it like this, he could split the energy in the spear in half.

But!

“Krrrrgh.”

The grip of his hand holding the sword to block the spear felt like it was tearing.

‘I’ll lose it. I can’t lose it.’

If he lost his sword, all that remained might be an empty death.

Or he might take the opponent’s sword and use it. That was what the War Sword was.

But.

‘That spear…’

If that massive energy came flying again, could he block it?

‘Damn it.’

Whoosh!

At that moment, the massive energy was thrown once again. From within the ranks of the Teas tribe!