Chapter 71: The Mad Genius of the West

Of course, I’m strong even without the Communication Rod.

Abel Carius’s transcendent martial prowess isn’t bound by something as trivial as a weapon.

“Grrrrk!”

The knight captain, eyes rolled back in his head, collapsed slowly.

The bewildered shouts of the knights echoed through the forest.

They clearly hadn’t expected their leader to go down in a single blow.

“This isn’t the time to worry about others, is it?”

I charged at them like the wind.

Tatatat! Swoosh—!

Sharp counterattacks soon followed.

As expected from the imperial knights— their coordination was impeccable.

They set aside their shock and instantly shifted into combat mode.

But the problem was that their opponent was me.

I spun half a turn in midair and slammed a kick down onto a knight’s helmet.

Thuuung!

“Huuuk?”

A body of flesh and bone collided with a massive hunk of metal.

Yet the result completely defied everyone’s expectations.

The helmet caved in, and the knight’s body flew through the air.

“What the hell kind of nonsense!”

“Why wouldn’t it make sense? It’s happening right in front of your eyes.”

I immediately moved toward the next prey.

But right then.

Zzzzt!

A stinging sensation hit near my chest.

It wasn’t from an enemy’s attack, but from an overwhelming sense of crisis that hit me in an instant.

Like if I charged in blindly, I’d be in serious trouble?

So, I instinctively pulled back.

Woooong! Shwiiish—!

“Ugh!”

An ominous vibration rang out, and a blue streak of light grazed past my eyes. As I jerked my head back, it shot forward with enough force to tear through space.

‘What is this?’

It wasn’t something the knights I’d been facing could produce.

I could gauge their level with just a glance.

The skill gap was simply too wide.

Soon, someone emerged from the bushes.

Probably the owner of that strike.

“Impressive as expected. Worthy of being called the Berserker of the North.”

“And you are?”

“You haven’t been to the west much, but surely you know me.”

“Who are you again?”

I tilted my head and blinked.

It wasn’t to mock him—I genuinely didn’t know.

Human memory isn’t always precise.

Especially things you don’t recall often tend to fade away.

I’d absorbed most of Abel’s memories, but I couldn’t place this guy.

‘He does look familiar, though?’

Slender build, tall stature, softly curling blond hair.

A mischievous expression and mysterious green eyes.

Plus that fluttering red cape…….

Wait, there’s no wind—why is it flapping like that?

“Oh! Quite the crazy bastard, huh? Just like someone who’s calm even when their charge is in danger.”

I vented my frustration toward someone who hadn’t shown their face.

Then, a dark figure suddenly appeared from the shadows.

“I’m not crazy enough to shake my own cape by hand.”

“As a Black Agent, how are you less useful than Shugl?”

“Eh? Me? I’ve been putting in all sorts of effort in the shadows, and you don’t even recognize my hard work……. Sniff!”

“Drop the ill-fitting act and just tell me who this guy is.”

“You really don’t know? He’s the vice legion commander of the Western 1st Legion……. No, the madman?”

After hearing Cordell McNeil’s explanation, I finally recalled who he was.

Trevor Warren, vice legion commander of the Western 1st Legion.

He’d risen to a high position at a young age due to his exceptional skill, but he was a controversial figure.

The talk was that his eccentricity didn’t fit the military.

‘Let’s see just how weird he is.’

<Person Information>

Name: Trevor Warren

Status: Heir to a count’s house

Position: Vice Legion Commander (Western 1st Legion)

Relationship: No acquaintance

Condition: The solitude of a genius, strong competitive spirit toward the Berserker of the North, no interest in military duties.

Skill: Transcendent Aura Talent

Overall Ability: S-

His antics screamed madman, but his stats were astonishing.

‘Transcendent Aura Talent and S-? Incredible for his age.’

By looks alone, he was mid-20s at best.

To have pioneered the aura realm to that extent and risen to vice legion commander?

If he showed a bit more interest in military work, he could have been the youngest legion commander…….

Ah, that might be tough.

Why not, when he’s so skilled?

‘Because Abel Carius already set the record as the youngest legion commander at 18.’

That might be why he felt competitive toward the Berserker of the North.

He’d snatched an achievement that could have been his.

Anyway, that’s none of my business.

“The madman of the Western 1st Legion……. No, what brings the vice legion commander here? Getting involved in this petty scheme.”

“Ah, this? The emperor faction nobles asked me to rough them up a bit. They even gifted me this fine sword.”

Whoosh!

Trevor lightly swung a well-balanced sword.

It was a simple motion, but it carried heavy momentum.

Signifying just how extraordinary his skill was.

‘But what? He just bites at whatever the emperor faction nobles dangle?’

He seemed even crazier than I’d thought.

And he was casually revealing his backers.

Why would anyone not stupid do that?

I couldn’t understand it at all.

“So, what’s your goal here?”

I didn’t ask for reasons.

A guy who lives by his whims wouldn’t have any.

Better to just ask for the purpose cleanly.

Then Trevor Warren clutched his stomach and cackled.

“Kukukuk! You’re as entertaining as I thought.”

“Why do you think that?”

“You’re the first to ask me that. Everyone else just yells ‘why’ at me.”

Makes sense.

Who’d bother reasoning with a guy one step from genius to lunatic.

They’d either avoid him or try to use him.

Just like now.

“I still haven’t heard your answer.”

“Honestly, I don’t care what those emperor faction bastards want. You were my goal from the start.”

“Surely not to test your strength against mine?”

“Why do you think that?”

Trevor suddenly hardened his expression and asked.

My words must have pressed some button in his mind.

‘Oh? So that’s his sore spot?’

I let out a smirk and replied nonchalantly.

“Isn’t it obvious? You wouldn’t charge in knowing you’d lose.”

“That implies you’re stronger than me?”

“Why? Does it seem otherwise?”

Grit—!

We were about 7 meters apart, but I could hear his teeth grinding from here.

Trevor Warren tossed aside his ornately decorated sword.

The very fine blade the emperor faction nobles had given him.

Clang!

Then he drew a worn sword from his waist.

It looked plain, but it was impeccably maintained.

“We’ll know once we cross blades. Let’s settle it here. Who’s the empire’s top fighter.”

By now, Trevor’s tone had changed.

He’d tossed courtesy to the dogs.

‘Yeah. That’s the kind of attitude that earns you the madman label.’

Think about it logically.

He’s just the heir to a count’s house, while I’m the emperor’s cousin and a duke.

The gap in status and authority is enormous.

Yet he acts like this?

Only a true madman could pull off such words and deeds.

Like that Skyler Sierre guy, for example.

“Is this a formal duel?”

“No need for witnesses in a man’s fight. Just kill or be killed.”

“Ah, sure, sure. As you wish.”

“Come at me!”

Tatatatat!

The battle started absurdly.

He yelled for me to come, but he charged first.

Just how twisted does your thinking have to be to act like that?

It was utterly baffling, but I couldn’t just laugh it off.

Unlike his idiotic appearance, this guy’s skill was the real deal.

Shwoooong!

The blue aura tearing through the air was a spectacle.

A 3-meter streak of light assaulted without gaps.

It’d be terrifying even swung wildly, but the swordsmanship was highly refined.

No wonder he’d claimed the vice legion commander spot in his mid-20s.

He must have crushed his superiors with sheer ability—who’d listen to them otherwise.

I immediately drew the Communication Rod and countered his attack.

[Beast’s Heart Activation]

Tststststs!

Crimson energy poured out like a fire dragon, blocking the aura.

Then Trevor sharply twisted his wrist, changing his sword path nearly at a right angle.

To pull off such a move mid-swing.

It was an unbelievable feat, even seeing it with my own eyes.

The aura, now wriggling like a snake, aimed for my left side.

Claaang!

It looked like a sure hit, but of course, it failed.

Once I’d read it, there was no way I’d get hit.

But a strange unease crept in.

‘His confidence is growing?’

Trevor retreated once, then charged again.

And it was the same technique.

An absurd redirection mid-full-power swing.

I’d seen it just once, but it was already familiar.

So I lightly deflected it and prepared to counter.

Right at that moment.

Incredibly, a change occurred.

Pukang—!

‘This crazy bastard!’

The side-aiming strike bent again, surging toward my armpit.

If I hadn’t twisted my body with all my might, I’d have taken a fatal wound.

They called him the once-in-a-generation genius of House Warren, and his skill was genuine.

‘His confidence grew again.’

His movements became even lighter.

Normally a wastrel, but right now, he was no exaggeration to call a god of war.

Clang! Kakang!

I fended off all of Trevor’s persistent attacks.

But this was just bait.

The real one would come in a decisive instant.

I instinctively knew that moment was approaching.

‘I could break him with Destructive Retribution.’

But that skill had no ‘moderation’ option.

To control it perfectly, I’d need to improve the system functions further.

I couldn’t kill one of the empire’s top talents.

That’d be a national loss.

‘Only one way, then. Give flesh to take bone.’

Of course, the flesh I’d give was insanely tough, not easily pierced.

I flashed a meaningful smile and activated the skill.

[Extreme Choice Activation]

No need to let time pass for auto-selection this time.

I knew exactly what to do.

[Selection ‘Defense’]

[You enter ‘Water Fist’ state.]

This would drop my attack power to half or less, but my defense would be world-class.

I ignored the sharply bending incoming aura and hurled my body forward.

Kwachang!