Chapter 17: Duel (2)

Energy particles.

The most basic unit constituting energy, the power created through heart methods.

And depending on the direction of the heart method, the properties or forms of the generated energy particles also differ.

In this novel’s world, there are countless heart methods, and the properties of energy derived from them are also varied.

Representatively, there is the ‘Heavenly Yang energy’ with a fiery hot nature like burning flames, and conversely the ‘Extreme Yin energy’ cold like ice.

In contrast, the forms of energy particles are largely similar regardless of the heart method, and it is known that over 90% of heart methods on the continent generate ring-shaped particles.

The reason is simple: ring shapes are easy to clump or link at the user’s will.

Linking countless ring-shaped energy particles like chain mail to cover the whole body is called Energy Armor, and wrapping it around a held weapon is called Energy Sword.

Ring shapes have the advantage of easily deploying advanced applications like this.

And the Resonance Shatter Art of the Alsigima Style, which Reverse Veins possessors can learn, can be called the natural enemy of such techniques.

The principle of shatter art is simple.

Using the ultra-vibration unique to ‘vibrational energy’, it forcibly resonates the opponent’s energy upon contact.

Then, the opponent’s energy particles, stimulated to their limit in an instant, self-collapse.

Even ironclad Energy Armor is ultimately made by linking countless tiny energy particles, so it has no choice but to shatter upon contact with Resonance Shatter Art.

In short, Reverse Veins users who enter the Alsigima Style can perform defense-ignoring attacks.

Whether ambushing or whatever, just landing one proper shatter art hit allows dealing critical damage even to much stronger opponents.

My master Estriel Mirvana showing quite threatening performance against enemies over 10 levels higher in the latter half of the original novel was purely thanks to this secret art.

“Yielding the first move against the Alsigima Style— is there anything stupider than that?”

I sneered and looked at Julio embedded in the wall.

“Urgh…”

Julio’s body was already battered, yet he still exerted superhuman mental strength and didn’t drop his wooden sword.

He used the sword to prop himself up and slowly rose.

His eyes were hazy, as if he had no idea what just happened.

As expected, with my current skill, one Vileshaker couldn’t finish him.

But well.

It was clear I had the upper hand.

“Cough!”

Julio, barely regulating his breathing, spat blood on the floor again.

After taking Vileshaker, the energy in the body becomes unstable and shakes for a while.

By now, his energy veins must be raging as if about to burst any moment.

I charged at the staggering Julio and swung my wooden sword.

“Grit!”

Clack!

Surprisingly, even with his insides churning, he somehow raised his sword and deflected my attack.

But he was merely struggling to respond strike by strike; the confidence from right before the duel start was nowhere.

Thwack!

The wooden sword in my hand felt lighter than ever.

I scattered sword strikes quickly but calmly, gradually cornering Julio.

***

Julio gritted his teeth.

Damn, what the hell is this………

Cold sweat poured down his cheeks like rain.

On his face, exchanging blows with the second prince famous as a wastrel, confusion and shock mixed complexly.

Because,

Clack!

Every time he clashed wooden swords with Aiden,

Thud!

Not only did his energy veins sting like pricked by needles,

Clack! Clack!

But a churning as if his organs were twisting followed.

“Urp…”

Julio bit his dry lips to hold back the urge to vomit.

Then a tangy blood smell lingered in his mouth.

Prince Aiden..! What sorcery did he use to tear Energy Armor like paper and shake my internals this much!

No leisure to ponder slowly.

Dragging time anyway meant his defeat.

So end it in one go.

Give Aiden maximum humiliation, hide skill from the audience as much as possible—seems he received some order from the grand prince, but current Julio had no judgment to consider such.

He drew out a large amount of intense energy circulating in his body.

And poured it all into the wooden sword in his hand.

Blue light dwelt on the sword.

A technique called Energy Sword.

“Khaaaap!”

Julio, using Energy Sword, thrust the wooden sword with a resounding shout.

A swift strike hard to even chase the afterimage!

But Aiden displayed steps mystical enough to bewilder onlookers, sliding to evade that desperate strike by a hair.

Immediately after, he aimed at Julio’s opening and swung a sword loaded with vibrational energy.

Crack!

Julio extended his wooden sword to block the attack, but Aiden’s lightly thrust strike easily shattered the Energy Sword, symbol of elite knights, broke the wooden sword lightly, and lodged into Julio’s face.

“Cough!”

Julio’s body flew through the air and crashed face-down on the training ground floor.

***

The nobles, witnessing a scene far from their expectations, were speechless.

“This much of a prodigy? The second son of the Stroke grand duke family, famous as a wastrel?”

Whether appearance or swordsmanship skill, Aiden Stroke was far from rumors.

Some nobles who only knew Aiden through stories and had no acquaintance seriously doubted if the wastrel rumors were all false, while those well aware of Aiden also showed serious confusion.

In such atmosphere, some were excitedly detached, none other than the knights who shed blood and sweat with Aiden in the second training ground.

“Prince Aiden has cornered Sir Bass!”

“Ooooooh!”

As the duel continued, an unprecedented event poured more oil on this chaotic atmosphere.

Flash!

Julio, unilaterally pushed by Aiden’s continued offense.

Suddenly, dazzling blue light dwelt on his wooden sword.

Some jumped from their seats.

“Th-that… it’s Energy Sword?!”

“Good heavens! Is Julio Bass really a regular knight?”

Energy particles lose transparency the moment they distance from the body.

Energy Armor stays close to the user’s body, so particles maintain transparency, making it hard to notice usage without good eyes.

But Energy Sword, mainly infusing energy into weapons, is different.

The moment used, blinding light emits from the blade tip, immediately recognizable.

Just like now.

The important point is that those who can use Energy Armor and Energy Sword are treated as elite knights anywhere on the continent.

“In short, Aiden Stroke has been pushing an elite knight-level martial artist until now…?”

“Amazing. Achieving that in just over four months of holding a sword—if so, isn’t he a genius surpassing Continent’s Twelve Heroes Lord Ebel Stroke?”

Continent’s Twelve Heroes, hailed as the greatest martial artists on the current continent.

For power-sensitive nobles, the weight of that name is never light.

They began watching Aiden in a different sense from before.

Soon Aiden unleashed a bold strike, sending Julio flying, and the referee declared his victory in a daze.

“Wi-winner. Aiden Stroke.”

The training ground fell silent.

But that was momentary.

Clap, clap clap—

Where did the applause start? At first, only faint clapping sounded.

It gradually spread sideways, soon encompassing the entire audience seats.

Clap clap clap clap clap clap clap!

A high-level duel unimaginable when first receiving invitations.

An unexpected situation, but a duel worthy of applause.

“This is, what on earth…”

The host of this event and heir to the grand duke, Litton, watched the sequence with a dazed expression.

“This isn’t even funny…!!”

He glared alternately at Aiden standing alone in the arena and the fallen Julio with bloodshot eyes.

Suddenly raising veins, he shouted.

“What the hell are you doing, Julio! Enough joking—get up already!”

“…Calm down, grand prince.”

Feeling nobles’ stares, Reichardt advised Litton.

Showing emotion in such a public place is bad.

“Let go, Sir Reichardt!”

“Grand prince!”

But Litton roughly shook off his aide’s hand and ran toward the stage.

As he crossed the audience seats greatly excited, someone placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t you know shame? Maintain dignity as the legitimate heir of the grand duke, Litton Stroke.”

“Which bastard blocks my…!”

Litton, turning in annoyance, soon paled and shut his mouth.

There stood an opponent even he couldn’t treat lightly.

“Gr-great-uncle…”

Continent’s Twelve Heroes, Ebel Stroke.

“Aiden won the duel against Julio Bass.

Yet you don’t seem very happy that your brother achieved victory?”

“That is…”

Litton, opening and closing his mouth to excuse, finally grasped his situation.

Nobles from the kingdom and duchy in the VIP seats watched him and Ebel with interest.

Among those gazes were the Utland duke family’s father-daughter.

Chesa stared blankly at him, then soon lost interest and shifted gaze back to Aiden in the arena.

Chills ran down his spine.

Failing to control emotions here—he nearly suffered great humiliation.

Ebel said to him.

“Return to your seat immediately.

Or do you plan to rush the stage and do something?”

“…No. I’m sorry.”

Litton’s shoulders slumped.

Few paid attention to him quietly returning to his seat, retracting anger.

Instead, monopolizing the audience’s gazes was the grand duke’s second son, called a wastrel just four months ago and despised.

Ebel, quietly watching Litton return, also shifted gaze to Aiden.

“…Never imagined that kid Aiden hid such qualities.

Would have been good to notice earlier.”

He expressed deep regret.

In fact, even hearing from nephew Foden that Aiden changed, he didn’t expect much.

He had observed Foden’s children long-term and concluded none but third son Riddle had potential to succeed as knights.

Still, planning to take as direct disciple if basics were there out of blood ties, but unexpectedly found a gem.

Did his mother’s blood suddenly manifest, or is it a pure genius born from Stroke lineage.

Recalling Foden’s deceased wife, Ebel furrowed brows.

*That strange technique shattering Julio’s Energy Armor in one go is also concerning.

Just what art did he master where?*

Interested in countless martial arts across the continent, Ebel saw such unique breathing and meridian for the first time.

Well, can just ask the person himself eventually.

“Family meal time is something to look forward to.”