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Sure enough, as soon as the tax collection delegation left, there was movement.
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Under the cover of a dark, moonless night, a group slipped out of the lord’s castle.
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They moved stealthily, but their trail was precisely captured by someone.
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Swish.
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A man emerged from the shadows.
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It was none other than Cordell McNeil, Black Agent of the Imperial Knights.
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“Tch! How did he predict this again? His insight is beyond comprehension.”
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Duke Abel Carius’s exceptional abilities were already legendary.
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From businesses that exploded in success at his touch to his consistently brilliant rulings.
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It even made one wonder if the rumors were trueโthat he was a god.
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“Come to think of it, this was practically a prophecy, wasn’t it?”
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That once the tax delegation left, someone would try to move the hidden funds.
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Those were Duke Carius’s words.
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They’d assume Viscount Toby Acword would confess quickly under torture.
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It made perfect sense when you thought about it.
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But to predict that and immediately decide to leave the sceneโthat decisiveness.
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None of the leaders Cordell knew were this outstanding.
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“Whoa? I’m gonna lose them at this rate.”
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While briefly thinking of Abel Carius, the group had already vanished into the forest.
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Even though it was the frontier, teeming with monsters, their movements showed no hesitation.
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Which meant this was a path they’d frequented enough to prove it safe.
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Cordell McNeil swiftly tailed them.
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Soon, they reached a cliff hidden among the bushes.
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“Nothing here but natural scenery…”
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As Cordell’s mutter suggested, this was just a dense forest.
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A place untouched by human feet, with an eerie atmosphere to boot. It wouldn’t be strange if undead monsters popped out.
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Yet the five figures in black robes vanished in an instant.
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They’d just been walking along the cliff, but it looked like they’d evaporated.
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“Whoa!”
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Even Cordell, skilled in espionage, couldn’t hide his shock.
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Their presence had been completely erased.
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But the bewilderment was fleeting.
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Whatever secret it was, he’d uncover it.
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Cordell McNeil scouted the cliff area.
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Then he noticed something odd.
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“Oh? So that’s how they made the secret entrance.”
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The trick was ingenious yet simple.
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A small hole covered by camouflage nettingโthat was the entrance.
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It slid inward like a cylindrical slide.
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The last person pulled a rope as they descended, covering the hole again.
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If he hadn’t seen them enter directly, it would have been extremely hard to spot.
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“Even if the netting was peeled back, it’d be tough to notice.”
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It’d look like a natural hole or an animal burrow.
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Without a moment’s hesitation, Cordell McNeil leaped in.
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He knew who they were and had found their hideoutโ no need to be cautious.
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From here, he’d just go in and crush them all…
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Slide! Thud!
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“Huh?”
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Cordell, having slid all the way in, wore a dumb expression.
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The brightly lit interior was filled with dozens of burly men waiting.
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All heavily armed.
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“As expected, a rat followed. Who are you?”
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“He’s gotta be from the tax delegation. I checked at the gate; they were one short.”
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“Crush the spy quick. We gotta move the goods first.”
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“Yeah, that’s the priority.”
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The clanking of armor grew closer by the second.
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But Cordell McNeil’s face remained utterly calm.
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No matter how elite they were, they couldn’t beat a knight trained in aura…
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Humm!
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Suddenly, blue streaks of light unfolded before his eyes.
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“Huh? This wasn’t in the plan?”
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The approaching ones were all emitting clear auras.
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At that level, they’d rank mid-to-upper in any capital knight order.
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Over thirty of them, with no escape route?
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In this tight space, victory seemed impossible.
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Even for a Black Agent of the Imperial Knights, it was too disadvantageous.
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But at that exact moment.
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Sliiiide!!
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Someone came sliding down the cylindrical chute.
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A figure in a black jacket, landing dramatically.
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It was Abel Carius, the mastermind of this operation.
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“Ooh! Your Grace, these bastards raided the vault. Crush them quick!”
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Cordell McNeil scampered over and quickly ratted out the enemies.
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I glanced back and shook my head.
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“Please act with some dignity. You’re with the Imperial Knights, after all.”
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“Who cares? I’m not stationed at the palace. Besides, this is my true self.”
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“Sigh!”
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How he hid that personality to join the Imperial Knights was beyond me.
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He was truly incomprehensible.
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“The duke? So this guy’s the head of that delegation.”
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“Perfect timing. We can cut off the root entirely.”
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“Did Toby Acword confess already?”
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“We’ll find out tomorrow. If so, eliminate him too.”
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They spat out terrifying words without hesitation.
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Not just obstructing a duke’s duties, but killing to silence?
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What kind of lunatics were these?
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They must be going all out since their secret’s exposed.
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Then I’d respond in kind.
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Time to show my skills after so long?
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Gripping the communication rod, a warm sensation climbed my arm.
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ใBeast’s Heart Activationใ
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Yes. This was it.
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My blood boiled with frenzy.
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I was the second most important person in the empire after the Emperor.
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Normally, I’d never get a chance at real combat.
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And my position was Chief Justice, no less.
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I couldn’t wield violence freely.
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Just look at the Yates Marquis case.
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But when the enemy clearly threatened, it was different.
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Retribution must be firm. But always within bounds.
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Beast’s Heart was a skill that turned one into a berserker instantly.
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One slip, and I could lose reason.
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After all I’d built, I’d never do something stupid like…
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Clang!
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“Oh?”
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This wasn’t something to handle lightly.
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The sharp sensation in my grip.
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I’d deflected four sword strikes at once, but the impact was greater than expected.
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It’s not just the aura quality. Their fundamental skill is excellent.
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There were such people sometimes.
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Talented in aura sensitivity but lacking real battle experienceโhothouse flowers.
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Noble heirs with knight titles.
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But these reeked of rough battlefields.
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The way they swiftly regained balance after clashing with the rod said it all.
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Footwork to dissipate impact. That’s not just from practice.
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Yet a question arose.
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Why were they raiding the lord’s assets?
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Marquis Yates wasn’t some middling noble.
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They’d get ample rewards without colluding with tax officials.
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“We’ll beat it out of them.”
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No need to overthinkโjust take them all down and interrogate.
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I tightened my grip on the rod.
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The crimson flames doubled in size, blazing fiercely.
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“Damn, it’s the northern berserker. He came himself? This is a headache.”
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Someone recognized me, grumbling.
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But the knights didn’t waver.
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They just steadied their stances, eyes gleaming.
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“Doesn’t matter whoโkill and erase. Operation start!”
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“Glory to Yates!”
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They closed the distance instantly, slashing swiftly.
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But the directions and speeds were unusual.
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Attacking with time delays, targeting different spots.
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This would make deflecting all tough.
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Aura-infused strikes carried heavy recoil.
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Prioritizing dangerous ones would leave my body bloodied everywhere.
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“Heh!”
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But I just smiled faintly.
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No intention of dodging.
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I could tank this bare-bodied.
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ใExtreme Choice Activationใ
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Humm!
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A heavy vibration, and two options appeared.
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Without hesitation, I picked one and dismissed the hologram.
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Time to focus on battle.
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ใChoice ‘Defense’ใ
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ใYou have entered ‘Water Punch’ state.ใ
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Bang! Bang! Bang!
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The skill activated, and a tremendous noise erupted.
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Like hammering iron plate madly.
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Seven slashes raked my body.
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Blue auras swept past, but not a scratch on me.
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And moreโI extended my left hand to grab the last attack.
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Crunch! Grind!
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“Th-This!”
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The knight twisted his wrist desperately.
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His face turned beet red, but the sword didn’t budge.
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I gifted him a fresh shock.
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Whooshโ!
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The rod smashed his temple, spinning his body in mid-air.
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The limp knight didn’t twitch.
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Knocked out in one blow.
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As expected, this works.
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Even with attack power halved, it wasn’t zero damage.
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Abel Carius was inherently strong.
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A precise strike always landed effectively.
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“Don’t waver. Stick to training!”
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“Yes!”
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“He’ll fall eventually. Keep pressing!”
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“Charge!”
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One down futilely, but their morale held.
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At the apparent commander’s shout, countless auras poured.
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Another precise linked assault unfolded.
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Bang! Bang! Bang!
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Regardless, I trusted Extreme Choice and pushed forward.
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But a movement pierced my sharpened senses.
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Clang!
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Instinctively swung rod sparked brightly.
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Ugh!
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I nearly groaned.
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The impact flowing up my arm was beyond imagination.
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An aura of different caliberโdense and slightly dark.
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Probably the commander’s strike.
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He seemed skilled, so I’d take him first.
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“Hmm?”
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Clang! Clang!
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This time, strikes targeted the rod.
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Crushing the enemy’s weapon was battle basics.
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But now, I couldn’t.
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They’d realized attacking my body was pointless.
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So they’d disarm me first.
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I somehow deflected them all, but my grip throbbed like tearing.
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Thanks to boosted defense from Extreme Choice, I was fine, but at this rate, I’d drop the rod…
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Claaang! Whoosh!
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“Oh, damn.”
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Bad omens never missโthe situation turned tricky.
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The commander hid in his allies’ gaps, then struck suddenly.
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Blocking it, the rod flew far away.
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Even superhumanly strong, I couldn’t beat such experts bare-handed.
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“Hehehe! Finally got rid of that damn hammer.”
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“Now’s the chance. Finish him!”
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The knights charged with fire in their eyes.
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“Your Grace! I’ll handle this. Run!”
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Cordell McNeil stepped forward from the side.
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As a bodyguard, he meant to sacrifice himself.
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But that was wrong from the start.
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There was no space to run here anyway.
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Guess I’ll fight bare-handed… Huh?
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Raising my arms for a boxing stance, a fallen knight’s weapon caught my eye.
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A well-maintained greatsword.
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Not familiar, but better than nothing?
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The thought hit, and I leaped to grab it.
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But at that instant.
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ใCombat skill unlocked.ใ
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Lmao over 50 chapters and only now we unlock combat skill XD
It is the skill of the original Abel who used a two-handed sword, Maybeโฆ