'Damn it.'
Sorry bit the wooden piece in his mouth and felt his body shiver from the double torture of cold and pain.
His consciousness was a little blurry, but he could still feel the pain of his arms and legs being tied to the wooden stake. His chest and abdominal muscles rubbed against the wooden stake, as if that could block out some of the cold.
Snowflakes fell, and blood flowed down his back.
The pain came in waves, and the burning sensation reminded Sorry of his current injuries.
But it was nothing.
What Sorry could not bear the most was the humiliation of being tied to the wooden stake and being watched by countless people. He could feel the gazes from the neat rows behind him, even though they were his companions.
On the empty snowy ground, Isaiah, whose skin was fair and red, stood at the front of the line with an unpleasant expression. He glared at the wooden stake with the others. 'F * ck, sissy, what are you looking at?'
Byrne and the young master soldier were huddled in the middle row. They whispered to each other and glanced at each other from time to time. 'Damn it, they must be having an affair, like f * cking each other.'
Big Mouth Monty popped his head out from the left. He bared his yellow teeth and anxiously winked at Sorry. Sorry knew what Monty meant. He wanted him to admit defeat.
'But …'
Sorry's heart clenched. When he remembered what happened to him over the past few days, he could not help but clench his trembling fists.
'What a joke!'
Sorry, who was on the verge of death, let his imagination run wild. He clenched the wooden piece under his teeth even harder.
His dry tongue accidentally brushed past the wooden piece in his mouth. With a barely noticeable swish, he seemed to have tasted blood.
"You maggots, raise your heads and take a good look!"
At the back of the line, the deputy commander, Terende, nicknamed 'Inextinguishable Flame', carried his silver-black Motionless Bow on his back. He crossed his arms coldly and swept his sharp gaze over everyone in the line.
Big Mouth Monty shuddered in the crowd and stood even straighter.
Even though they were excellent veterans before they joined the guards, no one dared to disrespect Terende's orders. All of them looked stern as they stared at Sorry, who was tied up.
* Thud … Thud … Thud … *
Heavy footsteps could be heard as they slowly walked through the ranks and stopped not far from the wooden stakes.
Everyone's gaze was focused on the newcomer, and there was no lack of respect and nervousness in their eyes.
"You still don't repent, do you?"
It was Iceberg's voice.
Soray's heart leaped.
He raised his head reluctantly and looked to the left.
Iceberg — that was the nickname Monty the Big Mouth and the others had given the demon — the tall, strong warrior in his prime walked up to his side and turned his head to stare at him coldly.
The man's head was covered in frost and snow, but it did not waver in the slightest.
In his hand was a leather whip that was several meters long. It was abnormally dark red and was covered with barbs that were specially made.
"This is the first time that you have been sent to the frontline as commanders to lead the conscripted soldiers into battle. Although I did not have much hope in the first place.
"But you, Spiky." Iceberg's gaze swept over Soray. His face was filled with disgust, and his voice rang coldly in the cold air. "I only realized today that you are the worst, worst, most disgusting, most bastard, and most cowardly military ruffian I've ever led in my twenty years."
"Shame is written all over him from head to toe."
"Asking you to be the commander of the conscripted soldiers? You're a disgrace to us. "
At that moment, anger and resentment surged in Soray's heart.
"Bah!"
Soray raised his head in anger and spat out the bloody wooden piece that had almost been bitten off from his mouth.
"Shame? Disgrace? "
"Go to hell, Iceberg. You've always found me an eyesore." Soray held his head high and mocked with suppressed anger. "Didn't you just want to find an excuse to beat me up again and chase me out of here?"
When he said that, there was an instant uproar in the formation!
Then, countless whispers could be heard.
"Ah, chicks are so energetic!" At the back of the formation on the left, Instructor Dominic smiled innocently and said, "Don't worry, you'll have time to discuss later. How about running twenty more laps during the night training?"
As if someone had cut off the transmission of sound, the formation instantly fell silent. For a moment, only the sound of breathing could be heard.
Everyone's attention shifted back to Soray and Iceberg.
"Why?" Iceberg's gaze became stern as he stared at Soray coldly. "Do you have a problem with me?"
Soray stared at the bloody wooden piece on the ground. He clenched his teeth and frowned.
"Problem?" Soray snorted coldly.
Iceberg narrowed his eyes.
Soray looked at Iceberg with an unfriendly expression. "On the battlefield, you sent a group of elite crossbowmen to Monty. Isaiah is the vanguard of the light infantry in the frontline. Carlos has his heavy swordsmen. Even 'Slow Shiva' is on standby in the formation with heavy cavalry!" Soray stared at Iceberg with an unfriendly expression.
Iceberg snorted coldly.
"And I, I'm the strongest among the new recruits. I'm more outstanding than all of them. I'm the sharpest knife in the guards, the best soldier!" Soray pressed his chin on the wooden stake and panted indignantly. He suddenly raised his voice. "And the result?"
Iceberg stared at him coldly and slowly clenched his fists.
In the next second, Soray raised his head abruptly and glared at Iceberg.
Soray stared at Iceberg with a resentful expression. "In the end, when the war was imminent, you assigned me the worst, worst, most trashy team — the supply camp's transport team!"
"Suppress me? Make me their commander? " His face was filled with indignation. "To be honest, Commander Lampard, I know you hate me, but I always thought that at least the White Blade Guards were fair and just."
Iceberg stared at Soray without saying a word. His gaze was complicated.
Under Terende's cold gaze and Dominic's unfriendly smile, no one dared to breathe loudly. They watched the scene in silence.
After a while, Iceberg snorted coldly.
"So, as my 'best soldier'," Iceberg's words seemed to contain a piece of ice that had been frozen for many years, "when you were attacked, you used your subordinates as bait to die. You left them to fend for themselves while you hid in the dark to ambush the enemy."
Soray clenched his teeth.
"What else could I do?
What could I do with those pieces of trash who haven't even swung their swords a few times? " Soray tugged at his bound limbs and sneered. "Sacrificing the weak to bite the enemy and sending the elites to defeat the strong. Isn't this the classic Northland tactic?
"Relying on this tactic, I killed the orc leader and finally managed to protect the carriage." He did not want to be outdone and said, "I won, it's that simple."
Terende snorted coldly as he watched from the side.
Iceberg's eyebrows twitched slowly, as though someone had cut his face with a knife.
"You still don't understand." Iceberg's voice sounded tired. "Where did you make a mistake?"
Soray shook his head and snorted angrily.
"Mistake? If you ask me, the biggest mistake, "he said through gritted teeth," is that you gave me a pile of useless trash and expected me to give in? "
"Bah!" Soray spat fiercely.
"How about it? I used the trash in my hands to create a miracle! He managed to repel twenty Orcs! "
"That's why you can only look for trouble and find fault with me." Soray fell on the wooden stake and snorted coldly. "I've long seen through you, Kaslan Lampard. That hypocritical noble face of yours that oppresses dissidents!"
At the back of the formation, Instructor Dominic put his hands behind his back and lowered his head to sigh.
"Listen." Iceberg ignored Soray's rude remarks, but his expression became more unpleasant. "Because of your orders, only four of your men survived, and one was crippled.
"The rest refused to return to your command."
"Oh, that's just what I wanted." Soray exhaled, looking relieved. "Let me give you a piece of advice: Don't count on them for war."
Iceberg's expression became colder and colder. His gaze was solemn. "Is that your answer?"
"This is a battlefield. Someone has to die," Soray said, then sneered and shook his head. "Cowards who can't accept reality, or weaklings who can't keep up with their combat power, better leave as soon as possible."
Iceberg did not speak again. His gaze was fixed on the snow-covered ground for a long time.
Silence returned to the field.
Only the howling of the cold wind could be heard.
Then, Soray snorted coldly and spoke again.
"And let me tell you, Iceberg, no matter what you want to do to me, even if you put me in the worst troop and send me to die, I will survive —"
But he was interrupted.
"The biggest mistake you've made, Spiky!"
Iceberg, the strong and tall man, had a furious expression. He said resolutely and loudly, "That's …"
Iceberg raised his head slowly. His hand that was holding the whip trembled, and his eyes were filled with rage. "You shouldn't have spat out that piece of wood."
Soray was slightly stunned. He looked at the piece of wood he spat out on the ground.
In the next second, the six-meter-long barbed whip in Iceberg's hand instantly moved!
* Whoosh! *
The wind howled fiercely.
The whip formed a terrifying circle in the air!
Before Soray could react, a tearing pain suddenly exploded from his back!
* Slap! *
An ear-piercing explosion sounded.
Soray had an illusion that the skin on his back was torn open at that moment.
He was in so much pain that he could not even think.
'F * ck!'
Soray hugged the wooden stake and trembled madly. He gritted his teeth so hard that blood seeped out from the gaps between his teeth, but he still could not help but let out a pained groan.
'Iceberg, my whole family is dead!'
All the muscles in his body were protesting. Even in the cold winter, his forehead could not stop sweating.
Instructor Dominic's voice rang from behind the formation. "The nineteenth whip!"
The hundreds of people in the formation watched this scene quietly with different expressions.
Soray almost broke his teeth from clenching them so hard.
But he still trembled and raised his head with difficulty, unwilling to show weakness to Iceberg.
But the moment Soray raised his head, he was slightly stunned.
Iceberg, who had always been cold and harsh, at that moment, his gaze was filled with deep pain and disappointment. "Maybe I was wrong too. Very wrong."
Iceberg's tone was sorrowful and tired. "Maybe I shouldn't have had such high hopes for you from the start."
"Soray Nicholas, you idiot."
Soray, who was lying on the wooden stake and panting, was stunned.
At that moment, he saw Iceberg, who was in his prime, furrow his brows tightly. The muscles on his face trembled slightly in the cold wind, and his wrinkles were obvious.
* Whoosh — *
In the next second, Iceberg swung the whip in his hand again. The sound of the wind roared!
But what attacked him was not the barbed whip in his memory.
Instead, it was a black and ferocious spear blade!
Dragon Clouds City, Heroic Spirit Palace. Nicholas, the Star Killer, narrowed his eyes slightly as he faced his enemy.
The memories from more than twenty years ago floated away.
The Soul Slayer Pike pierced through the air and went straight for the Star Killer's eye!
* Clang! *
The sharp sound of metal colliding rang out.
The Severing Souls Blade shot out from midair and brushed past the tip of the pike.
The pike trembled slightly and missed Nicholas' forehead by a few millimeters.
The sharp pike blade even cut off a part of his head!
But the Star Killer did not even bat an eyelid.
It was as if the pike that flashed past his eyes just now was not the infamous Soul Slayer Pike, but just a piece of scrap metal.
The moment the Soul Slayer Pike missed, Nicholas, who had escaped death, stomped on his feet and rushed forward.
* Whoosh! *
His light armor and robes swept through the air, and the blade followed his footsteps as he dashed forward in a straight line.
As the Star Killer dashed forward, the enemy's image slowly grew larger in his field of vision!
At that moment, he only had eyes for the white-haired enemy!
'Iceberg.'
At that moment, a nameless rage burned in Nicholas' heart.
'Iceberg!'
Kaslan Lampard calmly pulled back the pike shaft. He held one-third of the Soul Slayer Pike in his right hand and dragged the pike shaft behind him. In an instant, it turned into a short pike, and he faced the oncoming Nicholas like he was holding a sword.
The two of them drew closer and closer, and they were almost within arm's reach.
Nicholas' blade flashed and went straight for Kaslan's neck!
Kaslan's pike blade was also aimed straight for Nicholas' throat.
The blade of the blade and the pike intersected in the air.
Nicholas' Severing Souls Blade suddenly trembled and instantly sank in its predetermined trajectory.
* Clang! * A soft sound was heard, and the blade touched the pike lightly, like a dragonfly skimming the surface of the water.
Kaslan's expression changed!
A huge force came from his Soul Slayer Pike, and for a moment, he could not control the Soul Slayer Pike.
The pike blade swerved to the side and missed Nicholas' throat.
However, the blade of the Star Killer's blade that had just parried the pike was like a piece of wood that had sunk into water. In just one-tenth of a second, it instantly 'floated' and returned to its predetermined trajectory!
It continued to slash at Kaslan's neck.
Kaslan reacted in time and threw away the Soul Slayer Pike. He had already extended his left hand to receive Nicholas' slashing wrist while he clenched his right fist and punched the other party's chest.
But the moment Nicholas' wrist was about to be grabbed by Kaslan, his expression turned cold, and the Severing Souls Blade changed direction again!
In a few tenths of a second, the Severing Souls Blade miraculously turned and drew an arc in the air.
Nicholas' wrist also moved to the back of Kaslan's left hand. Kaslan's fingers barely grazed his opponent's arm.
The interception failed.
The threat of the blade that went straight for Kaslan's attack did not diminish because of this dodge.
On the contrary, the blade changed direction and went straight for Kaslan's face from a slash to a stab!
Kaslan's expression did not change.
Even though his attack and defense had failed twice, even though the blade had already gone beyond the reach of his palm, even though if he was careless, he would be doomed eternally.
Kaslan reacted quickly and retrieved his right hand. He tried to punch the side of the Severing Souls Blade to intercept or deflect the attack.
But just like the previous two times, Nicholas' blade changed direction again in the blink of an eye.
The deflected Kaslan's right fist went straight for Nicholas' forehead again.
In the blink of an eye, Nicholas' blade traveled a distance of tens of centimeters, but it changed direction seven or eight times in an unbelievable manner.
Kaslan reacted in time almost every time, but he also missed almost every time.
Nicholas was like a loach that swayed left and right, but could not be caught.
The Star Killer continued to attack without any distractions.
There was nothing else but the enemy and himself.
In the span of a few breaths, the blade was already less than a few inches away from Kaslan's forehead.
Kaslan and Nicholas both knew that the outcome of the battle was about to be revealed.
In the next second, Kaslan suddenly leaned forward with an unexpected force!
* Thud! *
There was a frighteningly loud, dull sound.
Nicholas and Kaslan collided chest to chest!
* Thud! Thud! Thud! *
Both of them grunted at the same time. They grabbed each other and rolled on the ground a few times. The sound of their limbs hitting the ground echoed back and forth.
The Star Killer's body was obviously not as heavy as Kaslan's, but the strange thing was that when they collided, both of them rolled towards Kaslan.
It was as if Kaslan could not withstand the force.
* Clang! *
During the fight, the Severing Souls Blade flew out of Nicholas' hand. The blade sank into the wall and was still swaying as it stuck in it.
On the other side, the Soul Slayer Pike fell to the ground with a clang.
Finally, after the next dull sound, the two of them separated abruptly on the ground. They rolled a few times in opposite directions and stopped almost at the same time.
Kaslan pressed his hand against the floor and got up with one knee on the ground.
Nicholas even exerted force in his abdomen and jumped up like a fish.
From the beginning to the end, Nicholas had only slashed once in a few seconds.
Kaslan had also only tried to receive the slash.
But only the two supreme class fighters knew how dangerous it was. No matter which part of the attack went wrong, both of them might have to pay an irreversible price in that short instant.
For a moment, only the panting of the two warriors could be heard in the corridor.
Kaslan half-knelt on the ground and pounded his chest in pain.
Blood flowed down from his forehead. From the spot between his eyebrows to his ear, there was a hideous wound that kept oozing blood.
"Hmm, not bad," the old man said faintly.
"At least, you cut three inches of my scalp."
At that moment, Nicholas seemed to have seen the past in a daze.
It was more than twenty years ago.
At that time, the commander stood on the snowy ground and said the same thing.
"Hmm, not bad."
At that time, Kaslan Lampard was terrifying, terrifying, and almost invincible.
At that time, Kaslan moved his neck joints with a nonchalant expression. He curled his finger in disdain at Nicholas, who was still a White Blade recruit and was panting on the ground.
"At least, you forced me to use both my hands."
Nicholas clenched his fists tighter and tighter.
Kaslan's aged voice traveled into his ears.
It dragged Nicholas' thoughts back to the present.
"That technique of instantaneous power is really terrifying." In the corridor, the old Kaslan wiped away the blood on the side of his face. He touched the wound on his forehead and frowned as he stared at the bright red blood on his hand. "That was really dangerous. The blade almost broke my bones and cut open my head."
Nicholas only stared at him without saying a word.
'Almost.'
"Your Power of Eradication is becoming more and more skillful." Kaslan exhaled and pounded his chest with an unnatural expression. "You still haven't found its source or source?"
Hearing this, the Star Killer's gaze was still terrifying.
But he still spoke.
"Too busy," Nicholas said coldly. "I can't be bothered to look for it."
He seemed to be a man of few words.
But only the Star Killer himself knew that after Kaslan rammed into him just now, his chest was still in great pain. His lungs were in pain, and even breathing was painful. He could only use this period of time to continuously use his Power of Eradication to relieve the pain in his chest muscles and bones.
Talking, to Nicholas, was undoubtedly an act that increased his burden.
The abrasions left on him from rolling on the ground just now were also innumerable.
Nicholas' right arm was also aching and slightly numb because he fought with Kaslan for the Severing Souls Blade on the ground.
If Kaslan launched a sudden attack during this period of time, he would not be able to fight with his full strength.
And in the face of Kaslan, not being able to fight with his full strength meant …
Nicholas shut his mouth and seized the time to relieve the pain in his chest and recover from his injuries.
Kaslan sighed.
He remembered the miraculous blade that Nicholas had used to change directions multiple times in one move.
Reserving strength and leeway when he attacked, using instantaneous changes to achieve an unexpected effect — this kind of situation happened the most when he was feigning an attack.
But no one could use this technique to its fullest extent like Nicholas.
Nicholas' unique Power of Eradication allowed him to store his strength in every node in his body. He could control every muscle and bone meticulously and perfectly, and change his posture, moves, and strength at any time during a battle.
This was no longer as simple as simple reflexes.
The Star Killer's body was almost unhindered by inertia. Every slash he made, every step he took, from the beginning to the end, no matter if he succeeded or missed, he could always regain his strength and change directions at any time.
A slash aimed at the throat could be instantly changed to the face, chest, arms, abdomen, and even be retracted to defend himself. What was even more terrifying was that as long as his body could bear the burden, this skill of using his strength could be superimposed many times. He could change directions again after changing directions. And as his strength and experience grew, the number of times he could superimpose his strength would only increase, and he would have more and more freedom.
He could do whatever he wanted in a battle and perform endless changes.
A simple and ordinary slash could change infinitely in an instant, and it brought with it a threat that enveloped his entire body.
When Kaslan thought of this, he shook his head emotionally. 'This is a Power of Eradication worthy of being listed in the history books.
If it was in the Tower of Eradication, it would probably be classified as a 'miracle'.
Unfortunately, this Power of Eradication that was awakened on the battlefield was too random and accidental. It could not be summarized and passed down to the future generations.
'Just like that power.'
Kaslan looked at his former subordinate, and nostalgia for the past surged in his heart.
The old man was very familiar with this former subordinate of his: Soray Nicholas. He was a man who possessed supreme class battle instincts when he was still in the first rank.
He was the strongest soldier under him.
And the best soldier.
'But it's all in the past.
Now, as enemies, they were fighting to the death. '
When he thought of this, Kaslan's gaze darkened.
"Even supreme class fighters would find it hard to remain unfazed in the face of the Soul Slayer Pike's reputation of killing with one hit. One of my elven opponents lost here." The old man nodded faintly. "But you did well. You didn't embarrass the White Blade Guards, Spiky."
Nicholas shuddered slightly.
His thoughts returned to the 38th Sentry Land more than twenty years ago.
The image of that cold and merciless' iceberg 'appeared before the Star Killer's eyes. He remembered the scene of him standing in the snow and lecturing the soldiers with a stern expression.
When they faced the glacier orcs' sixth wave of attack, the leader had said this.
"Spiky, don't embarrass the White Blade Guards."
At that time, the commander of the 'Ground Shaker', who was in his prime and had a peerless majesty …
This old man with a head full of silver hair and dull eyes …
The two figures slowly overlapped.
Nicholas finally calmed down from the intense pain in his chest.
He adjusted his state of mind and slowly exhaled. His tone was complicated and his emotions could not be discerned. "The Soul Slayer Pike may be powerful, but it was forged based on a cavalry spear.
"It's too long, too heavy, too hard," the Star Killer said sternly. "It's not difficult to deal with in a non-group battle."
"I remember that the person who taught you how to use long weapons was Dominic." Kaslan laughed.
"If Dom heard what you said, I'm afraid he wouldn't be happy."
Nicholas' expression darkened, then quickly darkened.
'Dom.
'Dominic.
'Blood Hammer' Dominic.
'That smiling old man, one of their instructors.
'That old man who loved to punish them by making them run laps and counting behind them.'
He always stood beside Kaslan, who was in his prime, with a smile on his face. He brought some liveliness to the group of fierce and murderous White Blade Guards.
'If he's still alive …
'Seeing this scene, seeing the current Kaslan …'
Nicholas closed his eyes. Endless emotions surged in his chest, and he felt incredibly uncomfortable.
"He can't hear it anymore." The Star Killer's voice was hoarse. "Don't you know?"
The veins on Kaslan's fists tightened.
"Thirteen years ago, Dominic died in battle in White Mountain," Nicholas said softly.
"Blake, Layken, Saul, and Bauer also died there …"
Kaslan did not speak.
"After that, Old Seva was also injured and retired. He went to Camus Union and never came back."
Kaslan sighed slightly.
"Ah." The old man lowered his head expressionlessly. "I heard from Old Coleman about the Battle of Deep Valley.
"I heard that Old Dom led his team and charged a hundred meters into the enemy's group while covered in arrows. He only fell after the enemy was defeated."
Nicholas trembled slightly, and his chest ached.
Kaslan's gaze was sorrowful. He sighed softly. "That man still owes me money for a leather armor."
The Star Killer clenched his fists tighter. He almost scratched his own palms.
A nameless flame burned in his chest, making him feel extremely uncomfortable.
"As for the Soul Slayer Pike …
"You know, the legendary anti-mystic equipment was never meant to be used in battles between humans." Kaslan sighed. He seemed to be a little sentimental. "It's just that humans have a talent. We're good at turning everything in the world into weapons to kill our own kind."
At this moment …
* Ring, ring … *
Three thin metal discs slid out of Nicholas' fingers and rolled a long distance away in an orderly manner.
They rolled towards the old man.
Kaslan extended his hand and pressed down on the three discs.
The metallic sound stopped.
The old man slowly lifted one of the golden discs.
"What is this?" he asked softly.
Nicholas stared at his former superior expressionlessly.
The Star Killer said flatly, "Dominic."
Kaslan was slightly startled.
The corridor was very quiet.
Even the sounds of fighting around them seemed to have faded away.
"When he died, I was beside him." Nicholas' expression was gloomy. He lowered his voice and said quietly, "Dom said he was very sorry.
"He had to use his pension to continue buying medicine for his grandson to treat his illness.
"So I'm afraid he won't be able to repay the money he owes everyone."
There was a hint of sorrow in the Star Killer's words.
Kaslan tightened his grip on the gold coin.
The old man's Adam's apple moved slightly. His gaze focused on the other two gold coins on the ground.
"You didn't have to do this." Kaslan raised his head and looked at Nicholas. He said tiredly, "Dom doesn't like people to repay his money on his behalf."
Nicholas stared at the gold coin in Kaslan's hand and knew what he wanted to say.
"His Majesty gives him his pension every year."
Nicholas stared at Kaslan with a complicated gaze. "But Dominic's grandson died of illness a month ago."
Kaslan trembled slightly.
"I have his last month's pension in my hands." Nicholas raised his head slowly. A familiar image appeared in his mind.
"I still have his account book, so …"
It was a middle-aged warrior with a broad, plump body and a smile on his face. He carried a warhammer and counted the number of times he went around the recruits being punished.
'Dominic Stone.'
The Star Killer opened his mouth slowly. His tone was indifferent, but his voice was hoarse.
"This is the leather armor he owes you."
Kaslan lowered his head.
The old man did not speak.
He only shut his eyes deeply.
He was silent for a long time.
Only the rustling of the wind could be heard from the side of the corridor.
Finally, Kaslan opened his eyes slowly. His gaze was subtle and complicated.
"I'm very relieved, Spiky."
Nicholas was stunned.
"Today, more than twenty years later." Kaslan slowly revealed a smile.
"You're already an excellent commander of the White Blade Guards.
"Soray Nicholas."
'While there's no one around, I quietly updated. Don't shoot.
'The last update was on Sunday, right? 'Tomorrow is Monday, right?
'From Sunday to Monday.' (spread his hands and closed his eyes) 'So I didn't stop updating!'
'BY: SWORDLESS WITH AN INNOCENT LOOK
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