In the corridor near the armory of Heroic Spirit Palace, the Severing Souls Blade and the Soul Slayer Pike were more than ten meters away from each other. One of them was nailed to the wall, and the other lay quietly on the ground.
The Soul Slayer Pike let out a faint but ominous tremor that came and went intermittently.
However, the two of them who should have noticed this did not have the time or energy to look at the weapon.
Their battlefield had long since changed from the corridor to another place.
* Bang! *
With a loud bang, a large wooden door was smashed open!
In the darkness, two figures pounced into the room.
This was an armory. The wide storage shelves were covered with layers of thick cloth, and in the darkness, there were all kinds of equipment: from long swords, nails, hammers, to shields and armors, everything could be found here and there, and not a single one was to be found here.
It was a special reserve set up by the White Blade Guards in Heroic Spirit Palace. The palace guards of Heroic Spirit Palace were trained according to standard equipment, and they did not need so many complicated and unique weapons.
In the darkness, the calm Nicholas rolled. Following his memory, he extended his hand towards the nearest storage shelf!
Listening to the voice behind him, he knew that the other party would not hesitate.
Just like how he would not hesitate either.
In the next second, Nicholas suddenly turned around in the darkness. The weapon in his hand danced in the air.
* Clang! *
As expected, Nicholas felt his hand freeze. His weapon had encountered a man-made obstacle.
In this sudden clash of weapons, both he and the enemy swayed a little. Using the force of the rebound, they retreated in the darkness.
Nicholas retreated to the wall and found the position in his memory. He flipped the weapon in his hand backwards skillfully and drew sparks on an iron shelf. The Eternal Oil on the shelf quickly turned into flames and ignited the firewood in the brazier.
Across from him, the enemy also used the flint beside him to light the brazier in the corner.
The dark armory instantly lit up.
Kaslan stared at the single-edged battle axe in Nicholas' hand.
"Looks like you think the same as me," Kaslan said, waving the broadsword he had just obtained. "In a battle, look for the weapon closest to you."
Nicholas gestured with his lips and did not answer.
'Of course.
This is one of the principles of the White Blade Guards.
Back then, the person who taught me this …
Nicholas did not speak. He lowered his gaze and held the handle of the axe with both hands. He swung the axe back and forth in front of him, skillfully drawing an 'X' shape.
Kaslan smiled.
According to tradition, when an archduke of Eckstedt became a common-elected king, he had the right to take over the symbolic 'Legend of the White Blade Guards' and form the special guards that the Northlanders were proud of — the White Blade Guards, which had a long history and a high status, to show the honor and importance of being a king.
The White Blade Guards were elites selected from experienced warriors, such as the regular soldiers who trained three times a year. Then, they were trained again. In the process, they were reborn and became elites who could identify and command battles on the battlefield. They could also fight for their lives on the battlefield. They were not only the king's guards, but also his blade.
Every batch of White Blade Guards was filled with the personal characteristics of their commanders. For example, Kaslan Lampard, the Earthshaker, required the White Blade Guards to master the usage of almost every weapon on the battlefield based on his own example.
That was why this armory was built. It stored almost every type of weapon from every era.
"Your judgment in battle assessment has regressed." Kaslan lifted his gaze from his opponent's weapon. "You know, my attacks are monotonous, my slashes are slow, and I don't have heavy armor. A battle axe is really not a good choice."
Nicholas answered him with a merciless swing of his axe.
'Nonsense.
I can't see anything clearly. Of course I'll use whatever I catch. '
* Bang! *
Kaslan parried his opponent's slash and swung his broadsword in a reverse grip. But it was once again blocked by Nicholas' instantaneous change of direction.
Nicholas took two steps back. His heart was filled with anger.
'No.'
'The broadsword is two-sided and flexible. As long as he counterattacks, I'll have to use some of my Power of Eradication to defend myself.'
When he thought of this, Nicholas swung his arms without hesitation. The battle axe left his hands and flew towards his enemy.
Kaslan parried the opponent's flying axe. But when he raised his head again, a light and uniform one-handed sword had already landed in Nicholas' hands from the nearby weapon rack.
"Good choice."
Kaslan only had time to say these two words before Nicholas used his Power of Eradication to form a slash, a thrust, and a slash. There was almost no gap in between the slashes!
In a few rounds, he moved around the gaps between the broadsword's two-sided slash and nimbly attacked with the slash and thrust. The combination of slashes and thrusts left Kaslan in a rather pathetic state.
In the final strike, Kaslan parried Nicholas' slash with great difficulty, but was forced into a corner by his opponent's change of attack. He had no choice but to roll on the ground. At the same time, he knocked down a row of weapon racks to block Nicholas' advance.
Amidst the clanking sounds of countless weapons falling to the ground, Nicholas had to stop and adjust his breathing.
"You're already injured, and it's not light." Nicholas kicked away a row of weapon racks blocking his path and swung the sword in his hand. "Can't you even handle a slightly more agile move?"
"Not bad." Kaslan spat out the dust in his mouth and threw away the broadsword in his hand. "But …
"Your leg seems to be injured as well." He grabbed the handle of a new weapon from the ground with his right hand and said flatly.
"I guess it's not easy to dodge?"
Looking at the new weapon in Kaslan's hand, Nicholas' expression changed abruptly.
As the weapon rack moved, the three chains connected to Kaslan's handle were slowly straightened, and three metal balls covered in sharp spikes were pulled out.
Without hesitation, Nicholas threw away the sword in his hand, turned around, and fled!
As expected, in the next moment, the three terrifying flail heads drew three arcs in the air and crashed into Nicholas' original spot.
* Bang! * Stone chips flew everywhere.
Nicholas knew that Kaslan had found his weakness at the moment.
The multi-headed flail.
This weapon, which had a long handle and a hammer head attached to it, was truly a lethal weapon on the battlefield. Not only was it powerful, but when it was swung, it could break bones and snap tendons. It was also because when it was swung, the number of comrades who died under its hands was as many as the number of enemies.
If it were any other time, dodging it would be a piece of cake, but now …
Nicholas gritted his teeth and endured the pain caused by the arrow wound on his leg. He did not stop moving, but he heard the sound of wind behind his ears.
Without thinking, the Star Killer rolled on the ground!
A stone chip kicked up by the flail head hit the back of Nicholas' head.
Nicholas quickly got up and continued to flee.
* Bang! * Kaslan swung the flail horizontally in a practiced manner. The flail head with the iron chain grazed past the weapon rack beside Nicholas and broke it into three pieces.
The broken weapons scattered in the air.
Nicholas dodged a falling dagger.
But he knew that he could not stop until …
While evading Kaslan's attack, Nicholas turned around a stone pillar and finally found what he was looking for.
In the next moment, Kaslan swung the flail again!
But his pupils shrank. Nicholas fell to the ground, and when he got up, there was a long weapon in his hand.
The Star Killer turned around and faced Kaslan!
* Clang, clang! *
The iron chain in the air coiled around an iron rod that suddenly appeared!
Nicholas pulled back the long hilt in his hand.
With a metallic sound, the iron chain circled around the iron rod twice and stopped moving. The flail head was locked tightly to the axe-shaped top of the iron rod.
Kaslan 'heart clenched.
In Nicholas' hands was a halberd with a complicated design.
The protruding tip of the axe, the shape of the axe's blade, and the specially made hook were all forged to deal with cavaliers. As long as there was enough strength and familiarity, infantrymen could easily use this long weapon to hook cavaliers off their horses.
And now, it had locked its flail perfectly.
Nicholas panted lightly. He could feel the fatigue in his body. Even though he was strong, he was still very tired after going through a few hours of high-intensity battles.
Fortunately, the other party was the same.
He did not stop. He stretched his right hand behind him, and with the halberd in his hand and the flail, he stabbed towards Kaslan in a practiced manner!
Kaslan let go of the locked flail in a flustered manner. This time, it was his turn to stagger to avoid Nicholas' erratic halberd, which could change direction at any moment.
* Bang! *
The halberd knocked down the row of bow racks beside Kaslan. The unstrung longbows fell to the ground.
Kaslan did not stop. With a stern expression, he continued to roll in a circle to avoid Nicholas' sweeping long weapon.
Nicholas tightened his grip on the weapon in his hand and swung his halberd without hesitation.
* Bang! *
With a slide kick, Kaslan dodged the attack. At the same time, he kicked down a weapon rack. The weapons on it fell to the ground with a clatter.
The old man folded his arms and held three or four weapons under his left armpit. He then ran seven or eight steps before he turned around to face Nicholas again.
When he saw the weapon in Kaslan's hand clearly, Nicholas was alarmed!
The old man stretched out his right hand and pulled out an outdated weapon that had disappeared from the battlefield a long time ago from his left arm.
'A javelin.'
Kaslan raised the javelin with a stern expression and pulled his right arm back.
* Whoosh! *
The javelin slipped out of his hand.
At that moment, Nicholas could not care less about the halberd in his hand. He crouched down and ducked his head!
* Clang! *
The javelin whistled through the air and brushed past Nicholas' head, which had just lowered, before it stabbed into the stone tiles behind him.
Nicholas could not care less about the cold sweat on his head. He decisively threw away his halberd.
But in the next second, there were two more whooshing sounds!
Nicholas used all his strength to avoid the two javelins that were aimed at his chest and head, but the arrow wound on his leg started to hurt again.
The Star Killer ducked behind a stone pillar. Just as he hid, a javelin flew from afar and stabbed into the spot where he was just a moment ago.
Nicholas leaned against the stone pillar and panted. He anxiously searched for a new weapon, and cursed in his heart.
As a White Blade Guard trained by Kaslan, no one knew better than him how terrifying Kaslan was.
Kaslan's strength and reflexes were terrifying, which earned him the title of 'Earthshaker'.
But the old commander's ultimate skill was that he was proficient in the usage and characteristics of almost every weapon. Any weapon he grabbed on the battlefield could become an unparalleled killing tool.
For example, right now … Every time he changed his weapon, the pressure on him increased tremendously, and the Star Killer could only deal with it passively.
A sound came from behind the stone pillar. Kaslan picked up another bundle of javelins and tore open the rope.
"You've neglected many skills, Spiky." Kaslan's voice traveled through the stone pillar. "I can tell from the weapons you chose. Have you forgotten what I taught you?
As a White Blade Guard, understanding the characteristics of every weapon is … "
Nicholas gritted his teeth as he leaned against the stone pillar.
Resentment and pain rose in his chest.
"Why?" he asked with great difficulty, interrupting the other party.
"Why what?" Kaslan's voice rang out.
Nicholas panted and clenched his fists tightly.
"You damn bastard, from just now until now …" The Star Killer gritted his teeth. "Why the f * ck are you still bringing up so many things from the past?"
He roared angrily, "Do you think we're still sparring on the training field like in the past?
"Traitor!"
The old man behind the stone pillar fell silent.
"It's you," Nicholas said in pain. "It's you who turned us into White Blade Guards from recruits who only knew how to fight for food and clothing, for money, for pride, for glory, and for promotion …"
Nicholas shut his eyes tightly. He could feel the blood surging through every vein in his body. "That year, when you were cracking the whip, you told me those words …"
In the next second, he grabbed the javelin by his feet and dashed out from behind the stone pillar.
"Are they all fake?!"
Two javelins were thrown from the hands of the two men towards each other!
* Whoosh!
Whoosh! *
Kaslan's javelin grazed past Nicholas' calf and cut through the leather armor on his leg, drawing blood.
Nicholas rolled again and hid behind another stone pillar.
He touched his calf. It was wet.
But he had no time to care about it.
There was silence.
"Judging by your expression just now, I thought you only wanted to kill me." On the other side of the stone pillar, Kaslan looked at the still trembling javelin beside him with a mournful expression. He wiped the wound on his forearm. "You'll never ask."
"A commander will always think one step more and take one step less than his subordinates on the battlefield." Nicholas could not stand it anymore. "Isn't this what you told me?
"You told me how to be a qualified commander …
"To become a strong shield, an iron wall, and a flag that our comrades can rely on for protection on the battlefield …
"But what about you?" The Star Killer was agitated. His face was contorted as he roared, "What about the Oath of the Blade you swore?
"To defend against powerful enemies, to be the first in a hundred battles, until my blood runs dry," Nicholas said while trembling. "To pass on hope, to shine with glory, until all things fall into eternal sleep …
"Where is your blood?
"Where is your glory?
"Boss!"
Nicholas' furious roar shook Kaslan's heart!
The armory fell into a long silence.
Only the two of them were left panting. One was panting intensely, and the other was unstable.
Finally, the old man spoke slowly.
"Spiky, being a commander must be very tiring."
Nicholas froze.
Kaslan lowered his eyelids and spoke softly.
"It's been almost twenty years. How much darkness has King Nuven made you bear? How many secrets have you shouldered?
"How many things in there will make you feel guilty and unable to sleep at night? How many things will make you unable to talk about them?"
The Star Killer gritted his teeth and did not answer.
But there was an indescribable sorrow in his heart.
Kaslan said quietly, "And you can only continue to instruct your subordinates in a righteous manner on the second day of training to be loyal, glorious, upright, and heroic White Blade Guards."
"I know, I know it from the bottom of my heart," Kaslan said bitterly.
"That's right. As one of His Majesty's most trusted people, the most capable captain of his personal guards, and the commander of the White Blade Guards, the world will always remember your heroism on the battlefield and your might by the king's side …
"But behind the glamorous appearance …"
"There are always those things that can't be avoided."
Nicholas only furrowed his brows. His hands trembled slightly.
"Nuven and I grew up together. We're as close as brothers — far closer than my relationship with Hoult." Kaslan sighed softly. He took out the javelins in his hands one by one and lined them up in front of him for easy access. "More than thirty years ago, when I sat in the Tower of Eradication, faced with the test letter from my teacher to become a successor and the invitation letter from the newly crowned King Nuven to the White Blade Guards, I chose the latter without hesitation.
"I still remember the day I took up my post in Dragon Clouds City," the old man said quietly. "Nuven, who had just become the common-elected king, brought me to stand on the Cliff of the Sky, covered in snow, and overlooked all of Dragon Clouds City."
"'Kaslan,' His Majesty said," Kaslan said bitterly, "'If I want to change Eckstedt, change this country …'"
Nicholas shuddered.
"'If I want to change this country, which is as great as it was in the past, but also as old as it was in the past, change this country that hasn't made any progress for more than six hundred years …'
"Will you help me?"
"I didn't hesitate." Kaslan heaved a long sigh. "But I never realized what kind of path this was."
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