In the field, Thales calmed himself down a little. He felt the Sin of Hell's River, which had become more active, flow through his body again.
Ever since his adventure in the desert ended, he noticed that the Sin of Hell's River had become more solid and abundant. Compared to the previous Ten Seconds Man, it could now last longer.
And after the Power of Eradication disappeared, the fatigue and soreness it left in his body decreased correspondingly.
'As expected,' Thales thought.
'Things that can't kill me can make me stronger.'
Of course, this was not without a price. Ever since he was heavily injured by Nicholas, his left wrist was no longer as nimble as before. This more or less affected his use of the shield.
And it would be even better if the Sin of Hell's River's temper improved correspondingly when it circulated.
"Your Grace, I am Gianluca Kommodore."
Kommodore was a short and strong man. His skin was tanned, and he had a shy smile. At first glance, he looked like a middle-aged man who was almost forty years old and had experienced hardships, but was still amiable, optimistic, and strong.
Thales noticed that Kommodore would subconsciously glance in Mallos' direction from time to time.
"I used to be a Class One Police Officer in charge of protecting important people in the police station in the inner city." When he faced the Duke of Star Lake, Kommodore smiled brilliantly, so much so that it was a little obsequious.
"I was fortunate enough to pass the test and enter the Royal Guards.
Now, I am one of the newly appointed protectors in your personal guards. "
'Police officer.'
Thales sucked in a deep breath.
'Alright, I'm quite familiar with this.
'Be it the arrogant green-skinned men in Western District who are in cahoots with Blood Bottle Gang.
'Or are they some idiots who, once they lose their jobs, will unfortunately have to go back to inherit their titles and properties.'
But before he could think deeply, the battle in the field had already begun!
* Clang! *
A muffled sound rose, and Thales' arm shield clashed with Kommodore's blade!
Kommodore was not as humble as Procca. His attack was fierce and proactive, and it was a stark contrast to the obsequious smile on his face.
Thales moved his feet and swung his longsword. He exchanged a few attacks with Kommodore in the air.
As the metals clashed, the Duke of Star Lake noticed through his hell's senses that Kommodore's sword style was standard. It was not as exquisite as Procca's, who could counter his opponent with just a few exchanges of weapons. It was also not as crude as the orcs', who could attack in a wide range and never return.
The two of them attacked and defended, advancing and retreating. For a time, they were evenly matched.
This surprised Thales quite a bit.
But …
Dang!
Once again, Thales used his arm shield to block his opponent's attack.
He gritted his teeth and steadied his footsteps. The Sin of Hell's River surged forth at full force, and he pushed the man away without showing any sign of weakness.
But at that moment, Thales cursed in his heart.
He felt that his opponent's sword was as light as a feather and didn't seem to be straining at all.
As expected, Kommodore nimbly avoided the shield in front of Thales and turned his sword on the shield.
In the next second, the Sin of Hell's River exploded in his body again, bringing with it an indescribable feeling of fear.
But Thales only had enough time to turn around.
Dang!
Dong!
The crisp sound of metal colliding and the dull sound of flesh being blasted rang out!
"Oh …"
In the midst of the Royal Guards' low commotion, Thales gritted his teeth and staggered backwards. He knelt down on one knee and supported himself with his shield.
The pain and numbness in his shoulder told him:
The round was over.
Kommodore, who was a former police officer and was now a protector, smiled foolishly and nodded. He put away his practice sword and did not continue attacking.
'It's the hilt.'
Thales panted in pain. He turned his aching shoulder socket and arm desperately and told himself this.
At that moment, he used his shield to push away Kommodore's sword, but he did not manage to block his opponent's sword hilt.
The cross-shaped handguard on his sword followed him like a shadow. He seized the chance when Thales pushed his shield forward and pushed his arm forward to spin at Thales.
If Thales had not reacted in time, he might have been hit in the ribs under his arm.
Then, he would basically be lying on the ground.
But even so …
Thales sucked in a deep breath.
'My shoulder socket …
'Ah, it's terrible.'
There were also moves in the Northland Military Sword Style that used the hilt to subdue the enemy, but most of them were used when both parties were in a stalemate and other methods could not work. There were very few people like Kommodore, who set up everything just so he could use the hilt.
Doyle blew his hair towards the sky and nudged Glover by the side of the training field.
"Oh, this move of Jean's … I saw it when he bullied the newbies in the Defense Division … In any case, he is not easy to deal with."
Glover snorted softly.
The spectators from the Royal Guards discussed softly, and some of them laughed faintly.
Mallos, who was watching the fight, turned his head to the side and seemed to be deep in thought.
Kommodore did not chase after him. Instead, he waited patiently for the duke to regroup.
"I am very sorry, Your Grace." He held his longsword in his hand, and his smile did not diminish.
"But I believe that you do not want me to hold back, do you?"
'Damn it.'
Thales exhaled and felt the Sin of Hell's River surge into his shoulder to relieve the numbness and pain.
It was only then that his left arm felt slightly better.
"Jean fought his way up in the police station." Mallos' voice, which was no longer unfamiliar to him, rose again.
"He has a lot of experience in the streets and alleys.
"Strictly speaking, his skills belong to the new trend of practical warfare in the country over the past one hundred years. It is especially popular among mercenary knights and nobles who develop new lands. It is known as the 'New Trend'."
Thales turned his head around. As expected, the watchman had his arms crossed over his chest, and he looked like he was watching a good show.
"And in the past few decades, the 'New Trend' knights have also gained a lot of experience from the wars in the country and abroad, including mercenaries. They only seek to be suitable for the battlefield, to win, and to survive. Because of this, their style is flexible, and they do not stick to traditional methods.
"Of course, the New Trend is also often criticized by other schools of thought. They say that their methods are disorderly, their style is messy, they are short-sighted, and they have no focus."
The watchman chuckled softly.
"Conversely, it is also the hardest to deal with. You never know what surprises are waiting for you."
'New Trend?'
Thales slowly followed his breath and focused his attention on Kommodore again.
The man still had that simple and honest smile.
'Mercenary?'
As Thales pondered, he suddenly thought of a person.
Black Sword.
The teenager remembered how he defended, escaped, lured the enemy, searched for an opportunity, and subdued the enemy on the Cliff of the Sky in Dragon Clouds City.
He remembered how he used all sorts of methods to fight against the Air Mystic and not being at a disadvantage.
He also remembered how he "carried" him (Thales had been trying to find a better transitive verb) in the sea of blood in Shield District while he charged towards the multi-headed monster, Kilika.
As he thought about it, the Sin of Hell's River surged again, as if it was dissatisfied with the humiliation it suffered in this round.
"Commanding officer, you praise me too much. I am just a —"
Kommodore responded to Mallos with a chuckle.
But before he could finish speaking, Thales' attack arrived before him again!
* Clang! *
Thales gritted his teeth and attacked with his sword, but it was blocked by Kommodore in a practiced manner. Kommodore then pressed forward and thrust his sword forward.
The teenager knew that Kommodore had all sorts of methods up his sleeves. He swung his sword to parry the attack and retreated agilely to prevent himself from being hit again.
But in the next moment, his hell's senses suddenly shuddered, and an ominous feeling surged into him again.
As expected, Thales felt a jolt in his leg.
He lost his balance!
'Damn it.'
The Sin of Hell's River roared.
Without thinking, Thales used all his strength to turn around and roll out of the battlefield in a pathetic manner!
* Thud! *
Kommodore's knee landed heavily on the sand, and it let out a frightening thud.
After this round, the Royal Guards let out a low commotion again.
But at least the teenager managed to avoid it.
Thales crawled up in shock and looked at Kommodore, who had a slightly surprised look in his eyes.
'Trip me?'
Thales really wanted to ask whether Kommodore had learned how to wrestle, or whether he knew a former watchman who also liked to trip him in close-quarters combat.
'But …'
Thales took a deep breath and straightened his body.
After this round, he understood something.
Thales did not recognize Kommodore's Power of Eradication.
But he could feel that, with his hell's senses, Kommodore's Power of Eradication had already taken form the moment the two of them came into close contact. It gathered in a certain part of his body and was ready to be unleashed.
For example, his wrist and sword hilt, his waist, and his footsteps.
Coupled with his little tricks, he could instantly unleash his Power of Eradication and catch his opponent off guard.
'And it's not just his Power of Eradication.'
Thales panted and stared at the opponent in front of him.
'It's just like what Mallos said …
'Street skills, flexible style, unconventional style, and a mixture of different styles?'
The Sin of Hell's River began to burn again, and it was even more vigorous than before.
'How … should I face such an opponent?'
Thales took a deep breath and patted the dust off his body.
'It's not that difficult, is it?'
At that moment, a figure from many years ago appeared in his memories.
That figure raised a golden saber and stretched out his burly body. He treated himself as a weapon.
That figure descended from the sky. He was ferocious and unyielding. He ignored his opponent's various tactics and withstood his countless attacks.
That figure's expression did not change. He did not hesitate at all. He broke through Ralf's obstructions, countered Wya's killing move, broke Raphael's weapon, knocked away Miranda's attack, and suppressed Kohen, who was fighting with all his might, until he was forced to retreat. He could not fight back at all.
In the end, he arrived before Thales.
He was like a wild horse that was burning with flames as it charged forward.
He charged forward recklessly.
He was unyielding and ferocious.
He charged forward with an indomitable spirit.
He broke through all obstacles.
Thales closed his eyes.
The Sin of Hell's River was self-taught. It followed his thoughts and was about to imitate that figure's Power of Eradication, but it was suppressed by Thales halfway.
'No.'
Thales was not Tolja. He was not the Fire Knight.
His opponent's Power of Eradication might not be as effective against him. He could not afford to use up so much of his energy.
And Kommodore was not one of the five people who were defeated in an instant.
'But …'
In the next second, Thales opened his eyes.
The Sin of Hell's River burned continuously and let out crackling sounds. It was like a faint sneer.
Kommodore maintained his smile as he watched the duke charge at him again.
The Royal Guards around them watched as the two figures approached each other again, but they were not very focused. Some of them even yawned.
* Clang! *
The two swords clashed.
Kommodore smiled faintly. He used a twisting sword that had the charm of Procca's defense and counterattack to launch a counterattack.
In his hell's senses, Kommodore's Power of Eradication was ready to be unleashed.
* Thud! *
Thales' shield blocked Kommodore's blade again.
This time, Kommodore's sword suddenly trembled.
Thales immediately felt that the shield was weak and powerless.
He also felt the shudder that the Sin of Hell's River reminded him of.
As expected, Kommodore smiled. His longsword cleverly bypassed Thales' shield and went straight for the teenager's sword-wielding hand!
But this time, Thales' mind was clear.
He suddenly understood a little.
How to fight.
It was the same as what he had come to understand in the past few years when he was shuttling back and forth in different political whirlpools and struggling to survive in different desperate and dangerous situations.
What was important was not power, weapon, tactical skills, or even the Power of Eradication.
It was people.
People.
His opponent's Power of Eradication was the same as Kommodore himself. He seemed simple and honest, but he was actually sly and smart. He always thought of ingenious countermeasures beforehand, and when the time came, he would follow the prescribed order and reap the fruits of his labor.
But …
The Sin of Hell's River surged up and filled Thales' left arm!
In the next second, Kommodore realized to his surprise that the prince did not dodge or avoid the attack. He used the most disadvantageous position to receive his sword.
Thales' face was filled with pain. He could not withstand it, and his longsword fell from his hand.
The guards let out soft cries of surprise. Some of the people who had some expectations for the prince shook their heads.
'Alright, this is the same as admitting defeat.'
Kommodore thought in pity.
He moved his body to avoid the duke who had lost his weapon.
He still had a lot of close-quarters combat skills, but he could not show them …
'But forget it. I was going to lose anyway …'
But Kommodore's thoughts stopped at this moment.
Because in that second, he saw to his surprise that Thales' shield, which was still attached to a few straps, smoothly slid down.
It revealed his left arm, which was already clenched into a fist.
And the duke's gaze … Kommodore stared blankly at Thales' face, which showed that he was enduring the pain with great difficulty.
* Thud! *
Another dull sound rose!
The teenager's left fist struck Kommodore's right rib violently!
The strength was astonishing.
At that moment, Mallos, who was watching the fight, furrowed his eyebrows.
Kommodore felt half of his body go numb. He could not feel his right arm.
Just as he thought that things were not going well, the duke's face, which was gritting his teeth, grew larger in his field of vision.
* Thud! *
Kommodore felt pain in his forehead. He saw stars and lost his balance.
* Thud! *
Both of them fell to the ground.
Two dull sounds were heard. Thales' shield and Kommodore's longsword fell to the ground.
A few seconds later, everyone snapped out of their daze.
Kommodore was already lying on the ground.
The former police officer was shocked and angry. He struggled to get up, but he realized that at some point of time, Thales was already sitting on top of him.
"Your … Your Grace?"
The teenager pressed his left hand against Kommodore's neck. His right arm, which had his longsword knocked out, was dragged by his side. It was trembling slightly.
The crowd, who had already relaxed, let out stifled cries of surprise again.
Mallos was deep in thought by the side of the field. He would occasionally turn his head to say something to a guard beside him.
"You did very well, Protector Gian Kommodore."
Thales panted as he looked at Kommodore, who looked ashamed and angry. He revealed a weak smile.
"But you relaxed in the end, and I had the opportunity to take advantage of it."
The exhausted teenager stood up while trembling. He looked at Kommodore, who was too ashamed to show his face.
"A small hint.
Don't do this, especially when you are facing orcs. "
Kommodore crawled up in a submissive manner. He did not even dare to look at Mallos. He apologized incoherently and left in a hurry.
It was only then that Thales exhaled.
The Sin of Hell's River was still surging in his blood vessels. Its momentum was like a flood behind a dam. It was waiting to pour down at any moment.
But at least Thales stopped attacking.
The teenager staggered backwards and turned around. He panted as he picked up the waterskin to quell the surging Sin of Hell's River.
"Even though Gian went easy on me, how should I put this …"
Doyle narrowed his eyes and looked at Kommodore's back, who was too ashamed to face the crowd.
"In a real battle, Gian will lose his throat, but our prince will also lose his right hand."
Doyle shook his head in resignation.
"This desperate move, and the method he used against Procca … As expected, our prince came back from the north."
However …
"No."
Glover spoke coldly, and his answer was simple.
"In a real battle, the prince will lose some saliva."
Doyle was stunned.
"What?
Saliva? "
Glover stared at him with a burning gaze.
"Then, Gian will be … crippled by all of us who will charge at him together."
While the crowd discussed among themselves, the two of them were silent for a while.
"Urk, what you said is …"
Doyle blinked before he nodded awkwardly and continued the conversation.
"Is … is it really that real?"
Glover ignored him and turned his head around.
"But I still can't tell." Doyle stared at Thales and asked in puzzlement,
"Does he really have the Power of Eradication?"
'But if he doesn't … how did he do it?'
Under the crowd's gazes, Thales took a deep breath and put down the waterskin.
He sensed the emptiness and excitement in his limbs after the Sin of Hell's River faded away. He ignored the crowd's discussions and sizing them up. He looked at Mallos, who did not say a word.
"Is it enough?
Have you confirmed my Power of Eradication? "
Thales said in annoyance.
"My dear leader of the personal guards?"
Everyone's eyes were focused on Mallos.
The watchman discussed with the guards beside him before he looked at Thales.
"I think I have some clues, Your Highness." He narrowed his eyes.
"But I can't confirm it yet."
Thales exhaled.
'Some clues.
'Can't confirm it?
'That means …'
As expected, Mallos nodded and raised his voice to give an order.
"Mike!
"You go."
As soon as he said this, the guards exchanged surprised and bewildered gazes.
Soon, a man in his thirties walked out from the guards. His face was smooth, his eyebrows were gentle, his clothes were neat, and he was meticulously groomed.
Thales sighed again and lamented about how time passed so slowly.
'Are they going to take turns fighting me?'
"Oh, no, he's no longer calling the people from the Defense Division and the Logistics Division." Doyle's expression changed, and he pointed at Mallos at Glover.
"This is not a good sign."
The man in his thirties came to the center and bowed respectfully.
"Mike Jonveled, Your Highness." Knight Jonveled, who was known as Mike, might be gentle and elegant, but his accent had a roughness that Thales was familiar with.
"I officially joined the Royal Guards nine years ago."
Thales nodded in resignation and returned the greeting.
Jonveled's words were concise and cautious.
"By the way, I am left-handed."
Jonveled untied the sword he wore on the opposite side of his body and picked up a practice sword from the weapon rack.
"My attacks will be more violent and … unexpected.
"Be careful."
Thales flashed a weak smile and began to dress again.
"Wait, Jonveled, this family name …"
Doyle scratched his head by the side.
"I seem to remember something?"
Glover, who was beside him, silently replied,
"Black Jonveled."
'Black … what?'
Doyle looked puzzled.
Glover did not even look at him. He only said quietly,
"The executioner family during the Red King's era was once among the Seven Jadestars Attendants. There were more than three titled counts who died in their hands.
"Until the Virtuous King was crowned, and during the rebellion trial, they were convicted one by one. They were held accountable for their crimes, and their titles and fiefdoms were taken away."
Doyle looked as if he had just come to a realization.
Glover was expressionless.
"But you should know better than I do."
Doyle frowned again.
"Why?"
Glover slowly turned to Doyle.
"Because of Black Jonveled and White Doyle."
Doyle was slightly stunned.
"The Red King had two attendants, and the widow cried day and night."
Glover said coldly,
"Two hundred years ago, your family was as famous as them."
Danny Doyle blinked.
"Wow." After a while, Doyle turned his head around in embarrassment and numbness.
"Is that so?"
'You even know this?'
While they were still chatting, Thales had already gone up against Jonveled's sword!
Just like Kommodore, Jonveled did not hold back at all. He took the initiative to attack.
But this time, Thales' expression changed the moment his opponent delivered his first attack!
Jonveled was different from his previous two opponents.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Three sharp sounds rose!
Jonveled's expression was calm. The sword in his left hand moved quickly, and he continuously threatened Thales' chest, calf, and arm!
After blocking three times, Thales was forced to take three steps back. He was surprised and strenuously resisted his opponent's attacks.
Compared to the older Procca and the short and sturdy Kommodore, the knight with the outstanding appearance was expressionless. His attacks were simple and direct, and there were no flourishes!
With a familiar feeling, Thales did not even have time to catch his breath. Before he could stabilize his footing, Jonveled's attack arrived again!
The Sin of Hell's River roared indignantly and surged into Thales' arm, but it could only support him in quickly defending himself.
Clang!
Jonveled's expression was indifferent, but the longsword in his hand became swifter and swifter. He did not deviate and went straight. The tip of his sword was aimed at the parts that Thales found difficult and unstable during his previous defense — his legs and wrists. He attacked continuously.
The worst thing was that Thales rarely fought against enemies who held swords in their left hands. In his opinion, every time Jonveled attacked, the angle of his attack was tricky, unexpected, and difficult for him to defend against.
But his attacks were also very forceful, causing him to have a hard time defending himself. He could only retreat continuously to avoid the attack!
It was to the extent that Thales almost lost his footing during his eighth defense. He did it while he leaned back in a pathetic manner, and he was close to his limit.
Even so, Thales' arm was still grazed an inch by his opponent's blunt sword, which had not been sharpened. It was incredibly painful.
But before he could rest, Jonveled's next attack came from the spot where he was grazed!
Thales was forced to grit his teeth and activate the Sin of Hell's River. Perhaps it was because he was almost driven mad by the repeated setbacks, but …
He retreated.
And every time he took a step back, Jonveled's advantage in his next attack would increase a little, causing Thales' defense to become more and more dangerous!
Thales felt the tremors on his shield and sword, as well as the pain and numbness in his muscles. The more he fought, the more fearful he became.
He was constantly being attacked, and he did not even have the chance to counterattack.
Thales could not help but be reminded of his time in Heroic Spirit Palace. The Northlanders' attacks were also as violent and swift as this. They did not give him any chance to catch his breath.
Jonveled's attack had clearly shocked the Royal Guards and the spectators. Many of them pointed at him and discussed about something.
Even Mallos nodded repeatedly as he watched.
"What the heck." By the side, Doyle widened his eyes.
"There's such an amazing person in our team?"
Even Glover was rather surprised.
"Either his opponent is too weak, or he's hiding his strength."
"When I was in Renaissance Palace, I never heard of such a person in the Vanguard Division."
But compared to the spectators who were pleased with themselves and commenting on the fight, Thales was not in a good mood.
He gritted his teeth and used his shield to withstand Jonveled's full-powered slash. Then, he activated the Sin of Hell's River at all costs and finally launched a counterattack.
At least he managed to force Jonveled's attack to slow down.
But his opponent only paused for a moment. His face did not turn red, and he did not pant. Then, he attacked again and dragged the fight back to its previous rhythm.
Thales was about to go crazy!
At that moment, he was like a small boat floating in a stormy sea. He was doing his best to tug on the sails to ensure that the boat would not capsize.
But the water at the bottom of the boat was getting deeper.
He could not hold on anymore!
But his opponent's Power of Eradication was endless. With hell's senses, Thales could even see his opponent's skin shining like stars!
"Your Highness, you should be very familiar with this style, right?"
Soon, that familiar but very annoying voice rose.
When Mallos' voice faded away, Jonveled withdrew his sword and retreated with ease, perhaps because it was related to him, or because he respected his superior. He stopped attacking.
Thales finally had a chance to catch his breath. He did not have to defend himself so hard anymore, so he panted heavily. At the same time, he placed his shield and longsword on the ground. The Sin of Hell's River seized the opportunity and surged into his body, relieving his soreness and the small injuries he suffered during the battle.
Mallos spoke slowly and nodded at Flag Bearer Fuby beside him.
"Although he was born in the Central Territory, Mike had a cruel stepmother. He was sent to a poor relative's house in the Northern Territory when he was young. He was raised by a knight of the Northern Territory.
As soon as he finished speaking, many guards cast their gazes at Jonveled.
"Sir, you are actually …" Mike Jonveled forced himself to smile.
"Don't mention stepmothers."
Mallos smiled apologetically. He then looked at Thales and said with a serious expression, "That's right.
"Since the establishment of Constellation, the martial arts of the Northern Sect have been passed down among the knights of the Land of Cliffs and the Northern Territory. They have absorbed the experience of fighting against the Eckstedtians over the years, and after years of accumulation, they formed their own school.
Thales panted in pain and shook his head at Mallos to show that he had heard him.
"They have the advantage of the Northland barbarians in seizing the opportunity to attack and advocate suppression, but they also retain the traditional skills of Constellation's knights. They work hard to achieve a balance between offense and defense, and they complement each other. They pay special attention to the transition between offense and defense, as well as their determination during critical moments."
There was delight in Mallos' tone.
"Hence, the knights of the Northern Sect in the kingdom are also known as the Attack and Defense Sect. Their offense is fierce, and their rhythm is fast. Their transitions between offense and defense are smooth.
"When they fight against them, if they are careless …
"They will suffer a crushing defeat, and they will lose everything."
'Northern Sect?
Attack and Defense Sect?
Their offense is fierce, and their rhythm is fast …
Attack while defending, and defense while attacking … '
Thales' breathing became smoother. He raised his head in puzzlement and looked at Jonveled, who was not panting at all and was fighting with ease.
Jonveled nodded at him respectfully.
"As for the typical representative among them …"
Mallos crossed his arms in a relaxed manner and gave a nickname that made many people fall into deep thought.
"I believe that you must have heard of the Kingdom's Wrath?"
Thales froze for a moment.
Kingdom's Wrath?
Many years ago, the scene of him breaking out of the Broken Dragon Fortress flashed in his mind.
If one was careless when facing an enemy …
It was a crushing defeat, a complete loss …
The prince took a deep breath.
Hehe.
The corners of Thales' lips curled up.
He had more than heard of it.
But …
Wait a minute!
Thales stared at Jonveled and narrowed his eyes.
No, not just the Kingdom's Wrath.
He was not the only one.
Several different figures appeared in front of him.
They were Barney Junior, who was fighting for his life in the dungeon, and Bruley, who had lost the ability to speak and was charging around like a bear.
It was them.
Knights of the Northern Faction, right?
Finally, Thales took a deep breath and stood up.
"Let us see, Your Highness." Mallos smiled faintly.
"Over the past six years, when you faced Eckstedtian style martial arts …"
Mallos' eyes shone brightly, and it shot straight at Thales' sweaty face.
"How did he deal with it?"
()
Stealing Fragrance
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