Free Web NovelChapter 319: Chapter 307: Fierce Battle
The azure light flaring from the Mithril Short Spear grew intensely bright, and then it let out a sharp, piercing shriek...
The next moment, it violently exploded!
This was no ordinary explosion of scattering metal fragments. Instead, it was a terrifying maelstrom formed by Magic Power condensed to its limit, which had suddenly lost control and unleashed itself in a wild torrent.
A visible ring of azure Energy Shock rapidly expanded outward from the short spear’s center. The air distorted violently, emitting a teeth-grinding, tearing sound.
Unlike the crude, unstable explosion of an ordinary iron weapon forced to bear Magic Power, this maelstrom, guided and triggered by pure Mithril, exhibited entirely different properties.
Mithril’s excellent magic-conducting properties meant the Energy didn’t simply spray outward. Instead, it formed countless sharp, chaotic, and highly piercing Magic Energy Blades.
Like a suddenly blooming, deadly crystal spike ball, it ruthlessly cut and devoured everything within its range.
Leonard bore the brunt of it.
His heavy Armor let out a piercing wail in the face of the raging magical maelstrom, sending sparks and motes of Magic light bursting in all directions.
He let out a muffled grunt. His frame, once steady as a mountain, was sent stumbling back several steps by the sudden, immense force, each footfall leaving a deep imprint in the hard ground.
But the shockwave didn’t stop there. The azure Energy Blades screamed across the ground, plowing charred gullies of varying depths into the frozen earth. The few stubborn clumps of withered grass in their path were instantly ignited, only to be immediately annihilated.
Dozens of the closest soldiers, despite raising their Shields, were still violently knocked to the ground by this invisible tide of Magic Power, and their formation fell into a brief state of Chaos.
Following the violent release of Energy, a thick cloud of grayish-white dust mixed with the dissipating glow of Magic and surged skyward.
Like a suddenly fallen curtain, it spread rapidly, temporarily obscuring both sides’ view and swallowing the scene at the explosion’s epicenter in a hazy blur.
Reggie and all the students from the River Domain gasped almost in unison, staring in horror at the rising dust cloud and the lingering glow of Magic.
To witness a weapon erupt with such horrifying power at such close range was far beyond their comprehension.
This simply wasn’t a technique an ordinary person could wield.
"Goddess above..."
One of the students muttered instinctively, his knuckles white from gripping his sword hilt too tightly.
Reggie’s shock was more complex. He was awed by the sudden destructive power, but he also realized in an instant that this was far from over.
He opened his mouth, about to shout a warning to Roland.
However, the words caught in his throat.
Because he saw the figure in front of him already moving, before the dust from the explosion had even fully spread.
There was no trace of triumph or relief on Roland’s face for having successfully triggered the explosion. His sharp eyes held only absolute calm and focus.
He knew better than anyone that for a true Extraordinary, an impact of this level might cause a moment of disarray, but it could never decide the outcome of the fight.
The dust billowed like a thick curtain, obscuring all vision.
But Roland didn’t need his eyes at all.
His keen Perception Power, like invisible feelers, had already pierced through the obscuring haze and locked firmly onto the life aura at the center of the dust—an aura that, while slightly chaotic, remained deep and powerful.
Leonard was still there.
Without the slightest hesitation, without even a backward glance at his stunned companions, Roland’s figure blurred. Like a cheetah melting into the Shadows, he plunged resolutely into the chaotic cloud of dust that obscured all vision.
BAM!
CLANG!
CLANK!
Heavy impacts and sharp, metallic clashes erupted in quick succession, one following the other without pause.
The two figures crossed, separated, and collided again at high speed within the lingering smoke and dust.
Roland’s Mithril Longsword became a series of silver arcs, launching swift slashes and thrusts from all manner of cunning angles.
Leonard, however, was like a boulder, using his Metal Arm Guards or heavy Arm Armor to block and deflect, each defense as unyielding as a mountain.
His occasional straight punches and hooks tore through the air with a muffled roar, forcing Roland to constantly change his position.
They exchanged several rounds of offense and defense in an extremely short time, their movements dizzyingly fast.
The flying sparks and the shockwaves from their collisions violently churned the surrounding air, completely dispelling the residual dust and smoke and briefly revealing the center of the battlefield.
A moment later, Roland used the force of a blow to slide backward. A distinct, tingling numbness spread through his right arm, and the web of his sword hand felt slightly hot.
Across from him, after Leonard steadied himself, a clear ripple of emotion disturbed his steady gaze for the first time.
Shock, and a hint of disbelief.
In their brief but furious exchange, he was absolutely certain of one thing.
The young man before him had a calm aura, his strength merely on par with that of an ordinary Extraordinary.
And yet this "Extraordinary," who had not only made him suffer a minor setback with a bizarre Enchanted Weapon, was now matching him—a true Extraordinary Knight—in a direct confrontation, trading blows for several rounds with pure Power, speed, and exquisite skill without falling behind.
This completely defied his understanding of common sense.
’Strong! He’s very strong!’
Roland shook out his slightly numb arm and raised an eyebrow.
Although he hadn’t used his full strength in those probing attacks, the reverberations from every clash of their blades felt as heavy as striking an immovable iron mountain.
’This proves that Reggie’s assessment of Leonard wasn’t the least bit exaggerated.’
’A champion among Extraordinary Knights... His reputation is truly well-deserved.’
Seeing the surrounding soldiers gradually recovering from the explosion and reforming their ranks, Roland’s gaze sharpened.
[Concentration], activated!
[Fermented Battle Intent], activated!
The blood in his veins felt as if it had been set ablaze. He stomped his feet hard, and with a muffled BOOM, he once again shot toward Leonard like an arrow loosed from a bow.
The battle erupted once more in an instant.
His offensive, a combination of [A Knight Does Not Die Unarmed] and [Martial Combat Step], was at times as heavy as a mountain, and at others as nimble as the wind.
This constantly shifting, unpredictable rhythm made it difficult for Leonard to fully adapt, and for a moment, he seemed to be struggling to parry.
However, after only a few breaths, the experienced Extraordinary figured out Roland’s patterns with astonishing adaptability.
He calmly adjusted his stance and, with heavier, more precise defenses and powerful, weighty counterattacks, gradually turned the tide and forced Roland back on the defensive.
The scales of victory seemed to be slowly tipping.
Meanwhile, the battle elsewhere had fully erupted.
Perhaps it was because these ambushing Golden Valley Kingdom soldiers lacked true battlefield experience, or perhaps they were merely the private soldiers of some nobleman, untested by the crucible of war.
Their strength was clearly far inferior to that of the Iron-blooded Warriors led by Sean whom they had previously encountered on the streets—veterans returned from the border. For the most part, these soldiers were still within the realm of ordinary men.
As for the students, who had been carefully selected from the nations of the River Domain, they may have had limited combat experience, but thanks to the immense resources their Kingdoms had invested in them, they had all, without exception, stepped into the Domain of the Extraordinary.
Therefore, despite the Golden Valley Soldiers having an absolute numerical advantage, the battle unexpectedly fell into a tense stalemate.
And as for Reggie...
"Cough... cough cough..."
The Knight Academy instructor spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva and coughed violently, his eyes locked dead ahead.
A tall figure stood there, completely encased in black heavy Armor, its face concealed behind a full helm.
The web of his hand had already split open, sending waves of searing pain up his arm, but Reggie endured it. Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on his Longsword and charged forward again.
The once-silent wilderness was now drowned in a cacophony of battle cries, clashing metal, and agonized screams.
And the Extraordinary duel between Roland and Leonard continued.
