The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 79 - Hardwork & Talent [4]

Chapter 79: 79 - Hardwork & Talent [4]

"Tch."

Edmar clicked his tongue, irritated.

BAM!

Then he kicked off the ground again and rushed at Kaiser for the second time! This time, much faster! More aggressive!

But Kaiser didn’t panic.

He was already waiting.

FWIP-

His legs were firm. His grip on the hilt of his greatsword tightened.

Then—

S W I S H—!!

Kaiser swung his blade horizontally with full strength the moment Edmar entered his reach!

A heavy slash aiming to take him out in one blow!

But—

"..."

Edmar’s face didn’t even twitch.

To him, the swing was slow. Too slow.

He raised both of his swords casually in front of him to block it. He planned to continue forward after that and cut off Kaiser’s arm while he recovered from the wide swing.

Though—

T A A A N G—!!!

The instant the greatsword collided with his blades—

"UGH...!"

Edmar’s eyes widened in shock as he felt his arms trembled!

The impact was far stronger than he had expected! It felt like a huge hammer smashed into his bones!

FWOOSH—!!!

The force blasted him away!

THUD—!

He hit the ground and rolled backward several meters before finally regaining balance and skidding to a stop!

"...?!"

Edmar frowned, more annoyed this time. He glared at Kaiser who was also looking at him.

’That brat... His strength isn’t normal...’

He thought to himself.

Meanwhile, Kaiser—

"Fuuuuu..."

He exhaled calmly, eyes locked on Edmar.

FWISH~

He slowly raised his greatsword. The same relaxed posture he had before. But now—

Everyone watching knew better.

He wasn’t someone Edmar could just push around.

"YEAHHHHHH!!!"

The crowd exploded with cheers!

"HE SENT HIM FLYING!"

"WHAT POWER!!! IS HE REALLY ONLY SIXTEEN?!!"

But neither Kaiser nor Edmar paid attention to them.

Their focus was locked only on each other.

Edmar readjusted his grip on his swords.

Kaiser readied his greatsword again.

They weren’t done yet.

Not even close.

*****

(Kaiser’s POV )

"..."

I looked at Edmar who was glaring at me, he flung a few meters away because of my last attack.

I glanced down at the greatsword in my hands.

’It feels light now.’

I thought, feeling my grip on it. A slight smile formed on my lips.

Then, without wasting another second—

BAM!

"I’LL ATTACK THIS TIME...!"

I kicked off the ground and rushed toward Edmar, my heartbeat pounding, adrenaline rushing through every inch of my body!

SWOOSH—

I swung horizontally from right to left the moment I got into his range— putting everything behind it!

But Edmar—

Swish~

He casually stepped back and avoided it like it was nothing. I already expected it though.

Then I saw him preparing to counter!

’Oh no, you don’t...!’

THUD!

I couldn’t swing right away again, so I raised my leg and launched a right side kick!

Forcing Edmar to stop his attack— Instead, he raised his right knee and blocked my foot with a frown in his face!

Good.

I wasn’t giving him that counter so easily!

Then from that position—

TAP!

I planted my right foot back down, and using the weight and flow of my own movement—

FWOOSH!

I drew a wide crescent over my head and brought the blade crashing down! It’s a vertical downward slash!

B A M—!

I saw the surprise flash in Edmar’s eyes. He dodged, yeah— but he had to back off again.

"Tch."

I heard him click his tongue in annoyance. He probably doesn’t like the fact that he had to dodge a brat’s attack.

I noticed the crack where my blade struck. I ignored it.

Because I wasn’t done yet!

Tap— tap—!

I kicked off again and lunged at Edmar before he could even recover properly! He was still moving back, probably didn’t expect I’d close the gap immediately!

SWOOOOSH—!

Then I swung my blade upward from the ground!

"...!"

Edmar’s eyes widened. He crossed both his swords in front of him and—

TIIING—!!

Our weapons collided again! Sparks flew. The shock from my swing pushed his arms up—flung wide open!

’YOU’RE WIDE OPEN...!’

I exclaimed in my head as a grin appeared on my face.

Though, just then—

BAM!

"Urgh...?!"

I felt a heavy impact on my stomach! And when I looked down— I saw Edmar’s left foot pressed against it!

He had hit me with a front kick! Then, using me as a foothold—

FWOOSH~

He propelled himself backwards, putting distance between us!

He got away.

"Tsk."

That was annoying.

Edmar landed softly, frowning at me... Then, after that—

"You’re getting cocky, kid."

He opened his mouth and said that.

"I’ll get serious this time."

He added, getting into a fighting stance.

And this time...

SWOOSH~

The air around him felt heavier.

"Bring it on."

I replied, taking a stance too. I wasn’t about to get intimidated.

*****

After fixing his stance—

BAM!

Edmar rushed at Kaiser again, eyes locked and movements sharp. He was more serious now—no wasted motion, no hesitation!

SWOOSH—

Kaiser, seeing him approach, swung his greatsword in a powerful horizontal arc to stop his advance! The weight of his blade cut through the air, a direct hit would have surely crushed anyone in its path!

But Edmar wasn’t just anyone, and he already learned his lesson from earlier.

SWISH—

At the last moment, he ducked low, letting the heavy blade sweep over his head harmlessly!

Then he got in close—too close for Kaiser to properly swing again!

FWOOSH—!

Edmar drove his right sword forward, aiming straight for Kaiser’s stomach!

Kaiser’s eyes widened. His arms were still extended from the previous swing—he wouldn’t make it in time to recover and block with his blade.

So instead—

TINK!

He let go of the greatsword’s hilt with his left hand and raised his arm just in time— Edmar’s blade struck the metal vambrace guarding his forearm!

But Edmar didn’t stop there.

Without even blinking—

SWOOSH—!

His left sword came thrusting next, aimed low and fast, targeting Kaiser’s exposed side while his balance was still off!

"Shit...!"

Kaiser cursed under his breath.

He knew he couldn’t move quickly enough to retreat. The greatsword was too heavy to pull back into defense, and the weight of the three javelins strapped to his back dragged him down even further.

He had no choice.

"GRRRGH!!!"

Fwish~

With a grunt, he twisted his torso violently—muscles straining, the motion rough and painful. It wasn’t enough to dodge the attack completely, but it was enough to avoid a direct hit.

SLASH—!

"KEUK...!"

A shallow cut opened up across his right waist. Blood spilled instantly, staining the fabric beneath his leather armor!

"Ghhh—!"

Kaiser gritted his teeth. Then he forced his legs to push off the ground.

BAM!

He leapt back with all his strength, finally putting some distance between them.

But Edmar wasn’t letting up—!

BAM!

The moment Kaiser retreated, Edmar kicked off the ground again, dashing forward like a predator that caught the scent of blood!

His eyes sharp, steps calculated—he wasn’t going to let this advantage slip!

’Persistent bastard!’

And so with that; the two of them clashed again!

CLANG! TINK! TIIING—!

Edmar’s dual swords danced like fangs, sharp and relentless.

He was fast.

Kaiser did everything he could to hold his ground—using the flat of his greatsword as a massive shield, turning his arms to deflect with his metal vambraces. His steps were heavy, deliberate—he was clearly not built for speed. But he fought with grit, bracing for every blow.

Still—

SLASH!

"Gh—!"

Thin red lines began appearing on his body; on his shoulder, across his thigh, along his ribs. The cuts weren’t deep, but they were adding up.

Edmar’s speed was simply overwhelming. Kaiser could see the strikes coming—but he couldn’t react fast enough to stop them all.

"WHERE’S YOUR CONFIDENCE NOW, BRAT?!"

Edmar barked, grinning wildly between strikes, his blades moving like a blur. He slashed high, then low, then twisted for a spin-cut that Kaiser barely deflected.

C L A N G—!!!

"YOU CHALLENGED ME—AND THIS IS THE BEST YOU CAN DO?! PATHETIC!!!"

He laughed with delight, feeling the tide turning completely in his favor.

But through all of it...

TUNK— TING— TAANG—!

"..."

Kaiser didn’t say a word.

His jaw was clenched. His brows furrowed. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth—but his eyes never lost focus.

Then—

TING!

Edmar swung his left sword in a wide arc—hard and fast! The sheer force of it smacked against Kaiser’s greatsword and shoved it slightly to the side!

That was the opening.

PHUCK—!

"GHHK—!!!"

Edmar didn’t hesitate. He stabbed his right sword forward—and this time, it landed clean. The blade buried deep into Kaiser’s stomach!

"You’re wide open".

Edmar said, a smirk forming on his face.

But then—

Fwip—

Something grabbed his wrist.

His eyes darted down—Kaiser’s left hand was clutching his right wrist in a vice grip!

And before he could even respond—

"AND SO ARE YOU...!"

SWOOSH—!!!

Kaiser swung his massive greatsword in a horizontal sweep with just his right hand! It came from the side!

"Wha—?!"

Edmar’s eyes widened—he couldn’t pull his right sword out nor retreat back because of Kaiser’s grip on him! So desperately; he threw up his left sword to block the incoming attack!

C L A N G—!

Steel met steel—but Kaiser’s strength was monstrous even with just one hand, adding the weight of his weapon too.

"GURGH...?!!"

Edmar’s block didn’t hold!

His sword was pushed back, and along with the greatsword—they smashed into his right bicep!

TWHACK!

"GAH—!!"

The impact didn’t just bruise him—

CRACK-

It also broke his bone a bit too!