The Ashen Dominion
Chapter 80 - Hardwork & Talent [5]

Chapter 80: 80 - Hardwork & Talent [5]

CRACK-

"Keuk...?!"

Edmar groaned in pain, his face twisted in agony as the sting from his cracked bicep throbbed through his arm!

BAM!

He clenched his jaw and quickly jumped back—letting Kaiser’s attack fling him a few meters away to avoid any follow-up and absorb some of the impact.

But—

In doing so, he left something behind... His sword. It was still stabbed into Kaiser’s stomach.

And Kaiser didn’t waste time—

SHIIIK—!

"Gurgh...!"

Blood trailed down as he gritted his teeth and pulled the blade out with a sharp motion. His face twitched.

He stared at Edmar with blood dripping from his stomach... and now holding two swords, one in each hand.

"I’m going to borrow this for a while."

He declared that with a smirk on his face, raising Edmar’s sword slightly in his left hand.

"...!"

"He survived that?!"

"How?!!"

"That kid is sturdy as hell!"

The crowd was surprised after seeing Kaiser move like his wound isn’t a big deal. The arena was filled with tension again—cheers and shouts echoing over the walls, nobles and merchants alike stunned by the grit and tenacity on display.

Well, what actually happened earlier was— Kaiser saw Edmar’s left sword coming at him, but he can’t block and avoid it, he was sure it would hit.

But instead of panicking, he just twisted his torso at the last second, avoiding a life-threatening wound! And as soon as he felt the cold metal in his body, he grabbed Edmar’s wrist with his left hand to prevent him from getting away!

Then he swung his greatsword with his right hand as strong as he can! It was a lot weaker and harder to control that using both hands; but he doesn’t really have to aim much, and the power isn’t half-bad at all!

So now, this is the result of his quick and calm thinking!

Anyway, moving on... Edmar’s breathing turned a bit heavy.

"Fuuuu..."

He flexed his fingers... and his left hand barely responded.

His bicep throbbed. He couldn’t even lift his arm properly now.

"Tch."

He clicked his tongue in frustration. His only weapon was the sword still in his right hand—and Kaiser had both his greatsword and the sword he left behind.

But even more troubling than that, despite his wound on his stomach...

Kaiser was still standing.

Still smirking.

Still ready to fight.

Edmar narrowed his eyes.

"...You’re not normal."

He muttered under his breath.

Kaiser raised both blades and took a stance. Even with all the cuts on his body—his spirit was raging hotter than ever.

"That’s right, I’m abnormal."

He replied, smirking.

Though Kaiser wore a brave smirk on his face, he was well aware of the truth. As the fight dragged on, the odds would slowly turn against him.

Behind all the bravado he was showing... The wound on his stomach continued to gush blood—bit by bit, second by second.

FWIP-

He tightened his grip on the swords in both hands.

’I hope I can do this... I haven’t wielded a sword with my left hand ever.’

That thought crossed his mind just as—

BAM!

He kicked off the ground and charged at Edmar without wasting another second!

SWISH—

Kaiser quickly reached Edmar and immediately slashed with his left sword! But as he expected—

TIING!

Edmar easily blocked it.

The swing lacked weight. It was wobbly, unrefined—his left hand just didn’t have the same control as his right.

"Dual wielding isn’t easy, brat...!"

Edmar snarled, his grin widening.

His sword slid down the length of Kaiser’s blade with practiced ease, and with a smooth flick—

SWISH—!

He countered with a quick thrust aimed straight at Kaiser’s head!

"Gugh...!"

Kaiser jerked his head sideways at the last possible second, the blade slicing the air just beside his ear!

No time to think—

FWOOOSH!

Kaiser swung his greatsword horizontally in retaliation, trying to create distance and space.

"It won’t work again...!"

But this time, Edmar crouched slightly, reading the incoming blow! Then, bracing himself—

CLANG!

Their weapons clashed once more, a sharp ring echoing across the arena!

SHIIK—!

Kaiser’s greatsword slid up and past Edmar’s head, deflected with precision!

He had skillfully parried it, nullifying the power behind the massive weapon!

"...!"

Kaiser’s eyes widened, and before he could even do something—

SLASH!

"Grgh...!?"

Pain flared across his abdomen as Edmar’s sword bit into him again!

It was another shallow but bleeding wound! It’s not deep, but it worsen the blood loss Kaiser was experiencing!

Tap- Tap-

Kaiser staggered back, but—

FWIP—!

Edmar was already closing the distance!

’Tch... I can’t catch a break...!’

So Kaiser just gritted his teeth—

CLANG! SWOOSH! TANG—!

Then their blades clashed again—sharp, fast, and relentless.

Despite having lost one sword and suffering a crack in his left arm, Edmar’s speed hadn’t slowed. His movements were still sharp, fluid, and very calculated.

And Kaiser...

T I I I N G—!! TANG!

He tried to match him—his greatsword in his right hand, the borrowed sword in his left!

CLANG!

He blocked with the flat of the greatsword.

TINK!

He parried with the short sword.

FWOOSH~

He sidestepped, ducked, twisted, and leaned to avoid the attacks—

But still—

SLASH!

Another shallow wound appeared on his thigh.

CLINK—!

A glancing cut on his shoulder next.

TSSK!

Then a sharp sting across his side.

His body was accumulating damage.

Small cuts at first—but they were adding up.

And with each second passing—

His grip weakened.

His knees buckled more with every dodge.

His swings were a little slower.

His vision blurred just slightly from the blood loss.

Though nevertheless...

"HAAAAA—!!!"

SLASH!

Kaiser didn’t fall.

He stood his ground.

His eyes glared back at Edmar with unyielding resolve!

Edmar frowned slightly, clearly annoyed.

Then out of nowhere—

"YOU CAN HAVE THIS BACK!"

WHISH—!

Kaiser hurled the sword in his left hand straight at Edmar! He was getting frustrated in using it, it was just getting in his way!

"...?!"

Caught off guard, Edmar’s instincts kicked in—he raised his blade and parried it!

CLANG—!

The sword clattered a few meters away, sliding across the sand.

Then the moment Edmar brought his eyes back forward—

Kaiser was already there!

W H O O O S H—!!

And he brought down his greatsword in a devastating overhead slash without hesitation!

"...!"

Edmar’s eyes widened—he immediately dove to the right!

BOOM!

He dodged on time, the greatsword slammed into the ground, sending sand and dust flying!

But before Edmar could even recover from that—

WHOOSH—!

Kaiser forcefully twisted his body and swung horizontally with full force!

T A A A N G—!!!

"URGH...!"

This time, Edmar was forced to block it head-on! The impact shook through his entire arm, rattling his bones!

SHIIK—!

He tried to tilt his sword again to deflect it like before— But Kaiser was ready for that.

THUD!

"GAAHH!!"

A vicious side kick from Kaiser’s left foot smashed into Edmar’s stomach! The impact lifted him slightly off the ground before he crashed back down!

He groaned but didn’t stay down for long—he rolled back, gritting his teeth, and sprang to his feet, regaining his stance.

"WHOOOOOAAAAHHH!!!"

"THE KID IS STILL IN THE FIGHT!"

"YOU CAN STILL DO IT, KID...!"

The crowd erupted in gasps and cheers!

Even injured, Kaiser was still relentless.

So with that; the two of them continued clashing!

CLANG! CLANG! FWISH! TINK!

Their blades sang through the air.

Kaiser focused entirely on blocking, conserving his strength and waiting for an opening to counter.

On the other hand... Edmar was dancing around him, dodging his retaliations with swift footwork and calculated movement.

SWISH~

Edmar slid past Kaiser’s attacks without much effort, he was faster than him after all!

SLASH!

He kept on adding new cuts on Kaiser’s body! He knew it too... He would win if this continues!

Then, at that moment—

S W O O O S H—!!

Kaiser unleashed another wide swing!

"..."

Edmar just calmly stared at it, it was so slow for him.

Bam!

He casually leaped back to avoid it.

And seeing that... Kaiser smiled...

As Edmar was suspended in mid-air—

FWIP—!

Kaiser’s left hand reached behind his back and pulled out a javelin.

And in a single, fluid motion—

WHISH!

He hurled it at Edmar at point-blank range!

"...?!"

They were only a few meters apart—Edmar couldn’t dodge it!

So instead—

THUNK—!

He was forced to parry it with his sword mid-air, his entire body twisting in the process!

But the moment his feet hit the ground—

"I CAUGHT YOU...!"

Kaiser was already in front of him—arms raised high, greatsword gleaming under the sun!

Edmar’s eyes widened.

’FUCK—!!’

He cursed inside his head as he quickly raised his sword above him with both hands, bracing for impact.

Then—

CLAAAANG—!!!

THUD!!!

"GAAHHH?!!"

Kaiser’s greatsword slammed down, crashing into Edmar’s guard like an avalanche!

The sheer force of the attack drove Edmar into the ground, the sand exploding upward as his back bounced off the arena floor!

"...!"

The whole coliseum held its breath.

"Haaaaaa..."

And Kaiser stood towering over Edmar, breathing heavily, blood still dripping down his torso.

But his grip?

Still solid.