Chapter 45

A week after the summons in Eterno Hall.

Killian, who had completely recovered from his reflux symptoms, had formally requested the Head Apothecary to educate Haman, had another round of negotiations with the two Matriarchs, and had developed minor relationships with several other people.

And he resumed his activities as the Tactician of the knight order.

Clang.

Julian, who had started using a real sword even in training since two days ago.

Claaang.

A clear sound echoed in his private training ground.

Julian, who had blocked several strikes, smiled with satisfaction.

If he wasn't satisfied with having an ‘equal’ exchange with one of the family's top 6-star knights, it would be a lie.

“Have you made your choice?”

“About what?”

Killian asked back, swinging his sword in the air.

It was because he needed meticulous control of his strength to match Julian's level.

Just as the fastest way to adapt to a Superhuman's Mana was to compress the space-dominating Carpe, the fastest way to adapt to a Superhuman's body was to face knights and correct the subtle differences.

That was the reason for the recent increase in the frequency of their spars.

‘I can put a little more power into it.’

Clang.

“……!!”

Julian gritted his teeth at the sword that had become heavier in a moment.

“…Let's be together, Killian.”

“Did you get the sword?”

The condition Killian had presented to Emma Eurasia was Adamas.

It was virtually the same as refusing the offer.

“No, apart from my mother's wishes, I… Keuk!!”

Julian knelt on one knee at the relentlessly swung sword.

Killian looked down at him with an indifferent gaze, his sword pointed at him.

In a now familiar composition, Julian continued speaking.

“Since the subjugation, my brothers have been recruiting personnel. Shouldn't we start preparing as well?”

“Are you planning to expand the size of the knight order?”

“Yes. I'm thinking of entrusting you with the commandership of the newly founded knight order. Sephiroth is already recruiting apothecaries.”

‘He's been moving busily since returning to the family, preparing a rather plausible plan.’

A huge amount of funds was needed to expand a knight order.

Seeing him proceed so boldly, it seemed Emma Eurasia's skills were beyond his expectations.

“Adamas… is a sword that is now treated like a legend. You may not need it for now since you received the Aether from the Head, but I heard my mother is looking into new treasures and spiritual medicines for you.”

Julian, catching his breath, stood up and held out his hand.

“Let's be together, Killian. Help me rebuild Eurasia.”

After experiencing the subjugation, he had learned to speak quite plausibly.

Even so, it was still too early to take Emma Eurasia's hand.

“I won't abandon the Blue Knight Order, so don't worry.”

“Then…”

“I decline the position of commander. The position of Tactician is more suitable for now.”

The Blue Knight Order had just now shed its mercenary-like feel and reached a level where it could be called a knight order.

‘The advantages of the Blue Knight Order are its ample funds and number of personnel.’

Knights who were steadily recruited, numbering over three hundred.

If, in 10 years, the average strength of the Blue Knight Order reached the 4th star, the overall strength of Eurasia would increase significantly.

‘Three hundred 4-star knights. That would be enough to be called a minor kingdom.’

Paian was striving to resurrect the Black Knight Order, and Demian was striving to grow the White Knight Order.

The Red Knight Order under Escardo was steadily producing 5-star and 6-star knights.

If the current growth trend continued, they would be able to possess a strength similar to that of Edan's era within 30 years.

Moreover, the family had a hidden strength that he had not yet fully grasped.

Killian glanced at his new sword hanging on the wall of the private training ground.

‘Aether.’

The sword symbolizing a member of the Annihilation Squad, which handled the family's affairs in the shadows.

The Head had not said anything in particular, but he had personally confirmed that it had not only the ability to absorb Mana, but also the ability to seal Mana.

‘Loen said it was because the Aether was made of Arden steel… but not all swords could be of the same level.’

Even if a special steel was used, a famed sword of this level was difficult to produce even from the hands of a master craftsman.

Moreover, the scabbard of the Aether that Killian had been bestowed with was engraved with countless scars.

It was one of two things.

Either the owner of the sword had died, or it had been retrieved after he had retired due to unavoidable circumstances.

Considering the nature of the Annihilation Squad, the former was more likely.

The family had started operating the Annihilation Squad after Simon became the Head.

‘It seems I'll have to meet them in person…’

He had not received any particular instructions from the Head or Escardo since the summons in Eterno Hall.

‘The Head Apothecary said the Head was testing me once again.’

After a moment of thought, Killian picked up the Aether that had been hanging on the wall.

Swoosh.

Just by grasping the hilt, an amount of Mana equivalent to the 3rd star was drawn in.

“Try to cut me.”

“What?”

“Didn't you get a good sword recently?”

“No…”

Julian's face hardened as his lips parted.

‘You're a 6-star knight and I'm a 3-star knight.’

He wanted to say that, but the words wouldn't come out.

“If you cut me even once, I will accept the offer. I will also withdraw all the conditions I presented to the Matriarch the other day.”

“Is that really true?!!”

“You can use Mana. Pour out everything you have. I won't use Mana.”

“W-wait.”

“Why?”

“One more thing. There's a condition.”

“You have a lot of conditions today. What is it?”

“If I cut you even once… from now on, use honorifics to me even in training!”

“Is that all?”

Killian smiled a good-natured smile and nodded.

“Alright!!”

Julian shouted and grabbed his sword that had been hanging on the wall.

Red Flame Sword. It was a magic sword that Julian had acquired through his Matriarch after the subjugation.

It was a sword that could produce a Red Flame through a forging process similar to the Cheonghwageom, and its stability was superior to that of the Cheonghwageom.

Fwoosh.

The sword, having accepted Julian's Mana, produced a Red Flame. It felt as if the temperature of the training ground had risen.

As Julian circled around Killian, the flames created by the Red Flame trapped Killian like a curtain.

‘He finally got a sword that suits him.’

If the Cheonghwageom had been a sword beyond his station, the Red Flame Sword was a sword that could further enhance Julian's overall strength.

Julian's pure skill was at the mid-3rd star. But with the Red Flame Sword, he would be able to compete with a knight at the beginning of the 4th star.

Killian, who had quietly raised his sword, took a step to the side.

At the moment the Red Flame that had been obscuring his vision seemed to flicker.

Fwoosh.

A sword that had pierced through the Red Flame rushed in.

First Flash.

It was a swift thrust that Julian had mastered after being hit by it hundreds of times.

The indifferently swung Aether struck the Red Flame Sword.

At that moment.

Fwoosh.

The Red Flame transferred to the Aether.

No, it would be more accurate to say it was absorbed.

Not only that, the Red Flame Sword, which he thought had been struck away, was stuck to Killian's sword like a lie.

“You said you wouldn't use Mana!!”

“I didn't use Mana.”

It was just that the sword had selfishly sucked up Julian's Mana.

‘The more it sucks up another's Mana, the heavier the sword becomes.’

It was not a weight increase that would immediately affect its speed.

“This…”

Julian struggled to pull the Red Flame Sword away, but the two swords that had stuck together would not separate.

‘Let's see how much it can suck up.’

Killian did not separate the two entangled swords and leisurely watched Julian's resistance.

About a minute passed like that.

“Heok…”

Thud.

Julian, who had become haggard in a short time, knelt down.

“It seems you're getting used to kneeling.”

“Geu…eu…”

As Killian took a step back, Julian collapsed to the floor.

It was because his Mana had been drained to the point of exhaustion.

Despite his trembling and flailing body, he was still holding the sword.

‘Compared to a few months ago, this is a great improvement.’

Killian put the Aether back in its scabbard and composed his aura.

Any further sparring was meaningless.

“That's enough training for today. You lost the bet, so the conditions remain the same.”

“Keuk…”

Leaving Julian's groan behind, he left the private training ground.

Outside, hundreds of squad members were engrossed in training under Xenon's command.

“Vice-commander, how many are in charge today?”

“Thirty men under Centurion Jesse. There are quite a few who said they gained enlightenment from your teaching the other day, Tactician.”

“Oh, really?”

Killian's face brightened and he smiled.

“That Jesse fellow, it's been a while, I'll have to kick his butt.”

“He would consider a kick from you an honor, Tactician.”

Xenon smiled and retorted.

“Good. While we're at it, you should participate too, Vice-commander.”

“Me too?”

“The new formation you've been training with the Centurions as the center, test it against me.”

“Understood!!”

A moment later.

The spar began with thirty knights surrounding Killian in the huge training ground.

Unlike the initial plan, Hector and Huan had to be called in for spars in turn with their knights.

And when the six spars were repeated and all the training for the day was over.

Every single member of the Blue Knight Order had to experience a state of exhaustion.

***

“Everyone worked hard. Go and rest now. Xenon, take care of the squad members.”

“…Understood. I'll… go first…”

“Tactician… you're not coming out tomorrow, are you…?”

Like the haggard Vice-commander, the three Centurions whined.

“Don't be so weak. If you're still in the training ground after one minute, I'll consider it as you wanting to receive separate lessons.”

As soon as those words were finished, the three hundred knights cleared out of the training ground in an instant.

“I need to make them do more physical training.”

Killian, muttering to himself, sat in the center of the training ground and crossed his legs.

A silence fell over the training ground, now empty of knights.

The sound of the torches illuminating the space crackled in his ears.

How much time had passed like that?

“I think it's alright to come out now.”

Killian's voice, imbued with Mana, spread quietly through the training ground.

“They say your specialty is stealthy movement. You're shy friends, just as I've heard.”

The moment he said that.

Fwoooong. Fwoong.

The twenty torches that had been illuminating the training ground suddenly went out in succession, and darkness descended on the area.

“Impressive. Did he sense us?”

The voice of a middle-aged man echoed in the darkness.

“The rumors were true. He's not the same Fourth Young Master as before.”

Then, the voice of a young man was heard from somewhere.

“In that case, should we also believe the rumor that he hunted a Knight Slayer?”

This time, the voice of an old man.

“Even if he had an awakening, his growth rate is too fast.”

The last was the voice of a middle-aged woman.

“Didn't the Head personally put him in the Annihilation Squad?”

“So we don't need to test him?”

“No, that's not it.”

Killian, who had been listening to the four mixed voices, stood up.

In his hand was the Aether, which he had swung relentlessly all day.

“Four. No, is it five?”

A silence fell again at the casually muttered words.

He had already grown accustomed to the darkness.

It would be the same for those watching him.

“One at the 12 o'clock entrance, two on the 3 o'clock wall, one next to the armor rack at 6 o'clock. The last one is…”

Clang.

Killian spun his body and blocked a sword.

“A surprise attack from the 9 o'clock direction.”

“Not bad, Fourth Young Master.”

The one who had suddenly rushed in and struck down with his sword was the young man whose voice had echoed in the darkness.

“That was a rude greeting.”

Grrrrk.

Suddenly, a struggle for strength between the two swords began.

Unlike when he had tested it on the Blue Knight Order, the Aether did not absorb Mana on its own.

It was because the opponent's sword was also trying to suck up Mana.

Killian's blue Mana enveloped his sword.

Immediately after.

Boom.

The man was sent flying by the swung sword.

Sssss.

In the blink of an eye, Killian's Mana spread throughout the training ground.

As the blue Mana illuminated the descended darkness, the figures of knights in gray light armor were revealed.

“Greetings.”

Then, with his characteristic harmless smile.

“I am Killian Eurasia, the newly appointed leader of the Annihilation Squad.”

Killian unfolded his Carpe.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.