Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 145

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Episode 145

The Grand Melee was progressing smoothly.

Thus, it was already the third week of the Grand Melee’s main event.

The young powerhouses who had advanced through the preliminaries in each region were showcasing their unique abilities to the world, astonishing many.

Some seized victory, while others tasted the bitterness of defeat.

And now, the final four.

Only four individuals remained.

Kim Cheol-hyeon from South Korea.

Jang Han from Kowloon Fortress in China.

Justin Garrett from the U.S. Department of Defense.

Ron Russell from England.

One of these four finalists, Ron Russell, stood in his private training ground.

Ron stood motionless in the center of the training ground, his sharp eyes fixed on the opposite side.

“Hoo…”

Ron took a long breath.

Although not physically present, Ron imagined a boy standing before him and gripped his sword.

A boy enveloped in a brilliant black aura, like the night sky.

The boy’s name was Kim Cheol-hyeon.

That probably wasn’t his real name.

He sensed a strange magical flow concealing his face.

But regardless, the boy’s swordsmanship was terrifyingly solid, yet free.

Ron knew, because he walked the same path, how much training it must have taken to build such a strong foundation.

Swinging the sword ten thousand times, a hundred million times, before finally achieving a single perfect strike.

Since the beginning of this tournament, Ron had been training, imagining facing this boy every time.

-There is no one stronger than you among your peers. You must use your great strength to lead those who walk the path of the sword. With great power comes great responsibility. Use your strength only for the powerless.

The words of his respected teacher and beloved father, Henry Russell, echoed in his mind.

‘Father…’

Ron chuckled wryly.

‘I don’t think I’m that great. I’ve already met someone younger than me who is frighteningly strong.’

Ron took a deep breath.

No more sentimentality.

The phantom of Kim Cheol-hyeon in front of him rapidly absorbed the aura it had been scattering around.

Ron broke out in a cold sweat.

He had to stop that first.

From the moment he unleashed that ridiculous aura skill, Kim Cheol-hyeon’s speed became terrifyingly fast.

Frankly, Ron doubted how many people could even keep up with that speed.

Kooong!

Ron swung his sword.

He unleashed the essence of the Russell family’s secret techniques and arcane magic, accumulated over generations.

Clang! Kwaang!

In reality, the sword was only cutting through the air, but Ron continued to practice his swordsmanship, imagining Kim Cheol-hyeon swinging his sword at him.

Pitter-patter!

Sweat poured down like rain, soaking the training ground floor.

Even a master of magic who could perfectly control their physical activity was sweating so profusely.

And then, in an instant.

Kwaaaaaaa!

The entire training ground flashed with blue light.

It was a spectacle of an unknown aura. Ron, who had unleashed the technique, looked exhausted but smiled brightly as he raised his hand.

“Got it! I got it!”

Only then did Ron lower his tired arms and his eyes gleamed.

“I can win.”

Ron’s eyes sparkled as he thought about the opponent he would meet tomorrow.

The semi-final match to be held tomorrow.

The match against Kim Cheol-hyeon, which he had been so eagerly anticipating, would finally take place tomorrow.

* * *

The Grand Melee was broadcast worldwide.

Of course, the movements of martial artists who had trained their bodies to the limit using magic were not easily captured on video.

Even when using magical equipment, only a rough outline of their movements could be recorded, and it was impossible to prevent afterimages or blurred images.

Still, a general idea could be gleaned.

Duke Istreaux, Henry Russell, had also set aside his official duties to watch the broadcast of the Grand Melee.

“Your Grace… you were scheduled to visit the Knights Order’s quarters at the main estate today…”

Behind the Duke, his secretary sighed and muttered, holding a schedule.

“Postpone it for now. It’s not urgent anyway. And what’s more annoying than a superior visiting the quarters? They’ll make a fuss preparing for a review.”

“That’s true, but…”

The secretary hesitated for a moment, then sighed deeply.

“Oh well, I don’t know anymore. I’ll tell the Knights Commander that you’ll be late.”

“Do that. Why don’t you come and watch this with me?”

The Sword Saint of England, Henry Russell.

The Earl of Istreaux folded his arms with an intrigued expression and focused on the screen.

The scene of his youngest son, Ron, facing Kim Cheol-hyeon of South Korea filled the screen.

‘That’s him. The boy who shocked my troublemaking youngest son.’

It was hard to see clearly on the screen, but he didn’t look like just anyone.

No. He was the real deal.

“Do you think the Young Master will win?”

Henry’s secretary looked at the screen with a slightly worried expression.

“What do you think?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure. But I can’t imagine the Young Master losing.”

The secretary chuckled.

Ron was like a hero from a heroic novel.

He was born with the blessing of the Lake Fairy, chosen by the Guardian Dragon of England in his childhood to receive a Dragon Body, and ultimately chosen by the Holy Sword.

He was blessed with all sorts of opportunities and talents, to the point where the Guardian Dragon himself said, ‘This child has been chosen by fate.’

If that was all, it might have been different, but Ron had also worked tirelessly to master all of his powers.

As the youngest of the Russell family, he had faced many trials and near-death experiences, but he had overcome them all and become such a strong person.

“But he might struggle a bit this time. His opponent is not easy. His estimated magic level is 6, and many believe he is at least a 4th-grade martial artist.”

“Hmm…”

“And he often shows unbelievable magic manipulation skills. There are even jokes that he has two magic circuits [magical energy pathways].”

“I can see that too.”

Henry smiled strangely.

As a father, he wanted to be sure of his son’s victory, but having watched Kim Cheol-hyeon’s matches, he couldn’t say for sure.

‘Frankly, the boy is doing things that are considered impossible with modern magic without any difficulty. Among those who live by the sword around the world, there is no one who has not gained enlightenment from seeing the boy’s magic manipulation.’

It was that shocking of a magic.

Even Henry, who had already reached a high level, was somewhat intrigued.

‘Even so… that boy hasn’t shown everything. He’s hiding something.’

There’s a saying among Chinese martial artists to hide 30% of your power.

Whatever that 30% is, it was sure to be extraordinary.

‘Where did a guy like that come from?’

Anyway, martial artists from the Asian region have some mysterious aspects.

Sometimes to the point where it doesn’t make sense.

One-person transmission [secret teachings passed down to a single disciple] or not passing it on to unworthy people… They stay quiet and then suddenly appear and surprise the world.

Henry looked at his secretary.

“How many secret techniques has Ron mastered?”

“He has learned all 12, but he has only completely mastered 5. The instructor said that number 6 was… incomplete.”

The Russell family’s secret swordsmanship consists of 12 secret techniques.

A person lacking talent cannot master even one technique in their lifetime, but Ron had already mastered half of the techniques at such a young age.

Henry stroked his chin and made a strange expression.

“Indeed, he will struggle.”

“…Is that so?”

“If he hasn’t mastered number 6, it will be somewhat difficult.”

Henry tapped the table in his office and smiled.

“What if he had mastered number 6?”

“If he had mastered number 6…”

Henry’s eyes flashed.

“He would definitely win.”

* * *

Before going up to the arena, I sat in the waiting room, closed my eyes, and meditated.

‘Ron Russell… In my past life, he was someone I couldn’t even dare to look up to.’

Ron’s generation… If I had to put a name on the generation of people my age in my past life, it would be the ‘Golden Generation.’

Exceptional individuals who had never been seen before were pouring out from each region and country.

And Ron was the one who led everyone at the forefront of that Golden Generation.

Ron of the West, Jang Han of the East.

The world pitted the two against each other, constantly arguing about who was stronger.

In my past life, the two were not on good terms, and it was known that they were conscious of each other.

That was Ron.

‘Now I face him.’

I wasn’t nervous.

I even felt a strange sense of elation.

I was facing a knight who was called the Emperor of Swords.

“Participant Kim Cheol-hyeon. The match will begin soon. Please proceed to the arena.”

Unlike the other participants, I didn’t have a second or a pacemaker with me.

I slowly moved my steps towards the arena alone.

“Waaaaaa-!”

Camera flashes burst, and the gazes of countless people, including the audience, poured onto the arena.

And on the opposite side of me, he stood.

Ron Russell.

A man with brilliant golden hair fluttering, standing proudly like a protagonist in a heroic tale.

“Hoo, hoo-.”

The moment I stepped into the arena, I heard a rough breathing sound of unknown origin amidst the loud noise.

It was Ron.

He was stabilizing his breathing and looking straight at me.

He was also sweating a few drops, looking every bit like a nervous person.

‘That Ron Russell is nervous.’

Thump, thump, thump!

But I wasn’t completely calm either.

I felt my heart beating unusually fast.

I chuckled wryly and slowly headed towards the center of the arena.

“From now on! The youngest knight of the British Royal Knights, Sir Ron Russell!”

The referee’s voice echoed.

The distance from Ron was a whopping 10 meters [approximately 33 feet].

A farther distance than I thought.

However, for those who wield swords in this world, this distance is as good as being right next to each other.

“The match of the biggest dark horse of this Grand Melee, Kim Cheol-hyeon the Hunter…!”

The moment I heard that sound, all tension disappeared, and the flow of my body, starting with my breathing, calmed down.

I slowly moved my hand towards the handle at my waist.

“I will begin…!”

…Da! At the same time as that sound, Ron and I moved simultaneously without even a difference of 0.0 seconds.

Kwaaaang!

A sonic boom echoed in the air.

Ron’s sword, wrapped in a blue aura reminiscent of the blue sky, collided with my black aura.

* * *

There was no probing.

I had already grasped the opponent’s true strength from the matches I had seen so far.

That was the same for Ron.

At the start of the match, I swung a full-force strike.

Chaeaeeng!

I felt a heavy weight from the sword.

My aura and Ron’s aura collided simultaneously.

Neither of us yielded.

“Hap!”

At that moment, Ron smiled and quickly retrieved his sword first and extended a strike.

Kwaaang!

I felt my fingertips tingle with a sound like a bomb exploding.

My elbows and shoulders creaked and screamed like rusty gears.

I knew that Ron’s sword was heavy with each strike, but it was beyond my imagination.

It felt like I wasn’t facing a person with a sword, but a giant monster or a fully charged dump truck.

Kwaaa!

I blocked one strike, but a sword was soon thrust at my side from below.

Each strike contained heavy power, and at the same time, it was fast.

‘There’s no opening. His defense is amazing.’

When facing the Demon Sword Master, there was a gap in his aura, but I couldn’t see that gap here.

To break through that, I had to break it with force, not aim for the gap.

At that moment.

“Hap!”

Seuk!

Ron’s sword strike was swung from the blind spot of my vision, aiming for my shoulder.

I twisted my body to avoid it and immediately drew my sword towards his abdomen.

Kagagak!

Ron immediately defended against that strike as well.

Ron easily blocked a fairly unconventional counter.

I immediately took a breath and aimed for his shoulder, thigh, and ankle at the same time.

Two of the three are feints.

If he can’t block even one, the damage will be considerable.

But.

Clang! Kwadeuk! Seuk!

Ron avoided the one aimed at his ankle, and almost simultaneously defended against the other two sword strikes, even though he moved a step later than my speed.

He defended against all of them without distinguishing between the feint and the real strike.

‘He really lives up to the name Iron Wall.’

Ron Russell is known to have the body of a dragon [enhanced physical abilities due to a dragon’s blessing].

He is sensing and defending against all attacks with that terrifying sense.

‘No matter where or how I attack, I can’t break through, no matter how many counters I throw. Not only is his defense strong, but his attacks are also heavy and fast.’

Hwaak!

Ron approached me without giving me a moment’s respite, without widening the distance even for a moment.

I could see why he was continuing to move so aggressively.

He was trying to prevent me from deploying the Mana Body [a technique to enhance physical abilities with magical energy].

I could force it if I wanted to, but there would be a gap. I couldn’t imagine that Ron wouldn’t take advantage of that gap.

My hands and feet were tied.

But it wasn’t like I couldn’t do anything.

‘I didn’t think I’d have to use it from the beginning.’

Just as I hadn’t shown all of my true power until now, it seemed that Ron hadn’t shown all of his power either.

“This is the first time I’m showing this.”

I said that and pulled up my aura.

“I won’t let you deploy that!”