Genius Wizard Hides His Sword Skills [EN]: Chapter 72

72. The Top Warrior (2)

“Khaaa!”

The roar echoed behind the waterfall, a rough sound that seemed to tear at the ears.

‘Fast!’

Hirei’s massive body hurtled toward us with surprising speed, almost too fast to follow with the eye. He moved with an agility that seemed impossible for someone of his size.

“Humph!”

Grantel, however, was a leader in his own right. As if anticipating the attack, he swiftly waved his hand.

Kuuung!

Tree trunks, obeying his gesture, whipped around at a speed matching Hirei’s, forming a barrier around him.

“Krrng! Old man, you think that will stop me!”

Hirei twisted his leaping foot and jumped to the side, easily dodging Grantel’s attack and continuing his charge towards us.

“Of course, I don’t expect to defeat you with just that.”

Grantel continued his hand gestures, relentlessly predicting Hirei’s movements and sending tree trunks to intercept him.

“Krrng!”

Finally, Hirei stopped, frowning at the persistent barrage of tree trunks.

“Annoying!”

Instead of dodging the approaching trunks, he raised both arms, the muscles twitching in his palms.

“Kraaa!”

His arms swelled instantly, becoming as large as his upper body, as if filled with air.

‘He’s going all out from the start?’

Clenching his fists, the swollen muscles contracted just as quickly.

The gathered energy focused into his clenched fist.

Paahhhh!

A ki blast [a concentrated burst of energy] shot out from his fist.

[It’s amazing even after all this time.]

‘Indeed. The Hozoku’s martial arts are as potent as ever.’

It was a familiar sight, a fighting style unique to the Hozoku: momentarily swelling the muscles to condense ki, then releasing it in a burst. It wasn’t Aura [a personal energy field], but a distinct Hozoku martial art.

The energy seemed capable of destroying anything.

Peo-pung! Paahht!

It effortlessly shattered Grantel’s approaching tree trunks.

“Old man! Annoying me is just a waste of time!”

Hirei immediately flew towards us, the rest of the Hozoku members rushing in behind him.

“I know you’re young and full of energy…”

Grantel’s eyes, watching them, remained steady.

“But this old man still has some fight left.”

His gaze turned steely blue, and a strong energy rippled around his body.

At the same time.

Chwaaaaa!

Huge tree roots erupted, instantly ensnaring the Hozoku.

“Krrng!”

This time, even Hirei and his gang couldn’t hide their surprise.

‘This is different.’

Unlike before, the tree roots burst out through the waterfall, damp and full of moisture. The forest seemed to have amplified its power with the water’s energy.

[He still hates water so much.]

‘They hate water touching their bodies.’

Since the Hozoku detested water, Grantel was using their weakness against them.

“Damn old geezer!”

Hirei bit his lip at the overwhelming force that dominated the space behind the waterfall. With no room to dodge, he swelled his arms again.

“Alright, I’ll destroy them all!”

Paahhhh!

He blasted the tree roots approaching him. The roots poured in ceaselessly, forcing him to keep punching.

‘Grantel is amazing too.’

[He wouldn’t be chief for nothing.]

Even though they weren’t a race known for combat, a leader was still a leader.

As Hirei extended his right fist, another root flew in from the opposite direction.

Paah-ahng!

While his left fist fired, Grantel attacked from below. Hirei’s brow furrowed at the relentless assault.

“Khaaaaa!”

Meanwhile, other Hozoku were getting their arms and legs caught by the tree roots.

“Hi, Hirei-nim!”

“Kkeuak! My leg!”

Unlike Hirei, they couldn’t withstand the combined attack of Grantel and Clal. The ordinary Hozoku, only at the level of 7-star knights, couldn’t handle it.

“These damn tree bastards!”

Hirei bit his lip. Seemingly enraged, he stretched out both hands, firing ki blasts like cannons.

“Khaaaa!”

He began to swell his body again.

However, this time was different.

[Is that a special technique?]

This time, he hypertrophied his thigh and calf muscles, not his arms.

‘He’s pissed, huh?’

There was no time to observe. Hirei unleashed the energy gathered in his legs.

Paah-ah!

He jumped, using the reaction force from the ground.

Hirei, airborne, continued to swell his legs.

“Okay, let’s give it a try.”

Hooo-woong……!

The monstrous leg cut through the air.

He simply swung it.

Kwaaaaa!

The resulting roar dwarfed anything before, an explosion far greater than a fist. The compressed air from his leg exploded, distorting the space.

‘Hoo… If I got hit, I wouldn’t even have bones left to recover.’

[Their real power comes from their legs.]

The force was several times stronger than a fist. The Hozoku’s leg strength was so immense it seemed to stop the breath.

“Krrng!”

The fierce ki blast shot towards the tree roots binding the remaining Hozoku.

The tree roots, as thick as a human torso, that had ensnared them.

Kuaaaa!

They burst before the ki blast fired from Hirei’s leg.

‘If I fought that guy now, I’d be turned to dust.’

[You couldn’t do it now, even in your prime.]

Hirei’s kicking didn’t stop. He fired ki blasts continuously while airborne, seemingly levitating.

Of course, he wasn’t actually flying. He wouldn’t have that ability, being a Hozoku.

‘His martial arts are amazing.’

Using the reaction force of firing ki blasts to stay aloft, firing another ki blast with the opposite foot during that brief moment.

[Why are you so surprised? It’s similar to your airwalk.]

‘That’s true.’

[It’s similar in that you’re staying in the air by linking techniques. Of course, his goal isn’t to stay in the air.]

‘But he’s doing that without mana [a form of energy].’

Reaching that level with only martial arts was astonishing.

‘It would be nice if Admun could learn it.’

[Is that possible with a human body?]

‘I don’t know. Let’s solve this situation first.’

There was no time to think deeply, as Hirei was rampaging.

“Damn old geezer, is that all you’ve got!”

Hirei, having annihilated the tree roots, finally landed.

“……Indeed, the rumors of your skills being comparable to the Hozoku chief were true.”

Grantel seemed surprised by the overwhelming martial prowess. He had easily smashed even the trees infused with water’s energy.

“Yes. Do you understand now? I am the future of Ego [a realm or world]. I will become the chief of the Hozoku, no, the king of all those residing in Ego.”

Hirei smiled bitterly, confident in his abilities.

‘He’s still young.’

Hirei’s words seemed ridiculous.

‘The Hozoku chief from a thousand years ago would be speechless.’

[Indeed. Compared to that person, that guy is just a child. The level was completely different.]

‘Even such a guy couldn’t become the king of Ego.’

Hirei was strong enough to aim for the Hozoku chief, but far from being able to discuss becoming the king of Ego.

“You will know it as an honor to die at my hands.”

Hirei moved towards us. Grantel tried to summon the tree roots again.

“Grantel-nim.”

I approached him.

“I think you’ve bought enough time.”

“……Is that so.”

“Yes. It’s time. There’s no need to sacrifice any more innocent trees.”

I stopped his hand, and a bitter smile touched his lips as he looked at the shattered trees.

“Please leave it to me from now on.”

“I understand. I’m sorry to ask, but please.”

I stepped forward. Hirei, taking in the scene, unleashed his murderous voice.

“Krrng! Grantel! What are you doing? Do you think you can prolong your life by hiding behind a human? Or are you senile!”

He stared only at Grantel, ignoring me.

To him, I was a mayfly, easily crushed.

“You’re going to be the king?”

I spoke steadily. Hirei’s gaze shifted to me.

“A human acting recklessly without fear.”

Hirei slowly swelled his arms, his gaze cold.

“Fear… I think you’re the one who’s fearless, not me.”

Hirei’s brow furrowed.

“What? Not fearless, but crazy! A senile old man and a crazy human. Dealing with you is a waste!”

Hirei controlled his arm muscles, as if he didn’t want to listen. The hypertrophied arm began to twitch. He was trying to fire the usual ki blast.

“With that level of skill, you dare to talk about being the king of Ego? Do you really think it’s possible?”

“What does a human know? I am the number one in Ego!”

Hirei, as if he didn’t want to listen, controlled his arm muscles. The hypertrophied arm began to twitch. He was trying to fire the usual ki blast.

“Human, the last thing a person who has lost fear faces is death.”

Kwaaaaa!

As he spoke, fierce energy erupted.

‘Keup!’

It was impossible to face it with 4-star Aura. The force seemed to stop the breath.

However, I didn’t avoid it. My feet were rooted to the ground.

“Kha! Are you frozen with fear! Don’t piss your pants!”

Hirei laughed, but his voice didn’t last long.

“Wh, what!”

He couldn’t hide his surprise.

Chwaaaaa!

The waterfall burst from the side as Hirei’s ki blast reached me. The current suddenly changed direction, blocking my front.

[…It’s comparable to a Water Shield.]

‘It’s probably stronger than a decent Water Shield.’

Hirei’s ki blast only rippled the water, unable to reach me. The water calmed as if it had swallowed the blast.

“Wh, what!”

Hirei’s face was filled with astonishment. No matter how carelessly he fired, it was impossible for a human to deflect his attack.

“Hirei, the top warrior of the Hozoku.”

I spoke to the shocked warrior.

“Let’s see if you have the skills to become the number one in Ego.”