The Bastard Swordsman Of The Imperial Guard [EN]: Chapter 127

Gideon Garcia focused all his attention on the swordsman before him.

‘This is my only chance.’

There were three Sword Masters watching this duel.

There’s no way they wouldn’t notice Gideon’s murderous intent.

That’s why this was his only chance.

He had to inflict a fatal blow on Raiel with a single strike.

Whoosh!

He kicked off the ground with his right foot, using the True Step.

Gideon’s mana-infused sword aimed for Raiel’s shoulder joint like an arrow.

Within Chronobreak [a technique that accelerates the user’s perception of time], it was an unavoidable strike.

Even if he couldn’t kill him, it was fine.

Even if he just took one arm, the guy wouldn’t be able to recover.

‘To react to this, he has amazing talent.’

Raiel watched Gideon’s sword and raised his own.

Just reacting to this speed meant Raiel’s talent was beyond doubt.

But, he would never be able to block it.

The moment Gideon thrust his sword without hesitation…

“…?”

His sword stopped in mid-air.

‘Why? No, how?’

Gideon couldn’t immediately understand the situation.

Within Chronobreak, Gideon’s sword was practically invincible.

Raiel, who hadn’t reached Sword Master level, could never block it.

Then there was only one answer.

‘He surpassed the… boundary of the realm…?’

Gideon had been observing Raiel’s aura since he first came to the training ground.

And he was certain that Raiel hadn’t reached Sword Master level yet.

In fact, it was only natural.

Gideon, with his outstanding talent, and even the Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord, who was ahead of him, had both reached Sword Master level around the age of 40.

No matter how talented one was, it was impossible to reach Sword Master level at the age of 25.

It was impossible with a human body.

‘He surpassed the limits of humanity.’

He had been thinking wrong from the start.

Why was Gideon trying to kill Raiel?

Why did he feel fear towards Raiel, who was decades behind him?

‘Talent that shines so brilliantly that it defies common sense.’

There are limits to the human body.

The difference of decades could never be overcome.

Gideon knew that fact, but Raiel’s talent shone even brighter than that.

He instinctively wanted to kill that monster because he sensed it would threaten him.

Kwaaaaa!

At the same time as realizing that fact, an overwhelming mass of mana surged forth.

Gideon felt a familiar mana within that massive storm.

‘…Chronobreak?’

Why was his mana erupting from Raiel?

Before he could resolve that doubt, an enormous amount of mana erupted from Raiel’s body.

“Gasp…”

Gideon unconsciously stepped back.

He didn’t regret feeling murderous intent after seeing a glimpse of Raiel’s talent; he would have made the same choice even if he went back to the past.

‘But, that growth is absurd.’

Raiel knew about his surprise attack, yet he didn’t run away but tried to meet his sword.

Trying to meet his sword within Chronobreak was arrogance and a mistake.

Gideon was confident he would inflict a fatal wound on Raiel.

But what was Gideon seeing now?

‘This is… a realm…’

A massive haze rose.

Within it, Raiel was channeling mana throughout his body.

회천(回天) (Hoicheon/Returning Heaven) [Returning Heaven, a technique focused on absorbing and redirecting energy] begins with accepting the enemy’s mana.

Raiel’s body, which had transcended humanity, had evolved to store any power, and he had learned the Predator’s Sense, realizing how to release that power all at once.

“회천(回天) (Hoicheon/Returning Heaven).”

Raiel’s thoughts accelerated.

His senses, swimming through fleeting moments, found the best route to move the mana dormant within his body.

The Thousand Slaughter Sword Lord’s Thousand Slaughter Sword, the Pope’s divine power, the Ghoul King’s Demonic energy, the Black Wizard’s curse, and all the other powers Raiel had unconsciously absorbed revealed their power within Raiel’s body.

Releasing all that power at once.

Incompatible forces resonated with Raiel’s mana, creating a realm.

‘Dangerous…!’

The Empire’s best knight.

Gideon Garcia felt threatened within Raiel’s realm.

However, he was already blocked by a massive flow of mana.

Whoosh.

Mana blooming like a haze,

Raiel, with a stream of blood flowing from his mouth, was staring at Gideon from within it.

A monster who had broken through his realm in three moves and surpassed his level was staring at Gideon.

‘Damn it. It’s not perfect yet.’

Raiel’s eyes widened.

Releasing the powerful forces dormant within his body all at once caused a severe backlash.

It was the price for forcibly drawing out power he couldn’t yet fully control.

The current 회천(回天) (Hoicheon/Returning Heaven) was simply releasing a strong force and crushing the surroundings.

‘There is a way to use this.’

Fortunately, Raiel had a swordsmanship to use this power.

In a fleeting moment.

Raiel’s mana-infused sword absorbed the surrounding power.

“Thousand Slaughter Sword Form 3.”

“…!”

A powerful force gathered on Raiel’s sword.

Gideon’s recognition as the Empire’s strongest knight.

And the gazes of the three Sword Masters and the Carmen Knights, the Rein Knights watching this place.

All of it gathered on Raiel’s sword.

“답천(踏天) (Dapcheon/Trampling the Heavens) [Trampling the Heavens, a sword technique signifying dominance].”

His body was hot.

The sword of 답천(踏天) (Dapcheon/Trampling the Heavens) that places the world beneath his feet.

Raiel wasn’t satisfied with that.

He 담았다 (damatda/contained) [contained] the mana that erupted from 회천(回天) (Hoicheon/Returning Heaven) into the sword of 답천(踏天) (Dapcheon/Trampling the Heavens).

The powerful mana, which seemed like it would shatter just by touching it, distorted space.

Raiel’s innate senses perfectly controlled the mana that seemed like it would explode at any moment, and soon the sword of 답천(踏天) (Dapcheon/Trampling the Heavens) tore through the air.

“Kuh-uh!”

The hairs on Gideon’s body stood on end as he held his sword.

A massive, irresistible force was being created before his eyes.

That phenomenon, which couldn’t be explained by human common sense, was aimed at Gideon.

No, it appeared before Gideon’s eyes as if it had transcended space.

That power was sacred, disgusting, and familiar.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Gideon widened his eyes and swung his sword, deflecting the sword energies aimed at him.

The sword of the Empire’s strongest Sword Master was fast enough to block all of 답천(踏天) (Dapcheon/Trampling the Heavens)’s sword energies.

But, he couldn’t block all the mana.

The moment a strong sense of unease brushed past Gideon’s head.

A streak of light struck Gideon’s face.

“…Ugh!”

Gideon immediately jumped back.

Forcibly cutting off Chronobreak and concentrating mana throughout his body.

However, even a Sword Master’s sword couldn’t completely block the storm.

“Haa, haa…”

Raiel stared ahead, having poured out all the mana in his body.

It was a power that could destroy an average castle. The Empire’s strongest knight, who had blocked that tremendous power single-handedly, stood there, his shoulders trembling.

“…”

Gideon didn’t properly recognize what had happened to him.

It hadn’t even been 10 seconds since he had ambushed Raiel.

But why was he the one who was pushed back?

Trickle-

Gideon raised his hand to the hot sensation he felt on his cheek.

The red blood smearing on his hand brought him back to his senses.

He, the Empire’s strongest knight, hadn’t been able to block all the attacks from someone who had just reached Sword Master level.

‘How many years has it been since I’ve been injured?’

And it was done by a swordsman who was decades behind him.

Gideon stared blankly at his hand for a moment, as if he had lost his mind at that fact.

“Ki, Vice-Captain Kirue. This situation is…”

“…”

Rein Knights’ Vice-Captain, Kirue, swallowed hard and clenched his fist.

He couldn’t properly understand what had happened before his eyes.

‘Lord Raiel… just what is that power…?’

Gideon rushed towards Raiel, and at the same time, a tremendous power erupted from Raiel’s body. And Gideon was injured by that power that covered the area.

That was the sight that a knight who hadn’t reached Sword Master level could see.

“…The Captain was injured?”

“No way…”

The Carmen Knights were the same.

They were staring blankly at Gideon.

Shwing.

In that short gap, the three Sword Masters surrounded Gideon.

“Lord Gideon… do you know what you just did?”

The first to speak was Rein.

He glared at Gideon with a cold voice.

His sword was drawn towards Gideon as if he was about to fight at any moment.

“You crossed the line, Gideon Garcia.”

“A senior in the 강호 (gangho/martial arts world) [a community of martial artists] displaying murderous intent towards a junior. Aren’t you ashamed as an executive of the Sword Masters Association?”

The other two were the same.

Sword Dragon and Mucheon were blocking Gideon’s front and sides so he couldn’t escape.

“…”

Gideon looked down at his hand.

The red blood on his hand cooled his head.

He is the Captain of the Carmen Knights.

He doesn’t do things without thinking.

He had a prepared excuse.

“I apologize. I was momentarily excited by his outstanding talent. I almost injured Lord Raiel in a guidance match.”

Gideon sheathed his sword and bowed his head.

It was a sincere apology.

“Surely… you don’t think you can end this with just those words?”

Rein gritted his teeth and continued.

Gideon was deceiving himself, no. He was deceiving Raiel and the three Sword Masters.

Murderous intent could be felt from his sword.

Even if it was other knights, the three Sword Masters and Raiel who were facing him couldn’t possibly not know that his actions were intentional.

“I apologize for using excessive moves in the guidance match. Fortunately, I managed to pull back at the last moment. These scars will disappear quickly for me, but I would have felt guilty if Lord Raiel had been injured.”

“…”

Rein clenched his sword tightly and glared at Gideon.

His sword was still filled with murderous intent.

Raiel was alive only because of his skill.

But, now wasn’t the time to argue about that.

Rein calmly said what he had to say.

“Lord Gideon. Make a proper apology for this incident. If the Carmen Knights don’t make an official apology, I won’t stand still either.”

“…And if I can’t, what will you do?”

“I’ll put my name on the line, I will never overlook this.”

“…”

Gideon stared intently at Rein.

He had been watching the politics of the Imperial Palace for decades.

The action he had to take here was to ignore them.

Unless Raiel was injured, there was no reason for Gideon to officially apologize.

“Carmen Knights, return.”

Gideon sheathed his sword and turned his body.

If he consistently ignored them, there was nothing they could do.

That was the politics of the nobles.

“Gideon!”

Rein couldn’t contain his anger and drew sword energy from his sword.

This was Duke’s residence, and the Rein Knights’ training ground.

Moreover, Raiel was his friend and a knight favored by Duke.

If he ignored his honor any further, he couldn’t stand it either.

“Captain.”

“…Raiel?”

At that time, Raiel grabbed Rein’s shoulder.

Raiel walked forward and bowed his head, looking at Gideon’s back.

“Lord Gideon. It was a short lesson, but thank you. I learned a lot from Lord Gideon, an executive of the Sword Masters Association.”

“…My mistake almost injured you. I’m ashamed as a senior.”

Gideon couldn’t ignore Raiel’s words either.

It was true that he almost injured him in the guidance match.

He turned his body and gave a light bow as if he was sorry.

“Yes. But, are you sure you won’t regret it if you leave now?”

“Regret?”

Raiel looked at Gideon’s face and unconsciously smiled.

He knew medieval fantasy well.

Provocations that were only useful on the streets worked especially well on nobles.

“If you can’t kill me now, there won’t be another chance.”

Raiel raised the corner of his lips.

Gideon Garcia.

He was trying to kill him.

Whatever the reason, he couldn’t turn back once he had shown murderous intent.

Moreover, it was a cowardly surprise attack.

Raiel didn’t let the guy who had been aiming for his life go back in a good mood.

“……”

Creak.

The sound of grinding teeth was heard in the quiet training ground.

Gideon, who was twitching his mouth, turned his body silently and walked out of the training ground.

The Carmen Knights, who were grasping the situation, quickly followed him.

“Those bastards… Ah! Raiel. Are you okay?”

Rein frowned as he watched them and took care of Raiel.

He had taken a sword with a Sword Master’s murderous intent head-on.

He was worried about his condition.

“…No. I’m not okay. Cough.”

Blood filled Raiel’s mouth.

He had maintained his composure until the end, but his body was already a mess inside.

He forcibly unfolded an incomplete realm and blocked a Sword Master’s attack.

That alone was a strain on his body.

He had used 답천(踏天) (Dapcheon/Trampling the Heavens) in that state, so there was no way his body would be normal.

“Even in that situation, he didn’t lose a word to Gideon, he’s got quite the personality.”

“To survive in 강호 (gangho/martial arts world), you need that level of eloquence… yes.”

Sword Dragon and Mucheon nodded as they looked at Raiel.

“You two! Don’t say weird things and check on Raiel’s condition! Kirue! Bring the priest from the mansion!”

“Yes, yes!”

Raiel listened to Rein Captain’s voice and glared at the backs of the Carmen Knights who hadn’t disappeared yet.

‘Gideon Garcia…’

Raiel narrowed his eyes as he looked at him.

Whatever the reason, it didn’t matter.

He was his enemy from now on.

And.

“…He’s not as great as I thought?”

The Empire’s best knight wasn’t that high.