Clang!
A tremendous shockwave billowed out, sweeping everyone 300 yards away. Slade slid back while Asher landed stably.
“Asher. Asher. Asher. It’s been a while.” As he was speaking, a great amount of lightning gathered on his sword.
The earth imploded as Slade shot forward, closing the gap almost instantly and slashing twice, at Asher’s neck and abdomen.
Clang! Clang!
Asher parried both strikes with ease, leaned forward, and unleashed an upward strike. A swift counter that caught Slade off guard.
Slade narrowly deflected it with his right arm. He took two steps to the side only for Asher to slam his shoulder into him.
The bash caused Slade to stagger.
‘What?!’
His eyes widened. How was it that Asher had better reflexes than him? How was it that his skills were more refined?
It was like Asher had gone through several battles, facing opponents that were much stronger and struggling to keep his life.
Only such could boost his swordsmanship so much in as little as a year’s time.
Strengthening his left leg, Slade pushed his body forward, unleashing a horizontal cut. Unfortunately, Asher jumped over his sword. He evaded two more and unleashed a downward slash, which Slade deflected in return.
“You’ve reached the level of a master.” Slade muttered.
Bam!
Asher slammed his foot into his chest plate, causing Slade to fall on his back.
“You might be a great swordsman, Asher, but sword skills aren’t power. The true power of knights is…”
Lightning crackled throughout his body. His eyes became azure.
“Talents!”
Boom!
Lightning blasted Asher, pushing him 100 yards back. When Slade’s eyes returned to normal, Asher was on one knee, holding tight to Euodias.
His armor remained intact with a few scratches.
Slade plunged his sword into the ground, causing thunderbolts to fall from the clouds, turning 200 yards into a forbidden zone.
Thunder and lightning rained down, destroying the earth. By the time it stopped, the earth itself became glass.
Slade stood upon the glass, staring at Asher, who was on his knees. His cloak was burned to ashes, including the white fur adorning his armor.
“A count. Tsk! Pathetic!”
Slade roared and dashed toward Asher. Lightning picked him off the ground as he raised his sword and struck down.
Boom!
Dust waves spread outward. At this moment, the war was still ongoing, but no one came close to Asher and Slade.
From the top of the wall, Liya kept chanting, ‘Kill him,’ while watching with great intensity. Seeing her fiancé rain thunder and lightning made her smile.
When the dust faded, Asher could be seen holding Slade’s sword with his hands. Slade’s sword was just above Asher’s head.
A few inches more, it would have been over.
Lightning crackled on Slade’s armor. “Die!” He roared, channeling more lightning into the sword, causing it to flicker on Asher’s armor.
Unfortunately, it was made from Dwarven ore. This ore had a trait of negating opposing elements, so the damage happening to the wearer was 60 percent less than that of a man clad in armor made of steel.
Bearing the pain like it was nothing, Asher lifted up his head, looking straight into Slade’s eyes.
Staring into those beastly golden eyes, Slade felt his soul tremble.
‘Doesn’t he feel pain?’
Rising to his feet, Asher punched Slade’s chest, but the man just slid backwards. However, that space allowed Asher to pick up his sword.
Almost instantly, he closed the gap, unleashing a flurry of strikes that were not required; neither were they a threat to Slade.
“Have you lost your edge?”
Slade chuckled.
Unknown to him, right at that moment, Asher activated a battle skill. Duke Atticus Ashbourne’s battle skill: ‘Blood Awakening!’
A weak point appeared, and Asher took it. He parried Slade’s attack, went on one knee, pulled out a dagger, and plunged it into the gap that he could see wrapped in crimson light, which no one else could see.
“Argh!”
Slade screamed out.
Swish!
Euodias flashed, causing a great chill throughout the battlefield as Duke Nubis’ son, now headless, staggered backwards and fell!
Asher rose to his feet, the tip of his blade pointed to the ground as he stared at Slade’s lifeless body.
Sofia gasped.
“He… he…”
She couldn’t form any words. Never in her life did she think that someone could be so daring!
Who in their right mind would kill the son, the heir of Archduke Nubis!
Well, there was only one man: the white wolf!
He slowly turned his head, looking at those who were on the wall.
Although they were over 1000 yards away, she could feel the primal aura of a great beast swirling around Asher.
“The saying was true. Ashbournes are beasts, not humans.” After saying this, Viscount Syria made his way out of the ranks of nobles; his eyes were shifty, and his pace hasty.
Chaos has finally erupted!
“You killed him!”
Liya whispered, her eyes darkening. “What right did you have?!”
Her face distorted in rage, slowly descending into madness.
“Argh!”
Hundreds of icicles fell from the sky, descending on Asher’s men. Some of them were protected by priests/priestesses and mages, but the icicles were so big that even the priests ran out of mana and collapsed.
Aquila began to chant, and the many icicles burst into water, but there were just too many.
It wasn’t that Aquila couldn’t match Liya, but Liya had gone mad. Such use of magi force was simply leaving your body unprotected, allowing abyss force to creep in.
“Restrain her!”
Sofia ordered, but her men were frozen in an instant.
Liya formed an ice so big that it was taller than the walls and made it fall right upon Asher. Asher, dropping his sword and lifting Sapphira, who was unconscious, reflected in Liya’s furious eyes.
Adam dismounted from a horse, ran toward Asher’s side, and looked at the icicle. Inhaling deeply, he opened his mouth.
Roar!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The icicle burst into different segments and imploded further. Only snow rained down, causing Liya to scream.
Dark and purple light could be seen hovering around her. It was a blissful force!
Liya had transformed into an abyss mage. She was now in the ranks of dark mages.
“Burn the wall.”
Asher spat.
His orders were quickly sent to the back of the line, and 10 more trebuchets were pushed out.
Looking at the wall, Asher saw Sofia fleeing along with other nobles.
His eyes, cold and pained as he looked at the lifeless Nero, who was on one knee, holding his sword like he was paying his last respect.
“Burn it all.” Experience more on empire