Chapter 26. The Mad Puppy
There was a significant difference between fighting to subdue and fighting to kill. In the former case, one couldn't aim for vital points, and the range of attacks one could use was limited. At most, one could aim for the arms or legs and fight with restraint. But in the latter case...?
Clash!
In the latter case, one could overtly target vital points. That difference created a massive shift in the dynamics of battle.
Caron sliced through the neck of an enemy blocking his path as a smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. The battle had just begun, but the enemy was already in disarray. The reason for that was simple: The battle was unfolding in a way they hadn't anticipated at all.
"Damn it! No one told us our target would be someone like this!" one of the enemies cursed.
"What kind of freak is this kid?" another shouted in frustration.
The fight had quickly developed into a chaotic melee. The knights of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, who had formed a defensive formation around the train, were now following Caron's lead in carving a path through their enemies. Caron headed up the charge into the chaos.
Boom!
Caron's sword, Guillotine, unleashed waves of Azure Mana. Each wave split into dozens more that traveled toward the enemies' necks. This was Oceanwolf Sword Arts Form 4: Raging Waves. The uncontrollable force of a violent storm dragged the enemies into a vortex.
"How the hell are we supposed to subdue a guy like this?" one of the enemies shouted in desperation.
"You don't. You die," Caron responded coldly.
Clash!
Another enemy's head hit the ground.
Whoosh.
The blood-soaked Guillotine let out a vicious howl that seemingly embodied fear itself. The aura that emanated from the sword began to spread across the battlefield. Even the enemies who hadn't yet clashed with Guillotine couldn't help but sense its presence, and in that moment, they knew the sword was coming for their necks as well.
A suggestion so powerful it was tantamount to mind control was thus deeply etched into the minds of everyone opposing Caron. That alone was enough to shift the atmosphere on the battlefield. In the chaos of battle, a moment of hesitation could mean the difference between life and death. So what if one's senses were suddenly disrupted...?
Thunk!
"Ugh..." An enemy groaned as he fell.
"Keep supporting Young Master Caron!" one of the knights shouted.
"For the honor of the great Ducal Family of Leston!" another cried out.
In an instant, the tide of battle shifted. Despite the enemy's forces being nearly double that of the Oceanwolf Knights, they had already fallen into disarray, no better than rabble. Riding the wave of momentum, the Oceanwolf Knights began to aggressively press their advantage, driving the enemy back.
Just as the flow of battle became overwhelmingly one-sided, however, a figure emerged and charged straight at Caron.
Clash!
Caron swiftly twisted his blade and parried the enemy's own. Sparks flew from the clash of steel.
"Oh," Caron murmured as he felt a surge of energy from his opponent's sword ripple through his body. However, he skillfully dispelled the energy and locked eyes with his foe.
Just a 5-Star at most, Caron thought as he assessed his opponent. This one was likely on par with a squad leader of the Oceanwolf Knights. Not all 5-Stars were equal, but judging by the amount of energy in that last attack, this one had indeed reached the 5-Star level.
"For someone sent to capture two mere kids, you're not that bad. Oh, by the way, that's a compliment," Caron said with a smirk.
The masked assailant offered no response. Instead, he lunged at Caron again, aiming his sword low.
Clash!
The sword moved toward Caron's legs. This time, it was a strike meant to subdue rather than kill.
Alright, without a doubt, they intend to capture me alive, Caron thought. He had noticed the absence of lethal intent in the enemy's strikes, even when their comrades had already been slain by his hand. The resolve to capture rather than kill made each strike nothing but a shallow attempt.
"Pathetic," Caron muttered to himself. For someone like him who had survived battlefields as harsh as hell itself, a sword like this was nothing.
Whoosh!
Caron's foot, imbued with Azure Mana, lashed out and collided with the enemy's sword. In that instant, the opponent lost balance and his torso was exposed.
Without hesitation, Caron thrust Guillotine into the opening.
"Ugh!" The enemy groaned in pain.
The sword's strange dark blue blade pierced through the enemy's abdomen. Blood spilled from the man's mouth, staining his mask red.
Whoosh!
Guillotine, soaked in blood, began to emit an even more intense aura of death.
It all happened in a flash.
A display of dazzling swordsmanship that involved trading blows with finesse was the kind of thing one would only find in a boring arena duel. Caron knew better than anyone else what a true battlefield was like. It was a place where one could only live by killing.
In a place like that, anyone who shied away from killing would only die in turn. That was exactly what was happening right now.
"You're not even on the level of my great-aunt. You should've sent at least a knight captain, not just some squad leader," Caron said as he pulled his sword from the man's abdomen. Without a moment's pause, he swung Guillotine once more.
Thud.
The man's head dropped to the ground with disturbing ease.
"Hah," Caron sighed, pushing blood-soaked hair away from his face.
The surrounding enemies, who had been watching in horror, were frozen in place. They stared at the boy with fear-filled gazes. Terror gripped them to such a degree that they couldn't move their legs at all.
Caron was only thirteen years old. But could people really see him as a mere child?
"For sure, the battlefield suits me better. I don't even need to overthink things," Caron remarked.
The killing intent radiating from Guillotine was so overwhelming that the enemies couldn't keep their composure. They knew their necks would inevitably be severed. Without a doubt, that sword would claim their lives. Only that thought dominated their minds.
Was it even possible to capture someone who had so effortlessly decapitated a 5-Star knight?
"Just so you know, I'd rather you not surrender..." Caron said.
But the enemies soon realized that they had no time to think of anything else.
"...because I'm really enjoying this right now," Caron continued.
Despair stepped toward them in the guise of a young boy.
***
A sharp clash of steel rang out.
Hans crossed swords with an enigmatic knight who was a 6-Star. His opponent's skill was undeniable. Moreover, it seemed they had experience facing the Oceanwolf Sword Arts, because they adeptly deflected the force of his blade with skillful maneuvers.
It wasn't as if there weren't any good results, however. Hans had managed to deduce the opponent's identity in a relatively short time. The way the knight's sword moved, seeking out every vulnerability with speed and precision... The scorching aura of mana, reminiscent of a desert's searing heat... Those traits both provided clues.
Only a few 6-Star knights fit that description, but when Hans considered the subtle habits embedded in their swordsmanship, the answer quickly became clear.
"Zion Hakimi," Hans said.
Zion was a knight from the Pajar Sultanate, located to the east of the empire. By sheer luck, Hans had crossed swords with him once before during a mission, about a year ago.
Hans' utterance hit the nail on thes head. Zion hesitated, and his body tensed for a moment. However, it was only a fleeting reaction. A deep hum resonated as Zion's mana surged, increasing the pressure on Hans.
"...Why are you here?" Hans asked, frowning as he parried another attack.
Although Hans had identified his opponent, Zion's purpose remained a mystery. The empire and the Pajar Sultanate were bound by a non-aggression pact. Any knight, especially a 6-Star, would need prior approval to enter the empire. Any such information would certainly have reached Azureocean Castle. And yet, Hans had no recollection of any such notification about Zion Hakimi's entry. That meant the man was an illegal intruder.
I can't understand why, Hans thought. Zion Hakimi wasn't someone who had a grudge against the Leston family. He had been known for his unwavering loyalty to his lord. Hans wondered why he was here, targeting the grandsons of the Duke.
Clash!
Hans unleashed another burst of mana, which forced Zion back momentarily. His gaze quickly shifted to check on the young masters, who were engaged in battle at a distance. Leo was positioned at the rear, defending against attacks alongside other knights.
When Hans saw Caron, he sighed inwardly. He thought, I did expect this from him, but still.
Caron showed no hesitation, cutting down enemies with cold, ruthless efficiency.
Although Caron had successfully completed his first mission, this was his first time fighting in such an intense environment. And yet, despite his inexperience, Caron was dominating the battlefield as he controlled the flow of the fight with ease. It was remarkable. A thirteen-year-old boy was leading the charge and overwhelming his enemies.
The sound of clashing steel rang out again, and Hans found himself unable to dwell on Caron's prowess any longer. His opponent had closed the distance and launched another attack.
"Do you have the luxury to look away?" Zion taunted.
Hans parried the blow and retorted, "Not at all. It seems you're the one who's distracted, Zion."
"Don't be ridiculous," Zion replied.
"Ah, so you're admitting you're Zion Hakimi, then?" Hans pressed.
"...I have no reason to deny it," Zion answered.
There was something unsettling in their conversation that left Hans with a strange sense of unease. The scale of the ambush didn't make sense. Why would someone with the resources to mobilize a 6-Star knight from another nation send such a meager force for an attack? There had to be more to it. There was no reasonable way to explain the situation.
"I'll offer you a deal. Surrender, and I'll spare your life," Hans said firmly.
This was the most logical solution Hans could devise. Killing Zion here wouldn't solve anything. They needed to uncover who was behind this and why they had orchestrated such an attack. Getting that information was the highest priority.
"The battle is already lost," Hans added.
"I acknowledge that," Zion admitted.
"Then there's no reason for you to die on foreign soil. I'll let you live," Hans said.
"You wouldn't understand," Zion said. He shook his head and continued, "So I won't ask you to. But I must complete my mission."
Suddenly, flames erupted from Zion's body, engulfing his sword in fiery heat. The heatwaves distorted Hans' vision, and within the flames, Zion's sword surged toward him. The man's eyes, visible above his mask, were bloodshot and filled with a desperate intensity.
Mana backlash, Hans realized.
Zion had pushed his mana channels to the limit, which was a sign that he had accepted his death. At this point, capturing him alive would be nearly impossible. On the other hand, if Hans wasn't careful, killing him could prove to be just as difficult.
Zion had unleashed a reckless torrent of power, drawing strength from his very life force. To subdue someone like that, Hans would need to be just as resolute.
If it's to protect the young masters... Hans thought.
Whoosh.
A low hum of gathering mana filled the air as Hans prepared to push his mana channels to their limit, ready to follow his opponent's reckless lead. But before he could make it happen, there was a swift slicing sound.
In an instant, Zion's right arm, still grasping his sword, was severed. A moment later, a familiar voice echoed in Hans' ears.
"Hans, I'd be disappointed if you planned to die alongside that guy. Didn't you say you'd protect us on the way to the capital?"
"Young Master Caron!" Hans exclaimed with relief and surprise mingling in his voice.
Caron stepped forward, his blond hair matted with blood and his blue eyes glinting with an intense energy. The young boy, drenched in the blood of his enemies, smiled as he emerged from the chaos.
"This seemed like the most urgent situation. I hope I didn't arrive too late?" Caron remarked with a grin as he casually swung Guillotine.
Zion, whose arm had just been severed, glared at Caron and ground his teeth in fury.
"Caron Leston," he said, recognizing the youngest grandson of the duke. This child was a figure shrouded in mystery. Zion had assumed the boy would be stronger than others his age due to his lineage, but what Caron had displayed on the battlefield far exceeded any expectations.
The boy had turned the tide of the battle alone. Another thing that was especially unsettling was the ominous aura of his sword. It seemed to paralyze the senses of everyone present.
"You are a... monster," Zion said, his voice flat and devoid of emotion.
Caron chuckled at the remark and said, "It's high praise. I appreciate the compliment, but wouldn't it be better if you considered surrendering? It'd be more useful to keep you alive and extract some information."
Like Hans, Caron understood that survival was a basic human instinct. So capturing Zion alive would be more valuable. But as he looked into Zion's eyes, he noticed something was off. That was not the gaze of someone with a desire to live.
The blade in Caron's hand vibrated violently, reminiscent of the tremors that preceded the train crash.
"I hold no grudge against you. Forgive me, Caron Lest—" Zion's words were cut short as the blade of Guillotine smoothly sliced through his neck. His head fell to the ground.
But even with his head severed, the situation was far from over. Zion's decapitated body remained standing, and it began to glow with an ominous, reddish light. The mana that had been recklessly unleashed was now concentrating around the heart of the corpse.
Seeing that, Hans immediately threw himself over Caron, shouting, "All squads! Shield Young Master Leo now!"
Hans covered Caron with his own body as they hit the ground. Caron, pinned beneath him, called out in alarm, "Hans!"
"It's a self-destruction spell! That bastard had a self-destruct spell on his heart. I'm sorry, Young Master. This is my failure. But you must survive—"
Before Hans could finish his sentence, a voice suddenly echoed in Caron's mind.
"It's been a while since I've had a taste of fresh knights' blood. Time to earn my keep, you idiot master. Close your eyes if you don't want them to pop."
A moment later, the decapitated body of Zion exploded with a deafening roar.