Translator: CinderTL
Huff... huff... huff...
Roland's breathing grew heavier under Leonard's relentless, storm-like assault, the overwhelming force nearly suffocating him.
Each block sent jolts of numbness through his bones, sparks erupting in showers from the clash of sword and gauntlet.
Yet his gaze remained locked on his opponent's every move, his eyes showing no trace of panic.
In terms of combat skill alone, I hold an absolute advantage... the difference lies in...
Dodging another lethal strike and deflecting flying debris with his sword, Roland's eyes narrowed slightly.
His combat experience far surpasses mine, and he's practiced the Knight's Breathing Technique for much longer. This has created a significant gap in our fundamental physical capabilities. Apart from these two factors... there's nothing particularly remarkable about him.
Clang!
The fist blade collided with the longsword again, producing a heavy, muffled clang.
Observing Leonard's still-composed expression, Roland's eyebrow twitched slightly.
It seems... I've been overly cautious, and my perception of the strength of this world's transcendents has been exaggerated. After all, not everyone is Graham.
"They may be strong, but the current me... is no longer weak."
As this thought flashed through his mind, Roland abruptly exerted force with his arm, parrying Leonard's fist blade and using the momentum to retreat several steps.
Shaking the numbness from his arm, he regained his footing, abandoning all restraint.
In the next instant, something long dormant deep within his bloodline stirred awake.
"Hmm?"
Leonard, keenly sensing the subtle shift in Roland's defensive stance, let out a low, questioning hum before altering his attack.
His fists moved like shadows, unleashing a relentless barrage as dense as a torrential downpour. Each strike precisely targeted the weak points in Roland's defenses, forcing him into a continuous retreat, seemingly without any means of retaliation.
Yet, amidst this dizzying exchange of dozens of rounds, a silent transformation was unfolding.
Initially, Roland could barely deflect a fraction of the impact, struggling to avoid being completely overwhelmed.
Gradually, the recoil no longer threatened to shatter his arm bones.
His muscles and bones were adapting at an unnatural pace, growing stronger under the relentless pressure.
Leonard's previously suffocatingly rapid attacks now seemed to slow in Roland's perception, their trajectories becoming clear and predictable.
From being completely overwhelmed, Roland had managed to steadily withstand Leonard's relentless assault, even occasionally landing swift and precise counterattacks through gaps in his defense.
Though he hadn't yet broken through Leonard's defenses, the battle was no longer a one-sided slaughter.
The tide had turned.
Feeling the subtle yet tenacious warmth surging through his body, Roland's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Just as I predicted... Only in the heat of battle can the dragon bloodline fuse more rapidly with my body..."
In stark contrast to Roland's growing excitement, Leonard's eyes filled with deepening suspicion.
He could clearly sense the young man's strength, speed, and physical endurance skyrocketing at an alarming rate.
This was no ordinary progression.
Attempting to regain the upper hand, Leonard unleashed a cunningly concealed jab, aiming silently for Roland's ribs.
But this time, Roland's reaction was even faster.
With a flick of his wrist, he precisely slammed the hilt of his sword downward, deftly deflecting the treacherous strike.
Simultaneously, the surging power within him coursed through his veins like molten lava, flooding his body with an unprecedented sense of strength.
A primal, innate combat instinct, deeply rooted in his bloodline, had fully awakened, seamlessly merging with his will.
He no longer relied solely on blocking and dodging.
His swordplay suddenly became expansive and sweeping, each strike as heavy as a mountain, forcing Leonard to devote even more focus to defense.
Gaining the upper hand.
Roland felt the boundless strength surging through him without restraint, as if every cell in his body were cheering with joy.
An unprecedented sense of exhilaration washed over him, making him almost want to roar aloud.
Golden vertical pupils flashed briefly in his eyes, coldly locking onto his opponent, who for the first time showed a hint of terror.
"The warm-up... ends now."
After carefully assessing Leonard's capabilities, Roland spoke calmly and dispelled the Veil of Shadows, which had required constant mental focus to maintain.
In the next instant,
an invisible yet overwhelming pressure erupted from him like a dormant volcano erupting or an ancient beast suddenly opening its icy eyes.
Leonard, bearing the full brunt of this force, felt his pupils contract to pinpricks of danger. The serene composure he had maintained until now shattered completely, replaced by a look of utter, almost incredulous horror.
In his perception, everything happening before him defied comprehension.
A moment ago, Roland's aura had resembled a surging but still predictable river. Though it grew steadily stronger during that bizarre surge, it remained within the realm of the "extraordinary." Leonard had been confident he could still suppress it.
But in the next instant, that river transformed into an immeasurable, fathomless ocean.
This was no mere increase in quantity; it was a complete qualitative leap.
A heavy, ancient aura, radiating a soul-shaking majesty, crashed over him, seeming to solidify the very air around them.
The aura pulsed with unimaginable power—violent yet sublime—instantly making the veteran knight's scalp tingle and a primal chill run down his spine.
This... this isn't the aura of an ordinary extraordinary!
This is... transcendent!
"You... you've been hiding your true strength all along?"
Leonard's voice, as he gazed at the young man's youthful face, carried a dryness and tremor he hadn't even realized were there.
Roland didn't answer.
Boom!
Debris flew in all directions as the ground beneath his feet exploded.
His figure shot forward with a speed far surpassing any previous display.
The longsword cleaved through the air, no longer with a sharp whistle or mournful wail, but with a deep, soul-shaking dragon's roar, descending with pure, overwhelming force.
Leonard's pupils contracted sharply, his sense of impending doom more intense than ever before.
With a primal roar, he channeled all his strength into his arms, crossing them in front of him to block.
Boom!
The deafening explosion threatened to shatter everyone's eardrums!
A terrifying shockwave erupted in a circular blast, pulverizing the ground within a ten-meter radius into dust.
Smoke and debris surged skyward like a tidal wave.
For the first time, Leonard's mountain-like frame, which had stood unshakable, was violently hurled backward by the irresistible force.
His dark metal-clad boots carved two deep furrows into the shattered ground, leaving a trail of billowing dust.
He barely managed to regain his footing, but excruciating pain and complete numbness radiated from his armored arms.
The chestplate of his heavy armor, which had withstood arrows and sword strikes, now bore a deep, jagged sword gash, its edges spiderwebbed with hairline cracks.
He snapped his head up, his gaze piercing through the smoke to lock onto the figure radiating scorching heat—a burning silhouette as tangible as flame.
His once-imperturbable composure shattered completely, replaced by a tidal wave of disbelief.
Meanwhile, Roland felt the dragon bloodline within him boiling, nearing perfect fusion. He inhaled deeply, savoring the sensation, and then...
launched another charge.
The ensuing battle devolved into a one-sided slaughter.
Roland's figure moved like a hurricane, each strike carrying overwhelming force that drove Leonard backward step by step.
The mentor's defenses had long since crumbled.
His once-impenetrable heavy armor was now riddled with deep slashes and grotesque dents, as if repeatedly torn by the claws of a giant beast.
He could only barely maintain his stance through sheer combat instinct and a physique far surpassing that of ordinary men.
His arms were completely numb, each block accompanied by the groaning of bones straining under the unbearable weight. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, staining his stubble crimson. His once-steady gaze had been replaced by incredulous horror and raw physical agony.
The strength he had prided himself on, his flawless defense—all had become a laughable joke in the face of Roland's increasingly ferocious, seemingly endless brute force.
Meanwhile, Roland was completely immersed in the absolute ecstasy of perfectly controlling his power.
Seizing upon a massive opening exposed by Leonard's stumble, Roland raised his Mithril Longsword high, channeling terrifying force capable of cleaving mountains.
The next strike would end the battle decisively.
Yet, just as this thunderbolt strike was about to be unleashed—
Whoosh!
A piercing, ear-splitting sound tore through the battlefield's clamor, slamming into Roland's ears.
His attack froze mid-motion. His keen senses instinctively followed the sound.
A figure, like a tattered sandbag hurled by immense force, hurtled through the swirling dust at astonishing speed.
It was flying straight toward the combat zone where Roland stood.
(End of the Chapter)
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