The Immortal Genius Spearman

Chapter 174

As the Caion Unit shifted into a diamond formation, they struggled against the relentless assault from both the Rose Knight Order and the imperial soldiers.

“Haaaaah!”

“Uwaaaah!”

While they managed to hold off the imperial soldiers attacking from behind,

“Damn it…!”

The real problem was the Rose Knight Order.

They fought with intense fury, as if they had never forgotten the battle at Sragan.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Their sword strikes felt like heavy clubs battering through the shields, sending jolts of impact through the defenders.

Kyle, who was at the forefront, grimaced as he blocked their relentless blows.

But then—

“You bastards!”

Creon, standing beside him, lunged forward, thrusting his spear at the enemy.

He was determined to push them back, even if only slightly.

However—

“Creon, wait!”

Swish!

A knight from the Rose Knight Order caught the incoming spear and, without hesitation, grabbed Creon’s arm.

Clench!

“Ugh!”

Creon’s arm was locked in place.

Panic set in as he tried to wrench his weapon free, but it refused to budge, as if caught in a trap.

And then—

“Drop the spear, you fool!”

At the same time, another knight swung his sword toward Creon’s outstretched arm, ready to sever it.

Hearing the desperate shout from behind, Creon quickly let go of his weapon.

Swish!

“Argh!”

Terka yanked Creon back, narrowly saving him.

“You idiot! Pick your moments before attacking!”

“Th-Thanks.”

Creon muttered, rubbing his arm. Meanwhile, Terka scanned the battlefield.

The Caion Unit wasn’t so much fighting as they were desperately defending.

Their training allowed them to endure, but—

‘We still can’t reach their level…’

The Rose Knight Order was among the strongest forces on the continent.

Even though they had grown stronger since their last encounter, enduring wasn’t the same as winning.

‘We can’t keep fighting like this while being attacked from both sides.’

Terka turned his gaze toward the squad that had moved into the alleyways.

The street was wide, but not enough for 300 soldiers to maneuver freely.

If only the imperial soldiers weren’t behind them, they could face the Rose Knight Order properly.

‘Instead, we’re the ones trapped.’

What had started as an attempt to encircle the enemy had backfired, tightening the noose around their own necks.

Breaking through one of the fronts was their only option now.

But then—

Boom!

A deafening explosion erupted from the alleyway.

The walls of nearby buildings crumbled, sending debris crashing down.

Terka swallowed hard.

‘We worked so hard to become stronger… and yet, we still need the commander’s help.’

This battle.

For both the Rose Knight Order and themselves, everything hinged on the duel between Damian and Piaren.

But—

“That doesn’t mean we can afford to lose!”

Raising his shield, Terka braced himself against the enemy’s assault.

***

Swiiish!

The diagonal sword strike was as wild as a rampaging beast.

The speed and power behind it made it a serious threat—blocking improperly would be disastrous.

Tap!

Damian swiftly kicked off the ground, retreating just in time to dodge Piaren’s blade.

Another missed attack. Piaren’s expression twisted in frustration.

“Are you just going to keep dodging like a rat?”

“Of course not. But don’t tell me you’re already tired? Your sword is getting slower.”

“Ridiculous.”

Piaren’s eyes darkened as he swung his sword again.

A brilliant blue aura flared along his blade.

Swish!

A crescent-shaped wave of energy surged toward Damian, leaving no room to escape.

But—

‘…I see it.’

The gaps in the energy arc became clear in Damian’s vision.

Sliding forward, he crouched low and twisted his body, slipping through the narrow spaces between the energy.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sword energy struck the walls behind him, shattering them with explosive force.

Piaren, who had been rushing forward, hesitated in shock.

‘He dodged that…?’

The attack had been designed to force him into blocking.

That way, he could close the distance and finish him off.

Grit!

Just how sharp were his reflexes?

Had he surpassed human limits?

“…Hah.”

Damian exhaled calmly, looking at Piaren.

The knight’s eyes wavered, betraying his disbelief.

‘He really is impressive.’

As an enemy, Piaren had to acknowledge his skill.

Controlling and releasing energy at this level was difficult, even for an Aura Master.

‘But…’

Despite his remarkable mana control, there was a flaw in his swordsmanship.

Achieving the status of an Aura Master meant few had ever truly challenged him.

It was inevitable—most who recognized his strikes were unable to react in time.

But now, against someone of equal caliber, his shortcomings became apparent.

And Damian was beginning to read his moves.

Fighting him was getting easier.

“Things will be different now.”

“What?”

Piaren frowned at Damian’s words.

Thud!

But conversation was pointless now.

Damian stomped the ground and charged forward.

Seeing this, Piaren’s eyes widened.

“You dare close the distance?!”

“Of course not.”

Just before reaching him—

Thud!

Damian abruptly stopped, using the momentum to thrust his spear.

Swiiish!

It was a simple, linear strike.

“Hup!”

Piaren instinctively tilted his head, narrowly dodging it.

The speed was alarming—had he hesitated, it would have pierced him.

‘This bastard…!’

Piaren quickly slashed at Damian’s legs, aiming to capitalize on the close quarters.

Now that the distance was closed, his options were much greater.

But—

Whoosh!

Following up his leg attack, Piaren aimed for Damian’s ribs and chest.

He swiftly slashed, then thrust his sword forward, but—

“You bastard!”

His blade met only empty air.

Damian had already predicted Piaren’s attack and twisted his body to completely evade it.

‘His swordsmanship isn’t that advanced.’

If anything, Hainel’s swordplay was more intricate and dangerous.

And Damian had sparred countless times with Hainel.

Piaren’s swordsmanship—

‘It won’t work on me!’

Swiiish!

Clang!

“Urgh!”

Piaren barely blocked Damian’s spear strike, his expression contorted in frustration.

How could he be struggling against this mere boy?

‘My… my sword can’t reach him?’

He had wielded his sword for over twenty-five years, climbing from the bottom ranks.

Yet here he was, unable to touch a warrior who wasn’t even a full-grown adult.

“I won’t lose! Haaaaah!”

Clang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Piaren launched a relentless barrage of sword strikes, forcing Damian to block with his spear.

The distance was too close to dodge easily, but—

“Haaaah!”

Piaren’s attacks—

‘Waste too much energy.’

Damian watched the incoming downward slash and swung his spear horizontally.

Clang!

“……!”

Piaren’s sword wobbled violently.

A small fracture appeared along the blade.

His eyes trembled, realizing he had overexerted himself.

But—

“It’s too late.”

Seeing his opening, Damian stepped forward, crashing his shoulder into Piaren’s chest.

Thud!

Infused with mana, the impact sent shockwaves through Piaren’s body.

“Guh!”

As he staggered back—

Swish!

Damian spun his spear, gathering all his mana into it.

Fiery energy enveloped the weapon.

And for the first time in his life, Piaren felt it.

‘I… I might die.’

The terrifying realization gripped him.

The fear of standing on the precipice of death.

“This ends now, Piaren!”

Haaaaaaaah!

Damian roared and thrust his spear.

Compressed into a single strike, the sheer destructive power rivaled that of a siege weapon.

And just as Damian’s spear descended upon Piaren—

“Aaaaaaaargh!”

Piaren swung his sword desperately, attempting to block.

Boom!

A massive explosion engulfed the area, shaking the battlefield.

Rumble.

“Hah… hah… hah…”

Damian gasped for air, his body exhausted.

Dust clouded his vision.

The once-thriving streets of Nardern lay in ruins, while distant battle cries echoed through the chaos.

‘…If he had been able to use his aura freely.’

Had Piaren not been restrained, the outcome would have been different.

‘I wouldn’t be standing here.’

Even though luck had played a role, defeating an Aura Master was no small feat.

It was akin to crippling an entire nation’s military strength.

And that made it all the more significant.

Now…

‘I need to go.’

His unit was still surrounded, fighting on both ends.

If he delayed any longer, his comrades would be in danger.

With effort, Damian turned toward his unit’s position.

But at that moment—

Swiiiiish!

“……!?”

Something flew at him from behind.

Damian instinctively swung his spear.

Clang!

“Guh!”

The impact sent his spear flying, his palm splitting open.

Blood trickled down the shaft as he turned toward the dust-filled space where Piaren had stood.

And the attack just now—

“…No way.”

Whooooosh!

A gust of wind blew the dust away, revealing Piaren standing in the center.

“…You bastard.”

His hair was disheveled, his bloodshot eyes seething with rage.

Blood dripped from his clenched teeth.

But what caught Damian’s attention the most—

“……Aura.”

A massive formation of blade-shaped aura hovered above Piaren.

His rationality was gone, his eyes filled only with murderous intent.

“I’ll kill every last one of you.”

With those words, his aura erupted, stirring a crimson storm of death.