Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Thomas was petrified. He didn’t even sense how he had suddenly appeared next to him!

He quickly backed away while keeping his eyes on Lucas, but the latter’s figure blurred and reappeared behind him.

Whoosh!

Lucas grabbed him by the neck and lifted him like a chicken about to be slaughtered. “Listen. I do not want to kill you. Surrender or die.”

Thomas grabbed Lucas’ arm and tried to break free frim his grip, but he found himself unable to escape.

“Get your hands off me!” He gritted his teeth, his face slowly turning blue from the lack of air.

“So you have chosen death. What a pity.” Lucas sighed with a regretful expression.

Crack.

The sound of bones cracking echoed as he put strength into his grip.

Thomas emitted croaking sounds.

He struggled vigorously, but Lucas’ grip was akin to that of an eagle’s claw to its prey, tight and inescapable.

Khhshhk!

With one final snapping sound, he crushed Thomas’ neck and casually threw him to the ground.

Thud.

Thomas’s body trembled, but he didn’t die immediately. The immense life force of a Transcendent Knight kept him awake.

He stared at Lucas with a gaze filled with fear.

It looked like he wanted to say something, but only weak gasps came out of his mouth.

When the soldiers witnessed how easily their commander was defeated, they were horrified.

Some were frozen in place, while others turned around and fled without hesitation.

“Run! We stand no chance against them!”

Looking at the fleeing soldiers, Lucas shook his head, his eyes filled with disdain. “Your warriors have been at peace for too long that they have forgotten how to fight. Pathetic.”

Thomas who was dying knew that those words were meant for him to hear.

They are veteran warriors of the Grand Duke’s mansion. It’s not that they are weak, but you are just too terrifying…

He thought while looking at Lucas’s back.

“Kill them if they will not surrender!” Lucas shouted to the elite unit he had brought with him.

Upon hearing his command, Rendon and the others immediately pursued the escaping enemies. Those who didn’t surrender died under their blades.

Some warriors resisted, but how could they stop a unit composed of Transcendents and Elite Knights?

In less than half an hour, hundreds of warriors were killed, while the others fled in all directions.

“Lord Venerable, a few managed to slip away, but our troops should be able to handle them,” Rendon reported respectfully.

Lucas wasn’t worried about this. The enemies who had slipped away were just ordinary soldiers so they wouldn’t pose a threat to his troops.

“Gather those who had surrendered and tie them up.” Lucas calmly ordered.

“Yes, my lord!”

The warriors of the Grand Duke’s mansion quickly fell apart. It was a one-sided battle!

Lucas turned his head and found out that Thomas had already died. The man died with his eyes wide open.

Lucas lost interest and looked away.

You are next, Lloyd Astania!

***

In the Grand Duke’s mansion, Lloyd Astania received news about Thomas’ death and the complete defeat of his troops.

His face darkened as he clenched his fists.

Gloomy-faced, he wore his battle armor and grabbed his weapon. He then stepped out of the mansion and waited for Lucas to arrive.

“My lord, please I beg you! You must surrender immediately! Otherwise, you will only be killed!” Cried out the old official who had strongly opposed his recent decisions.

“My lord, I also think that we shouldn’t fight! Even Sir Thomas was killed without being able to fight back! Only death awaits us if we choose to resist!” Another one exclaimed with a look of agitation.

Everyone was scared out of their wits.

However, Lloyd merely snorted in response. “If you want to surrender, then leave immediately! I will never submit!”

Everyone could see his trembling shoulders which betrayed his emotions.

Suddenly, they saw a figure descending from the sky.

It was a middle-aged man with a gaunt face. He had a faint smile on his lips and the look of contempt was evident in his eyes.

“Lloyd, two decades have passed, but you have never changed. You are still the same pathetic man you were before!” Lucas muttered in a mocking voice.

“Lucas!” The Grand Duke was furious. He felt humiliated, but not one of his trusted subordinates spoke up for him.

Lucas slowly approached him with steady steps. Each step he took was like a hammer that struck Lloyd’s chest, filling him an unprecedented feeling of terror!

“Are you going to stab me with that sword?” Lucas sent him a disdainful look.

Lloyd’s legs trembled as he stubbornly glared at Lucas. He wanted to move his hand, but he found himself frozen like a statue.

He didn’t want to admit it, but he was terrified!

“L-Lucas… you cannot touch me! I am His Majesty’s younger brother! You will face retaliation from the imperial family if something happens to me!” He blurted out in a trembling voice.

Lucas sneered at his words. He tapped the Grand Duke’s shoulder and clicked his tongue. “Lloyd, stop fooling yourself. We both know what is happening. The second prince has abandoned you, the crown prince wants you dead, and His Majesty’s people are silent… Do you really not know what is going on?”

Sweat trickled down the Grand Duke’s face as soon as he heard this. He knew that Lucas was telling the truth, but he didn’t want to accept it.

His face contorted with fury. With an ear-piercing scream, he made a surprise attack on Lucas, stabbing him with his sword!

“Die!”

Lucas calmly raised his hand and stopped the Grand Duke’s sword between his fingers.

Lloyd widened his eyes in disbelief. He had imbued most of his mana into that attack, but Lucas actually stopped it so effortlessly!

He gritted his teeth and released his remaining mana in a last-ditch attempt to injure Lucas.

However, Lucas didn’t even flinch.

He exhaled a breath and looked at Lloyd with unconcealed mockery.

“Trash.”