Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Lucas didn’t waste time. He charged towards Alaric and swung the steel sword. He didn’t use any fancy technique or impressive footwork. It was just a simple downward slash that looked as ordinary as it could be.

Whoosh!

Alaric didn’t dare underestimate this attack. It looked simple on the surface, but behind this seemingly ordinary slash was the strength of a Venerable.

He instinctively lifted his shield at the right moment.

Clang!

Lucas was a bit surprised. He didn’t put his all into that swing, but it still carried enough force to overpower a Transcendent Knight.

The kid isn’t all talk after all.

He thought to himself as he prepared for another attack. This time, he added more strength and delivered a diagonal slash aimed at Alaric’s shoulder.

Clang!

Surprisingly, Alaric was able to defend himself again.

Again?

Lucas raised his eyebrows in shock. He used 50% of his strength in that attack. It was a swing that could obliterate an ordinary Transcendent Knight.

“Dad, you need to use more strength if you want to defeat me.” Alaric chuckled. He was amused to see his father’s shocked expression.

Lucas snorted in response. He repositioned himself and made a quick dash to Alaric’s side. He thought of using the blind spot to catch his son off guard, but to his disbelief, Alaric seemed to have anticipated his move.

He jumped backwards and lifted his shield at the right moment.

Clang! Chapters first released on novelFir.net

This time, Lucas knew that it wasn’t a fluke.

Since when did this kid learn how to use a shield?

He finally got serious and treated the spar like an actual battle. He didn’t want his son to put himself into a dangerous battle so he planned on making him realize the gap between a Venerable and a Transcendent Knight.

With ghost-like footsteps, he appeared like a blurry figure in Alaric’s eyes.

In the next moment, he released a combination of slashes and stabs.

Alaric squinted his eyes and put his entire focus into blocking and deflecting the attacks.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

This SS-rank Shield Mastery is so amazing!

Lucas couldn’t even touch his clothes.

Alaric effortlessly blocked the attacks and he deflected those that he couldn’t.

Lucas didn’t even realize it, but he was subconsciously exerting more strength with every move. However, Alaric managed to miraculously defend himself against all his attacks.

Narrowing his eyes, Lucas instinctively used his full power to thrust his sword.

Whoosh!

The steel sword moved like a serpent, zeroing in on Alaric’s chest.

Seeing this, Alaric gritted his teeth and decisively put his shield in front of his body.

Clang!

The force behind the stab sent him flying into the air.

He groaned when he felt his left arm screaming with pain.

Ignoring the pain, he twisted his body in midair to land on his feet.

Damn! The recoil almost broke my arm!

His father didn’t even use mana, but the force behind the stab had almost snapped his bones.

Lucas stared at his son with a look of astonishment. During that last stab, he didn’t hold back in the slightest. It contained the full physical power of a Venerable.

No ordinary shield should be able to block that, but that’s not the most impressive part. Alaric’s mastery of the shield is already at the highest level.

He didn’t want to admit it, but his son already had the skills to protect himself against a Venerable.

With a deep sigh, he lowered the steel sword and sent a proud smile to his son. “I must admit that you already have the ability to protect yourself. I won’t dissuade you anymore, but are you really sure about this?”

Hearing his father’s affirmation, Alaric smiled faintly.

“If we can defeat Arcientus, we can go home early. I miss my younger sister. I want to hold her in my arms. Let’s do this, Dad.”

“What else can I say?” Lucas shook his head with a wry smile.

…

Several days later, deep in the woods dozens of miles beyond Zurcath, an army of five hundred thousand soldiers could be seen marching.

The intimidating auras emanating from the soldiers scared off the monsters living in the forest. Not one monster dared to get close to them, even those particularly powerful beasts chose to hide in their burrows.

Arcientus, the emperor of Harune, had disguised himself as one of the military officers in this army. He might be targeted by the enemies if he were to show his face so he used this method. It was beneath him to hide his glorious appearance, but he thought that this was necessary to avoid trouble.

“Your Majesty, once we get out of this jungle, Zurcath will be within our sight.” A voice drifted into his ears.

Arcientus turned his head to look at the person who had spoken.

It was a middle-aged man with long curly black hair. He had thick eyebrows and a thick messy beard. His appearance might look rough, but this man was the Commander of the Imperial Guards, Kynn Greyhound.

“Is that so? Tell the troops to set up camp. We will attack Zurcath tomorrow so they must be fully rested.” Arcientus spoke, his eyes gleaming with mysterious radiance.

“Your servant obeys!” Kynn respectfully acknowledged the command.

Soon, the Harunian troops stopped marching. They began to set up their tents in the middle of the woods.

Knowing that there will be war tomorrow, the atmosphere was a bit tense.

Unbeknownst to them, there was a figure lurking in the shadows, quietly observing their every move.

It was Caecus.

He was tasked to determine the composition of the Harunian troops.

Most of their troops are cavalrymen and they also have an aerial unit with over twenty thousand members. I need to report this to His Highness so we can make some prepara-

His thoughts were cut off when he sensed an overwhelming killing intent locking in on him.

They found me!

Caecus decisively left when he sensed an unprecedented level of danger.

He held his breath and quickly concealed all traces of his mana.

Bang!