Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

”I see it,” Alaric muttered, his eyes staring into the darkness.

With his powerful perception, he could vaguely see the outline of a monstrous creature. It was a behemoth that towered over the gigantic trees. Its size was so massive that it resembled a mountain.

The beast’s ferocious aura leaked everywhere, causing the monsters to enter a frenzied state.

Suddenly, it raised its massive head and let out an earthshaking sound.

Roaarr!!

A violent shockwave erupted, bringing fierce winds all over the place.

As if answering to its call, the monster tide issued wild sounds as they charged toward the allied forces’ camp.

Looking at the advancing monsters, the Astanian Emperor who was outside the camp, lifted his sword and bellowed. ”Kill them all! Show them our determination to leave this bloody forest!”

”Kill them all!”

”Kill the monsters!”

The soldiers of the allied forces echoed his words.

Following the battle cries, the two sides clashed with terrifying force!

A brutal cacophony of monstrous roars and panicked screams echoed across the forest.

The well-trained soldiers moved into defensive formations to slow down the charging beasts, but their actions didn’t seem to faze the crazed monsters.

These ferocious creatures seemed like they didn’t fear death. They lunged at the soldiers and violently mauled their bodies, tearing through their flesh and drinking their blood.

”Shield bearers, maintain formation! Don’t let those savages break through!”

At this moment, a Heroic barked out to his troops. ”Knights, assemble and await my command!”

Tens of thousands of Gallants moved into battle formation. They were part of the main attack force of the allied army. Composed only of Gallants and above, their sheer power could break even the most formidable of enemies.

(Note: Heroic = Transcendent Knight, Gallant = Knight)

The Heroic commander stared at the ongoing carnage, ready to send the signal at any moment.

He was waiting for the signal from the commander of the shield bearers.

The main attack force gripped their weapons tightly as they impatiently eyed the monsters.

The strict discipline and self-control of the elite troops were fully revealed. They were unlike the hot-blooded soldiers who didn’t receive formal military training.

At this moment, the Heroic commander saw two flags, waving back and forth at the front lines. It was their signal.

With a raise of his spear, he squeezed his legs and shouted. ”Attack! Destroy them all!”

”Attack!”

”Destroy them!”

The sounds of battle drums echoed, following their advance.

The shield bearers created a path for them, allowing them to enter the heart of the monster tide.

Led by the Heroic commander, the main attack force wreaked havoc upon the monsters. They slew beasts left and right, leaving mangled corpses scattered across the forest.

Their auras surged, scaring the monsters, and forcing their advance to a halt.

Using this opportunity, the main attack force launched a fearsome assault, killing thousands of monsters in one charge.

”Main attack force, assemble and retreat!” The Heroic commander issued an order. Their task was only to disrupt the advance of the monster tide.

His soldiers might be powerful, but their stamina was finite. They needed to rest and recover their strength.

The main attack force retreated to the rear. Another unit took their place to hold back the advancing monsters.

Meanwhile, the Astanian Emperor, together with Alaric and the leaders of the various nations, attacked the stronger monsters.

They targeted the Disaster-grade and Catastrophe-grade beasts which were equivalent to Champions, Heroic, and even Unfettered.

These beasts could destroy their armies’ formations so they had to kill them first.

”You are mine!” Alaric chose a target, a huge feline monster that was three times the size of a normal tiger.

Its aura was that of a peak Catastrophe-grade beast, a powerful monster that was as strong as a Venerable!

As if sensing his killing intent, the beast growled at him, its muscles taut, ready to pounce.

The aura in its body surged. Flames emerged around itself, encasing its body in a protective armor of flames.

Roarr!!

With a mighty roar, it lunged at Alaric, spewing a breath of flames upon him.

The air temperature rose abruptly as the flames burst forth with unbridled fury.

Seeing this, Alaric snorted. He summoned his swords and simply waved them. The air around him froze at a visible speed; even the flames about to touch his body froze.

With its flames frozen, the feline monster was left stunned. It couldn’t believe that a human was able to stop its flames for there had been no one who had done it before.

Seizing this chance, Alaric released a slash that was empowered by his ice element.

Whoosh!

His sword moved unhindered and violently decapitated the feline monster.

Khshk!

The beast’s head flew into the air and its body fell to the ground with a ’thud’. Blood flowed out from its neck, bloodying the grass underneath.

After killing the monster, Alaric didn’t linger. He observed the monster tide and searched for another target.

The reason for his eagerness was because of a mission that popped up in front of him, prompting him to eliminate the monster tide.

Although the rewards were not much, it would still help him improve.

...

”A fine beast you are. How about you follow me? I will show you the vast world beyond this forest.” Bellator looked at the towering behemoth before him.

The monster lowered its huge head, its ferocious eyes staring at him, seemingly studying this unusually calm human warrior.

”Human, you have encroached upon my territory and you dare utter such absurd words?!” It spoke in the common language, its voice filled with rage.

For the past hundred years, no creature dared to intrude on its land, so when it discovered the allied forces stepping onto its territory, it summoned its monster army to repel the invaders.

Bellator remained calm in the face of its fury. He raised his hand, signaling that he meant no harm. ”It seems like there is a misunderstanding.”

He looked into the beast’s eyes and explained. ”We are not here to invade your home. We just happened to pass by as we were heading for our destination.”