Chapter 195
Dragon Slaying Sword Technique Form
First Form
Sun and Moon Slash
Unlike the Second and Third Forms used against large monsters, the First Form was a technique used against human opponents.
KWAKWAKWAKWA!
The first sword strike containing the fifth secret of the Dragon Slaying Sword Technique was unleashed, targeting Rex Tourn’s blind spot.
“Hmm.”
In that moment, Rex Tourn pulled his sword toward his chest.
Then he swung his sword against Zeke’s Dragon Slaying technique.
KWANG!
It was a simple straight slash with no technique imbued.
However, the power contained in that sword strike transcended ordinary sword attacks.
WHOOSH!
Zeke’s Sun and Moon Slash was completely broken by Rex Tourn’s single strike.
“UGH!”
He was forced to be pushed back by the recoil.
Surprisingly, Rex Tourn stood perfectly still holding his sword without moving at all.
“PHEW…”
Although he couldn’t show his full abilities since he had to face him with only swordsmanship without skills or elemental sword, Zeke still felt the gap between himself and Rex Tourn.
‘Is this the gap with a Black Knight?.’
A rough pressure different from Arthur Draker or Sword King Bernas.
The title of Combat King was truly fitting.
Zeke decided to throw his final trump card by gripping his sword again.
‘Arch Paladin’s Infinite Chain Formation.’
Zeke planned to target Rex Tourn’s opening with that technique.
As Zeke gripped his sword again, Rex smiled.
“As Arthur’s son, you have a competitive spirit! You must take after Laura!”
Rex Tourn took his heavy sword and assumed his stance.
“Zeke Draker! I too shall show my true self in response to your valor!”
KUGUGUGUGU!
Formless energy burst forth from Rex Tourn’s body.
Formless energy that only Black Knights could use. It was power from a completely different dimension than aura.
Rex’s Formless energy concentrated on his sword.
WOOOOONG!
Though invisible, Zeke could feel that Rex’s sword held power strong enough to shatter everything.
‘Just standing here is exhausting.’
The black wall he had to break through stood before his eyes.
Zeke gripped Bahamut and shot forward.
WHEEEEEK!
Wind technique unfolded as his body fluttered like the wind.
At the same time, Zeke rose into the air.
“HAAAAH!”
Dragon Slaying Sword Technique
Chapter 3 Section 2
Crescent Moon Launch
A crescent moon shot out from Zeke’s sword as he swung it toward Rex Tourn.
That’s when it happened.
KUGUGU!
Rex Tourn swung down a single strike toward Zeke just like before.
KIIIIING!
Rex’s downward strike tore through space itself, including the crescent moon that Zeke had launched.
The shockwave from the torn space spread out to the surroundings.
Even Reina, who was standing to the side, could barely stay standing just from the aftermath of this shockwave.
“NNGH.”
Reina managed to stay upright by barely grabbing the wall while staggering.
She tried to lift her head to check on Zeke who took the attack head-on.
But Zeke’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
‘Where is he?’
SHIIIIIK!
Zeke had vanished and only Bahamut was flying through the air toward Rex Tourn.
PACHING!
Rex Tourn swung his sword to deflect Bahamut.
At the same time, Zeke, who had been concealing his presence with the soul technique ‘Silver Will’, revealed himself from the blind spot.
He attempted the Infinite Chain Formation by triggering the Strong Wave Resonance he learned from Arataso.
WOONGWOONGWOONG!
As resonance occurred in Zeke’s body, shockwaves seeped into Rex Tourn.
In that moment, Rex Tourn swung his sword to neutralize the shockwaves that Zeke had released.
Zeke wedged himself into the opening when Rex Tourn was surprised by the Strong Wave Resonance shockwave.
CHWAAAAK!
Zeke brought down a hand strike with the power of Wave Resonance.
KWADEUK!
The hand strike was blocked by the sword blade.
But it didn’t end there.
The Infinite Chain Formation was about techniques continuing endlessly.
Like the secret technique users of the Ishtar family, Zeke moved his body freely and gracefully through the air while demonstrating flying techniques and hand techniques.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
Zeke’s attacks imbued with Strong Wave Resonance were fast and each one was lethal.
But Rex Tourn blocked all of Zeke’s attacks one by one while holding his sword.
Rex Tourn grinned even during the exchange of attacks.
“Excellent! However! This much is not enough!”
WHOONG!
Suddenly it felt like all the energy spread throughout the arena was being sucked into Rex’s sword.
Zeke felt as if time had stopped.
That 0.1 second of trying to perform flying techniques while floating in the air felt like an eternity.
Zeke moved his body within this eternal-like time.
KUGUGUGUGU!
His flying technique aimed at the ground instead of Rex. At the same time, Bahamut that had fallen to the ground flew toward Rex from the rebound force.
Simultaneously, Rex Tourn swung his sword while releasing all the compressed energy at once.
KWAKWAKWAKWANG!
Like a raging torrent released from a dam, powerful energy poured like a waterfall from Rex’s sword and overwhelmed Zeke.
KWAKWAKWAKWA!
Unable to withstand that energy, Zeke was pushed back and slammed into the arena wall.
KWAKWAKWANG!
Rex Tourn’s released energy was so strong that even Zeke with his healing factor couldn’t move his body momentarily.
“UGH!”
Zeke tried to get up while trembling.
However, Rex Tourn’s expression twisted as he looked at the fallen Zeke.
“You… you really are Arthur’s son.”
Surprisingly, there was a tiny cut on Rex Tourn’s sleeve.
It was cut by Bahamut that Zeke had kicked before being swept away by the energy.
In the split second Rex Tourn tried to dodge Bahamut, he subtly changed the blade length to deceive his senses.
A move that induced carelessness in the Black Knight and struck that opening.
All of Zeke’s flashy attacks earlier were preparation for this single move.
Zeke barely caught his breath and staggered to his feet.
“Family Head, I… won.”
Rex Tourn looked at Zeke with an uncomfortable expression. Then he snorted and said.
“Tch. Feels like I was tricked… but fine. A promise is a promise.”
Rex Tourn took out a potion from his chest and threw it to Zeke.
“Drink it. It’s Rex’s special potion.”
Though he would recover naturally with time, Zeke immediately downed the potion Rex Tourn gave him.
‘Oh?’
As he said, being a special potion, its effects were good.
Not only was the recovery speed fast, but strength welled up strangely.
Zeke asked Rex Tourn.
“The effects are really good. What is it made of?”
“You’re shameless like Arthur too. Well, since I made it myself, I don’t mind telling you. I took the highest grade potion, added basilisk blood, devil bear gallbladder, mandrake root, and everything else good for the body and simmered it well.”
“…”
After learning the potion’s identity, Zeke felt he shouldn’t have drunk it.
Rex Tourn approached Zeke.
“Well, anyway. You passed the test. Zeke Draker, I grant you qualification to enter the Trial of Struggle.”
“Thank you, Family Head.”
“About your mother’s story. Will you hear it now?”
Rex Tourn was straightforward in personality. However, Zeke shook his head.
“I’ll hear it after completing the Trial of Struggle and returning.”
Rex Tourn nodded at Zeke’s words.
“Good. When will you enter the Trial of Struggle?”
“I’ll enter tomorrow right away.”
“Your hasty temperament is like Laura’s. Alright. I’ll tell the administrator.”
“Thank you.”
Rex Tourn glanced at Reina who was watching Zeke with blank eyes, drained of energy from behind.
It hurt his heart to see his beloved daughter looking so powerless.
‘This too will be bitter medicine for Reina.’
Reina was also a warrior descended from the valiant Tourn blood. Rex didn’t comfort Reina separately.
Sometimes watching growth from afar –
That too was a father’s duty and right.
‘Reina, stay strong. This dad always believes in you.’
Rex was swallowing his tears inside.
That’s when Zeke opened his mouth.
“Family Head, may I ask how you viewed my swordsmanship?”
Opportunities to cross swords directly with a Black Knight were rare.
Zeke’s master Duke Draker was also a Black Knight in the past, but currently lost the realm of Black Knight for some reason.
Though Duke liked to talk, he never opened his mouth about that reason in particular.
Zeke’s father Arthur Draker was someone he couldn’t cross swords with, and even if such an opportunity arose, he was definitely not someone who would say anything.
Rex Tourn looked at Zeke anew and said.
“Can’t tell if you’re shameless or honest.”
“I want to hear your honest evaluation.”
Though his acquired skills increased, Zeke remained stagnant at the Red Knight realm.
He needed an opportunity to step up to the Black Knight realm.
Although he had hidden his power during the duel, Black Knight Rex Tourn may have noticed parts that Zeke had missed.
Rex thought deeply and said to Zeke.
“Go take a vacation or something.”
“What?”
Zeke asked back at Rex’s sudden words.
He snorted while crossing his arms and said.
“What’s the rush? If you’re the same age as Reina, you’re eighteen, soon nineteen. Loosen up your body a bit.”
For a moment, Zeke recalled Kaisir’s voice.
That was what he heard most from Kaisir while learning Elemental Sword at the Sanctuary.
‘You fool! Loosen up your body!’
He thought he had been relaxed since learning relaxation through the Water technique, but apparently not.
‘Loosen up the body. No, I shouldn’t be trapped in even this kind of thinking. Getting fixated will only create another wall.’
Rex watched Zeke intensely pondering his single word and said.
“…You really do take after Laura more than Arthur.”
Rex called servants to guide Zeke to his lodging.
Then Reina approached Zeke.
“I lost this time… but next time will be different.”
Reina left the arena first, clearly frustrated at failing the Family Head’s test.
After resting in the room prepared by House Tourn for a night, Zeke prepared to enter the Trial of Struggle the next day.
Outside, a carriage was already waiting to take him to the trial.
When Zeke opened the carriage door, surprisingly Rex Tourn sat inside with crossed arms and a solemn expression.
“Family Head?”
“Sit, Zeke Draker.”
The carriage departed with Zeke and Rex Tourn.
Zeke couldn’t understand why Rex Tourn was in this carriage.
‘Why is he here? To warn me? He could have crushed me more yesterday if so. Or is he angry about Reina’s frustration?’
All sorts of thoughts arose.
Then Rex Tourn spoke.
“The Trial of Struggle won’t be easy. First, when you reach the first floor…”
Surprisingly, Rex Tourn was in the carriage to give Zeke advice about the Trial of Struggle.
‘How unexpected.’
It was unimaginable kindness from the calculating and cold House Draker.
‘I thought House Tourn was just rough, but I was wrong.’
Rex Tourn’s advice continued throughout the carriage ride.
After listening for a while, Zeke suddenly realized something.
‘I think I’ve heard enough.’
Rex Tourn was more talkative than expected.
He repeated earlier stories, told unnecessary details, and suddenly changed topics following his train of thought.
Zeke momentarily suspected Rex Tourn was using advanced rhetoric to confuse his mind.
But seeing him share important information again, that didn’t seem to be the case.
‘Rex Tourn… unlike Arthur Draker, he’s an unpredictable person.’
The carriage arrived at the Trial of Struggle.
THUD!
The Tourn knights guarding the dungeon knelt before the carriage.
“We greet the Family Head!”
Rex Tourn and Zeke got out of the carriage together.
Until just now he seemed like a talkative big uncle, but now he looked completely different.
Rex Tourn said to Zeke.
“That is the Trial of Struggle.”
Zeke looked where he pointed.
A sturdy iron door stood at the bottom of a sunken cliff.
Zeke bowed to Rex Tourn and approached the door without hesitation.
‘The 50th floor Reina reached in my past life. That should be enough to gain House Tourn’s recognition.’
He planned to naturally blend into House Tourn and find clues about Tyr’s Shield.
Zeke steeled himself and entered through the door of the Trial of Struggle.
Then a message appeared before his eyes.
[Battle God Tyr’s testing ground. Detecting ‘Inverted Tower’.]
‘HUH?’
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