Rebirth of the 8th-Circle Mage

Chapter 136 - Mordred (2)

There was no need for a conversation because the two peak-level Sword Masters who had reached the top of the imperial power system could guess each other’s strength from sight alone.

Mordred was surprised.

‘Advanced? No, he might even be at the peak level. Is it possible that there’s a high-level Sword Master in the empire that I didn’t know about?’

The number of intermediate and advanced Sword Masters was high because their main skills and decisiveness could be trained. However, most advanced Sword Masters couldn’t even master an ultimate skill, the mark of a peak-level Sword Master, even if they worked hard their entire lives.

That was why peak-level Sword Masters with an ultimate skill were awarded the same recognition as the Archmages of the Magical Spire.

Their blue Auras burned like fireworks.

The two clashed like wild beasts, causing an unexpected gust of wind to blow through the gorge.

Whoosh!

‘I’m sure of it. He’s on my level!’

Although Mordred was a nobleman, as a swordsman, he believed that one should be able to acknowledge the opponent’s skills, but Von was…

“How long are you going to keep staring at me? What, are you scared?”

“...I will kill you.”

Von was so arrogant.

He wanted to acknowledge Von’s strength, but Von's attitude was so crude that it reminded him of a savage.

Thud!

Mordred was enraged, and he took a step forward.

The Aura that he released burned even more fiercely, and the ground cracked under his feet.

Von scoffed. “That’s it?”

Thuddd!

“...!”

Von responded in the same way.

However, the cracks under Von’s feet were much bigger and deeper.

“H-how dare you…!”

Mordred had reached his limit.

He had never been ignored or ridiculed by anyone in his entire life. Von was so irritating that it was enough to break his patience.

Whoosh!

In a fit of rage, Mordred swung his sword so quickly that it couldn't be seen with the naked eye.

Aura in the shape of a blue crescent moon shot from Mordred’s blade with a piercing sound.

“Still slow as always.”

Clank!

Von could see Mordred’s Aura approaching him. Von swung his sword with ease and brushed away Mordred’s Aura.

Rumble!

Mordred’s Aura blade flew past Von, changed direction, and cut the gorge behind him.

‘Damn that bastard…!’

Mordred even thought that it was arrogant of Von to block his attack, but this had also proven Von’s skill.

However, Mordred didn't assume that Von was stronger than him just because he had deflected an attack. After all, Mordred was the 6th Sword of the empire and an excellent swordsman from the Highlander family.

“Ugh!”

Mordred let out a small snort and swung his sword fiercely, his silver hair flowing in the air.

Sapphire Rose was one of Mordred’s signature skills.

Crackkkkk!

His sword cut through the air at high speed, launching Aura blades in short bursts. The Aura blades merged in the air to form the shape of a blue rose, hence the name Sapphire Rose.

‘How cliche.’

However, Von was unimpressed by Sapphire Rose. To him, it seemed that Mordred’s swordsmanship hadn’t shown much progress.

In addition, if his earlier attack didn’t work, he should have changed his tactics. Did he still see Von as an easy opponent?

Modered’s attacks had increased in frequency, but not in variety.

‘I’ll show you how much of a big fish in a small pond you are.’

Although Mordred Highlander was the 6th Imperial Sword, Von never believed that Mordred was superior to him. After all, Von himself had been offered a position among the Imperial Ten Swords, even though he had declined it.

Von condensed his Aura into his sword and his legs, and he sprang forward as though he’d been shot from a catapult.

Bang!

“...!”

Von rushed into the center of the rose.

Mordred felt danger.

‘It can’t be!’

Crackkkk!

The impending danger triggered Mordred's reflexes, but Von’s movements were much quicker than his.

Von swung his sword as fast as Mordred had done and broke the rose petals.

Rumble!

The petals slapped aside by Von’s sword flew far away and created a thick dust cloud.

Von cut through the last Aura blade at the center of the rose horizontally and pointed his blade at Mordred, who responded too late.

Clank!

There wasn’t a chance for him to escape. Facing Von’s blade, which pierced the air like an awl as it thrust at him, Mordred quickly raised his sword and barely managed to block it.

‘Agh! How is he so strong…!’

Von’s physical strength was among the most impressive in the imperial palace.

Mordred gritted his teeth; he didn’t release a single groan as he endured the blow because that would have hurt his pride.

Von realized Mordred’s thoughts and laughed. “Are you struggling?”

“W-what?”

“Tsk tsk, what a fat pig.”

“What did you just… Argh!”

Their swords clashed, and it seemed that their strength was well-balanced. Von stretched the Aura wrapped around his blade, using his special skill to lengthen his sword.

It was an unexpected attack.

The Aura extended like a spear and penetrated the spot between Mordred’s left shoulder and chest, exiting through his shoulder blade.

There was no struggle between the two Auras.

Both of them had peak-level Auras with similar strengths, but the important thing was the difference in technique.

Kick!

With the blade still stuck in Mordred's shoulder, Von kicked Mordred in the stomach. As he pulled out his sword in an upward motion, it left a long wound on Mordred’s left shoulder behind.

“Arghhh!”

A long stream of blood spurted from the injury.

Thud.

Mordred drove his sword into the ground to support himself, but his left shoulder was split in half and caused him incredible pain.

It was so painful that his lips trembled and he had to admit that he’d been careless.

Swoosh!

Von swung his sword several times to shake the blood off his blade.

Mordred could barely breathe, and he was forced to use his sword as a staff for support. Von said in a contemptuous manner, “How lazy have you been? Are you so negligent in your training that you can't even predict an attack like this?”

“How…long?”

“To think that I hid for so long just to avoid someone like you…I feel ashamed of my own weakness.”

Von was genuinely regretting his past.

Mordred’s weakness was all the more contemptible as Von had never neglected his training for a single day, from the moment the continent was unified to the day Henry had been executed.

“Just die now.”

There was no need to lengthen his sword, which was condensed with Aura. Von raised his sword with a frown and a look of disgust. He thrust the sword quickly.

Slice!

Mordred managed to twist desperately and dodge the fatal blow, avoiding being severed in two. However, his shoulder was torn to shreds, and it detached completely from his body.

“Arghhhhh!”

“Tsk tsk, you could’ve died peacefully…”

Mordred’s left shoulder and arm landed on the floor. A waterfall of blood poured out from his injured shoulder and he cried out in pain. It was the first time in his life to suffer such a serious injury.

“H-Haa…!”

However, Mordred still didn’t fall to his knees.

He just glared at Von with red eyes. The veins had popped from the tremendous pain, which he’d never felt before.

Von smirked and said, “That’s right. Even a pig glares at the butcher when it’s time to die.”

Mordred had been living too comfortably and peacefully and neglected his training. To Von, a swordsman like that was a dog or a pig, nothing more or less, especially if the opponent was Arthus’ dog, whom he hated.

“There’s no such thing as a second lucky opportunity.”

Yanos’ death was truly sad, but thanks to that, he could achieve unexpected positive outcomes.

Von drew his sword horizontally.

He swung his sword while closing the distance so that Mordred couldn’t dodge it this time.

Whoosh!

Von's sword cut into Mordred's shoulder as if it was water—and just like water, blood splattered.

Mordred covered his body in Aura at the last minute, but it wasn’t enough to block Von’s sword.

His breastplate tore, revealing his flesh. The sword cut off a long strip of it. His chest bled just as much as his shoulder.

Thud!

Mordred eventually fell on his knees.

He didn’t have the strength to hold out any longer.

Von muttered once again in a mocking voice.

“To think that a guy who’s not even as good as a dog or a pig is the Imperial 6th Sword, tsk tsk!”

Some of the Imperial Ten Swords had gained their position due to convoluted political interests rather than pure skill. It didn’t mean that their skills were inferior, but they hadn’t gained their position in a fair manner. Von considered Mordred one of these people.

Clank!

After shaking the blood off his blade, Von sheathed his sword and sat on a nearby boulder to watch Mordred die slowly.

Mordred struggled and said, “W-who… Are… You?”

Von savored Mordred’s slow, agonizing death.

“What a dumbass. The Imperial 6th Sword doesn’t even recognize me just because my face is different?” said Von.

“W-what… Do you mean…”

“There was one person in the imperial palace who had this Aura, but you still can’t figure it out?”

“C-can… it be?”

At Von’s hint, Mordred’s eyes widened.

“V-Von…?”

“Tsk tsk, it looks like you’ve been lying around and doing nothing. The empire must be coming to an end if you dare call yourself the Imperial 6th Sword.”

“Ha… ha… Thank… You.”

Thud!

Mordred fell forward and died.

“Tsk tsk!”

Von clucked his tongue. He took the Subspace Pouch out to take the corpse as a trophy.

‘Henry’s going to be happy.’

He couldn’t find a talented person, but he had made an even greater achievement.

The thought that he could spend the rest of his time off without feeling guilty made him hum.

After opening the Subspace Pouch, Von grabbed Mordred’s head, but just then…

Pop!

“Agh, what the hell!”

A sharp horn protruded from the top of Mordred’s head and pierced Von’s hand.

- Goop goop.

He quickly withdrew his hand, but there was already a large hole in his palm.

A strange cry started to come out from Mordred's corpse.

‘What the hell!’

Von distanced himself and felt goosebumps all over his body.

However, those goosebumps weren’t caused by the wound.

- Goop goop.

It was a gruff voice.

From Mordred’s body, huge tentacles started to protrude. When they lifted Mordred’s body, Von was at a loss for words at the sight in front of his eyes.