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A black greatsword sliced through the air, sending the air howling at its overwhelming strength. Perhaps this was how Amateos, the god of swordsmanship, looked when he descended to the earth.
Or perhaps not. At least at this very moment, the swordsmanship displayed was something else entirely. The fighters’ swords hadn’t hit each other once, but the crack of thunder accompanied every swing.
This swordsmanship cut space itself, not the enemy. It was one of the reasons why Duke Agnus was one of the top nobles in all of Avalon.
Space Tearing.
Any normal opponent would’ve run away immediately after seeing what Duke Agnus did. The problem was that his opponent was equally formidable.
“As expected…”
An old man with gray hair wielded his saber with exquisite movements.
Were they giving each other a break? No, anything but! No one’s ego was big enough to let them relax around an opponent of this caliber. Age and experience didn’t matter—his opponent was an Agnus. He was the epitome of what an opponent should be.
Tremblin’s blade criss-crossed their air. Even though the space was as empty as it could get, something was audibly sliced.
A poor duelist would be blinded by the beauty of their own weapon and lose sight of their opponent or perhaps be too focused on their opponent and miss a crucial detail. But the two people right here weren't here to focus on their swords or movements. Their gazes were cast farther, and their vision was spread wider. Their fight was simply a battle to control as much space as possible.
Duke Tremblin’s body quivered. His body swelled with muscles that wouldn’t be out of place on a man half his age, but it was his aura that made him the Emperor of Swords. His aura rose and rose until iridescent rays twinkled at the tip of his saber and danced in the air.
A sword without a will was created, aimed at the enemy’s vitals.
Another form of mana flew through the air towards the two of them, setting off an explosion right next to Duke Tremblin. Red sparks flew towards Duke Agnus’s heart. Lights fluttered through their hair.
Their lives danced on a razor edge.
Heaven and earth were bent to their will.
The battle between two Stars had begun, and it turned night into day.
Finally, the two of them kicked the ground and hurtled towards each other.
In an instant, they both felt their opponent’s body, breathing, and overall face, because they were both so close to each other.
And at last, their swords crossed.
All who watched fell to their knees. They ducked their heads as Duke Tremblin deflected Duke Agnus’s greatsword away from his shoulder. It was just the first strike, but it left a permanent mark on its witnesses.
“What the—”
A purple-haired knight arrived late and was immediately crushed by an enormous, unprecedented pressure. He asked, “Is this even a power of a human being?” What about the swordsmanship he’d been learning all these years? No… the right question was: “Is this even swordsmanship?”
It was…
‘Anyone who got caught in that is dead!’
Cold sweat beaded on his head as he stumbled over the increasingly fractured ground. He staggered back, his most primal instincts screaming at him to flee.
A hand fell on the man’s shoulder.
“Stop that,” a voice said from behind him.
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The man's eyes widened with astonishment and a shadow of doubt colored his face.
Something unexplainable happened: someone intervened in the two Stars’ duel.
Between Duke Agnus and Duke Tremblin stood a man whose blond hair sparkled in the sun.
***
Joshua spotted the purple-haired man.
“Cazes, how did you—?”
It was Joshua’s subordinate and the current vice-captain of the 11th Battalion of the Imperial Knights. Why was he here instead at the Imperial Palace?
Cain drew his sword from his back with an ominous rasp.
“Did they follow us?”
“Cain.”
“Master, leave this to—”
“Put the sword back.”
Cain’s eyes widened.
“But what if—”
“He’s not an enemy. He’s one of my subordinates, just like you.”
Cazes’s eyes were now the ones which widened.
“Cazes. Considering your position, catching me is the right thing to do. You’ll be able to sever the ties you had with me.”
“Captain.”
“But I’m not in a position to let you catch me…” Joshua stretched out his arms and beckoned. “Come on. I am sorry, but when you open your eyes again, I will be gone.”
Cazes’s voice came out broken.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.” Joshua nodded.
But then a strange smile appeared on Cazes’s face and he burst out laughing. He raised both hands to show that he meant no harm.
“You already knew everything and you're still mischievous, Captain.”
Joshua smiled at him.
“I think so too.”
The sudden change in atmosphere made Cain frown.
“What’s happening?” he whispered to Icarus.
“How would I know? The important thing is, it’s not bad for us.”
“Are we supposed to like this situation?”
Icarus turned to Cain.
“Shouldn’t you know?”
“Huh?”
“You’re a man, you should understand the feelings between men.”
Seeing Cain’s blank look, Icarus sighed.
“When are you gonna be a useful man?”
Cain frowned.
“You have become quite sassy since the last time I saw you, haven’t you?”
“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” Icarus coyly muttered.
Cain gave her a puzzled look before turning back to Joshua and Cazes.
“A masked person calling themselves the ‘Assassin King’ told me where you were, Captain.”
“The Assassin King!”
Icarus, still unaware of the relationship between Joshua and Aisha, inhaled sharply.
“They said they will go to Reinhardt first because to take care of something… Viper and Ranger wanted to come as well, but it’s too risky for us to move together.”
“I know, you didn’t have to tell me.”
“I’ll bet.” Cazes nodded knowingly. “Everyone thinks the same. After we learned of the existence of the Assassin King, I was terrified as well. We were in total chaos—some were even shouting that they would never let the Assassin King lay a hand on the Captain.”
Cain was taken aback. His Master served the Imperial family for only five years. How did he manage to capture their hearts in that short period of time? Their acts were nigh treason in the eyes of the Imperial family, but Cazes seemed completely nonchalant.
“And…” Cazes rummaged through his pockets and held out a neatly sealed envelope. “A letter from the Princess.”
“The Princess?” Cain wondered.
“The only princess of Avalon?” Icarus echoed.
“Thank you…” Joshua paused for a moment but bowed his head in gratitude.
“I will cover your position, temporarily.”
“That’s great.” Joshua smiled faintly and gripped the letter firmly.
“Only temporarily. No one can take the Auxiliary Battalion Captain’s place.” Cazes took a step back. “I’ve lingered for too long, but I have something to say before I go.”
Cazes suddenly drew his sword, making Cain jerk in surprise.
“Captain. Even if they pointed their fingers at you, Joshua Sanders, we will be forever proud of you… Captain, please come back alive. You can call us anytime you need us. No matter where you are, inside or outside of the continent, even in the depths of hell…” Cazes gripped the sword tighter. “I, Cazes… no… All of the 11th and 12th Battalions will risk our lives to come to your side.”
Cazes pressed the sword against his chest.
“To my final Captain, may the infinite blessing of Prius be always with you, Joshua Sanders.”
Cain silently clenched his fist. Even Icarus’s face was flushed from her rising emotions.
Joshua impulsively summoned Lugia from its subspace before he knew it and raised it to his chest in kind.
“Even though I can’t be with you, may Prius’s brilliance fall upon you and everyone else, forever.”
The dazzling light of the moon shone down on them.