Chapter 291: Act 68: Brand’s Swordsmanship (Part 2)

The silence in the hall persisted. Brand looked at the white-haired young man who was holding his wrist in disbelief, then glanced at the longsword on the ceiling that was still trembling, and let out a breath. He was not surprised by this result. After that powerful strike, Brand had already sensed that the young man named Redi had a strength about four to five times that of an ordinary person, which was just stepping into the Black Iron Rank, similar to the level he had in the Golden Magic Tree Canyon.

Such strength at this age could be considered outstanding, but naturally, it couldn’t compare to his cheats. Brand thought about his own power; in this period of history, it was indeed like using cheats — reaching the first level of strength in a week, entering the middle of Black Iron in a month, and stepping into the beginning of silver in the third month. Although not as excellent as a Chosen One, he was still unprecedented.

As for whether anyone would come after him, Brand couldn’t say for sure.

According to the calculations from the past games, the middle of silver roughly started at Level 35. Brand himself estimated that he would need to reach Level 40 in militia level, which would be about 600,000 experience points. He needed to gather enough experience within seven months; only in this way would he not miss the last opportunity during Erune’s December rebellion.

As he was thinking, he noticed the crowd parting to both sides.

Antitina let out a soft exclamation.

Brand was also slightly stunned, and his gaze fell on the two people at the back of the crowd. The man walking in front was wearing chain armor and a blood-red cloak. He wore a tall hat with colorful feathers stuck in it, like an explorer from the Royal Geographical Society of Erune— but the brooch on his chest was not the society’s Flame Amber, but a simple wooden medal.

The medal was engraved with a kingfisher.

The taller man behind him wore simple leather armor that only covered vital areas, leaving the muscles on his arms exposed. He carried a giant sword at least five feet long on his shoulder—his forehead broad, his cheeks sunken as if carved by a knife. He pursed his thin lips, giving an impression of authority without anger.

Brand was stunned when he saw this man.

Wasn’t this that guy?

A hint of doubt appeared in his mind—because this tall man, resembling a barbarian from the snowy highlands, instantly formed an image in Brand’s mind: Anlek’s “Cross Hand” Bujia, Duke Lune’s confidant, and Guard Captain of Lantolin Castle.

Anlek’s most famous Swordsmen, one of the Great Sword Masters, known alongside Eagle Djal and Silver Knight Sivia.

Brand recognized this guy because, in past games, Bujia was a famous figure. “Cross Hand” Bujia, as the Guard Captain of Lantolin Castle, was the initiator of Lune’s main quest “Courage,” and Brand happened to be one of the few players to personally experience this series of missions. In fact, he still remembered that world-shaking battle vividly.

He remembered—

That should have been the final step of the mission, where players had to assist Bujia in killing one of the twelve shepherd leaders of the Shepherd Tree Men—the Sorrow Envoy “Fenica.”

The Sorrow Envoy “Fenica” was as high as Level 97, mastering the highest-level superior element “Darkness” and almost perfecting the bronze body. In an era when the player’s maximum level was only 83, the twelve shepherd leaders of the Shepherd Tree Men were practically invincible nightmares.

And the story developed as follows.

Bujia, carrying the giant sword “Legendary Awen”, led the players single-handedly into the headquarters of the Shepherd Tree Men in the Forbidden Forest of the Lune Duchy. Using the Sean School’s knight swordsmanship—he was the only legendary existence to master the Level 17 swordsmanship skill of this school (the player’s maximum level was 13)—he only used four swords to kill the Sorrow Envoy “Fenica.”

The entire process of the mission, the players were like spectators, only needing to hold off the small monsters and buy time.

And indeed, it was this battle that solidified Brand’s resolve to follow the warrior path to the end. At that time, he was only Level 72, but later he became one of the few pure warrior players in Vorned who had a Silver Body.