CHAPTER 509: CHAPTER 462: STEEL-SLAYING! _2

Obviously, this was not a Great Knight missing from the data, just an Official Wizard who had made his mark through witchcraft.

He didn’t even carry a saber, only held a luxurious gemstone staff in his hand, further confirming this point.

Almost startled by the uniform, the Steel Knight’s already ruddy face turned a shade deeper, almost purple, with anger in his heart:

"Just an Official Wiz..."

Aiven ignored his thoughts.

Boom!

Like a lightning bolt, with wings carrying wind and thunder, Aiven had unexpectedly shot from mid-air in front of the Steel Knight.

The spring mechanism in the ruby staff in his hand suddenly popped open, and a line of bright cold edge almost stung the Steel Knight’s eyes.

Using the power from the sky.

[Thrust!]

A succession of true and false disguises caught the Steel Knight completely off guard, leaving him only enough time to raise his right arm, shielding his head with the heavy longsword in his hand.

Clang—

The rapier struck the exposed, muscled chest of the Steel Knight, blood-red with a bluish-black iron hue, but it did not penetrate as Aiven had thought.

A ringing metallic vibration sounded, as if a heavy hammer had struck an anvil, and the Steel Knight was sent flying off the water with force.

Aiven furrowed his brows, his toes skimming the waves, closely following.

[Sword Style: Jumping Wave]

Constitution 6.6, Strength 6.5, Agility 5.9.

A foot already stepping into the level of a Senior Grand Knight, and a rare constitution specialist.

In mid-air, seeing the opponent’s stats, Aiven’s thoughts raced.

"The term ’Steel Knight’ refers not only to an exquisite Extraordinary Armor, but this guy’s defense has already reached a steel-like level, proving the nickname wasn’t wrong."

Before Tier 2, a Knight without Extraordinary Power was only brute force without divinity.

But upon reaching Tier 3, they undergo a transformation unlike before, gaining Combat Qi, a form of Extraordinary Energy, no longer at the bottom of the Extraordinary ladder.

Although knocked away, with his formidable defense like iron, the Steel Knight wasn’t injured. Even if he did get injured, with the "Combat Faith" buff, his combat strength wouldn’t falter.

Roar!

A violent roar, mingling with the effect of Lost Will, surged toward Aiven who was close behind.

[Secret Technique: Battle Roar]

Combat Qi Flame burst from the Steel Knight’s feet as he turned to retaliate, his greatsword turning pitch black again.

After one swing he was shocked to find that this opponent had truly mastered both the Wizard and "Knight" paths. While he didn’t trigger Combat Qi, his physical strength was only just below his own.

A formidable opponent!

[Secret Technique: Revenge]

[Secret Technique: Defending Stance]

Yet Aiven, with [Divine Power], easily dispelled the Battle Roar, slipping past the vengeance-counter. Then, like a frame-skipping phantom, he surrounded the giant whose speed couldn’t match his.

The Steel Knight’s heavy two-handed sword formed a storm of blades, steadily blocking the sword rain swirling towards him, even sparingly leaving only white marks on his demon-like defensive skin.

Clang! Clang! Clang!...

In the battle on the sea, splashes were endless, sparks flew, and fierce wind churned the waves into a frenzy.

An attack and a defense, the steadfast Steel Knight facing the elusive Aiven, as if fighting the entire world.

The Military Swordsmanship, common across nations, though not a profound Extraordinary Secret Technique, in the hands of the Steel Knight, was seamless as if forged through countless trials.

This was clearly a seasoned soldier who had grown step by step from the bottom, with simple yet solid moves and no obvious weaknesses.

Though lacking speed, he compensated with exaggerated defense and respectable attack speed.

Because the knightly path requires heart and will, there’s no cheating it.

Even a royal born with unlimited resources cannot bypass the will transformation needed for a Grand Knight; it’s either feasible or it’s not.

It’s said that every extraordinary who reaches the level of a Grand Knight has their own uniqueness.

Humility (loyalty), honesty, mercy, bravery, justice, sacrifice, honor, soul.

The Eight Great Virtues as the core, each Grand Knight chooses one path to follow for life upon ascension, unwavering until death.

During the ancient feudal states on the continent, the path of Humility (loyalty), bravery, and honor was most common among Grand Knights, driven by the needs of kings and lords;

Within the nobility, mercy and justice were predominant, as they stood above the rest;

For the Church’s Holy Knights, the paths were mostly soul (understanding divine will), sacrifice, and honesty, to align with the divine and the congregation.

In this modern age, with relationships between individuals gradually loosening, there’s a sense of blossoming diversity.

This Steel Knight’s rise from the very bottom clearly indicated immense determination, along with the support from the upper echelons of the Kingdom.

Most likely, he’s on the traditional path of Humility (loyalty), the source of his [Combat Faith] power, seemingly inexhaustible under Aiven’s assault.

In combat with such a formidable opponent, or rather an ideal sparring partner, Aiven began to forget everything else: witchcraft, potions, firearms...even the unmatched [Desperate Thunder Swordsmanship] from the Spirit Realm.

Combating solely with the pure and deeply ingrained White Sail Swordsmanship, honed for ten years to the bone.

[Divine Power] withdrawn, tendrils of mist clung to the sword blade.

With only one thought in mind, to slay him!

[Sword Style: Floating Boat]

[Sword Style: Jumping Wave]

[Sword Style: Chirping]

...

Slowly, he fell into a peculiar state of complete focus, wielding each move naturally, merging them together.

Suddenly, it was as if a seed sprouted in his heart, and the mist on the blade solidified thoroughly!

The long-held Master-level swordsmanship realm quietly crossed by Aiven.

Next moment.

Screech—

A flash of icy light grazed the Steel Knight’s cheek, blood spurting.

"Sword Qi!"

The Steel Knight’s pupils shrank to pinpoints, his iron-like face finally changed color.

This is the mark of a Sword Master—Sword Qi, also known as the "Steel-Slaying Realm"!

After ten years of sword practice, Aiven had finally reached this level, his face tranquil yet his eyes gleamed with sharp brilliance.

Though the Thunderous Breath in [Desperate Thunder Swordsmanship] could sever a sword with one strike, surpassing the Steel-Slaying Realm, it required charge-up.

But after the breakthrough to Master-level swordsmanship, even a casual blade edge was sharp and unavoidable; a slightly inferior weapon could be directly severed.

His toes dancing on the waves, his body became the wind, the frosty Sword Qi leaping, spinning, and swirling along the rapier blade...two piercing streams fanned out behind him like wings.

Aiven’s slender body vanished suddenly from the Steel Knight’s sight.

Swoosh—

As the phantom wings brushed past the Steel Knight, like a giant scissor, they suddenly intersected!

"Ugh..."

[Extraordinary Secret Technique: Wind Scissors]

Reappearing ten meters behind the giant, he sheathed his sword.

Looking back, the once iron-bodied Steel Knight had...fallen to pieces!