Chapter 63 - 063_Knight Commander Falken
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063_Knight Commander Falken
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Knight Commander Falken was a figure with a princely bearing of blond hair. From his demeanor, not only elegance but also the dignity of a warrior could be felt.
His age was in his early forties, but he maintained a youth that could still pass for his thirties. His silver-white armor glittered in the sunlight. That made Knight Commander Falken look even more deified, in Rodney's eyes.
The first to challenge Knight Commander Falken was the viscount, representative of the Southern nobles. True to his boastful large build, his weapon was also a giant sword. He swung around a thick, massive sword that could be called a horse-slaying blade.
(It seems he's using root power to augment his strength, but he lacks the skill to handle that giant sword.)
In response, Knight Commander Falken wielded his two swords like extensions of his arms.
(As expected, Knight Commander Falken's strength is superior to that viscount. He isn't going all out at all. I can clearly see he's being toyed with. I think it'd be better for him to surrender now, but his pride probably won't allow it.)
"Gyaaaaaah..."
The Southern Viscount had both arms cut off and writhed on the ground.
He was immediately retrieved by soldiers, but that viscount would have to spend the rest of his life without both arms.
Rodney could have reattached his arms, but there was no reason to go that far. That viscount was not under Rodney's protection, nor were they close.
(I need to stay alert so I don't end up like that too...)
The representatives from the West and East were also lightly handled by Knight Commander Falken. He did not take their lives, but all three lost an arm or a leg.
"I am Knight Rodney Elias Forbus. I have heard rumors of Knight Commander Falken. It is not my intention to face you in such a place, but I humbly request a bout."
"So you are the Old Master's disciple. Lately, they've been calling you the monster of the Northern Territory."
Sage Daguldor was called "Old Master" by Knight Commander Falken.
The two, renowned as the kingdom's strongest in neighboring countries as well, were not close, but perhaps they understood each other.
"That's an unwelcome title. It seems the rumors have taken on a life of their own."
"No, the combat ability of beastmen is higher than us humans. If you defeated their chieftain, then you are truly a monster."
Knight Commander Falken flashed a refreshing smile. Rodney also found it pleasant to talk. Both felt that if they had met somewhere else, they surely could have had a good relationship.
"Knight Commander Falken. The tide of this battle is set. Prolonging this fight will only benefit other nations."
"Are you asking me to surrender?"
"If possible, I would like you to do so."
"That is a request I cannot grant."
"Are you going to spill needless blood to protect the ministers?"
"I couldn't care less about such trash."
Knight Commander Falken also hated the ministers. In fact, he thought of them as pests infesting the country. Nevertheless, as long as the King favored them, he might admonish them but would not harm them. Because that was the King's will.
"Then—"
"This is the royal castle! I am the King's sword! His Majesty the King is behind me! I will neither retreat nor surrender!"
As the King's sword, he would continue fighting until his strength was spent. That resolve was palpable.
No matter how much one played with words, Knight Commander Falken's resolve would not be swayed. If so, there was no choice but to defeat him by force.
"Lord Forbus, draw your sword. If you wish to reach the King, defeat me."
Rodney drew his White True Steel Sword. That was his reply.
The swords in both of Knight Commander Falken's hands were clearly magnificent just by looking.
Like Rodney's White True Steel Sword, they were one-of-a-kind swords in this world. The swords themselves exuded an overwhelming presence.
"Come, then."
Knight Commander Falken held the sword in his right hand in a high overhead stance, and the sword in his left hand slightly higher than middle stance.
It was a self-taught style, not the royal family's school, nor any existing school. But it was a sword style polished over a lifetime by Knight Commander Falken. There were countless words to describe him: child of the sword, demon of the sword, king of the sword. That was how strict he was with the sword.
(Fake power won't work on this man. I'll go all out from the start!)
Rodney, who had sheathed his drawn White True Steel Sword, lowered his stance and slowly closed the distance with Knight Commander Falken.
He had heard something back when Sage Daguldor was still staying in Dedel Territory.
—Is there anyone stronger than you, Master?
"There is no such person!"
Sage Daguldor declared it refreshingly clearly. As expected of Sage Daguldor, Rodney thought.
"However, when it comes to swordsmanship, there is someone stronger than me."
"When it comes to swordsmanship...?"
"That's right. I'm strong in both ranged and close combat. I've trained my swordsmanship since I was young, so I'm at the level of a master. But even so, when it comes to the sword, I'm second in this country."
"An opponent even a master like yourself cannot defeat... who is that?"
"It's Falken. That man is a true genius with the sword. Of course, in overall power, he can't even reach my feet. Hahaha."
Rodney didn't know Sage Daguldor's swordsmanship skills, but from his bearing, he smelled of a warrior. Even just from that, he could tell that he was a highly skilled swordsman.
The proud Sage Daguldor said there was someone superior to himself. Even if it was only limited to the sword, that was surprising to Rodney.
Everyone in the kingdom knew of Knight Commander Falken. He was a dual-wielder who cut down any opponent, be it human or Selvannui.
Such a legendary man was before him. Moreover, he was about to cross swords with this living legend.
There were things he understood by facing him. Knight Commander Falken was a true monster. There was no opening anywhere.
Knight Commander Falken wore a smile. He seemed to be enjoying the battle.
It was clear that as a warrior, this was a level Rodney could not reach. But he had to do it. If not, he would die.
(Do not look. Feel it. If you look, you cannot dodge this man's sword. Sharpen all five senses.)
The air between Rodney and Knight Commander Falken clashed like beasts.
The life-or-death battle between overwhelming strongmen had already begun. It was a battle of the strong that no one else could intrude upon.
Like Sage Daguldor, Rodney probably surpassed Knight Commander Falken in overall power. If he used Emission-type Root Power, he should be able to defeat him without much trouble. But he must not do it. His heart said he must not.
"I've never seen that stance."
Knight Commander Falken murmured, seeing Rodney's stance. No one other than Rodney used iaijutsu.
Even under the pressure that would decide the fight in an instant if one let their guard down, Knight Commander Falken was more composed than Rodney. The difference in experience inevitably showed.
Nevertheless, Rodney had no intention of losing. Even if he lacked talent or experience, he could compensate with other things. The current Rodney had something to compensate with.
The harsh summer light shone on the two, their distance closing. As the distance closed, the density of their pressure intensified. It raged like a storm, becoming blades that tore and gouged the stone ground.
The cobblestones cracked loudly. That was the signal, and the two moved. Before they knew it, their positions had swapped.
A flash of purple lightning, swift as a thunderbolt. It was faster than a blink.
The two crossed, and the match was decided.
"...gh"
Rodney knelt on one knee on the cobblestones, planting his White True Steel Sword like a staff. A large gash had appeared on the left shoulder of his gleaming golden true steel armor, and blood spurted out.
Knight Commander Falken's sword had cleanly severed Rodney's collarbone. It had almost reached his heart.
He had cut through metal that boasted near-highest hardness, golden true steel, like a hot knife through butter. As expected of the kingdom's strongest.
Knight Commander Falken, standing behind Rodney, turned around and flashed a broad smile.
"Splendid..."
Then he collapsed as if crumbling.
Knight Commander Falken had the bones of all four limbs shattered. In that split second, Knight Commander Falken had struck Rodney's left shoulder.
Without taking that blow, Rodney, with the spine of his quick-drawn White True Steel Sword, shattered the bones of Knight Commander Falken's limbs along with his armor.
Even the kingdom's strongest could not move properly with all four limbs' bones shattered.
Rodney stood up, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly, steadying his breath.
The bleeding from his shoulder had already stopped. Moreover, the wound on Rodney's shoulder had closed cleanly. It was due to the effect of 'Swift Recovery'.
"As expected of Knight Commander Falken..."
Not only the golden true steel armor, but his defense had been further boosted by 'Wind-Forest-Fire-Mountain'. Yet, he never imagined he would take such a deep wound. All things considered, he had thought he might get a scratch but not a serious injury.
Rodney crouched down beside Knight Commander Falken.
"As expected of the Old Master's disciple. That you would shatter my limbs."
"You are the finest warrior. Without root power, I could not have even faced you properly."
"Hmph, that includes root power, doesn't it? Not to boast, but I am strong. You defeated me, so if you don't take pride in it, I'll lose face."
Thus, the duel between the monster of the Northern Territory and the kingdom's strongest man came to an end.
It seemed an anticlimactic end. However, the density of that instant could not be understood by anyone other than these two.