Sleph looked down on the several cloaked figures who were slowly moving closer towards Ensis City. His complexion was frosty as he slowly began to descend the mountain and approach the adjacent one.
The group were wearing white cloaks so as to blend in with the snow that covered the north and they had their backs exposed to Sleph as they were focusing on the city in front of them. Sleph had noticed that there were five knights, three mages, two assassins and they all ranged from high tier to peak tier except one of the knights who was a quasi-Great Knight.
Sleph was amused at the fact that someone would send nine cannon fodder and one knight who he deemed to be barely satisfactory. But since they had offered themselves up to him, he wouldn't refuse.
As Sleph had concealed his aura, so not even the quasi-Great Knight detected him even when he was thirty meters away.
'I might as well play with them for a bit' thought Sleph.
Sleph stopped concealing his aura, it began to gush out of his body and instantly the group of ten detected them. They were horrified by the strength of the aura and could barely turn their heads to see who the owner of such ferocious power was.
"G-G-Grand Swordsman. How? Weren't you meant to be in seclusion" said the quasi-Great Knight as his face turned ashen.
The group had clearly been misinformed, and because of this mistake, they would all pay the price with their lives.
Sleph continued to walk towards the group as he dragged his rapier along the snow. Soon when he was only ten meters away from the group he vanished...
As soon as they detected Sleph the five knights had quickly surrounded the three mages and raised their guards. The mages had already began to start casting their spells while the assassins awaited an opportunity to strike.
Unlike their expectations, Sleph had appeared several meters above them in the air. When the mages saw him reappear above them they quickly fired their spells towards him.
Yet they were one step too late, Sleph slashed his rapier downwards and a ten meter sword manifested with his aura slashed down as well. The aura sword was overbearing and just from the air pressure alone the high tier combatants felt their knees buckled while the peak tier fighters could barely stand their ground.
The aura sword instantly vaporized all of the spells yet its momentum wasn't effected in the slight. Under the force of the aura sword, none of the cloaked figures could escape besides the quasi-Great Knight. But he couldn't leave his comrades behind, if he did his chances of surviving against Sleph would become even lower.
The quasi-Great Knight decided to pour all his aura into his shield and attempt to block the incoming attack. The surrounding knights poured their aura into their leader's shield while the mages cast shields of their own, to reinforce the quasi-Great Knight's shield.
But in front of Sleph who was a step away from becoming a Sword Master, such a measly defense barely latest seconds against him before his aura sword obliterated everything...
He looked all around him and what he saw was an enormous pit, but the small piece of rock -in the middle of the pit- that he was standing on was unscathed. His pupils shook and his already wavering spirt was instantly crushed. His mind had gone blank.
Everyone that had come along with the quasi-Great Knight could be considered some of the strongest combatants of the kingdom but even they were eradicated, not even their ashes remain. He slumped down, his sword and shield dropped from his hands falling into the abyss that Sleph had created.
The man couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Him and his subordinates had been tasked with entering the Ferrum Duchy and securing a foothold for reinforcements to arrive. Yet they had severely underestimated both the duchy and the duke.
They compared Sleph's powers as a Grand Swordsman to the kingdom's former Grand Swordsmen Duke Galahad, but Sleph's power has transcended Galahad, practically leaving him in the dust. They also didn't know that the duchy's five strongest fighters exculuding Sleph had also returned to Ensis City, so even if they weren't stopped by Sleph they still would've been annihalted.
Although the quasi-Great Knight's mind was practically crippled due to fear and shock, he still held a trace of his consciousness. He grew hatred towards his master who had caused the death of his companions and himself.
"Who sent you?" questioned Sleph as he slowly landed in front of the lone survivor.
"I-i-it was Marquis Stan Poitiers" stuttered the quasi-Great Knight.
"Since you told me what I wanted to hear, I will gift you a painless death." replied Sleph.
Tears of sadness and gratitude leaked out of the knight's closed eyes. A smile had formed on his face, he could soon join the subordinates he had fought with for years in the afterlife.
Sleph raised his rapier above his head and swung down. A clean strike, instantly decapitating the knight. A few seconds after the knight's head fell into the 'abyss' blood finally started spurting out of the cut. Sleph's blade was so fast that the knight's body hadn't realized it had been beheaded until moments afterwards.
After killing the knight Sleph kicked his body down into the 'abyss' as well. And without even a second glance, he began his journey back to his castle.
On his way back down the mountains and towards his residence he once again spotted another group. But this time they were not foes.
'They should've sensed the commotion as soon as I fully released my aura, looks like I will have to take their sparring up a notch'
The group had also spotted Sleph and soon the two parties came face to face. As soon as the group were in front of Sleph they instantly knelt down.
"Master, we rushed here as soon as we sensed the commotion, Zafar and Henry already teleported to the area of the disturbance." said Gordan.
"You are all too slow, I already killed all of them. They were sent by Marquis Stan. I inform the King of this then head to the Poitiers March along with Zafar to eradicate him and his family." replied Sleph.
"But master, they are only a measly march, even sending only two of us would be enough to trounce all over them, why must you go yourself, especially in your period of leave."
"This matter may not be as simple as it seems, I must go myself to ensure that no mishaps occur. Also I have felt that even if I train nonstop for the remainder of my leave, I will make little progress."
The three realized there was no use in persuading their master and simply nodded.
Soon the four were joined by the two Great Mages who also joined the three swordsmen in kneeling before Sleph.
"Your Grace, we apologize for responding so slowly, we will reflec-" said Henry.
"It's fine. Zafar head back to the castle and ready yourself. You will accompany me to Poiter's lands in a few hours. Henry you will connect me with to the Royal Palace, I'm going to speak to the King. Also, while me and Zafar are gone, you all must stay vigilant and protect the duchy, alert my other trusted subordinates about this matter" said Sleph.
Sleph's five subordinates all nodded again then stood. The two mages cast a mass teleportation spell bringing them all back to the castle. The three swordsmen and Zafar went their separate ways while Henry followed Sleph to the Duke's Chamber.
Henry placed the Communication Crystal on Sleph's desk and channeled his mana. He cast a spell allowing the Communication Crystal to connect to the King's crystal. Seeing that everything was functioning correctly he bowed towards Sleph then left the chamber.
"Brother, why have you suddenly called me?" questioned Fenrir.
"It's something urgent brother. I'm certain that Poitiers is planning a coup. He sent a quasi-Great Knight and some others to my duchy. I'm planning to head over to his castle and bring back his head tonight." responded Sleph.
"Hmm? How are you so sure it's Marquis Stan?"
"The quasi-Great Knight told me right before I killed him and I'm certain he wasn't lying."
"Brother, even if he is planning a coup, if you kill him and his entire bloodline the other nobles will ostracize you even more. They are already fearful and envious of your power, if you push them too far even I won't be able to stop them."
"Even if a thousand ants band together, they're still ants."
"If you insist on killing him then I will not stop you. If the nobles decide to fight against you, I will help you. But when the time comes don't say I didn't warn you brother."
"As long as you've got my back then there is nothing for me to fret about."
"Be careful Sleph."
Sleph replied with a nod before hanging up the call.
He changed from his loose fighting clothes into his armor and left his room. Outside of his room he was met by Zafar who bowed to him before casting a teleportation spell. The duo soon reappeared over fifty kilometers away.
'Poitiers, you will not die a peaceful death.'