Skaldmara's foggy mountains and cold air had descended on Zhou Liang's deep thoughts like a veil. He stared at the horizon, and as the breath he took from his nose turned into a steam cloud in the cold, he was stepping slowly through this desolate forest. It was only the howlings of wild animals and rustle of the leaves carried by the wind from time to time that cut the silence around him. It was past noon and it was coming towards evening. The sun's rays lit up through the leaves of untouched trees, illuminating the surroundings, as it danced across Zhou's long purple hair, highlighting its natural shine. Liang was alone here in this dangerous and unknown territory of Skaldmara. After he had teleported with the team, they had decided to disperse and investigate, and now he was moving deep into Skaldmara all alone.
Liang grabbed his sword's handle with his fingers and pulled it out. This sword was a heirloom from his father. He always remembered what his father had taught him, using each of them as a guide. Although Liang thought he wasn't as talented as his father was, the determination in him was strong. "Who could have guessed that my first abroad mission would be this difficult?" he thought. He muttered to himself, grabbing his sword tightly. "I may still be inexperienced, but I trust my father's teachings and this sword I have. Dad... give me strength..."
Zhou Liang's father, Zhou Wei, was the Royal Commander before Liang. Wei, who had a sudden stroke and died a few months ago, returned to his wife, who had passed away 20 years ago, left his son alone in this world. As the son of Wei, who is very loved and respected all over the country, Liang reluctantly took over his father's duty. Although he thought that he did not deserve this seat yet, he could not oppose the insistence of the king and was devoted to doing his best.
His steps were heavy but determined. As he walked along the slopes of the mountain, something caught his attention: In the distance, a vague figure was visible through the fog. Was that a skaldar? Liang narrowed his eyes and began to watch the figure. Apparently a skaldar was heading somewhere alone. Liang quietly turned his steps towards him, sneaking through the stones and branches. Skaldar didn't seem to notice him. Liang felt his heart beat faster as the distance between them closed. Now he had an opportunity; If he could find out where the skaldar was going without skaldar noticing him, maybe he could get some valuable information. He was a stranger in this land, and he had to figure out what was going on here. As he watched every step skaldar took, his mind was constantly on the alert.
"I shouldn't make a mistake..."
After this silent follow-up, which lasted for about an hour on the plateau, skaldar arrived to a village at the foothills of the mountain that started to rise again. This village looked abandoned. Skaldar stopped in front of one of the buildings and sat on the wooden steps at the door. "I think he's tired of walking." thought Liang. Maybe he could use this opportunity to catch him and get information.
He walked quietly behind the buildings and got closer. He slowly brought his hand to his sheath and took a deep breath. At that moment, he heard some rustling, then these rustles gave way to the sounds of stepping away. Apparently, skaldar had finished his break and set off again while Liang was trying to get a position.
-"Well done to me..." Liang said.
He was upset that he missed such an opportunity. Skaldar was walking through a path that crossing the village and rising towards the top of the mountain. Liang also set out when there was a pursuit distance between them.
After climbing for a while, skaldar began to open the gap. These creatures, adapted to living in the mountainous region, were naturally faster than humans at climbing. Liang could not attribute this to himself as a royal commander. He accelerated his steps and closed the gap that opened in between. After going on like this for a while, the ground gradually flattened. Realizing that they had reached the second plateau between the summit of the mountain and the first plateau, Liang said to himself:
-"This region is much bigger than what was drawn on the map."
By the time, sun was down and now it was all dark. A few hours ago, the ground shining with the sunlight leaking through the leaves was now barely chosen by the dim light of the moon. Liang took advantage of the darkness and closed the distance between the skaldar a little more. The roaring and rustling sound of the blowing wind suppressed Liang's footsteps. As long as they continued in this way, Liang was very unlikely to be caught unless skaldar turned his back. They continued like this for a while. Then suddenly, skaldar began to shout something in his own language, it sounded angry. After a while, the sound of another skaldar was heard from a distance. Skaldar, followed by Liang, stopped shouting and moving when he heard this. Liang thought of this situation as a good opportunity to get closer and catch the skaldar. There was only a few meters and a tree among them now, while the skaldar was sitting in the open, Liang had his back against the tree as a trench. He brought his hand to his sheath, and took a deep breath. Just as he was about to attack, this time it was the footsteps that stopped him. Two skaldars appeared next to the one Liang was following, and they began to speak in their own language. Although the official language in Breton is the human language, Zhou Liang, as the royal commander, thought that the Skaldar language might be needed for him as the royal commander, since skaldars was living in Breton, and learned it, and was able to understand what were they talking:
-"I told you to wait for me, why didn't you wait?"
-"We thought you'd catch up, but it took you too long to catch up."
-"Yes! We didn't think you would be that slow."
-"Don't lie! I was almost breathless all the way, there's no way you two weren't running!"
Two skaldars started to laugh at this answer, and the other was angry with them. Liang decided to walk away, thinking that being so close to three skaldars could be dangerous. As he stepped silently, a small cracking noise was heard, then a big one followed it. Hearing this noise, the skaldars were frightened, stopped laughing, and all three took a position:
-"Who is there?!"
Zhou Liang's backpack had gotten stuck in the bark of the tree he was leaning on earlier, and as Liang moved, the bark of the tree, combined with its dryness, ripped off with a loud noise. "Oh no" Liang said to himself, he drew his sword with his right hand, and reached into the pockets of his light armor with his left hand to check something. He dropped his bag to the ground and slowly emerged from his hiding place. In the language of the Skaldars, he said:
-"Hello!"
The skaldars, who were more surprised and scared to see a human approaching them without being noticed than to see a human in this area, took up battle formation and pulled out their weapons. The skaldar, followed by Liang, moved to the back with his mage rod. The other two were using a katana and a spear.
The one with katana, is in fear, yelled to his friend:
-"Hey, you're the most talented in our team in magic, how you can't even sense a human this close?"
Magician, who was being followed by Liang:
-"I swear, while I was looking for you, I was watching the sources of mana around me along the way. I even sensed yours, but I couldn't sense this person's!"
The one with spear:
-"Don't be ridiculous!! It's impossible to sense even us and not be able to sense a person, people can't even completely hide their mana!"
Zhou Liang interrupted their arguement with a cheeky smile:
-"I would say don't underestimate people."
Taking action at the same time, he lunged towards the katana user and swung his sword. In response, the Skaldar swung his katana back, blocking the attack. The sound of steel clashing echoed through the surroundings, and the sparks that flew briefly illuminated the area. In that flash, the Skaldar caught a glimpse of Liang's determined expression and confident smile, as though victory was already his. On the other hand, Liang saw the Skaldar's fearful face, confused and struggling to comprehend what was happening.
Without giving the Skaldars any chance to react, Liang skillfully deflected his opponent's katana and slipped behind him. Reaching into his pocket, he picked up a charm paper and slapped it onto the forehead of the Skaldar holding the mage rod. However, as the spear user thrust his spear towards him, Liang quickly retreated back to avoid it.
"Dang it, I couldn't activate the charm!" he thought, sheathing his sword and pulling a knife from the small pouch attached to his belt. He aimed it directly at the charm stuck to the rod user's forehead to activate the charm, but he didn't throw it. The reason was clear—the Skaldar had accidentally torn the charm with his claw while trying to pull it off.
A small spark, akin to that of a firework, bursted from the charm. Moments later, massive branches emerged from the ground, intertwining and shaping into a spherical cage with gaps like bars, enclosing all three Skaldars inside. Liang then pulled another charm paper from his pocket and tossed it into the air, letting it float briefly. Without hesitation, he hurled the knife at the charm, piercing it midair and pinning it onto one of the newly formed branches.
Another spark erupted. This time, a glowing magic circle appeared on the ground within the cage, sealing the skaldars' mana entirely. Rod user, in shock:
-"What is this? What kind of techniques are these?"
Liang:
-"Pre-prepared mana techniques. This is how I use mana. Therefore, you cannot sense it. Since my birth, I have not met anyone who has sensed my mana."
The Scaldars looked at Liang with bewildered and frightened eyes.
Katana user:
-"This is bullshit! Who are you?"
Liang answered this question in proud, despite he was in his duty for only about 2 months:
-"I, the royal commander of the Breton Royal Army, Zhou Liang. Nice to meet you."
Hearing the word 'royal commander', the skaldars realized that there was no deception, that the person in front of them was too superior to be their enemy, and now they were afraid of losing their lives with an absolute defeat:
- "Please forgive our lives!"
-"We are servants!"
-"Our intention was not to harm! Royal Commander, please forgive us!"
Zhou, as a commander, knew well how to manage others with only words. Knowing that they can't use mana at the moment and they can't think properly, he decided to play a little trick on them. He took another charm paper out of his pocket and tore it in half, then threw it onto the ground. Where the papers fell, a small magic circle formed and disappeared:
- "Do you have any idea what I'm doing?"
The skaldars nodded their heads in no. Liang continued with a faint smile on his face:
-" I already knew you wouldn't know it. This is one of my very special techniques. From this moment onward, you are all under my curse. Of course, since your mana is sealed, you can not sense it right now. But keep this in mind: I can kill you whenever i want: no matter where you are, how far you are away from me, or how much time has passed- your life is now at the mercy of my decision. This is what the technique works for. Got it?"
The skaldars nodded their heads yes in fear. Zhou shaped a hand sign:
-"You don't seem to understand it at all. Shall we try it on one of you?"
The Skaldars were actually believed it, and they didn't want to die:
-"No, sir!"
-"We'll do whatever you say!"
-"Yes! Please forgive our lives!!"
Liang smiled, since the bluff worked:
-"Well, let's not try it then. But if you want your life to be spared, you will answer my questions correctly."
Skaldars nodded their heads. Liang continued:
-"My first question: In recent years, some of the skaldars are hunting people, especially people with high mana capacity."
One of the skaldars replied:
-"We were told that this was necessary for King Zaroth's ritu-... I mean the holy katana to reach it's full potential."
When Liang heard the word 'potential', he remembered that information about potential of the weapons was limited in the book Kenma left, but he could not miss the part about King Zaroth, whom the skaldar had accidentally snitched. He decided to ask about that part first:
-"The King Zaroth's ritu-...al? What is that? Elaborate."
The skaldar continued:
-"W-well, Skaldar Guards are trying to spawn King Zaroth back. Preparations for the ritual are almost complete."
Liang did not expect this, in surprise:
-"To spawn King Zaroth... back?"
-"Y-yes. The holy weapo-"
Before skaldar could finish his word, a huge fireball fell into the cage and exploded. Liang immediately took up his sword and took a few steps back. From sky to the ground, between the fire and Liang, a skaldar who was bigger than the previous ones—a skaldar guard— wearing a strange gold-embroidered armor, descended and spoke:
-"In your country, too, traitors who reveal the secrets of the country are being executed, right, Zhou-kun, who has 'unsensible mana'. Or should I say who can't use mana?"
Zhou smiled, frowning:
-"Haha, you got me."
-"Those kind of simple tricks won't work on me." (He points his armor.) "Do you have any idea what this armor does?"
Liang realized at that moment that the armor on the skaldar was not an ordinary armor, but a holy weapon:
-" The Armor, mind control and manipulation."
Skaldar Guard looked satisfied with the answer:
-"Well done, you studied your lesson. But don't be afraid, I won't take control of your mind right away. First of all, I want to see how strong the Breton Royal Commander is, so i am going to fight with you."
-"Accepted."
Skaldar pulled his spear from his back and took position, then continued to speak:
-"Right now, I know why you came to Skaldmara with your team. Someone from your team took the medallion and came here alone, right?"
Liang replied in surprise:
-"How do you know?"
Skaldar slyly laughed:
-"Because I made him do it. I've been following that boy named Kenma since his family died. Thanks to his search for revenge, his unique sword technique and his research-loving personality, he eventually brought me to the medallion people stole from us years ago. When he realized the location of the medallion, he was returning to the mansion to protect it and not to leave it alone, but I entered his mind and ignited his confidence in his own power and will to revenge, which brought him here to my feet. Isn't it a perfect plan? Oh, and also, the book that the boy found in library, wasn't actually there. We put it into the library right before he came to research, so he could have some opinions."
Liang furrowed his eyebrows:
-"You... You're a disgusting creature. I knew it, that book wasn't there before."
Skaldar was very angry at these words:
-"No, you're wrong. What's truly disgusting is… you humans! Lord Zaroth, has never harmed you, he even protected you, but…"
the skaldar charged at Liang, shouting,
- "...YOU HUMANS BETRAYED HIM!!"
As he rushed forward, the skaldar suddenly increased his pace, nearly doubling his speed. With the advantage of his spear being longer than Liang's sword, he launched the first attack. Caught off guard by the sudden acceleration, the Royal Army Commander barely managed to react and deflect the attack at the last moment. However, the skaldar's strikes were faster and stronger than he anticipated. Struggling to keep up with this speed and power, Liang was forced to take several steps back with each attack, further disadvantaged by the spear's superior lenght. The skaldar was exceptionally skilled with his weapon.
Liang, with the heirloom sword passed down from his father in his both hands, couldn't find a moment to use one of his charm papers. He thought to himself:
-"I have to use a paper, or I'm in trouble!"
To create an opportunity, he leaped backward and retreated to a safe distance. Seeing Liang pull back, the Skaldar mocked him, panting slightly.
-"What's the matter, Commander? You seem slow today!"
Liang, his face calm but determined, reached into his pocket with his left hand, pulling out an enchanted paper. He pressed it to his chest, slashed through it with his sword to activate it, and then grinned with furrowed brows.
-"I don't know… I guess I'm just not feeling it today."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Liang charged forward again, this time significantly faster.
The Skaldar sneered:
-"Enhancing physical strength, huh?"
-"Exactly!"
Both of them charged at each other, clashing weapons once more. Thanks to the charm, Liang was now able to keep up with the skaldar's speed. They locked weapons for a moment, their strength evenly matched. As they pushed against each other, a single raindrop fell on Liang's face. The skaldar guard, noticing his opponent got distracted for a moment, took the advantage and shifted Liang's sword with a quick maneuver.
Although Liang lost his balance momentarily, he didn't fall. He quickly recovered his stance, parried the incoming attack, and stepped back again. At that moment, he remembered father's words:
-"Listen, son. You have a weakness—you know that. If you want to succeed as a knight despite this weakness, you must master your swordsmanship to a degree that makes up for it. And if you wish to become a commander like me, you should never give up…"
Wiping the raindrop from his face with the back of his hand, Liang pulled out a stack of enchanted papers from his pocket:
-"Watch closely, father. I'll prove to you that I can become a commander just like you."
The rain began pouring down in torrents. Without paying it any attention, Liang charged at the Skaldar. Skaldar Guard, who has the holy armor, which provides mind control ability, responded to Liang and once again they began to fight. Even though Liang's speed and power matched to the skaldar's, the lenght of the weapons was still a difference maker. He thought to himself:
-"If my sword can't reach you…"
Seizing an opportunity, Liang pinned the Skaldar's spear to the ground, using its shaft as leverage to launch himself high into the air. While airborne, he scattered all but one of the nine papers he was holding. The one remaining in his hand had a different design than the rest. He then tossed his sword upward, letting it hover mid-air. Without wasting a moment, he picked up knives from the pouch at his waist and hurled them at the floating papers. Each one hit each paper, activating them.
Catching his sword as it descended, Liang attached the final paper to its tip and threw it directly at the skaldar, who is trying to understand what his opponent is doing. He dodges the sword, along with the enchanted paper. Sword struck the ground near skaldar's feet. Liang landed a short distance away and smirked:
-"...then I will fight with long range attacks!"
The moment the paper on the ground activated, sharp branches emerged from the floating papers Liang threw before, pierced into the ground around the embedded sword. The branches, as sharp as blades, also struck the skaldar, inflicting severe wounds. The skaldar let out a scream of pain.
Liang pulled out another knife, preparing to throw it, while his eyes locked with the skaldar's. Bloodied and panting, the skaldar glared at him with pure hate:
-"Don't think it will end this easily, human." the skaldar growled.
At that moment, Liang remembered who he was fighting. He couldn't move his hand holding the knife. Slowly, against his will, his hand began to turn the blade toward his own neck.
-"You said you wouldn't use it! You liar!" Liang shouted in dread.
-"On the battlefield, everything is fair, you spoiled human," the Skaldar retorted.
The heavy rain continued to pour as Liang, now under the mind-control ability, was fighting against his own arm. His knees gave up, and he collapsed to the ground. Desperately, he tried to stop his right hand with his left hand, but it was no use. The blade got closer and closer to his throat.
Meanwhile, the skaldar, severely injured, began limping away. Liang, under the rain, on his knees, continued to fight against his own hand, as the knife's edge pressed slowly against his skin...