Reincarnated with the King’s Power

Chapter 28

First Flash. An attack that expanded the muscles of the lower and upper body to thrust the sword at the speed of a flash of light.

Cheonghwageom, accelerated using Carpe, should have pierced the heart without the slightest error.

But just before the sword reached the Knight Slayer's heart.

Clang!

With a roar as if steel had clashed against steel, my sword was helplessly deflected by a long claw.

I rolled on the floor and quickly got back up.

I plunged my sword into the ground to support my staggering legs.

“Cough…….”

Blood flowed from the corner of my mouth.

I had suffered internal injuries from failing just one technique.

6-star and 7-star. It was the difference between one who had crossed the wall and one who had not.

Flicker. Flicker.

The blazing Blue Flame wavered precariously as if it would go out.

Controlling my Mana was not easy due to the internal injuries.

“How can this be……”

“Tactician Killian is……”

I could hear the fear-laced voices of the knights around me.

For the past month, Killian had been like an absolute teacher to them. For such a person to cough up blood with internal injuries after exchanging just one attack, it was only natural they would be shocked.

‘I made a mistake.’

In a battle against a stronger opponent, the initial momentum was more important than anything, but I had been pushed back from the very first move.

If Carpe was released like this, the knights of the Blue Knight Order would be slaughtered in the blink of an eye.

The enemy before me possessed such power.

‘How dare you think I'd let the knights I've trained so hard die.’

Grit.

Suppressing the reflux, I met the eyes of the Slayer who was observing me.

5 seconds…… 10 seconds.

The moment I thought the Slayer's red eyes, which had been staring intently, curved.

Whoosh.

The Blue Flame that had been engulfing its massive body began to scatter. It had used the opening when Carpe weakened to blow it away with its momentum.

As the flames flew away and its form was fully revealed, the knights let out a groan.

A Troll's massive body was attached with an Ogre's thick limbs, and a Lycanthrope's white fur and razor-sharp claws grew menacingly.

The traces were clear, not of a natural mixture, but as if it had been torn and pieced together.

‘Is the head that of a Grand Orc Warrior… It wasn't a hybrid, but a chimera.’

From Orcs to Trolls, Ogres, and Lycanthropes.

All of them were creatures that had formed factions in the mountain range.

The problem was the fact that the things constituting the Slayer's body appeared to be not ordinary 5-star monsters, but the corpses of the mutant Grand-class.

‘There's no way such a monster could occur naturally.’

A few speculations came to mind.

Without taking my eyes off the Slayer, I opened my mouth. A voice imbued with Mana echoed throughout the area.

“Vice-commander Xenon, from now on, escort the Commander and descend the mountain.”

“B-but, Tactician, you……”

“There's no time. Don't make me say it twice.”

Fwoosh.

The dying Blue Flame blazed fiercely once more.

I lowered my stance.

‘With a faster breath.’

First Flash.

Clang.

‘Faster.’

Second Flash.

Clang. Clang.

Every time the sword was thrust, a metallic sound rang out, and the Slayer's body was pushed back.

But the creature showed no other movement and merely defended.

“…….”

[…….]

I glared at the Slayer's eyes, which were fixed on me.

‘Is it waiting for an opening?’

It would not miss the moment the Blue Flame weakened.

If so, there was only one move I could choose.

‘I'll push it back.’

Clang. Clang. Clang.

But despite swinging my sword consecutively, all attacks returned to nothing.

“What are you doing? Not coming in.”

[…….]

As if observing its prey, the Slayer's red eyes moved left and right.

A brief exchange made it certain.

‘I can't win with a sword like this.’

If my stamina ran out, I wouldn't even be able to buy time.

‘I need to use a more certain sword.’

I could hear the sounds of the knights descending the mountain behind me.

‘I'll have to buy about 10 minutes for them to make contact with the Red Knight Order.’

It was when I was chastising the Red Knight Order for observing the young masters' competition and myself for not detecting the creature sooner.

“Fourth Young Master!!”

A single knight jumped in front of me.

“It is Philip of the Red Knight Order.”

“I was wondering when you'd show up.”

“……You knew?”

With both eyes fixed on the Slayer, I nodded.

I knew that one knight from the Red Knight Order had been watching.

I had just assumed he wouldn't reveal himself until the end, even after confirming the Slayer before me.

“I'm glad Sir Philip is not a coward.”

“That's too high a praise. Is there a way to deal with this thing?”

Philip let out a hollow laugh and infused his sword with red Mana.

“Hold on for just 10 seconds. If you don't focus, your head will fly.”

Leaving behind the grim advice, I stepped back, and Philip took my place.

Clang!

The sound of the sword and claws clashing continued.

‘Is Sir Philip's level at the beginning of 6-star?’

Watching the battle, I took out two potions from my pocket. They were a Reflux Recovery Potion and a Mana Amplifier personally made by Loen.

There was no time to consider the order. I downed both bottles as they were.

And so, about 9 seconds after I had retreated.

Bang!

“Kahak…….”

Philip crashed into a nearby tree and coughed up blood.

I quickly jumped in front of him and swung my sword.

Clang-Clang-Clang!!

The clashing long claws brutally pressed down on Cheonghwageom. It felt as if the tendons in my limbs would snap from just blocking a single blow.

I gritted my teeth and focused the Blue Flame that had been scattered throughout the area onto the blade of my sword.

“Annihilate.”

The flame that had withered under the Slayer's might rode up its claws and once again engulfed its body.

[……!!]

Thud.

The moment the Slayer, which had not reacted to countless sword strikes, took a step back.

FWOOSH!!!

I squeezed my pulsating Mana Heart to increase the firepower, and then relentlessly swung my sword to push the Slayer back.

But that too was brief.

[Gaaaah.]

The Annihilate began to waver under the momentum erupting from the Slayer's body.

“What a monster.”

“Fourth Young Master, what in the world is this……”

Wiping the blood from his mouth, Philip looked at the Slayer engulfed in the Blue Flame.

“This will only buy us time. I'll need a little more of your help.”

[Gaaah. Guh-uh.]

It was the moment the Slayer, after letting out a roar, took a step forward.

“The Slayer has appeared!”

“Prepare to use Carpe!”

From not far away, the voices of knights could be heard.

It was the Red Knight Order that had been waiting in the rear.

Whoosh.

With them at my back, I swung Cheonghwageom menacingly.

At the sudden offensive, the creature pulled back the foot it was stepping forward with.

“Want to try for more?”

[…….]

“…….”

Ssssss.

Philip's Carpe was layered over my Carpe.

It couldn't be called a perfect union, but it was a sufficient move to buy time against the Slayer.

Gulp.

The sound of Philip swallowing dryly was clearly audible.

The Slayer, after meeting the eyes of the two knights, slowly turned its body.

And.

Whoosh.

Its massive body began to move away at high speed.

***

Bang.

The conference room table shook from Paian's slammed fist.

“Those damn monster bastards……!!”

Killing intent rose from his shouting body.

Demian, who had been watching quietly, opened his mouth.

“Calm down.”

“You think I can calm down right now? Do you know how many casualties there were in the Black Knight Order? Forty! Forty!!”

Over ten knights had lost their lives, and over twenty were severely injured and unable to continue fighting.

Paian huffed and raised his voice.

Demian let his excited words go in one ear and out the other and looked at Julian.

“What is the situation with the Blue Knight Order?”

“Fifteen have died…… and ten are severely injured.”

“The White Knight Order also suffered five casualties. With this, we've lost seventy knights in a single day.”

If three 5-star monsters and the Knight Slayer appeared before the Blue Knight Order, then three Grand-class monsters each appeared before the White and Black Knight Orders.

Gulp.

Julian swallowed dryly.

‘If it weren't for Killian, the Blue Knight Order would also have…….’

The reason the Black Knight Order's damage was so great was because Paian had pushed the subjugation too hard.

He glanced at Killian and Demian, who were drinking tea with indifferent expressions.

‘How can they even drink tea in a situation like this. More importantly, why isn't Brother Demian mentioning anything about Killian's level……?’

If a report had come in that Killian had blocked the Knight Slayer, shouldn't confirming the fact be the priority?

“We must mobilize the Red Knight Order and push them back!! If we retreat now, they will push down!!”

Paian's voice, far from subsiding, seemed to grow louder.

Fred, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.

“Young Master Paian, I don't think that's a good idea.”

“Sir Fred, what are you talking about?!!”

“With today's attack, the Black Knight Order has lost nearly half of its strength. The knights' morale will not be the same as before either.”

The number of knights in the Black Knight Order was less than half that of the Blue Knight Order, but their average level was nearly 1-star higher.

“Please be clear about what you are trying to say!”

“What I mean to say is that before moving the Red Knight Order, the Black Knight Order should merge its formation with the relatively less damaged Blue Knight Order.”

“By whose authority are you merging my knight order!”

Paian raised his voice, showing his displeasure. Uncontrolled Mana even began to leak out.

Demian, who was watching, opened his mouth.

“Paian, Sir Fred has a point. We must regroup our forces to seek revenge.”

“One day is enough to regroup our forces. If we delay, they will push down, I tell you! It's better to use the Red Knight Order to strike first……”

“It's highly likely to be a trap.”

“A monster setting a trap? Ha…… Don't tell me you're scared?!!”

“I'm saying a wrong choice could lead to other knight orders suffering damage close to annihilation.”

“Damn it……!! So the Red Knight Order should……”

“The Knight Slayer has been confirmed to be 7-star class. It appeared in the Blue Knight Order's territory today, and the knights who faced it have testified directly.”

“What…… did you say?”

At the news he was hearing for the first time, Paian asked back in a dazed voice.

If the Knight Slayer had appeared, the Blue Knight Order should have been close to annihilation…… no, they should have already been annihilated.

But only twenty-five casualties?

‘Didn't Sir Fred come to help the Black Knight Order?’

“The Slayer was held off by Killian and Sir Philip of the Red Knight Order.”

“Is that…… true……?”

Unable to control his expression, Paian looked back and forth between Killian and Demian.

Slurp.

Demian was quietly sipping his tea.

The one who opened his mouth was Julian.

“The Knight Slayer did appe……ar. Killian initially blocked its attack, and then Sir Philip helped……”

“I am not asking you.”

Paian's furious gaze shifted to the side of Julian.

Slurp.

Just as Demian was, Killian was also emptying his teacup.

Paian's face scrunched up.

“So, you… bought time against the Knight Slayer, which is considered Superhuman-level……?”

“That is correct.”

“The joke has gone too far! Are the three of you ganging up to make fun of me!!”

The Mana that had been surging uncontrollably finally exploded.

“Commander Paian, calm……”

“Shut up.”

“Gak…….”

Julian clutched his own throat under the pressing momentum.

“Killian!! The likes of you met the Knight Slayer and survived? You made a Superhuman-level monster retreat? There's a limit to bullshit……”

Sensing something strange, Paian stopped talking.

Slurp. Slurp.

The sounds of Demian, Fred, and Killian drinking tea could be heard.

The only one who looked like he was about to die from the Carpe he had unconsciously unleashed was Julian.

“The tea tastes good.”

Demian remarked nonchalantly.

“This is surprising. I didn't know the Fourth Young Master had really reached 6-star.”

Fred commented as such.

“You two are both quite mischievous.”

Killian, setting down his teacup, quietly raised his Mana.

The blue Mana that rose like a heat haze began to mix with Paian's Mana.

It did not take long to replace the Mana that had formed an unstable Carpe.

“But I must correct you on one small thing.”

Rumble.

A huge pressure descended upon the reception room.

“……!!”

“…….”

Fred's expression hardened, and Demian's face became peculiar.

“Gak…….”

Paian, just as Julian had moments before, clutched his own throat, finding it hard to breathe.

And Julian, unable to withstand the pressure.

“Ugh……”

Finally collapsed forward and fainted.

Within the space he had dominated, Killian finished off the rest of his tea.

“I didn't just reach it, I mastered it.”