The Terminally Ill Young Master is the Mad Dog of the Underworld
Chapter 238

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]

Chapter 238: Entrance

The duel between Barclava and Jillian proceeded with Jillian's fierce offensive from the very beginning.

"What a terrifying series of attacks."

"Young Master Barclava is in danger!"

The servants and maids who knew nothing of martial arts let out pitiful sighs.

'No, that's not it.'

However, Rudgarda's gaze remained calm.

'Though he appears to be pushed back by the fierce attacks, his body's center remains solid. His feet never get tangled, nor does his response fall behind.'

"Barclava, what is this disgraceful display?"

Emengarde, who couldn't understand the deeper situation, frowned.

"Please don't be too angry, second sister."

"What?"

Emengarde's eyes widened at the voice of Lusatia, who had come outside for the first time in seven years.

"Are you mocking me? Or are you trying to lecture me?"

Emengarde was naturally calm and never revealed her inner thoughts.

For her to show such a sharp reaction meant this was probably intended to embarrass her in front of everyone.

"Barclava's expression has remained calm throughout. This is probably a calculated predicament."

Thus, she answered logically and calmly.

"He seems to be executing his own strategy to deal with an opponent stronger than himself."

"You speak as if you're some kind of warrior yourself."

"How could that be? I simply received various teachings in my childhood."

"Is that so? Indeed, mountain people have different aspects from us."

Though it was a sarcastic remark about her origins, Lusatia only smiled gently and didn't respond further.

"......"

A small glint of interest appeared in the Duke's eyes as he quietly listened to his two wives' conversation. Because...

Lusatia's words were true.

"Oh, well done."

I clapped and exclaimed in admiration.

"Not bad at all, Barclava."

"He's improved beyond recognition. That's definitely the result of going through hellish training."

Olivier was right.

Barclava was skillfully employing the Eternal Ocean Chain Technique and Azure Sea Moon Shadow Swordsmanship, along with all the defensive arts he'd learned from the Royal Guard and Special Operations Division, to withstand Jillian's sword strikes.

"It's not easy to hold out like this against an opponent who surpasses you in strength, speed, and internal mana."

I nodded.

'He's definitely improved a lot, hasn't he?'

Barclava was cautious enough not to fall into the enemy's traps, while delivering sharp counterattacks that prevented the enemy from attacking freely and disrupted their flow.

"It's thanks to training to death with the Special Operations Division members."

Barclava had rolled around earnestly among the Special Operations Division members, who had more real combat experience than any other unit, and he also had an excellent natural bloodline.

"That's it, Barclava. If you're determined to take a defensive stance, even an opponent a level above you won't find it easy to break you."

When I offered advice, Barclava glanced in my direction even while engaged in fierce combat.

"Wow, he even has leisure?"

I was amazed.

"Our kid has changed like hell. Is that really Barclava?"

"Indeed, young master."

As the exchange between both sides prolonged like a precarious acrobatic act, excited cheers began erupting from the watching crowd.

"Waaaaah!"

"Do your best, Young Master Barclava!"

Of course, the chain sword technique Jillian was displaying was quite sharp.

'Like a spider's web that ensnares a fly, he continuously restricts the enemy with sword strikes and limits their options.'

If the chain sword technique Olivier employed emphasized flowing connections, this one clearly showed the purpose of cornering the enemy to kill or subdue them decisively.

'If Barclava hadn't undergone special training, the outcome would have been as clear as fire.'

Jillian's martial prowess was certainly excellent.

To be at the mid-4th tier at that age was praiseworthy.

But...

"Do you plan to end this by only defending!"

Jillian's mental state was not yet mature.

'To reveal frustration so easily, how immature.'

As I'd noticed during our first meeting, Jillian was still emotionally unstable in many ways.

"Getting excited easily and panicking easily is not the attitude of a good warrior."

"That's right."

Sure enough, Siena's expression was dark as she watched the fight.

"Jillian, don't get excited! When you get excited, your movements become large and your techniques become simple! It means you become easy for the enemy to read!"

"Sorry, but."

I muttered.

"If he were the type to understand that advice, he wouldn't have gotten excited like that in the first place."

I looked at Jeffrey and Olivier.

"How many exchanges before the match ends?"

After thinking briefly, the two replied.

"At most 10 exchanges."

"I see it ending within 15 exchanges."

The result came out somewhere between their guesses.

.

.

.

"Wh-what's that?"

"Uwaaaah!"

The 13th exchange.

Barclava deliberately exposed an opening, then tripped Jillian who lunged for it, sending him tumbling.

"Uwaaaaaaah!"

It was grappling like something from a painting.

"Flowing Cloud Thunder Fist, Scarlet Cloud Ghost Path."

...It was the moment when Ulbhild's teachings shone.

"He exquisitely mixed movement techniques with close combat arts."

This was the secret move Barclava had prepared.

"Damn! What are you..."

Jillian, who had fallen on his back, tried to do something, but it was already too late.

KWAAAANG!

Barclava brought down his pommel right next to Jillian's face.

"Wow, that's brutal."

The pommel strike infused with mana boasted power no different from an iron mace.

"The ground is dented."

If it had hit directly, his face would have caved in and he would have died instantly.

"...I lost."

With a dazed expression, Jillian admitted defeat.

'He looks like he doesn't even know what happened to him.'

From Jillian's perspective, he had been dominating throughout only to suddenly fall and lose in an instant.

'You see as much as you know.'

"Match over! Victory to Young Master Barclava!"

"Waaaaaaaah!"

Thunderous cheers erupted.

"Well, he actually won this. I was half-doubtful myself."

Barclava calmly got up and helped Jillian to his feet, looked toward where his mother was, then slowly walked over here.

"Good job. Mission accomplished."

Barclava wore a mysterious expression mixing emotion and joy, as if crying and laughing at the same time.

"...It's the first time in my life I've received such cheers."

I grinned.

"That's what you call attention addiction."

Once you get a taste, it's hard to forget.

'And now it's my turn.'

I savored the gazes and attention, expectations and worries from hundreds and thousands in the crowd as I walked onto the training ground.

As slowly as possible, as stylishly as possible, confidently and assuredly.

'Right now, I am Grunewald's gladiator.'

Perhaps the blood of Eldarkion Eisenach, who was once a gladiator of the ancient Empire, is awakening now.

"Sister, I'm sorry."

Jillian, who returned with his head deeply bowed, apologized to Siena.

"Jillian, you ignored my warning."

"...I have no excuse."

"To lose to an opponent a level below you through psychological warfare. How can you still call yourself my brother?"

"Sister, that was..."

Siena coldly cut him off.

"If this had been real combat, you'd be dead with your eyes, nose, and mouth smashed in miserably. What more do you have to say?"

"Nothing. I'm sorry."

"Even if I win, it'll be 1 win, 1 loss, leaving an unpleasant aftertaste."

"......"

Siena didn't feel the need to give warm comfort to her completely dejected brother.

"Jillian."

"Yes, sister."

"Losing is possible. How could I guarantee victory against Young Master Allenvert either?"

Nevertheless.

"But underestimating your opponent and having that complacency exploited, panicking when things don't go as planned, and carelessly falling into a trap to lose is an entirely different story."

Jillian lowered his eyes.

"If you deeply reflect on my words and change even a little, today's defeat will have meaning. But if my nagging is merely annoying to you..."

"No, sister."

Jillian hurriedly denied it.

"How could that be!"

"Then watch your sister's fight with a reflective heart."

Siena's gaze met Allenvert's.

The fairy-like man who seemed so pleased he even wore a gentle smile was gazing at her with eyes as deep as the ocean.

'I cannot lose as well.'

However, keeping that resolve might not be so easy.

"Are you both ready?"

We silently nodded.

"Then, please begin immediately."

For some reason, Siena didn't draw her sword right away.

'Is she planning to use quick-draw sword technique?'

I'd already heard from Olivier about Valkenhain's martial arts, and had half-figured it out while watching Jillian's fight.

'Stillness within motion, surprise attacks targeting gaps in consciousness, and quick-draw sword technique with persistent chain sword attacks.'

Against such a warrior, a clumsy first strike would be a bad move.

'It would be interesting to experience the subtlety of that post-initiative counter-attack.'

But right now, this was Young Master Allenvert's debut.

I planned to provide one spectacle with a gladiator's mindset, so that those watching this moment would have a memorable tale.

"Young Lady Siena, shall we have a light preliminary bout?"

I approached defenseless and offered a handshake.

"...Are you challenging me to an internal mana contest, Young Master?"

"As you can see."

Siena raised the corner of her mouth.

"Whatever fortunes you may have encountered to grow stronger quickly, you cannot surpass what I've accumulated over the years."

"I think so too."

Then Siena nodded.

"But nevertheless, is that it?"

"Correct."

"I look forward to it."

Siena slowly extended her hand.

"Waaaaah!"

"It's an internal mana contest!"

"Even so, the Young Master will be at a disadvantage!"

The crowd's cheers and worries made me smile.

'Watch and see, gentlemen.'

I drew up the internal mana of the Seven Stars of the Black Sea Technique to its maximum.

KUGUGUGUGUGU!

The internal mana transmitted through Siena's palm made my hair and collar stand on end.

'Wow, what's so solid and flawless?'

It was such densely concentrated internal mana that I wondered if she was using some kind of Iron Body technique.

"The Young Lady is ahead!"

"Push through like that!"

When I showed signs of being pushed back, the guards on Valkenhain's side let out cheers.

'It's too early for that yet.'

Have you ever seen a circus?

Karzan, who had wandered the underworld, quite enjoyed watching circuses.

'The clowns there who made the audience cheer.'

They enjoyed using intentional crisis.

"Where are you going!"

I used Light Star to increase my internal mana output.

"!"

KUGUGUGUGUGU!

Siena's eyes widened at my appearance of drawing out nearly equal force to match hers.

'It's still too early to be surprised.'

I used the Ink Soul Sacred Shadow Technique I'd been saving, injecting much more compressed and refined mana than Siena's to begin pushing her back.

"Waaaaah!"

"It's a reversal!"

This time thunderous cheers erupted from Grunewald's side.

"The Young Master was hiding his strength!"

"Impossible, how could he have that level of internal mana in such a short time...!"

Whether Siena was equally surprised and flustered, she was looking at me with eyes that seemed to ask 'how is this possible?'

'This should make her draw out her full power.'

As I anticipated her next reaction, at the very moment the counter-force strengthened as expected...

"?!"

I activated dark mana and directly absorbed the incoming mana.

"!!!"

Siena, greatly alarmed, tried to let go of my hand, but...

I combined the Grappling techniques of Flowing Cloud Thunder Fist with Karzan-style grappling, clenching my fingers and twisting her wrist to prevent escape.

"Damn!"

Siena, clearly flustered, finally tried to attack me with her other hand.

"Excuse me for this."

I playfully let go and stepped back.

"Waaaaaat!"

The crowd heated up at the rapidly changing offense and defense in that brief moment.

"This should be sufficient for a preliminary bout."

"...Whew."

With a somewhat displeased face, Siena rotated her wrist and asked.

"Young Master, are you really using magic?"

"Discussing magic in the face of incomprehensible martial arts is not a very warrior-like attitude."

"...You're right, I was lacking in respect."

Siena apologized with refreshing speed.

"Well then, shall we properly engage now?"

As I drew Voyager of the Night, Siena also brought her hand to her sword hilt.

"That's what I want."

[Translator - Pot ]

[Proofreader - Kawaii ]