The Amber Sword

Chapter 73 – King of the Underworld (24)

The second round commenced with Torbus leading the attack and Brendel immediately shied away. The position he was in did not allow him to fight against four opponents.

His target was Tirste yet again, and he unleashed his full extent of his military swordsmanship against him. The tip of his blade wavered at different vital points, making it difficult for Tirste to know where the blade was going to go next.

Brendel’s sword went for Tirste’s fingers, and the latter was barely able to deflect the attack in time. But the youth’s deflected sword seemed to correct itself into another path of attack and succeeded in wounding Tirste’s left leg.

The androgynous man staggered backward, but Brendel did not follow up and retreated instead, as Torbus had come in with a straightforward slash from the sides.

Rushed footsteps shuffled across the floor as three blades tried to cut the youth in three different directions, and he soon suffered another wound.

Metal clashed desperately with each other as Brendel tried his best to whittle his opponents one at a time, while completely avoiding a match with his grandfather. However, his three other opponents seemed to pick up on what he was doing and were content to let Torbus take the charge and lead them.

Brendel seemed to look like he was doing fine to most of his spectators, but the truth could not be further away.

Each time Brendel took a step forward made him feel like he was getting caught in a trap. The techniques of the gamers were somehow getting analyzed in full by his grandfather, and each time their blades met, he could not help but feel that a counterattack would come.

Cold perspiration had already drenched all over his body from the intense pressure.

He had no choice.

He admitted that his grandfather’s knowledge of Aouine’s military swordsmanship exceeded the collective research of the gamers in the past world.

The exchange between them continued till Brendel went past half the stage. His grandfather finally made his counterattack as though he was satisfied that the youth’s swordsmanship could no longer present a threat to him.

An explosive clash of metals echoed throughout the Coliseum.

[Again….. It’s my loss.]

Brendel nearly dropped his sword from the impact and staggered backward, while his grandfather stood at where he was. He had put in everything to make a contest of power. The result was having his fingers feeling nothing.

He stared wordlessly at Torbus. He still had not given up.

[Would deception work? Should I try and create an opening to let my grandfather make a mistake?]

There was a chance since he had the ability, Unyielding Will. A bait that might entice even the latter. But Brendel’s instincts told him that it was highly unrealistic.

At this moment, Kodan shouted out to him.

“Boy!”

Brendel’s exhaustion was at its peak. He could barely recognize that it was someone from the outside calling out to him, but he did not understand why the old man would want to distract him, and was a little annoyed.

[Are you trying to get rid of me at this time by distracting me?]

“Where’s your Guardian Spirit?” Kodan yelled.

“This again?” Brendel muttered to himself.

Kodan realized that Brendel truly had no idea what he was talking about, and corrected his words.

“Your ring, use your ring!”

[Ring of the Wind Empress? But skills and items unrelated to sword techniques are sealed.]

The youth did not bother to reply.

The old man was taken aback when he saw Brendel’s displeasure. He suddenly understood the problem.

“Boy! Wait, I’m not asking you to use it. Express your desire to the ring and wish on it with all your heart! That ring contains a secret! Your grandfather has used it in the past in the same way!”

Brendel finally looked back at Kodan with surprise.

Kodan jumped a little when he saw Torbus moving. “Watch out!”

Brendel suddenly felt death creeping up to him. The sudden distraction had momentarily caused him to lose his concentration—