The two streams of sword aura never rushed, moving forward slowly, distorting the air.
Like lightning flickering inside dark clouds, the clash between the two sword auras sometimes produced the sound of thunder.
Yuri's vortex, which drew in and twisted his opponent, and Moyong Chan's tranquil sword aura, which subdued anything it met, soon overlapped their domains.
Everyone watching grew tense.
When such powerful sword auras collided, a massive explosion was sure to occur.
However, the expected outcome never came.
Instead, there was only a flash of light.
"…!"
There was no deafening sound.
Only a high-pitched tone, like tinnitus, filled their ears.
As the sword aura collapsed, wind rushed in from all directions.
After that single flash of light, the two sword auras exhausted their power against each other, and when the magnitude and direction of their forces perfectly matched, they vanished completely.
What the onlookers faced was nothing more than the meeting and disappearance of two immense powers, and the fierce wind that followed in its wake.
"Urgh…"
"The wind…"
A sudden gust swept through the area, and the abruptly risen sand blocked their vision.
Not many understood the meaning of this clash, but they all knew something extraordinary had just happened.
One of the Ten Strongest, the Outsider from the East, Moyong Chan.
And Yuri Briol, imperial prince of Briol, perhaps the next to join the Ten Strongest.
Their duel made those who witnessed it lose any thought of ever reaching their level.
When the dust finally settled, the two stood facing each other.
"Wow…"
"Moyong Chan-nim is amazing, but so is the Imperial Prince of Briol."
"Is something like that even possible…?"
"To achieve such feats at that age…"
"Should I just die if I have no talent…?"
Everyone spoke a word or two. Some knights gripped the hilts of their swords, unable to contain the overwhelming surge of emotion in their hearts otherwise.
It was a sight that made one's body tremble.
How could such a thing be created with a single sword?
It was the realm every knight dreamed of, displayed vividly before their eyes.
Yet, the two who had caused this marvel felt little emotion themselves.
Yuri spoke.
"Master."
"What is it."
"I went easy on you."
"That's my line."
"I don't think so."
"I did go easy."
"No, you didn't."
"Yes, I did."
The two lowered their blades and caught their breath.
"In any case, I can tell you've grown greatly through the power of chaos. Without that, you couldn't have achieved such a feat."
"Time is short and the road ahead is long, I had no choice. I had no other option."
"You seem to carry a lot on your shoulders."
Moyong Chan clicked his tongue.
"Even so, you'll have to bear it."
"Yes."
"I see."
"By the way, your pronunciation…"
"What about it."
"Hey."
"What."
Moyong Chan's pronunciation had become strange again.
Yuri was certain — Moyong Chan was doing it on purpose. When focused on swordplay, his pronunciation was perfectly clear, but once relaxed, it became awkward.
"Do as you please."
"Okay."
"Thank you for your work."
"You too did well."
The master and disciple, using only half their tongues, praised each other's efforts, then saluted with clasped fists.
***
While staying in Liberda, Moyong Chan was raising the level of the knights.
His reason for doing so was not much different from Yuri's.
"The world is full of deceit."
After facing Doncic, Moyong Chan had realized this clearly.
The three Ogres had already been steeped in darkness, becoming grotesque beings.
And the knights of Liberda were completely unprepared to face such foes.
As a Taoist of the Qingcheng Sect, who destroyed the wicked and upheld good, he sought to train Liberda's knights to preserve the balance of the world. Without it, this nation would not withstand a war with the Empire and would fall.
"Now the knights of Liberda have somewhat improved."
"Yes."
"My goal is for these fellows to grow strong enough to take down Doncic themselves."
Though Moyong Chan had been away for a while, in the end, this was still a step toward victory in the war against the Empire.
"Didn't you say Doncic ran away?"
"If I leave my place, he'll show up soon enough."
"How cunning."
Yuri nodded.
Around them, many knights were standing on one leg while swinging their swords.
It was training to improve their sense of balance.
Because he had to train so many, Moyong Chan focused not on direct instruction, but on teaching knights how to train themselves. Those who showed particular talent received personal guidance.
"In any case…"
As the knights trained, Yuri and Moyong Chan continued talking.
"A metal that draws out the power of black magic, you say?"
"Yes, I should be able to supply it soon."
"Okay, maybe that will be the way the world regains its balance."
"And…"
They discussed what had happened recently, their future plans, and the heart demon.
Even on the topic of the heart demon, Moyong Chan could not give much advice.
It was something Yuri had to bear on his own.
"I guess you weren't much help after all."
"But didn't it warm your heart?"
"Yes…"
Yuri cleared his throat and said,
"I should get going now, I'm in a hurry."
"To Balshad?"
"Yes."
"Alright, give my regards to Great Swordsman Ernando."
Moyong Chan still treated Ernando like a noble benefactor.
Yuri also knew Ernando was no ordinary mage, but he didn't understand why Moyong Chan regarded him so highly.
"Master, is Ernando really such a great mage?"
"Tsk tsk, you still can't see it?"
"I don't get it."
"Then live without knowing."
"Yes…"
Yuri tilted his head, sensing there was something Moyong Chan could see that he could not.
Before parting, Moyong Chan placed a hand on Yuri's shoulder.
"Yuri Briol, remember this. Darkness cannot overcome light."
Yuri looked up.
It was a trite phrase, but coming from someone like Moyong Chan, it felt different.
Darkness cannot overcome light.
A Taoist of the Qingcheng Sect who had spent his life cutting down darkness, who had come all the way to a distant continent to destroy evil, seemed to truly believe those words.
Yuri grinned and nodded.
"Yes, I'll remember."
"Good."
Yuri saluted Moyong Chan with the manners of the East.
The knights nearby imitated him, clasping their fists. Especially his disciples, Simon and Guinness, had excellent form.
"Oh, and, you there."
Before Yuri left, Moyong Chan called out to Francesco.
"Me, me?"
Once one of the Ten Strongest, Francesco, who had lost his mana, found Moyong Chan intimidating.
"There is balance in the world."
"Hm?"
"When you regain what you've lost, it will be different from before, so be prepared."
Leaving those words behind, Moyong Chan turned away.
Francesco tilted his head.
"What does that mean?"
Yuri explained in his place.
"He means, once you can use mana again, you'll become stronger than you were before you lost it."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Yuri patted Francesco's shoulder.
"Being in your current state is also an opportunity. How often does someone become unable to handle mana in their lifetime? If you train now, when you regain mana later, the benefit will be far greater."
"Uh…"
"Of course, since you've been doing nothing but drinking all this time, the effect won't be that great."
Francesco scratched his head.
"Did he know I could be healed…"
"Opportunities belong to those who are prepared. An opportunity may not come, but if you don't prepare, even when it does, you can't seize it."
"Alright, alright."
"Let's go."
Yuri's group mounted their horses.
Just before departure, the knights of the Gale Knight Order offered their farewells.
"Safe travels!"
"Thank you for the great display!"
Yuri's group began heading toward Balshad once again.
***
Though the Orcs had been subjugated by the Allied Army, they hadn't been completely eradicated. Small scattered groups of Orcs still gathered in bands, attacking people.
"How trivial."
Kicking at an Orc's corpse, Yuri spoke.
"Weak."
"Indeed."
"They're weaker than before. Or is it that we've grown stronger?"
"Likely both."
The Orcs no longer possessed the same valor they once had.
With the absolute existence, Okua, gone, and all the powerful beings he had summoned now dead, what remained were only the weaker Orcs who had never been recognized as true warriors.
The fierce Orcs that even knights once hesitated to face were few now, and most of them were merely strong but dull-witted brutes.
"But their numbers are greater than expected."
"That's the nature of their race."
Wiping Guilty on the body of an Orc, Yuri said,
"When a race's numbers drop, they breed rapidly like cockroaches."
"Will they become like before again?"
"They said they'd station troops on the grasslands, but the Empire isn't what it used to be…"
Yuri recalled the memories of an old hunter he had absorbed.
It was because Orcs were such a race that hunters like him had been necessary. They lived on the plains to keep the Orc population in check.
"Once we've beaten the Empire, we'll have to consider it as well."
"At that point, Orcs will probably feel like an easy opponent."
"Most likely."
As they sat roughly among the Orc corpses, Yuri suddenly spotted a group approaching in the distance.
"That is…"
"A merchant caravan."
Yuri could see farther than most.
"From where?"
"Where else?"
Yuri grinned.
"The Rein Company."
The caravan, upon spotting Yuri's group, slowly turned toward them.
"They're coming to us. What if we were bandits?"
"They saw my face through a spyglass."
"So what?"
"I don't have the kind of face for banditry."
"Ah, right…"
Soon, members of the Rein Company drew near.
Up close, the scale was impressive — many wagons, and a large number of attendants.
The caravan stopped at a distance from Yuri's group, and a man with a gentle expression stepped forward from the group.
"Greetings."
"All's well."
Momentarily pausing at Yuri's casual tone, the man slowly formed a smile.
"If my guess is correct, would you be His Highness Yuri Briol, Imperial Prince of Briol?"
"You guessed right."
"Black hair, handsome features, an exceptional build, and this air of composure. You match exactly the descriptions I've heard of Your Highness."
"Who told you all that?"
"Why, of course…"
He smiled faintly.
"The whole world says so, about Your Highness."
Jared, listening from behind, drew in a breath.
"Wow…"
Francesco, less restrained, expressed it more bluntly.
"That's gonna swell his head."
Yuri apologized on their behalf.
"Let me apologize. Small-minded people always envy those better than themselves. A man of broad insight like you will understand those narrow-hearted fellows."
"Hahaha…"
"By the way, what are these?"
"Ah, these."
Though a merchant's goods are usually confidential, because Yuri was royalty of Briol where the Rein Company's headquarters was located, the man relaxed his guard and answered.
"Goods from the East."
Yuri's whole group immediately showed interest.
"Oh, so these came from the East, not Balshad?"
"Yes. Ever since our president opened trade with the East, caravans have been traveling back and forth without pause."
"Must be a great number of goods…"
"There hadn't been exchanges for a long time. Both continents are immensely curious about each other's products. In both places, you can name your price. Our company's stock price has soared. Heh…"
"I see."
If the stock rose, Yuri's wealth would rise with it. He and Rein held most of the Rein Company's shares.
Yuri asked in a mild tone.
"If you're not in too much of a hurry, could you show me some of the goods?"
"Of course. After such a long journey, we were planning to rest soon anyway."
The man nodded readily.
"And since you've cleared away the Orcs for us, even if we were in a rush, we'd have to show them to Your Highness."
It was the kind of speech that put people in a good mood.
Yuri, satisfied, patted the man's shoulder. Such talent was working hard to increase his fortune.
"Good."
"Please wait just a moment, Your Highness. All right, we're stopping here for the night!"
Yuri looked up at the sky. It was a little early, but there wasn't much daylight left.
"We'll stay here for the night as well. Will that be alright?"
"Of course, it's our honor."
"Your name?"
"Rick."
"Alright, Rick. A pleasure to meet you."
"The honor's mine."
Thus, Yuri spent the night with the Rein Company's caravan, which had brought treasures from the East.
[You can buy paid chapters or support me on any platform below:
☕ Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/punisher87
💎 Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/reaper87
🔥 Patreon: patreon.com/Punisher87translation
📘 Payhip Store: payhip.com/revengerscans
For latest Updates Visit Official Website: https://revengernovel.com/
Choose the platform that works best for your country. Thank you for your support!]