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Chapter 339: All-Out War (4)
Ketal quietly caressed the handle of his axe.
Caliste watched him intently.
His purpose was defense, so there was no need to engage aggressively.
Ketal, as if finding it curious, asked,
“You rely solely on swordsmanship? No other powers or abilities?”
“None,”
Caliste replied calmly.
“All I have is this sword.”
A sword with the power to sever all things, unbreakable as long as its wielder’s will remained unshaken.
It was undoubtedly extraordinary.
But at the end of the day, it was just a sword.
It could not overturn the heavens, shake the earth, or split the ground.
An average demon wielding it might have been crushed under its power and died a meaningless death.
And yet, Caliste ascended to the throne of a lord.
A nameless demon honed their sword to such perfection that they reached the highest seat of power.
Ketal felt genuine admiration.
“I admit it. Your methods cannot be broken through with my current approach. So, I’ll go back to the basics for the first time in a while.”
Ketal gripped the axe differently this time, one hand near the blade and the other around the middle of the handle.
Caliste’s face showed a flicker of puzzlement.
“…You intend to fight with skill, not strength?”
Holding the axe short like that reduced the leverage for powerful strikes but allowed for more precise movements.
It wasn’t an incorrect judgment.
Indeed, brute strength alone could never breach the techniques Caliste wielded.
Trying another method was the right decision.
But there was one condition.
“You think you can overcome me with skill?”
With only a single sword, Caliste had climbed to the lord’s position.
Could Ketal’s skill surpass that?
To this question, Ketal responded with a grin.
“We’ll see.”
Ketal stepped forward, closing the gap between them with quick strides.
He gripped his axe in both hands and moved with precision.
Ka-ka-ka-kak!
Holding the axe short reduced its range, but it made close-quarters combat even more advantageous than a sword.
Ketal exploited this to apply pressure on Caliste.
Caliste narrowed his eyes.
‘He’s good with his weapon.’
To be honest, it was surprising.
Such mastery of weaponry was rare, even for Caliste.
Excluding raw power, Ketal’s technique alone could easily overwhelm a typical hero-class opponent.
But that was all.
It wasn’t enough to reach him.
Ka-kak!
Caliste subtly twisted his wrist, effortlessly parrying and deflecting all of Ketal’s axe strikes.
The force of the deflection sent Ketal’s arm upward.
Ketal immediately swung his arm down, aiming the butt of the axe handle at Caliste’s head.
Caliste met the attack with his sword, slipping the axe handle into the cross-guard of his sword to redirect its trajectory.
And in that moment—
Ketal abruptly pulled the lower grip of the axe backward as if snapping a spring.
The blade of the axe suddenly rotated, aiming to cleave Caliste’s head.
For the first time, Caliste’s expression shifted.
Swiftly, he reversed his grip on the sword, using the pommel to strike the spinning blade and leveraging the force to retreat backward.
Ketal did not relent.
He held the axe close to his body and charged forward.
Caliste immediately recognized Ketal’s intent.
‘He’s trying to overpower me physically.’
At such close proximity, parrying would be difficult.
Caliste lowered his stance, deflecting the incoming axe upward and sidestepping.
At that moment, Ketal slammed his foot into the ground, halting abruptly and pivoting his entire body toward Caliste in pursuit.
Caliste was not one to remain passive.
He used his sword to scrape the ground, using the rebound to propel himself sideways.
Then Ketal’s left elbow aimed straight for Caliste’s chest.
It was an attack with no preparation, as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.
Caliste hastily moved his hand.
Thud!
Caliste was knocked back.
He managed to deflect the elbow strike, but not without consequence.
His wrist throbbed, and his eyes betrayed a hint of shock.
“…You anticipated me?”
The elbow strike wasn’t a reaction to Caliste’s movements—it was a prediction of them.
Ketal had acted preemptively, knowing what Caliste would do.
Ketal grinned with delight.
“Ah, I finally landed a hit.”
With a leap, Ketal closed the distance again, refusing to give Caliste any breathing room.
Caliste quickly maneuvered his sword, and the two engaged in a fierce exchange.
The first to gain an advantage was Ketal.
Thud!
Ketal shoved Caliste with his shoulder.
Though the impact wasn’t severe, it forced Caliste to retreat slightly.
As Ketal charged again, Caliste thrust his sword forward.
Ketal twisted his neck to evade and pressed forward even more.
Caliste bent his wrist, swinging his sword like a scythe to slash at the back of Ketal’s neck.
Ketal didn’t duck or block.
He simply charged forward, aiming to headbutt Caliste.
“Hm.”
At such force and speed, a headbutt would shatter his skull.
Caliste withdrew his sword and stepped back.
Ketal seized the moment to swing his axe down.
Caliste dodged, only to be met with the butt of the axe handle striking toward his jaw.
He blocked with his sword.
Ketal closed the gap once more, wielding the axe in rapid, precise motions.
Caliste tightened his grip on his sword and moved with determination.
Ka-ka-ka-kak!
The clash of axe and sword produced a cacophony of sharp sounds.
From a distance, the Tower Master battling the demons observed their duel and let out a groan.
[…What is that?]
Ketal and Caliste’s battle was eerily silent.
There were no earth-shattering forces, no world-rending power.
Compared to the fight against Necronovix, one might even call it mundane.
Yet, the Tower Master was utterly astonished.
It was because he could not comprehend their movements at all.
Swinging a sword, moving an axe, stepping forward and twisting one’s body—motions that even a child could perform.
Yet he couldn’t understand.
Why did they swing their weapons like that?
Why did they make those choices?
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HELHEIM SCANS
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Not a single one made sense.
Although a magician, the Tower Master had taken an interest in weapon techniques, studying enough to possess knowledge on par with a typical hero-class warrior.
For even him to be unable to comprehend meant no one in the world could fathom their movements.
Ka-ka-kak!
Ketal’s axe moved with fierce precision.
No longer relying on raw strength, he launched a series of consecutive attacks with both the blade and handle.
Caliste swiftly wielded his sword, deflecting and redirecting every strike.
The axe alone could not break through the sword.
Thus, Ketal took a step forward, intent on dominating the space.
Naturally, Caliste quickly assessed the situation and moved to respond.
But Ketal shifted his body.
He didn’t just rely on his axe; he used his knees, elbows, shoulders, even his forehead.
He utilized his entire body.
Caliste attempted to counter by moving, but he was purely outmatched in speed.
Inevitably, Caliste’s body was sent flying backward.
Thud!
Caliste regained his footing.
Although the damage was minimal, his expression hardened.
“......”
The battle so far had made one thing clear.
In terms of weapon skills, he was superior.
It was a decisive difference.
However, when it came to the art of fighting, the opponent stood above him.
“How many battles have you fought, exactly?”
Ketal had experienced countless battles, a number so overwhelming it rendered counting meaningless.
Ketal let out a hearty laugh.
“I am undoubtedly strong. My power is unmatched, even among the fiercest within those walls.”
For Ketal, most problems could be solved by gripping his axe and swinging it with full force.
That was who he was now.
“But I wasn’t born with such monstrous strength.”
He had once been an ordinary human.
His strength was that of an average adult man, and his body was just as ordinary.
In harsh winters, his blood froze, and sharp cold winds left cuts all over his body merely from movement.
Yet, even so, he survived.
He triumphed against countless monsters and barbarians who sought to kill him.
“To be honest, even I’ve lost track of how many battles I’ve fought.”
One thing was certain—the number had surpassed five digits.
The story of him acquiring his extraordinary strength came long after.
“......”
Caliste said nothing, and Ketal spoke leisurely.
“Until now, overwhelming opponents with sheer strength has always been more effective, so I’ve had no need to use technique. But with someone like you, it’s different.”
Against Caliste, techniques were more effective than raw power.
Therefore, there was no reason not to use them.
“This is exciting!”
Ketal laughed heartily.
It had been so long since he fought purely with technique.
The thrill made his heart race.
“Let’s keep going!”
Ketal swung his axe.
Caliste twisted his sword to deflect it.
Axes, swords, and bodies clashed.
Ketal’s face was full of laughter, and Caliste too wore a faint smile.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Ketal’s body fell to the ground.
Caliste raised his sword to strike at the back of Ketal’s neck.
At that moment, Ketal slammed the butt of his axe handle into the ground.
Boom!
The rebound launched him away.
Caliste’s sword cut through empty air.
Ketal countered by swinging his axe.
Clang!
Caliste barely managed to block it but couldn’t deflect the force.
His body slid backward.
Ketal swiftly closed the gap and slashed upward.
Shhhk!
A wound appeared on Caliste’s shoulder, and blood splattered.
Caliste let out a pained grunt.
It wasn’t a serious injury—barely a scratch on the surface of his skin.
But in a battle like this, where he matched Ketal’s overwhelming strength with pure technique, even a minor wound could slow his response.
Clang!
The axe and sword clashed in a deadlock.
Ketal reached out with his left hand to grab Caliste’s sword.
Caliste smoothly moved to pull it away, but Ketal released it first.
He had only grabbed it to create an opening.
He used that opening to press Caliste further.
He kicked at Caliste’s thigh.
Although Caliste hurriedly pulled back, he couldn’t completely avoid it.
The impact spread through his thigh, slowing his movements.
From then on, Ketal changed his approach.
He exploited Caliste’s reduced mobility, moving swiftly to attack from all directions.
Caliste focused intently to counter, but with one leg impaired, gaps inevitably appeared.
“Ugh...”
Caliste groaned as he retreated.
Unlike before, he couldn’t advance or change direction and was forced to keep backing away.
As a result, his back hit the door.
“......!”
There was nowhere left to retreat.
Caliste’s gaze turned cold.
‘Even if it means my death...’
He resolved to take Ketal down with him.
Abandoning the thought of mere defense, he decided on mutual destruction.
Ketal swung his axe.
Caliste met it with his sword.
Clang!
Their weapons clashed, their movements surpassing comprehension.
Caliste abandoned defending his body and aimed for Ketal’s. K
etal laughed heartily.
“I never planned to win against someone like you without taking a scratch. I’ll gladly give up some flesh!”
Squish.
Caliste’s sword pierced Ketal’s neck.
But it barely missed his carotid artery.
“In exchange, I’m the one who’s going to win!”
Ketal grabbed Caliste’s arm, twisted his wrist, and kicked him.
Caliste’s sword began to fly out of his hand.
“Gah!”
But Caliste wasn’t going down so easily.
He adjusted the angle of his sword as it was about to be flung and caught Ketal’s axe blade.
Both weapons were sent flying.
Now weaponless, Ketal clenched his fist, unfazed.
His punch carried monstrous strength, enhanced by mystical power.
Caliste, refusing to give up, reached out as well.
Boom!
Ketal’s punch shattered Caliste’s arm and slammed into his body, sending him crashing into the Demon King’s castle gate.
The door groaned loudly as it began to break apart.
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HELHEIM SCANS
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