Akurduana First Forgoes Instinct, Emulating Nimrod
Lucius ran like the wind, driven by his desire to fight the Xenos powerhouse and his obsession with witnessing Lord Nimrod's swordsmanship, which made him run faster and faster.
The sword flashed, Xenos fell one by one, but his pace did not slow down in the slightest.
Even so, the gold and purple armor in front of him still reminded him of the gap between him and Akurduana.
Akurduana's composure and elegance made Lucius wonder if he still had energy to spare.
Lucius recalled the stories of Akurduana that were widely circulated in the Legion.
The young Akurduana, before he possessed the superhuman body of the Astartes, already disgraced his mentor, the battle-hardened veteran Thunder Warriors Colin.
Akurduana defeated his instructor time and time again, each time effortlessly.
His fighting skills were innate, as natural as breathing, requiring no instruction from anyone.
When Peerless Swordsman enters the battlefield, he will charge towards the most powerful enemy and move through the heart of the enemy formation.
He had never lost a game, nor had he ever suffered a single scratch.
He was the perfect swordsman, Fulgrim's proud eldest son.
As Lucius pondered, a golden reflection of black suddenly appeared in his vision.
Lucius's gaze immediately fell on the shimmering blue-white light.
Nimrod's sword spun swiftly, like lightning. As its sharpness flashed, energy ripples transformed the surrounding dust into swirling clouds.
Lucius angrily kicked away the Xenos that had entered his line of sight, only to see that the Xenos he had just seen was now trapped inside something resembling amber.
He angrily swung his sword, tearing the Xenos apart.
Lucius didn't even glance at the Xenos around him; his gaze was fixed on the distance.
Finally, we saw Lord Nimrod's surging sword blade, swiftly slicing down the Xenos Crystal Longsword.
In a swift blur, he raised his Power Fist, accompanied by a blinding golden light. The Brain-Eaters he had only recently learned of was bound in a prison cell.
Akurduana spun his twin swords, and no Xenos could obstruct his view.
He calmly observed the battlefield; every move of Lord Nimrod possessed a natural sense of artistry.
The perfect balance between swift movement and heavy force is breathtakingly beautiful.
Sparks of inspiration ignited in Akurduana's mind, bursting forth like fireworks.
In order to preserve the inspiration and imprint Lord Nimrod's painting in his mind, he charged toward a Brain-Eaters had bypassed the lines.
When Akurduana was five meters away from the Brain-Eaters, he suddenly stopped.
Lucius, who was close behind, rushed forward, but suddenly felt a bitter taste in his throat and his steps became heavy.
Lucius involuntarily slowed down, his eyes narrowing, unwilling to witness the Peerless Swordsman's first injury.
Just before his eyes were completely closed, he suddenly opened them, facing the moment when the myth shattered.
He saw Akurduana suddenly raise his arm, and Athena's straight sword blade blocked the Crystal Longsword.
Timur's curved sword followed closely, aiming for the bent arm.
As their swords clashed, Lucius keenly noticed that Akurduana's movements were a little slower than usual, as if Spider Silk were wrapped around him.
Akurduana's eyes shone; for him, fighting had always been as natural as watching the sunrise or listening to music.
It's effortless, but it can get a bit boring after a while.
The music was suddenly interrupted, giving him a completely new opportunity.
For the first time, Akurduana abandoned his fighting instincts and followed the trajectory of Lord Nimrod's sword, wielding it with his own.
Timur and Athena spun rapidly, and he used his twin swords to embody the imprint left in his mind by the blue and white blades.
The Crystal Longsword slipped from his hand, and his personal energy shield shattered.
Akurduana slept slightly as he killed the Brain-Eaters, feeling his steps become lighter.
He suddenly turned his head and looked to his left.
A figure in black armor appeared and disappeared in his sight in an instant.
That's Zahariel.
In a single second, the Brain-Eaters's personal energy shield shattered, and its body broke into hundreds of pieces.
In two seconds, hundreds of Xenos bodies shattered.
Three seconds later, Zahariel reappeared in sight, his speed noticeably slower.
Zahariel felt a chill run down his spine as he saw a Brain-Eaters charging towards him.
The "Midnight Poet" opened his mouth and recited the poems he had written, inspired by the book "Meditations".
That was the work of the chivalrous poet and philosopher Oreas, and it was the favorite work of his former mentor, Master Ramiel.
"In the ancient pulse of the secluded forest, a mysterious aura is shrouded in a veil of mist."
The knight's warhorse trampled the murmurs of fallen leaves, its armor shimmering like stars in the night sky.
The sword at his waist gleamed coldly, concealing untold tales of heroism.
The knight's eyes pierced through the dense forest mist.
The fearful knight rallied his resolve and roared a challenge to the Great Beast.
The poems of sleep, ethereal and echoing, momentarily dazzle the listener, making them seem to see the tranquil moonlight and the peaceful, Peace rippling lake.
Those Brain-Eaters feel their bodies rapidly become heavier, as if they could fall asleep standing up.
Zahariel, in his chanting, rekindles his memories of the Lion Beast, and in his fear, he slays the most powerful creature.
The "Midnight Poet" saw the Brain-Eaters slow down and continued chanting while brandishing his longsword.
"The clash of sword and claws was Thunder explosion."
The knight's faith is as firm as a rock, his sword stands tall amidst the storm.
His conviction was stronger than steel.
A spark illuminates the darkness, courage makes even the Great Beast retreat.
Just as the Brain-Eaters regained consciousness, the atmosphere of the poem abruptly changed, filling him with fear.
Zahariel had already reached him and swung his longsword down.
Two Brain-Eaters attacked from the left and right. Zahariel drew his longsword and was about to meet them when two figures flashed out from his side.
Balthasar Kuturi, the Librarian of the XIX Legion, raised his hand and unleashed a Psionic Energy shield, green flames colliding with flashing lightning.
Glenn Worsotto, the First Chapter of the Ultramarines, raised his hand and fired a series of explosives at the Brain-Eaters.
Lord Nimrod's Honor Guard followed, and the knights, having received support, looked into the distance.
He sensed an evil will suddenly appear in the distance.
Zahariel's consciousness, the moment it touched that will, was struck as if by Lightning Strike.
He used his sword to support his body and did not kneel down.
Not far away, Balthasar's body convulsed, and he knelt on one knee.
The Librarian was defeated by the evil will, and he was fortunate enough to see the Brain-Eaters in front of him also collapse, exhausted.
Worsotto easily killed the fallen Brain-Eaters with his combat knife, then looked ahead.
He saw Akurduana and Lucius rushing through the crowd, following Lord Nimrod, and charging forward.
Lucius struggled to catch up with Akurduana and approached a construct.
The construct's tentacles extended out sharp, bony blades at will, as if six swordsmen were attacking simultaneously.
Lucius's vision was filled with the sharp blade, and he excitedly unleashed a barrage of slashes and thrusts.
As the blades clashed repeatedly, Lucius was forced to use the shield worn on his left arm to defend himself.
Amidst the crashing of the raging waves, he suddenly leaped up, his sword deflecting three bone blades, his shield blocking three more.
The sword spun, severing the head full of sharp teeth.
Lucius, now in mid-air, finally saw what lay ahead.
He saw Akurduana spin and kill four constructs before charging towards a Slaugth-kin wrapped in a cloak.
Lucius stared in astonishment, feeling as if he were dreaming.
He saw the Slaugth-kin swing his scepter, and in the clash, he sent Timur flying.
His other arm reached around Athena and gripped the Power Armor.
Akurduana was immediately sent flying.
Akurduana suffered his first injury.
The Peerless Swordsman was defeated instantly.
The slimy tentacles of the Slaugth Destroyer reached out like pythons towards Akurduana on the ground, and suddenly a blue-white light flashed.
Nimrod flashed to Akurduana's side and swung the Sword of Vaul to cut down a swarm of worms.
The Slaugth Destroyer let out an Affliction scream, his arm suddenly swelled up, and he swung the Necrotic Staff at Nimrod's leg.
The "Baron of Corruption's " eyes flashed, and the Slaugth-kin's outstretched arm slowed down, retracting due to the "Distortion" force.
Akurduana used Athena to support himself as he stood up. He paid no attention to his injuries, his eyes fixed on the spinning blue and white sword.
With a flick of his wrist, Nimrod a barrage of light from his blade, like unstoppable starlight, leaving trails of light on the Slaugth Destroyer, while swarms of hissing worms scattered across its body.
Every swing of Nimrod's sword was as dazzling as the stars.
A perfect painting, imprinted with blue and white starlight, shone in Akurduana's mind.
The Necrotic Staff fell to the ground, and golden light leaped before his eyes.
Akurduana squinted, and when he opened his eyes wide again, he saw that the amber contained worms that had been cut open by the sword blade and scattered into clusters.