Successive Breakthroughs and Preparations

Early spring.

Garratt Duchy, Georgia Territory, an army garrison in the outskirts.

The "Clockwork Man," Billy Buddha, drew the two long, straight, thin-bladed swords at his waist, twisting his wrists and transforming into a bright silver Blade Storm.

He repeatedly clashed with "Iron Bone" William, who spread his two specially made scimitars and glided through the air at high speed, even executing sharp-angle maneuvers.

Combat Energy Flames erupted all over William's body, bringing this self-created esoteric truth to a level of exquisite sophistication that was truly astonishing.

Cesi Scimitar Art: Esoteric Truth Wind Return

Elsewhere, Baldwin, transformed into a humanoid shark, opened his mouth full of sharp teeth. A special structure in his oral cavity suddenly shot a snow-white stream of water forward at extreme speed.

Hiss!

Spell-like Ability: White Wave Surge

Robert's body erupted with surging Combat Energy Flames, dyeing every inch of his skin a dull iron color. Raising his longsword, he charged straight at Baldwin without dodging.

Military Swordsmanship: Extraordinary Esoteric Truth: Iron Torrent

In the duchy's current military structure, aside from the navy personally commanded by Princess Anita,

the military leaders of the army, police force, and Duchy Tax Bureau Collection Office—the three armed institutions—Robert, "Iron Bone" William, and the Sharkman Baldwin, had all successively broken through to the third order.

With Sera and Angie's help,

the "Skin-Wearing People" Baldwin had inscribed the bloodline of the Demonic Horned Shark into his genetic information, becoming an extraordinary race like werewolves: Sharkmen. In the process, he had also broken through the shackles preventing the Skin-Wearing People from advancing.

As Evan's various technological reserves became increasingly refined, Billy Buddha, the mechanically modified "Clockwork Man," had also risen with the tide. His flesh-and-blood components, mechanical components, and power system had all undergone another upgrade.

Relying solely on the pure mechanical