Boom!!!
A deafening crash rang out.
The spacious hall looked as if it had just been demolished. The two swiftly moving figures had wreaked havoc, leaving the luxurious decorations in ruins.
In their clash, Cadiz seemed to turn into a frenzied beast, charging wildly at Polia and throwing out one desperate attack after another.
If his former colleagues had seen him like this, they would have been horrified. They could hardly have believed he possessed such strength.
Even though Polia was stronger, Cadiz's reckless, life-or-death fighting style gave him a terrible headache. Cadiz kept driving him back until he was nearly cornered in the hall.
Their strength had never been that far apart. Under ordinary circumstances, even if Count Polia faced Cadiz head-on, he could defeat him—but he wouldn't come away unscathed. He was bound to suffer serious injuries.
Their differing preparations were another major factor.
Cadiz had clearly come prepared. He wore sturdy full-body armor, giving him a considerable advantage over Polia, who was dressed lightly.
A sword strike that could have seriously wounded an opponent was weakened by the armor, leaving only a lesser injury instead of a devastating blow.
Both were powerful Great Knights. As they fought desperately, their clashing auras collided, unleashing power enough to terrify any ordinary knight.
Clang!!!
The sound of clashing swords rang out again.
In an instant, the two figures crashed together, sword against sword. The power of their auras surged through the blades as they locked and ground against each other.
"Cadiz! Just lie down and die!"
Count Polia's face twisted as he shouted at his former captain of the guard.
He strained with all his strength. Veins stood out on his arm as he desperately forced his way forward.
Cadiz, too, refused to give an inch. Gripping his sword, he shoved forward just as fiercely, unshaken even with the blade pressed close to his face.
Both were resolute, battle-hardened warriors who had survived countless fights. Even in this situation, neither showed the slightest fear. Instead, they poured all their strength into pressing forward and trading blows head-on.
It was an extremely dangerous contest of strength. The moment either man faltered, the sword near his face would come down and pierce his skull without hesitation.
"Die!!!"
Count Polia growled and poured even more strength into his arm, forcing forward with all his might.
His physique was far stronger than Cadiz's. He was no weakling among the Great Knights, while Cadiz had only just reached the threshold of their ranks. Naturally, Polia's strength was greater.
The balance tipped. Between them, the locked swords began to press down, slowly but surely bearing toward Cadiz's head.
Watching from the corner of his eye, Cadiz's expression didn't change. He simply pushed forward with all his strength, trying to hold back the sword bearing down on him.
The blade pressed closer, nearly touching his face as it continued to descend.
"It's over!"
Count Polia roared with a savage grin, unleashing all his strength.
But the next moment, a sudden, overwhelming weakness rose within him, making him freeze.
A sword slash infused with aura swept forward, thrusting toward him with ferocious force.
Sensing the attack, Polia instinctively dodged to the side.
Ssshh!
The fierce aura struck the hall floor, carving a deep gash into it.
A sword suddenly thrust in. While Polia was momentarily dazed, it sliced across his shoulder, leaving a bloody wound.
"You—!"
A wave of pain surged through Polia's body, dragging him out of his dazed state.
"So you noticed."
Cadiz looked at Polia and spoke calmly. "Did you think I spent all those years as your captain of the guard for nothing? If I hadn't been waiting for today, I'd have had countless chances to kill you."
"Rest in peace, Polia."
His expression remained calm as he looked at Polia, but a flicker of satisfaction crossed his eyes. "Your enemies will divide up your wealth, your foes will storm your castle, and you'll lose everything—even your life."
"House Falkus has ruled the northern lands of the Kingdom of Arius for nearly a century. With you, its time has come to an end."
Before him, Count Polia clutched his shoulder, his face an unnatural shade of ashen gray.
A terrible weakness kept rising within him. Even as a Great Knight, he felt utterly powerless, and the sword in his hand seemed impossibly heavy.
"Die."
Looking at Count Polia, Cadiz sighed inwardly, but showed no mercy. He attacked without hesitation.
Pale-white aura swept through the air, unleashing terrifying force as it slammed toward Polia.
If that blow landed, even a Great Knight would be cut in half. There would be no chance to survive.
Facing the incoming attack, Count Polia didn't move. He stood quietly in place, as if he had accepted his fate.
The sword rushed forward without slowing. Just as it was about to strike him, Cadiz's expression suddenly changed.
A torrent of aura surged forth, crashing wildly against him.
Count Polia's body trembled, and his presence soared. His ashen face briefly returned to normal.
He dragged his heavy body one step forward and took a deep breath before swinging his sword.
The slash unleashed a torrent of violent aura, which formed a vortex and engulfed Cadiz as he charged.
This was a Great Knight's all-out strike after activating Life Burst. The power of the Knight Secret Skill erupted, and even Cadiz couldn't help but blanch.
Boom!!!
A figure was hurled backward, tumbling a good seven or eight meters before finally coming to a stop.
Cadiz's armor was completely shattered. Blood covered him from head to toe, as if he'd been drenched in it. He looked horrifying.
"Life Burst... Polia, you're... finished."
He struggled to his feet and looked at Polia, speaking with difficulty.
A Great Knight's Life Burst was different from an ordinary knight's.
Their Life Energy was far stronger, so a Great Knight's Life Burst granted a much greater boost—but it also placed a heavier strain on the body, making the aftereffects several times worse.
In Polia's current state, Life Burst could temporarily suppress the negative effects on his body. But once he came out of it, the aftereffects, combined with the poison already in his system, would be enough to kill him. It was only a matter of time.
With that thought, Cadiz propped himself up with one arm and struggled to his feet. He quickly ran out of the hall, no longer trying to engage Polia directly.
Behind him, Polia watched Cadiz retreat into the distance. His body shifted slightly, as if he wanted to give chase, but in the end he couldn't follow.
He quickly ended Life Burst. A dark gray pallor flashed across his face, and his body sank into a terrifying state of weakness. He could only lean on his sword to keep himself upright.