Combat

BOOM!!!

A violent impact resounded.

The spacious hall looked as if it had just undergone demolition, utterly ruined by two rapidly moving figures. The luxurious and extravagant decorations that once adorned it were now useless.

In their clash, Cadiz seemed to have transformed into a maddened beast, charging furiously at Polia before him. His moves were essentially all-out attacks.

If his former colleagues were to see him fighting so fiercely, they would surely be horrified, hardly believing he possessed such power.

Even though Polia's strength surpassed his, he found this life-or-death fighting style incredibly troublesome. He was constantly pushed back by Cadiz, retreating almost to the corner of the hall.

Their strength wasn't that different to begin with. Under normal circumstances, even if Count Polia faced Cadiz head-on, while he could defeat him, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't be injured; he would certainly sustain serious wounds.

Furthermore, their differing preparations were a significant factor.

Cadiz had clearly come prepared, wearing sturdy full plate armor. Compared to Polia's light attire, he naturally had a significant advantage.

When his longsword struck, attacks that should have heavily wounded Polia were weakened by the armor, only causing injury without delivering a critical blow.

Both were powerful Great Knights. As they fought with their lives on the line, their two distinct Battle Qi clashed, the power contained within enough to strike fear into ordinary Knights.

CLANG!!!

The sound of swords colliding rang out again.

In an instant, the two figures slammed into each other, their swords clashing. The power of Battle Qi flowed through them as they struggled and collided.

"Cadiz! Die obediently!"

Count Polia's face contorted as he roared at his former Guard Captain.

He exerted all his strength, veins bulging on his arm from the excessive force, pushing forward relentlessly.

Across from him, Cadiz showed no weakness, gripping his longsword and pressing forward just as fiercely. He advanced with brute force, unfazed by the sword before his face.

Both were resolute and brave, powerful warriors who had experienced countless battles. Even in this situation, they felt no fear, instead channeling all their strength forward, clashing head-on with each other.

This was an extremely dangerous test of strength. If either one faltered, the sword before them would immediately press down, mercilessly piercing the opponent's head.

"Die!!!"

Count Polia let out a low growl, increasing the strength in his arms and pushing forward frantically.

His physical condition was far superior to Cadiz's. Even among Great Knights, he was not weak. Unlike Cadiz, who had only just reached the threshold of a Great Knight, his strength was naturally much greater.

The balance on the scales was broken. The longsword, locked tightly between them, rapidly descended, slowly and steadily pressing towards Cadiz's head.

Glancing at the scene out of the corner of his eye, Cadiz's expression remained unchanged. He simply pushed forward, striving to hold back the descending sword before him.

The sword pressed down fiercely, almost touching his face, continuing its downward arc.

"It's over!"

Count Polia roared maniacally, a cruel smile on his face, unleashing all his strength forward.

But in the next moment, a fierce wave of weakness surged from within him, causing him to suddenly falter.

A sword mark, infused with Battle Qi, slashed forward, thrusting violently.

Sensing this, Polia instinctively dodged to the side.

SHING!!

The powerful Battle Qi struck the hall floor, carving a deep gash into it.

A longsword suddenly thrust forward, catching Polia's shoulder as he momentarily lost focus, drawing a bloody line.

"You!"

Polia felt a sharp pain course through him, forcing him out of his dazed state.

"You noticed!"

Across from him, Cadiz looked at Polia and said calmly, "Did you think I was your Guard Captain for all these years for nothing? If it weren't for waiting until today, I would have had countless opportunities to eliminate you."

"Rest in peace, Polia."

His expression was serene as he looked at Polia's current state, a flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. "Your wealth will be divided by your enemies, your castle will be conquered by your foes, and you will lose everything, including your life."

"The House Falkus, which has ruled the northern lands of the Kingdom of Arius for nearly a century, it is time for it to be extinguished with your generation."

Before him, Count Polia clutched his shoulder, his face ashen and extremely unnatural.

A fierce wave of weakness surged through his body. Even as a Great Knight, he felt utterly powerless, finding even the longsword in his hand incredibly heavy.

"Die."

Seeing Count Polia's state, Cadiz sighed inwardly, but his hand showed no mercy as he attacked without hesitation.

A fierce, pale white Battle Qi flashed forward, unleashing terrifying power as it surged towards Polia.

If this strike landed true, even as a Great Knight, he would be cut in half with no room for survival.

Sensing the incoming power, Count Polia made no move, as if resigned, standing still.

The sword rushed forward without pause. Just as it was about to strike him, Cadiz's expression suddenly changed.

Battle Qi, a torrent of Battle Qi, surged forth at that moment, violently clashing with his own.

Count Polia's body twitched slightly before him, his aura surging as his previously ashen face briefly returned to normal.

He took a step forward, dragging his heavy body, and after a deep breath, he swung his longsword forward fiercely.

Furious Battle Qi was unleashed with this sword strike, gradually forming a vortex that enveloped Cadiz, who was charging at him.

This was a full-power strike from a Great Knight after a life-force burst, the power of a Knight Secret Skill blooming within it. The force it contained made even Cadiz's expression change.

CRASH!!!

A figure was instantly sent flying backward, retreating a good seven or eight meters before slowly coming to a halt.

Cadiz's armor was completely shattered at this point, his entire body covered in bloody wounds, as if soaked in blood, looking extremely terrifying.

"Life-force burst... Polia, you're... finished."

He struggled to get up from the ground, looking at Polia before him and speaking with difficulty.

A Great Knight's life-force burst was different from that of an ordinary Knight.

Because their Life Energy was stronger, a Great Knight's life-force burst provided a greater boost, but the strain on their body was also more intense, with the aftereffects amplified several times over.

In Polia's current state, after the life-force burst, he could temporarily suppress the negative effects on his body by force. However, once he exited the life-force burst state, the aftereffects that would surge forth, combined with the poison he had previously taken, would be enough to cost him his life. It was only a matter of time.

With this thought, Cadiz propped himself up with one arm. After managing to stand, he quickly ran towards the outside of the great hall, no longer engaging directly with Polia before him.

Behind him, watching Cadiz retreat far away, Polia's body stirred slightly, as if he wanted to pursue, but in the end, he was unable to.

He quickly exited the life-force burst state. A dark gray flashed across his face, plunging his entire body into a terrifying state of weakness. He could only rely on the longsword in his hand to barely support himself.