An unexpected ambush met an unexpected defense. The priest immediately spun his sword and slashed backhanded at Kraft, trying to force him back.
But Kraft advanced instead of retreating, precisely turning aside the attack again. He raised his sword and thrust straight down at the man's face.
While the priest was busy defending against the high attack, Kraft pressed further. He slipped a dirty trick into his otherwise straightforward swordplay, discreetly kicking at the man's shin.
The priest's footing suddenly gave way, and he pitched forward involuntarily, throwing himself toward his opponent.
Kraft didn't choose to run him through. Instead, with a good sense of distance, he turned his sword from a thrust into a swing and brought the weighted pommel down hard on the man's face.
Though he avoided the delicate parts of the face, the impact of a small iron hammer was still significant. It briefly robbed the priest of his sense of space and most of his hearing. The physical shock transmitted through the bones was nearly as effective as a mental assault—and worked faster.
Dizziness and a high-pitched ringing in his ears left the priest disoriented. Then a second blow landed on his wrist, forcing him to release his sword.
Disarmed, the priest's threat level plummeted. The others, who had still been somewhat wary, swarmed him, pinning down the deeply concealed madman, binding his hands, and removing his other weapons.
The priest who had escaped Green's sword had already disappeared from sight, leaving only the sound of his footsteps rapidly fading into the distance.
The Priest had no intention of chasing after him to conduct a futile search. He only watched the place where the man had disappeared, angry and regretful, waiting for something.
The footsteps stopped abruptly, like a sword plunged into a swamp. The