Chapter 204 – The Battle in Progress

The instant Punk dodged Vick’s attack, Golem Two and Iron Tower simultaneously launched their assaults on Vick Swordsaint.

Silver liquid substances began massively exuding from Iron Tower’s body, each droplet seemingly alive as it slowly expanded and contracted. Under Iron Tower’s control, these materials instantly formed hundreds of layers of onion-like spherical armor, with densely packed serrated spikes protruding from the armor’s surface. Iron Tower and his shield became completely encased within this 360-degree protective sphere.

Accompanied by a hysterical roar resembling that of an ancient beast, the massive spherical “onion armor” enveloping Iron Tower began rotating violently, propelled by surging Battle Aura.

“Die! Die! Die!”

The iron sphere charged toward Vick Swordsaint at supersonic speed while spinning, leaving behind only a friction-reddened trench on the crushed ground. Every pebble and grain of sand had been pulverized into dust-like powder.

Simultaneously, Punk’s Golem Two unhesitatingly targeted Vick with solidified spells.

“Iron Shackles” triple cast!

Within less than a second, Golem Two instant-cast all three Iron Shackles spells. Numerous steel branches formed dense thickets of thorns, completely enveloping Vick within them. Coiling steel entwined around Vick’s body, trapping the “Wind-Bathing Punisher” along with him.

At this moment, Iron Tower’s iron sphere attack was already imminent, seemingly about to strike Vick Swordsaint’s side in the next instant.

Yet Vick Swordsaint, restrained as he was, showed not the slightest panic. He remained as stern and composed as ever, though with an added layer of profound gravity on his face.

“Hah!”

Formal-Level Fire Combat Skill — Flame Cyclone!

With a explosive shout, Vick activated the fire Combat Skill. Compressed Battle Aura formed a substantial whirlwind around him, the high-temperature, high-pressure Battle Aura tornado shredding the steel branches coiled around Vick as easily as tearing paper or slicing vegetables. Countless thin iron strips even melted into pools of molten metal under the intense heat.

However, “Flame Cyclone” alone was clearly insufficient. Iron Tower’s iron sphere had expanded to over three times a person’s height during its approach, the massive iron ball crashing toward Vick with overwhelming force.

Facing the enormous iron sphere, Vick didn’t bother activating another Combat Skill. He merely swung his sword in what appeared to be a casual motion.

“Damn bastard!”

Iron Tower cursed angrily, quickly controlling the iron sphere to bounce violently into the air. The massive sphere seemed to possess spring-like mechanisms, the leaping sphere narrowly avoiding Vick Swordsaint’s seemingly Battle Aura-free sword swing. The iron sphere passing over Vick’s head ultimately only created a massive crater on a distant mound!

Iron Tower wasn’t afraid of Vick’s Combat Skills—he had full confidence in his defenses. But this confidence wasn’t blind; he knew he couldn’t withstand a single Master-Level attack spell, and Vick’s greatsword “Wind-Bathing Punisher” happened to contain precisely such a solidified Master-Level attack spell—”Annihilation”!As a meat shield, “Iron Tower” was clearly failing in his role. Because he stopped attacking, Punk’s spells couldn’t connect, and Boss Lady’s assault had to brake halfway. A “stormy onslaught” combo formed by three people and one golem was effortlessly interrupted by Vick’s simple sword swing without even activating a combat skill.

Clearly, no one present was willing to take a hit from “Annihilation,” so before Vick Swordsaint activated this single-use solidified spell, all three could only desperately evade before the greatsword “Wind-Bathing Punisher.”

“So you’ve obtained intelligence on the ‘Wind-Bathing Punisher’!Vick’s voice grew deep.

“This information couldn’t possibly have been leaked by me, as none of my opponents have ever left alive. The data on Wind-Bathing Punisher is only accessible to the Kingdom’s upper echelons!”

The “Number One” Sword Saint stared grimly at the retreating Punk and others, anyone could see the barely suppressed fury beneath his seemingly indifferent expression.

“Oh, how fascinating. It appears you’ve been discarded. They seem to have just sent you here to die. Pitiful that a Sword Saint barely short of breaking through to Master-Level must obediently serve as a manipulated puppet – truly pathetic to the point of being pitiable!”

Punk mercilessly mocked Vick, hoping such words would enrage the Sword Saint. After all, a frenzied barbarian would be much easier to handle than a calm Sword Saint.

“Enough! Put away your tedious attempts at sowing discord!”

True to his reputation as a long-established powerhouse, Vick Swordsaint regulated his emotions almost instantly. Though traces of anger remained in his eyes, it no longer affected his rationality.

“My loyalty is absolute!”

Vick declared in a proclamation-like tone:

“Whether betrayed or used as bargaining chip, whether for combat glory or mere suicide mission – if it’s His Majesty the King’s command, I need not question it! I need only execute it resolutely!

Now, since His Majesty’s order is to execute the traitor Trelinka… then… those who stand in my way… shall DIE!”

As the word “die” faded, the Aura Wings behind Vick Swordsaint blazed with intense light. Enveloped in a whirlwind of battle aura, tremendous propulsion instantly erupted, carrying the Sword Saint directly toward Bloodclaw – who stood outside the combat circle holding Princess Trelinka.

“Damn it all! The ones blocking you are those three, why come after me!”

Seeing Vick charging toward him like a meteor with the “Wind-Bathing Punisher,” Bloodclaw’s already pale face turned ashen. Having just witnessed an example of what this technique could do – how it instantly annihilated Naya, another Formal-Level powerhouse – Bloodclaw didn’t think his speed-oriented frame was any sturdier than hers.

Blood mist and crimson light erupted from his body as Bloodclaw accelerated from standstill to over ten times the speed of sound in mere tenths of a second. Yet Vick’s speed slightly surpassed even Bloodclaw’s, pursuing him relentlessly with clear intent to deliver a single lethal strike to Princess Trelinka.

“Shit shit shit! I’m dead I’m dead I’m dead!”Bloodclaw cried out in both anger and fear—his terror at this moment was no act; he was genuinely panicked. If not for the fear of being collectively hunted down by the other three killers, he would have long since dropped Princess Trelinka and bolted for his life.

“If you keep hiding your skills and refuse to act, I’m done with this! I’ll just forget about the Master-level equipment—you figure it out yourselves!”

Seeing Vick Swordsaint’s figure draw closer, Bloodclaw roared in frantic fury. Thick, dark-red blood traced bizarre and eerie patterns across his body, making it clear that he was on the verge of activating a secret art to abandon the princess and flee.

(End of Chapter)