The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary

“Your power, it doesn’t just come from the skill of the sword, is it?” asked Escanor straightforwardly as he approached me.

“Of course it isn’t. Surely you must know that on the path of a warrior, a sword won’t be enough to survive. One needs a technique that goes beyond the ordinary…”

“…A sword technique? What do you call yours?” he asked.

“I discovered my skill technique once from a wandering nomad who I met in the forest.”

“A wandering nomad?”

“Yes…after the plague devoured the village for a while, I went out at night to try and find some kind of game for my family. During that time, I encountered a nomad who presented me with a chance to learn his teachings.”

“A lucky encounter. And what was the name of this nomad?” he asked.

“I didn’t know. After he gave me his teachings, he made me vow to keep his teachings sealed from world and only after I master his techniques can I pass on the techniques themselves. Once I made that vow, he vanished before me like a ghost.”

“Hmm…although it may sound bizarre, similar stories do happen throughout the world.” said Reginald.

“Yes indeed…hidden masters and the like, but what do you call the teachings he left behind?”

“The Tempest Blades of the Gale.”

“Tempest?…the name itself invokes a connection to control the wind…I see. So your technique is affiliated with controlling wind through your swordsmanship.”

“Yes…”

In truth, this wasn’t far off of what actually happened in the past.

Although I didn’t met a wandering nomad, I did encounter an old book found in the cave with writings instructing that once I have learned and mastered the teachings, only then could I pass on the arts. But even after I mastered it, I never found anyone capable enough to meet my expectations then. What was left next to the book was the dead bones of the man who created the Tempest Blades of the Gale.

“If that is the case, then you gave us hints to your power. Its intriguing…bery intriguing indeed.” said Escanor.

“Now then, Theodore, you really did impress me with how grand your attack was. With that said, I guess its decided that in a few days from now, we’ll be making our way to the city.”

“Thank you brother!” as Theodore stood with a proud face, his brother and sisters, congratulated him.

“You did it! You finally get to go to the academy!” said Theresa as she embraced Theodore tightly.

“Good job brother!” said Thalia.

“Your magic was amazing brother!! It was so cool!” said Tilly as she looked so amazed.

Everyone cheered for his success. And with that out of the way, I had another set of expectations to fulfill.

“Now then, how shall we begin with this little exercise?” I asked as I turned to Escanor.

“Hmm, it would be great if I could take a chance at it first, but my wife had suggested this to me before I could propose the idea. So if you would like, please have a spar with my wife first.” said Escanor.

And from it, Eliana walked to the yard, carrying nothing but a sword on her waist.

“I see, if that’s the case, then I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations.” I said.

“Since this is a serious bout, I prefer that you do not hold your punches against me. Even if our status differ from one another, look to me as a warrior and nothing else.” said Eliana as she brought out her sword before.

Feeling doubtful, I looked to Evelyn and her family to see if I should take Eliana’s advice to heart.

And all they could do on their end was nod at me.

“O-okay…if that’s the case, can you tell me what sort of personality do you present in battle?” I asked.

“What do you mean by that?” she asked in return.

“Are you a rough fighter or are you cool-headed? Because if you’re wondering, I’m quite a rough fighter myself.” I said.

“I see…if that’s the case, I’ve trained in the sword in an orthodox manner.” she said.

“Hmm, okay then.”

“Here Thill, use one of our swords.” said Escanor as he tossed to me a plain sword.

We both were using the same quality of weapons. Yet even such mediocre quality, we both knew that it was enough to take each other’s life.

The moment I was able to raise my sword, I looked to Eliana with the same cold gae I would bring in a battle.

“…”

“…You’re eyes…no, not just your eyes…your entire presence has changed.” said Eliana.

“Tell me Miss Eliana, have you ever encountered a mercenary before?” I asked.

“…I did. Many times on the road.” she said.

“And what do you think of them compared to an adventurer?”

“I can’t really say much. Adventurers and Mercenaries aren’t that different. The only thing that differentiates the two is the personality of each occupation. To my knowledge, Mercenaries are more rougher than Adventurers. They are not afraid to take the lives of the people they were tasked to take.”

“…Hmm, if that’s the case, think of this encounter as if you’re facing off against a mercenary tasked to take your life.”

“What? What does that mean?” she asked.

“It simply means that I’m out for the kill.”

“…fine, and I’m here to defend myself.”

The moment silence was brought upon in the yard, I could feel her gaze as she scanned me from all directions I could make. We were both at the 3^rd stage of the pure core… in strength, we were similar, but what about experience?

Without saying a word, we both simultaneously dashed towards each other. And the moment we both clashed in with our swords, I came to experience her skill.

She was just as strong as I was…her speed however was considerably higher than mine, but I wasn’t worried. At our clash, we both stood in the moment to try and overwhelm the other, but we were at a standstill, so I pushed her away.

But before I could, she herself leaped backward in a backflip, and the moment her legs touched the ground, she launched herself at me in a graceful manner.

Dancing Flower – [Thorn Technique]

In this skill, she then attacked me in a whip-like fashion.

Even with how short her sword was, the way she moved her body, how she extended her arm out to attack me, it was as if she was three times lengthier in reach.

Because of how I tried to push her then, and how she pulled away, I was instead making my way down to her direction forcefully. I had to quickly evade her attacks before she could skewer me…but from the way she was perfectly positioned, even if I were to somehow push myself away from her direction, her attack would still reach me.

So instead of running away, I met her attack full on. I embraced her attack.

“Haaaaa!!!”

I parried, I leaned back, I crouched forward and I parried again.

Over and over, I continued to try to go against her sword skill.

For what only lasted ten seconds, she was able to create 100 thrust with her swords.

And what came to touch my flesh were only two thrust.

The moment she ended her attacks, it gave me the chance to perservere.

‘Chance!’

On her 101th thrust, she was starting to tire out. Her shoulders were starting to wear down as her speed was starting decline.

At that moment, when she pulled her arm back to thrust again, I met her forward with my own thrust.

‘!?’ she knew instantly that in this moment, she would be dealt with a serious injury, so she abandoned her attack and pulled herself back again.

“Khk!” she leaped back and gave herself some space.

From here she was worn out. With heavy breaths taken, her sweat dripped down to her shoulders.

“Haa…haa…haa…only twice…I only struck you twice.” she said with a glare on her eyes.

“haa…haa…” and I too was out of breathe.

“What…what kind of man are you to be able to dodge that many thrusts from me?”

“A…a capable one.” I said as I finally was able to gain back my breathing.

“Fuck…you’re something else, you know that?”

“…” without letting her catch her breathe any longer, I dashed in again and this time, I came with the intent to kill.

‘!?’ she instantly felt my killing intent once again, which made her jerk and raise her sword.

With a left downswing, I dug my legs deep on the ground and swung up into the air hard.

She managed to block my attack, but I could tell from her reaction that she felt the heavy force of my swing.

‘I-its heavy?!’

The force of my swing was so strong, it forced her off the ground and into the air.

Which in anyone’s knowledge, was my domain.

Mobility Technique – [Gust Step]

Finding herself up in the air, I lunged myself forward.

And with my sword pointed to her direction, I thrusted hard to try and pierce her heart, but even with my attempts, she was able to block me yet again with her sword.

*Ting!*

Our blades, coated in the essence of the pure core, clashed and metal rang in the air.

“Tsk!” I clicked my tongue out of annoyance…

And yet, I smiled.

And she smiled back.

Because of how my attack failed, she gained the chance to fight back again.

The moment we pushed ourselves away from one another, she started to fall down to the ground. I tried to chase her by gathering a force of wind down on my legs, lunging myself down again. But the moment I did, she had a grin on her face when we came to see eye to eye.

Dancing Flower – [Red Rose Mystique]

Out from when she parried me away, out from the distance of her falling…

A red aura suddenly coated her blade.

And I felt danger from it…

“…” but I didn’t worry.

Advanced Technique – [Cyclone Edge]

Instead of fearing for my life, I instead spun my body like a twister and continued falling down to her. I gathered the wind on my blade and attacked.

The moment she touched the ground, I followed through by barraging her with slashes down her way, but in return she slashed up into the open air, and what came from her attack was a red slashing blade that appeared from her sword and made its way to me.

The red slash came to meet me head on, but I didn’t falter.

And at that moment, I clashed against her attack.

With my wind slashes raining down on the red slash alone, I continued to pummel it with my attacks…

Down and down again, shattering it little by little until finally, I broke through.

“!?” Eliana what stunned.

Her red slash was broken through and from it, I came about with my sword aiming down at her.

We both crashed to one another and caused for debris to scatter, blinding the battle for anyone to see…

But once it dissipated, it was seen that I stood over her victoriously.

My sword was plunged down to the ground, beside her neck.

And she was seen admitting defeat.

“…You got me.” she said.

“Well, it was a close call.” I said as I pulled myself away and helped her get back up.

“No, you won…you overwhelmed me. Even with my Thorn technique, I barely did anything to you. You dodged and weaved with extreme precision…and to my rose technique, you shattered it…no one aside from my husband has ever broken my rose technique before.”

“Are you frustrated that you couldn’t win?” I asked.

“…A little.”

“Well, if that’s the case, then do your best next time. I’ll be here in the village, always willing to take you on.”

“Hmm, Okay then…next time, I’ll win.” she said.

With my victory placed, I turned my face to the audience.

“So, what do you think?” I asked as I looked at Escanor.

“Incredible, you two were neck and neck…but something tells me you have many more to show.”

“Of course…now if you’re willing, I’m ready to take you on!”

“And how are we going to go about it? I’m clearly a level higher than you, so should I limit my strengths?” he asked.

“No, I wouldn’t want to let you down simply because you’re holding yourself back for me. Try your all…and in return, I’ll do my best.” I asked as I raised my sword against Escanor.

“Good…show me the same resolve you showed to my wife!” as he spoke with determination, he emmited an aura of pure golden light.

“Gladly!” and I showed a similar aura with the willingness to crush and gain victory.

There was no rest for the challenged. I’m always willing so that my thirst for combat is quenched.

“A-are you sure you want to continue Thill?” asked Evelyn.

“I’m always up for a challenge. Even if its risky, I want to face it head on Evelyn, so don’t worry about me…just watch me do my best.” I said with a confident smile.

“Spoken like a true warrior! Good, lets get this started!” as Escanor screamed, he rushed in forward and I came about swinging my sword.

But the moment we both clashed weapons, my sword broke.

*TING!*

And from his force alone, I was pushed back far all the way to the property wall.

*Thud!*

“Khk!”

Escanor was powerful…more powerful than I could have imagined. In one swing of his sword alone, I was pushed back to a wall.

If I assumed it right, he must be at the breaking point of the 5^th stage of the pure core. He’s reaching the 6^th stage.

The sheer gap between our pure core alone was massive. He was far superior to me in his strength and speed…the essence of his sword when he coated it with his pure core was simply a hundred times more denser and stronger than mine.

But a superior stage of the pure core isn’t enough to crush me or demote my motivation.

I could not let go of the broken blade even when it was shattered to bits. I had to fight…

It was simply my way of saying that nothing, not even an overwhelmed enemy, could go against my desire to win.

As I stood back up with my back touching the wall, I charged back in yet again with the innitiative to overwhelm him in other matters.

Speed and strength were not available to my options, but either way, I still had to move my body.

Dashing in, I raised my leg to perform a kick aimed to crush his side, but he in turn came about with meeting me with his own leg to counter my attack.

Our legs met again and we both clashed. And the moment we did, I instantly felt the pain of my leg being nearly broken from this single attack.

I had to pull back and gain some space…

‘He’s not fighting…he’s just testing me.’ I thought.

Although I wasn’t necessarily angry about it, I felt annoyed.

This entire spar was simply a test to their curiosity.

If that’s what they want, then I’ll fulfill their curiosity!

The moment I moved again, he decided to move as well.

For every act I make, he wasn’t taking the initiative, he was waiting for me to take action and he would meet it halfway with his own counter.

This man…he’s expecting something.

If that’s what he wants, then lets play his game.

Bringing out my broken sword, what was left of it was only but a quarter of its blade. It was nothing more than a misfit of a knife.

But even still, it was enough.

Intermediate Technique – [Whispering Gale]

This was the kill where I used on the dragon to chip on its flesh. For every strike I make, the stronger my slashes become.

And the moment we clashed again, I didn’t falter.

I increased the essence of my blade with my pure core to its maximum, and when we clashed, my blade didn’t break.

We clashed with one another…

Crossing swords with the speed barely following the present mind.

*Ting!*

With how my speed was considerably lacking compared to his, I could see that he was matching my speed as I continuously pummeled down on him…

But soon, I could feel it…

He was starting to notice that each of my strikes were getting heavier.

‘His power…it’s increasing!’

Soon enough, on our 237^th clash of swords, I was finally able to overwhelm enough to parry his sword out of his hands.

The sword was thrown into the air….and it landed to the side.

“.…Incredible.” he said as a smile was present on his face.

“I could say the same thing to you…you haven’t even used anything against me. You were just matching my strength.”

“Hmm, indeed. I was simply curious.” he said.

“Well don’t be, I want to see a clear victor in this fight…” I said.

“Really?” he asked.

“…Yes, I don’t want you to be hesitating for my sake, I don’t want to feel like I haven’t given it my all…and the same goes for you!”

“…”

“Lets do this…lets give it our all!” I said

And from it, I manifested my second strongest skill…

“Ultimate Precision Technique – [Tempest Fang!!]”

And from my announcement, I gathered every strength I had in my body and core…

Gathering it all…I mustered a great tornado into my broken blade…

And from it, I compressed it down to a sharp edge. It turned itself into a blade made of wind.

But as I showed this skill, I quickly noticed my limits.

“GHk!” I struggled…with my current strength, I could barely manage this skill for a minute. I had to use it fast…it was ripping off my skin and flesh like clay against a metal string.

“Going all out are we?” said Escanor.

“Well, I want to win!” I said in rage.

I was ready to unleash this power down on Escanor with no breaks to consider, but before I could swing my word, Reginald walked up to the center of our battle and raised his hand.

“Enough! You’ve gone too far Thill!” said Reginald as he showed an angered expression.

And that’s when I realized…

I looked to the audience and saw that Tilly and Little Emilia were seen with tears in their eyes.

“!?”

Quickly, I stopped myself from releasing my attack and I lost all strength in my arm.

“I…I’m sorry.” I said as I fell to my knees.

“You got carried away boy…” said Reginald as he approached me.

“I…I got to caught up in the fight.” I admitted my wrongs.

“I’m sorry as well, it seems I was affected by his spirit and determination in the fight.” said Escanor as he walked with a calm, toned down presence.

“Hmm, its fine. But you need to apologize to them.”

Feeling guilty, I walked up to the people and bowed my head in apology.

“I’m sorry…I forgot about the people watching.” I said.

“Its okay boy, you’ve put on quite a show for us today.” said Edith as she assured me with a smile on her face.

“I promise to make up for this mistake.”

“You have nothing to make up for, you’ve only did what you thought as a warrior would think. To do his best.” said Escanor as he approached from the back and puts his hand on my shoulder in a kind gesture.

“Yes, my husband is right.” said Eliana.

“You’ve outdid yourself Thill…I never thought that you would be able to disarm my brother with his sword.” said Rosker.

“I’m thankful that you enjoyed our battle. But if sir Escanor were to go all out from the start, I wouldn’t have a chance against him.” I said.

“Hmm, either way, for someone of your age, you’re doing well.” said Escanor.

“Thank you for the compliment, sir Escanor.”

After my apology, we said our goodbyes and went home.

It was a fulfilling day. Compared to my usual training done in the forest, this was more progressive to my growth as a person. I will surely take note of this day…