The Indomitable Martial King

Carsus’s blade clanged repeatedly against Yubel’s shield, echoing with the sound of metal. Carsus shouted,

“Are you just going to hide behind your shield? You disgrace to knights!”

Indeed, it was difficult to overpower someone with swordsmanship alone if they were turtled up behind a shield like that. However, no proper knight would ever adopt such a stance. Although the sword could be blocked, simply applying weight and pushing would cause them to fall over immediately.

As he approached, Carsus body-slammed Yubel’s shield. Common sense dictated that Yubel should have fallen backward…

“Hmph!”

Yubel pushed Carsus back with another shield strike. Despite Carsus charging with his full body weight, Yubel, standing in place, had superior strength. Carsus, flung back again, shook his head with an incredulous expression.

“How can you be so strong?”

“I played with Finia since I was little.”

Yubel met Finia when he was seven. His mother had brought a wild dwarf maiden from the royal court to serve as his nanny. As she raised young Yubel, Finia taught him various tricks and games, mostly things she did as a warrior in her own childhood.

Dwarf children play with weapons from a young age, hitting trees and rocks for fun. These weapons, though made of wood, had the strength and weight to rival real ones.

The people of the royal court thought Yubel was just playing with toy swords and axes, but for young Yubel, it was quite a harsh ordeal. Nevertheless, young Yubel accepted it calmly, thinking, ‘Ah, play also requires strength. That’s why Father mutters such things when he comes out of other mothers’ rooms every night.’

It’s like the assassin training where one plants a seed and jumps over it daily as it grows to improve leaping power. After spending ten years with Finia, Yubel naturally gained such formidable strength. Since his strength was measured by Finia’s standards, Yubel never realized he was exceptionally strong.

“I only found out I was strong after this war started. Before that, everyone just thought they were going easy on me because I’m a prince.”

Carsus clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“It’s not just that you’re strong…”

It wasn’t just strength; the fact that Yubel could push him back in that stance meant his lower body was incredibly strong. Lower body training is fundamental for warriors, but few do it properly. Could it be that Yubel had diligently trained as a knight from the basics?

Yubel shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, to share a bed with Finia, lower body training is essential… Even though she looks like that, she has a habit of hugging people tightly when she gets excited. To avoid throwing out my back, I did deadlifts and squats like crazy every day.”

“Yubel, sir!”

Finia, who had been watching the duel, screamed with a beet-red face. Exposing such privacy at such a critical moment! What on earth was he talking about!

Fortunately, everyone was too absorbed in the miracle(?) happening before their eyes to care about the nightly activities of the two lovers. Carsus let out a helpless smile.

“Indeed, you must have something to rely on to come out like this.”

In an instant, his eyes blazed.

“But that alone is not enough!”

Carsus stepped forward and unleashed a furious flurry of sword strikes. From all directions, sharp blades twisted like whips, aiming at Yubel. Yubel defended with his shield and swung his sword with all his might. However, despite his strength, his skill was far inferior to Carsus’s. He could defend, but he couldn’t land a hit on Carsus. On the other hand, Carsus gradually understood Yubel’s fighting style and began to respond accordingly.

Yubel’s martial arts were taught by Finia, essentially the techniques of a dwarf warrior. For a human body, the center of gravity was too high to follow effectively. While he could manage when crouching and defending, the transition to attack was too slow.

“Grr!”

After a few shield bashes, Carsus seemed to have read his timing perfectly and dodged right away. The title of “knight among knights” was not given lightly. As time passed, Carsus quickly figured out Yubel’s weaknesses and easily pressured him.

“Did you think you could face a knight with just this? How laughable!”

Even though Carsus was in an overwhelmingly advantageous position, he never lost his fighting spirit. Yubel continued to block with his shield, clicking his tongue in frustration.

‘Damn, I’m definitely losing. I thought things were going too well in the beginning.’

Hiding behind his shield, Yubel shot a glance at Repenhardt. The message in his eyes was simple enough for Repenhardt to understand easily.

‘Help me!’

‘O.K!’

Responding with a nod, Repenhardt pushed off the ground and sprang forward.

“The prince is in danger!”

Radiating a dazzling golden aura, Repenhardt instantly positioned himself between the two. Yubel sighed in relief and chuckled inwardly.

‘Wow, he actually used that line.’

Carsus, whose duel was interrupted, swung his sword in fury.

“Interfering in a sacred duel! And you still call yourself an honorable Fist King?”

“In our martial sect, we don’t care much for honor.”

Repenhardt responded indifferently and immediately launched his attack. Yubel blocked the sword with his shield, but Repenhardt’s entire body was a shield. Carsus’s elaborate swordsmanship thrust and slashed at him, but it was all in vain, bouncing off harmlessly. Without being awakened to aura, Carsus had no way to defeat Repenhardt.

Carsus ground his teeth and let out a cry of frustration.

“Damn it!”

“Hiyah!”

With a shout, Repenhardt thrust his fist forward. A golden aura burst out like a curtain, striking Carsus. The radiant light filled the hall.

Swoosh!

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Everyone shielded their eyes and turned away from the intense flash, groaning. Simultaneously, a thunderous sound echoed through the hall.

Boom!

When the people finally opened their eyes again, Carsus was nowhere to be seen. Only the shattered wall of the hall and the proudly standing Repenhardt holding something remained.

Repenhardt raised what he held high. It was a severed human head. Though drenched in blood, the distinctive blonde hair and wide-open green eyes clearly indicated whose head it was.

“I have beheaded the traitor Carsus!”

Yubel slowly walked to the center of the hall. As he walked, he took a ring from his pocket, displaying the royal seal, and commanded Repenhardt as king.

“Impale the traitor’s head!”

“As you command.”

Repenhardt replied respectfully. As Yubel passed him, he took out a golden crown from his waist. Count Feonin swiftly approached, took the crown, and placed it on Yubel’s head.

Wearing the crown and the ring, Yubel stood alone in the sacred hall of Brastina. Finia cried out in exultation.

“Praise the birth of the new king!”

Everyone knelt and cheered for Yubel.

“Hail to the king! Our king!”

Thus, Yubel II was born as the new king of the Kingdom of Crovence.

The civil war in the Kingdom of Crovence quickly spread across the entire continent. Everyone had anticipated Prince Yubel’s defeat, making his victory all the more astonishing. The remarkable news spread widely, and people everywhere gossiped about it. Given that Yubel had been a subject of much discussion even as a prince, the interest was immense.

And that news gave birth to another hero.

The Fist King, Repenhardt.

Having defeated the Golden Knight of Graim, he suddenly appeared in the Kingdom of Crovence and ended the civil war. They said he led the war to victory by commanding the various races with astonishing prowess. People could not hide their amazement at the sight of orcs, dwarves, and elves behaving beyond common sense on the battlefield, even if they were skeptical.

Repenhardt’s presence was so overwhelming that the fact he used magic was not well known. In fact, Repenhardt seldom displayed proper magic in front of people, only wearing a robe. Perhaps he only used it when confronting the giant woman, Christine, who had come looking for Sillan? Because of this, people believed the Fist King had subdued the other races with his sheer martial power alone.

The rumors even reached Teslon, who was staying in the Kingdom of Graim.

“Demon King Repenhardt! Has he already regained that much power?”

Teslon ground his teeth, smashing the table. He had not yet fully recovered his strength, but that wicked Demon King had already begun his actions. Feeling anxious, Teslon bit his nails.

“Damn it, King Carsus has passed away.”

Teslon felt a deep gloom as he recalled the benevolent and wise King Carsus of Crovence from his past life. The wise and tactically brilliant King Carsus had been the most reliable ally in opposing the Dark Empire. Until the end, when they finally defeated the Demon King, King Carsus’s advice had been invaluable. Yet now, he had been killed by the Demon King before he even had a chance to shine.

“That despicable fiend! Does he plan to eliminate all his adversaries before they even sprout?”

Feeling that if he delayed any longer, his precious allies of the future would all be dead, Teslon’s chest tightened with frustration. He trembled and took deep breaths. In the past, it was difficult to calm down no matter how hard he tried, but perhaps due to the cold nature of Repenhardt’s body, his mind soon cleared as he steadied himself.

“Whew…”

Teslon exhaled deeply, contemplating the upcoming events.

‘For now, it seems the Demon King hasn’t fully regained his strength.’

There were no rumors about Fist King Repenhardt using magic in the current hearsay. Teslon was well aware of the reputation his martial arts sect, Gym Unbreakable, held. If the notoriously simple-minded Fist King were to wield magic, it would be impossible for such news not to spread.

‘That means there’s a high possibility Repenhardt hasn’t recovered his high-level magic yet.’

Yes, it wasn’t too late. There was still an opportunity.

While Teslon was deep in thought, the door to the reception room opened, and two men entered. They were Eusus von Tenes, the Golden Knight, and Stefan, the Knight of Firmness.

Eusus burst out in anger towards Teslon.

“Sir Teslon! Have you heard the rumors?”

Teslon nodded. However, what Eusus mentioned wasn’t about Repenhardt.

“Russ isn’t dead! Not only that, but he defeated Sir Spirius in the Crovence Kingdom!”

Repenhardt wasn’t the only one who gained fame from the Crovence civil war. There were also widespread rumors about the young genius swordsman, Cyrus, who awakened his aura in his late twenties.

While common folk were more interested in the Fist King’s rumors, knights and nobles were more intrigued by Russ. How immensely would someone who could defeat Sir Spirius at that young age grow in the future? Moreover, Russ didn’t have a definite lord yet. Any household that could take him under their wing would instantly rise two or three ranks.

For Eusus, already tormented by feelings of inferiority towards Russ, this was infuriating.

“That filthy commoner blood! Rumors about that bastard have even reached my ears! And now he’s stuck to Repenhardt? A traitor! Commoner blood can’t be trusted!”

Despite having stabbed himself in the stomach, Eusus was denouncing Russ as a traitor. His personality had changed quite a bit. However, Eusus was serious.

“If you truly understand honor and feel any gratitude towards the Tenes family, you should come back immediately, offer your neck, and beg for forgiveness!”

Teslon looked at Eusus in disbelief. Being on the same side, he couldn’t say much, but honestly, there had never been such an outrageous case of the pot calling the kettle black.

‘Man, that guy didn’t used to be like this.’

When he first met Eusus as the Silver Sage, he was an excellent knight who took pride in his family and understood honor. Seeing Eusus change like this left a bitter taste in his mouth.

‘But anyway, as long as he’s opposing Repenhardt, he’s a trustworthy ally.’

Next to Eusus, Stefan was also grinding his teeth.

“Repenhardt!”

Stefan, who had been a handsome and lively young man despite his arrogance, now had a rather sinister appearance. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, which gleamed with murderous intent. Teslon asked him,

“Stefan, are you getting used to the Berserker Armor?”

Stefan, exuding a murderous aura, responded,

“All that remains is to confront him. Sir Teslon!”

Teslon nodded. He had delayed, thinking it was still too early and that they needed to gather more strength, but with the Demon King already taking action, they couldn’t wait any longer. They had to act before even reclaiming the power of magic.

“The time for action has come.”

Resolving himself, Teslon raised his right hand.

Wooong!

A yellowish aura enveloped his hand. Compared to the golden aura of Gym Unbreakable that Teslon once had, this yellow aura seemed dull and even dark. It was the current power he had barely managed to recreate, recalling the enlightenment and level of his previous life, as he no longer had the body of Gym Unbreakable.

‘Yes, even now, I am not weak.’

Teslon looked at the two knights and said,

“Everyone, prepare for the journey.”

Eusus gulped with a tense expression. Stefan, excited, asked,

“Are we finally setting out?”

“Yes. To kill Repenhardt!”