CHAPTER 189
The two ice spears pressed in on the ghost knight.
Though the ghost knight, with its superior skill, managed to deflect one spear, the other ice spear quickly filled the gap, disrupting its rhythm.
The trajectories of the two ice spears were so different that even the ghost knight struggled to predict them.
It was as if it were facing two Elrics at once.
『If one spear doesn't work, you use two? Such a simple strategy.』
[If I can't apply advanced techniques, I have to improvise, right?]
Mephistopheles found Elric's approach ridiculous.
But he couldn't deny its effectiveness.
Though it seemed like something a child might come up with, Elric was making it work.
Thanks to his natural intelligence and knack for calculations, Elric had already mastered triple casting. Now, he was applying the same principle to spear combat.
With his right ice spear, he executed aggressive first-form strikes, while his left ice spear carried out defensive fourth-form techniques.
He meticulously calculated the points where these forms would intersect, making sure the two spears worked together seamlessly.
As a result, not only did the two spears serve distinct roles, but their combined efforts created a synergy that diversified his tactics and strengthened his offense.
And most importantly...
Slash!
"How about this?"
The trajectory of the ice spear was eerily familiar.
The ghost knight stared at the fresh wound on its left shoulder.
The flickering blue flames in its eyes showed signs of discomfort.
And it was no wonder.
The spinning thrust attack Elric had just used was a technique the ghost knight had used against him mere moments ago.
"Annoying, isn't it, having your own move used against you?"
Elric grinned, wiggling his fingers provocatively, mimicking the taunt the ghost knight had used when it first knocked him down.
Whoosh!
The blue flames in the ghost knight's eyes flared violently, and it launched itself at Elric with even greater speed.
Swish, swish, swish!
The spear's faster-than-ever movements streaked through the air.
'I can see it. No, I can feel it. I know where it's going.'
Elric now felt exhilarated.
The patterns of force he perceived with his Mind's Eye were still incredibly complex, but they were no longer unreadable.
'It feels like none of the movements are repeating, but they are. It's
Even though the ghost knight had broken down and reassembled the technique in its own style, its foundation was still rooted in
This meant that Elric could recognize the pattern and decode the algorithm by drawing on the existing data of
For Elric, hacking a system was as natural as breathing.
Once he understood the structure, it wasn't hard to copy it and make it his own.
Yes.
Elric was now attempting to imitate the ghost knight's combat style.
'If it's too hard to counter, just copy it!'
Only a genius with Elric's intellect and talent could even think of such a thing.
Of course, this was only possible because he had a foundation in
That was why Mephistopheles could only watch in disbelief.
And now that Elric had also mastered Magic Martial Art and Body Strengthening Art, the copied techniques were even more powerful.
Bang! Bang!
Each thrust, slash, strike, pull, and push was executed with the seamless integration of the Body Strengthening Art.
With two spears working in tandem, the ghost knight's movements began to falter.
Thud!
One spear pierced the ghost knight's right thigh, pinning it in place.
Clang!
The other spear deflected the incoming attack.
And then—
Thud!
Elric charged at the ghost knight, ramming his shoulder into its chest. The force lifted the ghost knight into the air before it crashed to the ground. It quickly tried to get up, but—
"Where do you think you're going?"
Elric's ice spear was already at the ghost knight's forehead.
The ghost knight hesitated. If it moved even a fraction more, the spear would pierce through its skull.
The two flickering blue flames locked onto Elric.
This time, there was no mockery or defiance in its gaze.
Just calm acceptance.
No emotional turmoil, but Elric could sense it.
The ghost knight, which had previously disregarded him, was finally acknowledging him.
Warriors speak with strength.
And Elric had won through sheer force.
"Got anything to say?"
The ghost knight shook its head from side to side.
It means accepting the outcome of the match.
Without exchanging a single word, the loyalty oath had been sealed.
At that moment—
Click, click!
Whoosh!
Elric felt something locked into place within his heart, like a connection being forcibly forged.
He could also see a red line extending from his heart to the ghost knight before him.
Even though it was invisible to others, Elric understood that this was the bond of loyalty now tying the ghost knight to him.
He had felt something similar when he first accepted the other guardians, but this time it was different.
The connection felt thicker, stronger.
And he had a sense that if he followed that red line, he could read everything about the ghost knight's soul.
He had finally earned true recognition as the owner.
'Looks like I'll need to do this with the others too.'
Elric smiled, satisfied that his approach had worked.
Just then—
「You did it.」
"…!"
Elric was startled. He quickly looked around.
『What's wrong?』 Mephistopheles tilted his head in confusion.
"Didn't you hear that?"
『Hear what?』
"Someone just spoke to me!"
『Who?』
Mephistopheles looked genuinely perplexed.
Elric was about to explain when—
「Well done.」
The voice sounded warm, full of affectionate pride.
Elric instantly recognized who it was.
'Grandfather…!'
It could have sounded like Otto Han's voice or perhaps the voice of an ancestor embedded in the magical amulet, but Elric was certain.
It was the voice of Usdun Melvinger.
'So it was Grandfather's arrangement all along…!'
Elric had suspected as much, especially after seeing Usdun's influence in the Temple of Flowers.
And it seemed the same was true here.
'Wait, does this mean…?'
For a moment, Elric wondered if the missing connection to "Spring" might also be related to Usdun.
It was just a guess, but it didn't seem impossible.
'Maybe Grandfather wants me to fully master "Winter" before moving on?'
Though he couldn't be sure of the exact reason, Elric suddenly felt a sense of clarity about what he needed to do.
『Your face went from shock, to sadness, to happiness. Did some nonsense get into your head?』
Mephistopheles was staring at Elric's face, finding his shifting expressions strange.
He even leaned in close, as if concerned that Elric might be ill.
"Mephi."
『What? You seem fine if you can talk—wait!』
"Your breath stinks. Could you step back a bit?"
『You brat!』
Mephistopheles' face contorted in irritation, but Elric ignored him and withdrew the ice spear still pointed at the ghost knight's forehead.
"Next up…!"
He was about to summon the next ghost knight when—
Whoosh!
Suddenly, the kneeling ghost knight reignited its defiant flames and lunged at him.
Elric quickly grasped the bottom of his ice spear and swung it vertically.
Slash!
The ice spear cut a clean line from the ghost knight's lower abdomen to its right shoulder.
As its strength faded, a slight smile appeared on the ghost knight's face.
Poof!
It dissolved into dust and scattered, merging once again with Elric's shadow.
"Damn it. Why did it do that?"
The ghost knight had sworn its loyalty, but it still attacked the moment it saw an opening. And yet, it smiled as if satisfied before disappearing.
Was it a warning not to lower his guard? Or a final test of his abilities?
Elric's good mood deflated.
『I think I know why.』
"What's the reason?"
『Isn't it obvious? That knight served Melvinger.』
"..."
『In the Melvinger family, betrayal is a virtue. Of course!』
Mephistopheles crossed his arms and nodded as if this was all perfectly reasonable.
Elric had no response.
Even if he had something to say, he knew Mephistopheles would twist it, so he just turned his head away.
"Next one, [Come forth!]"
Whoosh!
Another shadow rose, and a new ghost knight appeared.
This one wielded a massive claymore, much like the one Sagnard had used.
Elric summoned an ice sword instead of a spear, pointing it toward the new knight.
He intended to subdue each guardian one by one and have them all swear loyalty.
***
'Has it already been ten days?'
Brian sighed as he counted the days since they had entered the mountain territory of the barbarian tribes with the Star's Legion.
He had somehow become responsible for overseeing the legion, but he was starting to reach his limit.
'It's manageable for now, but if this drags on, it could become a problem.'
The situation was frustrating.
Although the Star's Legion and the barbarians had stayed clear of each other, there was always the looming danger that the tribe could report their presence to other tribes.
Regularly sending scouts to monitor the situation hadn't brought any good news either.
'The Red Lion army and the barbarians have already started invading Imperial territory.'
'The crown prince is preparing a counteroffensive, but it looks grim.'
'Conscription has begun throughout the eastern provinces.'
The entire region was in turmoil, and the Star's Legion was like a ship lost at sea.
Brian had kept the soldiers in line, but it was getting harder.
They needed a breakthrough.
Something to unite and strengthen the soldiers.
That was when Elric called him over and handed him a set of manuals. Brian was astonished.
Elric was offering to teach the soldiers valuable techniques that any magician or martial artist would crave. Skills so powerful they could turn an army into an unstoppable force.
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