Chapter 293: Act 69: Brand’s Swordsmanship (Part 3)

“You are indeed qualified to duel me.” As soon as the word “duel” left his lips, the giant sword in Bujia’s hand was already swinging down like a silver streak from above his head. The distance between him and Brand was about ten meters, seeming both distant and close — but in an instant, the massive sword blade was already above Brand’s head.

Brand didn’t need to lift his head to realize how dangerous this strike was. It was as if a thousand miles of mountains and rivers were collapsing above him, thunderous and overwhelming; the sword had not even arrived, yet its momentum had already seized the moment.

This strike held at least the uppermost power of the Golden Rank, but unlike the same Golden Rank Test’s sharp sword, Bujia’s sword was heavy, and once he struck, it made one feel insignificant and inescapable.

Brand had experienced such a sword before, though not firsthand, but the experience of such an avalanche-like momentum was exactly the same as this time.

He simply closed his eyes and raised his sword above his head, forming a solid line of defense from his forehead to his shoulders to his left arm — This was the most advanced blocking technique in the Erune Military Swordsmanship (Erune Military Swordsmanship Level 9), and Brand hoped that this defensive move, which had an efficiency of more than twenty-seven percent in past games, would work as expected — when facing Bujia’s giant sword, one must remain calm.

The giant sword fell, the clash of swords producing a shower of dazzling sparks. The metal emitted a lamenting screech as Brand’s Fine Steel Longsword bent backward as much as it could.

But just before it reached its limit, the young man continuously adjusted the strength in his hands, but Bujia’s sword, like a giant rock bearing down, exerted unstoppable might that penetrated inch by inch into his arms along his sword. He quickly found himself with no way out, with no escape possible.

There was no retreat.

Brand’s thoughts flashed like lightning as his understanding of the warrior profession surfaced. More like an instinctive reaction, he leaned back and slid slightly to the side — Bujia’s giant sword immediately missed and struck the ground with a ‘chi’ sound, causing five planks to collapse simultaneously, and in an instant, shattered fragments flew like butterflies.

Bujia hadn’t used his full strength, and Brand suddenly realized this. This future Great Sword Master had exposed his hand with his first strike. Bujia had already unlocked his Element; his Element was ‘Earth,’ with a fairly high Tier, otherwise, it would be impossible to comprehend such vast limitless Sword Intent.

Brand thought about this while gasping for breath.

The hall had completely fallen silent.

Although everything that had just happened was fleeting, almost no one had clearly seen the exchange. But they saw the two separate, and Brand did not seem to suffer much, causing the exclamations that had reached their lips to be stifled, momentarily uncertain of what to say.

A strike with seventy percent of Bujia’s strength was actually dodged by a Swordsman of only the Black Iron Upper Rank. What was going on? Those mercenaries who deemed themselves of similar strength to Brand couldn’t help but put themselves in his place and think about what they could do under such an attack.

It seemed they would only close their eyes and await death.

“That strike just now, it seemed the Deputy Commander used at least seventy percent of his strength, right?”

“Yes… Was it just luck?”

“Such skillful swordsmanship. How could it be.”

Whispers began to circulate among the crowd, and the onlookers exchanged varied expressions and glances. But the two combatants did not hear any of it; Bujia let out a ‘hmm’ and looked at Brand up and down in surprise, not hurriedly pulling his giant sword from the floor.

At first, he thought Brand was just a slightly talented young man, but having seen countless prodigies like Ecco in the squad, he didn’t think much of others. But now, Bujia discovered that this young man before him was not simple at all.

That sliding motion earlier was obviously a profound technique.

Bujia was not mistaken; Brand’s technique came from the long-lost swordsmanship of the Fallen Elves — the movement technique in the Shadow Sword, a swordsmanship that emphasized dexterity and agility, with a doctrine of attacking without defending. Thus, Brand used it against Bujia, which was most suitable.

Unfortunately, Brand did not dare to hope for that set of swordsmanship now. Based on past game experience, the timeline of Vorn should now be the game’s first chapter ‘The Empire of All Beginnings,’ which talks about the rise of Madara, and the excavation of the Ancient Documents would have to wait until the third chapter, ‘Ancient Heritage,’ when those Ancient Swordsmanships would reappear.