A hush once again descended on the clearing.
Neither Izma nor the aristocrats, not even Nero, could believe their eyes. None of them were sure that they could’ve defended themselves against such a swift and terrible attack. A Technique that had been specially created to penetrate even the strongest defense.
Hadjar, however, knew that while a sword could pierce even the strongest shield, it would always get stuck in thick, annoying mud. One didn’t have to use brute force every time.
It was hard to look directly at Oneg: the energy swirling around him was like a fierce whirlwind, echoing the storm of negative emotions rising up in his soul.
“Falling Leaves!”
He slashed down and a hurricane blew in. Sharp steel leaves fell from the sky right onto Hadjar’s head. They rained down as rapidly as diving hawks. The closer they got, the clearer it became that these were several hundred saber blades.
Hadjar looked up at them, completely ignoring Oneg. He understood that this Technique was a simple diversion. In any case, that’s how he would’ve used it. For the aristocrat, however, activating this Technique required all of his concentration and effort. Apparently, the founder of the ‘Falling Leaf’ school had created it while being at least at the level of a Heaven Knight.
Hadjar waved his hand calmly and elegantly, as if greeting someone or giving them directions. Without any Techniques or stances, the grass swayed and hundreds of blades — copies of Moon Beam — soared into the sky.
They clashed with the sabers and the battle began. Its deadly rampage was beautiful, but fleeting. After a few seconds, the sky stilled — the steel leaves disappeared, and Oneg, breathing heavily, was wiping sweat off his forehead.
Hadjar didn’t unsheathe his blade.
Even if he was fighting against a disciple of the ‘Falling Leaf’ school... How did this school on the outskirts of the Empire differ from ‘The Black Gates’ sect? Only by its status and by having access to more rare resources.
“And my father wanted me to study there!” Nero sighed with a chuckle.
Apparently, that statement was the last straw for Oneg. Swearing, he rolled up his sleeves and slashed his saber across his wrist. The blood poured over the blade, but never fell to the ground. It seemed to get absorbed by it, creating more and more new patterns.
“Autumn Leaf Fall!”
Izma chuckled. Using that stance, Oneg had won the title of the best disciple at the Earth Rank in the entire border town. Admittedly, it was the lowest of the four Ranks, but still.
He swung his saber around and the mad dance of a dozen crimson leaf-sabers sprang up around him. Once again, Oneg pushed off the ground. This time, he wasn’t a shadow or a lightning bolt, just a leaf floating in the wind. Such a strong and sharp aura of power emanated from him that it slashed the ground itself, the cut grass rising into the air.
Hadjar nodded to himself. It would’ve been very strange if a disciple of an Imperial, albeit provincial, school hadn’t been able to force him to unsheathe his blade. A nobleman, no less.
Chapter 205
Oneg stopped in front of his enemy. Using the force of his inertia, he slashed at Hadjar’s neck. At the same time, a dozen scarlet sabers rushed at Hadjar from different directions. They surrounded him in a sphere of blades. With every heartbeat, they closed in and Oneg’s saber came closer to Hadjar’s neck.
To mortal people, it all looked faster than a swallow’s flight. Hadjar, as well as the other aristocrats, managed to examine Oneg’s movements in detail. Following the path of cultivation, they’d improved not only their bodies, but also their minds, which became faster and sharper with each new step they took. It was the only way they could fight at the speeds available to strong practitioners.
After taking Moon Beam out of its sheath, Hadjar deflected Oneg’s blade, and then moved so gracefully that it seemed like he wasn’t even touching the ground. At that moment, he looked like the feather of a raven or a black morning mist. He slid along the grass in a zigzag pattern, leaving no trail behind him. He easily dodged all the sabers. As he was sailing between them, he kept his eyes on the young nobleman. If his past failures had enraged Oneg, this one would surely provoke him even more.
The aristocrat saw his opponent retreating and the predator instinct to play with one’s prey awoke in him. His saber gleamed scarlet like a beastly fang. A saber lacked a sword’s agility and flexibility, but made up for it with cruelty and lethality. A sword was a weapon made for battle. The swift and merciless saber was intended for killing.
Oneg, using his great speed, struck down with a brutal slash. The air whistled under the onslaught of the saber. A dozen steel leaves appeared again. Eleven of the blades hit Hadjar’s head at once. They were faster than he could dodge. They were stronger than the best of Lidus’ shields could withstand.
Hadjar froze and a dark fog seemed to envelop him. The ordinary people and weak practitioners could only see his body and calm blue eyes. The Mad General seemed unconcerned about the lethal attack his opponent had just used against him. Moon Beam shone with steel light and Hadjar raised it in a hard block.
Thunder rang out and sparks like lightning pierced the night sky. The wave of energy created by the collision of the blades threw several cooks and maids to the ground. A wind rose up and fanned the fire, which forced some hunters to close their eyes and cover their faces with their hands.
Standing firm, Hadjar calmly kept all of the eleven sabers at bay. Shallow cracks spread across the ground under his feet. Not a single drop of sweat or blood marred his serene expression.
Oneg, snarling, tried
