บท 77: Breaking The First Limit (1)
"Huff..."
Sebastian made the first move. If he were to wait around, he'd be surrounded and eventually lose. He had to attack first and break through their formation.
He stabbed the nearest person's shoulder and then swung his staff to the side and hit someone in the head. Two opponents were immediately eliminated.
Tak tak tak
Several of the weapons struck the ground Sebastian had stood on as he leaped back. With the increased distance between him and his opponents, Sebastian planned to take down a few more but two figures dashed toward him before he could.
Elliot and Gerald. The two opponents that had put up the most fight among the class.
With their combined attacks of a sword and a staff, even Sebastian found it difficult to parry.
"Haaa!
Gerald charged forward while Elliot guarded him from behind.
"Hup—"
Sebastian hit the sword by the hilt which stopped its advance, then he moved to the side to avoid Elliot's staff.
"!"
Sebastian's eyes opened wide as several weapons all made their way near his face. He crouched and threw his staff at one of the students with enough force to send them flying and took the sword from his back.
His opponents got too close for him to effectively use his staff. If this were a real battle, he would've used the staff even if they were closer but this was a match he couldn't afford to get hit in even once.
TAK TAK TAK
Sebastian dodged the incoming attacks and eliminated several more opponents but more quickly came to take their place and Sebastian was surrounded.
"..."
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. A moment later, he opened them and took a sword his opponent dropped with his other hand.
"Scorching—Blade Dance!"
He was going to use Scorching Dance but renamed it in fear that he would subconsciously use flames.
Though this technique typically used two daggers, two wooden short swords weren't as heavy as real swords and he could successfully execute his technique well.
TAK TAK TAK TAK TAK
Sebastian danced with his swords. None of his opponents could anticipate his movements with the strange footwork that he used.
"Everyone, back away!"
Gerald warned the rest of the students. By now, only half of the class had been left untouched by Sebastian's swords.
Maria and Elliot paired together and sought to corner Sebastian.
'He has good instincts.'
Sebastian looked at Gerald in surprise. His Blade Dance was effective only if he had opponents to attack. If he were to run out of targets, he would be forced to stop his footwork.
'But, it isn't enough.'
Sebastian kicked the ground. He moved so fast that it looked like he had teleported in the eyes of the others.
"Blade Cleave."
"AGH!"
"AHHH!"
Several of the students were blown away like lifeless dolls. Sebastian appeared behind their previous spot and looked back.
He had quickly broken through their encirclement.
No matter how talented a leader is, in the face of absolute power coupled with lacking subordinates, nary is there a chance for them to shine.
With his move just now, there was only a little more than a quarter of the class left standing.
'But I can't be complacent.'
Just a single mistake would mean his downfall.
Sebastian looked around. There were a few swordsmen and those who wielded the quarterstaff left. Though there were a few others who wielded miscellaneous weapons, he didn't deem them as much of a threat.
That didn't mean he could ignore them, however.
'I'll go for the strongest ones first!'
Sebastian moved. At the same time, Elliot, Maria, Gerald, and their group moved as well.
With the two groups clashing head on, the leftover members of the class decided to do a pincer attack.
"Blade Dance."
Mid-charge, Sebastian changed his footwork. Elliot and the others paused for an instant and Sebastian took advantage of that opening. He wasn't using his technique at all.
"Ugh..."
Maria was eliminated first. She had thought Elliot who was beside her would be attacked first.
"Ha!"
Elliot swung his staff and Sebastian blocked it. Sebastian turned his head and saw Gerald coming over to attack him and blocked it as well.
With both his hands occupied, the rest of the remaining students tried to strike but Sebastian was faster.
He crouched and struck their legs. Elliot and Gerald begrudgingly moved away so they wouldn't hinder the battle.
From there, the rest of the match could be predicted. Sebastian eliminated the rest of the class swiftly and achieved victory.
"It was a good match."
"...yeah."
Sebastian approached Gerald after Maria and Elliot. Though most of the class was depressed because of the loss, they weren't dissatisfied.
"It's rare to see someone stay so calm and collected without any battle experience, are you aiming to become a knight?"
"A knight captain. But, seeing how big the gap between us is, the future doesn't look very bright."
Sebastian handed him some water and sat next to him on the ground.
"There's more to being a knight than strength."
If Sebastian didn't use his stigma to strengthen his body, then he would've lost after eliminating a few. He wouldn't have been able to stand against all of them like he did earlier.
"But strength plays a big role."
"That's true, but what would a leader with all brawn and no brains be able to do in a battlefield?"
"..."
Gerald didn't find any words to retort and stayed silent.
"Well, just don't beat yourself up over it. I was surprised when you saw through my technique even though it was just the first time. Paired with Elliot over there, you two would make a great duo."
"Hm? Could it be that you don't know?"
"Know what?"
"Elliot's big brother is the captain of the knights. Not just that, it's even rumored that he's the strongest knight captain in history. Elliot joining the knights is practically certain."
"???"
That was news to him. Well, he didn't really have any reason to ask.
"Hey, if we were allowed to use abilities and the conditions for victory isn't a hit, but a knockout, would we stand more of a chance?"
Sebastian looked up to the sky and closed his eyes. He was simulating it. After a few moments, he spoke.
"No. While I don't know most of the abilities in class, I doubt there'd be any who can stand up to my abilities."
It was a blunt truth but Sebastian didn't want to give him false hope.
"I see."
Instead of being depressed, Gerald seemed more motivated.
"You'll have to leave soon but one day, if and when you return here, would you honor me with another duel?"
"Sure, anytime."
With that, the number of duel proposals that Sebastian received increased to six. And, real proposals to marriage stayed at four.
...
Sebastian had used that battle to polish his skills. He limited himself and won even then.
'Can I beat them now?'
While defeating the Lightning Spear in his current state was nothing short of a pipe dream, he couldn't say the same for the assassin.
Sebastian passed through a weapon shop and raised his chin.
"I should buy some short swords."
Daggers were great for mobility but holding the two swords earlier felt like his power had increased sharply. Then again, it wasn't exactly common to be lugging around two short swords in dual wielding, there were better swords specifically designed for such a purpose.
Sebastian stayed at the shop's outside for a few minutes before leaving. He would have Pine make him swords once he returned.
Currently, he was waiting for Amy's class to end. He would go home with them in the carriage as planned. But, Sebastian had a whole period to wait and decided to roam around outside instead.
"I guess sweets would be good."
Sebastian made a beeline to the bakery to buy some sweets but stopped when he heard a commotion in an alley.
"Give us the money!"
"Please! It's for my sick daughter!"
With the noise in the streets, normal people wouldn't be able to pick up on the sounds but Sebastian could.
He delayed the idea of buying sweets and went straight to the alley.
"Please!"
"Just give it up lady!"
"Just hit her and she'll let go!"
"You fellows should stop."
Sebastian appeared at the end of the alley and called out to them.
"Hah? Don't interfere kid, you aren't related to this."
"Don't try being a hero or you'll get hurt."
There were three of them in total. The bulky man with a scar below his eye seemed to be the leader. One of them held a knife and the other had a weapon hidden as well.
Sebastian ignored their threats and walked towards them.
"Tsk. Spots, deal with him."
The bulky man ordered the one holding a knife, Spots.
"Got it."
Spots approached Sebastian while licking the knife's body in an attempt to intimidate him.
"Kid, you don't know who you're messing with—"
BOOM
Sebastian swung his arm to the side and slammed Spots' head into the wall.
"..."
The three remaining people in the alley were struck dumb. If the two thugs were to steal the lady's pouch right now, she wouldn't be able to react due to the shock.
"Get out of here before you end up like him."
"D-don't fool with me!"
The other man hiding a weapon lunged at Sebastian in desperation but if he would allow that attack, how much of a fool would he be?
Sebastian dodged to the side and kicked the man. The man folded in half as he crashed into the wall.
"You fighting too?"
"N-no!"
The bulky man wasn't an idiot. If at first, it was a coincidence, now, he was certain. The boy in front of him is an Inheritor!
"Take them and get the hell out of here before I call the guards."
"Yes!"
The bulky man ran past Sebastian and tried to take the two out of the walls.
Sebastian turned his back to him and helped the woman up.
"Are you okay?"
"Y-yes... Thank you for saving me, how can I repay you?"
"There's no need. Just be sure to take care of your daughter."
"Thank you... thank you..."
The woman sobbed. After a while, she managed to steady herself and thanked Sebastian once more before walking away.
"That was unexpected."
"I think it's more unexpected to be attacked by assassins in broad daylight."
"Don't say that, we've come back especially for you, after all."
Sebastian turned around. Three figures wearing cloaks stood by the alley's entrance. Two of them were the ones he had met that night and the last one was the one who talked.
"Are you ready to die?"
"You think you're able to contest against the House of Sol now?"
"We've been given to go sign."
Sebastian shrugged and pulled out his dual daggers and prepared.
"Scorching Dance."
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