Volume 6 Chapter 89 Finally Unrestricted
Lucian and his troops had charged through the square on horseback, and for now, everything was going according to plan.
If they could take down Lionel here, it would deal a severe blow to the imperial morale.
And if they managed to launch a counteroffensive and seize the harbor, they could coordinate with the battleships that had evacuated to the high seas and sandwich the imperial fleet.
Prepared for the worst, they had positioned themselves on the slopes in front of the ramp.
In the direst scenario, they planned to fall back slowly and snipe Lionel from atop the cliffs.
Of course, there was no guarantee how well that would work.
But one thing was certain: this was the decisive moment.
With the roars and sounds of battle fading behind him, a man in black stepped forward from beside Lionel.
"There's no need for the general to move. I shall guide you all to your fate."
As the man's mask obscured his expression, Miranda drew her sword with a cold "Is that so..."
"Wait."
It was none other than Lionel who halted Miranda and the man in black.
"Kyle, step down."
"But..."
"Tedious. I'll go."
Lionel pushed Kyle aside and stepped forward, shouldering his halberd.
"If it's the real deal, even a shadow can only stall for so long at the Pass."
Lionel glared back at Kyle, who silently took a step back.
In truth, as Lionel had said, the Kyle here was not the man himself but a decoy.
Even if it were the real Kyle, facing Cedric or Miranda, the outcome was uncertain.
But with a mere decoy, the result was clear.
True, they could not avoid wearing down the enemy, but that would also hasten the empire's own depletion.
It was a waste of time, plain and simple.
As a decoy for Kyle, the goal was to maximize the damage to both sides, but there was a limit to how much one could endure being toyed with.
"We can't waste any more time. The damage to the unit will be too great."
Lionel slowly lowered himself into a stance, and Kyle silently followed suit, retreating.
Such was the overwhelming presence Lionel exuded.
In the crackling air, someone involuntarily swallowed their spit.
"Now then, who wishes to descend to the goddess's realm?"
"I'll go."
As Cedric drew his sword with a shocking declaration, Miranda and even Kyle, who should have been his enemy, stood there in stunned silence.
"Stop this, nobleman. Between you and the Sword Princess, she's probably stronger, right?"
Cedric nodded in agreement with Kyle's taunting words, but he didn't back down.
"If it's between Miranda and me, she'd win. But... somehow, if I think she might get hurt, I can't help but..."
Cedric smiled, acknowledging his ignorance, while Kyle sneered, "Trying to show off to the guy?"
"Shut up, fool."
Lionel's murderous intent made him quiet down.
If he dared to mock the warrior's──or rather, the man's──resolve any further, Lionel would kill him, friend or not.
Kyle silently stepped back a few paces.
"Such reckless interference."
"I'm not worried."
Cedric shook his head and readied his sword.
Lionel nodded approvingly, "Good eyes you have."
"I am Lionel. Commander of the First Unit in the Imperial Army, Lionel Dreyfuss."
"Cedric von Braubelg."
The tension between the two made the air crackle with electricity.
A drop of sweat trickled down Cedric's cheek and splashed onto the ground.
In that moment, Lionel launched an unexpectedly swift charge.
Closing the distance in a flash, Lionel's
footsteps pounded into the cobblestones.
The energy of his movement traveled from his feet, through his waist, and up his back to the tip of his arm.
The halberd he swung downward engulfed Cedric's field of vision.
It was as if the sky itself was falling.
The shadow engulfing the heavens descended upon Cedric without a moment to breathe.
The mere thought of dodging crossed Cedric's mind; he was undoubtedly a man of skill.
Before the plummeting sky, Cedric rolled away to avoid it.
Getting back up immediately, he saw a straight crack extending from where he had stood.
"Hmph. You dodged it."
Cedric's heartbeat raced like a tolling bell in front of the amused Lionel.
────He's a monster.
Miranda had once called Randy that, but the man now hoisting his halberd was truly a monster in Cedric's eyes.
"...Miranda."
Cedric's murmured name left Miranda speechless.
Just a single blow.
That strike Cedric unleashed crushed even Miranda's heart, though she wasn't facing him.
"Miranda!"
Cedric's voice boomed, cutting through the haze.
Startled, Miranda lifted her head, gripping her sword tightly... though,
"Get Father and Mother to safety!"
Miranda could only respond with a bewildered, "Huh?" to Cedric's words.
"I can hold them off for a few minutes. As long as Father and Mother are safe──and Liza too──Braubelg can be rebuilt."
With determined focus, Cedric raised his sword and charged at Lionel.
Lionel, surprisingly agile for his size, deftly dodged Cedric's rapid slashes, evading them by mere inches.
"Miranda! Hurry──"
Despite Cedric's relentless attacks, Lionel finally intercepted with his halberd.
"Nice technique."
Lionel, deflecting Cedric with ease, smirked, "You're too good to kill here." He rested his halberd on his shoulder again.
That strike he'd revealed earlier.
An overwhelming blow that felt like the sky was collapsing.
If it came down, Cedric wouldn't be able to dodge it now.
After all, he had twisted his ankle when it struck him earlier.
If he couldn't dodge... Cedric took a deep breath and steadied his sword.
"That's the spirit."
Whether countering or defending, Cedric stood firm before Lionel, and Lionel's voice rang out, filled with delight.
"Shall I ask your name one more time?"
"...Cedric von Braubelg."
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