Chapter 111: Hunting and Slaughter, Part 2

The throwing knife stuck in the back of his neck entered along the cervical spine, with the hilt disappearing completely. The trachea was severed instantly, and blood bubbles bubbled up from his mouth.

Clearly, with such injuries, there was absolutely no possibility of survival.

“Who is it? Come out!”

Facing the brutally killed subordinate, Carl immediately abandoned the Snow Bear. He roared while cautiously scanning the surroundings.

The remaining two Defendi Territory fighters, whose strength was close to that of a Knight, were exhausted. However, unlike before, they did not lean on their knees panting for breath. Instead, they stood their ground, backs to each other, watching the surroundings—obviously, their rich combat experience told them what to do.

Of course, knowing what to do and actually being able to do it were two completely different things.

Whoosh!

Another sound of blades cutting through the air came, faster and stronger than before.

Ah! Ah!

Two screams of agony rang out almost simultaneously.

A bloody hole appeared in the throat of the first Defendi Territory fighter, while the second one seemed to have been struck in the back of the neck by a throwing knife, just like the previous victim.

Except that the previous weapon was a throwing knife, while the current one was an arrow.

A short arrow, but one with extremely strong penetrating power.

“Hah!”

Carl did not let the death of two more subordinates distract him. The moment the arrow appeared, he lunged toward the direction from which it was shot.

Although the area was somewhat dark and his vision could not see clearly there, the direction of the arrow was enough for him to know that the attacker was there—

“Die!”

After closing the distance, Carl clearly saw a figure moving in front of him.

He raised his Longsword high.

Carl prepared to use maximum strength to chop the attacker in front of him into two halves.

However, the next moment, Carl’s charging momentum paused; because he had clearly seen the other person’s face—Dean Ken!

The strong young Regiment Commander of Tier Territory!

The scenes from before surfaced again in Carl’s mind, dealing a huge blow to his unstoppable momentum. Even the high-raised Longsword felt somewhat heavy in his hand.

Undoubtedly, the flaws of being a Mercenary had appeared again.

A true Knight would not retreat a single step even if they knew they were inferior.

They would defend their dignity and honor with their lives.

But Mercenaries were different; they had long become used to ‘retreating’.

The reason Carl did not turn and flee immediately was partly because of his change in identity. He had gone from a Mercenary to a Knight in the Defendi Territory, making him hesitate on how to explain himself to the Lord of the Defendi Territory and his direct superior if he fled.

The other reason was that Carl did not believe he could escape in front of Dean.

In fact, if Carl had been confident he could escape in front of Dean, he would have turned and run immediately—after all, with his Knight-rank strength, he would never lack food or livelihood wherever he went.

“Come, if you can withstand three of my sword strikes, I will spare you!”

Dean watched the hesitant Carl in front of him and waved his hand.

“It’s a promise!”

Carl’s face showed a flash of joy, and the next moment, he loudly confirmed it.

“I guarantee it with the honor of a Knight!”

Dean answered like that.

“Ha!”

The moment Dean’s guarantee left his mouth, Carl’s already raised Longsword struck down heavily. Without any hesitation, Carl activated his Knight Talent, [Power Burst].

Woo!

The sound of the Longsword cutting through the air undoubtedly proved the strength gained from the increased Momentum of Might.

Dean did not dodge, nor did he retreat. He simply drew his sword upward, and the two Longswords collided—

Clang!

The sound of metal striking echoed—

[Strength Judgment in progress…]

[Momentum of Might Lv1 bonus acquired…]

[Strength Judgment passed]

[Strength did not exceed the opponent by 20%, unable to form a suppression…]

In the judgment voice of the System, Dean’s Longsword and the opponent’s Longsword reached a stalemate. Although Dean was still the one with the advantage, he could not form an overwhelming advantage.

“About 2.6 Strength, then?”

Dean judged the opponent’s current Strength in his heart.

On the other side, Carl was overjoyed—because he found that the opponent’s Strength was not as powerful as imagined. Although it was still stronger than his own, relying on such Strength, it was obviously impossible for Dean to kill him within three sword strikes.

The opponent was overconfident!

Such a thought emerged in Carl’s mind—obviously, Carl had guessed that Dean should be proficient in Agility; after all, Dean’s figure fit this guess well.

Then, impatiently, Carl retreated a step and swung his Longsword in his hand with force again.

Carl had decided that he absolutely could not let Dean bring out his advantages. He had to complete the agreement of the opponent’s three sword strikes before Dean adjusted.

Watching the Longsword swinging toward him, Dean quickly changed the move of [Dragon Swordsmanship]—

[Dragon Swordsmanship: Move replacement…]

[Momentum of Might Lv1: Cancel]

[Indomitable Lv1: Add]

Then, the Longsword was swung out as before—

Clang!

[Strength Judgment in progress…]

[Indomitable Lv1 bonus acquired…]

[Strength Judgment passed]

[Strength exceeds the opponent by 20%, forming suppression…]

Creak…

The Strength that Carl had previously felt was not very advantageous for Dean now firmly pressed down his Longsword, pushing it toward his forehead.

“This, how is this possible?!”

Carl cried out in disbelief in his heart.

Obviously, he could not understand how Dean, who was only slightly stronger than him before, could instantly exceed so much.

Thud!

Watching the increasingly close Longsword, Carl fell directly backward, rolling on the ground. After rolling for more than ten feet, he stood up miserably.

He looked at Dean with shock and suspicion.

However, the next moment, he gritted his teeth again, took a running start, and seemed to be about to swing his sword with all his might—anyone seeing this scene would think that Carl hoped to use the power of inertia to survive this sword strike.

After all, this was already the third sword strike. As long as he survived it, he would be safe.

However, Dean secretly sneered in his heart. Based on his understanding of Mercenary personalities, he did not believe Carl would have the courage to risk everything like this—

“Aaaargh!!”

With this slightly crazy roar, Carl raised his Longsword in his hand high again.

But the next moment, this Longsword flew out of his hand, flying straight toward Dean.

And Carl, just as Dean had predicted, turned and ran.

Shing!

Dean’s Longsword deflected the Longsword thrown by the other person, and he simply watched the other person flee miserably—since Dean had already anticipated the behavior the opponent might exhibit.

Naturally, there would be arrangements.

Simply put, even if Carl did not throw the Longsword in his hand to block Dean.

Dean would not have chased Carl.

But all of this, Carl did not know.

He only knew that he needed to keep running, and he had to be faster, otherwise, he would lose his life.

Carl paid all his attention to behind him, worried that Dean would chase him. But contrary to his expectations, the other person did not take action.

“Spare me?”

Carl thought like that. However, the moment this thought appeared, he felt severe pain in his legs. Then, he heard a crisp sound—

Snap!

Crack!

“Aaaah!!”

Carl looked down at the familiar bear trap. The next moment, the broken leg made him cry out in agony.

The bear trap was naturally placed by Dean.

Carl’s group had moved at a turtle’s speed, which was enough for Dean to make complete preparations. In fact, the direction in which Dean had previously appeared was also considered.

After all, he needed to calculate the route where Carl might flee.

Only by calculating the opponent’s escape route could he set up a useful trap.

Of course, the so-called ‘three sword strikes’ agreement mentioned earlier was also part of this—because Dean knew that after being frustrated in the first two sword strikes, the opponent would absolutely not swing the third sword.

If the opponent really had such courage, Dean would undoubtedly respect him and give him the opportunity to die honorably in battle.

As for letting the opponent leave?

Dean had long abandoned such childish thoughts.

If he were in the other’s position, the opponent would not do that.

Therefore, Dean could not do that either.

After all, the enemy is the enemy, and a dead enemy is the best enemy.

Carl, who had lost a lower leg, wailed and rolled on the ground. When Dean walked up slowly, he temporarily stopped wailing and faced Dean, trying to beg for Dean’s mercy.

However, before the words could leave his mouth, Dean’s Longsword had already swung first.

[XP+25]

A complete Knight-rank worth of experience appeared on Dean’s character panel, plus the 15 XP provided by the three previous Guards who were close to Knight-rank.

Dean now possessed 238 XP.

The XP for [Dragon Swordsmanship Lv2 → Lv3] was obviously enough.

Without hesitation, Dean opened his character panel—

[Upgrade Dragon Swordsmanship level? Yes/No]

“Yes!”

[Dragon Swordsmanship Lv2 → Lv3]

[Dragon Swordsmanship upgraded to an odd level, can upgrade original move levels…]

[Upgrade? Yes/No]

Looking at the final prompt, Dean did not make a choice immediately.

In fact, Dean found it difficult to choose between [Momentum of Might Lv1] and [Indomitable Lv1].

Moreover, facing the new moves of the next level [Dragon Swordsmanship], Dean also had a hint of expectation.

After all, according to Dean’s memories from his previous life, the [Dragon Swordsmanship] of the Goth Prince reached this level—the Flame on the blade was sufficient to make the enemy feel extreme heat and pain!