Chapter 211 — Power Beyond Expectations

1

The ultimate strike.

What kind of mental fortitude does a person need to deliver a strike with their full power?

An ordinary person, a civilian, could never complete such a strike with their full strength.

The brain and muscles simply weren’t built that way.

Extreme training, and the spirit of sacrifice that disregards one’s own body.

Recklessness that never looks back.

These are what it takes to complete a strike with full power.

[Hooo…]

But look at that strike.

It could be called a strike that utilized all the potential of the human body.

Cantanti watched carefully.

The muscles of the living were no different from those of the dead.

Or more precisely, no different from those of an [Apostle].

He saw those muscles move vividly.

‘A warrior capable of such a strike. But my warrior won’t go down easily.’

[Kuuuuuu-!]

A warrior created by cramming in all sorts of knowledge.

What would their durability be like?

They were good enough to be recruited as a Patroller in the garden, even suitable to guard an Apostle directly.

Surely they couldn’t fall to such a strike…

[What?]

“Phew… Quite a satisfying opponent to hit.”

The warrior’s entire upper body had been blown away.

The one who was meant to become a Patroller had died instantly, their upper body severed in a single strike.

It seemed he wasn’t the only one surprised, as he could see his companions staring with wide eyes.

Eyes as if they were looking at a monster that defied causality.

Cantanti thought he had seen those eyes many times before somewhere.

Surely…

‘No, must be my imagination. This has become troublesome.’

That was a monster.

It would take quite a lot of time to deal with them.

He sifted through the knowledge accumulated within him.

Those chosen by the tower all had something in common.

‘Those who should have been arrogant became humble because of that one. So it wasn’t about wealth.’

Arrogance.

And conceit.

The specialness of being chosen.

A chosen people mentality.

These were common traits among the living.

After long research, he had uncovered the tower’s call.

The principle seemed surprisingly simple.

In fact, the principle Cantanti had constructed had held true until now.

But at this moment, doubts began to sprout about whether that principle was true.

A single variable.

Because of it, all plans could go awry.

“Next.”

[Sigh… The preparations I made have been ruined. Nothing to be done about it.]

He planned to withdraw his strategy.

He had intended to show the enemies the majesty of his warriors, but that was no longer possible…

He had no choice but to implement his backup plan.

Cantanti called forth the next warrior.

After watching this, Manus naturally passed the turn to Guillermo.

“Now it’s your turn to fight. You saw just now.”

“…You monster.”

“When you polish a single technique, you reach a level where ‘even knowing about it won’t help you counter it.’ That’s what I wanted to show.”

“Alright, I understand what you’re trying to say.”

Guillermo gripped his shield firmly.

The strike Manus had just demonstrated contained many implications.

A strike that held too much meaning to be called a simple punch.

It was a level that Guillermo himself needed to reach, becoming a clear goal for him.

As Guillermo looked at his next opponent, he recalled conversations he had overheard in passing.

[Sometimes I see him just practicing kicks and straight punches?]

[Come on, the great Manus? Must have seen wrong.]

Scenes of his peers chattering.

Was all that for a day like this?

Manus was someone who understood the essence of training.

At least that’s how Guillermo saw it.

People say humans cannot follow the royal road passed down through generations.

Getting up early every day to train, studying hard, maintaining proper mindset…

When even proper dieting is rare, how could someone do something even more demanding every day?

‘This is the mindset I should emulate.’

Guardians who use their bodies especially cannot afford to be lazy.

It would take daily bone-grinding effort to move forward.

And this desert colosseum was the perfect stage to realize that.

“I will learn from you.”

A sincere pledge from deep within Guillermo’s heart.

That pledge was enough to change the essence of the Buckley family that Guillermo would lead in the future.

[Interference detected.]

[Buckley’s mindset is strengthened.]

[Additional damage reduction +5%]

[Training efficiency greatly increased.]

Manus hid his considerable surprise.

There was no need to show amazement in front of everyone.

What caught his attention was none other than the ‘training efficiency.’

The fact that training efficiency would greatly increase going forward was quite encouraging.

Knowing results would flow in a good direction.

What could be a more effective driving force than that?

It was a good start.

While it was pleasing to receive recognition from the proud Buckley family, it was also encouraging that Guillermo had begun to grow on his own.

“Go win. Overwhelmingly.”

“Of course.”

His blonde hair fluttered in the sandy wind.

Though his hair was becoming increasingly disheveled, that only enhanced Guillermo’s charm.

The appearance of a soldier who had rolled through harsh battlefields.

A serious gaze.

Burning passion and determination.

Right now, Guillermo was trying to overcome a wall.

“Senior.”

“Shh.”

Kael noticed something wasn’t ordinary and called out to Manus.

Manus gently grabbed Kael’s wrist to silence her.

Guillermo must have received tremendous inspiration right now.

His concentration must also be at its peak.

If his immersion was broken in this state, it might take quite some time for such a feeling to return.

Quite some time meaning it might never come back in his lifetime.

‘Break out of your shell.’

Guillermo looked down at his shield.

A round, solid shield with thick edges.

Guardians referred to this shield as ‘the client’s life.’

Because it was a round shield mainly used by those who worked as bodyguards.

However, Guillermo thought he could do much more with this shield than expected.

When companions were caught off guard unexpectedly, or when one had to fight alone.

It made him think about what he could do with this shield.

‘Two methods, is it.’

First was wearing down the opponent’s stamina.

Making them tire through endless defense.

Second was using the shield as a means of attack.

Of course, it might not have great killing power.

Weaker than magic and duller than a sword, it could be called the weakest weapon.

But the shield definitely had its own advantages.

[Kuuu!]

This time’s demon took the form of a giant bear.

Though it emanated quite powerful energy, so what?

If he didn’t think about what came after, he could handle it sufficiently.

The match had already begun.

A duel that always started with the opponent’s first move.

There wasn’t even time to complain.

[A shield can create openings more safely than any weapon.]

[Remember! The reason Guardians only carry shields is because they can use techniques that unite offense and defense with just a shield!]

There were things he had heard in class.

Though most probably didn’t pay attention, the professor had definitely said that.

Whoosh-!

A massive front paw, an attack like a log being swung, came towards him.

He raised his shield and wrapped it in mana.

He weighted his lower body and firmly tensed his shoulders and arms.

[Deflecting isn’t about removing power!]

[Deflecting an attack means redirecting the opponent’s power with your own power.]

That’s why Guardians need to have powerful strength.

Because they must deflect any powerful attack with their own strength.

This time was no different.

He read the trajectory and direction of force.

Raise the shield and deflect.

Not a head-on collision, but like hitting a motorcycle from the side.

Once, he immediately used the rebound of the deflected force.

“Hnngh-!”

The edge of a shield really hurts when it hits.

Moreover, with mana control techniques, it can produce destructive power like a powerful chainsaw.

One of the Guardian’s combat methods.

The [In-fighter] style of combat revealed in the original work.

Guillermo, who had chosen one of the Guardian styles, dove inside the enemy’s reach with his shield.

Crack-!

A chilling sound rang out.

[Kuooooo-!]

With a painful scream, the bear-shaped demon launched wild attacks.

No need to react to attacks that won’t hit.

Guillermo’s concentration was sharper than ever before.

If something’s big, it has many openings, and if you add big attacks to that, it’s basically just a moving sandbag.

Avoiding incoming attacks, Guillermo continued to tear apart the enemy’s weak points.

It wasn’t as clean as Manus’s fighting.

“So this is a Guardian…”

“Those who fight most fiercely at the very front.”

There’s a saying that warriors strike the enemy’s rear while mages strike their weak points.

Guardians are those who must face enemies from all those directions.

It was a desperate but noble way of fighting.

Deflect and attack.

Block and attack.

Dodge and attack.

A simple but unforgiving ultra-close range battle that doesn’t allow even a moment’s carelessness.

‘I can see it.’

Guillermo approached defeating the enemy in his own way.

He could feel the wounds accumulating and the enemy’s movements becoming duller.

As this happened, Guillermo increasingly dominated the fight.

‘The battle I create is…’

He had heard that Guardians need to be good at number games.

Where was it from… Ah yes, probably from his family.

To draw out the enemy and seize victory, one must know how to wait.

A Guardian is one who protects, one who endures.

They said that after waiting, the opponent would eventually kneel before you.

Yes, that was right.

“Phew… This is the end now.”

His mind felt clear.

Years after taking up the shield to become a Guardian.

He felt like he could finally grasp the essence of it.

Crack-!

The rotating blade shield, which could be called his family’s secret technique.

The shield that could deflect and tear apart any weapon or armor shattered the demon’s mask.

The massive body scattered into dust.

Cantanti clicked his tongue and declared the end of the match.

[You’re all stronger than I expected.]

“Did you see that?! This is who we are!?”

“Please just stay quiet!”

[Huhu, this is amusing. Today was quite a good experience.]

There was still plenty of time left.

Cantanti didn’t rush.

After all, they would eventually kneel here.

[Do you plan to stop here for today?]

“Yes. See you next time.”

Manus nodded.

The exploratory battle was over.

When they return, they would face each other after fixing their shortcomings.

Manus thought he had stopped at the right time.

When they return next time, both sides would have achieved considerable combat enhancements.

Did Cantanti know everything happening outside?

If so, did he also know about the two full moons coming soon?

Manus planned to experiment.

‘If the minion and Apostle aren’t related entities…’

Why had the Apostles never once mentioned the minions?

Why had the Apostles never once come outside?

After actively exploring this world, there were countless questions.

That too, he would have to discover by actively investigating himself.

Watching his companions leave, Manus recalled their upcoming schedule.

It was time for their second boss battle.

–TL Notes–
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