THUD, THUD, THUD—
The arrows kept flying, and before long, the room was filled with flaming arrows.
The dry weather, combined with the building being made of wood, caused the flames spreading from the arrows to race through the structure.
“Damn it, it’s that bastard, right?”
“Probably?”
It had to be Barke, the very man they had just been talking about.
Mitchell frowned and hurried back to his room.
Flames were already rising there as well.
He quickly grabbed only his weapon and came back out, where he saw Grant and the twins fighting in the hallway.
“GAAH!”
Grant swiftly dealt with the enemies who rushed him and shouted toward Mitchell.
“We need to get out first! This place might collapse any second!”
Flames were raging throughout the building, which was creaking ominously.
Just as Grant said, it could collapse at any moment.
“Die!”
Yet the enemies seemed utterly unafraid as they continued charging up to the second floor.
‘Let’s see how long you can keep that up.’
Mitchell immediately unleashed the Incarnation Art.
The weakened Incarnation appeared.
But this was a battlefield.
There were already corpses around them, people killed by Grant and the twin guards.
Mitchell stretched a hand into the air, and the surrounding souls were drawn toward him.
Then he converted them into dark Aura.
SKREEEEEE—!
The souls began screaming.
His Aura Hole rapidly filled.
As Mitchell used the souls as kindling to raise his dark Aura, the Incarnation recovered its strength along with it.
“Ghk!”
Even the enemies who had been acting as though they knew no fear could not withstand the energy emitted by the Incarnation. They sucked in startled breaths and faltered.
‘These guys are stronger than the ones from last time.’
Lower-level martial artists would already have collapsed to the ground.
If Barke was already sending people like these at them, Mitchell was worried about what kind of enemies might be waiting outside.
But that was something to worry about after getting out of this collapsing building.
Mitchell charged toward the frozen enemies.
“D-Don’t block me!”
The enemies kept backing away, having completely forgotten their duty, until the men coming up behind them blocked their retreat.
Realizing there was nowhere left to run, they swung their swords, but Mitchell lightly knocked the blades aside and slashed across one man’s chest.
“Guhk!”
“Damn it! There really was a monster, just like we heard!”
The passageway was narrow, so Mitchell only had to face two enemies at most at any given time.
Thanks to that, dealing with enemies whose spirits had already been crushed by the Incarnation was easy.
Meanwhile, the twins watching from behind stared with their mouths hanging open.
“What in the world is that......?”
When they had first met Mitchell in the forest, they had been too busy breaking through the Rapel Family’s combined attack formation.
All they had learned after everything was over was that Mitchell’s help had broken the enemy formation and allowed Grant’s Heaven-Breaking Annihilation to display its proper power.
And at Rapel, they had arrived only after Mitchell had collapsed, so this was their first time seeing him fight properly.
Seeing their reactions, Grant became inexplicably proud.
“You shouldn’t be surprised already. That’s only the beginning.”
After saying that, Grant started moving again.
The twins hurried after him, and by then Mitchell had already passed through the first floor and was leaving through the inn’s entrance.
Once Mitchell and the others had all made it outside—
CRACK—
The entrance collapsed.
Cold sweat ran down their backs when they realized that if they had been even a little slower, they would have been roasted alive.
But it was not over.
The area outside was already filled with enemies, and Barke stood one step ahead of them, perfectly healthy and holding a sword.
“I had hoped to eliminate at least one of you. What a shame.”
“I’m disappointed too. I should’ve made sure you were dead back then.”
Barke’s face twisted at Grant’s words.
But soon, a distorted smile spread across his lips.
“You have no idea how pleased I was when I heard you had joined him. I had planned to capture that Mitchell bastard first, then take my time dealing with you.”
‘What, I was the target?’
Mitchell scratched his head, then tilted it to one side.
“So you thought I was a pushover?”
It was unclear why he interpreted it that way, but he was not exactly wrong.
Mitchell’s level of attainment was not particularly high.
Barke had roughly gauged his level when he knocked Mitchell away during their last encounter, so he was certain of it.
“You may use some unusual martial arts, but that is all.”
Martial arts effective against those of lower attainment, along with one devastating attack.
His subordinate had also told him that Mitchell had collapsed after using that powerful energy.
As long as he watched out for that, there should be no problem.
Barke had even prepared a countermeasure of his own.
“Attack.”
At Barke’s gesture, his subordinates charged all at once.
The situation instantly descended into a chaotic melee.
But the moment Mitchell unleashed the Incarnation Art, the enemies’ movements faltered.
Grant and the twins took advantage of that opening to prevent the enemy’s combined attack formation from being completed.
[Mitchell, I’ll take Barke. You hold off his men with the twins.]
Mitchell nodded at Grant’s voice transmission.
It was a reasonable plan.
Mitchell was more effective fighting numerous subordinates than facing a single expert.
But that plan encountered trouble before it could even begin.
WHOOSH—
A grappling hook suddenly flew toward Mitchell.
Mitchell hurriedly raised his sword and knocked aside the metal hook, but he could not stop the rope from wrapping around his body.
YANK—
His body was abruptly lifted into the air, and a moment later he was dragged outside the enemy encirclement.
Mitchell quickly cut the rope and righted himself.
Barke stood in front of him.
“I am your opponent.”
Mitchell bit his lip and glanced behind him.
With the Incarnation’s spiritual pressure gone, the enemies rapidly formed their combined attack formation.
Grant and the twins were trapped inside the formation that had been completed in an instant and could not easily break free.
Barke clearly intended to deal with Mitchell first before joining the others.
[It seems he really does think you are a pushover.]
“This isn’t the time for jokes! Can’t you see how serious this is?”
Barke frowned as he watched Mitchell snap back.
He had no idea who Mitchell was talking to.
“Has he gone mad? Well, it does not matter.”
Mad or not, all Barke had to do was capture him as ordered.
Barke raised his sword and charged at Mitchell.
A blade filled with powerful energy came rushing toward him.
Mitchell hurriedly leaned backward and avoided the attack.
But that was not the end of it.
Another slash immediately followed.
Every attack from Barke, a Grade 5 Aura User, was vicious.
[You will die if you keep this up.]
‘Then what am I supposed to do?!’
Mitchell was completely occupied with dodging.
If he opened his mouth even for a moment, it felt as though that sword would take his head off.
[Unleash everything you have.]
Mitchell rolled across the ground while turning Calian’s words over in his mind.
‘Everything I have?’
He did not know exactly what Calian meant.
While he was thinking, another sword strike came at him.
Mitchell hurriedly spread his legs, and the blade plunged between them.
Before Barke could launch his next attack, Mitchell planted one hand on the ground and kicked off.
His body rose into the air upside down.
Through his inverted vision, he saw Barke’s sword coming at him.
Mitchell pulled his own sword in and blocked.
CLANG—!
A powerful impact immediately slammed into Mitchell’s body.
He was sent flying and rolled across the ground again and again.
[Tsk, tsk. You idiot. I told you to use everything you have.]
“Then explain it so I can understand!”
[Every form of the Heaven-Breaking Sword compresses Sword Energy, allowing it to clash head-on even with the energy of someone stronger. Heaven-Breaking Annihilation is naturally the same. And have you not also learned a way to strengthen it?]
“Ah!”
Only then did Mitchell understand what Calian meant.
Everything he had been training until now.
Heaven-Breaking Annihilation, the Incarnation Art, Ghost Soul Steps, and the Forgotten Soul Movement Art.
Now was the time to use all of them.
Mitchell immediately unleashed the Incarnation Art, and the monster formed from souls appeared.
In that state, he infused souls into his sword.
The souls released horrible screams as they transformed into energy.
One, two, three.
As more and more souls were poured into the blade, they began trying to break free of his control.
HEH HEH HEH—
The strengthened energy of the souls mocked Mitchell.
It was as though they were laughing at him, asking whether he truly thought he could control them.
But Mitchell completely ignored their laughter.
Because he felt like he could.
“That is it!”
Barke’s expression hardened as he saw the energy gathered within Mitchell’s sword.
All he had to do was block that.
‘Then he will collapse on his own!’
Barke kicked off the ground and charged, but Mitchell had already opened the distance between them.
‘No!’
During their battle at Rapel, Mitchell had definitely been unable to use footwork.
And from what Barke had seen while following him all the way here, had Mitchell not only just begun learning it?
Yet Mitchell’s movements now looked remarkably convincing.
[Heh heh. As expected, you truly shine in actual combat.]
Calian laughed in delight at having his assumption proven correct, while Barke gritted his teeth at the unexpected development.
Barke charged again, but Mitchell used the Forgotten Soul Movement Art and slipped from Barke’s grasp like a ghost.
Barke was no easy opponent either.
He gathered a large amount of Aura into his legs, rapidly closed the distance, and swung powerful Sword Energy at Mitchell.
But—
CLANG—!
Combined with the force of the impact and the Forgotten Soul Movement Art, Mitchell’s body was launched far into the distance.
Sent sailing through the air, Mitchell eventually planted his feet firmly on the ground.
Now it was Ghost Soul Steps’ turn.
Mitchell stomped down and unleashed Ghost Soul Steps.
TAP, TAP, TAP—
Despite several days of effort, Ghost Soul Steps had still been difficult for him to perform properly.
Yet perhaps because his life was hanging by a thread, the movements now came naturally.
And as Aura began circulating throughout his entire body according to the principles of Ghost Soul Steps—
SKREEEEEE—!
A ghostly wail rang out.
When performed properly, Ghost Soul Steps supported and strengthened every martial art Mitchell used.
‘I can do it now!’
Mitchell continued concentrating as he performed Ghost Soul Steps.
With every step he took, the mocking laughter coming from his sword transformed into ghostly wails.
SKREEEEEEEE—!
At the spine-chilling sound, Barke, who had been about to chase after Mitchell again, felt his body freeze for an instant.
“Damn it......”
The energy he sensed from Mitchell’s sword was certainly powerful, but it should not have been strong enough to affect him.
Yet he still felt considerable pressure.
The principles of Ghost Soul Steps, controlling souls and shaking the spirit, had worked perfectly.
“You bastard!”
Barke shouted and forced himself to regain his composure before trying to move again.
But Mitchell had already brought the energy completely under control.
Now Barke had no choice but to defend.
He only had to block it once.
‘Then I can counterattack......!’
Just as that thought crossed his mind—
The monster hungering for life opened and snapped its maw, and when Mitchell raised his sword, it raised a sword as well.
Mitchell brought his arm down.
The monster did the same.
There was something in the diagonally descending sword strike that stirred primal fear.
Barke bit his lip and raised his sword to block Mitchell’s attack.
CRASH—!
With an explosive roar, both of them were sent flying.
“Ugh...... Truly incredible.”
But Barke was the only one who stood back up.
Bloodied from head to toe, he staggered over and stood before Mitchell.
His face was filled with fear.
It felt as though, given only a little more time, Mitchell’s talent would fully bloom and turn him into a monster.
The central noble backing Barke had ordered him to bring Mitchell in, but Barke feared what would happen once Mitchell grew even more.
If Mitchell continued growing and one day pointed his sword at Barke, his death would be certain.
Barke feared the central noble.
But the talent Mitchell had just displayed frightened him even more.
And so Barke raised his sword.
He would not feel safe unless he cut down the sprout here and now.
Just as he was about to drive the sword downward—
SQUELCH—
Mitchell’s right hand punched straight through Barke’s chest.
Barke’s eyes widened in disbelief, but he died without managing to utter a single word.
Mitchell shoved Barke’s lifeless body aside and stood up.
Then he looked toward Grant and the twins.
“Hmm...... I can only move for a short while. What hardships I endure because of my disciple. Tsk.”
Mitchell’s figure vanished.
A moment later, he appeared behind the combined attack formation.
“W-What?!”
One of the enemies recoiled at Mitchell’s sudden appearance.
Mitchell drove a fist into him.
The powerful blow twisted the man’s body, but he was not sent flying.
One of his hands was already caught in Mitchell’s grip.
Mitchell took the man’s sword from him and began compressing Sword Energy.
He unleashed the Heaven-Breaking Annihilation Mitchell had been training all this time.
But the energy compressed within it was so dense that it could not even be compared to anything Mitchell had used until now.
Then he swung the sword.
BOOM—! BOOM—! BOOM—!
The compressed Sword Energy flew out and erupted throughout the enemies’ ranks.
The combined attack formation collapsed in an instant.
Grant and the twins immediately plunged into the openings and cut the enemies down.
“Barke has fallen!”
“R-Run!”
Once the balance had tipped, it did not return.
After seeing that even Barke, the man leading them, was dead, the enemies panicked and began fleeing in terror.
Grant watched them rapidly disappear before coming to his senses and approaching Mitchell.
“Mitchell, are you okay?”
But Mitchell glared at the approaching Grant, then suddenly smacked him across the back of the head.
WHACK—!
Grant tried to block the next slap, but Mitchell’s hand slipped past like a ghost and struck the back of his head again and again.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
“What am I doing? What about you! How much have you neglected your training that you could not even break out of a paltry combined attack formation like that?!”
“W-Why are you talking like that too?”
“Tsk. What good is being born talented if you let it rot like this? From now on, focus solely on your training. Otherwise, do not expect so much as a drop of broth from me!”
After saying that, Mitchell suddenly collapsed.
Grant rubbed the aching back of his head and stared at Mitchell with a complicated expression.
Looking utterly aggrieved......