Tonight, the air above the Duke of Decaraznan’s mansion was thick with tension.
Warning magic rang out sharply from every direction—a clear indication that an intruder had broken through the powerful barriers surrounding the estate.
The alarm sent a shock through the duke’s knights, who could hardly believe what was happening.
For the past thousand years, only a handful of intruders had ever breached the defenses of the Duke of Decaraznan, one of the empire’s four great ducal houses.
The estate was heavily guarded by countless mages who constantly maintained its protective wards. Infiltration was near impossible.
Yet tonight, that myth of invincibility had been shattered.
The masked intruder dared to walk within the duke’s domain, defiling the grounds with a bold arrogance.
In one hand, he held a woman, limp in his grasp as if she were nothing more than a trophy.
“…Lady Cernard!”
A cry rang out as the knights recognized the woman.
It was Sarah Cernard, a guest of honor currently staying with the duke.
The mysterious assailant had gone so far as to abduct a powerless young woman—an act that sent rage through the hearts of those who witnessed it. If they allowed her to be taken, the Duke of Decaraznan’s honor would be irreparably stained.
“Strike!”
The knights launched a coordinated attack on the intruder, aiming from all sides—left, right, front, and rear. It was a flawless pincer assault, designed to leave no room for escape.
But it was useless.
The intruder’s skill was overwhelming.
In a blink, he unsheathed his sword with one hand and coiled it around the blade of the knight attacking his left like a snake.
Chireuk—
“…!”
The knight was stunned. The intruder’s sword had locked onto his own like a magnet. Before he could react, a whip-like kick struck his temple with pinpoint precision.
Quaang!
As the knight crumpled unconscious, the intruder flipped through the air, twisting his body twice mid-flight. A second later, the knights’ swords slashed through empty space.
Their perfect ambush had completely failed.
“Unbelievable!”
It didn’t stop there.
The intruder spun again, kicking off the air as if invisible footholds supported him. Then, his sword, pulled back like a drawn bow, surged forward like a beam of light.
Kwaang!
A brilliant streak of bluish light cut through the darkness.
A fierce gale followed in its wake, so powerful it knocked the knights off balance.
“Aagh!”
Unable to withstand the blast, the knights were flung away like rag dolls. Barely three seconds had passed since the attack began, but it was enough.
In that fleeting instant, every knight had been incapacitated.
The bystanders could only gasp in disbelief.
“…Could he have reached the realm of a Master?”
He had to have.
The radiant light from his blade was unmistakably an aura—an energy said to be wielded only by those who had transcended the limits of martial arts. Only now did the knights understand that the figure before them was a warrior of legendary caliber.
And yet, the intruder made no move to correct their assumption. Whether it truly was aura or something else, the energy he unleashed felt just as overwhelming.
“Don’t fall back! No matter his strength, he has defied Decaraznan itself! Remember—our honor is on the line!”
The knights hesitated, cowed by the intruder’s prowess. But a fierce voice rang out behind them.
The intruder turned and saw a woman in full armor, standing with blazing determination—Lady Noel von Decaraznan.
Lady Noel.
The intruder—Cain—sighed under his breath. He had hoped to escape the estate quickly. He hadn’t expected the knights to respond so fast… let alone that a royal would appear in person.
“…Cain…”
In his arms, Sarah stirred weakly, her voice barely a whisper. She shrank slightly as she met his gaze, anxiety flickering across her face.
Cain said nothing. He simply pulled her close and prepared to charge.
Shuk—
“Impudent! Don’t retreat!”
With that, Noel drew her sword and led the charge. Her presence reinvigorated the knights, who rallied behind her, blades raised once more.
“Hmph.”
Cain’s expression remained unmoved. Only a sigh escaped his lips, a sign of mild annoyance.
[Aria, back me up.]
With that thought, Cain lifted his sword. His gaze swept the weapons floating in the air before him as if they were mere obstacles.
Phage—!
The aura around his blade flared violently, erupting into flames. Then, with a single step forward, he sliced through the air. The enchanted weapons collapsed, cleaved cleanly in half.
‘Three from the left. Five from the right. Two behind.’
He didn’t need to look. The rhythm of the battlefield spoke to him through Flowing Star, revealing the enemy’s every move with perfect clarity.
Cain’s movements shifted.
Spinning clockwise on his right foot, he unleashed a sweeping slash. The force of his aura spread like a storm, filling the air with violent pressure. None of the knights understood what they were witnessing—it was Cain’s personal interpretation of the Crescent Moon technique.
Kirilling—
“Keugh!”
At just one move, which blended offense and defense seamlessly, the knights faltered, unable to withstand the sheer force of his energy.
‘Can’t miss the moment.’
Cain condensed his gathered flow and released it in a burst behind him.
A vortex of energy exploded, launching his body forward like a cannonball.
By the time the knights regained their senses, Cain was already upon them.