The Indomitable Martial King

[ Chapter 23 ]

Steel-like fighting spirit flared like rough flames encased in golden aura, while the Grelbeast’s entire body exploded with demonic energy. The demon roared out a challenge.

“Kara!”

“I don’t know what that means, but let’s just fight!”

Repenhardt charged forward as he shouted back, with the Grelbeast bulging his muscles in response, charging as well. Like two robust bulls clashing in a test of strength, a human and a demon began exchanging frenzied blows.

Stefan watched the scene before him with a dazed expression, overwhelmed by pain so intense he felt he might lose consciousness at any moment, yet he couldn’t faint.

“Ah…”

A lowly savage was battling a demon. He was effortlessly blocking the demon’s fearsome attacks that had easily defeated him, diving in with amazing agility to deliver cunning strikes continuously. Each hit was lethal, making the demon scream with every impact.

That nobody was shining with a golden light, incomparably better than his own noble lineage.

Wrapped in a dazzling, beautiful brilliance, the coveted light of destruction every swordsman and martial artist desires.

“An aura…”

His face was a mix of emptiness and shock.

An unknown commoner, of low birth and no renown, was fighting a demon using the power of an aura, something even he, a noble of nobles, had not yet manifested.

“What is this…”

It felt like the world was crumbling around him.

“It can’t be…”

Everything he had believed in seemed like a lie.

Everyone had said he would be the next great knight commander for the kingdom. That he could be the fourth aura user in the Vasily Kingdom. Everyone had said it, and Stefan had believed it too.

He was to be the powerful successor of a great lineage.

Yet here was a monster, of similar age, easily wielding an aura with astonishing might. The power was tremendous; it seemed he would not be outmatched even by Sir Talion, the captain of the royal knights.

Confusion reigned. His mind was in turmoil, wanting to scream in madness.

What exactly was this creature?

Where did such a being come from?

Exactly what was this monster, displaying such incredible skill at his age?

Amidst shock and despair, he was unable to even feel anger, simply staring blankly at Repenhardt’s back.

As the battle raged on, Repenhardt could keenly feel how extraordinary the techniques he had learned truly were.

The demon’s attack was fierce, but it could not harm his body. This body, awakened with aura on a flesh of steel, was truly formidable. Only attacks utilizing the magic sword Altion could inflict even a scratch; everything else could be handled with his bare body without concern.

However, Repenhardt diligently avoided the Grelbeast’s attacks while counterattacking. It was, after all, an excellent opportunity for practical training, making it necessary to become accustomed to the combat style of a martial artist.

Dodging a downward strike from Altion, he grabbed and twisted the forearm. Joint lock practice.

Diving deep into the chest, striking the solar plexus, neck, and chin simultaneously. Striking practice.

Avoiding a tail whipping like a whip, he leapt, spinning for a kick. Aerial combat practice.

Each time, the Grelbeast was battered, flesh burst open, and blood was splattered. Yet, as a guardian connected to the ruins, this demon, despite suffering severe injuries, never fell. The ruins provided magical energy, continuously healing the demon’s wounds.

At first, he thought it was convenient to have a self-repairing sandbag…

“This, this is…”

After a prolonged fight, Repenhardt began to feel tired. Yet, the Grelbeast was still vigorously attacking him. The ancient power was indeed formidable, bestowing continuous strength to the demon despite such punishment.

“It’s not the time to be playing around.”

Feeling a sense of urgency, he rapidly thought through his options.

The solution in such situations was simple.

Attack not the guardian, but the magical energy itself, dispersing its flow for a moment. Then, quickly defeat the guardian while it’s vulnerable.

“But expecting that at his level is unrealistic…”

Todd wasn’t unaware of this tactic; it was a matter of lacking the ability.

Alternatively, a powerful attack that doesn’t leave room for healing, destroying the guardian in one blow, could work. If the body itself is destroyed, what use is the overflowing magical power from the ruins? Of course, it’s no easy task, but Repenhardt possessed a technique powerful enough for that.

“Should I use Calamity Soul?”

The ultimate secret technique of Gym Unbreakable, a quadruple-layered force capable of piercing cliffs and overturning lakes with its tremendous power; he was confident that he could obliterate the Grelbeast with it.

However, that would pose a serious problem.

“Ugh, doing that would bring everything down here, burying us all together in a mass grave.”

Given the power he wielded, unleashing it recklessly underground would undoubtedly cause the chamber to collapse. It would be spectacularly buried. And the only one who could crawl out of the dirt heap would be Repenhardt alone.

“Having so many burdens is indeed troublesome.”

Repenhardt continued the battle. The fight dragged on as neither could deliver a fatal blow. Both sides possessed defense overwhelmingly superior to their offense. Normally, the stronger the fighter, the higher their offensive power compared to their defensive ability. However, the Grelbeast, directly connected to the relic’s magic, and Repenhardt, who foolishly relied on his physical strength, were breaking the common perceptions.

Should they keep fighting to the point of exhaustion to see who tires first? Honestly, it wasn’t impossible , but…

“That would be fine for me, but the others might die.”

There were already many injured. Sillan was frantically casting healing spells, but the dense magical energy reduced their effectiveness. Healing spells, being highly complex divine incantations, were significantly affected by the environment. To properly heal them, they had to leave this room.

As Repenhardt was feeling troubled, Todd’s shout came from behind.

“Hey, Repen!”

“Huh?”

Looking back in confusion, Repenhardt saw the mage Todd pointing at a sword on the ground.

“Pick up the sword! If Sillan casts a striking divine spell on the sword enveloped in aura, it will have enough power to defeat that demon!”

Todd, true to his nature as a relic explorer, had grasped the situation. Indeed, when magic was insufficient, aura users defeating dungeon guardians with that method was the standard.

Divine power repels magic energy, disrupting its flow when properly attacked. However, without sufficient sharpness, mixing it with aura was necessary to achieve a magical effect. Todd was advising to use this approach.

“Ah, do you think I don’t use it because I don’t know about it?”

Repenhardt retorted irritably.

“Look, I don’t know how to envelop weapons in aura.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I can only channel aura through my body!”

“That doesn’t make any sense…”

Todd trailed off in confusion. Wasn’t the quintessential image of an aura user a gleaming blade? That was supposed to be the hallmark of an aura user, something anyone with aura could do.

“Ah, it’s just that our martial sect is a bit unusual!”

Facing the enemy caused Repenhardt’s concentration to scatter. He gave a brief response and refocused on the battle with the demon.

At that moment, Sillan, who was casting a healing spell on Stefan, shouted towards him.

“Mr. Repen!”

“What now?”

“Your body, it’s highly durable, right?”

“Huh?”

It was a strange question to use expressions typically meant for rocks on a human body, but Repenhardt understood. Having seen him break through walls with his bare body, it made sense.

“It’s somewhat tougher than most. Why?”

“I believe you!”

“Believe what?”

As Repenhardt looked puzzled, Sillan suddenly offered a prayer.

“O Philanence, let your blessing inhabit this sword meant for your goddess!”

“Sword?”

Then, a dazzling pinkish divine light enveloped Repenhardt’s entire body. He choked as if something was caught in his throat.

“Co-, Cough?!”

“It worked!”

Sillan had directly applied the striking divine spell, Holy Striking, on Repenhardt’s body. Normally, the spell should be cast on a metal object, so casting it directly on a person’s body should not have worked…

“What in the world…”

Repenhardt looked down at himself, bewildered. The divine spell had taken effect. His steel-like body was recognized as a lump of metal.

“…”

He was at a loss for words. His originally bronze skin was now prettily tinted pink, shimmering brightly. It was a sight so demoralizing that it could instantly sap one’s fighting spirit.

“Ah, is this really okay?”

Even the Grelbeast seemed taken aback, pausing its attack to stare blankly. What else could one do at the sight of Repenhardt? – a 190 cm tall pink giant.

“Ha, ha…”

Feeling deflated, Repenhardt couldn’t help but think that living long enough meant experiencing all sorts of bizarre situations. Regardless of how Repenhardt felt, Sillan, having successfully cast the spell, was overjoyed.

“Great! It worked! I knew it would!”

He exclaimed triumphantly.

“Take that, you damned demon! Beat it to death now!”

“He looks pretty but has a nasty temper…”

Now that they had a strategy, the fight had to continue. With a gloomy expression, Repenhardt charged at the Grelbeast.

The pink giant rushed towards the demon. Every punch and kick left behind sparkling pink divine light particles.

“…”

He felt even more depressed. The martial artist who had been engaging in a cool struggle just moments before seemed to have vanished, replaced by a circus clown.

‘Ah, damn it. Let’s finish this quickly.’

Transformed into a holy vessel, Repenhardt relentlessly attacked. Holy punches, holy kicks, and holy knee strikes followed one another, mercilessly hitting the demon. Regardless of appearances, the divine power was still divine power. The effect was undeniably positive. The demon, unable to receive any more magical energy, quickly began to falter.

A final downward strike to the back of the nearly dead demon’s head! Sprinkling pink sparkles, the demon let out its last cry.

“Aaaagh!”

And thus, the Grelbeast, having lost the power to dwell in the material world, slowly began to fade away. Although it was slain, this release from the relic was, in a way, salvation for the demon.

Watching the demon disappear, Repenhardt sighed in relief. He quickly turned to Sillan and shouted.

“Hey! Quick, undo this!”