At present, Riezel's Thunderclap and Flash was completely different from how it used to be.
In the past, Thunderclap and Flash was a single-target technique, so its attack was limited to one person.
If one wished to strike multiple enemies with it, they would have to perform derivative forms such as Sixfold or Eightfold, changing directions and striking the surrounding foes one by one.
But now, Riezel's Thunderclap and Flash had evolved into an attack capable of hitting multiple enemies at once, no longer requiring any directional shifts.
Most people could only see the familiar lightning bolt—an incomparably swift flash of a single slash, yet they failed to notice that this time, the Thunderclap and Flash Riezel unleashed had completely transformed into a large-scale sweeping slash.
If the old Thunderclap and Flash had been a simple dash followed by a single strike, then the current version involved building up power mid-flash, drawing back like a bow before spiraling outward into a circular slash—a blazing wheel of lightning cutting through everything around him.
It was a new slashing technique Riezel developed after integrating the essence of 'Dance' from Sun Breathing and 'Dark Moon, Evening Palace' from Moon Breathing into 'Thunderclap and Flash.'
Its purpose was to expand the attack range, allowing him to strike multiple enemies simultaneously without changing direction.
As a result, the knights surrounding Riezel met their tragic end.
They only caught a glimpse of a flash of lightning before the lightning vanished, and Riezel already appeared behind them, sword sheathed.
At this moment, the massive lightning-infused slash had already cut through their bodies—splitting open chests, flanks, shoulders, and even arms that held their swords—blood bursting forth in cascading sprays.
Evidently, their armor offered no resistance whatsoever as some pieces were cleaved apart by the overwhelming power of the slash, while others were pierced at their seams, where the slash struck the joints and uncovered spots, spilling blood in vivid arcs.
""AAAAAARGHHH—!!!""
All the knights who tried to confront Riezel cried out in agony—some collapsed instantly, others fell to their knees, dropped their weapons, or fainted with a muffled groan.
In the blink of an eye, the ground was covered with fallen knights.
"!!!"
Everyone present who saw the sight shuddered in unison, and that included Yuri and Hendrick.
"Y-You can still use the special ability of your swordsmanship?" Hendrick asked loudly, staring at Riezel in utter disbelief.
In everyone's minds, the lightning that accompanied Riezel's swordsmanship had long been thought to be a special ability unique to his Special Swordsmanship, so under the full effect of the Light of Heaven, such special abilities should have been impossible to use.
Yet not only did Riezel use it—its power actually far exceeded the rumors.
It was only natural.
Riezel's Breathing Styles were not some form of Special Swordsmanship, and the characteristics of Breathing Styles were not special abilities of such swordsmanship, because they were simply phenomena that occurred when a Breathing Style was activated—a manifestation of their sword forms themselves.
It required no magical energy to trigger, nor did it need to be performed externally, so even though the Light of Heaven had sealed Riezel's magic, it could not suppress his swordsmanship.
Not just Thunder Breathing—even the evolved Sun Breathing, which incorporated magical energy into the bloodstream to amplify strength, could not be sealed.
Why?
Because when using Sun Breathing, magical energy only needed to circulate within Riezel's body, merging with his blood.
Since the magical energy never left his body, Sun Breathing could not be sealed.
Unless the Light of Heaven could prevent a person from mobilizing magical energy altogether or directly disperse the magical energy within the body, his Sun Breathing would function normally.
Of course, even if the Light of Heaven did possess such an effect, it would still be useless against him because one of Self Redemption's effects was being immune to physical interference.
To suppress him externally?
Possible.
To directly interfere with his body, to affect it in any way?
Impossible.
Just like that, Riezel ignored the knights who were writhing and collapsing into pools of blood behind him, continuing to walk slowly toward Hendrick on the throne.
Seeing this, the knights guarding the throne drew their weapons, while the court magicians—as if freed by the Sword of Authority from their magic restraint—began chanting their magic with all their might.
Hearing the layered, echoing chants, Riezel moved.
If he had been able to use magic, he would have simply used Sacrament - Wheel Mirror, which would have reflected all the magic at the enemy, rendering their attacks meaningless.
But since he could not use magic now, he could not allow them to finish preparing their barrage of magic.
"Moon Breathing - Eighth Form - Moon-Dragon Ringtail!"
In a flash, Riezel drew his black sword, Hermit, its surface glowing with fiery crimson patterns, and with a sweeping arc that spanned a vast range, he unleashed a massive, long-ranged, curved slash that left dozens of crescent moon blades lingering along its path.
*Whoosh!*
As it surged forward, it tore violently through the ground, sweeping straight toward the knights guarding the throne and the court magicians positioned behind them.
*BOOM!*
Such a sudden, massive slash caught the knights and magicians completely off guard, their weapons barely raised and their incantations interrupted, before they were all blown away amid a deafening explosion.
"Moon Breathing - Seventh Form - Mirror of Misfortune, Moonlit!"
Riezel struck again, sending out a massive crescent-shaped slash with a couple of crescent moon blades that unleashed numerous straight and curved slashes, expanding outward across the floor, ripping it apart and scattering dust and rubble as they rushed toward those guarding the throne.
"Wh-What kind of swordsmanship is this?!"
"Another Special Swordsmanship?!"
"He can use a second Special Swordsmanship?!"
"Damn it!"
Exclaiming one after another, the knights had barely steadied themselves after the first blast, blood seeping from countless wounds as if struck by invisible blades of air.
Some had survived through sheer skill or the strength of their armor, but now they faced another incoming shockwave roaring across the floor, their faces twisting in horror.
*BOOM!*
Before they could even react, the second wave of attacks had already swallowed them whole as a thunderous explosion followed, blasting countless people away.
In an instant, whether they were knights or court magicians, all were sent flying like kites with their strings cut, crashing to the ground one by one like worthless debris scattered across the floor.
Every knight and court magician groaned, whimpered, and screamed in pain as they rolled about on the ground.
Even though the court magicians' defensive magic items activated automatically, forming layer upon layer of magic barriers, those barriers cracked like fragile spiderwebs, clearly unable to withstand the might of Riezel's swordsmanship.
Riezel's series of devastating attacks crushed every knight captain, vice-captain, and even the famed court magicians who had gathered in the throne room—each one of them toppled one after another, as if they were nothing more than roadside fodder.
It was nothing short of a nightmare.
It was nothing short of absurd.
At this moment, the strongest knightly order in the kingdom and the noble court magicians had been defeated so easily. If the citizens were to witness this scene, surely their very faith in their kingdom would crumble.
However, then again, their opponent was a Sword Saint—an extremely powerful one at that.
He was the highest class of swordsman.
He was the mightiest of warriors.
An invincible existence.
A being who stood at the very peak.
Needless to say, this was what it meant to be a Sword Saint, and it was precisely because of this that Sword Saints held such an exalted status and were revered by those in power.
However, although they truly possessed the ability to crush everything—to even threaten those who sat high upon the throne, no one could have imagined that even within the place enveloped by the Light of Heaven, a Sword Saint would still be capable of unleashing such overwhelming power.
It should be noted that, besides having his magic sealed, Riezel was still being oppressed by the Light of Heaven, so the weight pressing down on his body was now even greater than when he had been restrained by Lizbeth's spiritual power.
And yet, despite this, Riezel continued to display absolute, crushing strength, felling countless powerful foes.
"Moon Breathing - Third Form - Loathsome Moon, Chains!"
Taking another step forward, Riezel, his eyes fixed upon the unguarded throne, swung his sword again, unleashing two extremely broad, crescent-shaped slashes that tore forth, spiraling toward Hendrick.
Yes, Riezel had finally struck at the king.
"How dare you!"
A furious roar erupted, and a dark figure appeared silently before Hendrick, wielding a shadow-forged sword brimming with immense magical energy.
In the next moment, with a single strike, the dark figure cleaved toward the two incoming crescent-shaped slashes.
*BOOM!*
In that instant, the impact thundered through the room as the shadow sword, capable of converting magical energy into pure attack power, erupted like a volcano—shattering the crescent-shaped slashes effortlessly before surging straight toward Riezel.
*BOOM!*
Seeming to tear the entire throne room in two, the violent slash plowed through the floor, leaving behind a massive chasm before crashing against the great doors and sending them trembling on their hinges.
If not for the barrier cast by the Light of Heaven shielding the room, that slash would have split the entire throne room apart, blown the doors off their hinges, and obliterated the corridor beyond without leaving a trace.
Facing a slash powerful enough to cleave seas and mountains, Riezel stopped for the first time, then leapt high into the air without hesitation, evading the heaven-shaking strike.
"You finally decided to show yourself?"
Landing lightly on the shattered floor, Riezel remarked calmly while gazing at the dark figure standing before Hendrick.
Needless to say, the dark figure was none other than the Sword Saint who always guarded the king.
Yes, the Shadow Sword Saint who had always stood in his place had finally revealed his presence.
"Riezel Brynhart!" Rohm yelled, his voice carrying the weight of steel, filled with fury as cold as ice. "Daring strike at His Majesty—this is a capital offense! Even if you are a Sword Saint, this is an act of treason, a grievous sin! Today, you will pay the price for your reckless defiance!"
As his words echoed through the throne room, multiple shadowy figures materialized soundlessly around Riezel.
They were none other than the Shadow Knights, members of the royal family's personal assassination unit—Shadow.
"Hahahahaha..."
Surrounded by them once again, Riezel, feeling slightly nostalgic, only laughed—laughed with wild abandon.
"Perfect... Now this is getting interesting..."
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[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
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