Sword light flashed fiercely, spear shadows flew wildly.
Every step crushed the ground beneath them, and the wind pressure from swinging weapons carved countless cracks across the arena.
The sound of clashing weapons was as dense as raindrops pelting a tile roof—ping-ping-pang-pang, endless and chaotic, like a thousand firecrackers set off at once.
Leveraging the advantage of dual spears, the fairy Diarmuid could easily attack and defend simultaneously. But the advantage of twin weapons didn't stop there—more importantly, they allowed for seamless transitions between offense and defense.
A spear used to attack one moment could instantly become a defensive tool the next, and vice versa. In the hands of a true master, such weapons became extensions of instinct, switching freely between roles. Throw in a few feints, and both weapons became lethally unpredictable.
An opponent had to guard against two defensive lines and watch for two potential attacks at once. Naturally, this created overwhelming pressure, making it hard to judge which side to defend or break through.
But Gawain's solution was simple:
—Among all martial arts, only speed is unbreakable.
If the enemy could defend twice at once, he would double his speed to break through. If they could launch two attacks, he would counter with two strikes of greater force.
Fight speed with speed, meet offense with offense.
Gawain's supreme technique, the Way of My Style, was all about relentless, overwhelming aggression.
Once his whirlwind attack got going, no one—no matter who—could withstand the ceaseless torrent of swordlight. Like a leaf boat in a storm, they'd be swallowed by the tide.
Even the famed Waterfowl Dance of Valkyrie Malenia, who made her name in the Lands Between, could only defend under such an onslaught. So how could a counterfeit version of Diarmuid, lacking even a Noble Phantasm, hope to stand a chance?
[After thirty seconds of intense battle, Fairy Diarmuid is defeated by your overwhelming assault.]
[Since Diarmuid's attributes exceed yours overall, this battle counts as defeating a stronger foe. You gain one win for unstoppable momentum. Current streak: 76 wins.]
With Diarmuid down, and silence falling over the now-still training ground beneath the stage, all eyes on Gawain subtly changed.
Perhaps even they didn't realize it themselves—but the anger and resentment once stirred by Gawain's provocation were now slowly being replaced by admiration.
"Huff..."
Taking a deep breath to calm his ragged breathing from the intense fight, Gawain felt his pounding heart and looked around.
"Then... who's next?!"
"—Who's! Next!"
His brazen roar echoed through the air, causing every soldier present to freeze—but no one responded.
They weren't fast enough. They were afraid. Their spirits had been shaken.
In their hearts, none could see themselves defeating this man who fought like a god.
So, in the face of this madman's challenge, none of the Northern Army's warriors dared to reply.
—Except one other lancer, renowned for being second to none.
"Then allow me!"
With a clear, confident voice, a man with long golden hair, wielding a spear, leapt onto the stage.
[After you once again provoked the entire field, following Fairy Diarmuid, Fairy Fionn now steps onto the arena.]
As expected, the brothers Xiahou Mu Duo and Xiahou Fionn were never far apart.
Where one appeared, the other was always nearby.
"Your martial skill is truly admirable. Watching you battle my friend stirred even me as a mere observer."
"But surely, even you must've expended a great deal of stamina fighting him?"
Fairy Fionn spoke calmly:
"I hadn't intended to face you while you were less than at your peak. However, since you chose to challenge all the warriors of the Northern Legion, then for the honor of us martial men—I have no choice but to join this unjust fight."
"Enough talk."
But Gawain had no interest in long-winded speeches. With a flick of his longsword, he slashed at Fairy Fionn:
"—Come!"
"Well met!"
Facing the lightning-fast strike, Fionn narrowed his eyes and raised his spear, leaving behind an afterimage:
"Then let us fight!"
The next moment, the spear flowed like a raging current, clashing in midair with Gawain's whirlwind sword.
Only this time, Gawain did not dominate the way he had against Mu Duo.
In fact—quite the opposite.
This time, Gawain was the one being suppressed.
—Fairy Fionn had turned the tables and forced Gawain back.
Of course, that wasn't to say Fionn's strength was overwhelmingly superior. As a parallel self of the famed hero from Proper Human History, Fionn was certainly formidable—even stronger than Fairy Diarmuid—but still not enough to overpower Gawain.
The real issue was this: after eight consecutive high-intensity duels, after defeating eight powerful fairy warriors in a row, Gawain's stamina had reached its limit.
Endless Trials could reset endlessly, letting Gawain refine his tactics over and over to find the best route to victory... but accumulated fatigue could not be erased. Especially after his grueling, head-on win over the spear-master Diarmuid.
Like an author writing nonstop—while typing doesn't consume physical energy, fatigue builds up over time. After chapter upon chapter, no matter the excitement or motivation, mental fatigue takes its toll, slowing thought and dulling reaction.
That was Gawain now. After endless high-stakes battles, his muscles and nerves had slowed from exhaustion.
And that... was a major problem.
His fighting style didn't rely on defense. It was all-out, endless offense. If his movements slowed, he lost his greatest edge.
So how could he possibly defeat Fionn, who was even stronger than Mu Duo?
The answer was—he couldn't.
From the first exchange, Gawain was forced on the defensive, overwhelmed by Fionn's spear.
Had he not discarded his most powerful flying shield at the start of this simulation training, he might still have had countless ways to turn the tide.
But he gave it up willingly.
Not just the flying shield—he abandoned the Hunter's Runes, the Demon's Pact, all those miscellaneous abilities. He chose to rely solely on his body and skill, to face the Northern elite warriors head-on.
There wasn't any special reason. He simply wanted to.
While sitting beside Knocknarea, after days of peaceful life, watching the blood-and-sweat battles unfold below, Gawain suddenly felt his heart beat faster.
Even then, he didn't know why. But he still requested to join the training matches—and threw away all his usual powerups, choosing to fight with only sword and spear.
—So that's why.
Only now, under pressure from Fionn's unending spear flow, did Gawain finally understand.
—He was never suited for some calm, mundane, working-class life.
Words like peace, quiet, normal—they didn't belong to him.
From the start, in his bones, he was someone who craved a life of passion and upheaval.
Ever since he accidentally got the "Battle Lust" buff, Gawain could never figure out why such a simple buff granted such absurd bonuses—or why it appeared only on him and not his teammates.
—Until now. The realization struck.
Whether it's "Battle Lust," "Unstoppable Advance," or the future "Like a Hot Knife Through Butter," these buffs weren't meant for the noble and kind.
They were made for battle junkies—people addicted to combat.
For those warriors, they fought not just to survive.
They fought because they loved it.
—Yes!
That's it. At heart, he was a battle junkie.
He loved to fight!
He didn't need a reason or a reward.
If there were strong foes, if there was battle, he would come.
Even now—especially now—when he was completely suppressed, and victory seemed impossible.
What then? Give up just because the odds looked bad?
No!
Fatigue? That was something to overcome with sheer spirit!
For a true warrior, battle wasn't something they joined only if they were sure of winning.
They fought... because it felt damn good!
"Oh?"
Seeing the rising heat in Gawain's eyes, Fairy Fionn—who was just executing his proudest spear techniques—suddenly changed his expression.
"I see now."
Gripping his spear tighter, a bloodthirsty grin spread across Fionn's handsome face:
"So you're one of us!"
The next second, his attacks grew even fiercer. The flood of spear thrusts surged like a tsunami, crashing over Gawain with overwhelming force.
Gawain's sword flow was completely buried beneath the tide.
But Gawain showed no fear—instead, he threw his head back and laughed:
"Well done!"
Yes, he was being utterly crushed, barely able to defend.
Then to hell with defense!
Gawain abruptly shifted his sword stance—fully switching to offense. No longer caring about guarding, he aimed to trade wounds, trade lives, with Fionn!
Fight! Fight! Fight!
Today, he would battle until no one in the Northern Army could stand against him!
And the moment Fionn's spear pierced his side, the system interface—long ignored by Gawain—flashed with a new message:
[Ding! Damage detected. Skill "Warrior's Valor at Death's Door · B" activated.]
[Skill Effect: The closer to death, the closer to mastering martial truth. All attributes increase with injury severity. Greater chance of breakthrough in battle, pushing your skills to new heights.]
As the skill triggered, Gawain, who had been sluggish and faltering, suddenly brightened. His sword gained new speed—his next slash cut a chunk of flesh from Fionn's upper arm.
At that moment—when both drew blood—their fight entered an irreversible, feverish climax.
From here on—only a bloody war awaits!