Mika Wright immediately felt the violent counterforce from the clash.
His blade was knocked aside by tremendous strength, fortunately, he had anticipated it. He twisted his arm and managed to control his sword just in time.
From this first exchange, Wright confirmed his earlier judgment: to defeat Thierry, he would need technique, not strength.
Wright drew his sword back and swept sideways, executing the Tarnvila stance in reverse grip to drive Thierry back.
The Weapon Master's eyes gleamed. Wright's attack resembled the Otsberg-Vaya Second Form, though not exactly the same.
Becoming more intrigued by the Elvira style, he retaliated with a flurry of thrusts from the Otsberg-Vaya Sixteenth Form.
Wright raised his blade horizontally, deflecting a lightning-fast thrust with the Yursa form.
Using the force Thierry applied against him, he twisted his blade, parrying two more thrusts from diagonal angles.
The blades met, energy fields shrieked with static.
Three strikes in a row failed to land. Thierry realized that Wright's three defensive techniques masterfully redirected force, using momentum and angles to neutralize the power behind his attacks, compensating for Wright's physical disadvantage.
While Thierry pondered, Wright launched a counterattack, pouring all his strength into a downward diagonal slash from left to right.
It was the Vira-Bey Form, the blade sparking with arcs of psychic lightning.
The sheer power of the sword form made the nearby "Warriors"' eyes light up, the strength of Kasai's Grand Sword Master exceeded their expectations.
They weren't worried for their knight-lord; they were eager to see how he would win.
The "Weapon Master" twisted his arm, lifting his blade and parrying Wright's strike with the Otsberg-Vaya Sixth Form, meeting sword with swordtip.
Wright was forced back a step, then lunged forward, aiming straight for Thierry's throat.
"Erka Form!"
The Kassians below the grand arena gasped when they saw Master Wright unleash the Elvira style's death strike.
At that critical instant, the "Weapon Master" rotated his raised arm downward, his swordtip tapping precisely against Wright's. It was a brilliant application of the Otsberg-Vaya Sixth Form.
The Kassians watched in shock as Wright's death strike was shattered.
Wright realized Thierry's swordsmanship was so refined that even without his superior strength or speed, he would still be difficult to defeat.
As Wright assessed the situation, Thierry suddenly moved, unleashing blinding speed and agility. With a forward lunge, he attacked using the Otsberg-Vaya Seventh Form, the cutting form.
Wright saw the lethal strike coming, there was no avoiding it, but he didn't panic.
In such a situation, the only worthwhile response was to weaken and redirect the force of the blow.
There were many techniques for this, collectively called the Gekuaav Form, meaning "Reining at the Cliff's Edge."
He imagined Thierry as a wild, uncontrollable steed charging toward a cliff, no matter what he did, the beast would throw itself over the edge.
The sword in Wright's hand became a long "rein," giving him control over the course of the attack.
Thierry's lunge required space, so Wright sought to limit that space.
He raised his sword defensively, both hands gripping the hilt over his shoulder, the blade angled downward at thirty-five degrees.
From Wright's posture, the "Weapon Master" could tell, if he sidestepped or advanced, Wright's side-blade would counter with a sudden, forceful strike.
Thierry also understood the intent, Wright was forcing him to focus on his lower stance. He assumed that as a towering giant, he wasn't accustomed to defending below the waist.
'He thinks lowering my guard means I'll lose balance.'
Thierry's eyes flashed. He decided to let Wright think he had the advantage.
Feigning vulnerability, he swung his charged blade toward Wright's lower body.
Wright sidestepped, his "rein" subtly altering the angle and height of Thierry's strike.
As he slid past, Wright swung his sword toward Thierry's arm.
Thierry's gaze sharpened, he followed the Otsberg-Vaya Twenty-Third Form, seizing the opening and counterattacking.
His energy blade struck Wright's sword, twisted, and flicked upward.
Wright felt an irresistible force wrench his weapon from his grasp, the sword flew several meters away.
"Master Wright… has been defeated…"
The Kassians stared, wide-eyed, unable to believe what they'd just witnessed.
"I've lost… to your swordsmanship," Wright said bitterly. He knew that if Thierry had relied on strength and speed alone, he would have been defeated much sooner.
"Your technique too is remarkable, few can compare," the "Weapon Master" said in admiration.
"The Kassians' Elvira sword style truly is extraordinary."
After their duel, the "Weapon Master" finally understood why the Black Emperor had chosen this world as a recruitment ground for the Eighth Legion.
The Kassians' swordsmanship proved they were exceptional warriors.
The "Weapon Master" looked down at the Kasai blade curiously.
"Your swords are infused with psychic energy, it greatly enhances your techniques."
"Yes," Wright replied. "Kasai's master swordsmiths possess a unique forging art.
"They forge blades for nobles using rune-stones. Over time, the runic arrays affect the wielder, granting them psychic energy."
"But this energy can't be freely used," he added. "It can only be channeled into the sword."
The "Weapon Master" frowned. He had never heard of such a method to grant psychic power.
Still, the fact that every noble could wield such energy was suspicious, and during the duel, Wright had never directly used psychic power, only infused it into his blade.
Thierry turned to the "Savant" beside him. "Is this possible?"
"My lord, it is," the scholar replied. "Besides the major psychic disciplines, there exist technomantic branches, those who can forge psychic artifacts."
"The Curator of the Datavault once studied Medusa's Heart-Forced Staff. Only a rare technomancer, versed in both technology and psychic lore, can activate it."
The "Savant" glanced at the Kasai blade Wright had retrieved.
"It's likely Kasai's swordsmiths have mastered some of these technomantic arts.
By carrying rune-forged blades for long periods, Kasai nobles develop Eotha-class psychic energy, the lowest tier of conscious psychic power.
They can't cast psychic abilities or spells, but they can empower their blades."
Thierry was impressed.
'An unexpected gain.'
After subduing the Kassians, the Knight Lord began selecting eligible children as recruit candidates and organized the Kasai Auxiliary Corps.
....
Meanwhile, Nareth met with the Lucifer Black.
"My lord, thank you for your support," said Theo. "Laurent and I have selected two hundred and forty-eight Necromundians to form a full company, including ourselves."
"Now it's time we repay your faith in us. Please, accept our service."
Nareth tapped his fingers on the chair's arm, thinking for a moment before speaking.
"Very well. Board the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty. You'll accompany me to battle."
He decided to first lead the Lucifer Blacks to Osiris to combat the Psy Bird. Depending on their performance, he would decide whether they would serve as elite guards or standard troops.
"As you command, my lord," Theo said, exhilarated. Laurent smiled in satisfaction.
Though they had guarded Barton Drake through several campaigns, fighting as an independent force was something else entirely.
After they departed, Arsena approached Nareth.
"My lord, the Emperor has summoned you. He requests that you accompany him to Nocturne to receive a newly discovered Primarch."
Nareth's eyes glimmered with thought. 'Nocturne and Osiris are both in the Ultima Segmentum, and the Heresy hasn't begun yet. Traveling with the emperor won't hurt… besides, that planet might contain alchemical ingredients.'
With that, he ordered, "Tell Navigator Lord Aiden Visscher to chart the course. Prepare for departure."
Two days later, the fleet, centered around the Throne of Shadow's Sovereignty and the Judgment's Glory, the Gloriana-class battleship named by Howard, departed into the stars.
.....
If you enjoy the story, my p@treon is 30 chapters ahead.
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