Matthew walked quickly along the damp, dim tunnel, the tip of the finely forged sword in his tight grip lowered slightly, ready to respond to any sudden emergencies at any moment.
His steps were swift yet cautious, making faint sounds as he stepped on the sticky, slippery ground. However, what occupied his mind more was the fight with Brody just now.
‘The difference in breathing techniques almost cost me my life.’
Matthew clearly remembered the pale red mist and violent aura that surged around Brody when he circulated his breathing technique.
‘Brody's breathing technique's quality must be far above my 【White Snake Breathing Technique】. It directly and significantly increased his Strength and Constitution! That's why his chainmail could withstand my attacks, and his sword strikes could be so heavy and violent.’
Matthew analyzed calmly in his heart.
He could feel that after reaching the Novice rank with his 【White Snake Breathing Technique】, it mainly enhanced the sharpness of his Perception, his explosive power in an instant, and his physical coordination and flexibility. Although his stamina had also improved, it was far inferior to what Brody had displayed.
The difference in quality between the breathing techniques was clear.
In a duel between non-Class holders, Strength was the attribute that decided victory or defeat.
After all, Matthew had relied on a breakthrough in 【Basic Swordsmanship】 to increase his Strength and restore his stamina, which allowed him to easily defeat Brody in the end.
“However, this White Snake Breathing Technique actually suits me quite well.”
Matthew pondered silently as he moved forward.
Because he had his panel.
Every time a skill broke through, it would increase his overall attributes, which perfectly made up for his weakness in Strength.
As his thoughts swirled, the faint daylight ahead in the tunnel grew clearer, and the damp air mixed with the scent of blood began to circulate.
The exit was near.
Just as he was about to step out of the cave, a sudden flurry of rapid, intense metallic clashing and shouting erupted from outside!
Matthew's heart tightened. He immediately lowered his body and peeked outside from the shadow of the rocks at the cave entrance.
On top of the hillock, Instructor Calm was locked in a fierce battle with Flynn!
Although Calm looked exhausted and his leather armor bore new cuts, his breathing technique remained steady. His footwork was still solid, and his sword techniques retained their proper form.
On the other hand, Flynn's condition was much worse.
He held a scythe, and every one of his moves was extremely ferocious. He surged forward, swinging it with immense force and creating whistling sounds in the air as he tried to force Instructor Calm back and create an opportunity to escape.
But Instructor Calm clung to him tenaciously, refusing to give him even the slightest chance to slip away.
Matthew watched clearly from the shadows of the cave entrance, but he didn't understand how the two had ended up in this situation. It was then that the conversation reaching his ears made him realize why.
As Flynn swung his scythe in a fierce assault, he roared hoarsely, “Calm! Step aside now, and I promise I won't cause you any trouble! We can mind our own business!”
Calm parried a heavy scythe slash, his steady footwork blocking Flynn's attempt to turn toward the cave. His voice was calm, tinged with a hint of mockery:
“Step aside? Flynn, do you still not see the situation clearly? Your Young Master Brody has been inside for so long without a sound... I'm afraid he's already been dealt with by Matthew.”
Hearing this, Flynn's expression remained unchanged, but the offensive power of the scythe in his hand weakened slightly.
In truth, he knew Young Master Brody's real strength better than anyone else.
The Young Master showed weakness everywhere in the family to avoid the Eldest Young Master's spotlight and bide his time.
When it came to extraordinary talent, the Young Master was by no means inferior to any peer in the family, and was perhaps even superior.
But after all, too much time had passed since Brody entered the nest.
Even a Class holder's stamina might not last through such a long fight, let alone two ordinary people who weren't Class holders yet...
‘The Young Master has been inside for so long. Even if he had to clear the nest and loot the spoils, he should have come out by now... or at least made some noise... Why is it so deathly silent?’
The core of this anxiety stemmed from a heavy responsibility.
The eager yet majestic face of Brody's mother instantly flashed across Flynn's mind.
That lady had shown him great kindness, giving him a second chance at life.
‘The Young Master... absolutely cannot have anything happen to him!’
Calm keenly caught the slight easing of Flynn's offensive, and in his heart, he also hoped that Matthew had successfully dealt with Brody.
Otherwise, once Brody came out, he wouldn't be able to hold off both of them on his own.
Although Brody wasn't a Class holder yet, Calm's stamina was currently too low after all.
Therefore, blocking Flynn was a gamble for him!
He was gambling that Matthew would win!
Matthew, at the cave entrance, took in their conversation and status, instantly piecing together the cause and effect.
‘Instructor Calm is buying time for me by holding off Flynn! Brody's long absence has made Flynn anxious!’
A flash of determination crossed his eyes. This was the perfect opportunity to launch a sneak attack on Flynn and join forces with Calm to eliminate this powerful enemy. After all, if this man escaped, it would likely invite even greater trouble.
He held his breath and tossed his backpack aside.
Sliding out of the cave entrance, he circulated his breathing technique and crept silently toward the two.
...
Atop the hillock, Calm was fully aware of the situation.
‘A half-step Silver Rank! This guy has definitely touched the threshold of the Silver Rank!’ Calm thought to himself, alarmed.
If he weren't much younger and had an advantage in stamina, and if Flynn hadn't already consumed a large amount of stamina to break the kobold priest's shield earlier, combined with his current anxiety over Brody's safety causing his ferocious attacks to carry a hint of impatience, Calm would probably have been hacked to pieces by that heavy scythe long ago.
After all, Calm was also injured.
Calm circulated the 【White Snake Breathing Technique】 to its limit, not seeking to harm the enemy but only to defend steadily.
With every parry and redirection, he strove to neutralize Flynn's violent attacks with minimal exertion, firmly blocking the path leading to the cave.
“Get lost, Calm! Don't push me!” Flynn roared. His inability to break through, coupled with the complete lack of news from Brody, made his anxiety spread like wildfire.
He inhaled sharply. The remaining white mist around him surged like boiling water, and his scythe was poised to strike—right at the exact moment when his old force was spent and new force had yet to generate!
A figure suddenly erupted like a ghost from the shadow of the rocks behind his flank!
Matthew's eyes were icy. His finely forged sword flashed with a cold light as he stabbed straight at Flynn's defenseless ribs!
A half-step Silver Rank was still a half-step Silver Rank!
With his combat instincts forged through countless life-and-death struggles, Flynn detected Matthew instantly!
“Damn it!”
Flynn forcefully aborted his poised attack, twisting his waist in a posture that almost defied common sense!
Relying on inertia, he swept his scythe backward, using the massive blade like a shield to block behind his flank in the nick of time!
“Clang—!!!”
A piercing, metallic explosion rang out!
Matthew's full-force thrust was heavily parried by this hasty defense!
Immense force traveled up the blade, numbing Matthew's arm and causing him to stagger backward involuntarily.
Not far away, Calm's pupils contracted slightly upon seeing this strike. This kid had improved again?!
“Good job, kid! But don't fight him head-on. Flynn is extremely strong; we'll wear him down together!”
Flynn had successfully blocked the sneak attack, but he also paid a price.
Forcefully interrupting his charge and executing a limit-breaking dodge and parry caused his blood to churn, stalling his breathing technique and inevitably causing a brief delay in his movements.
What shook him even more to his core was that he now clearly saw the attacker—Matthew! And on Matthew's body was the chainmail that belonged to Young Master Brody!
Rate on N.U.
