Just by watching Arandel fight Blackson, Isaac was able to learn countless things. It wasn't just swordsmanship—he observed how to engage in combat against multiple opponents, the use of a greatsword, breathing techniques, and even the deliberate, extended footwork.
Arandel was like a massive tree that, when shaken, dropped fruits of wisdom. With every swing of his sword, he inspired and enlightened Isaac.
But now.
The great tree was being violently shaken. A fierce storm had struck, and a flood of knowledge tangled chaotically in Isaac's mind. He was steadily accumulating this knowledge, yet he knew he couldn't let it remain unresolved.
Crash!
As the massive blade slashed down from above, Arandel chose not to evade and met the blow head-on.
There was no way Arandel could lose in terms of raw strength.
Even the Grandmaster knew that. Yet, the reason she deliberately chose to fight the way her opponent wanted was simple—
"Because victory isn't her goal."
What the Grand Master sought wasn't victory—it was Isaac. More precisely, it was the knowledge Isaac might have about her old comrades. The unfortunate truth was that this was all a misunderstanding.
The greatsword and the Great Tachi clashed violently.
No matter how skilled a knight or how noble a royal, no one was allowed to approach them.
The crowd steadily backed away from the fierce duel.
If anyone got too close, they would be torn apart without a chance to resist. The clash of their ultimate aura and swordsmanship created a place where the wind itself became like blades.
"Isaac, let's get out of here!"
Sharen, who had been watching the duel as if entranced, urgently grabbed Isaac's arm, forgetting even to blink.
"If we stay here, we'll die!"
Just as Isaac was forced to step back under the pressure.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
The Grand Master's eyes flashed. Stepping lightly on the swinging greatsword, she launched herself past Arandel and flew straight toward Isaac.
"Ho, Crimson Flame Wave!"
A crimson energy wave burst forth from Sharen's palm.
Though hastily executed and weak in power, the result wouldn't have changed even if she had used a sword to channel it.
"How cute!"
Without any effort, the Grandmaster sliced through Sharen's Crimson Flame Wave. Sharen trembled in shock, but her grip on Isaac's arm only tightened.
At that moment, Isaac pushed Sharen away and drew his sword. If he hesitated, the Grand Master might kill Sharen. He had to prevent such a tragedy.
Slash!
'She's swinging to kill!'
Even though he knew she wouldn't kill him, if he could make her hesitate even a little, it would be enough.
"Impressive."
The slash aimed at the Grand Master cut through empty air. She had already moved past Isaac's head and positioned herself behind him.
Crash!
She grabbed him by the nape and slammed him into the ground.
'She twisted her body mid-air while swinging her sword!'
Using the wind pressure from the downward slash, she twisted her body as if leaping again—a move so skillful it could be called an acrobatic feat.
"Ugh!"
"I apologize for treating a disciple of my sect so roughly, but I'm just as desperate as you are."
"Isaac!"
Sharen rushed toward Isaac, but he stretched out his hand to stop her.
"Don't come!"
It's fine. He knew he wouldn't die.
But Sharen was different. If anyone else approached, they might die.
"Let me explain—!"
In an instant.
The ground took on a crimson hue. The earth shook as if an earthquake had struck, and the Grand Master's ears twitched. A red light erupted like a geyser of lava, scattering dirt and momentarily obscuring vision.
Yet, the Grand Master didn't release her grip on Isaac.
"Sharen! Catch—!"
From a distance, Silverina's voice rang out, and a spear flew straight between Isaac and the Grand Master. The white aura within it, though separated from its owner, spread momentarily, clearly creating distance between the Grand Master and Isaac.
"I've got him—! I've got him!"
Sharen, who had caught Isaac as he bounced upward, smiled brightly, relieved that he was safe. But Isaac's gaze remained fixed on the Grand Master.
"At this point, it's not swordsmanship—it's magic."
The Grand Master, who had survived the crimson energy erupting from the ground, calmly brushed off the dirt and glared at Arandel, who now stood before him.
"..."
Arandel calmly raised his greatsword high. It seemed he no longer intended to drag things out. The crimson energy swirled and condensed into his greatsword.
With a swing of his hands, an absolute strike capable of destroying, tearing, burning, and crushing everything was unleashed.
Crimson Annihilation Strike (滅紅擊).
The moment a sword that could be called the pinnacle of Helmut's legacy extended from Arandel's hand once more, the Grand Master also swung her Great Tachi with both hands, her eyes flashing.
A single sword strike that dyed the world red.
Within it, a sharp crescent moon rose.
Moon Flash (月閃).
The swallowing force and the sword that cut through it collided, creating an enormous cloud of dust that obscured vision before vanishing in an instant.
In that brief clash, the outcome was clear.
"Huh, this is absurd."
The Grand Master knelt on one knee, her Great Tachi planted in the ground as she caught her breath.
Parts of her clothing were torn, and her pale skin was stained with blood.
In contrast, Arandel stood firmly on both feet.
Though he too bore wounds across his body, the result was undeniable.
The Grand Master's Moon Flash had failed to pierce Arandel's Crimson Annihilation Strike.
However, considering that no one had made Arandel bleed during his battle with Blackson, the fact that the Grand Master alone had managed to wound him and draw blood was a testament to her skill.
"Wow, as expected of Father!"
"We've witnessed something incredible."
From either side of Isaac, Sharen and Silverina exclaimed in admiration.
Not only them, but others also cheered for Arandel's victory, waving their hands in celebration.
"Cough!"
A torrent of dark red blood spilled from Arandel's tightly shut mouth.
The blood streamed down his chin, pooling on the ground in a long trail.
His massive frame swayed.
He stabbed his greatsword into the ground, struggling to prevent himself from collapsing.
"Father?!"
"Did… did Lord Arandel lose?"
Among the crowd, who believed the outcome had suddenly reversed, only Isaac and the Grand Master understood what was truly happening.
"So that's why you rushed to finish it…"
The Grand Master had noticed that Arandel's physical condition was not at its best.
His chronic illness seemed to have unexpectedly turned the tide of the battle.
While everyone's attention was fixed on Arandel, Isaac alone was watching the Grand Master.
Amidst the crowd, their eyes met.
The distance was too great for words, but the moment the Grand Master saw the look in Isaac's eyes, her own widened.
'You've always had good instincts.'
Whether it was because she was a mixed-blood of the Transcendents or simply because the Grand Master was naturally gifted, Isaac wasn't sure.
Slowly rising to her feet, the Grand Master sheathed her Great Tachi and caught her breath.
Then, without a word, she retreated.
"Chase her!"
At Lohengrin's shout, Helmut's knights hurriedly pursued the Grand Master.
But even a wounded wolf cannot be outrun by humans.
With Arandel unable to move, the Grand Master would surely escape safely.
'The problem is…'
Arandel Helmut, whose complexion had turned ashen to the point of being visibly pale.
***
"…A chronic illness."
Princess Clarice sighed in frustration upon hearing about Arandel's condition.
A somber atmosphere filled the tent.
The revelation of Arandel's hidden illness and the precarious state of the kingdom's greatest sword were both critical matters.
"The Blackson suppression is right at our doorstep…"
Only Blackson's massive mansion remained.
It was likely teeming with transcendents, and the mere absence of Arandel was enough to stir an uneasy feeling.
The enemy would surely resist with all their might, making this the fiercest battle yet.
'That's why he only fight for an hour.'
Clarice crossed her arms and tapped her fingers, nodding slowly.
Arandel had only been active for an hour to conceal his illness.
The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place, but she felt no joy.
In truth, there was also her desire to show Isaac more of the battlefield, but Clarice naturally couldn't bring herself to say that.
Regardless.
"We must launch the assault on Blackson immediately tomorrow."
The other nobles agreed with Princess Clarice, who had unwillingly taken command.
If they delayed, the Transcendents might come up with some bizarre countermeasure, and worse, Arandel's injury might become known to the enemy.
They didn't want to give the cornered rat a chance to escape.
"It'll be over quickly."
"It won't even take an hour."
"We're already in an overwhelmingly advantageous position. There's no need to worry."
The confident declarations of the staff reassured Clarice, and she nodded. The situation was indeed overwhelmingly in their favor.
But.
And yet.
'Ah, why do I feel so uneasy?'
Clarice had a good intuition.
Strangely, the more the nobles boasted with certainty, the more a foreboding feeling crept over her.
"Then, who will take command on the front lines tomorrow—"
"Princess."
Lohengrin, sitting in Arandel's place, placed a hand on his chest and spoke with a confident expression.
"Leave it to me."
"..."
The princess thought to herself.
I need to do something about this.
***
"That's why I came to see you, Isaac."
"..."
Isaac looked at the princess, who had come to his tent, with an awkward expression.
He couldn't entirely blame her for blatantly ignoring Lohengrin, but…
'He really doesn't have her trust at all.'
It seemed Lohengrin was only seen as someone on the periphery of Helmut in Clarice's eyes.
"Please, I need you to lead the assault on the mansion tomorrow."
"Of course."
Until now, Isaac had only been observing from the rear, following Arandel's orders.
But now that Arandel was no longer here, Isaac felt a slight thrill at the thought of finally drawing his sword in real combat.
Not to mention, he wanted to fulfill the promise he had made to Polo in the north with his own hands.
At Isaac's answer, Clarice's face brightened.
"Thank you! I feel a bit less anxious now. I'll go talk to Silverna, so please work well together tomorrow."
With that, Clarice left the tent.
Since Silverna wasn't on the front lines with Isaac either, she would likely welcome the news.
"Hmm."
After the princess left, Isaac quietly pulled out a book.
He skimmed through the worn-out margins of the book, then clicked his tongue.
'It's not enough.'
He took out another blank book.
The empty pages.
The silent pen moved calmly yet swiftly, filling the margins.
About the astonishingly grand and magnificent swordsmanship he had witnessed from both sides today.
He planned to first unravel everything in the book, then sort out what he could absorb or use for himself.
Though it had only been about ten minutes of swordplay,
Isaac's book was already densely filling up with notes.
"Hmm, fascinating."
Just then, a woman's voice came from behind him.
Isaac, who usually couldn't notice his surroundings when focused, had to admit that this time, the woman had concealed her presence exceptionally well.
She had managed to slip past the knights stationed around and reach him.
"...!"
Startled, he turned his head to see the Grand Master leaning on her chin, peeking at his book from behind.
"How incredibly detailed. It's almost embarrassing."
"If you can sneak in like this, why did you show up so openly during the day?"
"Tsk tsk, how could a woman visit a man's quarters at night?"
"..."
"Hmm, Arandel would've noticed immediately. But I heard he left the frontlines for treatment?"
It was supposed to be top secret, but how did she know?
Isaac decided not to ask.
"So, the fact that you were watching me so intently must mean you have something to say.
Coincidentally, I also have something I wish to hear."
"How are your injuries?"
Believing she would come, he had prepared bandages and disinfectant, which he now took out.
"They are not fine."
The Grand Master didn't refuse.
That alone showed how severe the wounds Arandel had inflicted were.
Looking at the crude bandage made from large leaves haphazardly pressed against the wound, Isaac thought it might actually be making things worse.
As she treated the visible wounds, Isaac spoke.
"Tomorrow, we're scheduled to assault Blackson."
"Hmm? I know. But don't misunderstand—I really have no connection with those—"
"Please help us."
"...Huh?"
"We need your help."
The Grand Master's ears twitched as if to confirm she had heard correctly.