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Chapter 10
“Valhalla—!”
[You crazy descendant, shut up already!]
But Ancestor, my warrior’s blood is boiling right now!
Blocking, stabbing, slashing—
Ktoon tore through the battlefield like a wolf thrown into a flock of sheep.
He wasn’t displaying the kind of flashy heroics sung about in legends, but in a small-scale battlefield like this, that alone was enough to change the tide.
After Ktoon, the next most active combatant was Golgol.
“Golgoooool!”
Who said skeletons were just clanking tin cans?
‘My Golgol is a growth-type skeleton.’
Just as Golgol’s training had strengthened Ktoon, Ktoon’s experience also strengthened Golgol.
At first, it had only been slightly better than a conscript, but through rapidly accumulated combat experience, it had undergone explosive growth.
Ktoon strengthened Golgol.
Golgol strengthened Ktoon.
A perfect virtuous cycle.
At this point, even Ark had no choice but to acknowledge it.
[…Well, I suppose… you do have some talent.]
Ktoon’s talent with the sword.
At first, Ark had thought it was just the result of Golgol’s training bonus, but now that he was watching real combat, Ktoon’s aptitude was genuinely impressive.
Even by the standards of someone who once hunted dragons alongside legendary heroes, it wasn’t bad at all.
That was why—
‘Damn it… this kid should’ve inherited the greatsword and divine blessing.’
It was frustrating.
Why did his bloodline awaken the blessing of death instead?
But since what had awakened couldn’t be undone, Ark decided to focus on the present.
[Calm down and breathe. Slowly. Yes. Blocking and stabbing blindly isn’t everything. You need to think about what comes after.]
Ark stood beside Ktoon, guiding him.
Power alone wasn’t enough.
[Advance and retreat… hmm?]
Then, in an instant, Ark sensed something wrong.
A rapidly approaching presence.
[Descendant!]
“Valha—! Huh?!”
Ktoon hastily raised his shield.
Too late!
His hair stood on end as cold sweat ran down his back.
Am I going to die?
The alarm blared in his head.
The incoming blade filled his vision as time seemed to slow.
And then—
“GOLGOOOOL!”
It was Golgol.
Sensing his master’s danger, Golgol threw himself forward without hesitation.
The incoming blade—his fragile body would never withstand it.
But he didn’t hesitate.
Because his life belonged to his master.
‘Golgol… Golgol…!’
His final cry echoed inside him.
CRASH!
Golgol’s brittle body shattered into pieces, scattering across the ground.
Even his skull flew free as his vision spun wildly.
Yet even then, Golgol searched for his master.
‘Golgol…!’
Ah… thank goodness.
Master was alive.
“GOLGOL—!”
Hearing that desperate scream, Golgol felt nothing but joy.
Because he had protected his master.
* * *
The sudden turn of events left me gasping for breath.
What just happened?
…Right. The ambush.
The sudden blade.
And Golgol throwing himself in front of it.
The result—Golgol was shattered, and I survived.
He sacrificed himself for me.
“So… a necromancer, huh.”
The man who killed Golgol spoke casually, smiling.
“You…”
The bastard.
“Killed Golgol and you’re smiling?”
[That’s him. The one standing beside Baron Hardion.]
I knew that already.
What I wanted was his name.
The name of the man who killed Golgol.
“Zeke. I’m the one assigned to escort the young lord. But I’m curious—Paladins are known for greatswords and divine power. Necromancy? Are you really of Paladin blood?”
Zeke.
So that was his name.
I didn’t answer.
He wasn’t asking out of curiosity.
And neither was I.
‘You killed Golgol…’
Unforgivable.
“You’d best not struggle. Surrender quietly and I’ll ensure decent treatment.”
“Go to hell.”
I kicked off the ground.
[Idiot! Now’s the time to retreat!]
I ignored him.
Retreat?
Who decides that?
“A warrior does not turn away from a fallen comrade!”
“Tch. What a shame.”
He stepped forward.
A flashing blade!
But I expected it.
Clang!
“Huh? What kind of shield is that?”
“Your dad!”
I roared and charged, shield first.
I wasn’t charging blindly.
‘If he’s really comparable to Lord Balt…’
Then there was only one choice.
Fight.
Swordsmanship wouldn’t work.
So I trusted this shield.
If it could block a dragon’s breath, it could block his blade.
And just as I expected—
“I’ll finish this in one—!”
Clang! KRAAANG!
He stumbled back, groaning in pain.
The recoil had thrown him off balance.
[Good! Keep pushing! Don’t give him distance!]
I rushed him like a battering ram.
Of course, I was nervous.
A skilled swordsman could slip a blade past the shield at close range.
But I was—
‘A noble!’
And in medieval warfare, you don’t kill nobles easily.
That first strike probably wasn’t meant to kill me.
But—
“GOLGOL—!”
“You’re Golgol’s murderer!”
“Guh—!”
[That’s it! Keep pushing!]
I slammed into him repeatedly.
It wasn’t refined swordsmanship.
It was brute-force madness.
But it worked.
Even so, he was strong.
He regained balance.
Then—
“Enough!”
He planted himself like a wall and pushed back.
The advantage lasted less than a minute.
Soon we were locked in a contest of strength.
[Use your shoulder! Right foot forward! Lower your stance! Lower your center of gravity!]
“Hngh!”
I followed his instructions.
But he was a knight.
No matter how gifted I was, he was a veteran trained purely for combat.
‘I’m losing…!’
He pushed me back.
I had only moments to act.
But how?
If I attacked, I’d lose balance.
If I lost balance, I’d die.
Then—
“Haah!”
“Ghk—!”
I was suddenly flung back.
[Roll! Roll with it!]
I did as told, rolling and springing up.
Just in time.
CLANG!
The shield blocked another deadly strike.
No impact.
No pain.
What kind of absurd physics was this?!
But no time to think.
“You brought this on yourself!”
His blade flashed again.
[Don’t block individual strikes—block the path!]
“Valhalla…!”
I obeyed blindly.
Left. Right. Fake. Left again.
[Good! Now rise! His breathing is off!]
I moved without thinking.
And only then did it hit me—
‘This is what it means to fight a knight like Balt…’
Without this shield, or my ancestor’s guidance, I’d be dead.
“VALHALLA!”
I roared.
Equipment mattered.
And I had the best.
[Now’s the real fight! He’s adapting!]
His attacks became sharper.
Stronger.
I started getting clipped.
Blood splattered.
It hurt.
Badly.
But—
[He’s not trying to kill you! Endure!]
Fine.
Then I’ll endure.
But I had to end this.
Then—
“I’ll finish this!”
His blade glowed.
[It’s Aura! Brace yourself!]
I did.
BOOM!
It felt like being hit by a battering ram.
I nearly lost consciousness.
But I refused to fall.
Not before avenging Golgol.
“VALHALLA! GOLGOL—LEND ME YOUR STRENGTH!”
[You idiot! Breathe!]
I couldn’t hear him.
I lowered my shield and charged.
[You lunatic!]
“What—?!”
He hesitated.
Just for a moment.
“VALHALLAAAA!”
His blade pierced my shoulder.
Pain exploded.
But I kept going.
Then—
Clatter.
Bone fragments flew up.
Golgol’s remains wrapped around my shoulder.
[Bone Armor!]
“What—?!”
“Die! For Golgol!”
I stabbed with everything I had.
This was our strike.
Mine and Golgol’s.
Our final blow.
Thud.
My sword pierced him.
