Chapter 39

"You wanted to take it easy on us? Ha! Don't make me laugh, you wimp. You think catching me off guard makes you stronger?" Myre's voice carried a venomous edge, a visible vein throbbing on his forehead.

"We planned to go easy on you, but since you're still clueless, we'll just cripple you like your pathetic father," Myre sneered while infusing his training sword with a pulsating aura.

"H-huh, Myre using sword aura? That's overkill. We only have a low-grade potion; it won't heal him if we go too hard," Keeryl stammered, sensing Myre's intentions were escalating far beyond their initial plans.

"Shut up! He's not even a direct line member, even among collaterals he's the lowest of the low. Even if we cripple him, no one will care," Myre snapped, shooting a menacing glare at Keeryl.

"Blame your stupid arrogance," Ken chimed in, locking eyes with Klaus as he, too, infused his sword with an ominous aura, leaving Keeryl with no choice but to follow suit.

"Kneel and beg like the insignificant ant you are, and maybe I'll go easy on you," Myre taunted, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Hmm," Klaus looked at the three boys, their swords gleaming, with a calm expression. He was backed against a wall, and the trio was ten steps away.

"Come at me already," Klaus beckoned with his left hand.

"You arrogant insect!" Myre charged at full speed toward Klaus, aiming his training sword at Klaus's left shoulder.

"Roger that!" Ken charged, targeting Klaus's right side, and Keeryl followed suit, aiming for Klaus's left leg.

For an instant, Klaus admired their coordinated assault; it left him almost no space to dodge. Klaus then opened the three eyes of the Ten Eyes Mantra, magic circles spinning violently in his mind's eyes as he silently cast spells.

Third circle magic: Hyper Reflex

Third circle magic: Slow Vision

After multicasting spells for just what looked like a split second, the three boys in front of him appeared to be running toward him in slow motion. He first redirected Myre's sword by slightly twisting Myre's hand; the sword's trajectory changed and clashed against Ken's sword which was aimed at his right side. He leaped to evade Keeryl's strike at his left leg, and on his descent, he aimed his left elbow at Keeryl's head, sending him crashing to the ground.

As their swords clashed against each other instead of Klaus's body, Myre and Ken instinctively stepped back. Keeryl tried to rise, but Klaus shot him a sinister look and kicked his leg into his face.

"Sleep a little bit," were the last words he heard before he fainted.

Myre and Ken's expressions turned from confusion to terror.

'What is this guy…?' the two boys thought in unison. They couldn't fathom how a human being possessed reflexes like that. Their combined attacks were flawless, yet Klaus effortlessly evaded them and took down one of them in seconds.

Klaus's glacial blue eyes shone in the dim corridor, giving the boys goosebumps.

"Come on, guys, let's go for a second round," Klaus declared, his tone sending shivers down their spines.

"Ken, let's use that," Myre suggested, the two boys taking deep breaths to steady their nerves.

"Let's see if you can evade that," Myre challenged before adopting a different stance. He concentrated his aura on his sword, causing it to surge like a volcano. Ken mirrored his actions, and the atmosphere around them changed.

{You better evade that}, Greed warned, as the two boys stamped the ground, leaving cracks behind, and closed the gap with Klaus.

Imperial Sword Technique, Combine Move: Twin Slash

SLASH!

Their swords cut through the air in an X-shaped motion, aiming for Klaus with intense power.

'Not bad!' Klaus thought with enthusiasm before employing another spell.

Third Circle Magic: Blink

In an instant, Klaus teleported ten steps behind the two boys, letting their swords clash against the wall where he stood moments ago.

Brrrrrrr

Their swords violently slashed the wall, leaving a massive X mark.

"Where did he go?"

"He just disappeared; how did he do that?"

The boys spoke in confusion before Klaus's cold voice made them turn behind.

"That was quite dangerous; I could have been seriously injured if that attack landed. Lionhart isn't famous for nothing, I guess. Even young brats like you already know this kind of destructive swordsmanship. Brace yourself; it's my turn to attack now," Klaus declared, concentrating natural mana on his fist.

Using Blink, he appeared in front of Ken, landing a powerful blow in his stomach. Ken's eyes rolled back in shock before he crumpled at Klaus's feet. Myre flinched as Klaus appeared out of nowhere beside him.

"It's your turn now," Klaus said, a chilling smile playing on his lips.