The Immortal Genius Spearman

Chapter 152

"Perhaps this might be one of the most meaningful periods of my life," Damian said, his expression much lighter compared to when he first arrived.

Villipt, watching him, responded with a satisfied smile.

"Time passed faster than I expected."

"Yes, when I return, I suspect my unit will scold me a lot for being away so long," Damian replied with a chuckle.

He felt genuine gratitude toward Villipt. Despite having no prior connection, Villipt had offered him heartfelt advice and unwavering support.

And then...

Swoosh.

"Thank you so much, Hainel," Damian said, bowing his head as he addressed Hainel.

For Damian, Hainel was akin to his first teacher in this new life.

Whether Hainel felt the same was unclear, but Damian deeply regarded him as a mentor.

Without expecting anything in return, Hainel had guided him to this point.

Hearing Damian’s heartfelt thanks, Hainel laughed softly.

"Haha, I should be thanking you. To be honest, I didn’t expect you to do so well."

Hainel’s laughter carried genuine joy at Damian’s growth.

Though he had deemed Damian talented, he sometimes worried he had pushed him too hard.

"Thank you for enduring so well. And… I hope you’ll continue to work hard for the kingdom."

"I will," Damian replied, bowing deeply before climbing onto his horse.

"I’ll be sure to visit again."

"Hahaha, take care on your way back."

"Stay safe, Damian," Villipt added.

With their farewells, Damian left Hainel’s secluded forest villa.

As he rode back to his unit, Damian recalled his final duel with Hainel.

Aura clashing against Aura.

The immense pressure he had felt during their exchange.

He now understood that in his current state, using Aura was limited to a single instance.

This realization had become clear after clashing with Hainel.

"Now I understand why even Aura Masters have limits when it comes to Aura."

Unlike simply exerting mana with force, wielding Aura imposed an overwhelming burden on the body.

It wasn’t just exhausting—it was frightening enough to make one feel as though their body might break if they pushed too far.

But Damian resolved to overcome this with future training and adaptation.

Just breaking through the wall that had blocked him for so long was enough.

"I can grow even stronger from here."

This thought fueled his motivation as he headed back to his unit.

Already, the thought of reuniting with his comrades quickened his pulse.

***

Srrrng.

The sharp sound of two swords crossing rang out, and Ganus' eyes wavered.

Ganus Miltaine.

Though not part of the top ten knight orders of the kingdom, he was still the captain of the middle-ranked Guardian Knights.

Within the kingdom, he was recognized for his considerable skill and leadership, earning him a solid reputation.

If not for a personal request from Leonhark, he would never have sparred with a soldier from a regular unit.

But now…

"W-what is this skill…?!"

The Caion Unit.

He knew of their recent exploits, which had shaken the kingdom with their extraordinary achievements.

But still, they were merely a regular infantry unit.

Even as an independent unit, there had to be a clear difference between them and a knight order.

Most regular soldiers couldn’t even wield mana.

But this one was different.

Whirr!

The faint vibration of blue energy enveloped the soldier’s sword, radiating a sharp glow.

And that wasn’t all.

His control over mana was nothing short of extraordinary.

Every movement precisely directed mana to where it was needed, a level of skill that, upon honest reflection—

"It’s better than mine…"

Ganus clenched his teeth, gripping his sword and shield tightly.

The thought of having to raise his shield against a deputy commander of a regular unit gnawed at him.

"Haah!"

Letting out a fierce shout, Ganus swung his sword in a powerful arc from above.

The strike was swift and fluid, so much so that most soldiers wouldn’t even have the reflexes to see it coming.

But…

"…I can see it."

Dianal twisted his body to the side, his sharp eyes locked onto the incoming sword.

Shifting his weight forward as if falling, he planted his left foot firmly on the ground.

Thud!

The movement carried him swiftly behind Ganus with a gliding motion.

"Wh-what?!"

From Ganus' restricted view beneath his helmet, it was as if Dianal had vanished.

Panicked, Ganus whipped his head around.

His ability to defend himself in such a situation attested to his skill as a knight.

However, he couldn’t defend everywhere.

Swish!

"…!"

A chill ran down Ganus' spine as he sensed an attack from behind. He spun around, swinging his sword desperately—

Slash!

But it struck only empty air.

Dianal had evaded again, his blade now gleaming as it targeted Ganus.

Boom!

"Argh!"

Ganus managed to block with his shield, but the force sent a sharp pain shooting through his wrist as though it had been shattered.

It wasn’t even a greatsword, yet how could it pack such destructive power?

"That sword… there’s something different about it."

But more than the weapon itself, the way Dianal wielded it was unlike any style Ganus had ever encountered.

It was a swordsmanship that prioritized extreme speed.

Yet, it wasn’t merely fast.

The sheer power Dianal’s speed generated was overwhelming.

In short, it was a combination of breathtaking speed and immense destructive force.

"But…!"

The Guardian Knights' captain, Ganus, couldn’t allow himself to lose to a mere soldier from an ordinary infantry unit.

Whirrr!

Ganus' sword began to glow with a brilliant blue aura, as if charged with fierce energy ready to repel Dianal’s blade in one decisive motion.

However, Dianal’s sharp gaze remained locked on him, unwavering.

Swoosh!

In a seamless motion, Dianal evaded Ganus' sword once again and moved to his side, his quick steps denying Ganus any opportunity to clash blades.

It was as if Dianal was determined not to allow Ganus even the slightest opening.

"Focus the mana in your legs when moving…"

Dianal’s thoughts raced constantly as he executed his moves.

When speed was required, he channeled mana into his legs to maximize mobility. For his attacks, he directed a precise ratio of mana into his blade.

Watching him, Leonhark smiled with satisfaction.

"The outcome… has already been decided."

Ganus could no longer keep up with Dianal’s movements.

Burdened by his heavy armor and shield, his stamina was depleting at an accelerated rate.

The evidence was clear—Ganus was finding it increasingly difficult to block Dianal’s attacks.

Swish!

Dianal swung his sword upward in a sharp arc.

Clang!

"Ugh!"

Ganus managed to block with his shield but stumbled backward from the force of the attack.

Yet, Dianal’s assault wasn’t over.

Whirl!

Leaping into the air, Dianal spun like a whirlwind, his blade striking Ganus' shield repeatedly in rapid succession.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The relentless barrage unfolded in mere moments, overwhelming Ganus.

"Aagh!"

Staggering, Ganus' legs tangled, and he fell heavily onto the ground.

"Damn!"

Realizing his position, Ganus hurriedly attempted to rise.

But before he could—

Swoosh.

Dianal’s sword was already poised inches away from his helmet, unmoving.

If Dianal had applied just a fraction more force, the blade would have pierced through.

"…I’ve lost," Ganus admitted, lowering his head in defeat.

Hearing this, Dianal bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you for taking the time, Captain Ganus."

Then he extended a hand toward him.

Ganus shook his head in disbelief.

"How can a deputy commander from a regular infantry unit be this strong? And that mana control…."

Ganus looked at Dianal, his face a mixture of amazement and frustration.

At this, Leonhark approached Ganus with a grin.

"Thank you for sparring with him. But tell me—what do you think of his skills?"

"…If you’re not mocking me, please don’t ask such questions, Instructor. You saw how pitifully I lost."

"Haha, I wouldn’t tease you like that. I simply want your honest evaluation of his level."

"…Hmm."

Removing his helmet, Ganus let out a breath, shaking off the sweat-soaked strands of hair stuck to his forehead.

"In my opinion, he could comfortably rank among the top ten in the legion."

For Ganus, this was the highest praise he could offer.

After all, there were generals in the army who had risen to their positions based solely on sheer combat prowess.

Factoring in their presence, Ganus was effectively saying that most knights wouldn’t stand a chance against Dianal.

However, Leonhark sighed lightly at his response.

"Top ten in the legion… It seems there’s still a long way to go."

"Excuse me? Just how high is the bar you’re setting?" Ganus asked, his expression astonished.

Leonhark turned to Dianal.

"What about you? How would you answer?"

"I want to become the strongest in the legion," Dianal said without hesitation.

Even at that moment, his thoughts lingered on Damian.

"He’s probably growing even stronger as we speak."

If it was Damian, Dianal was certain he wasn’t aiming for just the legion—he was likely striving for the pinnacle of the entire kingdom.

That was the kind of person Damian was.

"Which is why I…"

Dianal clenched his fist.

Even after decisively defeating a mid-tier captain of the Guardian Knights, he still felt a sense of inadequacy.

"This is it."

This was the driving force behind their relentless growth.

It wasn’t just Dianal.

The unique characteristic of the Caion Unit was their overwhelming desire to grow stronger—a near-obsessive ambition to reach the top.

Leonhark smiled in satisfaction and addressed Ganus.

"I’ll visit the Guardian Knights again in the future. I hope I can repay the help you’ve given us."

"If the Instructor visits, my knights and I will be honored to welcome you. More than that… I’m looking forward to seeing what your unit, forged with all your passion, will achieve."

"Thank you."

Leonhark extended his hand for a handshake, which Ganus accepted with a smile.

"Let’s head back."

"Yes."

At Leonhark’s words, Dianal nodded.

Just then—

"Instructor Leonhark!"

"…?"

Leonhark turned, frowning slightly, as a soldier came running into the Guardian Knights’ training hall.

The soldier handed him a letter.

"A dispatch from the unit, marked urgent."

"…Urgent? From Valphate?"

"Yes, sir."

What could have prompted an urgent message from Valphate?

Leonhark opened the letter, and as he read its contents, his expression hardened.

Seeing this, Dianal asked, "What’s wrong?"

"It seems we need to return to the unit immediately."

Just when things had seemed calm for a while…

Leonhark and Dianal’s steps quickened as they made their way back to the unit.

At the same time—

"…They’re making their move."

Riding toward Valphate, Damian urged his horse to an even faster pace.