Chapter 74
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Chapter 74: Breaking the Blood Blade
The once-blue sky had turned gloomy, heavy with the scorching aftermath of the Forest of Gran’s inferno. Heaps of ash blown by the southern wind piled in alley corners, as if whispering tales of the fire’s ruthless devastation.
This was Tucker Town—a remote, thinly populated settlement within the Kafka family’s territory.
The closest human town to both the Forest of Gran and the Elven Kingdom.
Even Midi had originally planned to stay here, but he’d been ambushed before entering and later crossed paths with the Morning Star Mercenary Corps.
Now, stepping into the town, he sensed the cutthroat tension among adventurers.
Midi had expected a lively scene:
Taverns packed with adventurers, rumors about the forest and elves buzzing everywhere, stalls hawking rare treasures from expeditions, and artisans flocking to trade.
Yet despite the frenzy of exploration, the town felt eerily quiet.
All because of the Blood Blade Mercenary Corps.
Under their raids, only large mercenary groups could survive here—and even they had to band together for safety.
In the northeast, the One-Eyed and Mountain Wolf Mercenary Group shared a base. Each contributed fifty guards, leaving five hundred to explore the forest.
The southwest housed the Iron Blood Mercenary Corps, Hurricane Mercenary Corps, and Black Sword Mercenary Corps—a looser alliance where groups defended together but explored separately.
To the west lay the Blood Blade Mercenary Corps’ stronghold.
Midi walked the bleak streets, cold wind tangling his messy hair. He passed stone-faced adventurers and anxious townsfolk before reaching the Blood Blade’s base—or rather, a fortified compound.
They’d rented entire blocks, encircled them with high walls, and erected watchtowers. Though barred from ballistae, they bristled with heavy machine guns mounted on towers, their barrels glaring like a beast’s fangs.
Unfazed, Midi lingered at a street corner, observing.
A crow landed on his shoulder.
Robin rasped, “Boss, counted sixty to seventy inside. No more than seventy-five.”
“As expected,” Midi nodded.
The thirty men who’d chased Alyn the day before had been part of the base’s defense. Their deaths left the garrison weakened.
Still, Midi waited.
The crow circled overhead until returning later. “They’re here!” Robin croaked.
A caravan soon rolled into view—the Blood Blade’s supply convoy. Fifty guards escorted loot from the forest, swapping it for fresh gear, potions, food, scrolls, and automatons to resupply their main force.
Seventy or a hundred twenty foes meant little to Midi, but thinning their numbers now would ease future battles.
And the convoy carried ripe prizes. Why not pluck them?
As the caravan approached, the iron-reinforced door of the Blood Blade base creaked open. Two teams of adventurers rushed out to greet their arriving companions.
Using the watchtower’s broad view, the Blood Blade Mercenary Corps had spotted Midi earlier. But an ordinary-looking boy seemed no threat. They assumed he was just a scout from another mercenary corps – reasonable given Tucker Town’s tense atmosphere.
If this scout overstepped, they’d teach him a lesson. But the swordsman stood far away, likely just observing for reports.
They were wrong. Very wrong.
When the caravan met the stationed troops, Midi moved.
The plain-looking youth drew his pitch-black Black Sky sword, pointing its edge toward the enemies.
He chanted an obscure spell. Magic in the air suddenly froze, then swirled violently around him, forming a magic vortex.
A thin strand of Ultimate Intent flowed down his arm into his palm, through the sword hilt, and condensed at the blade’s tip. All magic vacuumed into this point.
The Black Sky sword hummed faintly before its edge blazed bright.
Midi flicked his wrist. The glowing point shot forward like an arrow – aimed straight at the base’s open door and clustered adventurers!
The spark gained speed, whistling as it grew from starlight to massive fireball, trailing crimson flames like an enraged dragon freed from its seal.
Asura skill: Explosive Flame Wave Sword.
Ultimate Intent enhanced version.
Now mastering Ultimate Intent, Midi could wield all Demon Swordman branches: Sword Soul, Ghost Cry, Asura, Berserker.
Sword Soul suppressed demon gods through self-enhancement and swordsmanship. Ghost Cry released them, combining aura with magic for wide-range demon arrays. Midi’s perfect fusion allowed both suppression and release.
Asura required blinding oneself for wave perception. Berserker demanded self-abandonment for Frenzy. Midi previously couldn’t use these – too costly.
But Ultimate Intent changed everything.
All powers merged into one – no aura, no magic, just pure Ultimate Intent surpassing any single ability.
No eye sacrifice for wave techniques. No lost self for power bursts. Mastering all four branches gave Midi unmatched flexibility in skills and tactics.
Now Asura’s traits suited this battle best.
Direct Ultimate Intent attack would be strongest, but that was his trump card – reserved for true threats.
Why break a nut with a sledgehammer?
An Ultimate Intent-powered Explosive Flame Wave Sword sufficed.
The arrogant Blood Blade Corps members panicked at the incoming fireball.
Too late.
A deafening roar shook the town. Iron-reinforced walls became paper. People, horses, buildings – all consumed by explosion.
Ten died instantly. Others flew dozens of meters, bleeding and unconscious. The gate vanished; nearby buildings burned in a Fire Sea.
The feared iron fortress now resembled a toothless fool.
No stealth, no tricks – Midi announced his arrival with overwhelming force.
