Chapter 180. The Knight’s Assault (3)
“Allow me to show you the power of Galatine, the sister sword of the holy sword Excalibur!”
The man codenamed Gawain charged in a straight line.
Joo Minha fired magic bullets to keep him in check, but he either blocked them with his sword or simply took the hits with his body.
His defense is no joke!
It was comparable to the Chinese Contractors who fought while wrapped in [Protective Aura].
Kang Yujin clenched his fists and prepared to meet Gawain head-on.
“Haaap!”
Gawain swung his sword.
Wrapped in sword qi, the blade came down on Kang Yujin with terrifying force.
BOOM!
Kang Yujin barely dodged, but the impact split the road around him with a thunderous crash.
[D-rank Constellation ‘Ghost Who Burned the Tower’ is shocked by the tremendous attack power.]
[B-rank Constellation ‘Young Master Who Commands Goblins’ marvels at the overwhelming sword qi.]
His attack power is incredible too!
If that had hit him directly, Kang Yujin would have taken serious damage.
The man standing before him was stronger than any swordsman he had fought until now.
That Constellation Armament, Galatine, seems powerful too... Is it amplifying his sword qi?
Gawain’s sword seemed comparable to Durandal, the weapon Cheon Sangwoon had once wielded.
If Kang Yujin had been skilled with a sword, he might have pulled Durandal from his Inventory and fought blade against blade.
Unfortunately, swordsmanship was not his specialty.
He couldn’t afford to engage in a sword fight.
Even with [Protective Aura], this is dangerous.
Then...
Kang Yujin extended one hand to the side while trying to gauge Gawain’s skill.
“Haaap!”
At that moment, Gawain’s full-power strike came crashing down.
BOOM!
A shockwave blasted through the surroundings.
But Gawain’s eyes widened in surprise.
“You blocked that?!”
Kang Yujin had deflected the attack with both hands.
Of course...
he wasn’t barehanded.
He had pulled the [Saint’s Divine Fist] from his Inventory and equipped it.
With these gloves, I can defend against him!
If he combined the defensive power of the [Saint’s Divine Fist] with [Protective Aura], he could block even Gawain’s Galatine.
As long as he met the blade with his fists, at least.
“Haaat!”
Gawain continued attacking.
But Kang Yujin intercepted every strike with his fists.
By using everything he had refined in China while fighting people like Yang Weizheng, he could respond to all of Gawain’s attacks.
“Excellent!”
Gawain shouted cheerfully.
“You truly are as skilled as the rumors say!”
“You’ve heard about me?”
“Of course!”
Even though every one of his attacks was being blocked, Gawain still looked completely relaxed.
“The strongest man in the East!”
“The man who pacified Korea in an instant, defeated the ruler of Japan, and proved his strength before the whole world in China!”
His voice sounded genuinely delighted.
“Simply being able to fight someone like you is an honor!”
“And if I defeat you here, I’ll gain an even greater honor!”
“You’re awfully positive...!”
Kang Yujin knocked aside another heavy strike and suddenly retreated.
At that exact moment, Joo Minha’s magic bullets rained down over Gawain’s head.
Using that opening, Kang Yujin activated [Circular Step] and slipped around Gawain’s flank.
Ordinary attacks won’t even scratch him...!
Kang Yujin stamped down with Zhenjiao and punched.
He concentrated the internal energy that had grown explosively during his time in China.
Then he drove [Heavenly Splendor Great Thunder] directly into Gawain’s side.
BOOOOM!
The instant the punch landed, energy erupted like lightning and swallowed Gawain’s body.
He was hurled backward and smashed into a utility pole.
“Whew...”
Kang Yujin bit his lip as the pole came crashing down with a tremendous noise.
“Lord Kang Yujin.”
"..."
“I believe some kind of defensive magic is protecting him.”
Joo Minha’s voice came from behind.
“That level of defense would be difficult to achieve with a Contractor’s own abilities alone.”
Kang Yujin stared at Gawain.
Even after taking [Heavenly Splendor Great Thunder] head-on...
Gawain stood back up as though nothing serious had happened.
“Well now... I’ll probably be sore for a while.”
“I suppose I’ll have to ask my younger brother for a massage.”
“You have a brother?”
“My younger brother.”
“He uses the codename Gareth.”
“What kind of organization are you people part of that you all use codenames?”
This man was probably allied with whoever had attacked the Golden Ram Order headquarters.
That attacker was also said to be white.
Most likely, this was an organization from the West.
“You mentioned the 007 series and Kingsman earlier.”
Joo Minha spoke from behind.
“And both Gawain and Gareth are members of the Knights of the Round Table.”
“Are you from Britain?”
“It would be rather awkward if I said all that and then told you I was from France or Germany.”
Gawain smiled.
“I’ll answer your question.”
“We belong to an organization called ‘Round.’”
“Round... as in the Round Table?”
Joo Minha narrowed her eyes.
“Then using the names of the Knights of the Round Table as codenames makes sense.”
“Do all of your members have codenames identical to their contracted Constellations?”
“Those who are granted codenames do.”
“For example...”
Gawain turned and looked across the river.
“The Lancelot attacking your headquarters is contracted to the A-rank Constellation ‘Knight of the Cart,’ Lancelot.”
"...!"
So the Golden Ram Order headquarters really was being attacked by one of this man’s allies.
If that Lancelot was anywhere near Gawain’s level...
the damage could be severe.
Lee Jukheon had better get there in time...
As Kang Yujin worried about his companion, Joo Minha asked another question.
“Why is this organization called Round attacking us?”
“Britain is quite far from here.”
“We haven’t exactly done anything to earn your hatred.”
“I can’t explain everything.”
Gawain shrugged.
“But distance doesn’t matter much anymore, does it?”
“You people have already become international figures.”
"..."
“And... hmm.”
Gawain nodded to himself and raised his sword.
“Our Round has already eliminated four Vessels in Europe.”
Kang Yujin and Joo Minha both sucked in a breath.
“You killed four Vessels?”
“That’s right.”
“They were all formidable enemies.”
The fact that four Vessels had existed somewhere in distant Europe was shocking enough.
But this organization called Round had killed them all?
“Then...”
Kang Yujin glared at Gawain.
“Did you come here to kill me too?”
“As the next Vessel on your list?”
“Hmm.”
Gawain rubbed his chin with his left hand.
“That isn’t something I have the authority to reveal carelessly.”
“However...”
“If you fall to me here, then in the end, that would be the result.”
At that moment...
the sword qi pouring from Galatine suddenly faded.
No.
More precisely...
it compressed onto the surface of the blade.
That’s... sword aura!
The Sword Venerable had shown it to Kang Yujin briefly in China.
He had explained that sword aura was created by compressing ordinary sword qi until it coated the surface of the blade.
Of course, not just anyone could do it.
And ordinary weapons couldn’t withstand sword aura.
They would simply crumble.
But sword aura was much harder and sharper than ordinary sword qi...
and several times more destructive.
