Chapter 46 - 19: [Blood Steel and Nether Copper]

Chapter 46: Chapter 19: [Blood Steel and Nether Copper]

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! The blood-red steel sword and the eerie cyan Copper Knight Sword repeatedly clashed under the twin moons. Sparked by the metallic flame reaction, cyan-blue sparks burst forth like fireworks.

The burning, radiant gas cloud from the Lighting Potion Bottle hovered high in the sky. It illuminated the ruined walls of the ancient Empire’s beacon tower and the piled-up cargo, lighting the camp as bright as day.

[Scanner activated.]

A complex data panel popped up on the eerie cyan illusory screen.

[Target Race: Human]

[Biological Structural Integrity: 93%]

[Stamina: 87%]

[Spiritual Energy: 73%]

"Identification Magic? You still have the leisure to cast instant Identification Magic to provoke me? Are you insulting me like this?" The Bandit Leader Warrior raised his blood-red Longsword, delivering rapid consecutive slashes from top to bottom. "Where have you hidden your Rune Stones and Catalysts?"

Samael ignored him, simply raising his Nether Copper Shield to defend. After all, he was a newly arrived Transmigrator. Despite possessing stats far superior to his enemy’s, his combat skills were nowhere near as proficient as the Bandit Leader Warrior’s.

CLANG! CLANG! The blood-red Longsword struck continuously with precision and power. Every single strike smashed the sword tip’s curved edge and barb firmly and ruthlessly into the exact same spot on the shield! A series of unceasing impacts and bursting sparks crackled densely, like roasting beans. The surface of the Nether Copper Shield was forcefully pecked into a small dent by the blade’s curved edge. However, thanks to the shield’s ridiculously thick profile, its overall structure remained incredibly sturdy.

[Body Status Detection:]

[Stamina: 99%]

[Stamina: 98%]

[Stamina: 97%]

The shield in Samael’s hand vibrated, but it remained steady under his immense Undead grip. His total stamina bar was just too long, and his recovery speed was absurdly fast—he was practically a tireless mechanical Undead. Such a dense barrage of continuous attacks would be enough to catch any enemy off guard, draining the stamina of an ordinary shield-bearing Warrior to zero, shattering their shield, or forcing them to drop it. For Samael, however, it merely scraped the very end of his stamina bar.

[Scanner activated.]

[Biological Posture Detection: Precision Combo]

[Executes rapid, dense, and consecutive high-precision strikes on a single location to forcibly create a posture opening in a high-defense target, or to carve, process, forge, hammer-shape, and excavate hard materials.]

[Database updated. Recorded to "Artificial Life Studies - Biological Posture Assets" content library. Available for execution.]

Samael realized this was something like a combat skill that could be used for fighting, as well as for forging and excavating. Seizing an opportunity, he delivered a backhanded shield bash with his left hand to knock the opponent’s sword tip away. This interrupted the man’s combo posture, and Samael suddenly swung his sword with his right hand.

[Calling upon Biological Posture Asset: Precision Combo.]

[Target location locked: Throat.]

Assuming the exact same posture, the eerie cyan Nether Copper Knight Sword launched a dense barrage of precise, fierce thrusts. Every single strike aimed directly at the Bandit Leader Warrior’s throat!

Startled, the Bandit Leader Warrior scrambled to raise his blood-red Longsword to block.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! The Bandit Leader Warrior was indeed an excellent Warrior. Gripping the hilt with one hand and supporting the flat of the blade with the other, he used the heavy, broad face of his blood-red sword as a shield. He barely managed to brace it near his throat to block the three rapid, precise pecks. Taking advantage of the momentum, he retreated backward, swiftly dodging out of the Knight Sword’s attack range.

"Intentionally mocking and humiliating me, are you?" he said with a gloomy expression. "First it was Identification Magic, and now you’re using a shield-breaking and armor-piercing combat skill meant for heavily armored targets against me? Just to mimic my moves?"

He abruptly dashed forward. With a nimble sidestep, he evaded the Knight Sword’s slash, closing in and bypassing the shield. He followed up with a backhanded upward thrust that struck Samael’s sword-wielding forearm, but it merely left two shallow, greenish-white marks on the arm guard. Samael swung his shield back in a backhanded swat, but the bandit leader evaded it with a low crouch, retreating out of attack range once again.

[Biological Posture Detection: Footwork Focus]

[Forcibly concentrates attention for a short period, enhancing body balance, coordination speed, and evasion capabilities to achieve rapid maneuvering and agile dashes. Commonly used in complex dance steps, high-risk acrobatics, parkour over complex terrain, and one-on-one duels. Frequent use causes mental fatigue, equivalent to consuming Spiritual Energy.]

[Database updated. Recorded to "Artificial Life Studies - Biological Posture Assets" content library. Available for execution.]

Samael swiped the notification bar on the UI aside and snorted. A Level 5 Adventurer really did have some skills. He had never detected anything resembling combat skills from low-level adventurers like Randall.

"What’s your background, huh?" The Bandit Leader Warrior cautiously raised his sword, carefully circling outside of the attack range to test the waters. "Your sword, shield, and armor... must be forged from an unknown Demonized metal. Otherwise, how could they possibly withstand so many slashes from a Blood Steel Blade?"

Samael did not answer. He merely raised his shield in silence and gripped his sword, slowly advancing toward the bandit leader. CLANK, CLANK. The sound of colliding metal pressed forward with the unhurried composure of an armored tank.

Forced to slowly retreat a few steps, the Bandit Leader Warrior circled around, biding his time.

"Did that lord send you? Why?" he asked. "No, according to our deal, I haven’t even completed the task he wanted. Why would he kill me now?"

Silence. Only the cold, light clinks of metal answered him.

The Bandit Leader Warrior took a deep breath. Raising his hand, he tore off the cumbersome Desert Beast Hide Robe, revealing the slightly rusted Lightweight Lock Armor and breastplate underneath. He held the robe horizontally and let go, allowing the fur-lined beast hide robe to fall with the night wind.