Chapter 162: Chapter 161: An Arduous Battle

At first glance, the so-called Centurion’s stance was riddled with openings.

Colin tentatively stepped forward and swung his sword.

However, the Skeleton Centurion reacted with extreme speed. It precisely parried the tip of Colin’s sword with a backhanded block from its Bronze Wrist Guard, while the Bronze Short Sword in its other hand thrust forward without a moment’s hesitation.

"My turn!"

Kase roared, raising his Shield to block the strike. He barely managed to deflect the thrusting Short Sword and simultaneously swung his Battle Axe in a fierce backhand chop at his opponent’s scapula.

Just as Colin was adjusting his footing to attack again, Kase staggered. The Half-Orc’s massive body slammed into him, forcefully shoving him aside.

’A Half-Orc would never do something to hinder a companion,’ Colin thought. ’The Skeleton’s Power must be immense. It shoved Kase into me with just one arm.’

Colin was forced to abandon his attack, hastily retreating several steps to create distance.

The sound of the Half-Orc’s heavy panting came from beside him, wisps of white steam rising from between his teeth.

The shouts, wails, and war cries of the Barbarians echoed from behind them.

Just as Colin was about to glance back and check on Orelia, the Centurion before him advanced once more.

Kase unhooked the Fishing Net from his waist and threw it, binding his opponent tightly. However, the Centurion simply reached out and grabbed it. The net, woven from some kind of sea plant, was instantly torn to shreds as if it were made of air.

It immediately swung its sword, striking the Insect Shell Shield.

The Insect Shell Shield, which had proven indestructible in every crisis before, let out a grating screech that set one’s teeth on edge. Even Kase, who never showed weakness against the strongest of foes, let out a muffled grunt and stumbled back two more steps.

Seeing the Centurion about to press its attack, Colin advanced again, simultaneously beginning his Casting.

Flowers of Flame blossomed on his blade.

Countless flowers of Flame danced in the air with the tiny snowflakes.

The burning blade struck the bone of the upper arm, between the opponent’s Arm Guard and pauldron, with a CRACK. At the same time, the remaining energy of the Emerald Flame Sword coiled around the blade, continuing to serve its master.

The impact felt strange, an indescribable sensation. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

With that thought, Colin quickly leaped back to a safe distance.

"This thing’s got more Power than that Gnolls Paladin... Seriously, it’s terrifyingly strong," Kase said in a low voice from behind his Shield. "We’ll have to fight it the same way we fought the Gnolls Paladin, but I can’t hold out for long, Colin my friend."

"There’s still a Caster in the distance. We’re in real trouble this time."

Colin glanced over at Kase.

The Half-Orc’s hands were trembling more violently than ever before. It was a fatal flaw. The stronger the enemy, the more severe Lady Rime’s Curse. ’Kase must be at his absolute limit!’

Just then, the Centurion strode toward them again.

As they had planned, Kase advanced with his Shield, closing in on the opponent’s right hand, which gripped the Short Sword.

Colin gripped his flaming Giant Sword and closed in from the other side.

Neither of them knew their odds of winning this fight, but they had no choice but to press on.

The moment Kase moved to engage, the Centurion kicked his Shield.

The previous single-handed blows had already taken their toll on the Half-Orc. This kick sent him stumbling, nearly making him lose his grip on the Shield.

The Centurion immediately followed up with another sword strike against the Shield, causing Kase’s Defense to falter.

Colin, of course, couldn’t just stand by and watch.

The Elf Giant Sword carved a fiery arc through the air.

CRACK!

In the next instant, the brilliant arc of fire came to an abrupt halt, unable to advance another inch.

The Centurion had reached out and caught the blade in its hand!

The Flame licked at the cracked phalanges of the Skeleton, scorching them black, but even with all his might, Colin couldn’t pull his weapon free.

Just as he was about to abandon the Giant Sword and draw his Hand Half Sword, a tremendous force shot through his arms. A swordsman’s instinct forced Colin to hold tight to the hilt. The world became a blur of sight and sound, and a sense of weightlessness seized his body as it spun out of control.

Colin realized his opponent had grabbed his sword and thrown him through the air.

He didn’t feel his body stop until a spray of white snow hit his face.

He pushed himself up from the ground and managed to get to his feet.

’Good thing my clothes are thick and the snow is deep. I wonder when I’ll stop getting thrown around like this... This is no time to think about that! I can’t let Kase face that damned Skeleton alone!’

As the thought flashed through his mind, Colin charged back toward the enemy.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Centurion smashed its sword against Kase’s Shield a few more times, then grabbed the Shield’s edge and ripped his opponent’s only protection away, clutching it in its hand.

Even from Colin’s angle, he could see the Half-Orc’s arm trembling violently, as if it were about to snap.

Without his Shield, his only defense against the powerful foe was the Axe in his hand. He was as vulnerable as a small boat in a raging storm.

"Over here, you stupid bag of bones!"

Colin yelled, trying to draw its attention.

The Emerald Flame Sword flared to life on his blade once more as he swung fiercely at the back of the creature’s neck.

The Centurion, still gripping the Shield, shifted its sword hand slightly to maintain balance.

Through Attack Prediction, Colin knew his opponent was about to spin and slam him with the Shield, but he had no time to react. This was the exact worst-case scenario he’d imagined when he first gained this Specialty.

A sharp CLANG rang out.

Colin stumbled several steps to his left, managing to stay on his feet only by planting his Giant Sword into the ground for support.

Only then did the delayed, searing pain from the Shield’s impact on his shoulder arrive.

Its turn complete, his opponent gave him no time to recover. The Bronze Short Sword, clutched in its bony fist, rose high for another strike.

Colin planted his feet.

His greatly increased Swordsmanship Skill Level and his Sword Dance state allowed him to raise his Giant Sword, precisely meeting the Short Sword’s Weak Sword Body with his own Strong Sword Body.

The two swords crashed together in a shower of sparks.

The blow forced Colin back several more steps. The web of his thumb, already numb, sent a tremor of fear through him.

’Has Kase been dealing with this kind of force the whole time?’ he wondered. ’I can’t even imagine what this thing was like when it was alive.’

Having driven Colin back, the Centurion ignored the Half-Orc relentlessly striking its back with his Axe. It stepped forward again, raising its Short Sword for another swing.

’Blocking is the only option I have left!’

Colin prepared to do the same, once again trying to parry with his Giant Sword.

But just as their weapons were about to meet, the Centurion flicked its wrist. Its standard grip on the Short Sword instantly became a reverse grip, and the downward-pointing blade slipped past the Giant Sword’s block.

Through the eye slits of his Helmet, Colin could only watch as the clenched, skeletal fist flew toward his face.

He heard a metallic clang right next to his ear.

A riot of sensations—sour, salty, sweet, and metallic—erupted in his nose. Hot tears streamed from his eyes, and his eyelids felt glued shut.

It felt as if that single punch had shattered his world.