Bear School Astartes-Chapter 853 - 836: Pulling Back

After cutting with this sword, Lann put away the [Muddy Stream·Destruction].

When facing an enemy with superior basic qualities, this type of assault weapon can be used briefly to compensate for the pure power gap between them.

However, holding it for too long widens the gap in flexibility, agility, and reaction, ultimately proving counterproductive.

Rong Buqiu carefully approached Lann’s feet and looked up to ask.

"Is it over, meow?"

Lann shook his head while watching the dust in the Divine Hall that hadn’t settled in the air.

He switched the Lady of the Lake’s Sword from his left hand to his right and habitually spun the blade.

"Far from it."

As soon as these words fell, the sound of stones and metal being forcibly pushed echoed from the nearby dust and smoke.

The sound of breaking stones and the mournful creaking of metal were accompanied by steady footsteps.

Demos slowly emerged, stepping out over Athena’s statue.

The golden light of Yishu Technology on him was no longer scattered randomly; it seemed instead to be woven.

His armor became the base, covering his entire body.

He looked as if encased in reinforced armor made of golden light.

Corrosive dragon attribute energy clung to his head, covering the top and most of his face.

Yet he seemed indifferent, casually grabbing a finely embroidered tablecloth from a shattered stone altar to wipe his face.

The intricately made, expensive tablecloth, delicate in design, quickly turned to fine black ash under the dragon energy’s corrosive power.

However, after wiping, Demos’ face remained unharmed.

"This sword is formidable indeed."

Lann praised the power of Yishu Technology sincerely, holding the Lady of the Lake’s Sword.

"First it’s energy release, then it’s energy shielding."

Yet to Demos, who had just been blasted away, such talk felt like mockery.

Besides, this was the first time he’d been knocked flying by someone he knew was weaker!

How could this be?

Demos couldn’t understand how he was being suppressed despite leading in basic qualities.

Now he felt both angry and puzzled.

Lann could entirely see his emotions, reaffirming his suspicion—Cassandra’s brother indeed seemed a bit dull.

"Why not stop now?"

Facing the twitching mouth of an angry Demos, Lann rationally suggested.

"You came to assassinate Pericles, to seize control of Athens, right? But now it’s become too big."

The Demon Hunter gestured, looking around.

The entire front eaves of the Parthenon Temple had been sliced by earlier lasers, and tons of marble had crashed down.

In the previous clash, the statue of Athena inside the hall had been knocked over.

Unsurprisingly, everyone in Athens should be watching and heading here now.

In assassination, generally ’stealth’ is more crucial than ’kill’.

If only the ’kill’ fails, the target lives, and the planner can still hide without harm.

But if ’stealth’ fails, the planner risks exposure, losing everything.

At this point, continuing the assassination is impossible.

"If you proceed, the organization hidden in the dark must face the light. Does the Divine Teachings allow this?"

"Moreover, I personally don’t want to draw blood with you here; Cassandra kept saying she wants to rescue you herself, and I admire her dedication."

Lann’s fingers rubbed the sword’s guard, keeping his grip warm, as he looked at Demos not far away.

"What’s your opinion?"

"My opinion?" In Demos’ increasingly red eyes, only Lann’s shadow remained.

He glanced at the chaotic surroundings and smiled.

"My opinion is to let you die!"

With a "boom," under strong foot power, the floating dust was twisted into odd shapes by Demos’ speed.

The demigod covered in golden armor charged straight forward!

Lann was unsurprised; he kicked sideways, letting Rong Buqiu borrow his strength to swiftly leap aside.

As for Lann himself, he flowed like water, using his swordsmanship to counter the obvious superior strength from the opposite side.

Fire sparks exploded from the collision of the Sword of Damocles and the Lady of the Lake’s Sword.

Then, under unique techniques, the sparks dispersed into circle shapes blown by air streams.

[Iwami Style: Climbing Carp].

This foundational technique, honed through Lann’s talent, constant practice, and combat with enemies, nearly became his muscle memory.

Demos’ fierce and straightforward attacks, in this era and world’s warrior views, were already remarkable.

Yet to Lann, they were merely ’decent’ at best.

The clattering sounds like iron striking, dense and intense, emanated from the Parthenon Temple.

The flame within the temple had long been extinguished due to their battle, leaving only darkness and scattered ash, with sparks from weapon clashes and Demos’ golden light flickering.

Occasionally, Rong Buqiu would dart past the two entrenched in combat.

The kitten leapt through the air, touching down and pulling away, its Thunder Cat Sword striking the golden armor with clashing sounds.

As Lann and Rong Buqiu progressed, one pushed the [Iwami Style] to [Mushin Style], integrating various techniques innovatively.

One, though learning for a short period, had made considerable progress.

Before two swordsmen proficient in [Iwami Style], Demos, though furious and violent, found his movements increasingly distorted.

His awkward sword posture, even an ordinary Athenian Officer couldn’t tolerate watching.

In such twisted posture, the lack of muscle harmony, bones obstructing each other, it was a miracle his force could yield even seventy percent effectiveness.

The Sword of Damocles could still cut through marble, backed purely by Demos’ own strength.

The more urgent the attack, and the faster the attack, Lann’s defense and Rong Buqiu’s harassment continually disrupted his movements.

Demos remained resolute in slashing and thrusting; his determination even earned Lann some admiration.

Yet his tactical errors and sluggishness stripped away any chance of victory before Lann.

Now, time favored Lann; the longer it dragged on, Demos’ posture uncorrected would worsen.

Moreover, the likelihood of the Order Divine Teachings’ actions being exposed increased.

Finally, in five minutes of clashing swords hundreds of times, they both sensed the situation outside the Divine Hall.

Lann heard footsteps and Cassandra’s call.

Demos relied on his senses inherited from Yishu bloodline.

Finally, amid anger, he ceased his fierce assault, maintained his drawn sword posture, slowly retreating while his gaze fixed on Lann.

The Demon Hunter, as he previously stated, had no intention of drawing blood here.

"Ha, turns out your tricks fail once I catch my breath."

A slowed pace freed Demos from intense swordplay, feeling his movements returned to normal. Like a defiant husky, he sneered coldly at Lann.

"Yes, yes."

Lann spoke indifferently, sheathing his sword, scratching Rong Buqiu who jumped back onto his shoulder under the chin.

"Impressive, you see right through me. Seems you’ll kill me next time we meet."

He paused, tilting his head, peering at Demos through molten silver-like falling hair.

"You don’t truly believe that, do you?"

"..." Demos gritted his teeth, his temples’ veins bulging.

But ultimately he said nothing more, instead turning away and leaving.

His inherited sensory abilities from Yishu were indeed strong; two seconds later, Cassandra burst in like a she-leopard, kicking away stone slabs blocking the door.