The Return of the Limited-Time Sword Master

Chapter 90: Hierarchy Re-organization (5)

Martin and Oliver von Bitenfeld charged toward each other.

As expected of two 7-circle masters, it didn’t even take a second for the gap between them to close, and immediately, sword clashed against sword.

Boom!

Golden and blue auras intertwined, creating a massive explosion.

“Guh!”

“Ugh!”

As the deafening blast erupted, a violent shockwave spread, causing people nearby to scream. Some even lost consciousness entirely.

However, neither Martin nor Oliver paid any attention to what was happening around them.

If either took their eyes off their opponent for even a moment, it could mean their death.

Swish!

Retrieving their swords, the two swung horizontally at the same time.

Their blades drew arcs in the air and collided again in the middle.

Boom!

Another explosion followed, and fragments of aura blades scattered in all directions.

One of the conference room’s walls crumbled from the impact, and as if they had planned it, the two leaped outside and up onto the roof of the mansion.

“The games end now. You’ll regret coming here, Martin von Adalbert.”

“You talk like you’re the only one holding back. Unless you’re Mateus von Gustin, I doubt you have what it takes to make me regret anything. If you really want to make that claim, at least defeat someone like the Crimson Reaper first.”

Martin’s provocation made Oliver’s eyebrow twitch.

However, he wasn’t so weak-minded that a mere taunt would make him lose his composure.

“Boasting just because you managed to beat an old man who’s one foot in the grave? Fine, I’ll give you this much: you’ve got the sharpest tongue of anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Oh, that’s not all. I’m also better at fighting than you.”

“You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. Your foolish father never once dared to claim victory when he dueled me.”

A mocking smile appeared on Oliver’s lips.

Meanwhile, the expression on Martin’s face vanished.

“If you were trying to provoke me… you did a great job. It was really effective.”

“Provoke? I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just stating facts. Your father—born into the main family and yet outclassed by the heirs of a branch family. He lost so often to Vincent and Mateus that he ended up in tears. You should’ve seen it.”

“Ah.”

Martin had come here intending to kill this man from the start.

But after hearing him speak, his thoughts had changed.

Killing him outright wasn’t enough.

He wouldn’t just make Oliver suffer—he’d make him regret being alive.

Koooom!

As Martin steeled his resolve, a terrifying murderous aura erupted from his body.

The air around the holy sword Karadyl began to swirl violently before transforming into fierce, Crimson flames.

“Seeing this up close, it really is pitiful. You’re floundering, clinging to another type of power because you never had a teacher to properly guide you in the ways of spatial abilities…”

Oliver scoffed, but he hastily raised his sword.

Boom!

The explosion that followed was far more violent than the previous ones.

The roof they stood on gave way, a massive hole opening beneath them, and the structure began to collapse.

But that wasn’t the real issue.

The real problem was elsewhere.

Oliver’s right hand, gripping the sword, along with his entire right arm, had turned a bright red.

Despite his efforts to shield himself with mana, he couldn’t prevent the searing heat from penetrating.

In addition, the sheer force behind the attack made his arm numb.

‘How is such power possible when he’s not even of the flame element?’

He couldn’t understand it, but there was no time to dwell on it.

With just one blow, Martin had seized control of the battle, as evidenced by his next strike.

The blade of Karadyl came slashing diagonally from the top left to the bottom right, aimed straight at Oliver.

In response, Oliver gripped his sword with both hands and swung it upward with all his strength.

Though the fierce heat and shockwave surged around him, this time he wasn’t swept away.

Thanks to his unique ability, Illusory Transformation, he was able to pass the shockwave right through him.

‘It’s impossible to fully deflect his strikes, but this is more than enough.’

Users of spatial abilities could penetrate Illusory Transformation, but that didn’t matter.

He had to block the attacks directly, but he wasn’t disappointed.

Simply not being affected by the shockwaves was a massive advantage.

In contrast, Martin would continue to accumulate physical pain.

With his inferior physical abilities, this would undoubtedly take its toll.

Time was on Oliver’s side.

As long as he defended properly, Martin would eventually self-destruct.

‘I’ll finish him off before that.’

Oliver continued to block Martin’s attacks, waiting for the perfect opportunity.

His mastery of Illusory Transformation had long surpassed the level of just applying it to his body.

He could phase through objects to cut what he wanted.

And if he unleashed his full power, he could even penetrate other spatial abilities once.

Boom!

Their swords clashed, and Martin’s right arm was flung upwards.

The accumulated recoil had weakened his grip strength, leaving his arm vulnerable.

‘Now!’

Finally spotting an opening, Oliver swung his sword down with all his might.

The strike was as fast as lightning.

Martin didn’t have time to use Spatial Movement, so he raised Karadyl in an attempt to block.

But the expected clash never came.

Oliver’s sword had passed right through Karadyl.

Shock spread across Martin’s face.

Seeing this, Oliver felt a surge of exhilaration.

As the blue aura blade on Oliver’s sword neared Martin’s neck, he released his Illusory Transformation.

‘Your life ends now…’

In that fleeting moment, Oliver’s eyes widened in surprise.

Martin, in desperation, was reaching out with his left hand to block the sword.

Even though his hand was wrapped in flames and aura, what difference did that make?

His base physical abilities were too weak.

It was ridiculous to think that such a flimsy attempt could block his strike.

‘I’ll cut off his head along with his left arm.’

That was Oliver’s plan, but it didn’t go as he expected.

Boom!

Crimson flames erupted.

That much, Oliver could understand.

The real issue was what happened next.

Grab.

Martin caught Oliver’s blade with his left hand.

The earlier panicked expression had vanished, replaced by a mocking smile.

“Impossible!”

Oliver let out a scream-like shout.

Although Martin had cloaked his left arm with flames and an aura blade, there was no way that should have been enough to block Oliver’s attack.

Yet Martin, with his comparatively weak physical strength, had endured it.

Though his hand was covered in blood, the outcome was far from what Oliver had expected.

“You’re finished.”

Martin let go of the holy sword Karadyl with his right hand.

Then, he firmly planted his foot and drove his right fist into Oliver’s solar plexus.

Following the exact form of the Rothar Martial Art, he also activated Omni Distortion.

Crack!

“Guhah!”

With a scream, blood spurted from Oliver’s mouth.

The sickening sounds of ribs breaking and mana circuits being torn echoed simultaneously—it was a chilling noise.

“This is just the beginning.”

Martin raised his right foot high above his head and slammed it down on Oliver’s head.

The blow caused the roof to collapse, and Oliver fell below.

Seeing this, Martin kicked off into the air, landing blow after blow on Oliver’s falling body.

“Arghhhhh!”

Oliver’s agonized scream reverberated through the mansion, but soon, it was drowned out by an even louder sound.

Boom!

That was the deafening noise caused by Oliver slamming into the ground.

“Hah… hah…”

Martin, standing over the broken body of Oliver, was panting heavily.

“You didn’t think it was over yet, did you? I told you, didn’t I? I’d make you beg for death. I’m a man of my word.”

Martin raised his foot once more and stomped on Oliver’s left arm.

His foot, wrapped in an aura blade, didn’t just break the arm—it tore it apart.

“Arrrgghhh!”

Oliver’s body convulsed instinctively, but it didn’t last long.

Martin had kicked the mana core in Oliver’s abdomen, cutting off his strength.

The pain was so excruciating that Oliver couldn’t even scream.

But what truly tormented him was the realization that the power he had built up over decades was rapidly draining away.

“No! My power! My strength!”

“What good is holding onto it when you’re going to die anyway?”

With a cruel smile, Martin placed his right foot on Oliver’s right knee.

This time, he intended to shatter that as well.

“Martin.”

It was then that a familiar voice rang out.

With a sigh, Martin turned his head.

There stood Sien, along with Adel and several others, all watching him with shocked eyes.

“We’ve already subdued the other traitors. Besides, this one is already completely incapacitated. There’s no need to do more.”

“He insulted our father.”

“If the previous head were here, he wouldn’t want his son consumed by rage. He cherished you more than anyone.”

“…You really know how to disarm me, Sien.”

Martin shook his head in frustration.

But only for a moment. He knelt down and looked Oliver in the eye.

“How does it feel? To lose to someone you’ve scorned as ‘half-blood’ for over ten years.”

“If not for you! If only you weren’t here! How dare the cursed ghost of the main family…”

“A ghost? You’re talking about a living person here. That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?”

Martin’s lips curled into a cold smile.

“You’ve heard the rumors, haven’t you? That I focus solely on swordsmanship and ignore everything else. But do you know what’s funny? Even with all that focus, your swordsmanship is pathetic. Be honest. You’ve never beaten my father, right? Unlike Vincent or Mateus.”

“Martin von Adalbert!”

Oliver tried to stand, seething with rage, but his body no longer obeyed his will.

Ignoring him, Martin stood up and addressed the others.

“As you’ve all seen, Oliver von Bitenfeld has committed treason against the main family. As per noble law, he is stripped of his title as head of the Bitenfeld family. Adel von Bitenfeld will succeed him, inheriting the title and territory. If anyone wishes to object, speak now.”

Of course, no one objected.

“Adel von Bitenfeld.”

“Yes, my lord.”

“As the acting head, I declare that from this moment, you are the head of the Bitenfeld family and may use the middle name ‘von’.”

“I will follow your orders, my lord. However…”

“Speak.”

“What will you do with the traitors?”

“We’ll destroy their mana cores and send them to the main family, where they will stand trial in Varehein City. As the new head, I want you to witness it.”

“I will carry out your command, my lord.”

Adel bowed her head in response.

Without another word, Martin turned and began walking away.

Though blood dripped steadily from his wounds, he didn’t seem inclined to drink a potion.

“My lord?”

“I’ll go on ahead. You take care of things here. You have a lot to handle, don’t you?”

“Phew. Alright.”

With Sien stepping in, Adel withdrew.

As the new head, there were indeed mountains of tasks waiting for her.

Nodding, Sien immediately followed after Martin.

Watching their backs as they left, Adel turned to her subordinates and commanded:

“Announce to everyone in the territory that the head of the family has changed. Also inform them that Oliver von—no, Oliver Bitenfeld—committed treason.”

“Shall we also mention the alliance with the Gustin family?”

“Since the lord hasn’t given orders, leave that part out.”

“As you command, my lady.”

Bastian Friedrich answered respectfully.

The word ‘head’ carried a heavy weight, but Adel didn’t let it go to her head.

With the Fezek family hesitating to join, and now Oliver Bitenfeld’s downfall, the Bitenfeld family would no longer participate in the alliance.

Mateus von Gustin, now alone, had only one choice left.

‘A war is coming.’

A war far greater than anything they had faced before.

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