The 9th Class Swordmaster: Blade of Truth-Chapter 332: Ambush

A low hum resonated through the airship as it cut through the northern sky. Inside the command room, mercenaries busily moved about.

On the top floor, engineers manned the control panels embedded with elemental stones, while the sorcerers of the Guidance Mercenary Gang managed several magical screens.

Boom!

Crack!

The magical screens displayed scenes of flashing explosions, fire, and soldiers fiercely battling on the frontlines. With a hand gesture, the noise from the mirrors faded, leaving only the image of the battle.

“It’s quite the scene. Thirty thousand soldiers from both sides have already clashed. You’d be hard-pressed to find another battle of this scale in history. The empire plans to deploy an additional 300,000 troops soon, followed by their main force of 500,000,” said Jaygun, quietly observing the scenes on the magical screens.

“The empire is preparing to strike Tatur with full force. Do you think Tatur can withstand them?” Jaygun turned to Gordon Fabian, seated beside him, as if seeking his opinion.

“Thirty thousand... That’s only the beginning. The continent will soon be bathed in blood once again,” Gordon replied with a smirk.

“And we’ll be right in the middle of it, won’t we?” Jaygun chuckled bitterly. The airship’s engine growled as if in agreement. “History will be rewritten. You made a tough decision, but this will solidify the status of the Guidance Mercenary Gang.”

“You think so?”

“...Pardon?”

“You probably think the empire can’t lose, don’t you? What if they do? You’ve always admired the empire, after all. You’re a mercenary, and yet you still dream of becoming a noble?”

“I-I didn’t mean it like that...” Jaygun stammered, taken aback by Gordon’s bluntness.

“Well, if you’re lucky, maybe Olivurn will toss you a title. Or if I die, your chances will go up,” Gordon said with a grin.

“Please don’t joke like that...” Jaygun groaned, his expression tightening. “I won’t deny it. I do wish to be part of the empire, but before that, I’m still a member of the Guidance Mercenary Gang. Unless it’s natural causes, I’ve never wished for your death, nor would I want to die in battle like some fool.”

“Haha... So if I passed naturally, you’d finally get your chance?”

Jaygun shrugged. “If you live a long life, no one would complain. And without you around, I’d have to look after the crew. I’d protect them the best way I know how.”

“You’re the same old brat. That’s why I put you in charge as deputy. It’s what I like about you,” Gordon remarked, staring out the window.

“I’ll take that as a compliment, though I’d prefer not to be liked by you in that way,” Jaygun joked.

“You bastard,” Gordon laughed.

Despite their differences in mentality, Gordon and Jaygun shared a mutual understanding. Silence fell between them, but it was a silence filled with recognition of each other’s thoughts.

“You still holding a grudge because I helped the empire behind the scenes when the former emperor was alive?” Jaygun finally asked, a grin tugging at his lips. “I wasn’t helping them for no reason. You saw it yourself—the empire’s trump card. It’s a dragon. No matter how powerful Karyl is, he can’t beat a dragon.”

“I’ve never resented you for it. Had you defied me, you’d have been dead by my hand anyway.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

Though it was just banter, both men were clearly using humor to ease the tension they felt.

“Report! A lifeform detected ahead!”

“A lifeform? We’re the only ones capable of flying at this altitude on the continent,” Jaygun murmured as he placed his hand on the communication orb.

“I see red scales...! It’s a wyvern!”

“So it’s finally here.”

Unlike the panicked voice of his subordinate, Gordon stood up slowly, as if he had been expecting this moment. Jaygun bit his lip slightly as the reality he had hoped to avoid was now unfolding.

“Where are you going?”

“You already know. I’m going to greet it. That thing’s furious, and if we just sit around, it might tear this airship in half. I’m fine with that, but you lot wouldn’t survive the fall. Like you said earlier, as long as I’m still the captain, I’ll protect you all—at least in my own way,” Gordon said casually, pointing below.

Jaygun gulped and clenched his fist.

“Everyone, prepare! Get to your positions! We’re opening the roof of the airship! Fasten every single belt—once you’re airborne, it’s over!” Jaygun shouted, watching Gordon step toward the roof.

As soon as Jaygun’s order was given, the mercenaries in the cockpit moved with precision.

Rrrr...

The ceiling dome opened, unleashing a violent wind into the cabin.

“Martyr,” Gordon said calmly, standing firm despite the storm threatening to sweep them away.

Click—! Zzzzt...!

The chair where Gordon had been sitting rotated down, and from beneath the floor, a massive warhammer in a glass case emerged in its place.

“Hmph.”

Hoisting the hammer over his shoulder, Gordon leapt toward the open ceiling.

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion echoed through the air.

“Ugh?!”

“Uwaaah...!!”

“Hold on tight!”

The airship shook violently.

“The captain’s outside! Close the roof immediately!” Jaygun yelled, gripping the controls with all his strength to maintain balance. “Keep us at maximum altitude! Deploy the airship’s defense shields at full power! Push the core to its limits!”

“But... if we do that, the airship’s core will be depleted before we reach our destination,” a mercenary protested.

“Our priority isn’t the destination; it’s keeping the airship intact! There’s a Sword Master duel happening right above our heads!” Jaygun barked, his voice tense. T

The mercenaries around him exchanged nervous glances. Even the infamous Guidance Mercenary Gang seemed shaken by the arrival of just one opponent.

“Don’t lose your nerve, you idiots! Even if the enemy is a Sword Master, our captain is stronger than that!” Jaygun roared, trying to rally the troops. “Everyone, to your stations! Focus!”

“Yes, sir!”

Despite their fear, the mercenaries shouted loudly to regain their composure.

Stay safe out there, Captain...

Despite the brave front he put on for the crew, cold sweat ran down Jaygun’s back.

“If we don’t crash and die, we’ll do everything we can to fend him off. Full speed ahead!” Jaygun ordered.

Vrrrroooom...!!!

With a fierce roar from the core, the airship surged forward at full speed.

***

“Karyl.”

As Karyl kicked away the torn-off outer hull of the airship, the once-solid metal was caught in the wind, flying away like a piece of paper.

“Hey, do you even know how much that thing costs? We’ve had a hell of a time trying to find the materials to repair this thing, since we can’t even scavenge them from ancient ruins.”

“Cut the crap. You should be thankful I’m not tearing the whole ship apart. Considering the thousands of mercenaries inside, this much damage is cheap.”

Bam!

Karyl kicked another piece of the airship’s hull, causing it to clatter violently, making the airship shudder as if from the impact.

“What are you thinking, siding with that bastard Olivurn? A war was bound to happen, but I need to know what your real intentions are.”

Gordon, with his massive hammer slung across his shoulder, smirked and replied, “I believe I already answered that question back in the north.”

He made a gesture, curling his fingers as if inviting Karyl to come closer.

“You already know you can’t beat me, so why bother?”

“Eh, you won’t know until you try.”

“Yeah, well, some people only realize they’re sipping poison only after they’ve swallowed it. By then, it’s too late, and the only thing left is death,” Karyl scoffed.

“Hah, cute. Now let’s get this over with.”

With a booming laugh, Gordon lunged at Karyl, swinging Martyr in a wide, deadly arc toward Karyl’s flank.

Clang!

Sparks flew as Karyl’s blade met the hammer, the clash reverberating through the air.

“Still, I like that attitude of yours,” Gordon quipped, though there was a dangerous edge to his voice.

Karyl’s sword still hummed from the parry. As he adjusted his grip, the blade glowed with a faint silvery hue.

“What’s that? It’s not magic or spirit energy, is it?”

“I’m not here to explain myself to you,” Karyl shot back, his tone defiant.

“Fair enough. Let’s see what you’ve got!”

The very next moment, Karyl vanished, his silhouette a blur as he dashed across the deck. Zigzagging through the air, he drew Agnel, its blade wreathed in flame.

“...”

Gordon’s eyes narrowed as his gaze locked onto the flaming blade. Something about it made him pause.

“Agnel...”

Gordon slammed Martyr forward with all his might, the immense force sending Karyl flying back several meters.

CLANG!

The sheer power behind Gordon’s swing reverberated through the air, forcing Karyl to land hard on the deck with a loud thud.

There was a strange undercurrent to their fight, something deeper than just combat. Even amidst the chaos, it felt like they were doing more than just exchanging blows. They were communicating.

And then, amidst the cacophony of their clashing steel, Karyl heard it.

Thud—

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Karyl skidded across the airship’s deck, his eyes wide as Gordon’s cryptic words rang in his ears.

But Gordon didn’t stop. He swung Martyr once more with full force, his actions seemingly meant to fool anyone who might be watching.

Karyl blocked the attack, his mind racing as he tried to process what Gordon had said in that fleeting moment.

“I’ll tell you the secret of what we saw in the north.”

Bam!

The air around them shifted, becoming colder and harsher as a biting snowstorm enveloped them both. Despite the numbing cold, their clash rang out, cutting through the howling winds.