As the small black words 【Basic Swordsmanship: Practiced (1/500)】 clearly surfaced on the panel, a surge of abundant power poured out of nowhere into the depths of Matthew's exhausted body!
The muscle soreness and heavy fatigue from the intense battle just now receded like the tide.
In its place was a brand-new energy, like a fresh spring flowing into a dried-up riverbed, instantly replenishing his completely depleted stamina.
During this replenishment, he could also feel an all-around improvement in his body!
Not only that, but all kinds of confusion regarding swordsmanship in Matthew's mind instantly vanished. Countless subtle, profound tricks of swordsmanship were instantly integrated, turning into a fluid mastery that felt almost like instinct.
“It's over,” Matthew whispered, his eyes flashing with sharp light.
Alarms blared in Brody's heart!
He could clearly feel that the mud-born peasant's aura had undergone an earth-shattering change in an instant.
The moment Brody's mind reeled from this dramatic change and his movements lagged for a split second, Matthew moved!
The steps beneath his feet were no longer the strained dodges of before. They had become agile, precise, as if measured with a ruler!
His figure blurred, leaving an afterimage in Brody's field of vision. Carrying his newly unlocked insights from the breakthrough, the Finely Forged One-Handed Sword traced a clean, lethal arc that far surpassed his previous strikes!
The angle of this strike was tricky to the extreme, and its speed was a notch faster, as if he had anticipated every possible reaction from Brody!
Chih!
Brody only saw a flash of cold light before an unspeakable, sharp pain shot up from his left arm!
His pride-and-joy chainmail was torn open as easily as thin paper before his opponent's more precise and trickier post-breakthrough swordsmanship!
The tip of the blade precisely avoided the thickest part of the armor plates, slipping through a gap to stab deep into the muscle of his already-wounded left arm!
“Argh—!”
Brody let out a shrill scream, but what terrified him even more was the change in Matthew.
His stamina had recovered instantly, and his swordsmanship realm was far stronger than before!
How is this possible?!
A fifteen-year-old, lowborn country bumpkin!
Every single strike seemed to anticipate his reactions. Every parry and dodge dismantled his offenses with perfect timing. That effortless, highly proficient feeling actually reminded him of the swordsmanship instructors in his family!
No, the pressure was even stronger than what those instructors gave him!
Because this was a life-or-death battle. His opponent's blade aimed directly at his vitals with every move, devoid of any flashy flourishes—only the purest, most efficient killing techniques!
This was practically a fairy tale! It completely overturned everything he knew!
Or was the boy playing the pig to eat the tiger all along?
But Brody had no time to overthink.
Because Matthew's sharp blade was already striking out again and again.
Brody could only parry frantically in a sorry state.
Matthew continuously ran his breathing technique, a brand-new sense of understanding and control rising from all his limbs and bones.
With a light twist of his wrist, the flat of his blade slid against Brody's weapon, and the tip thrust forward once more!
“Argh!” Brody roared in pain, stumbling backward, the color completely draining from his face. He clutched his wound tightly, fear finally showing in his eyes.
This was not someone he could fight against at all!
How could Matthew give him any breathing room?
His steps were as swift as the wind, sticking to Brody like a shadow. The Finely Forged One-Handed Sword turned into a continuous sheet of cold light, with every move targeting Brody's throat, heart, and other vital spots.
Heavily injured, Brody's breathing technique faltered. He could only parry miserably as he retreated step by step, more and more wounds opening up on his body.
“Wait! Matthew! We can talk!”
Matthew's mind flickered, and his blade shifted slightly. The cold light that was originally thrusting straight for the throat suddenly veered. With two sharp punctures, it precisely pierced Brody's right shoulder and the side of his left knee!
“Ah—!” Brody screamed as he collapsed to his knees, his steel rapier slipping from his hand. His entire body shuddered violently from the intense pain.
He looked up in terror, meeting Matthew's cold gaze. The shadow of death had never felt so real.
“We can talk...” Matthew said as he thrust his sword twice more, aiming for Brody's left shoulder and right knee.
Following closely was another agonizing scream from Brody.
“Now we can talk.”
Hearing Brody's screams, Matthew frowned and pressed the tip of his sword against the other's throat. “Shut up!”
Brody's screams stopped abruptly, forced back down his throat by the cold blade pressing against it.
The young noble master was now trembling all over, a wheezing sound escaping his throat as he stared intently at Matthew, not daring to make another sound.
“I ask, you answer. If you say one useless word or make me think you're lying, I will slit your throat.”
Brody nodded frantically, his face entirely devoid of color, cold sweat mixing with blood as it dripped down.
Matthew didn't waste any time. Instructor Calm was outside dealing with Flynn alone, and with the situation unknown, every second was critical.
Brody didn't dare play any tricks. With the sharp blade at his throat, he rasped out directly, “The county seat's black market! At least a hundred gold coins! If you meet someone who knows their stuff or a collector, it could be even higher!”
Matthew's pupils contracted slightly.
A hundred gold coins!
No wonder Brody was so crazed, going so far as to drag the entire team into a death trap and silence them!
This figure far exceeded his previous expectations.
As for the location of the black market, he had no time to press further.
Time was of the essence.
He then pulled out the dark brown leather pouch from his breast, poured out the dark red crystal fragments and the black iron bar inside, and spread them across his palm, displaying them before Brody's eyes.
Brody's gaze swept over the two items. When he saw the dark red crystal fragment, his pupils dilated slightly!
Running his breathing technique, Matthew's Perception was greatly enhanced, allowing him to naturally catch this reaction.
“Recognize this?” Matthew's voice was ice-cold. He nudged the tip of his sword forward a fraction of an inch, piercing the skin and drawing a bead of blood.
Brody's body stiffened, and he stammered in a panic, “No... I don't! I just... I just thought it looked a bit like the crystal on that staff from before. It might... might also be some kind of magical material...”
Before he could finish, Matthew flicked his wrist!
Puchi!
The Finely Forged One-Handed Sword shot out like lightning, stabbing precisely into Brody's waist!
“Ah—!” Caught off guard, Brody let out a bloodcurdling shriek of pain, his entire body convulsing violently.
If his initial thoughts when begging for mercy were to find a way to survive, then at this moment, his only desire was a swift death.
“I told you, don't lie. I'll give you one last chance. Tell me honestly what it is.”
The agonizing pain in his waist instantly jolted Brody awake, tears and snot streaming down his face.
“Ugh... I'll talk! I don't know exactly what it is either, but this thing looks a bit like the 'crystal clusters' I saw at the auction house.”
“Crystal clusters? Explain. What are their effects? Where do they come from?”
“Crystal clusters are mana conductors. They can be melted down and embedded into weapons, or used to craft magic staves.”
Even though Brody only said it "looked like" one, Matthew had essentially confirmed it in his heart. He was inwardly overjoyed: Melted down and embedded into weapons?! Combined with my panel, that's practically game-breakingly overpowered!
Seeing Matthew remain silent for so long, Brody grew terrified and hurriedly added, “Crystal clusters are extremely valuable! Even a tiny piece like this is probably worth thirty gold coins!”
Rate on N.U.
