Chapter 103 Fragile.

Ciel stood straight and began to remove his robe and cape from his body. He swung his sword around as he kept his eyes on the mysterious person in front of him. The move that he witnessed earlier, was something that he couldn't pull so easily toward elite knights. He wanted to test what kind of opponent he was facing, but he knew deep down that his gut was telling him to not play around. The person in front of him would kill without hesitation or the need to play around. He coated his sword with a thick amount of Aura as he controlled his breathing. He distributed the Aura on his feet and hands to maximize his chances of winning the duel. Even so, he was unsure about this whole thing. While he was preparing himself Aris moved her foot and dashed toward him. It caught him off guard but his muscle memories immediately placed him in a defensive stance. The moment their sword clashed, Ciel gritted his teeth and tightened his grip on the sword because of the intense vibration. The floor cracked as he blocked the attack. He didn't expect his opponent to have such overwhelming strength. He tried to push his sword but it wouldn't budge as if he was trying to move a fortress wall. Aris swung her other sword but Ciel dashed away and barely dodged it. She followed where he was going like a shadow and kept striking him with powerful attacks. Ciel was overwhelmed and knew he was no match, all he could do was block the attacks. He didn't find any opening to strike a counterattack. The longer he spent his strength on blocking, the less of his survival chance became. Aris pulled the swords back and immediately swung them horizontally. Ciel blocked the attack, shattering her swords but at the same time, he broke his wrists. He dropped his sword as the pain began to surface. He didn't realize that Aris had taken his sword and was about to cut off his head. Mercurius pushed Ciel with his shoulder and blocked the attack with his sword. Aris's eyes narrowed and began to hold the sword with both hands and kept pushing the sword down against Mercurius's sword. Mercurius removed his left hand from the sword and released a fire magic toward her. Aris took a step back and dodged the flame that almost burnt her cloak. She looked at Ciel's sword in her hand and it already had a few scratches and chirped from that clash alone. She knew she was too strong for a normal weapon, and her strength was basically destroying her sword rather than her enemy. Mercurius dashed toward Aris and released a few slash waves toward her. He watched how she dodged them so casually by moving her foot and body away from the projectiles. He created a magic formation and coated the flame around his left fist. He struck the ground, creating an explosion to distract her. Before the smoke disappeared, he swung his sword toward the smoke where she should be standing. He used everything he got on that attack, but to his surprise, there was nothing there. His slash dispersed the smoke and there was nobody in front of him. He looked around to find her but didn't find her anywhere until he heard a thud from behind. When he turned around, he saw Ciel's head in her hand while his lifeless body lay on the ground. He was stunned for a moment, realizing what he had done. Rather than distracting his enemy, he distracted himself and gave an opening for his enemy to kill his trusted ally. Suddenly dozens of explosions snapped Mercurius back to reality. He looked around and saw fireballs bombard the remaining ships from above followed by bolts of lightning. He looked up and saw Rasmus had finished his job, destroying his fleet. He was so distracted by his opponent that he forgot the lives of his soldiers were being taken behind his back. He had never felt so powerless before and knew that there was no turning back. Rasmus landed beside Aris but staggered to the point he fell on his butt. He exhausted himself from destroying the fleet. His body had reached its limit and was close to fainting. "Who are you people..." Mercurius gripped the sword tightly, his voice had a hint of desperation and fear. "You're not a pirate..." He gritted his teeth. Even with such vulnerability that Mercurius showed, those two didn't say a word and just stared at him coldly. There was no life in those eyes as if he was talking with the dead or even death itself. "Argh!" Mercurius screamed his lungs out as he charged toward them. Rasmus created a puddle of water on the floor and as soon as Mercurius stepped his strong foot on it, he slipped. Aris dashed and swung her sword toward him. Rasmus and Aris watched an arm fly and land right beside Mercurius. Mercurius was shocked as he slowly moved his head to look at his left arm. He was petrified and in disbelief when his left arm was no longer attached to his body. Suddenly a sword pierced through his right hand and he began to scream in pain. He had lost his arm and also his right hand was useless. He couldn't do anything to fight for his life anymore. He had accepted his fate as he closed his eyes. "Hah... Hahaha!" A burst of rough laughter could be heard. He opened his eyes and saw Matthias staring down at him with a grin on his face. He didn't know who Matthias was, but his appearance was enough to convince him that Matthias was a pirate. "What should we do about him?" Matthias looked at Rasmus. Rasmus whispered into Matthias's ear, and it shocked Matthias. Matthias looked at him and Mercurius back and forth before he sighed and scratched his belly. He immediately ordered his crew to drop the rowboat. Mercurius was confused, but then the pirate crew carried him and dropped him onto the rowboat. He groaned as he tried to balance the rowboat and looked up at the pirates who had decided to let him free. He was so confused that he didn't know what to say. Sёarch* The Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We will see again very soon you old bastard!" Matthias shouted. Mercurius created flames on his hand and pressed it on the wound on his shoulder. He groaned in pain, but the scenery of his fleet was obliterated, and the lives of his soldiers made him numb, leaving only heavy guilt and responsibility. ... "Why did you let him live? You know he won't let this be," Matthias looked at Rasmus who was slowly pulling down his hood and unwrapping the cloth on his face. "I still need him," Rasmus answered as he watched the rowboat get further and further away. "His death with only bring more trouble than what we might get from this," he pointed out. Aris slowly unwrapped the cloth from her face and pulled down the hood from her head. She looked at Ciel's sword and Mercurius's sword on the ground. "What's wrong?" Rasmus looked at Aris. "They're useless..." Aris said as she crossed her arms. "I need a proper weapon..." Rasmus looked at the swords and grabbed them to check the quality of the blades. They were made from high-quality iron and steel, not to mention they were well-made without any flaws. He then glanced at the shattered swords that she had used and noticed the problem. "They're too fragile in your hands," Rasmus looked at the swords in his hands. "Is that it?" He looked at Aris with a serious expression. Aris nodded and looked at the swords in Rasmus's hands. "My late mother, she had her own sword back then and from what I heard, her sword didn't break after days of clashing with Swordmasters," Rasmus said as he put down the swords. "She also had her own armor..." he added. "She did?" Aris raised her brows. "Where are they now?" "Who knows, maybe somewhere in the treasury room in the Refenus Kingdom since they were the ones who killed her," Rasmus answered as he shook his head. "Let's take them then," Aris said as she walked toward Rasmus. "If my predecessor could use it that means I could use it as well," she added and stared right into Rasmus's eyes. Rasmus raised his brows and began to chuckle as he shook his head in disbelief. Aris on the other, furrowed her brows, feeling disturbed for being laughed at like that. "I'm planning to go back there, but right now," Rasmus said as he walked toward Matthias. "I'll take what belongs to my family after all. So wait patiently," he looked at Aris from over his shoulder. Aris nodded and went to the railing to enjoy the sea. "What's this?" Matthias looked at the swords in Rasmus's hands. "You can use them or sell them. We don't need them," Rasmus said and offered the swords to Matthias. "Really?! You know these are worth hundreds of golds, right?" Matthias asked as he took the swords. "We don't need them, they're yours," Rasmus nodded. Aris glanced at Rasmus for a moment before she looked away and enjoyed the scenery again.