novelraw Chapter 158 : Chapter 158
Chapter 158 : Chapter 158
Chapter 158. Jack Reed (4)
Gaiard had made an abandoned mansion on the city’s outskirts his hideout.
Once owned by a noble who died in the war, it was a place no one visited, perfect for Gaiard, who disliked interference.
Having Evan visit was annoying enough, but now Jack, his servant, showed up, pushing Gaiard’s irritation to its limit.
To make matters worse, the young pup’s proposal further provoked him.
“What did you say?”
“I asked if you’d spar with me.”
This human, always trailing behind Evan, dared challenge him.
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Yes.”
“And yet you want to fight me? Do you think I’ll show mercy?”
“No. That’s why I want to face you. You can kill me if you want.”
Jack was unwaveringly serious.
He’d come prepared to risk his life, his resolute determination clear in his eyes.
“Kill you, huh… You’re acting bold because of Evan—”
“The Young Master knows nothing.”
“What?”
“He doesn’t even know I’m here.”
“So if I kill you here, Evan can’t blame me?”
“Yes. So don’t worry about him. I’m here as myself. I won’t hide behind the Young Master forever.”
At that moment, a fierce fighting spirit blazed in Jack’s eyes.
It was a familiar look Gaiard had seen in Evan before.
Like master, like servant.
A faint spark of interest stirred in Gaiard, though his irritation still dominated.
“Fine. For your master’s sake, I won’t take your life. But be prepared to lose an arm.”
With a cold smile, he snapped his fingers, and a swirling wave of blood surged toward Jack.
—Splash!!!
An immense volume of blood poured like a waterfall, threatening to engulf Jack.
In that moment, Jack twisted his body and swung his leg toward the air.
—Boom!!!
A tremendous gust erupted from his leg, splitting the blood wave and redirecting it toward Gaiard.
“Oh?”
Gaiard’s interest piqued slightly at Jack’s deft counter.
He assumed a more serious stance, moving his hand.
The blood wave transformed into dozens of sharp red swords, all aimed at Jack.
“How will you block this?”
As Gaiard gestured, the countless swords sliced through the air.
Jack took a deep breath and leaped lightly.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he focused all his Qi into his legs and stomped.
—Boom!!!
The ground exploded, collapsing under the impact.
Jack, on the second floor, fell through, dodging the swords’ paths.
Gaiard’s blades pierced the air, leaving scars on the mansion’s walls and pillars before dissipating.
—Clang, clang, clang!
Gaiard narrowed his eyes.
This guy…
Initially, it was mere amusement—
a human challenging him, a fun toy.
But Jack was more than a toy now.
He required some focus.
—Dash!
From the dust and debris, Jack sprang up.
His coiled stance resembled a freshly caught fish thrashing with elasticity.
Fast. But you think that speed can beat me?
Gaiard flourished a cloak of blood, forming a barrier.
A wall of solidified blood, hard as glass, blocked Jack’s path.
But Jack didn’t hesitate, striking the wall.
—Thud!!!
The impact sent cracks spiderwebbing through the blood wall.
The steel-like barrier was visibly fractured.
This strength… Unexpected.
Before Gaiard could fully process his surprise, a second strike followed.
—Boom!!!
The blood barrier shattered, scattering like red glass fragments.
Jack burst through, his powerful leg aiming for Gaiard.
—Thwack!
Gaiard crossed his arms to block, unable to ignore the force.
Even through his arms, the impact reverberated to his bones.
Heavy. But since when did this guy use his legs?
The weight, trajectory, and density of Qi in Jack’s kick—
all were perfectly optimized.
—Slide!
Gaiard was pushed back, sliding across the floor.
The slide, which he thought would stop quickly, smashed through the mansion’s wall and continued into the garden.
—Crash!
Landing in the garden amid stone debris, Gaiard lay on the grass, looking up.
His gaze met the calm night sky and a full moon.
“Not bad. Now it’s getting interesting.”
A smile of intrigue and acknowledgment spread across his face—
the first moment he recognized Jack as a true opponent.
Jack read the meaning of that smile faster than anyone.
Now it begins!
Without pausing to catch his breath, Jack charged again, kicking off the ground.
—Dash!
His foot aimed straight for Gaiard’s shoulder as he lay in the garden.
—Crack!
Gaiard twisted his body to evade, and Jack’s kick shattered the ground, sending dust and debris rippling like waves.
Though he missed, one crucial fact stood out:
Gaiard had dodged Jack’s attack.
The vampire, who had only blocked or ignored Jack before, had judged it necessary to evade.
“How about this?”
Gaiard opened his hand, and red shadows pierced the ground, rising.
Blood spikes.
Dozens of spear-like blood crystals tore through the earth toward Jack.
But Jack, with calculated movements, slid and dodged them.
—Swish! Swish!
Stepping lightly, rotating with his knees, and pivoting with one arm, his movements were like an acrobat avoiding even a single cut.
—Dash!
Without hesitation, Jack pressed the attack.
His Qi was burning out, but he threw himself forward as if fueling the flames.
His kicks were a continuous assault, like a storm overwhelming his opponent.
A moment’s delay in response would create an opening, and Jack would exploit it like a berserker.
Each kick was risky, but that made his relentless attacks possible.
His storm-like movements made counterattacks difficult, forcing Gaiard to retreat.
Not preparing a defense against me… That mindset is good, but you picked the wrong opponent.
Gaiard, accepting potential injury, formed a sword.
A sharp blood-forged blade thrust toward Jack’s chest.
I can regenerate. You can’t. How will you handle this?
Jack saw through Gaiard’s intent to trade flesh for bone.
His decision was not to evade but to charge head-on.
Pouring the last of his Qi into his foot, he condensed it at the tip.
—Whoosh!
An explosive wave erupted from his foot.
It wasn’t a mere kick.
A sharp spear of Qi, created in an instant, shattered the blood sword and pierced through Gaiard’s arm to the bone.
—Crack!
Gaiard’s arm bent at an unnatural angle.
Suppressing the pain, he swung his other hand, but Jack had already spun out of its path.
Jack bounced back, landing far away, while Gaiard floated in the air.
Gathering blood again, he laughed softly.
“Good. Very good.”
At that moment, Gaiard saw in Jack the image of the Kandahr tribal chief, Drenbalk.
To think I’d sense that level of presence from this kid…
There was no physical growth.
Jack had merely changed his fighting style.
But that alone transformed him into someone who could pressure Gaiard.
“I take it back. I’ll treat you as an enemy, not prey.”
Gaiard’s words were a declaration reserved for true warriors.
“Thanks.”
Jack gave a slight smile.
He didn’t seek anyone’s approval.
He fought to prove himself.
“No need to thank me. It’ll be the last thing you hear alive.”
“We’ll see about that!”
Jack channeled Qi into both legs and leaped toward Gaiard.
His foot, slicing through the air, aimed precisely for Gaiard’s shoulder.
But then—
—Thud!
Gaiard didn’t dodge.
Staring at the ground, he took the kick and crashed into it.
Jack sensed something off in Gaiard’s unresponsive action.
Without lowering his guard, he assumed a fighting stance.
But then—
“What are you doing?”
A low, commanding voice.
A dark shadow approached slowly.
It was Evan.
“Young… Young Master…?!”
Jack’s voice trembled as he froze.
His fighting instincts vanished completely.
Evan quietly surveyed the scene.
The walls were shattered, blood stained the ground, and at the center were Jack and Gaiard.
“What’s all this commotion? Why are you two fighting?”
“Well…”
As Jack fumbled, Gaiard spoke up.
“He said defeating me would prove his worth.”
“…Prove?”
Evan turned to Jack.
“What’s that mean, Jack?”
Jack swallowed and spoke honestly.
He felt inadequate for not being chosen as an attendant and sought to prove himself by defeating Gaiard.
Evan fell silent, then let out a slow sigh.
“…Is that your true intention?”
A surge of killing intent emanated from Evan, strong enough to make even Gaiard tense.
“Then prove it to me here.”
In an instant, a sword was in his hand, its blinding arc tearing through the air.
“What?! Young… Young Master…?!”
“If you’re not serious, you’re dead.”
His killing intent choked Jack, its pressure gripping his heart.
“Young Master??”
In that moment, Jack realized.
This wasn’t a test—it was a real fight.
If he couldn’t prove himself, he’d die.
By Evan’s hand.