novelraw Chapter 159 : Chapter 159
Chapter 159 : Chapter 159
Chapter 159. Jack Reed (5)
Evan didn’t emit killing intent lightly.
The aura radiating from his sword now was the unmistakable intent of someone resolved to kill.
Jack instinctively felt it.
In this moment, Evan’s intentions were no joke.
“Young… Young Master…?”
His voice trembled slightly.
But Evan, unflinching, gripped his sword tightly and spoke coldly.
“If you can’t prove yourself, you die here. That’s the resolve you claimed, isn’t it?”
“But…!”
Before Jack could protest, a sharp Aura Blade shot from Evan’s sword.
It wasn’t a mere threat or training strike.
It was an Aura infused with pure killing intent.
—Rooaar!!!
Jack twisted his body to dodge, and the ground where he stood was brutally torn apart, the mansion wall behind it gashed as if clawed by a giant beast.
Is he… really trying to kill me? What do I do?
Jack’s heart pounded.
In the suffocating fear, his thoughts had long since scattered.
He was moving purely on instinct now.
Evan, meanwhile, was colder and more composed than ever.
Targeting only vital points to end his opponent’s life, his attacks flew toward Jack without hesitation.
“Ugh!”
Jack desperately rolled, barely preserving his life.
“Phew!”
Fortunately, Evan still hadn’t closed the distance.
He merely stood afar, launching Aura Blades.
“What are you doing? Is this all you can prove?”
But that reprieve was brief.
As soon as he spoke, Evan began to move slowly.
Seeing this, Jack’s body trembled.
Fear consumed him, but a fierce cry surged within.
Get it together, Jack! Don’t expect the Young Master to go easy! The only way to survive…
There were two ways for Jack to live.
Defeat Evan or earn his true acknowledgment.
And both meant the same thing.
I can do it… No, I must!
Exhausted from his fight with Gaiard, Jack still had enough Qi left.
Thus, he cast aside all fear and doubt, channeling every ounce of Qi into his legs.
“Aaaah!!!”
With a short, fierce cry, Jack kicked off the ground.
His body soared like the wind, his leg aimed at Evan like a relentless spear, precise and sharp.
It was no longer the step of someone following another—
it was a powerful kick forging Jack’s own path.
“…”
Evan frowned at the rapidly approaching kick.
But his composure never wavered.
Instead, he swung his sword shortly and precisely, targeting Jack’s thigh.
Jack twisted midair, redirecting his kick’s trajectory, striking the side of Evan’s sword with pinpoint accuracy.
—Clang!!
But it was Jack who was knocked back.
The recoil from kicking the sword sent him tumbling, kicking up dust.
Evan, stepping back a few paces, narrowed his eyes, feeling the vibration in his sword hand.
This wasn’t luck—Jack’s skill had clearly surpassed expectations.
Watching from behind, Gaiard quietly smirked.
You’ve realized it too, Evan. Your servant’s stronger than you thought. So, get serious. You’re not just testing him, are you?
But contrary to Gaiard’s expectations, Evan allowed no hesitation.
His eyes pierced Jack with even colder, sharper intensity.
“Phew…”
Evan steadied his breath, inhaling deeply.
Gripping his sword in a reverse hold, he lowered his stance drastically.
—Swoosh!
In a stance never seen before, he charged at Jack like a viper slithering through grass.
His speed was blinding, his path erratic—
an attack impossible to track with ordinary eyes.
The blade grazed Jack’s ankle as it swept across the ground.
“Ah!”
Jack instinctively leaped, barely dodging, but it was only the beginning.
Evan’s sword struck again, low and precise, targeting his ankle.
—Swish!
Jack lost his balance, rolling to the ground.
He’d dodged, but the fight’s momentum was entirely Evan’s.
If he kept fleeing, Jack had no chance of winning.
Dodging won’t prove anything! Even if it costs me my ankle, I have to fight!
Jack steeled himself and stood tall. Then, boldly, he closed his eyes.
I can’t track the Young Master’s movements with my eyes. I’ll trust my senses and instincts.
Focusing intensely on the surrounding sounds and air currents—
Evan’s breathing, the sound of his feet brushing the ground, the faint flow of wind on his skin.
—Swoosh!
A faint sound rang in his ears, sending a chill down his spine.
Instinctively sensing danger, Jack channeled all his strength into his right foot and stomped.
—Thud!
His foot collided head-on with the sharp sword.
He felt the blade’s solid texture at his sole.
Jack had blocked Evan’s sword directly.
And he didn’t stop there.
Pivoting his other leg, he swung a half-circle in midair, aiming for Evan’s side.
—Whoosh!
Evan leaned back, dodging the strike, but the force of Jack’s kick dislodged the sword from his hand.
In short, Jack had succeeded in disarming Evan.
But he didn’t let his guard down.
Don’t get cocky. The Young Master can turn anything into a weapon, even without a sword. I can’t give him a moment’s rest!
Like Gaiard wielded blood freely, Evan could weaponize his environment.
Disarming him didn’t guarantee victory.
—Dash!
Jack charged forward without hesitation, determined not to give Evan time to pick up anything.
But Jack overlooked one thing.
Evan didn’t need to hold something to make it a weapon.
And to truly defeat him, Jack should’ve broken his arm, not disarmed him.
“Jack, you’ve grown a lot in such a short time.”
Evan stepped right into Jack’s attack range.
Jack’s kick struck Evan’s shoulder hard, but Evan endured the pain and gripped Jack’s ankle like steel.
Jack struggled to free himself, but Evan’s grip didn’t budge.
Then Evan whispered softly.
“Don’t worry. I won’t take away the drive of someone who’s awakened.”
Before Jack could grasp the meaning, Evan shoved his leg, throwing off his balance.
As Jack flailed, Evan grabbed his arm lightning-fast and ruthlessly slammed his elbow into Jack’s.
—Crack!
Jack’s arm bent backward, a scream rising to his throat, but he bit his lip until it bled, suppressing it.
“Urgh…!”
As Jack’s face hit the ground, Evan’s cold voice came from behind.
“It’s over.”
A menacing aura loomed.
Jack instinctively sensed Evan’s fist flying toward him and tightly shut his eyes.
—Whoosh!!
A fierce gust and shockwave passed over Jack’s face.
But the expected pain didn’t come.
“?”
When Jack slowly opened his eyes, Evan’s fist was stopped precisely at the tip of his nose.
“Let’s go. No point stopping someone willing to die.”
Evan withdrew his killing intent, smiling lightly as he helped Jack up.
“Really?”
“Yeah, but don’t complain later. I warned you.”
“Thank you!”
Jack bowed deeply, his face filled with gratitude.
But the sharp pain in his elbow made him wince.
“Stay still.”
Evan skillfully grabbed Jack’s arm and realigned it.
“It’s just dislocated, not broken. But don’t use it for a while.”
“Understood.”
“Well, since you’ve decided to use your legs, it shouldn’t be a big issue. This is the price for defying my orders. Even my people don’t get a pass on this.”
“Yes. I came prepared for worse.”
“I bet. Otherwise, why would you dare challenge Gaiard?”
Evan shook his head, glancing at Gaiard, who watched from a distance.
Gaiard chuckled dryly and spoke slowly.
“First aid’s done, so get to a clinic. We sail tomorrow, so patch yourself up.”
“Yes, Young Master! I’m really fine!”
“Fine, my foot. Get going!”
“Yes, sir!”
Watching Jack’s lively retreat, Evan let out a soft sigh.
“I left him out for a reason… Why’s he so desperate to come with me?”
His words were directed at Gaiard, who was still casually gazing at the night sky.
Gaiard stared at the moonlight before speaking slowly.
“One thing’s clear: that kid’s strong. He’s worth taking.”
Evan rotated his shoulder, still aching from Jack’s kick.
Feeling Jack’s growth firsthand, his heart grew heavier.
“That’s the problem.”
“What do you mean? Strength is a problem?”
“Those at a certain level of strength often think they can solve everything themselves. That leads to dangerous choices.”
This came from Evan’s experience crossing countless thresholds of death.
Gaiard couldn’t help but agree.
“Hmm… I can’t deny that. But why worry? You’ll be with him, won’t you?”
Gaiard assumed, as always, that Evan’s presence would prevent major issues.
But Evan’s expression grew more serious.
“The Empire is truly dangerous. No, the entire continent might be.”
A place where survival requires embracing death.
That was the continent Evan remembered.