A goal had been set, so the only thing left was to strive and keep striving until the end.
Encrid did just that.
He already saw the path. His hand could almost reach it. He just needed to elevate everything he had to the next level. Walking according to the milestones was something he was naturally skilled at.
What he needed was precision, detail, and delicacy.
'I've already learned it.'
Then it was just a matter of repeating it until it became second nature. For Encrid, nothing was easier. What he needed was time. The repetition of today. He did that too. Encrid diligently spent his days, one after another.
"Do you think you can manage that?"
The ferryman asks. He urges Encrid to learn despair, to embrace frustration. He says that trembling in agony is natural.
He plants doubts in Encrid's mind.
'What if I'm wrong?'
What if this is the wrong path?
It doesn't matter. Even if, after surpassing this, there's another wall, he'll just surpass that too. So for now, he walks the path forged by his will. The wall is a condition, but it's one he set for himself.
He chose not to kill but to knock them down instead.
If something blocks him there, he'll overcome that too.
It's a resolution, but at the same time, a calm mindset.
Sensing this within the realm of his mind, the ferryman, if he had a tongue, would have clicked it.
But since he physically had no tongue to click, he only muttered.
"That crazy bastard again."
The ferryman realized that the condition of the wall had changed.
It was the will of the cursed one that had altered it.
It was absurd, but not entirely impossible or unheard of. He had experienced it himself.
Usually, when people realize the condition of a wall, they take an easier path, so it's rare to see something like this.
But what about Encrid?
'The hard way.'
He chose a path even harsher.
Holding out and overpowering the female Knight with the orange hair was already a difficult task.
But Encrid aimed to do that in a short time.
He instinctively realized that just holding out wouldn't be enough to get through today.
"He's insanely mad."
The ferryman muttered to himself once again. There was no reply. As always, he wandered alone over the river.
* * *
Encrid didn't think it was impossible to overcome the wall he faced.
After countless sparring sessions, he had grown accustomed to Asia's habits.
Sure, if it were a fight to the death, it would be easier, but this was the path he chose because he didn't want that.
They say if you chase two rabbits, you'll lose both, but wouldn't it be better if he could catch both?
'Why only catch one?'
He had the repetition of 'today'. So he decided to make the condition to catch both rabbits.
'I'll surpass this wall without killing Asia.'
He would overpower her in a short time and move forward. He would find his place. That place would be in front of Krang.
Encrid set that as his standard.
What about what happens afterward?
He didn't care about that.
If the one cutting the thread blocked his way again, he'd overcome that as well.
It wasn't the first time he'd faced a series of walls.
But he had a strange feeling.
That man appeared under certain conditions. Just that didn't make him seem like a wall blocking his way.
The fact that Asia faced him first only strengthened that feeling. If it were his wall, it would've stood before him.
"Rem."
It was a new day, one he met with that mindset. Today, he decided to move forward.
As soon as he woke up, Encrid called for Rem.
"...The sun hasn't even risen yet."
Rem replied, his eyes still closed.
"Get up, you barbarian bastard. I'll knock the filth out of that head of yours."
His tone was too calm to be considered a provocation, but Rem responded to the words.
The barbarian opened his eyes. His gray pupils pierced through the pre-dawn blue light, locking onto Encrid.
"Fine. Let's set up a tombstone today."
It was a kind of signal. A sign from Encrid that he was ready for a fight that would put half his life on the line.
Rem accepted that challenge.
"What should the epitaph say?"
As Rem got up and grabbed his axe, he spoke.
"A pioneer who split open the barbarian's skull to explore."
"Are you really asking to die today?"
Rem was half-serious.
"If you underestimate me, you're the one who will die."
Encrid warned. Rem didn't know the accumulation of today's results. He would be careless because of that.
The same went for Asia.
Which meant—
'If you can't stop me, then neither can Asia.'
Just as Encrid stepped outside, gauging the distance and assuming his stance, Andrew came out rubbing his eyes and was startled.
Clang!
The sound echoed, as if clearing away the morning mist.
Encrid had leaped forward in an instant, swinging his long sword with the speed of a striking willow, and Rem met it with his axe. The two stood frozen in place, weapons locked against each other, their breaths rising into the air. Mixed with the cool dawn, their exhalations appeared like blue smoke.
Both of them exuded an aura twice as menacing as usual.
"Damn, did you have a nice dream?"
Rem asked, still with his weapon locked against Encrid's.
"I have those every day."
Dreaming of death wasn't exactly a good thing. But none of his days were spent in vain, so every day was worth something.
Sensing an unusual level of intensity in Encrid, Rem responded.
"Good. Let's see who dies."
Encrid had been through this already, half-dying as he learned. He had fought Asia repeatedly.
Encrid had been walking forward, always advancing. After dozens of more days stacked on top of each other, he was further ahead.
The sparring match with Rem ended at an appropriate point. Encrid had used everything he needed to.
"Sometimes it's really strange, almost bizarre, when I look at you."
Rem finally said, not with shock but with some degree of amazement in his eyes.
It was a calm look, but the emotion beneath it was unmistakable.
Ragna and Jaxon were no different.
Even Dunbachel opened her eyes that way.
Esther, just before leaving, had the same expression.
Encrid brushed the sweat off his hair with his hand.
The preparations were complete.
Repeating the same day and making it to Asia was something he could now do with his eyes closed.
In fact, he fought with his eyes closed, knocking down the advance instructor who faced him once again.
"Damn it, what's the deal? Why are you fighting with your eyes closed?"
Ignoring the shouts of the man on the brink of death, Encrid slit his throat, helped a maid hide in a corner, and continued on. Half-running, he charged toward Asia.
"What's behind you?"
He asked when they finally faced each other.
"What?"
"I'm asking, what's behind you?"
Asia frowned at Encrid's question.
"What are you talking about?"
"I'm asking because I don't know."
"...Then why are you so confident?"
"It's a habit."
"Crazy bastard."
"I hear that often enough."
"Either way, I can't let you go. It's a death trap."
"I doubt it."
"Prove it."
It was a similar conversation.
Asia raised her sword and aimed, and Encrid, with his eyes closed, deflected it.
Clang!
"…What is this?"
"You don't need to try again, but you must be doubtful, right? Go ahead, try again."
Asia frowned but did as he said.
She aimed her sword.
Clang!
Once again, Encrid deflected it. Even with his eyes closed, he swung his sword as if he could see.
Then, he disregarded her precise targeting and ignored the tip of her sword.
"What did you do?"
Asia asked, astonished.
"Just attack."
There was no need for words, so she did. What were Asia's strengths?
What made her unique?
At a glance, it wasn't immediately apparent. That's how well she concealed herself.
It made sense for someone whose specialty was Illusionary Sword Techniques.
Her key skills were her precise targeting with the sword tip, her feints, and her speed. Her footwork was incredibly quick, and she often used subtle Intimidation to disrupt her opponent's movements.
'So, what's her weakness?'
She lacked strength.
Therefore, the strategy to face her was simple.
Press with Correct Sword Techniques and pin her down with heavier strikes.
Clang! Clang!
Instead of his silver sword, Encrid wielded a Gladius in one hand, delivering short, sharp blows. Asia blocked them repeatedly.
Encrid calmly pressured her.
Through the repetition of today's battle, he had pinpointed and exploited her weaknesses.
"You!"
Mid-fight, Asia let out a shout, whether it was a battle cry or something else, and shifted her footwork.
Switching the position of her feet, she leaped to the side in an instant. With a push from the ground, she kicked off the wall and swung her sword as she flew.
Her speed and light body made this possible.
It was a result of Encrid repeatedly driving her into a corner. She kicked off the wall, moving horizontally as she lunged at him.
As always, she was exceptionally skilled at responding to unexpected situations.
Handling Illusionary Sword Techniques had given her a wealth of experience, which had a side benefit.
She was able to react to almost any unforeseen event. In simple terms, her ability to predict her opponent's movements during a fight was extremely broad.
Even now, while being blocked by precise strikes and pinned by heavier ones, this was still within her expected range.
By kicking off the wall, she ran along it, parallel to the ground. She turned the battlefield into a three-dimensional space.
She escaped the domain of precise swordsmanship and occupied a space that was momentarily free from the pressure of heavier strikes.
With her nimble body and incredible sense of balance, she ran along the wall.
'But what if it's beyond her expected range?'
Through their many battles, Encrid had learned the limits of Asia's predictive range.
It was something he could understand by repeating today's events.
Therefore,
'I'll surpass it.'
What she was showing was impressive, but it was within his expectations.
Encrid brought his Gladius into the path of her sword, then let it go.
Ting!
The Gladius dropped to the ground, and in that moment, as Asia's body tilted while running along the wall, Encrid dashed forward underneath her. He pushed off the ground quickly and low.
Crack!
The carpet beneath his feet tore as if it had exploded. Asia, unable to retrieve her sword in time, pulled out the hidden dagger she had in her chest.
With her left hand, she drew a short dagger and stabbed.
It was as fast as his instant strikes, but it was something he was already familiar with.
Encrid bet everything on this moment.
If he succeeded, he would subdue her in an instant. If he failed, he'd repeat this again.
It was the seventh time he had attempted this move.
His focus was so intense that the trajectory of Asia's dagger appeared to slow down.
Encrid, feeling as though he was wading through thick mud, crossed his arms and reached out.
This was the Valaf-Style Martial Arts technique: Weapon Disarm.
He clamped down on Asia's wrist with his crossed arms. The trajectory of the dagger was naturally diverted. Encrid deliberately guided the blade towards his own stomach.
The outer leather armor was pierced with a soft thud, but it was stopped by the bandage armor underneath.
In that moment, he twisted both wrists that were holding her arm.
Crack!
"Ugh!"
A groan escaped from Asia's mouth as her wrist twisted.
With his left hand gripping her wrist and his right hand spread wide between his thumb and index finger, Encrid thrust forward and struck her throat.
Just as Asia's dagger was piercing into his abdomen, Encrid's right hand was already in motion.
Crack!
The sound of the impact echoed.
"Gah!"
Asia let out a second groan.
While the first groan was from surprise, the second one was from the shock.
Encrid stepped forward, hooked her heel with his foot, grabbed her hair, and slammed her head into the shield decoration.
Bang!
Blood sprayed from her nose and face. It was brutal and bold.
But it didn't end there.
He threw her body to the ground as if discarding it, and with all his weight behind him, slammed his elbow into her torso.
Crack!
Crunch.
Several of her ribs broke. Her internal organs were likely damaged as well.
"Hah."
Only then did Encrid exhale and roll to his side, rising to his feet.
Asia had already passed out, her eyes rolled back, her face a mess.
Still, with Divine Power, she would fully recover.
There was no time to waste.
Encrid took a brief moment to catch his breath. If he had let his guard down even for a second, she would have escaped his grasp immediately.
It wasn't overkill—it was just enough.
After leaving Asia shattered like a broken vase, Encrid stood. It was still before sunset. He picked up his fallen sword and moved forward, heading inside. Soon, he found the source of the commotion and ran toward it.
As he sprinted, his heart pounded alongside him.
Though the Heart of the Beast gave him both boldness and calmness, his heart still raced, likely from the anticipation of whatever would come next.
He ran toward the noise.
At the half-shattered doorway, a few figures were trying to break in.
One of them turned around and faced Encrid.
"Do you know where you are?"
A man with sharp eyes blocked his path. His skill level? Uncertain.
But the emblem on his armor was familiar.
It was the symbol of the Kingdom—the sword and the Sun God.
In other words, it was the symbol of the Red Cape Knights.
That didn't stop Encrid from charging. Instead, he tightened his grip on his sword.
"Madman!"
The opponent thrust his sword forward. Encrid swung his own sword straight toward the blade flying toward him.