How to Live as a Genius Knight in a Fantasy World

16.

The number of feathers, including what he gained from filling all the proficiency in swordsmanship, was four.

I could synthesize skills of SN grade twice.

“Synthesizing practical swordsmanship with sword defense, and practical swordsmanship with breathing techniques.”

Just because one obtains a skill, it doesn’t mean they can use it flawlessly like a game character right away. However, new knowledge itself could be a source of power.

In reality, even though the swordsmanship of the ancient warrior, which had only accumulated 3% proficiency compared to when first obtained, was not as skilled as Charles’s swordsmanship, which had achieved 100% proficiency following his breath and posture, it exhibited a stronger impact.

In the open synthesis window, I placed Charles’s practical swordsmanship and a low-grade mercenary’s sword defense.

Without hesitation, I pressed the synthesis button and confirmed that two feathers decreased.

“Oh!”

Though it was a urgent situation, upon seeing the golden border, I couldn’t help but let out an exclamation.

After discreetly checking the surroundings, I read the skill description.

– King’s Strike (R) / 30%

“Hmm? What skill is this?”

It had a name entirely different from the skills obtained so far.

Unlike skills like swordsmanship and breathing techniques, which were close to knowledge in a specific field, it had a nomenclature akin to an active skill in a game.

“Ughhh.”

Groans escaped through clenched teeth due to the overwhelming pain, yet people around merely glanced with eyes suggesting perhaps someone had been injured, paying little attention.

Even the fellow members of the Ten, busy tending to their own wounds, failed to notice Ro-han’s groans.

“Ugh, gasp…”

Certainly, the pain was intense enough to make breathing rough, but compared to when obtaining the ancient warrior’s swordsmanship, it was weaker and shorter in duration.

Ro-han, who was recalling the knowledge engraved in his mind, smirked slightly.

It was the first proper active skill obtained.

In fact, there was hardly any knowledge.

Just like in a game, a brief description of the skill was all there was.

Nevertheless, seeing that there was quite a strong pain, it seemed that pain did not necessarily arise solely from knowledge.

Though a new skill was acquired, there was no time to rest.

Leaning against the wall with trembling body, I summoned the synthesis window again.

I inserted sword defense and combat breathing techniques, then pressed the synthesis button.

The screen briefly darkened before a new skill appeared.

“It’s here again.”

Fortunately, the synthesis was successful.

After confirming the golden border, I quickly opened the skill window to read the skill description.

– Barbarian’s Sword Defense (R) / 30%

“Hmm? The same sword defense?”

I wasn’t sure what was better compared to the sword defense of a low-grade mercenary, but surely, there must have been advantages due to the difference in skill grade.

Rather, it was a relief that it didn’t overlap with the other R-grade skill, the ancient warrior’s swordsmanship.

A sense of relief was short-lived as the promised pain swiftly arrived.

“Ughhh…”

With a different intensity of pain than before, I clenched my teeth so hard that I feared they might break.

As if noticing Ro-han’s condition, one of the Ten approached and inquired, “Commander! Are you alright?”

Nevertheless, even after fighting together once, it seemed like they were paying attention to each other.

I wanted to reply, but my body was trembling so much that I couldn’t speak properly.

After the peak of agony passed, I barely managed to stop a soldier who was about to shake me.

“It’s okay. It was just a moment of discomfort. Thank you.”

After reassuring the soldier, I checked their condition.

Despite engaging in fierce combat, except for one who lost their life in an unexpected accident, there were no casualties.

It was thanks to the special terrain of the rampart and the wild leaps of the Rohan.

However, the absence of casualties did not mean their condition was good.

There wasn’t a single person without minor injuries, and due to repeatedly thrusting a spear more than a hundred times, my palms were left with blistered skin that wouldn’t heal.

From Noble mtl dot com

I couldn’t hold a spear barehanded anymore and had to wrap my hands in countless pieces of cloth.

The worst-conditioned member of the ten-man squad limped due to a leg wound.

If Rohan hadn’t been there to support him, he would undoubtedly be lying lifeless by now.

At that time, it was merely a response to the urgent situation, but ultimately, Rohan had kept the promise he made to himself.

Although my body was desperately calling for rest, I couldn’t linger in the battlefield any longer.

Relying on the wall I had hoped for, I rose to my feet again.

With each step, the pain diminished, and my physical condition gradually improved.

The gate was shaking violently, but there were already many troops gathered there.

As the number of personnel on the rampart side was low relative to the opposing forces, Rohan chose that area as the battlefield.

If swept away by the crowd and immobilized, there would be no chance of survival, only facing death as it came.

There was no way to escape within the dense mass of soldiers.

Though fighting as a soldier for pay, Rohan still remembered that his own life was the most precious thing.

‘I must increase my chances of survival even a little.’

In Rohan’s eyes, familiar faces appeared as they climbed atop the rampart.

They were now his only remaining comrades.

Although there should have been a ten-man squad they belonged to, for some reason, only the two of them were left, sticking close together.

“Chris. Kenneth.”

As Rohan called their names, two people with grim expressions turned to him.

“Rohan! You’re alive.”

Even in the grim atmosphere, Chris couldn’t hide his joy as he approached Rohan.

“Are you hurt? Why are you two the only ones like this?”

“Our soldiers… except for us, they’re all dead…”

“What…?”

“We fought where the wall collapsed… but then suddenly, a knight appeared…”

Unable to respond to the words spoken with a bowed head, Rohan too remained silent.

“And soon we’ll die too… sniff, sniff…”

Seeing Chris, who always showed a cheerful demeanor, now trembling, Rohan’s nose also tingled.

But now was not the time to shed tears together.

The gate was still shaking, and below, the enemy was approaching with ladders.

Reaching out and grabbing Chris’s shoulder, I said, “Chris. We can survive. The nobles are still alive, the knights are still here. The fortification is sturdy and robust. Don’t give up.”

Though Rohan couldn’t be certain of surviving the battlefield, he knew one thing for sure: to increase his chances of survival, he had to wield his weapon as if his life depended on it.

Whether it was Rohan’s words that brought some calm to Chris or not, Chris’s trembling body settled a bit as he received the spear from Kenneth and gripped it in his hand.

“Chris, don’t think, just do whatever you can.”

Chris, looking at his own hand holding the weapon, nodded.

His blood-stained hand tightly grasped the spear.

After giving Chris’s arm a final pat, Rohan called for the members led by himself to take their positions.

The battleground was set.

Not long after, another ladder was propped against the fortress wall.

Though there was concern about magical attacks like before, there were no signs of any after the last shot was fired.

Whether it was an issue of range or supplies, it was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.

If even the fortress wall were to crumble, it was clear that there would be no more holding out.

Some soldiers shot arrows, while others brought axes to destroy the ladders.

Though the ladders were sturdy, the intention to blatantly break them with axes was futile.

While completely removing the ladders was difficult, the distance to leap onto the wall in one go had shortened.

Some ladders, due to the strong wind, succeeded in toppling over the soldiers clinging to the wall.

Yet, the commanders from Dorsel paid no heed.

The soldiers’ lives were not that precious to begin with, and the difference in military strength was significant enough for them to not bat an eye at such losses.

Occasionally, knights climbing the ladders would be repelled by joint attacks from the knights of Friel and the commanders of the White Star.

As the end of the war loomed, it was foolish to die senselessly in pursuit of visible achievements.

Whether it was considered the final resistance, the momentum of the enemies trying to breach the fortress wall was much fiercer than when fighting on the outside.

“aaargh!”

A hand reaching for the wall was severed by an axe.

It was a sight unimaginable when living in South Korea, but Rohan, without a hint of hesitation, continuously stabbed and brought down the enemy.

But numbers always had the final say.

With a crunch, the fortress gate collapsed, and the enemies’ weapons began to reach the soldiers guarding the gate.

The situation was not favorable on the fortress side either, as a knight from Dorsel managed to set foot on the wall after breaking through fierce resistance.

Though it was only a small gap, the fact that a knight had created it was problematic.

In an instant, enemy soldiers occupied the corner of the wall and pushed back the forces of Viscount Friel.

The soldiers, who had focused only on the base of the wall, crumbled weakly under attacks coming from both sides.

‘We can’t hold out any longer.’

Sensing defeat, cold sweat ran down Rohan’s back.

After successive battles, his stamina was also at its limit.

Despite having more stamina than others due to his skills, it was because he had been running around a lot.

‘We need to move to a narrower place.’

The fortress wall was no longer a safe haven.

“Chris! Kenneth! This way, hurry!”

At Rohan’s shout, Chris and Kenneth swiftly ran over, pushing an enemy soldier off a ladder.

Gathering the rest of their team, they abandoned the fortress and ascended to the square.

There was a low spot between the fortress wall and the square, offering a vantage point to overlook and attack the enemy.

Waiting for the enemy soldiers to charge towards him, Rohan glanced back discreetly.

Women, elders, and children who had no strength to join the battle were gathered, each praying to their gods, shedding tears, or trembling in fear.

“There’s no escaping… it’s too late.”

There was no way to flee, nor could he abandon the frail ones who would soon be trampled by the enemy’s feet.

Facing the shadow of death, Rohan no longer trembled.

“It’s just something you experience once. Not much different from falling asleep.”

Pushing aside trivial thoughts, he reviewed the countless movements ingrained in his mind.

The approach of the enemy soldiers seemed slow.

The broken spear had been discarded long ago.

Rohan’s sword, reaching the plaza where the enemies were advancing, flashed by.

The swordsmanship of the hero praised in ancient times was revealed to the world across eras.

The thick scale armor, unable to withstand a single sword, was cleaved along with its owner’s flesh.

An attack that seemed impossible with a crude iron sword burst forth continuously from Rohan’s hand.

Having cut down a dozen men in an instant, the enemy soldiers’ gazes focused on Rohan.

“I’ll take him on!”

Boldly shouting, the enemy rushed towards Rohan and leaped towards him in a single breath.

Even at a glance, equipped with better armor and weapons than the other soldiers, he seemed to be of a higher rank.

If fought honestly, it would take quite a while to determine the outcome.

Maintaining the posture to deflect the enemy’s attack, Rohan muttered under his breath.

“Strike of the Warrior King.”

As the skill activated, the energy remaining in Rohan’s body was swiftly drawn into the sword.

Feeling a strong surge of power, he did not stop swinging the sword.

A tremendous force overwhelming the knight surged forth, and Rohan’s sword clashed with the enemy’s.

As if it were meant to be, the enemy’s shattered sword fell to the ground without a sound.

Before the emotion of astonishment could rise in the enemy’s eyes at the unbelievable sight, Rohan’s sword, still full of strength, swiftly cut through the enemy’s body wrapped in armor.

“Words… cannot…”

Without finishing his last words, the enemy collapsed to the ground with a surprised expression.

In that moment, fear crept into the eyes of the other enemies watching Rohan.

With that single act of power, the man who had seized the position of a captain lost his life in an instant.

It was a force that made one think of a knight rather than an ordinary soldier.

Having delivered a blow that surpassed his limits, Rohan, who had used up all his remaining energy, staggered slightly.

Appearing on the brink of collapse, he still had some tricks up his sleeve.

“Blessing of the Breath.”

An additional ability of combat breathing techniques, a skill that could only be used once a week.

Despite the significant penalty, one effect was certain.

As Rohan had expected, there was no miraculous healing of wounds, but he felt the energy depleted from long battles and the Strike of the Warrior King replenishing once more.

His legs, which had been trembling as if they would give way at any moment, steadied on the ground again, and his hands, which had barely held the weapon, firmly gripped the sword hilt once more.

Amidst such a dramatic change, as the enemies, who had thought Rohan was exhausted, cautiously approached again, their steps momentarily hesitated.

Rohan exuded an overwhelming presence.

A new foe turned their gaze towards him.