Whoosh!
Bai Yu's figure flashed like a phantom, the gleam of his blade cutting through the humid air as he passed Duma in a single slash.
With a sickening snort, a deep sword wound ripped across Duma's chest.
Emerald flames ignited instantly, licking upward from the gash with unnatural heat.
"S-So fast... that sword..."
His broken weapon clattered to the ground—the last echo of his resistance. Duma's voice faded into silence as he collapsed forward, lifeless.
This duel ended in a single strike.
Bai Yu hadn't needed flashy techniques or backup—only his peerless sword intent and mastery of the blade.
After finishing Duma with precision, Bai Yu flicked the blood off his katana in one smooth motion and returned it to its sheath with practiced elegance.
Whoosh!
Boom!
At that moment, two bright flares erupted in the distant sky, each in a different direction.
That was the agreed signal.
Bai Yu's subordinates had spotted Saga's naval forces. Per his orders, they didn't initiate a confrontation—instead, they launched flares to alert their commanding officer.
One flare came from the west, the other from the east.
Both groups had encountered Saga's forces.
"No need to overthink it. West it is."
Wasting no time, Bai Yu turned and sprinted westward toward the first flare's location.
Rather than guessing which direction Saga himself was in, it was better to deal with one side quickly, then rush to support the other.
FWOOSH!
Within the dense jungle, Bai Yu's silhouette became a blur—barely visible, leaping branch to branch with astonishing speed.
Before long, a chaotic clash came into view ahead.
Two naval units were locked in fierce combat.
On one side were Bai Yu's ten elite subordinates. On the other, a larger force commanded by Saga's faction.
Although the skirmish had only just begun, it was clear Saga's side already held the upper hand.
Bai Yu's men were slowly being pushed back into a tightening encirclement.
Thud!
Suddenly, one of Bai Yu's subordinates stumbled—his foot slipping on gravel as he retreated under pressure.
He fell heavily to the ground.
"A perfect opening!"
A Saga-aligned marine, spotting the vulnerability, lunged forward without hesitation.
He raised his saber high, aiming straight for the fallen soldier's neck.
There was no hesitation in his eyes—no comradeship. Only the killing intent of a zealot.
The fallen soldier stared helplessly at the descending blade, his eyes wide with despair.
But—
SHING!
CLANG!
A rush of wind split the air.
The sharp clang of steel colliding rang out. Sparks flew.
To his shock, the downed marine felt no pain.
He opened his eyes slowly.
A familiar figure now stood in front of him, unmoving. One hand rested on a drawn blade, the strike already completed.
The Saga-aligned attacker collapsed in front of him, his own weapon snapped in two, blood seeping out beneath his armor.
"C-Colonel Bai Yu...!"
The marine choked out the words, wide-eyed with relief and awe.
It was Bai Yu—who had arrived just in time!
"Get up."
Bai Yu said, without looking back.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The subordinate scrambled to his feet.
Bai Yu's gaze shifted coldly toward the enemy ranks.
"All those siding with Saga... I give you one chance."
"Lay down your arms—or be cut down without mercy."
His voice was calm, but each word crackled with icy resolve.
Bai Yu could sense it—these soldiers weren't under mind control. They weren't puppets of the Holy Sword.
They had chosen to stand behind Saga.
To Bai Yu, that made them enemies. No hesitation. No mercy.
The Saga-aligned soldiers glanced at one another nervously, unsure of how to respond.
But before any could defect—
CLANK! CLANK!
Heavy footsteps echoed across the battlefield.
A tall man clad in dense iron armor stepped forward from the enemy formation, each step leaving a deep imprint on the earth.
A glimmering longsword rested on his shoulder.
"Bismarck," Bai Yu muttered.
He instantly recognized the man's signature armor.
One of Saga Dojo's senior disciples.
The Iron Knight—Bismarck.
But Saga himself was nowhere to be seen.
And under Bismarck's steely gaze, those who had hesitated now hardened their resolve.
Weapons were lifted again.
"I have no interest in wasting time with pawns," Bai Yu declared.
"Those who value their lives should leave. The rest... come!"
He raised his weapon—Dragon Flame Taidao—its edge gleaming like a predator's eye.
"Hmph! You arrogant brat!"
Bismarck scoffed, masking his nerves with bluster.
But he subtly signaled his men.
"Attack!"
With a unified shout, the Saga-aligned marines surged forward—dozens of them, weapons raised high.
The clash was inevitable.
As the saying goes: when it rains, the heavens test your blade.
If Bismarck and his men sought death—then so be it.
HUMMM!
A low, resonant hum echoed from Bai Yu's sword.
With a single thought, Azure Dragon Sword Intent ignited from the blade like a living flame—raging emerald fire wrapped the length of the Dragon Flame Taidao.
"Blue Dragon Slash!"
Bai Yu's eyes narrowed.
He slashed horizontally through the air.
FWOOOOOM!
A massive crescent-shaped wave of turquoise flame erupted from the blade. The air trembled from the force, and even the trees seemed to bend away instinctively.
A dragon's roar echoed within the blaze.
"Shields! Defend!"
Bismarck shouted urgently, sensing the sheer power behind the attack.
CLANK! CLANK! CLANK!
Saga's forces scrambled, pulling metal shields from their packs. They quickly formed a wall—layered and reinforced.
An iron fortress.
But Bai Yu only smirked.
The flame wave struck the shield wall.
CLANG! CRACK! SHATTER!
One by one, the metal barriers crumpled and split like twigs under a giant's boot.
The slash didn't even slow down.
In a heartbeat, it tore through the entire enemy formation.
SLASH! SPLASH! THUMP!
Limbs flew. Blood sprayed like mist.
Even Bismarck's famed armor was no match—his body split in two from shoulder to waist.
The others fared no better. Dozens of bodies collapsed in ruin, cleaved apart mid-charge.
Some never even had time to scream.
The burning crescent slash faded into embers.
All that remained was silence... and the stench of blood.
Bismarck's force had been annihilated.
Their corpses, torn and scattered across the battlefield, spoke louder than any words:
Bai Yu had arrived.
And he brought judgment with him.
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