Yuri and his companions enjoyed a restful break at Jose’s estate.
After spending leisurely days watching the sea, drinking sake with sashimi, or simply doing nothing at all, their accumulated fatigue began to melt away. Everyone felt better than they had in a long time.
“My body feels lighter than ever.”
“Indeed.”
“I think my swordsmanship has improved too.”
It wasn’t just their bodies that had recovered.
The battle experience they’d gained in Adelbine had settled deep within their subconscious, sharpening their understanding of the sword. It seemed as if each of them had grown by at least one level.
Two days passed like this.
One afternoon, as Yuri sat in a rocking chair on the balcony, Jose approached him.
“Your Highness.”
“Ah, Sir Jose.”
“Shall we be going soon?”
“Oh, you mean your master?”
“Yes.”
“Very well.”
Yuri stretched and rose from the chair, then picked up Gilty, which he had leaned beside him.
“The others are probably resting, so let’s go quietly, just the two of us.”
“Understood.”
“Is your master old?”
“Ha ha ha, well, you’ll see when you meet him.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
They slipped quietly out of the mansion.
Jose led the way in silence toward the shore.
Orphen wasn’t a large city. Once they left the streets behind, people became scarce.
The peaceful seaside village stretched out before them. Fishing boats dotted the distant horizon, and seagulls soared above.
Soon, they arrived at a sheer coastal cliff.
“Was there a place like this?”
Because it jutted out into the sea, standing at the edge of the cliff opened up a breathtaking view.
Nothing but sky and sea stretched out before them, uninterrupted.
Yuri spread his arms wide and let out a long sigh.
“Ahhh…”
Two shades of blue, similar yet distinct, divided by the horizon—he couldn’t tell where the sky ended and the sea began. A wave of liberating clarity washed over him.
Truly, this was a view the people of Bursen could be proud of.
Yuri spoke.
“So, Sir Jose…”
“Yes?”
“Is this sea your master?”
Jose burst out laughing.
“Not exactly, but yes, you could say that. This sea is my teacher in a way.”
Then Jose stood beside Yuri.
“But my true master is here.”
He tapped his chest.
Yuri smiled and nodded.
“Yourself?”
“Yes. That’s right. I became strong on my own.”
“A genius, then.”
“Do you think only you are?”
“Not nearly as much as me.”
“Ha ha ha ha…”
“Just kidding.”
“That’s fine.”
“No, really.”
Yuri shook his head.
“You’re clearly a genius.”
When people spoke of Jose, they rarely used the word “genius.”
But in truth, it suited him better than anyone else.
His natural physique and strength were only part of his gifts.
In his past life, he had reached the rank of Ten Strong because his understanding of swordsmanship and mana far surpassed that of ordinary men.
“So, your master wants to meet me?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Since when?”
“Well, maybe from the very beginning.”
“You’ve sparred often enough, haven’t you?”
“Not like that.”
Jose smiled slyly.
“I mean a proper duel.”
Yuri gave a wry smile. Just like with Moyongchan, it seemed that those stronger than him were even more eager to cross swords.
Yuri placed his hand on Gilty’s hilt.
“Alright. Let’s do it.”
Jose’s proposal was no light matter. This would be different from any sparring they’d done before. But Yuri had no intention of backing down.
“Thank you.”
“I’m curious—why go to such lengths? You’re already stronger than me.”
“Well…”
Jose scratched his head.
“Don’t you know?”
“No.”
“That makes me a little jealous.”
“Why?”
“Have you ever met someone weaker than you but still someone you desperately want to spar with?”
“I don’t think so.”
Jose laughed.
“The reason is this: you haven’t yet met anyone more talented than yourself. Including me.”
“I don’t think that’s true. I hold you in very high regard.”
“Ha ha ha…”
“I’m serious.”
“Then let me ask you something else.”
Yuri looked up at Jose, who wore a meaningful smile.
“When do you think you’ll be stronger than me?”
“Well…”
“You probably think it won’t take very long, right?”
Yuri couldn’t deny it.
Though he couldn’t put a precise time on it, he believed that day would come.
Unlike in his past life, he now trained with full effort every moment. Because of that, his limits felt undefined.
He even had a vague feeling that someday, far in the future, he might surpass his father, Fiore Briole.
Maybe that was why.
Though Jose was definitely stronger, he didn’t feel so distant.
Seeing Yuri’s uncertain expression, Jose grinned.
“Of course, I won’t let that happen easily.”
Yuri chuckled.
“So you want to take the initiative today?”
“Do you know the saying ‘cut the grass and remove the roots’?”
“Sir Jose, you’re a scarier knight than I thought.”
“Ha ha ha, just kidding. Anyway, the reason I want to spar with you is…”
Jose carefully drew his sword.
“I want to feel something by meeting a swordsman like you here, in front of the sea that made me who I am.”
“Feel something…”
Yuri lifted Gilty to meet Jose’s gaze.
“That sounds poetic.”
“Your Highness, don’t misunderstand. I have no intention of being overtaken by you.”
“Is that so? Well, I plan to make you feel defeat today.”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
“No need to wait any longer. I’ll beat you today.”
“Bring it on.”
The two stood on the cliff’s edge, swords drawn and pointed at each other.
“Let’s have a good match.”
“Please.”
Yuri studied Jose.
Since their alliance in the federation army, they had spent a long time together and sparred many times.
But this was the first time they truly faced each other with full sincerity.
Yuri’s mind began calculating Jose’s strengths against his own.
Jose’s overall score was higher, but if Yuri focused on his advantages, victory wasn’t impossible.
Yuri stepped forward first.
“Fighting with the sea as a backdrop has its charm.”
“Then let’s do it again next time.”
“Do you think you’ll still want to spar with me then?”
“Oh, I was worried about you.”
As Jose spoke, Yuri struck like lightning.
His sword aimed low, crashing forward.
Jose didn’t dodge but blocked with a downward strike. By stance, Jose should have been at a disadvantage, but Yuri found himself overpowered.
The strength was monstrous.
Yuri pressed on, circling wide and targeting openings hard for Jose to defend. But every attack was stopped.
The turn changed.
Jose swung broadly.
Before the blade could reach him, a sharp crack sounded in Yuri’s ear.
Judging it impossible to evade, Yuri braced his whole body behind Gilty. The impact struck him hard, sending him sliding back with a long trail etched into the ground.
Rubbing his aching arm, Yuri said, “Is this really human strength?”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“But fighting isn’t about strength alone.”
“Show me.”
Unfazed, Yuri advanced again. Spinning, he used momentum to strike Jose’s blade.
A loud clang echoed.
The clash of steel rang out repeatedly.
The swords grew heavier with each exchange, and the battle became so fierce it threatened their lives.
Yet, despite the intensity, the waves remained calm.
Against the vast, deep sea, the two continued to clash swords.
“You’re quite skilled. Ha ha ha!”
“Still have the luxury to laugh?”
“You’re laughing too, Your Highness.”
“That’s because I’m confident.”
“I don’t think so!”
Their blades crossed. Jose’s sword sliced through the air, then he quickly reset his stance and aimed at Yuri. Yuri did the same.
They allowed no gap, attacking each other relentlessly.
Jose chuckled.
He had long awaited this moment.
Here, before the sea of Orphen where he grew up, he wanted to duel one-on-one with the extraordinary genius Yuri Briole.
Just that alone felt like it would spark some kind of inspiration.
And now, it was proving true.
“Thank you for the fight, Your Highness.”
“The pleasure is mine.”
Jose had met many geniuses.
Laurent and Jared, who traveled with him, were among them—both talented enough to hold their own in any continental order of knights.
But these three princes were different.
It wasn’t just a matter of deep sword knowledge or speed.
There was something beyond the physical.
Yes, they shone.
And they radiated that light to those around them.
There was no other way to explain it.
“Is that all you’ve got, Your Highness?”
Jose taunted, swinging his sword toward Yuri.
Most knights avoided facing him directly, trying to find openings while dodging collisions. The three princes had done the same at first.
But occasionally, when conditions aligned perfectly, Jose would launch an attack so precise it was like a painting.
At those moments, the princes couldn’t help but meet his blade head-on.
Of course, they couldn’t handle it fully. Each time, they took damage. It seemed foolish at first glance.
But through those moments, the princes absorbed something, growing in real time.
The princes they were when they first crossed swords were not the same as now.
And by the next clash, they would be different again.
He was truly a fascinating opponent.
Something began to stir within Jose’s chest—something that felt like a mix of emotion and inspiration.
He couldn’t quite put a name to it himself.
But one thing was clear: this moment was lifting him to a higher plane.
Jose declared with conviction, “Your Highness, I’m going to go harder.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll match you.”
It was time to raise the stakes.
“Be careful.”
“Worry about yourself.”
A mountain of mana surged through Jose’s body, while the Third Prince conjured a swirling vortex that spun relentlessly.
Amid it all, their duel pressed on. Waiting for the other to finish perfecting a technique was a luxury reserved for practice bouts. These two were fighting with genuine intent, each trying to find any opening to strike and win.
Jose let out another laugh.
“Don’t laugh too much, okay?”
“I’d like to, but I can’t. Ha ha ha ha!”
“You’re not going easy on me, are you?”
“Of course not.”
In truth, at first, Jose had held back a little. With his superior strength, if he had gone all out from the start, the fight would have ended too quickly.
So he dialed down his power and gradually increased the intensity.
The Third Prince caught on quickly.
And now, here they were.
Jose no longer had the luxury of ease. It was no exaggeration to say this was a battle between equals.
Every time their swords clashed, an unexpected move emerged.
Not just in the choice of technique, but in the way the man responded—there was something exceptional about it. That difference was reflected in their blades.
Jose felt the light he had sensed from Yuri shine upon him once more.
Facing the Third Prince had been the right decision. Just from what he’d gained in this fight, his skill had reached a new level.
Jose shouted, “At this rate, I’ll win!”
“Probably.”
“Are you just going to lose?”
“Not a chance. I’ll have to pull out my secret move and take you down.”
“Now that’s something I’m looking forward to.”
“Do you have any hidden techniques, Your Highness?”
“Of course.”
“Show me.”
“Should I?”
They stood still for a moment, swords pointed at each other. Their gazes locked. For the first time since the battle began, they were at a standstill.
Suddenly, a breeze swept through.
Both swung their swords toward each other.
That day, the people of Orphen witnessed a dragon’s ascent rising from the calm sea.