Swordmaster's Youngest Son Chapter 810

Chapter 810

Hedo had been watching the bird dragons from the castle's waiting area when Dante first detected the Red Fleet’s strike from the meeting room. This positioning allowed Hedo to focus on the rear while the fleet’s main force battered the front defenses. It was actually advantageous for Hedo that Dante had taken the knights and bird dragons with him; he no longer had to limit his combat style to protect his allies' lives.

Hedo had previously swung his sword primarily for the protection of the bird dragons and knights during the initial assault. Now, however, he could pivot entirely to offense. Because the enemy was preoccupied with Dante and the retreating troops, they failed to keep a watchful eye on him.

Dante was a world-renowned martial artist of immense skill. Hedo knew he didn't need to worry about the shockwaves from his own power affecting Dante’s formation while he engaged the fleet. Essentially, he was free to fight at his own pace. A smile touched Hedo's lips.

A pure white light radiated from his long sword, releasing a massive surge of energy. His unique musculature swelled instantly. Beneath his thick, rugged skin, his muscle fibers were packed as tightly as a multitude of sharp needles. These muscles shifted violently with every motion, allowing him to concentrate explosive force into any single point. It was a power that felt capable of slicing through anything with his blade or crushing anything with his bare hands.

Hedo paused for a heartbeat to assess his own physical state, much like a technician inspecting a massive machine. His entire being was perfectly tuned to obey his will. He was a powder keg ready to ignite.

Kwaaang!

Direct hits from several cannons struck Hedo, yet the enemy’s fire failed to pierce his iron-like flesh, bouncing harmlessly into the air. Hedo caught the shattered remains of the enemy projectiles and pulverized them with savage strength, causing the Red Fleet to recoil in shock.

‘Is that creature… human?’

‘He neutralized the fleet’s fire without even using a shield? This is insanity—he’s leaping between battleships! Even with the sky saturated by Compatriot Drek’s lightning…!’

Though these shots lacked the power of the flagship Barion’s main battery, the display still defied everything the Red Fleet members knew. To withstand Barion’s lightning required defensive capabilities greater than the fleet itself. This meant Hedo’s physical body was more durable than an armored battleship. Furthermore, the monstrous man had already begun unleashing his sword aura. His style, fueled by his overwhelming strength, sent out waves of sword aura that crashed over the fleet like a tsunami.

Under the sheer pressure of this sword style, the bombardment intended for Dante and the knights was knocked off course. The closest ships tilted and were forced back, their vision temporarily clouded by the energy. When the vanguard on the left flank finally regained their sight, the first thing they saw was Hedo, who had already leaped onto their decks.

“Open fire! Activate the spines and shoot!”

Cannons deployed from the sides of the ships, launching projectiles at Hedo from point-blank range. Even these main guns could not breach Hedo’s muscles. He didn't bother to evade; instead, he drove his sword deep into the Red Legend Tribe’s vessel.

Pzzhh-!

At that moment, the lightning shields of the adjacent ship, known as "spines," were triggered. This defensive system was designed to incinerate boarders and could swiftly kill even powerful bird dragons. To Hedo, it was nothing more than a minor annoyance. He detonated the energy within his sword thrust, obliterating the battleship. Red Fleet members spilled out from the wreckage; some tried to leap to safety on other ships, while others rushed Hedo in a desperate attempt to halt his rampage.

Their ends were all the same. Those who attacked were shredded by his blade, while those who fled were struck down by his sword aura. The grisly remains of the fallen Red Legends were flung against nearby ships, creating a scene of absolute horror.

“I will tear every one of them down!”

Hedo declared, seizing the bridge with his left hand. Though damaged by the blast, the structure was still ten times his size. He hoisted it as if it were a common stone and hurled it at the next battleship. The crew of the target ship watched in stunned silence. Had a human truly just thrown a massive bridge section with one hand?

Before they could finish the thought, Hedo was standing before them.

“He’s here!”

With a powerful strike, Hedo shattered the glass with his fist, seized a Red Legend by the throat, and snapped it. He then thrust his sword into the man's mouth while gripping the frame of the broken window. From that position, he unleashed a terrifying display of strength, literally "tearing" the battleship apart.

Krraaaaak-!

As Hedo let out a roar, the ship split down the middle and began its terminal descent. It was as if he had ripped through a sheet of paper. Two ships had already been sunk. The Red Legend Tribe was thrown into total disarray by this sudden, devastating flanking maneuver.

While flying battleships were formidable war engines, they were never intended for melee combat. The strength of any fleet, ancient or modern, lay in its mobility and long-range superiority. The issue here was the proximity. Had Hedo been forced to endure precise fire from kilometers away, he never would have reached them so easily. Of course, even in this era, there were likely fewer than ten people on the planet capable of the close-quarters destruction he was currently dealing.

As he moved through the air destroying ships, Hedo continued to fire sword aura to disrupt the flagship's attacks on Dante. It might have been more effective if Drek had ignored the flagship and ordered the hundreds of other vessels to concentrate their fire on Dante. Hedo alone could not have blocked that much firepower.

“Abandon the Sword Emperor. All ships are to pull back and prepare for precision strikes on Hedo. I will deal with him personally.”

Drek adjusted his strategy immediately. To continue as they were would only result in the pointless loss of his fleet. He decided to let Dante and the knights go to focus on the greater threat. As the bridge of the flagship Barion opened, Hedo landed on a nearby ship and took a steady breath. Hedo and Drek locked eyes across the gap between the vessels.

The shelling stopped. Barion ceased its fire toward Dante and the bird dragons, and the oppressive lightning in the sky began to fade.

“The commander finally shows himself.”

“The surface world is indeed full of surprises.”

“If you are so shocked, then crawl back to your holes and stay there. As long as the Vamel Alliance stands, the Red Legend Tribe will never rule this world.”

“I find it hard to grasp. Why do humans like you throw your lives away for such a trivial castle? We originally came for the dragons and their riders, but they are mere trifles compared to you or the Sword Emperor.”

“My entire purpose is to be a protector.”

“Why let the Sword Emperor leave? If you had sacrificed the others, you could have escaped with him.”

“The reason is simple. The Sword Emperor went to summon reinforcements. The Red Legend Tribe has every reason to fear the owner of that name.”

“Jin Runcandel… I have heard from Rakiman and those at Patlok Castle that he is a nuisance. You seem remarkably confident that you can hold out against me and my fleet until he arrives.”

“I am.”

“You certainly have the strength to justify such arrogance. Unfortunately for you, I am your opponent. It is time for your delusions to end.”

As Drek finished, Hedo felt a sudden chill of danger and raised his sword. It felt like a concealed strike. Even if the legendary Yona had launched a frontal ambush, Hedo believed he could have parried it. He felt as though he had successfully blocked, yet something cold seemed to pass right through him.

‘What was that? I saw nothing. Was it a trick of the mind?’

Hedo sharpened his senses, but he felt no pain. There were no cuts or bruises on his skin. But a second later…

‘Blood!? My blood…!’

Hedo watched in disbelief as blood began to seep from his body. Droplets of his own life force were hovering in the air around him. He quickly manifested a protective barrier, but the blood bypassed the physical shield entirely, turning into mist and flowing toward Drek.

Drek smirked, fully expecting this reaction.

“Vampire. That is what the mortals and immortals of the old world called me before the sealing.”

The ability to drain blood was Drek’s unique power as the Great King of Battle. Instinctively, Hedo leaped back to create distance.

‘The further away I get, the slower the drainage becomes. Close combat is suicide.’

However, Drek had more than just one trick.

“Why the sudden rush? You seem quite eager to get away from me.”

Drek had already moved to the ground, swinging his spear before Hedo could even land. Hedo barely dodged the weapon, but he noticed even more blood escaping his body than before. While it wasn't debilitating yet, he knew his movements would eventually falter, leading to his death.

Worse, the fleet was following Drek's lead, spreading out to a range where Hedo’s sword aura couldn't reach them, preparing to resume their bombardment.

‘If I close in, he drains me faster. If I stay back, the fleet picks me off…’

He was trapped in a lethal dilemma.

‘Since they’ve stopped chasing the Sword Emperor, my best bet is to survive until I can find a safe retreat. When Jin arrives, he’ll find my trail.’

Drek read his intentions perfectly.

“You are thinking of holding out and escaping. But Hedo, my fleet can hit you with pinpoint accuracy even at this range. You survived the initial barrage, but can you keep that up indefinitely?”

Hedo remained silent, venting sword aura as he backed away. It was a bizarre sensation, like his blood was rebelling inside his veins. He couldn't find a "safe distance" where the absorption stopped. Drek’s spear continued to trigger lightning strikes, corralling Hedo’s movements. Every time he was forced to halt, he ended up closer to Drek, losing more blood.

“That is a revolting ability.”

Drek flicked his long tongue out, tasting the blood mist in the air.

“Ah, your blood is so potent… far superior to the knights or dragons I intended to consume. Today, Hedo, my people and I shall feast upon you.”