Chapter 26: All good things must come to an end

Third Company Commander’s Knight Sword Pierces Through Xiadam’s Head!

The entire hall erupted in chaos!

Wasn’t this supposed to be just a friendly spar?

Why did the Old Lord strike with a killing blow right from the start?

No…

That sword strike didn’t feel like it hit its mark—it missed.

Never underestimate the control a Campaign Knight wields over their blade.

If this strike were truly meant to defeat the Nameless Hero, the sword tip wouldn’t have pierced through her head; it would have stopped precisely at the tip of her nose, declaring victory.

Only when the sword pierces empty air does this kind of situation arise.

Soon, Xiadam’s body dissolved into white mist—she was only an afterimage.

Xiadam’s evasion speed was so fast, it left a residual shadow behind.

This was no magic; it was pure technique.

Just like Osiris’s burst speed was so fast it seemed like he vanished on the spot—exactly the same.

Using another’s methods against them.

Moreover, Osiris couldn’t track Xiadam’s movements after her afterimage disappeared; he had no idea where her true body had moved to.

That tiny hesitation, just a fraction slower, was enough to decide the outcome.

“Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!”

Xiadam’s afterimages multiplied into countless sword lights, engulfing Osiris’s entire field of vision.

Everywhere he looked was a flurry of sword slashes—no other form, real or fake, tangible or illusory—impossible to defend against.

This was the Nameless Hero’s power.

And this was only about one-tenth of her full strength.

“Ah…”

Yet Osiris felt as if he had just awoken from a beautiful dream—a very beautiful dream.

For a hundred years, he had traveled from the Northern Region to the Southern Land, from a Campaign Knight to a Defensive Knight, with no regrets in his life.

Finally, all the sword shadows and lights converged.

They formed a broad sword resting on Old Lord Osiris’s shoulder.

This moment felt like going back fifty years—this was exactly how the Nameless Hero defeated his perfect self.

“Third Company Commander, you are fast, but I am faster.”

Xiadam appeared behind Osiris, back facing the Old Lord, but her hand flipped her sword around, and the blade slipped precisely between the gap of his helmet and breastplate.

The battle was over…

“You win.” Osiris lowered his hands, which had held the thrust.

“Satisfied?” Xiadam withdrew her sword from his neck, spun it in a dance, then slid it accurately back into its scabbard.

“This is the best gift I’ve ever received,” Osiris said emotionally.

Clumsily, he sheathed his Knight Sword, his whole body trembling from the sparring—completely convinced.

But no one thought the Old Lord was embarrassed.

All the Defensive Knights present were still lost in the moment, unable to come back to their senses for a long while.

Eventually, the courtyard’s white mist fully dissipated.

Osiris and Xiadam shook hands—a fair spar, ending peacefully with everyone happy.

This scene was different from fifty years ago.

Back then, after a sparring match, a Campaign Knight Captain would never shake hands with the Nameless Hero.

Everyone’s faces would flush red with pride, their skin hot, their expressions filled with stubbornness, and they’d leave without a word.

Now, Third Company Commander Osiris was completely convinced. Although, over time, when they fought alongside the Nameless Hero, he gradually accepted her.

But even with deep camaraderie, that initial resentment during sparring was a completely different matter.

“We’re comrades. I acknowledge you, but that doesn’t mean I’m convinced.”

Men can be petty like that.

“I want you to fight me again!”

“Then lose again.”

“Only then will you be convinced.”

“This is the first time I’ve ever felt so good about defeat.”

The regret from fifty years ago, the Third Company Commander’s final sortie, reunited with an old friend.

“Friend, I’m old now. I plan to settle here and take root, but I know your legend isn’t over yet. No matter what happens in the future, Ravini Border Fortress will always be your home.”

At that moment, Old Lord Osiris’s deepest wish was fulfilled—he even made peace with his former self.

“You’re so cheesy, old man. Enough, I’m going to eat now.”

Xiadam sneered disdainfully, mocking him, then turned to leave.

Old Lord Osiris watched her retreating figure and smiled knowingly.

Brothers speak from the heart.

Comrades always trade insults.

If you have a comrade who never talks trash to you, you’d never dare to trust your back to them.

“The Old Lord is truly vigorous for his age!”

“Amazing! So amazing!”

“Who knew the mage could also wield a sword?”

“Such powerful swordsmanship! It fires us up!”

The Defensive Knights all stood, clapping wildly, cheering loudly.

Swordlights flashed in the blink of an eye.

A duel decided in 0.05 seconds.

Today would surely become an unforgettable, precious memory for everyone.

This would undoubtedly elevate all the Defensive Knights’ understanding and appreciation of swordsmanship dramatically.

“The old man’s a hundred years old and still plays so wildly.”

Lord Ravini watched the scene and sighed deeply, collapsing into a chair.

Father’s hundredth birthday was a perfect yet lonely affair.

Thankfully, nothing major happened—truly gave me a fright.

After the sparring, Xiadam went over to Sheffield and Little Dragon, sitting with them at a table.

“How was it?” Xiadam asked with a smile.

“A pile of crap, maybe only one-fiftieth of your strength,” Sheffield shook her head, mocking.

“I’m just happy I can still swing a sword,” Xiadam sipped her tea.

“Lady Xiadam!” “Mage Lady!” “Such fast swordsmanship!”

But before she could raise her cup, Priestess Anna and the Pioneer Knights all came over to greet her.

That once quiet table quickly filled with people, lively and bustling.

Xiadam poured tea for everyone, chatting humbly.

But she was soon drowned in waves of praises: “Mage Lady! Amazing sword skills!”

The banquet ended.

Xiadam barely ate anything and was parched from all the talking.

Because Sheffield and Little Dragon had eaten all the food!

Night darkened.

All good things must come to an end.

Everyone reluctantly said their farewells.

Knights and townsfolk left the lord’s manor courtyard and returned to their homes.

They would all rise tomorrow and fight again.

“Ah…”

Early the next morning, Xiadam woke up but couldn’t fight for the coming day.

Because apart from her brain, every other part of her body was numb.

“Ahhhhh… it hurts so much…”

She quickly realized it wasn’t numbness—her pain sensation was extremely sharp.

If she moved even slightly, every muscle in her body throbbed fiercely, making it impossible to get up.

Xiadam could only twitch her eyelids and tongue; of her ten fingers, maybe two could twitch slightly.

If her guess was correct, this was the side effect of the Power Enhancement Technique.

The Power Enhancement Technique was like forcing growth—boosting strength without strengthening the physique.