From Ruin to Reign Leander's Unbreakable Will novel Chapter 58

(69)

Finished

The young man’s voice cut through the air. He was speaking Astric but with an odd accent and intonation. He swiftly drew a long sword from his back, revealing it as a Jesundese sword.

“A Jesundese?” Emma squinted, her instincts kicking in.

“What do you want, and why are you here in Astria to kill our martial practitioners?” Elias roared, anger flaring in his chest. He was sure this black–clad Jesundese was behind the deaths of over twenty martial arts prodigies in Mornwick and Listin.

The Jesundese man replied coolly, “My name isn’t for you to know. I’m just here to escort my guru and check out how much the martial arts talents in Astria have evolved over the last

twenty years.

“Once I return to Jesund, my guru will come here. Then, you Astria martial practitioners will see what true power looks like! Now, I’ll prove my swordsmanship by taking you down!”

A flash of cold steel zipped through the air as soon as he finished speaking. In an instant, he closed the distance of more than ten meters, standing right in front of Emma and Elias, and swung his sword.

The strike was incredibly fast and powerful, creating a ripping sound as it sliced through the air. Emma and Elias‘ faces paled, and they instinctively jumped back, narrowly escaping the sword.

As they retreated, three sturdy trees behind them were effortlessly cut down by the force of the strike.

“What a terrifying move!” they gasped, stunned. Splitting through three massive trees in one swing was beyond anything they could have imagined achieving. The Jesundese man’s casual display of power left them in awe.

Yet, there was no time for distractions; they were facing a formidable foe.

Emma focused her thoughts, her palms pressed together as she gathered her internal strength. As one of the top nine geniuses in Astria, she wouldn’t be intimidated by a young martial practitioner from Jesund.

Swoosh. She darted forward three meters with a graceful leap, dodging two of the Jesundese man’s strikes. Channeling her inner strength, she aimed a powerful palm strike at his chest.

Emma had achieved the peak of Martial Grandmaster but not Martial Sovereign, limiting her ability to project internal strength. However, by focusing all her strength into one blow, she could easily dent a car’s front and was confident she could seriously injure him.

1/3

13:02 Sun, Oct 12 M.

…

:

69

Chapter 58 Did You Seek My Consent?

Finished

Elias was quick to follow suit. As Emma made her move, he cleverly used the jungle’s cover to sneak around and attack the Jesundese man from behind.

Together, they aimed to take down this Jesundese man and bring justice to the martial arts world in Mornwick and Listin.

“Hmph!” Just as they thought they were on the verge of victory, the Jesundese man scoffed.

He indifferently lifted his left hand and blocked Emma’s palm strike while his right hand flicked backward, aiming the sword at Elias.

Thud! Emma’s hand collided with his, creating a dull thud. She felt a powerful force push her back, stumbling a few steps before regaining her balance, blood trickling from her mouth.

She was shocked to realize she had been hurt–one strike from the Jesundese man had wholly overwhelmed her. The force behind his attack was far beyond her own.

As for Elias, the Jesundese man’s sword pierced his stomach. The sword would have hit his heart if he hadn’t reacted in time. Even so, he was left gravely injured.

Smack! The Jesundese man delivered a forceful kick, sending Elias crashing several meters away to land beside Emma. These two elite prodigies of the Tri–Peak Sect had been crushed in just three moves.

“Are you a Martial Sovereign?” Emma asked as she helped Elias to his feet, worry etched on her face. The realization struck her–only a true Martial Sovereign could hurt her, a peak of Martial Grandmaster, with a single strike. She couldn’t fathom how someone with such power would target martial arts geniuses in Mornwick and Listin.

“Martial Sovereign? I’m not there yet,” the Jesundese man replied, shaking his head as he gripped his sword. “I still have a long way to go to reach that rank. Yet, confronting you so- called prodigies from Astria? That’s more than enough for me; I’m currently at half–Sovereign!”

Standing ten feet away from Emma and Elias, he took his time. “You Astria martial arts prodigies believe you can jump from Martial Grandmaster to Martial Sovereign in one leap, but you’re still too naive. There’s an important realm in between, known as half–step Sovereign!”

“While it may not compare to a true Sovereign, a half–Sovereign can easily take on ten Martial Grandmasters at their peak!”

“I thought there might be some half–Sovereigns among the martial arts prodigies of Astria. Now? You’re merely a bunch of trash. Even you, the chief disciple of the Tri–Peak Sect, recognized as one of Astria’s top nine prodigies, can’t hold a candle to me. It seems the martial arts world of Astria has truly declined. Since the Four Extremes, there hasn’t been any noteworthy talent!”

2/3

13:02 Sun, Oct 12 M

Chapter 58 Did You Seek My Consent?

:

༧

69

Finished

Emma’s anger flared. “Don’t get too boastful. I’m just an average talent among the top nine. The strongest ones, like Ethan, Daphne, and Claire, might give you a run for your money! Plus, Astria boasts abundant resources and talent. There’s no way we’ll fear the Jesundese martial practitioners!”

The Jesundese man smiled icily, neither affirming nor refuting her words. “No need to provoke me. Claire rarely ventures into the outside world; she trains at the Silvermoon Sect most of her time. Besides, I wouldn’t want to recklessly venture there, especially with someone like the ‘Silvermoon Muse‘ Martial Sovereign around!”

“Ethan and Daphne are in Highcliffe, home to Gareth, the top Martial Sovereign. I’m not foolish enough to go there, either. Once I take care of you two tonight, I’ll return to Jesund. Then, my guru will come to Astria, and you’ll see what true strength is!”

His eyes glinted with menace as he tightened his grip on the Jesundese sword and approached Emma and Elias.

Both of their hearts raced. They were seriously injured, their chances of escape dwindling. It was impossible for them to outrun someone at the half–Sovereign.

Emma confronted the harsh truths of the martial arts world for the first time, sensing death’s proximity.

Just three more steps and this Jesundese man will quickly end my life with one strike. I can’t believe it’s come to this. Even I, one of the Four Beauties, feel despair. Unless our master shows up or someone from the Tarlyn Guild in Mornwick arrives, who will save us?!

The Jesundese man’s sword gleamed ominously, ready to strike. Just then, a voice resonated from the riverbank.

“How dare you target the Astria martial practitioners here in our own land! Did you even ask me before you tried to take us down?”

Send Gifts

50

A