Sword God in a World of Magic

"I was lucky. I got him with the Flying Beast Defense Technique."

Inside a tavern, several guards were talking to each other.

"So you were the reason why he managed to evade my spears!" another guard on the table grumbled.

The first guard only snickered. "Well, I was the first one. How did your fight go?"

"I think I was the fourth he fought," the other guard said. "Luckily, he didn't know the Earth Beast Cracker. I don't remember what his weapon was, but I remember that I managed to make him lose his weapon. The fight was over after that."

"Yeah, he probably wears one of these Haze Masks," the first guard said. "Of course, I can't remember."

At that point, another guard walked through the doors since his shift had just ended.

"Hey, Steve!" the second guard shouted. "Over here!"

The newest guard, Steve, walked over with a laugh and sat down. "What's up?" he asked.

"Hey, did you fight that guy in the academy too?" the second guard asked.

"Wait, you guys fought him as well?" Steve asked.

The two guards nodded.

"Didn't your shift end like five hours ago?"

The two guards nodded again.

"What was your number?" Steve asked.

"I was number one, and Jarrod was number four," the first guard said.

"Tch," Steve spat. "You probably had it easy as number one."

The first guard only laughed. "Don't act like you didn't also have it easy."

"What are you talking about?" Steve asked. "I was number 57, and I had to fight him for like over half a minute."

The first two guards only looked at Steve in surprise.

"What?" Steve asked.

"Half a minute?" Jarrod asked. "Did we fight the same guy?"

"Probably," Steve said. "The numbers seem to check out with the timeframe. Why?"

The first guard and Jarrod looked at each other. "Well, we basically won in an instant."

"In an instant?" Steve asked. "I mean, I get that being the first has some advantage, but that quick?"

"Yeah, he didn't know our techniques in the beginning," the first guard explained.

explain

as he pushed his mug of beer towards

drank from the

Defense Techniques, I had to fight him with my sword," Steve

actually had to use

went really low to the ground, and other times, he

they heard that.

was effective," Steve said. "Fighting him was very different from fighting any other warrior. Usually, it's not that difficult to foresee what my opponent will do, but with him, it was basically a shot in the dark. I had to rely on my

and forth, but it definitely

remained silent

you think he is?" the first guard

supposed to know?" Jarrod answered with a snort. "He wears one of those Haze Masks. I don't even remember how

the first guard said, "but based on how he fought, I was sure that he was a fresh graduate. You know,

work?" Steve asked. "The guy is obviously at the Early General Stage, and his technique also wasn't bad. I can't remember his weapon, but I can somewhat remember

a fresh graduate. I think he is

two snorted. "Late twenties? The guy didn't even know our

he should think

that he was inexperienced, but the opponent Steve fought didn't seem

while, the topic veered away from Shang, and

passed, and it was late at night

to gather

you guys also have to fight that one student from the academy?" one of the players on the table suddenly asked the other

had met in the bar were already back at work, and he would also

were you?" the guard

"Number 57," Steve answered.

you're one of the early ones," the guard

ones?" Steve asked. "How many did

the guard said. "I

in shock. "He fought that many

95," another

Number 144," the

yeah, how did your fights go?" Number 183

wasn't bad," Number

was pretty good," Number 144

bit inexperienced,

guards looked at

"What?" Steve asked.

Number 144 asked with skepticism.

but pretty experienced? I don't know," Number 95

about this?" Number 183 asked. "He was

three guards looked

overdo

shouted.

Sure, Steve's opponent had been pretty strong, but Steve had been nowhere near to

183 answered in frustration. "He even managed to trigger the

surprised the other

Triggering the Magic Circle?

Number 183 had received a life-threatening