The Knight Who Descends from the Sky (2)

Pssssss—

The sound of the ocean waves faintly travels along the steel walls.
A mid-rank officer of the armed group Zentra, Emulen, cautiously turned his head to the side.

"Are you ready?"

A colossal man, so massive that one had to crane their neck back just to see his face. A man of abnormal build and muscle, the Iron Core martial artist, ‘Dun Khan.’
He was Zentra’s core combat agent.

"..."

He said nothing, merely looking down at Emulen. His silence was a form of pressure. Emulen swallowed dryly.

"Please rest a little longer. We will be arriving soon."

This dark, cramped space was the inside of a shipping container headed for the port. Zentra's agents were currently being 'delivered' to the target location, disguised as cargo.
It wouldn't be long until the operation began.
Dun Khan would crush the Empire's hunting dogs.


The southern third port of Kalen Island. An afternoon where the salt-laced wind whipped between cranes and containers.
Tiana, Yulian, and Leon gathered first in the control room.

"I will now explain the escort detail."

A company official in a suit explained the escort route. The personnel mobilized for the escort included seven mercenary groups, including the Akari Faction, as well as the company’s own security guards, totaling over a hundred men.

"This shipping escort will last for three weeks..."

After the briefing, everyone took their positions at their assigned points. From atop a stack of containers, Tiana looked down at the disorderly scenery of the port and smirked.

"—Hmph, it's the same here."

Her impression of the Kanilan Independence. The only thing missing was official status; the unseen hierarchy was even more absolute. The sole measure was money. The wealthy held more power than any noble.
You could tell just by observing the behavior of the escort mercenaries. The members of the Akari Faction, famous even in the Empire, held their heads high like a knightly order, while the others nervously watched them. They even asked each other's salaries and treated anyone earning less as beneath them.

Tiren, you read me?

Leon's voice came through the comms device in her ear.

"Yeah. What's up."

Just checking if the comms were working.

According to intel, Zentra's attack would come either tonight or tomorrow night.

"Mr. Olatore, what do you think? Maxan should be up above by now."

Yulian, using his alias Olatore, answered curtly.

"What happens in the sky is Maxan's business. What matters to us is what happens on the ground."

Yulian quickly walked off somewhere. His route was a constant patrol. Like a residential security guard, he’d be back this way in about thirty minutes.

Diken, I am curious, though. How in the world are they planning to stage an assault?

"I doubt we'll have to see it for ourselves."

Zentra was certainly a powerful armed group. But the one they were facing was just a mid-rank officer. Even considering variables, as Max said, with Yulian present, it was more than enough.

"You must be very bored. Out for a stroll?"

Suddenly, an irritating voice spoke. A mercenary in the Akari Faction's uniform was looking at her, a brow cocked.

"This is a small world~ What'll you do if you can't find your next job because you slacked off on this one?"

Was this that typical mercenary posturing?

"Don't you worry. I can handle myself."

Tiana replied with a sweet smile.

"Haha. I'm sure you can. If you're free, how about we exchange numbers?"

Wait, was that flirting, not a challenge?

"We'll see how well you handle your job."
"Hahahaha. You're an interesting one."

The man laughed, slicking his hair back in a sleazy way, and Tiana refocused on monitoring their surroundings.
A tedious wait ensued.

"Hwaaahm."

A yawn escaped her. Even Yulian, visible in the distance, was reading a book while on patrol.
Maybe I should have bought a book, too.

Tick. Tock.

As the night deepened and dawn approached.
Tiana suddenly felt the air change. Tense, she readjusted her grip on her sword just as Yulian's twenty-sixth patrol was beginning.

Whirrrrr—

A cargo ship in the distance reached the port. A crane picked up a container from it and set it down in the harbor.

Thud— Thud—

Just as she was intently watching the scene, like something out of a claw machine.

Screeeech—

A faint sound echoed, like something being scratched or torn apart, and then—

—KWAAAAAANG!

An explosion erupted from one of the containers. Immediately after, other containers were torn open from the sides as armed men poured out.
Zentra's armed assault. All security personnel converged on that spot.

"It's the enemy!"

Tiana leaped across the tops of the containers, first observing the state of the battle. The mercenaries engaged them first. The words of the security captain rallying the fight were quite bizarre.

"—Triple the life-hazard bonus for initial suppression! Calculating the enemy's strength, the escort bonus will be paid out up to a maximum of ten times!"

Perhaps it was thanks to the bonus, but the mercenaries fought rather well. The Zentra agents' movements were organized, but the mercenaries' individual skills were nothing to scoff at. The 'Akari Faction' members were certainly noticeable. The black-haired swordsman who had flirted with Tiana. He moved nimbly between the containers, killing his opponents.

Slice! Scccrape! Chaaaaang—!
Taaaaang—!

The clash of steel, the shriek of bullets tearing through the air, the thud of flesh being gouged—the sounds instantly filled the port.
Tiana quietly identified her targets. Even amidst the battle, her objective was singular: the officer, Emulen.

Tiana. Look to your left.

Turning her head as Yulian instructed, she saw 'Emulen'. A bald man with large prayer beads around his neck.

"Confirmed."
Confirmed.

All three had confirmed the target.

Engaging.

At Yulian’s signal, Tiana kicked off the container.
In the very moment she leaped high, closing in on Emulen—

KWAAAAA—!

A container was crushed as a massive new figure revealed its presence. Tiana glanced toward it. It was the Akari Faction mercenary she had spoken with. Before him stood a crimson giant, breathing out vapor.
The mercenary swung his sword, but the giant caught it with his bare hands and grabbed the mercenary’s face. The man’s head was caught in that massive hand like a piece of fruit.

CRUNCH—!

The head burst. The man who had spoken of 'exchanging numbers' became a corpse in an instant. The blood-soaked giant's eyes locked onto Tiana.

Tiana rolled. She detonated mana at the soles of her feet, forcibly altering her trajectory. The enemy appeared where she had been about to land and slammed his fist down. The ground cracked like a spiderweb and shot upwards.

KWAAAAAK—!

He was about to charge her, but Yulian had already landed beside her. Yulian extended his sword and blocked the giant's fist.

Clang—!

The impact of fist on sword shattered the air. Yulian's feet slid across the pavement. The enemy threw another straight punch, and Yulian swung his sword.

Clang! Chang! Chang! Chang!

Sword and fist collided repeatedly, creating sparks. It was a high-speed exchange, a battle of masters impossible to follow with the naked eye.
A faint smile appeared on the giant's lips.

"A strong one."

The monster's stride was faster than imaginable. He instantly adapted to Yulian's swordsmanship, closed the distance, and drove a fist into his solar plexus. Yulian, in turn, used the opening to stab at the monster's jaw.

"Keuk!"

Yulian was sent flying. This time, Tiana moved to intercept the monster. She aimed for the jaw Yulian had wounded, but—

Pshhhhhhh—

The wound healed in an instant. A fist flew toward the bewildered Tiana.
One strike, two strikes, three strikes.
Three blows hammered her sword's flat simultaneously. The vibration from the blade rocked her body, and the enemy exploited her broken stance, delivering a final fourth blow, a punch to her jaw.
Tiana barely managed to twist her body.

"Gah—...!"

Her shoulder was utterly shattered instead of her jaw, but she had narrowly avoided a fatal blow.
Tiana gasped for breath. No, it was strange that she was even given time to breathe. Looking at the battlefield again, she saw Yulian and Leon. Yulian, who had already returned, and Leon, who had crossed over from the other side, were now engaging the monster.

Clang—! Kaaaaang—!

Clutching her shoulder, Tiana assessed the situation. Zentra's mid-rank officer, Emulen, was overwhelming the escort mercenaries, and this suddenly appearing monster was a tough opponent even for Yulian.
The situation was not good. The problem was that damn crimson monster who had appeared out of nowhere.
She placed a hand on her ear.

"—Max!"

The variable for the enemy, now countered by a variable for our side, who had ascended to the sky.

"Do anything!"

The moment Tiana shouted.

A pure white meteor streaked across the sky.


'A martial artist, you see. Must always be at least half a step faster than a swordsman. Otherwise, there's no point in using a fist.'

Priya's voice echoed in my ear.

'They have an advantage in that they utilize their entire body as a weapon.'

A martial artist uses their fists. Therefore, the speed at which the brain's command is executed is far superior to a swordsman's. They must always be half a step faster, they must be faster. If not, the advantage of the fist is lost.

'In other words, you, compared to him...!'

"Need to be faster for just one single moment."

As dawn approached, at that moment in my memories, I launched the transport aircraft. I wore a Drogue Suit that fit my body perfectly. A far more fitting article for a knight than an unstable parachute.

KWAAAAA—!

Just then, an explosion erupted among the containers piled in the port. Flames lit up the night air.
The battle begins.
I took a deep breath and stood up.

"—Opening the ramp."

Screeeech—

With a screech of metal, the transport's rear ramp fully opened. Pitch-black darkness and a fierce wind rushed into the cabin.
I calmly closed my eyes.

'Max, answer me now. What did I step on in the air to move forward?'

I replayed the problem Priya had given me, her lesson.

'—...Mana.'

She didn't step on the ground. She stepped on the mana she had spread thinly across the surface, or more precisely, the layer of mana she formed beneath her feet. Therefore, the correct answer was mana.

'Correct. A knight steps on that which cannot be stepped upon.'

You step on mana. Using mana as a foothold, you gain propulsion once more in mid-air. In that process, no unnecessary loss or burst of mana occurs. That is because the mana of Ebenholz is inherently tranquil and refined.

'To do that, you must have perfect control over your body in any situation. As long as you can fully control your body, as long as you can stand firmly on two legs, it doesn't matter where you're stuck.'

In any situation, I must be able to control my body.
Meaning—even at this dizzying high altitude (高高度).

Max!

Tiana's voice echoed from the comms in my ear.
I opened my eyes.

Do anything!

I took a light step, my whole body feeling the cold wind that rushed deep into my lungs.
Without hesitation, I threw myself into the open air.

Thump—

First, a strange sense of liberation, as if my consciousness was set free. Then came the suffocating air resistance. It felt as if my very existence was being distanced from the world.
There is no need to be afraid.
I radiated my mana. Particles of silver light spread in a trajectory around my descending form. My body glowed coldly, like a meteor.

Whoooooosh—!

Time in the sky feels so long. The terminal velocity is actually comfortable. Enough to have this many thoughts.
I tilt my body, gauging the angle of descent and the distance.
From this dizzying height, everything on the ground looks like nothing more than small dots.
But my body falls endlessly, the distance closing rapidly, and now his form is coming into clear view.
A body stained black. Eyes of pure black, with no whites.
Remembered as one of my many nightmares—.

—Flashback.

Time slowed. In this moment where my fall seemed to halt, I righted my body. I fixed my gaze on the target.
I leaned my upper body forward, straightened my lower body, and gripped my sword.
The Stance of the Sword Draw (態勢).
In that state, I 'step' on my own mana, spread out in the empty air.

Thump—

It felt like stepping on transparent glass. The space beneath my feet shattered in an instant, and the mana particles exploded in a chain reaction, pushing me away. My body was fired toward the ground once more.

KWAAAAAAA—!

All the power, built up from a high-altitude dive of several thousand meters,
I focus it all onto the single point of my sword's tip,
and I strike.

A sword path (劍路) was etched into the night sky. Shards of silver light formed. The slash cut through the area, and I reached the ground. Dun Khan's two eyes were right in front of my nose.
Staring into his eyes, I dredged up my memories.
Before my regression, my pathetic self had looked down on the mercenaries here. Holding high my pride and self-importance as a Sentinel, I had thought them pitiful.
But when Dun Khan actually appeared, I was nothing but a burden. The sword I had swung once with all my courage was blocked futilely by his fist, and the returning punch shattered my ribs.
That impact left me half-crippled. Gripped by terror, I couldn't move, and Yulian risked his own life to save me.
After that day, even while recovering in a hospital bed, I was tormented by nightmares every night. Dun Khan of the desert. Just hearing his name was enough to make me seize up.
Eventually, I became afraid of battle. I made all sorts of excuses to withdraw from any battlefield.
That's how much of a flawed bastard I was. A pathetic fool for whom the word 'weak' was an understatement.
Not anymore.
I have come to know a greater fear.
To stop the ruin, for my own survival and humanity's, I have no time to be distracted by a mere obstacle.

K-k-k-k-k-k—

My sword dug into Dun Khan's neck.

"——!"

His eyes widened. Those white-less eyes. The pupils of an Asura that had once been so terrifying were now staring at me. This time, I didn't avoid his gaze. I met it head-on and even smiled.
I should be enjoying this. The chance to cut down my own nightmare with my own hands is a rare one, after all.
Dun Khan's hand shot out and grabbed my head.

CRACKKKK!

Pressure that felt like my skull would burst washed over me, but—

Screeeech—

My sword had already passed through his neck.
A silver current swirled as mana was violently released. The wind that had followed me from thousands of meters above settled onto the ground.

KWAAAAAAAA—!

A small tempest erupted where the knight had descended.

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Pub: 01 Nov 2025 21:34 UTC

Edit: 01 Nov 2025 22:20 UTC

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