I only wanted to retire, but I ended up becoming an extremely popular character.

Chapter 101 "Eagle of the Empire" brings another victory!

The longer it drags on, the worse it will be for Patrick.

The speed boost brought about by the "potential release" of a level 2 "Hakuja" is truly terrifying.

He stared intently at the panting figure not far away, alarm bells ringing in his mind.

We must nip this dangerous new star in the bud before Zod fully masters the abilities of a Level 2 'Hakuja'.

Of course, he was unaware at the moment that Zod's body was on the verge of being overworked.

This young man had not actually entered the realm of a Level Two 'Hakuja'; he was merely forcibly maintaining it through willpower and the "Shadow Step Technique."

Patrick raised his chain sword high, and 'potential' gathered on the blade.

He aimed at Zod, preparing to deliver the fatal blow.

"Shadow Step"

Zod's figure disappeared from Patrick's sight once again.

He didn't have time to waste with Patrick.

Every moment he used the "Shadow Step" technique, his legs felt like they were being burned by fire, and he felt excruciating pain as if he were being pierced by needles.

The pain surged from the depths of his bone marrow, almost tearing his nerves apart.

He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out, so he had to finish the job quickly.

Without hesitation, without warning, it simply evaporated into the air.

Patrick's chain sword, which he had raised high, suddenly froze in mid-air.

Seeing Zod disappear again, Patrick panicked completely.

Cold sweat beaded on his forehead and slid down his cheeks. A chill ran down his spine, and his military uniform was soaked with sweat.

His chain sword, held high, remained suspended in mid-air, unsure of where to swing it.

Faced with an enemy that could attack from any direction, he felt helpless for the first time.

He scanned his surroundings, frantically turning his neck, trying to catch a glimpse of Zod.

A chill ran from my tailbone straight up to the top of my head.

Where is it? Where is it at all?!

Suddenly, he sensed an undisguised murderous intent coming from behind him: "From behind!"

He immediately turned around, and in that instant, the cross-shaped chain sword in his hand swiftly slashed horizontally behind him.

As expected—

Patrick saw Zod appear behind him, and to his delight, he swung his cross-shaped chain sword the instant he turned around.

Just as Lieutenant Patrick had predicted, the cross-shaped sword sliced ​​across Zod's body.

A relieved smile appeared on his face, but it quickly froze.

Because when his chain sword cut through Zod's body, he felt no resistance and no sense of solidity.

Oh no, it's an afterimage!

Patrick's previously stiff expression instantly turned into fear.

A bright line of sword light flashed by, without any fancy moves or unnecessary charging, just an extremely sharp arc that swept past Patrick's neck.

Patrick had no time to defend himself and stood frozen in place.

The next second, his pupils suddenly dilated.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but only managed a muffled murmur.

The cross-shaped sword slipped from his hand and pierced the soil.

His body swayed, then he fell forward, raising a small cloud of dust.

Zod sheathed his sword, panting heavily.

The excruciating pain in his legs almost made him lose his balance, but he gritted his teeth and straightened his back.

He looked at the corpse at his feet and gently exhaled.

If it weren't for that timely popularity boost, plus the good luck of drawing "Shadow Step", Zod would have really been defeated here today!

He was panting heavily as he turned to look in the two directions where the fighting was most intense.

On one side was the position where Cassius was locked in combat with Lieutenant Lucien of the Holy Kingdom.

On the other side was the battlefield where Hitis and Warrant Officer Frosent clashed.

Gunshots, shouts of killing, and the clash of metal blended together.

"Great! Lieutenant Zod has taken care of the Holy Kingdom's lieutenant!"

Not far away, an Imperial soldier covered in blood caught sight of Lieutenant Patrick lying on the ground. He paused for a moment, then roared at the top of his lungs.

His gaze toward Zod was filled with fervor and adoration, as if he were looking up at a god who had emerged from the battlefield.

At this time, the imperial army was engaged in a fierce battle, and the inferior number of troops made everyone grit their teeth.

This news was like a thunderbolt, exploding instantly across the battlefield and spreading with extraordinary speed.

Almost everyone turned their attention to Zod.

Zod standing, and Lieutenant Patrick lying on the ground.

The outcome of the battle between the two supreme commanders is obvious.

The scales of victory are tipping in favor of the imperial army.

The morale of the Imperial army soared: "As expected of Lieutenant Zod, the Imperial Eagle, of the Imperial Blade Corps!"

"Lieutenant Zod's victory was inevitable! When has this sir ever lost?!"

"I saw it! I saw Lieutenant Zod kill Lieutenant Patrick with my own eyes. The speed was even more terrifying than back in Tono Village!"

"I saw it too! A single, instant kill! Just one sword strike!"

"Such fast swordsmanship—faster than any swordsmanship I've ever seen before!"

"Lieutenant Zod's strength has clearly increased again."

"Empire's Eagle" Lieutenant Zod has brought another victory to the "Imperial Blade" Legion!

"That's not a given! Lieutenant Zod will definitely win!"

The soldiers, struggling against overwhelming odds, witnessed the joy of victory as if they were people trapped in the desert seeing an oasis.

That kind of ecstasy was enough to ignite the passion in the heart of every soldier.

The joy of victory spread rapidly through the imperial army, transforming into even fiercer battle cries.

For the Holy Kingdom's army, however, this was an extremely heavy blow.

Panic spread like a plague among the Holy Kingdom's soldiers.

Looking at their fallen commander, and then at the unyielding Imperial lieutenant, it would be a lie to say they felt nothing.

No matter how powerful an army is, the commander is the soul of the entire force.

Lieutenant Lucien and Warrant Officer Frosent both turned their gazes toward Zod almost simultaneously.

They couldn't believe that Lieutenant Patrick would lose to an Imperial lieutenant.

They knew all too well Lieutenant Patrick's capabilities.

Even against a lieutenant from the "Imperial Blade," an elite unit known as the ace unit, he shouldn't have lost so decisively.

They had never heard of the "Empire's Eagle" before, but today, they secretly memorized the name—"Empire's Eagle" Zod.

Cassius was not too surprised by the news of Zod's victory, and did not even look in Zod's direction.

Focus solely on the battle at hand.

After all, Lieutenant Zod's victory was only to be expected.

Upon hearing Lieutenant Patrick's defeat, Second Lieutenant Lucien and Warrant Officer Frosent of the Holy Kingdom instinctively looked in Patrick's direction and froze in place.

Cassius did not let go of such a golden opportunity to attack.

As soon as Lieutenant Lucien turned his gaze toward Patrick, Cassius swung down his Imperial longsword, aiming straight for Lucien's blind spot!

The sword cleaved through the air, and Cassius's voice was as cold as a knife: "Lieutenant, your opponent is me. Do you still have the mind to worry about others?"