Chapter 98: The Favored One (Thanks to Qiu Qiu's Alliance Master extra chapters, part 3)

"Holy Slash!"

"Hiss, what tremendous power!"

Accompanied by the onlookers' gasps, a dazzling golden sword-qi tore across the long sky and surged ferociously toward the middle-aged Holy Knight opposite.

Earlier, while Herbert had been putting on a show over there, the middle-aged Holy Knight, Gahn, had not attacked at all.

"Such pure holy power…"

It was no surprise that Herbert could unleash Holy Slash — it was the most basic ability of a Holy Knight, and also the core of their damage.

Holy Slash was the core skill of the Holy Knight class — a battle art with very low prerequisites, yet capable of erupting with tremendous power.

It could cause all of a Holy Knight's attacks to be imbued with holy damage, and depending on the oath the Holy Knight had sworn, the effects of Holy Slash would also differ.

For example, Gahn had sworn the "Oath of Poverty," so his Holy Slash would have a significant bonus against enemies like evil nobles and greedy merchants who profited through evil means.

As for Herbert, he had sworn the "Oath of Purity," which, by rights, was a specialty attack against enemies with maxed-out charm attributes like succubi and incubi, capable of dealing them quite astonishing true damage.

Beyond that there were also the Oath of Ages, the Oath of the Crown, the Oath of Vengeance, the Oath of Salvation… Holy Knights swore different oaths, and the enemies they countered also varied greatly.

It might seem like specialized Holy Knights should be sent to face specialized enemies, but in reality the situation was not always so.

Unless the gap in strength was too great, Holy Knights, upon witnessing evil, mostly did not think that much about it — they drew their swords and charged in on the spot.

Is there really any difference, in terms of result, between "exhausting ten strikes to destroy the enemy" and "casually destroying the enemy in three strikes"?

There isn't.

As long as evil was ultimately destroyed, that was enough.

Gahn narrowed his eyes, watching the youth's movements, slightly lowered his center of gravity, and tightened his grip on his longsword.

From the very start of this "battle," Gahn had set aside any thought of looking down on his opponent.

Although the youth opposite looked very green in combat technique — a complete novice — his precise control over his own muscles was enough to shock even a veteran like him.

"Sigh, is this what a genius is? This world really is unfair."

When Herbert unleashed Holy Slash, there was not a single unnecessary detail in his movements — exactly the same as when Gahn had demonstrated it for him earlier, perfectly replicated, without the slightest deviation.

No need for hundreds or thousands of practice repetitions, no need for repeated guidance and correction — after just a single glance, he could perfectly reproduce it.

Even Gahn, a seasoned warrior who had trained for decades, could not completely match this level of bodily control.

Gahn watched Herbert with eyes full of envy, and could not help but sigh inwardly:

"What an enviable talent… A genius is a genius; even though some time was wasted, it isn't too late."

Thinking of the years Herbert had wasted, Gahn grew a little irritated and could not help wanting to denounce those foolish nobles.

"What on earth were those idiots of the Albert family thinking? Wasting talent like this…"

Who would dare believe that a youth with such combat talent had, just a month ago, been nothing more than a noble son who spent all day talking about art?

It was truly too much of a waste!

You actually let a genius like this go do art!!?

Such a steady hand, and you only let him paint?

If Herbert had picked up a blade just a little earlier, even if he didn't become a Holy Knight, he would surely have become an excellent warrior!

After Gahn had grumbled inwardly for a while, Herbert's Holy Slash also surged up before him.

"But still, it's a good thing Herbert wasted all that time — that's how he ended up becoming a Holy Knight in the end."

"Because, compared to his talent for the Holy Knight's inheritance, his talent for bodily control is hardly worth mentioning!"

Gahn raised his sword, his expression solemn, and swung out a slash of his own, bellowing:

"Holy Slash!!!"

Clang—

A sword-qi, whiter and larger in scale, was unleashed, charging toward the golden sword-qi!

The next second, the two sword-qi met in midair; the two forces canceled each other out, erupting in a tremendous boom that kicked up a great deal of air blast.

The surging blast of air slammed into the faces of those present, sending their lapels and hair flying, and they could not help raising their hands to shield themselves.

Only Blake forgot to shield himself; he stared dumbly at the scene, and even though dust and grit were smacking his face hard, he did not come back to his senses.

"That… was done by His Highness?"

Am I still not awake?

And Gahn, gazing at the scene before him and recalling that dazzling, resplendent golden sword-qi, sighed inwardly with a touch of emotion.

"This really is an exaggerated favor…"

Until Bishop Rusty Nail told him in person, Gahn would never have believed the scene unfolding before his eyes.

The youth who, last time he saw him, had only been at the Beginner rank, could now unleash power approaching the Advanced rank…

In fact, if not for the fact that he was still not skilled in controlling his own strength, he would probably have already officially reached the standard of the Advanced rank.

A Holy Knight's power mainly came from two sources: the deity, and oneself.

The deity's favoritism toward a Holy Knight would affect their strength — the deeper the blessing the deity bestowed after the oath was sworn, the stronger the power they could bring to bear.

The other point depended on the Holy Knight's own adherence to the oath — the more strictly they kept the oath, and the more resolute their heart toward it, the greater the might they could unleash.

Although it could not be ruled out that Herbert was supremely devout toward the Oath of Purity, strictly keeping purity of spirit and flesh in his daily life.

But the time he had spent as a Holy Knight was still too short; even putting an oath into practice required time.

Otherwise, if a man said today he was abstaining, broke his abstinence tomorrow and then re-abstained — as long as he could guarantee that at some moment he was abstaining, wouldn't he be able to become a Holy Knight too?

Therefore, the main factor truly capable of affecting Herbert's strength could only be the deity's blessing.

Herbert had received the undisguised favor of the deity who bestowed blessings upon him.

It could be called the absolute utmost of preferential grace!

Relying on this favor, Herbert could, at the stage where his own strength was only at the Beginner rank, bring forth the strength of the Advanced rank.

Gahn even dared not imagine — if Herbert one day reached the Advanced rank, or even reached Legendary and beyond… what kind of strength would he then be able to unleash?

Epic? Above epic?

"To be granted this level of favor, one could almost be called a Divine Chosen one... truly enviable!"

To be honest, Jia'en felt a twinge of envy, and his heart wavered slightly.

"Maybe I should..."

If merely maintaining purity could grant such immense power, he even wanted to make another vow of purity.

He could remain pure too!

Anyway, his little brother hadn't been used in years... might as well stop using it entirely.

What's so hard about abstaining from lust?

I can do it too!!!

Thank you, Fenglin_Wanqiu, for becoming an Alpha Patron! +3 bonus chapters!

Thank you, BUSHENG, for the tip!





(End of Chapter)