[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-bear-school-astartes":3,"chapter-bear-school-astartes-bear-school-astartes-chapter-853":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Bear School Astartes",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1620533,2087,"Chapter 853 - 836: Pulling Back","bear-school-astartes-chapter-853",853,"\u003Cp>After cutting with this sword, Lann put away the [Muddy Stream·Destruction].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When facing an enemy with superior basic qualities, this type of assault weapon can be used briefly to compensate for the pure power gap between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, holding it for too long widens the gap in flexibility, agility, and reaction, ultimately proving counterproductive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rong Buqiu carefully approached Lann’s feet and looked up to ask.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is it over, meow?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann shook his head while watching the dust in the Divine Hall that hadn’t settled in the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He switched the Lady of the Lake’s Sword from his left hand to his right and habitually spun the blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Far from it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as these words fell, the sound of stones and metal being forcibly pushed echoed from the nearby dust and smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound of breaking stones and the mournful creaking of metal were accompanied by steady footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demos slowly emerged, stepping out over Athena’s statue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden light of Yishu Technology on him was no longer scattered randomly; it seemed instead to be woven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His armor became the base, covering his entire body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked as if encased in reinforced armor made of golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Corrosive dragon attribute energy clung to his head, covering the top and most of his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he seemed indifferent, casually grabbing a finely embroidered tablecloth from a shattered stone altar to wipe his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The intricately made, expensive tablecloth, delicate in design, quickly turned to fine black ash under the dragon energy’s corrosive power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, after wiping, Demos’ face remained unharmed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This sword is formidable indeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann praised the power of Yishu Technology sincerely, holding the Lady of the Lake’s Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"First it’s energy release, then it’s energy shielding.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet to Demos, who had just been blasted away, such talk felt like mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, this was the first time he’d been knocked flying by someone he knew was weaker!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How could this be?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demos couldn’t understand how he was being suppressed despite leading in basic qualities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now he felt both angry and puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann could entirely see his emotions, reaffirming his suspicion—Cassandra’s brother indeed seemed a bit dull.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why not stop now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing the twitching mouth of an angry Demos, Lann rationally suggested.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You came to assassinate Pericles, to seize control of Athens, right? But now it’s become too big.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Hunter gestured, looking around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire front eaves of the Parthenon Temple had been sliced by earlier lasers, and tons of marble had crashed down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the previous clash, the statue of Athena inside the hall had been knocked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, everyone in Athens should be watching and heading here now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In assassination, generally ’stealth’ is more crucial than ’kill’.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If only the ’kill’ fails, the target lives, and the planner can still hide without harm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if ’stealth’ fails, the planner risks exposure, losing everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, continuing the assassination is impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If you proceed, the organization hidden in the dark must face the light. Does the Divine Teachings allow this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Moreover, I personally don’t want to draw blood with you here; Cassandra kept saying she wants to rescue you herself, and I admire her dedication.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann’s fingers rubbed the sword’s guard, keeping his grip warm, as he looked at Demos not far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What’s your opinion?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My opinion?\" In Demos’ increasingly red eyes, only Lann’s shadow remained.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced at the chaotic surroundings and smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My opinion is to let you die!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a \"boom,\" under strong foot power, the floating dust was twisted into odd shapes by Demos’ speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demigod covered in golden armor charged straight forward!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann was unsurprised; he kicked sideways, letting Rong Buqiu borrow his strength to swiftly leap aside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Lann himself, he flowed like water, using his swordsmanship to counter the obvious superior strength from the opposite side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fire sparks exploded from the collision of the Sword of Damocles and the Lady of the Lake’s Sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, under unique techniques, the sparks dispersed into circle shapes blown by air streams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Iwami Style: Climbing Carp].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This foundational technique, honed through Lann’s talent, constant practice, and combat with enemies, nearly became his muscle memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demos’ fierce and straightforward attacks, in this era and world’s warrior views, were already remarkable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet to Lann, they were merely ’decent’ at best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clattering sounds like iron striking, dense and intense, emanated from the Parthenon Temple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flame within the temple had long been extinguished due to their battle, leaving only darkness and scattered ash, with sparks from weapon clashes and Demos’ golden light flickering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, Rong Buqiu would dart past the two entrenched in combat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kitten leapt through the air, touching down and pulling away, its Thunder Cat Sword striking the golden armor with clashing sounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Lann and Rong Buqiu progressed, one pushed the [Iwami Style] to [Mushin Style], integrating various techniques innovatively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One, though learning for a short period, had made considerable progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before two swordsmen proficient in [Iwami Style], Demos, though furious and violent, found his movements increasingly distorted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His awkward sword posture, even an ordinary Athenian Officer couldn’t tolerate watching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such twisted posture, the lack of muscle harmony, bones obstructing each other, it was a miracle his force could yield even seventy percent effectiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sword of Damocles could still cut through marble, backed purely by Demos’ own strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more urgent the attack, and the faster the attack, Lann’s defense and Rong Buqiu’s harassment continually disrupted his movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demos remained resolute in slashing and thrusting; his determination even earned Lann some admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet his tactical errors and sluggishness stripped away any chance of victory before Lann.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, time favored Lann; the longer it dragged on, Demos’ posture uncorrected would worsen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the likelihood of the Order Divine Teachings’ actions being exposed increased.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, in five minutes of clashing swords hundreds of times, they both sensed the situation outside the Divine Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann heard footsteps and Cassandra’s call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Demos relied on his senses inherited from Yishu bloodline.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, amid anger, he ceased his fierce assault, maintained his drawn sword posture, slowly retreating while his gaze fixed on Lann.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Demon Hunter, as he previously stated, had no intention of drawing blood here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ha, turns out your tricks fail once I catch my breath.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slowed pace freed Demos from intense swordplay, feeling his movements returned to normal. Like a defiant husky, he sneered coldly at Lann.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, yes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lann spoke indifferently, sheathing his sword, scratching Rong Buqiu who jumped back onto his shoulder under the chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Impressive, you see right through me. Seems you’ll kill me next time we meet.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, tilting his head, peering at Demos through molten silver-like falling hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You don’t truly believe that, do you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...\" Demos gritted his teeth, his temples’ veins bulging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But ultimately he said nothing more, instead turning away and leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His inherited sensory abilities from Yishu were indeed strong; two seconds later, Cassandra burst in like a she-leopard, kicking away stone slabs blocking the door.\u003C\u002Fp>",1166,"2026-06-06T10:40:27.676Z",1,"novelbin.me","0c6a8088be0165aa72e9a279faa872287a791d60f82cf8f3d00c9851b5b0805a","bear-school-astartes-chapter-854","bear-school-astartes-chapter-852",1043,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fbear-school-astartes-cover.jpg"]