Chapter 459

Time rewound again, and Broly was already used to it; as usual he filled his belly — emptied anew by the rewind — with roast rabbit meat, then set out on his journey once more.

The repetitive story need not be told at length; suffice it to say that a month and a half later he arrived again at Ars, the royal capital of the Asura Kingdom in this loop, and sought out the Water God Style's head dojo.

"Your story of time rewinding is interesting, but if you want to verify your words, you'll have to demonstrate the corresponding strength."

Because of that sentence, Water God Leda was beaten up by her Saiyan disciple from the previous loop — the one she herself had taught — using improved Water God Style swordsmanship.

Although Broly held back, he still used a wooden sword to batter the face of this graceful Water God Master until it was bruised and swollen.

"Seems you weren't lying. Broly, right? Thanks for the new Water God knowledge you brought me. Hmm, although you've already beaten me and are stronger than me, so you could completely take my Water God title, I still treat you as a student — is that alright?"

Wiping her nosebleed, Rida Lilia asked this; because in this loop she hadn't spent time with Broly, her attitude toward him was somewhat distant.

"No need to be so polite. I'm still waiting for you, Teacher Leda, to develop even more powerful Water God techniques and then teach them to me."

"In that case, Broly, would you like to stay at the dojo here for a while? Wait until I've finished absorbing the new techniques you brought, then you can leave. Incidentally, we can also foster our master-disciple bond."

Broly accepted Water God Leda's invitation. That evening he was arranged to stay in her room. Rida Lilia dragged him into discussing Water God techniques for half the night, making Broly — accustomed to sleeping at night — yawn repeatedly. Only after tossing about half the night did he fall asleep in his own quilt.

"This guy is testing you."

In his sleep, the Human God said this to him in a blank dreamscape.

"Testing what about me?"

Broly asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Testing whether you have ulterior motives. Because the things you spoke of — there were people in the past who knew them too. For instance, those nobles who nearly severed her hand tendons."

"And now?"

"Right now she seems to have put her mind at ease. Apparently because you shared a room with her yet showed no impropriety, even snoring away in front of her, Rida Lilia now trusts you more and no longer thinks you're a schemer sent by someone else."

"She's awfully cautious."

"It's just her personal habit. With Water God Rida Lilia's current strength, there isn't a single person in the Asura Kingdom who is her match."

"By the way, those nobles who previously tried to sever her hand tendons — are they still alive?"

Broly suddenly asked.

"You're quite the grudge-holder. Aside from one who's already dead, the others are all still alive."

The Human God likes this clear distinction between gratitude and grudges.

The next day, guided by the little Human God, some people died in their homes.

"Did you kill those people?"

On the third day, while crossing swords with Broly, Rida Lilia asked.

"Mm."

Broly didn't deny it either.

"Why?"

Rida Lilia was somewhat puzzled.

"So you could have a bit more peace of mind."

"But why kill Darius along with them?"

"He saved you, and your impression of him is good. But he's a scoundrel now. If he learned your identity, he might repay kindness with enmity and put you in a difficult spot."

Water God Rida Lilia fell silent, because what Broly said was the truth, leaving her unable to refute it. And she couldn't possibly blame a disciple who drew his sword to kill for her sake.

In this loop, Darius's family — thanks to Water God Rida Lilia's repayment of kindness — was not divided up by other nobles.

And just when Water God Leda had fully absorbed the knowledge she needed and Broly was about to set off again, the Human God suddenly asked him: "Broly, don't you want to go see the women in the Asura Royal Palace?"

"Isn't it possible that in the previous loop, while I was here, I already went to see them?"

"Is that so?"

The little Human God feigned a very surprised expression, then said: "But before long, a pitiful, helpless little princess inside will suffer an assassination attempt. Can you really bear to leave it be?"

"It's Princess Ariel, right? That little brat really has a troubled fate — at different time points she always runs into assassination events. But even if I don't intervene, she won't die, right?"

"She won't die, but getting a fright is inevitable. She'll be scared into bawling by the death of her female bodyguard, and also feel heartbroken, because that woman has been her protector since birth."

Broly looked at the Human God, somewhat suspecting that this Princess Ariel might be a Chosen One the deity left behind in the world.

Even so, Broly still went to help. Like doing a loop daily routine, he went into the Asura Royal Palace and cut down a group of assassins preparing to kill her.

He finished cutting and left, letting this loop likewise see the Human God — who benefits from his future — feel a bit helpless.

And this time, because he skipped the Magic City Xilia of the Ranoa Kingdom, the Fittoa Region and Buena Village of the Asura Kingdom, the Human God also didn't know the identities of the capture targets acknowledged by the Crystal Palace, nor did he see Broly stall whenever he encountered them. So he didn't design any death fates either.

Broly smoothly arrived at the Red Dragon's Lower Jaw, ate the Red Dragon meat he'd been thinking about for several loops. But the taste of Red Dragon meat, he felt, still wasn't as good as Blue Dragon meat — somewhat disappointing.

"There are two directions to choose from for the next leg of the journey.

One is the Strife Zone to the northeast. Many small nations stand there; it's a playground for great powers' games.

One is the Becalite Continent to the southwest. Although the Becalite Continent is mostly desert, because it holds many ancient labyrinths, it attracts large numbers of adventurers and explorers, forming a unique culture and economic activity……"

Listening to the little Human God's introduction, Broly considered for a while, then decided to finish traversing the Central Continent first, choosing the Strife Zone to the northeast.

That place happens to lie due north of the Qingqing Grassland — the spot where he rewound time and arrived in this world.

Due to the chaotic situation in the Strife Zone, plus the fact that finding someone is delicate work, Broly found a merchant caravan with a pretty good chef, paid to join them.

Along the way, the caravan Broly joined encountered robbery attempts many times, but because there were capable guards, those Strife Zone bandits were all repelled.

Until a small nation's army disguised as a large bandit group appeared and intercepted this caravan with its not-inconsiderable guard force.

"The Asura Kingdom is transporting some military supplies to a small nation it supports.

The nation behind the opposing bandit group is a small nation supported by the Miris Holy Kingdom. They don't want to see the force the Asura Kingdom supports in the Strife Zone get strengthened with military armaments.

But they intercepted the wrong caravan. This merchant caravan is just a front — a bait commissioned to transport ordinary supplies to the Strife Zone……"

The little Human God narrated the story of the great powers' struggle behind the scenes.

"So this time I have to help clean up this bandit group played by regular army troops?"

Broly got down from the carriage, not minding cutting down a few people at all.

"No need, because someone will help settle it."

The little god shook his head.

"Yu~"

With a whistle, a group of swordsmen missing arms and legs appeared in the middle of the two confronting teams, led by a fully armed armored samurai riding a warhorse.

"My name is Shandur von Grandor. You are looking for the Asura Kingdom's transport corps, but this corps is not the target you seek; they are merely a wandering merchant corps composed of merchants and civilians."

"Perhaps you think you can seize a fortune and women from this corps, but if you do so, I, Shandur, will also join this battle for the sake of justice, to stop the bandits' plundering."

"How about it? Will you make an enemy of me?"

The leading armored samurai, upon appearing, shouted toward the bandit regiment.

And the bandit regiment, disguised as over six hundred regular soldiers, faced with a ranger corps of only a few dozen, chose to retreat.

Because they had heard of the Ranger Shandur's reputation, and after confirming the wandering merchant corps before them was not their target, they also did not want to cross swords with a famous ranger corps in the Strife Zone because of this.

The wandering merchant's leading manager breathed a sigh of relief, and holding the gratuity, went up to meet the ranger corps approaching on horseback: "Lord Shandur, thank you for your aid."

"No need for such formality; this is for justice."

The helmet was removed, revealing a handsome middle-aged man's face, and this man accepted the gratuity handed by the manager, then said: "If possible, please provide food and a place to rest for me and my disciples."

In the evening, this wandering merchant corps camped by a river, and just as Broly was eating a certain mushroom stew, a person leaned over beside him.

"Hello, young man, I want to ask about the sword behind you."

Shandur spoke straightforwardly.

"This is something I won, from the hands of a youth named Alexander Carman, obtained through a contest of swordsmanship."

Broly was not surprised this person would come.

"Did you defeat him?"

Shandur asked.

"Do you want to stand up for him?"

Broly countered.

"I just want to know if Alexander is still alive."

"Still alive. I only defeated him, didn't kill him."

"And with his strength, even without this sword, he should be able to walk out of the Wanglong Mountain Range."

"That's good."

Shandur breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then, do you want to have a bout with me to take back this sword?"

Broly asked.

"No need. This sword is merely a shackle, whether for me or for Alexander."

Shandur shook his head.

"You speak as if you could definitely take it back just because you want to."

Broly retorted with a line.

"Haha, true enough. How should I address you, sir?"

"Broly."

"Alex Carman Raybak."

Broly shook the outstretched hand of this North God Second Generation, then asked a question.

"I heard the North God Style's Strange Sword School was spread by you. Why did you spread this strange North God Style?"

Broly's impression of the North God Style was bad, mainly because of its Strange Sword School within; the Sword God Style takes absolute offense as its philosophy, the Water God Style is the philosophy of defense and counterattack, but what is the North God Style Strange Sword School? Throwing sand and firecrackers, sneak attacks plus schemes?

"Strange North God Style, Lord Broly, why do you say this?"

Shandur was somewhat confused, so Broly told the other party about those North God Style opponents he had encountered in the previous few loops.

Excluding some who played tricks with swords but were still considered normal North God Style swordsmen, he specifically named those who would use various underhanded tricks and schemes, which caused Shandur to be stunned, then burst into loud laughter.

"Do you think throwing sand, poisoning, playing dead to sneak attack — these means are despicable and shameless?"

"Aren't they?"

"Then do you know what the North God Style is?"

"I only know the North God Style is a school that stops at nothing to obtain victory."

Broly answered.

"That's not wrong, but the reason for stopping at nothing is because besides tricks that stop at nothing, the user has no other moves left to use……"

Regarding Broly's negative view of his own North God Style Strange Sword School, the North God Second Generation alias Shandur did not get angry.

This person instead shared his own story, explaining his understanding of the style created by the First North God, his father.

The North God Style, this school, was born four hundred years ago in the Laplace Battle. At that time, the demon race invaded the Central Continent in full force. Facing the powerful demon race, humans themselves were weak. To survive, they had to fight stopping at nothing.

Whether calling friends to bully the few with the many, or using petty schemes and tricks, those were all means used for their own survival.

And the people using these means did not use them because they wanted to, but because besides these means, they had already exhausted all options.

"The North God Style Strange Sword School is precisely the combat style my father developed for the weak."

"It is a style created so that those who inherently lack power, or those who have lost something, can survive on the cruel battlefield."

"Lord Broly, did you see my disciples? They are all people who lost parts of their bodies in the chaotic survival environment of the Strife Zone."

"And those who should have died miserably on the battlefield, because they learned the Strange Sword School North God Style, not only survived, but have the strength to follow me and help others."

"This world is not made only of the strong; the weak should also have the right to survive. The North God Style Strange Sword School is precisely the combat style that grants these weak the right to survive."

"I don't expect to persuade you to change your view of the Strange Sword School's fighting way, but I hope you can correctly regard the significance of our North God Style Strange Sword School's existence."

The exchange with the North God Second Generation, learning the original intent of the North God Style Strange Sword School, indeed caused Broly's view of the North God Style to have some change.

"Right, among the people you just mentioned defeating from the Strange Sword School, there's one who is currently still my disciple and has been by my side the whole time; how come I don't remember you defeating them? Could it be someone with the same name?"

At this moment, Shandur asked again: one of the North God Style members Broly defeated in the previous round is the future North Emperor Ober, but the latter hasn't graduated yet.

It will be half a month later before he leaves Shandur's side, boards a ship for the Miris Continent, and makes a name for himself with the Peacock Sword.

"It's not the same name; it's the same person, but not the opponent at this time point — it's the future him."

Broly told Shandur about the Dragon God rewinding time.

"There's actually such a thing; no wonder."

"No wonder what?"

【No wonder this Dragon God has the infamy of suddenly striking from the chest to kill and snatching treasures others just obtained.】

"No. Right, Broli-sama, I want to entrust you with one thing."

"What?"

"If time rewinds again next time, please continue to bestow a defeat upon my son and take the King Dragon Sword from his hand."

"Hm?"

"Only setbacks can make that child not arrogant and overconfident, only setbacks can make him grow better without relying on a powerful weapon; and as payment, I am willing to pass on my own North God Style techniques to you."

"Agreeing to this is no problem, but I don't really want the North God Style techniques; can I decline the payment?"

"Rest assured, besides techniques for the weak to defeat the strong, the North God Style also has conventional Hollow-Real Demon Sword Technique arts.

Also, this King Dragon Sword has quite a few battle styles waiting to be dug out; do you know about them?"

On the trip to the Strife Zone, Broly didn't find a capture target, but he did find a North God Style teacher.

Under Shandur's enthusiastic reception, Broly mastered another North God Style sword art.

Unlike the Sword God Style which focuses on offense and the Water God Style which focuses on defense, the North God Style specializes in deceptive shifts between false and real.

When assuming a stance to attack the left, one actually attacks the right; when making a motion to step back and leave, the foot taps the ground and advances forward.

Using the North God Style Demon Sword Technique is unexpectedly interesting, but Broly feels it would be countered by the Sword God Style sword art that doesn't need much thought and is fast enough, yet it comparatively counters the Water God Style sword art which requires more thought.

The martial ideologies of these three styles, at equal user level, do have a relationship of mutual generation and mutual restraint.

Of course, the swordsmen of this world mostly practice multiple styles concurrently.

"Young Man Broli truly is a heaven-born prodigy; I don't doubt in the slightest that the North God Style Demon Sword Technique will shine brilliantly in your hands — just hope that when you reach the world's strongest, you won't forget to mention my name and tell others your Demon Sword Technique was taught by me."

At the parting, Shandur had already become well-acquainted with Broly, and this person is quite obsessed with his identity as the strongest swordsman teacher.

"Fine, no problem, but my swordsmanship teachers aren't just you — there's also Sword God Gal Farion and Water God Rida Lilia; mentioning only you won't do."

"Being able to stand on par with the current heads of the other two styles is something I also hope for; the name Shandur von Grandor will also go down in history!"

This person, North God Karlman II, gives Broly the feeling of a Red Demon Clan uncle.

And after bidding him farewell, before heading to the Becalite Continent, Broly encountered something that made him a bit unable to keep his composure.

(Chapter End)