Warhammer: Black Emperor

Chapter 666 Forgrim's Sabathian Swordsmanship, the Three Major Schools of the Eighth Warband

The earth trembled violently, and the Novalis people's bodies shook.

They all plunged the swords they had forged into the ground to stabilize their bodies.

The holy golden light of dawn illuminated the open space between the warriors of the two kingdoms.

As the light faded, they were astonished to see that what had fallen from the sky was not a meteorite, but a group of giants clad in black armor.

Captain Joe Vatala, watching the Knight Lord's imposing figure fall, felt no impact whatsoever.

The warm morning light enveloped him and the other honor guard members, making their landing even smoother than with a jetpack.

Joe's mind flashed back to his hometown, Ventricular Lava Lake.

Lord Thierry, dressed in a black robe, walked through the molten lava of the burning Astartes without suffering any harm.

Lord Thierry's defenses have expanded to protect us.
As he pondered, a dazzling light flashed in his eyes.

Joe immediately followed the light and scrutinized the weapons in their hands.

Each sword shone with a bright light, unlike the gem-like luster of the Ventrilian swords; it was a pure golden luster.

Each sword is different; some have slightly longer blades, while others have wider and thicker handles...

Each sword is perfectly suited to their hands, custom-made to their specifications.

As Qiao pondered, a think tank member stepped forward from the crowd.

The mind-based psychic ascended to the fourth level of Magnus's mental state, his spiritual body of light detaching itself and merging into the surrounding deep black fear and crimson fighting spirit.

In the collective spiritual ocean, he found the language of the Novalis that was most similar to the one in the database.

The think tank, on a whim, adjusted the language category of the translator built into the helmet.

He gradually retreated to the second level of his mental state, and as his spiritual power permeated the air, he spoke.

"Novalis's compatriots, we are not enemies..."

The think tank presented the existence of the “shadow of order” using a standard recovery process and demanded that they pledge allegiance to the monarch.

He patiently answered the questions from the Novalis nobles, and finally turned to Thierry Vieira to give his report.

“My lord, the Novalis people say that they have resolved their problems for generations by the outcome of duels.”

"They will only join if their dueling champion is defeated."

Thierry had anticipated this, and it was precisely the method of conquest he had envisioned.

Nothing can win the loyalty of the Empire faster than defeating Novalis dueling champions one by one.

He surveyed all the Novalis men, his gaze lingering for a moment on a nobleman whose chest was branded with a yellow emblem containing three longswords.

Thierry shook his head slightly and said to Joe Wattara.

"Joe, you will represent the battle group in the battle."

“Yes, my lord.” Joe drew his gleaming ruby ​​longsword from his waist.

After becoming a shadow of order, he more often used psionic longswords forged by the Kasserian swordsmiths in battle.

After carrying it for more than twenty years, he also possessed a faint psionic ability, which he could unleash when using a psionic blade.

Longswords forged from gemstones are primarily used for practice and are not carried into battle.

But the knight lord had given prior instructions, so he specifically brought this practice sword.

Joe Vatala, of noble birth, approached the Novalis man and, following dueling etiquette, introduced himself.

"Joe of the Ventrilian Vatara family, Honorary Captain of the Knight Lord's Guard."

Thierry saw that the only Novalis man who caught his attention was the leader of the group opposite him, who stepped out and shouted loudly in the local Low Gothic language.

The think tank began by introducing, "King Pedro Odorbel."

"The king of Novalis, and the strongest man in their kingdom."

The smaller group of Novalis raised their swords and shouted encouragement for their king.

After the two exchanged greetings, King Odobel, dressed in white armor with a bird emblem bearing a raised head branded on his chest, raised his left arm and lowered his helmet visor.

He used his right forearm and shoulder to lift the sword steadily.

"Roar!"

King Odobel roared, raising his sword and slashing it through the air in a sharp arc.

Joe Wattara, as if wielding a paintbrush, raised his sword and calmly parried the incoming blade.

In the instant he parried, his sword tip turned and thrust upwards at a steep angle.

The blades clashed in the exchange of offense and defense. Joe's movements, whether offensive or defensive, were slow and even somewhat soothing.

Thierry stared at Joe, whose "Sabasius" swordsmanship was the best in the chapter.

After Thierry defeated the sword champion "Son of the Emperor" and the head of the Paratine swordsmen, Achurduna, in a duel, he became a close friend of him.

During the Second Randan War, he often worked out on the training deck with Akulduna and Lucius, whom he had taught.

He learned the "Sabasius" swordsmanship from Lucius. This swordsmanship was the famous achievement of the "Son of the Emperor," who broke away from Lord Horus's tutelage and launched his own conquest of Baizans.

An organization known as the Brotherhood of Sabusius, specializing in duels.

After Lord Forgrim incorporated the "Sabasius" sword technique into his combat training, some of the Emperor's sons practiced this technique.

Lucius, who was obsessed with swordsmanship, was no exception, but like most people, he only had a superficial understanding of it.

The philosophical ideas behind the "Sabasius" swordsmanship clash with Lucius's swift style.

The Sabbatus doctrine emphasizes the harmony and unity between "desire and desire," the contradiction between what is needed and what is desired.

Only by overcoming excessive desires in one's heart can one acquire perfect skills.

Thierry taught this swordsmanship within the Warring States after the Battle of Randan, eventually developing the balanced "Sabasius" swordsmanship, which won the approval of the Ventrilians.

He believed this was because the Ventrilians were all of noble birth and were better able to understand swordsmanship, which was rich in philosophical speculation.

Currently, the Eighth Battle Group has formed three major combat styles.

The Catherians are skilled in the "Elvira" sword technique, which they have used for generations, while the Ventrilians are skilled in the "Sabasius" sword technique.

The Vostonesian-led recruits from various worlds are skilled in matching the shadows of order and possess strong perception abilities, focusing on striking the weaknesses of their enemy homeworlds in the "Osberh-Vaya" way.

The advantage of the "Sabasius" sword technique is its adaptability to various environments and its ability to attack and defend with minimal cost.

This is also why Joe Wattara was able to defeat many opponents of similar strength; in a long duel, his patience would ultimately win him the victory.

While Thierry pondered, Joe Vatara, like a patient sculptor, wielded his "longsword" and, stroke by stroke, sketched a statue.

King Odobel felt as if he were bound by a cocoon, the space within his longsword growing ever smaller.

Qiao stepped forward gracefully, his body turning, the ruby ​​blade wrapping around the gleaming blade.

"Ah!" King Odobel exclaimed in surprise, and the sword he had forged himself flew out of his hand.

He stared blankly at the black-armored giant opposite him. The giant did not subdue him with strength, but instead displayed superb swordsmanship that he had never seen before. He said with heartfelt admiration.

"I lost."

As Joe and King Odobelle exchanged greetings, Thierry noticed that the Novalis, the only man who had caught his attention, stepped forward.

The think tank translated his name as "Afi Inkapiye".

“Another King Novalis”

After exchanging greetings, King Capi launched a swift attack, having already discerned Joe Watara's swordsmanship style through careful observation.

To achieve victory, one must launch a fierce offensive and swiftly defeat the opponent.

The ornate blade whistled through the air as it pierced the black armor. Just as the ruby ​​blade was about to arrive, it slid and dragged the sword, aiming for Joe's right leg.

Magnificent, resilient, and swift as a storm, it weaves a deadly net around the black-armored warrior.

Joe remained calm and composed, his movements fluid and seamless, creating an impregnable fortress around him.

Dang Dang Dang!
Amid a series of intense, ear-piercing scraping sounds, the ruby ​​"castle" tore through the metal storm.

King Incapie stared blankly at the spinning, falling sword in the air.

The Novalis people cried out in unison, for the first time that the invincible King Incapie had been defeated in a duel.

“I lost,” King Incapie said, stunned.

Joe raised his hand to catch the longsword, revealing an impeccable aristocratic smile.

“Your swordsmanship is quite good. Few in my hometown of Ventrilian can match it.” He said, turning the sword around so the hilt faced the other man and handing it over.

“Every Ventrilian nobleman will consider it an honor to be the shadow of the order.”

"I believe your offspring will join the battle, and I will then instruct him to continue our duel."

King Incapie, who had suffered his first defeat, took the longsword and, after understanding Joe's meaning from the think tank, his eyes lit up.

“This is an agreement.”

“My promise,” Qiao replied.

King Incapie approached the knight lord, knelt on one knee, and held up the longsword with both hands.

“I, Afi Incapie, swear allegiance to Lord Nimrod and serve Lord Thierry Vieira.”

His people then knelt down and swore allegiance.

Thierry reached out and took the longsword.

"I accept your allegiance."

King Odobel then led his warriors in swearing allegiance.

Over the next month, Thierry traveled to various feudal kingdoms, and Joe defeated all the kings in duels, becoming a true "warrior".

The Eighth Warband won their loyalty through the traditional dueling style of the Novalis.

(End of this chapter)