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

"Huff huff huff~~ Why aren't you dead yet? Can you please stop standing up!"

Barnes was breathing heavily.

He stared in disbelief at Zod, whom he had just sent flying with a powerful slash, only to see him stagger back to his feet from the dust.

He was a little confused.

Logically, the person who is attacked suffers greater damage and their body should reach its limit more quickly!

But Zod, who was like a cockroach, could get back up again and again no matter how many times he was beaten or kicked away by Barnes.

Barnes, who had been attacking with all his might, had calluses on his hands.

The heavy executioner's blade in his hand wasn't made of foam; no amount of strength could withstand such intense swinging all the time.

He slammed the massive blade into the ground to support his swaying, exhausted body.

His voice was hoarse with exhaustion and anger: "You're always on the defensive, is that fun?"

Zod's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed back the pent-up frustration that welled up in his mouth: "You think I want to be a punching bag?! You think I want to defend myself? If I could beat you, who would want to be sent flying by your blade and kicked away again and again?"

Of course, he couldn't reveal his true feelings to boost the other side's morale.

However, when he saw the big man's heaving chest and trembling arms, he realized that the other man could also be exhausted.

I couldn't help but wipe away a tear of bitterness, but thankfully the beating I had just endured wasn't in vain.

All that memorizing of the moves wasn't for nothing.

Thanks to the secret technique of "Iron Defense".

It was precisely because of the steel defense that Zod was able to barely withstand Barnes's relentless onslaught.

So that he wouldn't be cut in two before he could even memorize Barnes' moves.

Barnes has now exhausted his three tricks.

Zod launched a defensive counter-attack.

He dusted himself off and, feigning nonchalance, taunted, "Tsk~ So this so-called Holy Kingdom lieutenant is nothing special. I thought you were some kind of expert!"

Zod was deliberately provoking Barnes.

He needed Barnes to continue attacking using the same tactics as before; the more reckless and angry Barnes was, the easier it would be for him to expose weaknesses.

That would give him more opportunities to fight back.

"Such arrogance! I've been beating you the whole time, and you still dare to spout nonsense?" Barnes spat on the ground. "Aren't you just trying to provoke me? So I'll kill you? If you're looking for death, I won't object!"

Sure enough, people with some combat experience are not so easily fooled.

Especially when he still held an absolute advantage in power.

But Zod has already partially achieved his goal. As long as his opponent remains in the illusion that victory is assured, he has a chance to turn the tide.

Barnes didn't waste any words. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he stomped his foot hard on the ground, his massive body surging forward with a powerful gust of wind!

The massive execution blade, accompanied by a piercing shriek that tore through the air, traced a deadly arc as it slashed diagonally down toward Zod's left shoulder!

He could almost see Zod being flung away by the force once again.

However, just when Barnes thought Zod would be executed by the flying sword.

As if anticipated, Zod's body slid to the right in a strange manner just as the blade was about to strike him, the blade grazing past his afterimage.

"How is this possible?" Barnes was startled, but his reaction was quick. Using the momentum of his charge, he delivered another powerful kick to Zod.

Zod nimbly leaped back half a step, dodging Barnes' attack once again.

Barnes stumbled and lost his balance, but he immediately spun around and followed up with a spinning slash, attempting to cut Zod in two.

Zod, who had already memorized Barnes' moves, ducked the moment Barnes spun around, dodging Barnes' attack once again.

Once, twice, three times... No matter how Barnes changed his tactics and launched a fierce attack, Zod could always dodge the attack with the slightest movement, as if he had foreseen it!

However, Barnes had no idea that Zod's prediction was based on his memorization of Zod's moves.

In his view, Zod's speed had clearly increased.

And the speed was incredible; from being on the defensive, he was now able to dodge his proud and fierce attacks with such ease!

He recalled Zod's sarcastic remark, "Tsk~ So this so-called lieutenant of the Holy Kingdom is nothing special. I thought you were so strong!"

Clearly, the other party was not bluffing.

Could it be that the opponent is hiding their strength? No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Barnes became increasingly horrified as he thought about it. He was "The Executioner" Barnes; from birth until now, his only talent and ability had been killing.

Weapons born for battle and slaughter!

His talent, his pride, everything about him was built on the power to crush his enemies!

He didn't want to lose, and he couldn't afford to lose.

Otherwise, what is the meaning of his existence in this world?

He couldn't believe that Zod could surpass him in speed in such a short time.

Since Zod was able to increase his speed in such a short time.

Then Barnes can do it too, or even better.

Driven by anger and resentment, Barnes, like a raging beast driven to the brink of despair, began to relentlessly squeeze out the last bit of potential from his body. Every muscle roared and every drop of blood burned!

He unleashed his previous attacks with even greater speed, more ferocious power, and with even more madness!

However, Barnes never understood the most fundamental question.

Zod was able to evade Barnes' attacks not because Zod was faster than Barnes, but because Barnes kept repeating the moves he knew by heart.

Then Zod would be able to evade the movement the moment it started, thanks to the anticipation that was already imprinted in his muscle memory!

However, Barnes was blinded by anger and couldn't think of this reason at all.

The fierce battle continued for dozens of rounds, and behind the dazzling combat that seemed to onlookers, the outcome was already predetermined.

In an instant, Barnes seemed to have found a fatal flaw in Zod and was about to use his final strike to completely crush Zod in front of him!

A silver light flashed past Barnes' broad chest without warning!

It was so fast that Barnes's raised giant blade didn't even have time to fall!

Zod's figure appeared behind Barnes like a phantom.

Barnes felt a chill on his chest, followed by a belated, subtle yet sharp cutting pain.

He looked down in astonishment, and a thin bloodstain appeared on his exposed skin. Then, blood gushed out from the bloodstain.

With a mixture of disbelief, anger, and shock, Barnes turned and stared intently at Zod before collapsing to the ground as if his body had lost its strength.

Only Zod stood beside Barnes' "corpse," holding a sword in his hand, his body covered in dust, sweat, and countless wounds of varying depths.

Time seemed to stand still, both for the Holy Kingdom's army and the Empire's army.

Their eyes were all fixed on Zod.

Two of them had been concerned about Zod's battle, and they were particularly moved when they saw Lieutenant Zod defeat Lieutenant Barnes.

Cassius took a deep breath: "Although I knew Lieutenant Zod would win, it was still a close call!"

Warrant Officer Hitis's eyes welled up with tears, and she thought to herself, "Lieutenant Zod, you've really sinned today! You've made a woman shed tears twice in one day."

Zod stared at Barnes lying on the ground, still shaken: "Damn, that was terrifying. It was way more terrifying than when I played the Old Man Ring and fought the Ominous without taking any damage. I swear I'll never experience that kind of near-death fear again."

Once I leave this place, I'll have to find a way to retire quietly.

Otherwise, even several lives wouldn't be enough to cause trouble!

The battlefield is terrifying!