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

Eric slid backward using the force of the impact, but in the instant he created distance, he swiftly flicked his left thumb and middle finger together in a strange snapping motion, and muttered, "Bloodbeak!"

As Eric uttered two words in a deep voice, a "bullet" as transparent as air, compressed from highly condensed "potential," shot from Eric's fingertip at a terrifying speed!

Without undergoing the "potential" application training in the Imperial Special Training Camp, Zod probably wouldn't even be able to perceive it.

But at that moment, his body almost instinctively veered to the left.

A faint, almost inaudible whistling sound grazed his forehead and struck the wall behind him, leaving a deep hole.

"My turn!"

Zod didn't give him a second chance. He gripped the hilt with both hands, raised it high above his head, and mimicked the power he used in training, slashing it down fiercely at Eric who was closing in again: "Crescent Moon Slash... oh no, it's Crescent Moon Slash!"

An invisible, crescent-shaped blade of energy flew off the sword, tearing through the air and whistling away.

Eric's momentum did not diminish; he simply raised his cross sword to block.

The air blade struck the sword, producing a muffled thud before dissipating into nothingness.

Eric's blocking motion was thus slightly interrupted.

It was during this brief pause that his previously smooth attack rhythm was disrupted.

The two clashed again, their swords flashing and their breaths audible.

And so it went on for dozens of rounds.

During the confrontation, both sides roughly assessed the strength of their opponent.

Lieutenant Eric's swordsmanship style matched his somewhat gloomy appearance; there were no sweeping slashes, only deadly strikes aimed at joints, tendons, and the throat.

Even Zod didn't dare to use his "Iron Defense" to withstand the attack this time, because Lieutenant Eric's cross sword could actually break through Zod's "Iron Defense" and cut him down.

Fortunately, Zod's speed and strength clearly surpassed his opponent's.

Having been tempered in the Imperial Special Training Camp, and having fought countless life-or-death battles in that realistic virtual dream world, his combat skills were far beyond those of an ordinary lieutenant.

That's enough to get him to the rank of lieutenant.

He's just a little short of merit to be promoted to lieutenant.

At this moment, Zod was not using his full strength, but was simply responding to each move, which caused Eric's attacks to miss time and time again.

Eric had almost gotten used to this attack rhythm, and he had also gotten used to Zod's speed.

……

……

While Zod and Eric were engaged in a fierce battle, Cassius and Ramsay were also fighting simultaneously.

The two figures darted rapidly amidst sparks and sword flashes, each collision of the blades exploding into blinding sparks and emitting a short, heavy clang.

Lieutenant Ramsay's swordsmanship was sharp and swift, carrying the precision and arrogance of an academic, relentlessly pressing forward.

Cassius's moves are more steady and solid, stemming from his experience in life-or-death battles on the battlefield. Each block and counterattack is simple and effective.

Ramsey feinted and then suddenly changed his attack, thrusting his sword like a venomous snake toward Cassius's throat, but Cassius narrowly blocked it.

Immediately afterwards, Cassius spun around and delivered a powerful backhand slash that forced Ramsey to take a half step back.

Sweat dripped from their foreheads, and their breathing grew heavier, but their eyes remained fixed on each other, searching for that fleeting opening.

If it were just a matter of swordsmanship, the two would be evenly matched, and Cassius wouldn't gain much of an advantage over Ramsey.

Both were looking for each other's weaknesses.

As the battle progressed, Ramsey became increasingly impatient in his fight against Cassius, and his swordsmanship even became somewhat hasty.

He was an outstanding student from the Holy Kingdom Army Officer Academy, and his graduation grades were among the best in his class.

After graduating from the officer cadet school, Ramsey Walsh became a second lieutenant, carrying the honor and expectations of his family.

Cassius was just a warrant officer, and judging from the opponent's rough swordsmanship, he probably hadn't even studied at a military academy!

He shouldn't, and couldn't possibly, fight a mere Imperial Warrant Officer to a standstill.

His inner pride and self-esteem wouldn't allow him to fall into such a depravity.

He wanted to end this tedious battle as soon as possible. What he really wanted was to fight "Empire's Eagle" Zod, cut off "Empire's Eagle's" head, and record it in his own record of merit.

Therefore, Ramsey decided it was time to show his true strength.

During the fight with Cassius, when he saw Cassius bring down a precise vertical slash, Ramsey did not use his sword to block this time.

Even though he could have easily blocked Cassius's attack with his sword, he didn't.

Ramsey's lips curled into a smile, his face darkening as he confidently declared, "Foolish Imperial Warrant Officer, I'll now show you the fundamental difference between us!"

That's right, it's the power of the 'Kakuja'.

Whether it's the Empire or the Holy Kingdom, the vast majority of officers who can become first-class "Hercules" usually need to accumulate enough merits and combat experience.

Therefore, they generally hold the rank of lieutenant or higher.

Of course, there are also a few exceptionally talented officers with special opportunities who can master this power at a lower rank. For example, Lieutenant Zod, and Cassius, who had already glimpsed its potential when he was a sergeant major.

Both of them had an element of luck involved.

On the other hand, there are also officers who have been promoted to lieutenant by accumulating military merits (such as killing a large number of enemy soldiers), but who have made slow progress in mastering the "Kakuja" ability.

A prime example is Lieutenant Barnes.

Lieutenant Ramsay is the kind of officer who has both talent and good fortune. While at the officer academy, he had already gained a basic understanding of the fundamental abilities of a first-class "Hakuja".

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call Ramsey a genius.

However, he still lacks relevant practical experience.

"Iron Wall!" Ramsey shouted coldly, suddenly extending his left hand, preparing to use the hardening ability of a Level 1 'Hakuja' to grab Cassius's blade with his bare hands.

According to Ramsey's understanding, a newly promoted warrant officer could not possibly possess such a high-level ability as a Level 1 "Hakuja".

Despite being hailed as a genius and holding the rank of second lieutenant, he had only just mastered a portion of the abilities of a first-level "Hakuja".

That's why he was so bold as to catch the blade with one hand and his bare hands.

"This aura... is he also a Level One 'Hakuja' as Lieutenant Zod described?"

Cassius was somewhat taken aback, because according to Lieutenant Zod, most of the officers who could master the first-level "Hakuja" were basically lieutenants.

If Cassius hadn't encountered the bounty hunter "Bloody Hand" Killian before this battle, he wouldn't have been able to discover the existence of "potential".

Of course, receiving guidance from Zod later on was key to his great progress.

Therefore, he is definitely no match for Ramsey now, and Cassius's sword will be firmly held in place, just like when he encountered "Bloody Hand" Killian.

Ramsey will take Cassius's weapon.

However, things are different now, and it's not just Lieutenant Ramsay who has mastered the abilities of the "Hakuja".

He, Cassius, also mastered the abilities of the "Haku."