The Grand Duke's Son Is A Heretic-Chapter 17 - :Counter

Name: Kael Veydrin

Species: Human Lv[Unawakened]

Pathway:None[Unawakened]

Rank: F

[Stats]

Strength: 1

Agility: 1

Constitution: 1

Vitality: 1

Mana:0

[Talents/Blessing]

Devour [F+]

Comprehension [F+]

[Titles]

~~Embrassment of Veydrin~~

[Skills Slot]

[Swordsmanship Lv F+]

Kael opened his stat panel, clicking his tongue in frustration. He had devoured a bit, but his stats remained stuck at 1.

That meant he either needed to consume a much stronger being or find another way to break past the limitation—since there wasn't even a decimal point to indicate gradual growth.

Without awakening, he couldn't even see his level, which meant everything he devoured was just piling up in his soul record, waiting for the moment he could finally advance.

Something else caught his attention—his title, the one that had marked him as embarrassment, was now crossed out but not removed. That meant he had made progress, but not enough. He smirked. "Guess I still need to put in some work."

His gaze shifted to the burly man before him—Baret, a low-ranking Vice-captain, but still far above Kael's current level. Judging by his aura, he was at least E-rank with a stat around 10

Completely out of Kael's league.

But... that only made things more exciting.

Kael grinned like a madman, his sharp teeth showing as he locked eyes with Baret.

"Hehe! I can see it! Fear! It's dripping from your eyes." His voice was mocking, filled with eerie delight.

Baret's expression twisted, his pride wounded. "Bullshit."

Kael tilted his head, his smirk widening. "Oh? Then why are you hesitating? You're afraid, aren't you? Afraid that if you fight me with your stats lowered, you might actually lose?"

Baret's face darkened. "I am already stronger and more experienced than you. I don't need my mana or aura to defeat a weakling!" he roared in anger.

Kael burst into laughter, a crazed, almost inhuman cackle that sent shivers down the spines of those watching. "Then what's stopping you? Afraid your master will toss you aside like a used dog if you fail?" He turned his head toward Adele's quarters and sneered. "A masterless dog... what a shameful existence."

"You talk too much," Baret growled, gripping his sword tightly. "Just because you managed to take down some novice trainees doesn't mean you can handle me."

Kael rolled his eyes and mockingly rubbed his ear. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Less talking, more stabbing, big guy."

Baret's jaw clenched in fury. 'Damn it! Why are these knights so damn useless? How did they lose to this lunatic who only touched a sword an hour ago?!'

"Fine!" Baret spat. His muscles tensed, and he locked his mana away, ready to fight Kael at his level. "I'll crush you without using mana. Let me show you the difference between a trained knight and a piece of trash."

Kael's grin stretched wider. "Ohh, scary~!" He wiggled his fingers mockingly. "Please, Captain! Show me how to be a real knight!" His laughter was cruel, eyes gleaming with insanity.

Baret took a step forward, the ground beneath him shaking slightly.

SWISH!

In an instant, he closed the distance, his sword slicing toward Kael's throat. Kael's pupils shrank as his playful demeanor vanished. His instincts screamed, and he reacted—barely.

CLANG!

Their swords clashed, a deafening ring echoing through the area. Kael was pushed back, his arms jolting with pain, but he used the momentum to roll away, masking his discomfort with an eerie chuckle.

'Damn! That was just the first strike, and my hands are already trembling.'

Baret wasted no time. He lunged again.

Their swords clashed once more.

Clang!

BANG!

"WHAAAATTTT!"

Screams of bafflement and shock erupted.

Baret's eyes popped out of his socket as Kael managed to deflect the swing.

Gritting his teeth he put more power into his sword and swung again but.

CLANG!

With a powerful force, his sword was flicked away.

"What happened?"

"What the fuckkkkk?"

His mind was in a mess and he was screaming.

Meanwhile, Kael grinned and assumed his stance.

"Surprised right?''

After all who won't be if an unawakened man manages to deflect an E-rank strike. It wasn't due to raw power or a powerful skill rather it was quite simple technique.

Counter.

A technique of swordsmen he learnt at pinnacle while he used the opponent attack's own force to deflect.

Quite interesting isn't it.

But it only works if the opponent isn't overpowering.

"Let's see how long you can do that? I refuse to believe it."Baret screamed and swung his sword.

Baret's strikes were relentless, fueled by rage and frustration. 'This shouldn't even be a fight! This lunatic shouldn't be able to hold his ground!'

Kael, however, was grinning. "Oooh~ You're getting mad, huh? C'mon, big guy, hit me harder!"

[Counter]

[Counter]

Foll𝑜w current novℯls on ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm.

Despite Baret stat and attack power Kael just used counter deflect. Counter required rigorous practice and if you fail once, you were going to die but for someone of his caliber who had mass experience, it was quite easy to counter a weak guy.

Baret's expression twisted with fury. 'This bastard is toying with me!'

"SHUT UP!" Baret roared, his sword glowing faintly from the sheer strength he poured into it.

Kael cackled, dodging by a hair's breadth. "Oh no, the big scary knight is mad~ What's wrong? Is the little doggie afraid he'll disappoint his master again?"

"YOU—!"

Clang!

The fight continued, Kael taunting, laughing, and dodging while Baret's frustration boiled into pure hatred.

This wasn't a battle.

This was a game.

Kael looked at Baret, his eyes glinting with madness. "Hehe! I can see the fear in your eyes."

Baret's face twisted in anger. "Bullshit. I'm already stronger than you! You think you can take me down? You haven't even touched a sword properly yet!"

Kael smirked, ignoring the insult. "Then what are you afraid of? Afraid of being abandoned by your master?"

He glanced over toward Adele's quarters, his laugh echoing through the air. "A masterless dog is a disgrace."