The Immortal Genius Spearman

Chapter 147

“I’ve… already died once.”

Damian’s expression was one of utmost seriousness. It was as though he truly meant those words.

But

“Hmm… Is that so.”

Hainel’s face grew somber at Damian’s statement, his voice trailing off.

What kind of terrible memory could prompt someone to say they had died?

Hainel lightly patted Damian’s shoulder.

“Even so, I’m grateful to see you standing strong like this.”

“…You’re too kind.”

Damian offered a faint smile.

It seemed Hainel didn’t quite believe him.

And understandably so—who in this world could believe such a claim? After all, everyone knew that death was the end of everything.

Yet Hainel maintained a serious demeanor as he addressed Damian.

“I heard your answer. You said you want to grow stronger?”

“Yes.”

“When I say you might die, it’s not an exaggeration. To reach the level you aspire to, you’ll truly have to face such risks.”

“I’m willing to do it.”

Damian answered without hesitation.

Hainel fell silent, pressing his lips together as though deep in thought.

After a moment, he nodded decisively.

“Then let’s see how far you can go. But there’s one thing you must understand clearly.”

“…What is that?”

As Damian asked the question—

“……!”

He instinctively leapt backward, putting distance between himself and Hainel.

Hainel’s expression had turned icy, and his sharp gaze pierced Damian as he spoke.

“From this moment forward, I’ll consider you my enemy—someone I must kill. Otherwise, you’ll never reach the heights you seek.”

“I’ll survive,” Damian replied.

“Hoho, that’s the spirit.”

With those words, the suffocating killing intent that had weighed on Damian dissipated.

Hainel turned and began walking toward the villa.

“It’s going to be grueling from now on… so rest well and eat heartily tonight.”

“Yes, sir.”

Damian had no intention of turning back. Whatever lay ahead, he was determined to see it through.

As he approached the villa, Damian felt as if he were stepping into the maw of a giant beast.

Bang!

The table shook violently, as if it might shatter under the force of a fist slamming onto it.

“What kind of absurd situation is this!”

“……”

No one dared to respond to the enraged man. The events that had unfolded were too unbelievable even for them.

“In just three days… the coastal defense force was annihilated, and Srenzkanal fell. And now the enemy army is advancing on Drionte! What are you people doing in your positions!”

King Franz Winen of the Kingdom of Artian.

Known for his composed demeanor, even he could not contain his fury over the shocking turn of events.

He turned his gaze to one of the ministers in the hall.

“Chancellor.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“What have you been doing? How has this crisis escalated without any countermeasures from you?”

“Your Majesty, the attack was sudden, and the enemy commander is none other than Calon Xanthos, the Empire’s second Aura Master.”

“Calon Xanthos?”

Franz Winen’s eyes widened at the name.

The reputation of Calon Xanthos was formidable.

If he was leading the charge, then…

“What measures are being taken?”

“We’re moving the entire First Legion to Drionte. Additionally, General Kalen in the east has been summoned.”

Kalen Diego.

An Aura Master of the Artian Kingdom. Only someone of his caliber could stand against Calon.

Franz exhaled softly, then addressed his gathered ministers.

“You must all grasp the gravity of this situation. The Empire’s use of the sea route signifies their intent to wage war across the entire continent.”

It meant they could no longer consider themselves safe.

The ministers answered in unison.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“From this moment, I am declaring a Level One emergency until the Empire’s forces are driven from our land. Make this your utmost priority.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The Kingdom of Artian, which had so far remained on the sidelines, now fully entered the continental war.

***

The rigorous training had begun.

Damian had always thought Hainel’s level was insurmountable, but…

‘…This is excessive.’

Hainel stood before him, sword in hand, exuding an aura so intense it felt as if it would crush his shoulders.

The atmosphere clashed starkly with the serene garden surrounding them.

Yet Hainel smiled faintly as he addressed Damian.

“Aura is something that only those who reach the brink of life can attain. So I ask you one thing.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Don’t die.”

“……”

Damian instantly knew Hainel meant those words sincerely.

And so…

“I don’t intend to die.”

Damian pulled out the staff Torrel had crafted for him, channeling magic into the button.

Click!

In an instant, the staff extended, revealing its blade. Hainel’s smile grew intrigued as he observed it.

“An interesting weapon.”

“Then, I’ll begin.”

After all, this was a duel in name only—a fight meant to teach him something.

‘There’s no reason to hold back…!’

Thud!

Damian surged forward, kicking off the ground at full speed toward Hainel.

As Damian charged with incredible momentum, Hainel gathered his magic.

Vwooooom!

His sword hummed faintly as a blue glow enveloped the blade.

The air grew heavy with a menacing aura.

Hainel swung his sword toward the onrushing Damian.

Swish!

The speed was incredible.

But Damian’s eyes tracked Hainel’s every move.

From the formation of the blade aura to the forward step of his left foot and the backward tilt of his right shoulder.

The direction of his gaze, the angle of the sword, and even the twist of his waist.

‘Left…!’

Damian swiftly ducked to his right, avoiding the strike aimed at his side, while simultaneously swinging his spear backward.

Whoosh!

“……!”

As his thrust sliced through the empty air, Hainel caught sight of Damian’s spear swinging in from the left.

It was a move Hainel had noticed in their previous sparring matches as well.

‘What an uncanny reaction.’

It was as though Damian could predict where the attack was coming from.

Whether this response was instinctual or a product of calculated reasoning was unclear, but…

‘If it’s the latter…’

Hainel thought it might signify extraordinary talent—truly remarkable talent.

However,

“Hup!”

Hainel swiftly retrieved his sword from the thrust and swung it toward Damian’s spear.

Clang!

“Gah!”

A soft groan escaped Damian’s lips.

In combat, exchanges typically occurred in turns—attack, evade, counterattack.

Once an attack was dodged or blocked, the process repeated, or roles reversed.

But Damian’s movement was effectively half a step faster.

He evaded Hainel’s strike and launched a counterattack simultaneously.

‘Yet…’

How was he able to block Hainel’s strike so precisely?

Was this what Hainel had referred to as the difference in “level”?

Grind!

“Haaaah!”

Damian clenched his teeth in frustration.

Admitting the difference would mean acknowledging his own inadequacy.

‘Level, huh…!’

Damian’s eyes burned with determination as he lunged at Hainel, thrusting his spear with lightning speed.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Three rapid strikes in the blink of an eye.

But Hainel, expressionless, evaded the attacks and took a step back.

“Hah!”

Gripping the end of his spear, Damian spun his body, swinging the weapon in a wide arc.

Whoosh!

The air seemed to tear apart with a deafening sound, but Hainel bent backward, narrowly avoiding the attack.

It was a strike Damian had poured his heart into, yet it failed to even graze Hainel’s clothes.

‘In that case…!’

Fwoosh!

An overwhelming surge of aura erupted from Damian’s body.

As he pushed his magic to its limits, his body began to ache.

He wasn’t yet accustomed to wielding this level of power, but…

‘This is the only way to fight him on equal footing…!’

Damian’s eyes blazed with intensity, and the spear in his hands trembled faintly.

The entire weapon shimmered with a vivid blue light, pulsating with power.

Sensing the explosive energy, Hainel raised his sword, his expression turning serious.

At this moment, it felt as if Damian had the upper hand in sheer presence.

‘To think he’s elevated what he awakened last time to this level already.’

What had once been an accidental breakthrough was now under Damian’s conscious control.

‘A genius is a genius, after all.’

But Hainel didn’t know.

This wasn’t just raw talent.

It was the result of countless years of experience in the back alleys and battlefields, coupled with Damian’s relentless effort toward his goal.

To simply call it genius or talent would be an insult to Damian’s hard-earned progress.

Unaware of this, Hainel merely admired Damian’s exceptional abilities.

“This still isn’t enough.”

“Haaahhhhh!”

Damian charged forward with the ferocity of someone confronting a mortal enemy.

He wanted to shatter Hainel’s expectations and prove himself capable of taking another step closer to those he sought to surpass.

His desperate strike reached for Hainel.

But in that moment—

Clang!

Hainel’s sword struck the tip of Damian’s spear.

Boom!

A massive wave of energy rippled outward, shaking the surroundings.

As the strange, oscillating currents of magic swirled around them, Damian’s eyes widened in shock.

His own magic…

‘It’s been dispersed…?’

Hainel had crushed his attack with overwhelming force.

Damian’s spear wavered, and Hainel’s icy gaze locked onto him like the edge of a blade.

“That’s enough for today.”

“……What?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Slice!

A sharp pain radiated from Damian’s left side, causing him to stagger.

The strike…

‘I didn’t see it.’

And then—

“Aaagh!”

Damian screamed, clutching the deep wound on his side.

Had Hainel attacked with full intent, it would have been a fatal blow.

But then—

Thud!

With a dull sound, Hainel struck the back of Damian’s neck with the pommel of his sword.

Thump.

Damian collapsed to the ground unconscious as Hainel let out a small sigh.

“Whew… What a troublesome young man.”

If this youth grew even stronger…

“Hohoho, I may have bitten off more than I can chew,” Hainel murmured, a wry smile on his face.

Villipt, who had been watching the battle, approached with a small vial in hand—a high potion.

Seeing it, Hainel frowned.

“At this rate, I’ll be spending enough money on these duels to buy an entire estate.”

“This was your decision, my lord.”

“Hoho, true enough.”

As Hainel turned away, Villipt carefully laid Damian on his back and began applying the high potion to his wound.

Thus ended the first day of Damian’s grueling training with Hainel.