REAPER SCANS
Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Chapter 73 - Lone Plum Blossom (3)
“Do you feel better?”
“Are you alright, Theo?”
Trainor and Evelyn asked after Theo with concern.
Theo nodded, “I feel clear-headed. Thank you.”
“Good to hear. I’m glad it was a success.”
Trainor and Evelyn let out a sigh of relief.
Theo had underplayed his condition. He felt more than just clear-headed. He felt better than ever.
‘It seems the «Lone Plum Blossom» accelerated my brain’s ability to process information. I feel accustomed to my heightened senses.’
However, there was one thing that lingered in Theo’s mind.
The «Quintuple Dragon’s Claw».
He felt close to grasping it, but it lingered just slightly out of his reach. That feeling made him want to jump into action right away and get a feel for it in the heat of battle.
“Well then… That’s enough rest. Let’s get ready,” Evelyn ordered, as if having read Theo’s mind.
The soldiers, having had a chance to catch their breath, got up while nodding. The artillery strikes had stopped a while ago. Their enemies were likely coming to check the scene.
This was the chance they had for a counterattack.
Evelyn’s gaze changed.
She asked, “Platoon 5! Who are we?”
“We are the never-yielding, never-retreating White-Armored Dragon Cavalry!”
“I ask again. Who are we?”
“We are the invincible, the undefeated Platoon 5!”
“That’s right. You are Platoon 5 of the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry. That is why…” As the dragoons responded, their gazes intensified like Evelyn’s. “It is time for us to show our enemies what we are made of!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The platoon answered in unison.
“Platoon, march out.”
Just like that, the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry raised their swords.
* * *
Reaper Scans
[Translator – Mr.Ghost]
[Proofreader – Harley]
Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics
* * *
“Confirm that they’re all dead. There can be no survivors.”
Following Sidra’s orders, the CIB (Central Intelligence Bureau) agents commenced their search.
Fort Blanqui had been reduced into a desolate ruin. Amidst the clouds of dust, the only thing left standing were small segments of the fort. It looked impossible for anyone to have survived the barrage.
“What a mess.”
“We’ll have to commend anyone that managed to survive this.”
“Heh. I agree.”
Among the rubble, no corpses remained fully intact. They had all been blown to pieces. The agents did their due diligence by stabbing the corpses to confirm that they were dead, but it seemed like a pointless activity.
Two agents were chatting with smiles on their faces.
One of them was saying, “Let’s go out for a beer after this mission—!”
However, he suddenly went quiet as he vomited blood.
A flash of light exploded out from the ground.
Slash—
Splatter!
“What the—?!” The agent stared dumbfounded for a moment before reaching for his flare. However, before he could alert his allies, his head fell to the ground.
Thud!
Evelyn quietly landed between the two corpses. The cloud of dust swirled around her like armor, her eyes more intense than ever.
“Exterminate them,” she ordered.
At her signal, a flurry of dust swept across the scene.
Bloom!
Blast!
Whoosh!
The White-Armored Dragon Cavalry exploded out from within the rubble. Having not anticipated such a scenario, the CIB agents were caught off guard and were quickly slayed, one after another.
“Wh-what the hell?!”
“How did they survive—?!”
“Kugh!”
“They’re still alive! Agents, battle formation!” Sidra, who had just arrived at the scene, froze.
‘This wasn’t part of the plan! How in the world did they survive the artillery barrage?’ he wondered.
In a head-on battle, defeating the well-trained White-Armored Dragon Calvary was a great challenge. Worried about having their identities exposed and causing political backlash, Sidra was about to order a retreat.
However, before he could blow his whistle to alert his agents…
“So you’re the one in charge,” a chilling voice spoke as a figure descended from the sky through the cloud of dust.
Sidra quickly reacted by raising his sword upwards.
Klang!
Two sword auras clashed, and energy dispersed through the air. The cloud of dust that was obscuring Sidra’s vision started swirling and creating a vortex, tying him down.
From within the twisting winds shot out dozens of aura blades.
It was «Squall of the God of Tempest» and «Needling of the Flying Sword Technique». For the first time in forty years, the secret techniques of the Wind Baron made an appearance.
“......!”
Kling! Klang—!
Sidra managed to block the attacks, but just barely.
‘What is this speed…?!’ Sidra questioned.
Evelyn had cornered Sidra in an instant. With how close she was to the ‘wall’, obtaining the secret techniques of the Wind Baron had greatly elevated her already excellent swordsmanship. She was now even stronger than before she lost her left arm.
Only having old intel about her, Sidra was caught off guard. However, Sidra was no pushover. He himself was an elite swordsman who was personally taught by Ed.
Quickly regaining his composure, he faced off against Evelyn.
Klang!
As their swords clashed, a blast of wind ascended into the sky.
“I knew it,” said Evelyn.
“......?”
“You know too much about my swordsmanship and movement techniques. You’re a member of the Ragnar Clan, aren’t you?”
“......!”
“The others will be executed, but you will be captured alive.”
‘Damn it!’ Sidra gritted his teeth.
This was the gravest mistake he’d made since he’d become a Class-1 agent.
He tried to quickly assess his priorities. ‘I don’t know how they survived, but in this situation… delivery of Balmung takes precedence. I need to—!’
However, before he could finish his thoughts, he saw a sharp wind in the corner of his eyes.
Slash—
‘No…!’ With a panicked heart, he turned his gaze.
Just in case, he had positioned the agent tasked with safekeeping Balmung in the backline. However, Sidra saw that very same agent’s head flying into the sky. Next to the fountain of blood stood a young boy with a massive Zweihander.
It was the boy he had seen at the Awakening Ceremony, Theo Ragnar.
The same boy that he was ordered to personally confirm the death of by Ed.
‘How did he know to go for him?’ Sidra wondered.
Even within the CIB, only five people knew of Balmung’s existence, and they were all Ed’s closest aides. The fact that Theo rushed directly for Balmung, as if he already knew about it, only meant one thing.
‘There’s a mole within the CIB!’ thought Sidra. ‘How dare they betray the Director?!’
But Sidra’s thoughts were interrupted.
Whoosh—
Evelyn’s wind-veiled sword was rapidly approaching, aiming for his jugular. Her movements were swift and sharp, as if she were wind incarnate.
Meanwhile, Theo was picking up Balmung from the fallen corpse.
“Everyone!” Sidra shouted.
In this moment of crisis, he had to make a split-second decision.
“Prioritize the ‘item’!’ he ordered.
He was telling his men to protect the sword, at all costs.
In unison, the agents all rushed toward Theo while unleashing their secret technique.
«Reverse Blood Surge Technique»
Because it expended one’s life force, it carried a great risk. However, as it was a surefire way to become momentarily stronger, it was a forbidden art primarily used by demonkin.
Despite this, the agents didn’t hesitate to use it. In contrast to the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry, the CIB had a strict philosophy of following orders and completing missions even at the cost of their lives.
Twenty swords descended upon Theo.
“They’re using the «Reverse Blood Surge Technique»? Who are these guys…?! Dragoons, protect Theo!” Evelyn quickly ordered, shocked by their demonkin-like strategy.
In an instant, Selford, Erin, and a few other dragoons positioned themselves in front of Theo.
Leading the pack, Selford shouted, “We can’t continue to be outshined by our rookie! Let’s show him the greatness of his seniors! Chaaarge!”
“Charge!” the others rallied together.
Kling! Klang!
The clash between the CIB agents and the dragoons was fierce. Blood was spilled left and right amidst the flurry of aura blades.
Theo stood amidst the chaos.
[Item has been stored in the inventory.]
After putting Balmung away in his inventory so that he didn’t lose it in the heat of battle, Theo raised his Drake Blade and took a deep breath.
‘My body feels lighter than ever, not to mention my senses are much sharper,’ thought Theo.
He recollected Lady Plum Blossom’s teachings from The Lone Plum Blossom.
The branch is the sword, and the flower is the swordsmanship.
However, he saw more than just a flower within the «Full Bloom of the Plum Blossoms». This likely meant that as he became capable of blooming more flowers, his understanding of the sword would deepen.
The book also contained Julius’s swordsmanship. Julius’s swordsmanship was a claw sharper than anyone else’s.
Theo tried to intertwine the two together into one.
Of course, this was no easy task. Julius and Lady Plum Blossom walked different paths to reach the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
‘But it should still be possible.’
However, Theo didn’t think they were that different. Both reached their place by chasing after Kyle’s swordsmanship. He simply had to find a common link between the two styles.
‘Common link.’
Fwooo!
With a zapping pain in his head, Theo’s mind raced once again. It was «White Fervor». His head was overheating once again.
However, there was no headache this time. Rather, he felt refreshed. He felt more immersed, his concentration heightened.
With it, he soon found the answer he was searching for.
‘Wind.’
It was possible with the Wind Baron’s secret techniques. Lightning and flower petals both followed the flow of the wind.
‘And reveal them… within the «Dragon’s Claw».’
To make this happen, he needed speed more than anything.
[Spending 10 stat points on Dexterity.]
[Dexterity: 62 → 72]
[Your movements have become faster.]
[Your attack speed has increased.]
Whoosh—
Following the sensation of his body becoming lighter, Theo’s Drake Blade flashed brightly.
The first claw. It smashed the head of the agent that managed to sneak past the dragoons.
The second claw. It repelled the enemy aiming for Erin’s blind spot.
The third claw. It swept across the battlefield like a wave as Theo plunged forward.
Shwooo—
“Whoa…! Our rookie won’t take a break! Well, don’t just stand there! Let’s keep up with him!” Selford urged his comrades.
Selford and other dragoons quickly caught up to Theo and pressured the agents. As the agents started getting caught out, the state of the battle quickly leaned in the favor of the dragoons.
Slash!
The fourth claw. It cut down three agents in a flash of light, spraying their blood everywhere.
And finally…
The fifth claw. It descended with a black lightning that was darker than ever before.
Rumble—
Flash! Crash!
The black lightning created a massive crater before rippling out all over the place. The enemies caught in the lighting were either flung away from the shockwave or collapsed after being electrocuted and paralyzed.
However, it didn’t just stop there. Black lightning continued to rain down.
«Thunder Call»
It was the elemental magic that Theo incorporated into his swordsmanship along with the inception of the fifth claw.
Rumble rumble—
Thanks to that, the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry was close to seizing victory. The CIB’s battle formation had completely crumbled in an instant.
“Retreat! Retreat!!” Sidra shouted at the top of his lungs, worried that they might be doomed.
But out of nowhere, a dark shadow fell upon the agents.
“We’re here, Captain!”
“Hehehehe! You’re motherfuckers are screwed now!”
Erika and Hulkus flew in riding their wyverns.
Mana bombs dropped down on the agents who were running away.
Boom! Ka-boom!
“Kagh!”
“Ugh!”
Caught between the barrage of mana bombs and the battle prowess of the dragoons, there was nowhere for the CIB to run.
Sidra grew pale, ‘What do we do…?!’
Shnnk—
“Aaaaagh!”
While Sidra was preoccupied, Evelyn’s sword sliced his left arm. She then pressed the tip of her blade against Sidra’s neck.
Evelyn spoke with a chilling glare, “Kneel.”
Her message was crystal clear. She wouldn’t hesitate to cut him down if he resisted.
Sidra wondered if he had to resort to suicide, but having read his mind, Evelyn stabbed her sword into his aura hall.
Pshhk!
“Kugh…!”
His mana started flowing out uncontrollably.
“Kneel! Unless you want the rest of your subordinates to also die!”
“......!”
Sidra, biting his lips, had no choice but to get on his knees.
Klink!
His sword rattled as it fell to the ground.
It was the White-Armored Dragon Cavalry’s victory.
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