## Chapter 1133 – Elven Forest

The squad leader of the Elven Guardian Warriors.

“…”

Celacis, having descended, closed her eyes and assumed a stance.

“Ho.”

ㅡSwirl, swirl.

The rising energy is quite powerful.

She seems definitely stronger than Rajinap or Lumiel, whom I just fought. But this was strange. I thought that squad leader Harkan was at least swordmaster-level in the Karga Kingdom.

But this squad leader was vastly different from him.

ㅡI win.

That was the first thought I had when I saw her.

This means that the skills of the squad leader and the deputy squad leaders differ significantly. Definitely. Celacis is stronger than those two bastards who seem to be just average among the Guardian Warriors, but not enough to compete with the squad leader.

“…”

Anyway, I also look at her.

A shapely elven warrior with long, orange hair.

Is her physique similar to Cloudy’s?
If so, what about her skills?
Is she similar to Cloudy?

No. That can’t be measured.

Cloudy is a woman who severely lacks stamina. As a half-elf, she inherently has low mana. Instead, she uses all her mana at once to swing her sword, a technique honed over 100 years. I don’t even know if I could block that technique. It’s always been a critical hit.

That’s her specialty.

So, it can’t be compared. I don’t think Celacis could land such an attack on me. But excluding that, most of her stats are probably higher than Cloudy’s.

What’s certain is that she’s not as good as Karin.
Is she still young?

If she’s that strong at a young age, she’s qualified to be a squad leader.
But even if she’s young, she’s probably much older than me.

Of course, I’m a beast who goes all out even when fighting kids.

I won’t hold back.

ㅡWhoosh.

“Huh!”

Suddenly, Celacis started throwing off her coat!
What the hell is going on!

I was shocked and about to jump around while covering my face, but I thought that would make me look too frivolous, so I just stood still with my arms crossed and slightly turned my head. As I did, she took off her green coat-like outerwear, then her pure white dress shirt, and even unbuckled the sword belt around her waist.

ㅡClang.

As a result, her attire consisted of combat boots, tight-fitting elastic black pants, and a black tank top-style undershirt.

“Hey, squad leader. I don’t think you need to strip down.”
“Don’t mind it.”

A cold voice.
That cold gaze is fixed on me.

Damn it, I politely told her to fight with clothes on.

“…I didn’t know you’d be this strong. Humans have talent too.”

ㅡGrind.

Celacis, in that attire, tied her hair back and said while turning her neck. Whatever her attitude, I can’t help but take her compliment well.

“Hehehe, thanks for the compliment. I also think of myself as talented.”

I am a genius of combat.

A manifested Heavenly Demon.

I am grateful to my women who awakened my talents. If it weren’t for their endless love, I would surely still be rolling around like a street bum.

“You’re much younger than me… How did you gain such power at that age? Humans are a really unique race. Most are weak, but the exceptional ones are as strong as elves.”

Stronger than elves.

“Isn’t that just the human trait?”

I said arrogantly.

“One in a million. Maybe one in ten million. Or even one in a hundred million. An exceptional genius is born like that. A hero. A being who leads humans.”

That’s how human history has always been.

A few geniuses develop civilization, a few geniuses sweep across battlefields, and a few geniuses lead nations. Ordinary people can’t keep up with the intellect of genius scientists, ordinary people can’t imitate the tactics of genius generals.

And ordinary people can’t run a country like a genius leader.

The humans who stand at the top are all geniuses.
Geniuses who appear one in tens of millions, like stars.

I was just that genius.

Who would imitate Napoleon?
Who would imitate Einstein?

Great people were great because they were geniuses!

Indeed, who!!! Could attain Nirvana like Gautama Siddhartha!!! And who could slaughter a super macho man like Goliath with a height like a dog shit bug, like the great prophet King David!!!

It was only possible because they were geniuses!

The human race is what produces such geniuses!

And I am the Heavenly Demon, the pinnacle of that human race.

It’s only natural that I’m strong.

“…Do you think you’re that one in tens of millions?”

Celacis, standing with her legs shoulder-width apart, asked with her arms crossed, tilting her head and narrowing her eyes.

“Does it not seem like I’m that level, standing before you?”

No lie, I’m a one-in-billions man.

That’s what I believe.

I am the pinnacle of all mankind.

“Tell me, squad leader. Which of you could have gained this kind of skill at my age? As I see it, even you wouldn’t have. I’m in my late twenties, and you’re probably like my older sister.”

As I said that.

“Indeed.”

She straightened her head.

“You have the skill to be arrogant.”
“I see that.”
“Well… Humans have always been like that. There have been many beings called heroes or champions among humans… If you look at the race average, elves are definitely stronger.”

The race average is definitely overwhelmingly superior for elves.

But at the very top of that race, humans are more superior, that’s what she meant.

As I saw it, that was also true.

“That’s right, elf. That’s what humans are.”
“That’s why you subdued Rajinap and Lumiel so easily.”
“It wasn’t easy. I just knew I had the upper hand, so it ended quickly.”
“That’s really amazing.”

ㅡSwoosh.

As Celacis said that.

She assumed a stance as if she were boxing.

ㅡWhoosh.

Green aura swirled around her entire body.

“But as I have my pride, I’ll make you kneel here. You’re strong, but not enough to overwhelm me, the squad leader of these Guardian Warriors.”

An extremely arrogant attitude.

“Don’t you think about the guest’s pride? To say so blatantly that you’ll make me kneel.”

This is very impolite.

Trying to make a guest kneel.

That’s the way of the insects.
Guests should be treated with respect.

Because they violated that, they are insects.

I will never forgive the insects that cut out my heart.

“Didn’t you win twice already? So this time, we have to win. Do you think it’s rude? Then I can stop right now, human. It would be okay to stop before you kneel.”
“No.”

It’s not me who’s kneeling.

It’s you.

“There’s no need for that, elf. Give it your all.”
“Personally, I prefer using weapons, but… this will be fun too.”

That was the moment she said that.

ㅡSquad leader!
ㅡSquad leader!
ㅡSquad leader!

Cheers erupted from the audience.

ㅡPaladin!
ㅡPaladin!
ㅡPaladin!

There was my name too.
It seems like I’m getting a lot of expectations.

If this were an arena, I would have danced.

“Seeing how full of fighting spirit they are, both seem to be true warriors. So from now on, our precious guest, Paladin, and our pride, the squad leader, will have a friendly sparring match, and everyone, please watch properly so as not to be rude to these honorable warriors.”

Harkan, who had taken a seat up there, said.

“Then, start.”

The starting signal was given.

“…”
“…”

Silence descended in an instant.

I vowed.
To make that elf kneel.

ㅡThud, thud.

Celacis, taking a stance like a boxer, slowly walked towards me. As if trying to draw a semicircle, she slowly moved clockwise.

What I felt from that was.

Steel.

Steel.

It was as if steel was approaching.

Then I am also steel. Keeping her within my sight, I move counterclockwise. She is strong. I’m sure I’ll win, but if I lose the initiative, it will be disadvantageous. In this kind of fight, the one who takes the offensive first is unconditionally advantageous.

Celacis must know that too.

So she’s going to act cautiously.
Because I just crushed the two elves who attacked me first.

“You’re quite passive. Are you waiting for the woman to come first?”
“Hehehe. Such provocations don’t work on me, elf.”
“Provocation, huh.”

ㅡSwoosh.

As Celacis said that, she smiled and changed the trajectory of her footwork. She, who had been drawing a circle, began to walk straight towards me. I also matched that and walked straight towards her.

ㅡThud, thud.

The figure of Celacis walking like that.

ㅡPoof.

Disappeared in an instant.

“…!”

Feeling a chill, I.

ㅡWhoosh!!!

Immediately turned my body half a turn, using that rotational force to swing my arm bent in a ㄱ shape.

“Good sense.”

ㅡBang!

An explosion erupted with Celacis’s voice that I heard in an instant. What I saw was her blocking my hook with a guard stance! When did this bitch come behind me! Such a fast speed! A speed that I missed in an instant!

ㅡCrackling!

But she was sliding as if she were skating due to the impact of blocking my attack. The distance of that movement was about 30cm, and I shot an Asura Piercing Blood Fist towards that spot with my left fist.

ㅡBang!

The Asura Piercing Blood Fist fired while shattering the air.

ㅡBoom!

But it’s blocked.

She, who had raised her guard, blocked my second attack and was pushed back. Just as I was about to take advantage of that and go in.

ㅡBang!

I heard a sound as if the air exploded in an instant.

Her figure disappeared from my sight.

“Quite fierce.”

I felt killing intent from the side, and I immediately pulled back my left foot that I had been stepping forward with, rotated my body half a turn backward, and swung my elbow.

ㅡBoom!

The sensation I felt.

Celacis, who had appeared from the side at some point, had my elbow embedded in her raised guard.

But she.

“Your strength is definitely stronger than the Guardian Warriors.”

She showed the audacity to say such a thing, beyond just looking fine.

This bitch is so fast!

And her defense is considerable!
To block my attack head-on!

She’s even talking smack, and I can’t even say a word!

“But.”

ㅡPoof!

Celacis, who had released her guard in an instant.

“If it’s this much.”

She kicked high, aiming for my head.

“Huh…!”

A kick combo from a guard stance…!

By the time I realized it, the kick was already flying towards my head.

Fast.
This bitch is damn fast.

Just now, I couldn’t react.

“Ugh!”

I tried to dodge by lowering my head and waist.

ㅡBang!!!

I was a little late, so I had no choice but to get hit.

“Damn it…!”

I momentarily concentrated my aura to reduce the impact, but I was already flying away.

The side of my head hurt like hell.
I almost lost my balance from the pain I felt.

“You’ll have no choice but to kneel before me.”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”

I forcibly landed my flying body.

ㅡBoom!

I didn’t want to show it here.
But seeing her acting up like that, I couldn’t stand it anymore.

I’ll teach her a lesson with the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.

“Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”

As I completed the words as if reciting a poem, the incantations and forms melted into it and swirled rapidly in my head.

I’ll crush her with the Heavenly Demon Overlord Steps!

“…!”

Whether she sensed the torrent of mana swirling at the same time as the Heavenly Demon Divine Art was deployed, Celacis, who had kicked my head and was about to launch a follow-up attack, widened her eyes for a moment and tried to pull her body back with a backstep, kicking off the ground.

But it’s too late.

I already gained weight.
With the weight I gained.

I take a step.

“Heavenly Demon Overlord Steps.”

ㅡRumble, rumble!

I felt the mana of my entire body draining away, and the surrounding mana fluctuated. The fluctuating mana swept around. If a true Heavenly Demon reigns, everything will kneel.

“Kneel.”

Celacis, who was casting a backstep and floating slightly in the air.

ㅡThud!

As if she was flustered and misstepped.

“Th, this is…!”

ㅡBoom!

She barely slammed her foot down as if to fix it on the ground.

But to withstand the Heavenly Demon Overlord Steps.

You’re too light.

“What the hell…!”

Her waist bent as she stepped on the ground like that. The sight was like seeing Atlas supporting the Earth. She tried to endure it by force, but she couldn’t withstand my Heavenly Demon Overlord Steps.

ㅡBoom.

Finally, she knelt.

“Ugh…!”

She, who knelt, bit her lip tightly with an expression as if she was resentful of what an absurd thing this was, and knelt before me.

“Hehehe.”

I watched that and slowly walked towards her.

“Did your legs suddenly give out?”

ㅡThump.

I put my fist on her forehead.
It’s my victory.

“It’s my victory.”
“Th, this is…!”

I released the Heavenly Demon Overlord Steps at the same time.

“Sorcery! Did you use sorcery!”

ㅡPoof!

Celacis, who immediately jumped back as if bouncing, shouted shrilly.

These bitches always say sorcery when they lose.

“Oh no, sorcery!”
“Or did you use magic!”
“That’s not it.”
“If it’s not that, then what the hell was that crushing sensation from just now!”

She seemed genuinely angry. In fact, she had reason to be angry. Not only was she helplessly defeated by my technique, but she also knelt without any resistance. From the moment she kicked me, she probably felt like she had already won.

“You’re just.”

But victory is victory.

“By my momentum.”

The fact is that I won.

“By my ferocity.”

I would have won even if I hadn’t used the Heavenly Demon Overlord Steps in the first place.
I just broke her nose quickly because she was too arrogant.

Of course, I got kicked, but that was it.
If I had watched a little longer, I could have read her speed.

This is the fact concluded by an expert.

“You were just crushed by my fighting spirit. You were too light to handle my weight.”
“What does that mean! This is invalid…!”

That was the moment Celacis was about to protest to me.

“…Well done.”

Harkan’s voice was heard.