Baron Hutton hastily raised his sword to block Ghislain’s downward strike.

**Clang!**

“Ugh!”  

The sheer force behind the attack made him stagger. He tilted his blade slightly to redirect some of the impact, but it wasn’t enough.  

**Crack!**  

The ground beneath Hutton’s feet split as he slid backward. His eyes widened in disbelief.  

‘What in the…?’  

It was just a simple strike, yet it felt like his sword was on the verge of shattering. If he hadn’t redirected the force, it might have broken not just his blade but his bones as well.  

This …