271 The Unbreakable Will

“More than anything,” William murmured, “it’s impossible for me to believe I can do those things. I’ve never once experienced them in my life.”

“Exactly,” Marius nodded. “However, things like moving quickly and striking with strength—those are actions humans are naturally capable of.”

William’s eyes gleamed.

“So that’s why absorbing the Dragon’s power passively enhances my physical body.”

Since it was something humans were already accustomed to, their bodies naturally adapted to it.

A realization began to take shape in his mind.

If he wanted to fully wield the Dragon’s power, he had to find ways to naturally incorporate it into his movements.

Claws could be replaced with a sword. Fangs were unnecessary. Poison, like wings, required an organ humans didn’t have.

Which meant the most useful ability available to him was…

“Could a human imitate a dragon’s scales?” William asked.

Marius didn’t even hesitate.

“Yes.”

Replicating a dragon’s scales had been surprisingly simple.

All he had to do was reinforce his body with magic—something every knight was already trained to do.

The result?

An imperceptible but tangible enhancement to his durability.

‘The key isn’t how much it strengthens me—it’s that any enhancement at all is possible. Because if it works even a little, I can amplify it with the Dragon’s power.’

Through this technique, William’s body had become as resilient as dragon scales.

No ordinary weapon could even leave a scratch.

In fact, unless it was a blade wielded by someone of Felicia’s caliber, nothing could cut him at all.

And Ainar… Ainar was nowhere near Felicia’s level.

He had never stood a chance.

William gazed down at the warrior, who was still reeling from the shock of what had just happened.

“Is that all?” he asked.

Ainar felt something boiling inside him at William’s calm, indifferent attitude.

“Not yet!”

Gritting his teeth, he yanked his axe free from William’s grasp and adjusted his stance.

His previous attack had focused on speed, but this time, he would put everything into sheer power.

The stance was riddled with openings, but William simply stood there, waiting—almost as if daring him to strike.

Ainar inhaled sharply.

Whoosh!

His muscles tensed to the point of nearly bursting, and in the next instant, his axe came crashing down toward William’s crown.

The force behind it was terrifying. The air itself seemed to rip apart, the sound of the swing loud enough to be heard by the gathered tribespeople.

And yet, William didn’t even bother raising his hand this time.

Instead, he tilted his head ever so slightly.

CLANG!

“Urgh!”

Ainar gritted his teeth as a jarring shock ran up his arms, from his fingers to his shoulders.

He had struck a human body, yet it felt like hitting solid iron.

Pain shot through his wrists from the sheer recoil, but despite that, a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

‘At the very least… that had to do something.’

The force of the recoil meant his attack had been powerful.

No matter how absurdly strong William was, surely even he wouldn’t be able to brush this one off.

At least, that’s what Ainar thought—until he looked up.

His breath hitched.

The axe blade had landed squarely against William’s nape—a softer, more vulnerable spot compared to the skull.

And yet, there wasn’t a single scratch.

William regarded him with mild disinterest.

“That’s all?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me…!”

Ainar could barely form the words.

A human’s nape was one of the weakest points on the body, far easier to cut through than the skull.

But even after taking a direct hit, William wasn’t just unscathed—he didn’t even seem to feel it.

“If you’re done, it’s my turn now.”

Fwoosh!

A blast of magic erupted from William’s body, sweeping through the frozen plains like an inferno.

Ainar braced himself against the scorching winds, barely managing to stand his ground—but that was all he could do.

He had no way to stop what came next.

CLANG!

His weapon was struck by something heavy, sending him soaring through the air.

And before he could even process what had happened, a second impact slammed into his forehead, driving him into the ground.

It all happened in an instant.

By the time the gusts died down and the snow settled, no one had seen what had occurred within the whirlwind of heat.

Thud.

“Uh… What just happened?”

The tribespeople exchanged bewildered glances.

They had barely blinked, and yet, the moment they opened their eyes, it was over.

William gave them a brief glance before sheathing his sword.

“Next.”

Ivar felt his legs go weak.

The sight before him was identical to what had transpired during the first trial.

And yet, the despair was so much deeper.

‘How the hell do you fight someone who can’t be harmed?’

The woman from the first trial—the warrior who had reached the pinnacle despite her gender—had still been human.

Though no one had been able to land a proper strike against her, if a blade had made contact, she would have bled.

But William?

Weapons didn’t just fail to cut him. They didn’t even hurt him.

“Father, now is not the time for despair.”

A voice whispered urgently into his ear.

He turned his head to see Brunda, his son, standing firm with an unfaltering gaze.

The fire had not left his eyes.

William’s overwhelming display had not shaken him.

Brunda smiled.

“No matter what powers he has gained, his strength—like ours—comes from the Dragon. If we wield the same power, then we must have a way to bring him down.”

“Do you have a plan?” Ivar asked.

“Rather than explain it…” Brunda grinned, cracking his knuckles. “I’d rather show you.”

With that, he strode forward, undeterred.

Ivar watched him go, stunned by his son’s unwavering confidence.

He had always thought of Brunda as reckless—someone who charged forward without thinking.

But now, seeing him like this, Ivar realized he had underestimated his son’s resolve.

‘Perhaps I was wrong all along.’

He had always believed Ainar was the true heir—wise and courageous in equal measure.

But now, watching Brunda step up without hesitation, he wondered if it was he who was more suited to lead.

With his father’s expectant gaze upon him, Brunda boldly unsheathed his greatsword.

“I’ll be your second opponent.”

William studied him for a moment.