Chapter 339 Two swordsmen (1/2)

In a forest near Cromer city which was now occupied by the Granado Empire, the sound of blade clashing against blade could be heard as two swordsmen were sparring. These two were none other than Ken and Ryu.

A year ago when the Granado Empire first attacked Berdonia, Ken was injured until he was near death. Fortunately for him Ryu was near the area, and was able to save him before death came to him.

Even though they were once enemies on the battlefield, Ryu actually had great respect for Ken. He was the only swordsman besides Alex that has faced him, that didn't die and didn't despair after losing, instead he improved himself. His respect for Ken had doubled when he learned that the reason for him being at death's door was because he rejected his home country and tried to protect Berdonia.

Ryu knowing the circumstances that led to his near death experience, decided to protect Ken for as long as he wasn't fully healed. After a few months Ken was able to get back into shape, but at this point the two sword masters couldn't leave the forest. Since for some unknown reason Cromer City was heavily fortified, and the Granado Empire kept on bothering them by sending soldiers into the forest to either kill or capture them. The two overwhelmed by the number of their opponents implemented guerrilla warfare as they slowly dwindled down the number of soldiers that entered the forest.

So for the past year the two sword masters have continued to stay inside the forest, disrupting and sabotaging the Granado Empire soldiers. While they were not doing that, the two sparred and sparred with each other until they got a bit better in cooperating with one another.

...

In the year they stayed inside the forest, the Granado Empire tried multiple times to kill them as they sent squad after squad, but that always ended up badly for them. They then tried to bomb some of the areas in the large forest to see if they might be able to hit the two. Yet after a few tries they ultimately stopped the bombing. Seeing them wasting air bombers to kill two people, wasn't really good for morale and the budget.Now that the Granado Empire, and the alliance of Beronia and the Southern Union were at a stalemate in the war, using too much ammunition on two swordsmen wasn't really a good idea.

...

”Hey Ryu are we friends?” Ken suddenly asked Ryu one day after training. Ryu who was swinging his sword looked at Ken confused.

”That's a stupid question,” Ryu answered while continuing to swing his sword.

”I see...”

”We're not only friends, we're rivals aren't we?” Ryu spoke this time without looking back. Ken who heard Ryu's reply chuckled. Even though the two of them were now middle aged men, hanging out in the forest training made it feel like they were back in the days of their youth.

”I see, of course we are,” Ken happily replied. These two were considered the most exalted experts in the way of the sword, yet right now they were acting like two teenage boys that were in a field trip, but to the two middle age men this was alright.

To the two of them the war proved to be a good way to train. They weren't really that worried about the repercussions of the war, nor were they worried about the lives of their disciples. To the two swordsmen, the war was nothing more than a training ground, that could enhance their skills as well as their disciples'.

...

A whole year went by with the two swordsmen haven't left the forest near Cromer City. The enemies that they encountered have lessened, as the recently built fortress was fortified even more. The soldiers no longer tried to capture the two and instead started to slowly amass their forces inside the fortress.