Chapter 242

Even among masters, there was a huge gap in skill. Differences in physical ability, the level of skill honed through years of training, and the weight of accumulated achievements all varied. Therefore, it wasn’t impossible for someone with exceptional skill to cut down a couple of mediocre masters. But what was happening now defied even that common sense. Facing ten seasoned masters, cutting down two with a single strike—this was divine power. Yes, it was no exaggeration to call it divine power. Even the Ghost Sword couldn’t create such a scene. His swordsmanship was that of an assassin, precise enough to kill one but not the overwhelming strength to dominate many. Valenstein, watching, swallowed a bitter sound. Even to his eyes, the trajectory of that sword was bizarre. There was no clashing sound, no scattering of light from metal meeting metal. It was too quiet, without any aftermath. Everything in its path was simply cleanly severed. It was as if the world itself split to avoid the blade. An unnatural phenomenon. Yes, just like his Ghost Sword. “Could it be that at his age, he’s glimpsed beyond the wall…? Such talent…?” His teeth clenched slightly. Was the rising emotion admiration or envy? The old knight looked at the young genius and reflected on the years he had lost.

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What is this sword? There was no shock of cutting through steel, no sensation of slicing through bone and flesh. Only a strange, incomprehensible feeling brushed against my fingertips. What I cut wasn’t a monster. It was something deeper, more fundamental, that touched the edge of the blade and was severed. Leaving behind a shimmering haze. As my sword traced its path, the air in front of me distorted and writhed. Like dragging a finger through wet paint. -Whoosh… A sharp, thin sound of wind rang in my ears. A gentle breeze from behind ruffled my hair. The distorted space slowly healed as if sucking in light to mend its wounds. Like a healing miracle. …Was it some kind of vacuum? “Ugh…” The eight monsters staggered back a few steps. Ah, right. This wasn’t the time to be observing strange phenomena. Gripping my sword, I looked at the two corpses sprawled on the ground. The lower halves lay motionless, spilling rotten blood and severed intestines, while the upper halves twitched faintly even after being split in two. Parasitic monsters, Paladins. These creatures, which parasitize the spine and devour the brain, don’t care about the host’s injuries. Unless you crush their heads along with the monster’s body, you can’t say they’re truly dead. Perfect position to stomp on. Just as I raised my leg to crush them— -Squelch. With a squelching sound, their heads swelled to twice their size.

—-

“Eh…!” A sense of crisis shot up like lightning. [Block it! No, dodge!] ‘I know!’ Even before Hersela urgently warned me, my body had already reacted instinctively. My nerves burned, stretching time. A familiar sensation. Everything in my vision slowed down and became clearer. The monster’s head continued to swell. Its rotten, onion-like appearance. Eyes bulging from pressure, shedding black tears. In the slow-flowing moment, my anti-magic sensed the amplifying demonic energy and sent a warning. Thanks to that, I clearly understood what was happening to these monsters. I raised Durandal as if to block the space between me and them. Inside the swollen skull, black demonic energy swirled violently, like a suppressed storm. And finally, -Boom! With a heavy, drawn-out explosion, their bodies scattered in all directions. Flesh and bone fragments, imbued with demonic energy, shot out with shockwaves. Even armor fragments. It was, literally, a bomb of demonic energy. An explosion powerful enough to tear a person to shreds. Hersela told me to dodge, but… given the nature of the explosion spreading in all directions, moving to the side or back would have been pointless. I didn’t want to retreat just for this. In this world where time seemed to reverse, where I was alone… I drew a golden line once more. The trajectory etched clearly. The air distorted and tore along the sword’s path. This wasn’t a single strike. Horizontally, vertically, diagonally. I swung the sword without stopping. Forgetting even to breathe, I slashed the air like coloring a canvas. With each added line, my body grew heavier. My right arm ached as if it would break. A familiar pain. Clenching my teeth, I endured, layering phantom after phantom. Like the sun rising to brighten the dawn, a brilliant light spread in all directions. The world was dyed gold. The black storm approaching melted like snowflakes meeting flames. Even the formless shockwave was sliced apart by the sword, scattering into pieces. Bone fragments that slipped through the gaps were blocked by the veil of life force and lost their power. When the world returned to its original speed, only the traces of destruction remained. From where the monster’s head had been, the ground for several meters was completely torn apart. Like dough flattened by a rolling pin. The only intact areas were where I stood and the space behind me.

—-

“Huuu…” I exhaled the breath I’d been holding and straightened my posture. A corpse explosion? That witch is really pulling out all the stops now. I managed to block it, but I almost lost my mind. The explosion, like a grenade going off, left me with only a dull ache and crushing fatigue. At least the vitality from the sword was helping me recover quickly. [You… blocked that?] Hersela muttered in disbelief. Yeah. Cutting down an explosion with a single sword? Even I can’t believe it.

I can’t believe it.

I tried it because I believed it was possible… but now that it’s actually happened, I’m like, “Why did this even work?”

But anyway—

“Didn’t you say you wouldn’t get involved in this fight?”

I’m pretty sure I advised you to stay out of it earlier.

[……Well, that’s…]

Hersela, too, seemed caught off guard by her own words, stumbling awkwardly without hiding her fluster.

[…Hmm. Right, that’s it. The explosion was strong enough to tear through steel. If you, like an idiot, got caught up in it and ended up not just wounded but dead… that would be pretty awkward for me too.]

It was clearly an excuse she just came up with on the spot.

Even if I pointed it out, she’d probably just yell and deny it furiously.

[I don’t have the skill to bring a lifeless body back to life, so I’d just end up dying pointlessly with you. So, take it as me worrying about myself, not you. Got it? Besides, your reaction was faster than my advice, so technically, I didn’t really intervene.]

“…Alright. I get it.”

Let’s just leave it at that.

Hersela sure talks faster when she’s flustered.

I let out a small laugh and turned my attention back to the enemies in front of me.

Eight monsters, cautiously closing the distance between us. Unlike their initial charge, they were being extremely careful now.

They must’ve avoided the explosion too, as they only had a bit of dirt on them and no visible injuries.

So they backed off earlier to avoid the explosion… huh?

I bet they’ll explode if I cut them down too.

But hey, if I know about it, I can deal with it.

The moment the first explosion didn’t kill me, Isabella’s little trick had already failed.

“Did the bugs crawling out of a whore’s crotch finally get scared?”

A crimson aura coiled around the Black Iron Spear in my left hand.

Durandal still shone like the sun.

A violent surge of energy shot up, piercing the sky.

“Groooar!”

“If you’re bugs, then crawl on the ground like bugs!”

As if responding to my energy, they all charged at once.

—

From then on, it was pure chaos.

Slashing attacks missed, cutting through the air, while axe blades grazed my hair.

A heavy warhammer shattered the ground with a deafening crash.

“Ooooh!”

Four swords. Two halberds. A two-handed axe and a warhammer.

Eight weapons danced without rest.

“Is this all you’ve got!”

The sword of oath tore through the air, leaving a heat haze in its wake.

Perhaps wary of Durandal’s energy, they swung their weapons but hastily dodged whenever Durandal got close.

Maybe that’s why.

Even in an eight-on-one fight, I was the one with the upper hand.

“Running away like cowards, just like senile old men! How do you expect to win like that!”

The spear of Life Force shot out like a bullet, spinning like a whirlwind.

Before the Paladin could even recover from dodging Durandal, I struck like lightning.

The crimson spear tip pierced through steel armor, embedding itself deep.

The swirling Life Force tore through the monster’s insides.

“Grrrugh…!”

Its intestines, now like mush, spilled from its mouth.

Dark energy rose from its head. It’s gonna explode soon. Not my problem anymore.

Explode or not.

As long as it’s not near me, I don’t care.

“Get lost!”

Gripping the spear tightly, I kicked it away.

It felt like pulling out a skewer, and the monster’s body flew back as if hit by a truck.

-Kabooom!

A crimson firework lit up the sky.

Flesh scattered everywhere, and rotten blood poured down like rain. From a distance, of course.

Now that I know they’re bombs, I just have to launch them before they explode.

They’re basically committing suicide for me, so I’ll take it.

-Whish!

While glancing over, three weapons came flying at me.

I deflected the longsword aimed at my face with the spear shaft. The blade grazed my cheek.

In retaliation, I thrust the spear tip, crushing the monster’s collarbone. One down.

Next, I looked down at the two-handed axe swinging low, aiming for my ankles.

Good attempt… but too slow.

I raised my leg and stomped down like thunder.

-Crunch!

The axe blade shattered, embedding itself deep into the ground.

The monster lost its balance and leaned forward. Perfect position for its skull.

-Splat!

The kicked skull burst like a balloon.

The wriggling bugs inside scattered into pieces, unrecognizable.

Not sure if it can still explode like that…

The last monster swung a massive two-handed hammer.

A dull sound echoed as the iron chunk aimed for my side.

-Thud!

My left hand, which had let go of the spear, caught the hammerhead.

A nail-driving shock spread from my palm to my elbow.

“Grrgh…!”

My body, unable to withstand the force, was pushed sideways.

A tingling sensation made me groan.

But I blocked it. Now, it’s my turn.

The firmly gripped hammerhead crumpled under the Ice Blade’s pressure.

No matter how hard the monster tried to pull it back, it didn’t budge.

“…You should’ve dropped your weapon and retreated.”

Durandal split the monster’s body vertically.