Our Turn
The completely ruined ryokan.
At its center stood Kim Deok-Sung.
Gooooooo!
An overwhelming storm of magic surrounded him.
Clank, clatter.
A black full-body armor made of darkness enveloped Kim Deok-Sung’s body.
Thud.
A black helmet was placed on Kim Deok-Sung’s head, and the visor came down.
Zing.
The moment a pair of crimson glow ignited from the visor.
Kwa- kwa- kwa- kwa- kwa!
An overwhelming shockwave of magic erupted.
Sputter-sputter-sputter!
Black lightning swept through the surroundings.
Flutter.
A crimson magical cloak billowed behind him.
Whoosh.
Steam poured out from the black long sword, Durandal, engulfed in black flames.
Berserk’s expression stiffened.
“Convergence?”
Convergence.
A state where the spirit of a transcendent weapon communicates with the user, becoming one.
A stage that can only be achieved if the hearts of the spirit and user truly unite.
A hidden stage that exists between true name liberation and mind development, reachable only by users of transcendent armaments who have awakened their true name liberation.
A hero in the state of convergence temporarily sees a massive increase in all stats, reaching a level where they can match an EX-rank hero in combat.
However, convergence is merely a temporary phenomenon.
The duration and power depend entirely on the capabilities of the spirit that has merged with the user, and it’s not something that can be sustained for long.
Thus, the most efficient and effective method for Berserk to deal with this convergence is to focus solely on defense until Kim Deok-Sung’s convergence is lifted.
But Berserk had no intention of doing that at all.
Thump.
Berserk’s heart raced.
A wide grin stretched across his face.
“Convergence! It’s convergence! Finally! Finally!”
Excited words spilled from Berserk’s mouth.
“Finally! A worthy opponent has appeared for me to fight! Finally!”
Thump, thump.
Berserk’s heart raced with excitement.
Magic surged explosively from the magic core in his chest.
Wooooo!
Hrunting let out a chilling cry, obeying its master’s will.
Battle-crazed Berserk was now in a frenzy of excitement.
“I thought it was a pointless and worthless mission. A task of mindlessly cutting down low-level pests without even the ability to develop a mind’s eye. But!”
Red luminescence flared in Berserk’s eyes.
His muscles quivered.
Crimson magic erupted explosively from his body.
“But! Finally, an opponent that can actually wound this Berserk has appeared! At last! Someone worthy to fight against this Berserk!”
While not on par with mind development, convergence still made Berserk recognize an opponent worthy of battle.
Though variable based on the capabilities of the spirit and user, it was certainly better than not being able to even touch a single hair on other pests.
An unexpected variable.
Variable.
“Kim Deok-Sung, I truly didn’t know your talent was at this level. What a delightful misjudgment!”
Berserk’s eyes gleam.
Red magic surges from his mouth.
“……”
Kim Deok-Sung remains silent.
From the dull armor of the Black Knight, dark mist billows forth.
Flames of black erupt from Durandal’s blade.
“You are now worthy of fighting me. Then! This Berserk must give proper respect to a worthy opponent!”
In a fight worth engaging, he gives his all.
This is the belief of the battle maniac, Berserk.
“From now on, I will face you with all my might! Kim Deok-Sung──!”
Berserk roars as he grabs the tip of Hrunting with his left hand.
Thud!
Berserk’s thigh, infused with red magic, precisely splits Hrunting in two.
Woohoooo!
The severed Hrunting cries out and scatters red magic around.
[Endless World of Struggle]
【Blood Valhalla】
With red magic, the mantra of the mental realm is etched into the world.
The sky turns crimson, and the earth becomes dark red.
Smoke rises everywhere, and red skulls lay endlessly across the ground.
At the peak of a mountain made of piled skulls.
Berserk sits upon a throne made of bones, a muscular giant.
Twitch.
Red tattoos flow from his muscles.
“Welcome to my mental realm, challenger.”
As Berserk speaks, the air vibrates.
Szzzzzt!
Sparks of red magic burst forth from the tattoos etched into Berserk’s muscles.
“In a holy duel between warriors, words are unnecessary, right?”
Kim Deok-Sung, clad in Black Knight armor, enters Berserk’s view.
Boom!
Berserk stomps his feet as he rises from the throne.
Crack crack crack!
The throne of red skulls collapses.
He stretches out his right hand into the air.
Red magic gathers, forming Hrunting, which he grabs.
“Let’s start the party!”
Kaboom!
Red magic surges throughout Berserk’s body.
He rises into the air.
His hair, like a fiery mane, lifts toward the sky.
The second round begins.
*
A red world unfolds before them.
Berserk.
His mental realm first appeared in Volume 18 of the original series.
During the finals of the Great Game, the Undertaker caused chaos, and Berserk, through his mental realm, faced the protagonist in a one-on-one duel.
His mental realm has the special ability to create a one-on-one arena in the midst of chaos.
This arena never dissolves unless one falls.
Nothing more, nothing less.
It can be said to be a highly battle-centric mental realm ability.
But it cannot be disregarded.
The mental realm basically overlays the user’s imagery onto the world.
Naturally, the user gets all sorts of buffs, while the opponent receives numerous debuffs.
Essentially, it creates a scenario that is advantageous for the user and unfavorable for the challenger, a tilted playing field.
Additionally, without special abilities, the stat boosts granted by Berserk’s mental realm are very high.
[Partner. You better brace yourself.]
Though penalties are offset through unity, he can’t hold on for long.
“Blood── Strike!!!”
Wooosh!
As the crimson whirlwind and Hrunting are launched,
A black line appears before him.
Like a dam bursting, the routes of enemy attacks and possible outcomes quickly flash through his mind, calculating the optimal path.
[Partner. This is my real talent. Not some imitation talent that synchronization mimics, but the true talent of the Black Prince, Raul Napoleon Bonaparte!]
“My talent is not a fake, it’s the real talent of the Black Prince Raul Napoleon Bonaparte!”
The voice of the Black Prince echoes in my mind.
I knew it through the setup.
Synchronization.
Through that, I thought about how amazing the real talent could be, but how great could it get?
However, experiencing the real Black Prince, the real genius, through direct merging shattered my perception entirely.
This is on a different dimension.
“[Partner. Use that skill!]”
I hear the Black Prince’s voice.
Even without his advice, I can feel it.
The best counter to deflect the enemy’s attack.
“[Black Light Sword Technique]”
“[Second Technique]”
“[Dark Counter]”
Clang!
Flames of darkness blaze as Durandal deflects Hrunting’s attack while launching toward the enemy’s body.
Clang!
The magic barrier around the enemy’s muscles shatters, leaving scratches on his forearm.
Drip.
A bit of blood spills out.
“A wound. Pain.”
Berserk grins like he’s tearing his mouth open.
“How delightful! How enjoyable! Your movements! They’re on a different dimension from before! Show me more! More! Kim Deok-Sung!”
Berserk shouts.
Enjoying pain, huh?
Typical of a light novel villain, but this one must be out of his mind too.
But now is not the time to mind his strange behavior and weird personality.
I need to prepare my next attack.
Now, even without the Black Prince’s words, optimal strategies and moves naturally input themselves into my mind.
The real genius, the talent of Five Crowns, guides my body.
“[Black Light Sword Technique]”
“[First Technique]”
“[Dark Slash]”
Splat!
Black sparks scatter.
Vrooom!
The trail of blazing black flames cuts through the crimson world.
“Blood Bash!”
He shouts the skill name.
As the red light spreads from the tattoo on Berserk’s body.
Boom-BOOM!
My Dark Slash hits him directly.
With an explosive sound, thick smoke billows up.
I want to think I’ve landed a hit, but the Black Prince’s talent informs me.
“[Partner. Behind you!]”
The Black Prince’s voice advises me.
I spin around and swing Durandal.
“[White Flame Sword Technique]”
“[Third Technique]”
“[Platinum Shield]”
Whirr!
Black flames rise and form a shield in the air.
Boom-BOOM!
With a deafening sound, the black flame shield shatters as Berserk’s massive body and Hrunting’s crimson blade are aimed at me.
“Make me enjoy it more! Kim Deok-Sung!”
Berserk’s perverted voice echoes in my ears.
His face is flushed and looks like a total creep.
What a weird guy.
Seriously, where are all the normal villains in light novels?
Clang!
I raise Durandal to block his attack.
Splat!
Red and black sparks intertwine, and the magic shockwave sweeps the surroundings.
“Ahahaha······.”
Berserk laughs wickedly.
That creepy face meets my eyes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Boom-BOOM!
With an explosive sound, Hrunting clashes rapidly with my Durandal.
“They said you’re the heir of the Black Prince and the master of Durandal, but it feels just like fighting the Black Prince himself!”
Berserk laughs, shouting.
Feels like fighting the Black Prince himself, huh?
No wonder.
Right now, I’m utilizing the Black Prince’s talent at 100% through fusion.
Clang!
I strike Hrunting once again.
“Delightful. Hehehe.”
Berserk chuckles like a creep.
His face brims with confidence and joy.
“[Partner······.]”
The Black Prince’s voice trails off in my head.
Even without him finishing, I already know.
If this continues, I will lose.
Although it seems like we’re on equal footing now, if this battle becomes a long one, defeat is inevitable.
It may seem that way, but if this fight turns into a long-term battle, it’s a guaranteed loss.
The Fusion is a buff ability that raises the user to a level comparable to EX Rank.
Being comparable doesn’t mean it can truly overwhelm an actual EX Rank.
If I were to compare it to a martial arts novel, the EX Rank guy is a master of the current realm, while I, an S Rank, have barely touched the apex of the previous realm and managed to momentarily match him through latent potential.
On top of that, this is within his mental expansion.
If we were outside, there might have been a slim chance of winning, but now that I’m inside, a significant portion of the Fusion ability is being used for debuff cancellation, greatly decreasing my power.
To win, I need a trump card that can break through this crisis.
‘He must have something planned to say that, right?’
[Of course!]
The Black Prince speaks in my head.
He has a plan?
Clang!
Hrunting bounces off Berserk.
The Black Armor begins to crumble bit by bit.
Already?
There’s not much time left.
[If I had faced such a guy in my past life, it would have been just one hit, one hit. Partner, you agree, right?]
‘Why are you suddenly bragging now out of the blue?’
The Black Prince spouts nonsense that doesn’t fit the mood.
He’s a strong player who joined the Five Crowns.
Of course, he must have overwhelmed Berserk in his past life.
So why bring that up now?
[I was just kidding, but that’s petty. Partner. If you’re so narrow-minded, you won’t be popular with the ladies. Anyway, the reason I brought this up is… ]
The Black Prince trails off.
Woohhh!
Durandal groans in anguish.
[It’s because the timing is perfect. Right now, with the complete fusion between you and me, at this moment when this Black Prince who was once an EX Rank hero has descended into your body, it’s the only chance I can teach you mental expansion!]
He’s going to teach me mental expansion?
That’s a line I’ve never heard in the original work.
The genius Olivia awakened her mental expansion by herself in the final chapter.
So the Black Prince didn’t teach her.
Is this also the butterfly effect of Durandal changing hands?
Just as a multitude of questions began to swarm in my mind.
[Partner, pay attention──]
I feel a detachment from my consciousness.
Along with that, my body moves of its own accord.
[This is what it means to engrave the mental image into reality.]
Thump!
My heart races.
The Magic Core and Black Stone resonate together.
Magic energy surges endlessly from the Magic Core, racing along the magic circuit.
My consciousness becomes hazy.
My recognition and senses extend beyond my mind, reaching into the surroundings, and from the surroundings to the world.
Wooong!
The Magic Core and Black Stone tremble.
My limbs quiver uncontrollably.
An electric thrill flows throughout my entire body.
Endless sensory expansion, vision, recognition, magic, and consciousness send a flood of information into my mind.
I feel an omnipotence, like I’ve become a god.
Is this the feeling of reaching the realm of a master in a martial arts novel?
Now I understand why the protagonist gets excited when breaking through walls and stepping into higher realms in those novels.
Is this what it means to engrave the mental image into reality?
[Here’s what I’m about to show you.]
The Black Prince’s voice resonates.
[──This is the mental expansion of this Black Prince!]
The moment his words finish, our consciousness overlaps, and my mouth opens.
[The Dawn That Breaks the Night]
【Dawn Breaking Night】
At that moment, the chant declaring the Black Prince’s mental image, previously only found in the original settings, is engraved in the world.
Flash!
A pillar of light descends like a spear from the sky, cutting through the red earth.
The view, the landscape, the world flips upside down.
Now it’s my, no… our turn.
