Inheriting the Novel

Chapter 101 : Madness Blade Hella (3)

Madness Blade Hella (3)

"......!"

Logan's face, distorted even more monstrously as it was eroded and transformed by Madness Blade Hella, twisted further.

"How, how can you possibly use the swordsmanship of the Deoric family!"

I rushed at Logan, who had been blown away in an instant by the might of the New Star, not giving na a single moment's rest, but at that instant, Hella's blade elongated like a whip and lashed out.

This kind of irregular attack, unlike that of the Hidden Star Sword, was utterly unpredictable, so I could only retreat.

'The erosion of Hella is growing worse and worse.'

At this rate, it wouldn't be long before Logan lost all reason.

I had to destroy Hella with Genova before that happened, but that was easier said than done.

The Sword of Man Genova allowed me to cut even those things that could not normally be cut, but only if my skill was sufficient.

To pierce through the aura of Logan, who had reached Swordmaster, and sever Hella was no simple feat.

"Clay Vanhart......!"

Logan screamed my name and swung his sword.

He had sacrificed everything, breaking through the wall that he had always wished to overcome.

That dense aura blade was the proof.

"I am a Swordmaster. Now, I am the strongest in this kingdom!"

A deep, black madness surged in his eyes.

Honestly, I couldn't understand why he had made this choice.

True, the Deoric family's reputation had declined compared to before, but even so, it was still the center of Talua.

Logan Deoric—his power was so great that only a handful could even envy na.

'And yet...'

Remembering the Logan I had known since childhood, I just couldn't reconcile this with what I saw now.

In the past, Logan Deoric had been the most honorable knight of all.

It pained me so much to see how far he had fallen.

[Inferiority complex, I suppose.]

Grancesia quietly spoke.

[The Deoric family has always been compared to the House Ribina, hasn't it? Maybe it wasn't so bad at first, but from the moment Count Ribina started to outpace them, it must have become unbearable.]

Aldred Ribina, once considered his rival, had surpassed Logan Deoric and became the only Swordmaster of the Talua Kingdom.

At first it might have been simple frustration, but over time that emotion must have changed, festering and turning into a sticky, inescapable impatience.

Little by little, that impatience must have eaten away at his mind and made na sick.

[Just like Lugal.]

Madness Blade Hella was the "Calamity of Madness".

It held a special power—one completely different from any other demon sword.

Once Logan grasped it, the temptation would have been nearly impossible to resist.

With just a little help from the sword's power, he believed he could scale that wall.

Just a bit, just a little more borrowed strength, and the wall would break.

When such thoughts repeated, he couldn't resist anymore, and ended up making this choice.

Reaching the realm of Swordmaster—and at the same time, becoming a monster.

[But... look closely.]

As I continually blocked and parried Logan's sword, Grancesia whispered to me.

[He certainly gained the power to reach Swordmaster. But what does being a Swordmaster actually mean?]

Compared to me, Logan was clearly on another level.

If I hadn't completely seen through the Hidden Star Sword, I probably wouldn't have even been permitted to exchange blows like this.

Logan's eyes saw only me, and though consumed by madness, every technique was flawlessly executed, aiming for my throat.

However, Logan's sword, which had reached Swordmaster by borrowing Hella's power, was clearly lacking compared to the true Sword Masters I had seen before.

[Try using the Eye of Insight. Given where you are now, you should be able to see what I mean.]

See? See what?

'Even if I look...'

As Grancesia suggested, I activated the Eye of Insight, and countless swirling flows became visible.

Magic power flowed from me and was absorbed into Logan.

And within Logan, Hella's power continued to grow unchecked.

'Hmm...?'

Just as I realized something, Logan let out a great roar.

"Gaaaahhhh!"

Hella, after siphoning much strength from Count Ribina and me, swelled Logan's body even further.

There was no longer a trace of reason in his eyes—he was transforming into a perfect calamity.

A monster, incarnation of madness, awakening to slay all living things that moved.

A being that lived only to drain life grew close to awakening.

Logan's sword strikes could no longer even be called swordsmanship.

"Kh...!"

Even though the attack was merely a wild swing, its weight was unmistakable.

Hidden Star Sword, Second Half, Second Technique: Rotation.

I tried to use his attack's flow to counter, but could only just parry na.

'This power is overwhelming, but...'

When I clashed swords with Logan again, the doubts I'd sensed solidified.

Breathing heavily like a beast, Logan glared. I gripped Genova even tighter.

"... Impressive, Count Vanhart."

Then, a harsh voice sounded from behind me.

I turned, and saw Count Ribina, battered and bleeding.

"Are you all right, Count?"

"This much is nothing."

He smiled faintly.

"You're completely different from before. You truly look like someone who will become a hero. Perhaps you already have."

"I still have a long way to go."

"Nonsense. You must have noticed something about Logan's changed movements?"

"That is..."

He was right.

There was an odd feeling to Logan's movements since the change.

"Well, let's talk later. For now, focus on the enemy before us."

Count Ribina pointed his sword at Logan.

Realizing his intentions, my eyes grew wide. He was offering to fight alongside me.

"Keep up with me."

KWAANG!

With those words, he stamped the ground.

He stomped so hard the ground shattered and dust billowed up in a cloud.

"Logan!"

Count Ribina—no, the Crimson Lion—erupted with a red energy all over his body.

There was no way anyone would believe this was the same man who had just been weakened by Hella.

His muscles bulged, and his hair flowed like a lion's mane.

"Al, dred...!"

When Logan saw Count Ribina reflected in his vision, a flicker of reason seemed to return to his eyes.

A giant greatsword forged of crimson aura blade and Madness Blade Hella collided in midair.

KWA-GWANG!

The ground fractured like a spiderweb, dirt flying high.

Then, Hella's jet-black blade pierced the dust, curling like a scorpion's tail, aiming for Count Ribina's neck.

"You're not going anywhere!"

Count Ribina grabbed the incoming Hella with his bare hands.

Crimson magic power roared around his fist like flames.

"Graaaah!"

A leonine roar burst from his mouth.

With Hella in his grasp, he swung Logan up like a child and slammed na hard into the ground.

The ferocity of his movement was unimaginable, given his usual gentle appearance.

KWA-KWA-KWANG!

Aldred Ribina was a natural-born knight.

He loved the battlefield and relished combat.

By nature, he was as fierce and wild as a lion.

On a normal day, he barely suppressed that nature.

But now, Count Ribina was unleashing his true self, holding nothing back.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

At this point, who was the real monster?

Watching him made the title of one of the Seven Heroes seem not at all undeserved.

'But...'

Logan, losing reason and falling under the domination of Madness Blade Hella.

He too had gained the strength of a Swordmaster.

But there was a distinct difference between his sword and Count Ribina's.

'He can't use his power properly.'

Through Hella, Logan had at least ten times more strength than before—enough to overwhelm any Swordmaster, even Count Ribina, in one strike.

Yet Count Ribina fought him evenly.

'... He's lost more than just his reason.'

What Logan Deoric lost to Madness Blade Hella was not only reason.

Deoric.

He had lost even the Deoric family's swordsmanship, the Hidden Star Sword, that he had honed over so many years under his name.

In that state, there was no way he could properly use his full strength.

But what of Count Ribina?

A body hardened to the human limit.

Technique to back it up.

Mental fortitude as tough as iron, controlling his body to perfection.

'That is the Five Aggregates.'

What Grancesia had spoken of just now resonated with me for the first time.

Unconsciously, I slipped between them.

Their two swords crossed, and my sword entered as the third. It left a wound on the monster's body.

"Grrraaaah! Gaaaaaah!"

Logan Deoric... no, the roar of Madness Blade Hella echoed.

The monster with the mighty body was being pushed back.

Count Ribina fought na head-on, and I hunted for gaps in their battle, my sword drawing more wounds on Logan's body.

"Strength, I need more strength! I said, more strength!"

The creature's—no, Hella's now—eyes flickered toward the knights forming a defensive line.

They seemed poised to break through and absorb the life forces of others.

'In the past, perhaps you could have.'

If Logan put all his efforts into escaping, not even Count Ribina alone could stop na.

But this time, I was here too.

FWOOSH!

"Kiiiiaaaak!"

Flames erupted from my sword, and I raked Hella's calf just as na tried to get away.

No matter how powerful a regeneration ability na had, once seared with fire, that recovery slowed drastically.

"Haaaah!"

As Hella lost balance, Count Ribina charged in with his full might.

Suddenly, the jet-black aura blade shattered and scattered like glass.

It was only a brief moment.

A moment I could never have reached in the past.

'Now!'

But I took a great step forward.

My body moved exactly as I willed. It was the fastest step I had ever taken.

WUUUUM!

All the hopes of the gathered knights, the origin of human strength, condensed into Genova, and a gold blazing light burst forth.

'Hidden Star Sword, Second Half, Third Technique...!'

The fastest strike I could possibly use.

Meteor.

A golden meteor pierced right through the body of Madness Blade Hella.