novelraw Chapter 174 : Chapter 174
Chapter 174 : Chapter 174
Chapter 174
Rundel, a High Elf who had lived for hundreds of years and reached 8-stars.
Since I was facing the piece of Grotesquery that had taken over his body, I had to go all out from the very beginning.
Hwaaaak.
Killian deployed Carpe.
Kugugugu.
The mana, formed of Haki, pressed down on Rundel, but.
[…….]
A reaction as if it were nothing.
He merely drew a single dagger from his waist slowly.
Hwung.
A single swing was enough for the wind pressure to push back the mana.
Hwuuung.
With two swings, the pressure of Carpe weakened.
[I will not allow any more than this.]
It would not let Carpe develop into Carpe Illusion.
Rundel, as if he had mastered the principle of Hyang, cut through the thick lines of mana with every swing of his sword.
At this rate, the Carpe he had painstakingly deployed was about to fade away without having any effect.
[Yooooooong!!]
Hazard, who was watching the prelude between the two superhumans, roared fiercely.
Dragon Fear.
An energy comparable to a superhuman's Haki swept past Rundel.
[…….]
Rundel's gaze turned toward the dragon baring its fangs.
A look of wonder, seeing a creature from its memories in person.
But that was all.
[A pathetic cry.]
It was a distinctly different reaction from others.
[Yo, yoong……?]
When its powerful roar had no effect, Hazard showed a flustered reaction.
The time it took for Rundel to move right in front of such a Hazard was just over a second.
Puuk.
The dagger in his hand pierced through the dragon's tough scales.
[Kkiaaaaaaah!!]
Hazard let out a scream.
[What a noisy creature.]
Puuuuk.
It was the moment the dagger aimed straight for where the Dragon Heart was.
Kugugugugu.
[…….]
Under the immense pressure, Rundel raised his head.
Four orbs had formed above his head.
It was a technique from its memories.
One of Killian Eurasia's secret techniques.
[Total Solar Eclipse.]
Srrrrrr.
Turning to the side under another immense pressure, he saw that a tower made of violet mana had been completed.
Another one of Killian Eurasia's secret techniques.
[Violet Magic Tower.]
The two domains, formed while Rundel was dealing with Hazard, constricted his body.
[Do you intend to mimic Serena Constantine as well?]
He asked, looking at Killian, who was emitting green mana.
What dwelled in Killian Eurasia's body was Adamas.
The Magic Sword that had cut down ‘us.’
It knew that if he met certain conditions, it was possible for him to use another person's Carpe Illusion.
[Green Zone.]
A Carpe Illusion with the characteristic of controlling the five senses by turning the area into a great wilderness like a jungle.
“Wrong.”
Kwak.
Green mana gathered around the point where he plunged the blade into the ground.
A single tree was manifested.
[Yggdrasil.]
The Divine Tree of the elves, where it once resided.
[I see. A spoil of war obtained in exchange for devouring a god.]
If Serena Constantine's ‘Green Zone’ was rainwater, then Killian Eurasia's ‘Yggdrasil’ was a vast ocean.
Moreover, since it was being used in harmony with two other Carpe Illusions, even a body of an 8-star could not help but feel the pressure.
“If you're a knight, you should speak with your sword.”
The three Carpe Illusions are, in themselves, crystals of mana.
“The curses no longer work.”
[Yong! Yong!]
Hazard, who had pulled himself away at some point, landed beside Killian and shouted.
Five minutes since the piece of Grotesquery took Rundel's body.
During that time, Killian had sealed the Grotesquery's curses with the three Carpe Illusions.
A stage created by forgoing Ke and Shik, which were like trump cards for a mana user.
“Shall we converse with our swords now?”
Killian's body, which had lowered its stance.
Kaaang!!!
Pushed Rundel's sword away.
***
Kaaaang. Kaang.
Killian exchanged blows with the piece of Grotesquery that had taken the form of Rundel.
‘I thought it was just a matter of a few more curses being added on.’
Not long after the battle began, I realized.
That when the pieces of Grotesquery gather, a power greater than the sum of its parts is unleashed.
Kaaaaang!!
“Tsk.”
Killian, who parried the sword, was pushed back and frowned.
After buying a brief moment with the Breath Hazard spewed, he circulated his mana to restore the tingling sensation in his limbs.
‘What a monster.’
The piece of Grotesquery was, without a doubt, not even utilizing half of Rundel's class.
And yet, just by exchanging a few blows, the superhuman's body had flinched.
[The exploration is over.]
As if in exchange for being unable to use curses.
[Now, bring that body here.]
It spoke without rest.
[The class of a superhuman who cut down the remnant of a god. A dragon that handles mana and Divine Power.]
The thing, which was unharmed even by Hazard's Breath, continued.
[With just that, you cannot cut down ‘us’.]
It was a reaction as if the match was already decided.
“Hazard. It's my turn.”
[Yong.]
The dragon, flustered that its Breath didn't work, carefully moved its body.
After confirming Hazard had safely retreated, Killian readjusted his grip on his sword and steadied his breathing.
Hwaaaak.
The mana, which had been disarrayed by the encroaching Radiance, quickly regained its original light.
The three Carpe Illusions, which had been maintained unstably, also regained their solid forms as if nothing had happened.
Rundel let his dagger hang loosely as he stared at Killian.
[Nonsen…….]
Killian kicked off the ground.
“You're the one talking nonsense.”
Killian unleashed a relentless barrage of sword energy.
Then, Rundel, drawing another dagger, struck the sword energy away.
In an instant, the distance between them closed.
Kagagagak.
Every time the swords clashed, Aether sucked in Rundel's mana.
Along with the mana, the Radiance was also sucked in.
Kugugung.
Without stopping the absorption, he instead sent his Haki flowing in reverse.
Kaaang. Kaang.
At some point while continuing the exchange.
“Kahak.”
Killian, who coughed up a mouthful of blood, was thrown backward.
[Did you intend to join ‘us’ with such little power.]
The piece that had swallowed Rundel's body sneered.
Killian calmed his shaken insides and focused once again on maintaining the Carpe Illusions.
[Have you forgotten fear just because you swallowed a god.]
Did you think you could swallow ‘us’ just because you forgot fear.
[You cannot become the master of this body.]
The thing continued to speak without rest.
Just listening quietly made my mind cloud over.
It was clear that some kind of curse had been activated.
Unconcerned by the blatant taunts.
“Ptui.”
Killian spat out saliva mixed with bloody phlegm.
Rundel had warned me not to touch its Radiance.
I knew that.
“But then I can't cut it down for sure, can I?”
Killian muttered to himself.
[You still think of yourself as a sword.]
Suddenly, the thing chanted in the Fairy Language.
Sreuk.
A longsword was gripped in Rundel's hand.
A treasured sword made by an elven artisan, which he usually kept in his subspace.
It seemed the thing had read a significant portion of Rundel's memories.
Hwook.
The approaching thing swung its sword fiercely.
Without dodging, I met its strike head-on.
Kwaang!!
The difference in power was so great that my body momentarily floated in the air.
Even then, I was pushed back a long way before I could stop.
[Surrender. Before I crush the possibility of you becoming ‘us’ with these hands.]
Rundel blabbered on conceitedly, which didn't suit him.
[If we become one, your dream can also be achiev…….]
Rundel, who had been talking to himself, shut his mouth with a start.
[Why are you smiling?]
At those words, Killian quietly caressed the corners of his mouth.
“Ah.”
It was just as the thing had said.
“Was I smiling?”
The blood that flowed down from my torn lips hadn't even dried yet.
But the raised corners of my mouth showed no sign of coming down.
“I'm glad I met you at this point in time.”
I said so and readjusted my grip on the sword.
“The one who made Edan die.”
My heart and Mana Heart throbbed.
“I was just feeling frustrated that I couldn't properly annihilate the very culprit who trampled on his dream.”
The sword and sheath vibrated as if in response.
The mana coursing through my body and the mana stored in my weapon met in the air.
“I have a feeling that if I cut you down, I'll be able to reach 8-stars.”
Hwareuk.
Blue mana erupted like flames from both my eyes.
Sarr.
Violet mana covered my body like silk.
Ssssss.
Green mana rode up from my toes and colored the ground.
“And it feels like if I cut down the rest of your pieces, I'll be one step closer to my goal.”
[Have you forgotten your own predicament.]
Rundel curled up the corners of his lips.
Uncharacteristically, he provoked me with a tilt of his chin.
‘The longer this goes on, the more disadvantageous it becomes.’
My opponent was a thing using the body of an 8-star knight who had lived for hundreds of years as a medium.
This was different from when we sparred.
‘This time, if I don't overcome the wall, I'll die.’
Killian coughed up blood several times as he clashed swords.
The fortunate thing was that the thing also seemed to be under some kind of restriction from the moment it used the 8-star knight's body as a medium.
I reached out my hand.
Seuuu.
As it touched the scattering Radiance, a foreign energy seeped in.
It was a more refined level than what I had faced in the Mind Image World before.
“You haven't completely taken over Rundel's body, have you?”
[…….]
It was a silence akin to an affirmation.
“You're just a piece at best, anyway.”
Killian tightened his grip on his sword.
He squeezed his Mana Heart to strengthen his mana.
Just then, the piece of Grotesquery spoke through Rundel's body.
[That won't change anything.]
It said that unlike before, it had explored countless things.
[You cannot approach ‘us’.]
As if to add weight to its words, it emitted Radiance.
“That's wrong.”
Jeobeok.
Killian stepped into the domain of Radiance the thing was emitting.
Agnil and the Goblin, and Yggdrasil.
At least three or more curses tore through my body.
Tearing through my flesh, turning my mind inside out.
My memories were being read.
Unconcerned, I took another step forward.
[Yong!]
From somewhere, Hazard's voice was heard.
[Yong-yong!]
Now I could tell what it meant just by its voice.
Hazard was telling me to move forward.
Another step.
Killian took a step forward.
He did his best to push back the Radiance by strengthening his mana.
[Reincarnation itself is no different from a curse.]
The curse pressed down on my body.
[Now your era has ended.]
Kkagak.
Aether met Rundel's longsword.
[…….]
The piece of Grotesquery dwelling in Rundel looked down at Killian.
“……”
Killian looked up at the elf with whom he had exchanged swords countless times.
The moment mana and Radiance met, forming a domain.
Kaaang!!
The two swords were swung once more.
Kaaaaang!!!
Aether deflected Rundel's sword.
Kwagwagwa.
The ground was overturned by the Radiance spewed from Rundel's sword.
The Radiance swallowed the scattering mana.
Suddenly.
Hwaaak.
Killian's vision went black.
Seogeok.
He swung his sword as if cutting through space and severed it.
[Yooooooooooo!!!]
The severed darkness vibrated under Hazard's Fear and crumbled.
Through that gap, he could see Rundel's sword thrusting in.
Time flowed slowly, as if he had entered a micro-time zone.
[When the movements of a once-equal opponent begin to look slow.]
Recalling the words my past self had said.
[It means you've grown during battle.]
Killian brought Aether down.
[Congratulations, Edan.]
[This can't be…….]
Rundel rolled his hazy eyes.
His bloodshot red eyes began to return to their original color.
A step too late.
Gush.
He poured out blood.
[As of today, you are an 8-star.]
Killian looked down at Rundel, who had collapsed in a pool of blood.
The Radiance, which had been gradually subsiding, soon vanished completely.
“Huuu.”
Killian let out the breath he had been holding.
Simultaneously with the disappearance of the Radiance, the Carpe Illusions were released.
And he saw Ashirian's astonished face.