The Genius Son-in-law of the Swordmaster Household—Blessed by Authority

Chapter 163 : Ambush (3)

Ambush (3)

"Sword Spirit Release. Vladiark."

― Kurururururururu!

At Ian's proclamation, the jet-black greatsword let out a monstrous shriek.

It was a chilling roar, as if an ancient creature from the abyss was wailing.

Vladiark's blade transformed into dozens of black tentacles that burst out explosively.

"Wh-what is this?! Th-this is...!"

Zeros, the Sin of Envy Cult Leader, was horrified as he watched the black tidal wave engulf him.

"In-incredible...!"

With a greed rivaling that of the Sin of Greed Cult Leader, Zeros instantly recognized the power and value contained within Vladiark.

"That's...!"

The moment those black tentacles extended, the surrounding mana was sucked into the tidal wave of tentacles.

It was a scene that transcended the concept of 'seizure' which Zeros had refined all his life—this was 'plunder' itself.

No, even defining it as plunder would be an understatement.

"Th-that...!"

It was not a mere divine sword.

Greed, gluttony, envy, lust, wrath, sloth, pride!

That sword itself embodied every deadly sin—a colossal evil!

Zeros's eyes widened to the point of tearing as his gaze glistened with mad possessiveness.

"This is... beautiful!"

If only he could make it his... he might even tear apart a Grand Duke's power in the demon realm and claim it for himself.

The moment that certainty flashed through his mind, his reason was paralyzed, leaving only boiling greed in its place.

"I must have it! Hand it over! This power is mine now!"

Zeros stretched out his emaciated arms, rushing to meet the black tentacles.

"I will seize it!"

The authority of Envy.

― Wooooooong!

Scarlet demonic energy surged from Zeros's entire body, forming the shape of a massive hand.

The opponent's power, artifacts, magic, even their very vitality.

If it was something he desired to the point of envy, he could forcibly snatch it away and make it his own using the Cult Leader's authority.

"Bring it here now!"

The hand shaped by scarlet demonic energy seized the rushing black tentacles.

― Kwajik!

The sensation of grabbing them was exquisite.

'Perfect!'

Zeros was certain.

Envy's authority had latched onto those tentacles properly.

But—

"... Wh-what?!"

There was no power or sense of absorption entering his gripped hand.

On the contrary...

― Shuaaaaaaaaa!!

"K-kkkgh!?"

His own demonic energy, authority, and vitality were being sucked back out.

The moment the scarlet hand touched the black tentacles, it crumbled helplessly and was sucked into Vladiark's tentacles.

"My-my authority...!"

The power he tried to steal was, instead, devouring him.

Vladiark was a [Mythic++]-grade monstrous sword of devouring, said to have even eaten gods.

A mere Cult Leader's authority could never hope to withstand it.

"N-no...! It's mine...!"

Zeros struggled, but the black tentacles had already coiled around his limbs.

― Kwadududuk!!

"Kyaaaaaagh!!!"

Bones shattered and his mana circuits twisted in excruciating pain.

"Guh, hk! Khh...!"

Zeros's whole body went limp like a sack of gravel as he dropped his head.

Ian looked coldly at Zeros, dangling limply, bound by the tentacles.

"One down."

He had now become a perfect magic power pouch, unable to even twitch a finger by his own strength.

― Whoosh!

Ian tossed Zeros into subspace and immediately turned his head.

Two remained.

"Graaaaaaaaah!!!"

Brakium, the Sin of Wrath Cult Leader, was erupting with scarlet demonic energy as he slowly rose to his feet once more.

A massive golem was stomping down on him, but Brakium's wrath-fueled strength surpassed anything imaginable.

― Kugugugugugugu!!

[U-urgh! Honored envoy! This guy... His strength...!]

Nayuta cried out in alarm.

The golem's massive body was starting to tilt bit by bit.

Brakium, his face bloodied, broke into a wild grin.

"Hahahahaha! This scrap heap?! I'll crush you into a ball in no time!"

At the moment he tried to throw off the golem's foot—

― Pajijik!

― Swheaaaeeeek!!

A streak of golden lightning flashed past his back.

"...?"

Brakium's field of view tilted.

There was no feeling in the leg he tried to brace with.

― Thud.

"Huh?"

Brakium glanced down at his leg.

Both his Achilles tendons had been charred and severed as if struck by lightning.

"Give yourself over to rage, and your vision always narrows."

Behind Brakium—

Ian stood, shaking off the Thunder Emperor's Sword, Astrape.

"You—you bastard! When—?!"

Brakium scrambled to get up, but Ian gave him no opening.

― Kwajik!

Ian's Vladiark stabbed into Brakium's spine.

"Graaaaaagh!!!"

"Oh..."

As expected of Wrath's authority.

The more one raged, the greater the amplification of magic power—so the sheer intake of demonic energy was enormous.

'If I lock him in captivity and keep making him angry every day, I'd be able to extract more magic power than from other Cult Leaders.'

― Kwarrung!!

"K-kgh...!"

Ian knocked Brakium unconscious with a satisfied smile.

Only then did the golem's massive, tense leg relax and drop with a thud.

― Thump!

[H-Honored envoy...! Thank you!]

Nayuta's voice resounded from the golem's chest, tinged with relief.

"It's nothing. Thanks to you, Nayuta, I could exploit an opening. Well done."

[Ahh! You flatter me! It's my honor!]

"I'll finish things here now. Nayuta, please take care of the demonic humans outside the walls."

[Yes! Understood!]

Now only one remained.

Gula, the Sin of Glutonny Cult Leader.

Ian turned his gaze toward where Scarlet and the blood kin were fighting.

And his brow furrowed.

The situation was not good.

"Krrrrgh!"

"U-urgh!"

The blood kin were hacking Gula's body with every vampire art they could muster, but Gula's endurance and regeneration far exceeded even that of vampires.

"Uuugh...! It hurts...!"

Gula wailed, swinging his arms in all directions.

His movements were full of openings—yet no matter how much flesh was cut away, every wound fused back together like jelly.

Then—

"I'm hungry again..."

Gula's mouth twisted grotesquely open.

― Kuoooooo!!

A powerful black hole opened within him once more.

The surrounding air, demonic energy, and even the bloodlust of the blood kin began getting sucked in.

"Kya—kyaaa!"

"I—it's pulling us in! Grab onto anything!"

"U-ugh! Damn it!"

Even Marcus, flying through the air, lost his balance and was sucked toward Gula's maw.

"N-no! Judy! Old man!"

Scarlet screamed, reaching for her comrades, but she too seemed barely able to withstand Gula's pull.

"Come...all of you, into my belly..."

Gula's body swelled even larger.

The bloodlust the blood kin fired was also being converted to fuel his power.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time until the blood kin vanished into Gula's stomach.

"I'll eat you all... huh?!"

The moment Gula attempted to strengthen his suction with his mouth wide open—

― Kwaaaagh!!

Something massive and heavy crashed into Gula's mouth.

"Mmph!?"

Surprised, Gula closed his mouth reflexively.

He clutched at his jaws, retching, trying to spit out whatever was lodged in his throat—but it wouldn't budge, as if it had taken root in his mucus membrane.

A pitch-black greatsword—Vladiark.

"Guess he can't eat this one, eh?"

Ian said, landing before Gula.

"That's the end, then."

― Shuaaaaaaaaaak!

"G-gkkkkuuaaaagh!!"

The situation was overturned in an instant.

"Grrr! Grrrurururk!"

Gula's eyes rolled back.

His massive reserves of demonic energy, fat, and vitality were draining away like the ebbing tide.

He, the one blessed with Gluttony's authority, was being devoured instead.

"U-uuuurgh! S-stop! Pull it out! C-cough!!"

"The Sin of Glutonny Cult Leader is rather picky, isn't he?"

Ian ignored Gula's screams and left him be.

― Shuuuuuuuk...

In a flash, Gula's huge body shriveled up like a deflated balloon.

The once taut skin became wrinkled, and his frame, which had been gigantic, was now two hands shorter than an ordinary person.

"Sp-spare me... Huuuu... I'm hungry..."

Gula pleaded, waving his limp, sagging arms.

Ian picked up Vladiark again and stamped on Gula's exhausted neck, snapping his cervical vertebrae.

"Gkk—kgh!"

With that, the last Cult Leader was finished.

Ian tossed the sprawled Gula into subspace, then turned to Scarlet.

"Are you safe?"

"... H-ha..."

Scarlet caught her breath and stared blankly at Ian.

"... I'm alive... thanks to you. Ha. Really."

She stood up on trembling legs, forcing a wry smile.

"We charged in expecting to die but could barely buy time, while you cleaned up the Cult Leaders as if clearing trash."

"You and the blood kin bought me that time."

"You're too modest, Ian."

Scarlet gazed at Ian with sincere eyes.

"If not for you, we'd all be dead here today—me, and my family."

Deep relief and gratitude washed over her crimson eyes.

"Thank you for saving us again. Ian... really, I keep owing you over and over. I'm so indebted."

"... You don't have to think of it as a debt."

Ian shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.

"The blood of demonkin is more than enough, as I said."

"Haha. That's right. You said that the first time we met too... I remember. Demonkin must've made quite the enemy in you. Fools. They picked the wrong opponent all right."

"..."

At that moment—

From the ruins of the collapsed castle, someone staggered out, limping.

Noxcar Ravierre.

The lord of the blood kin, and the ancient Vampire Ian had once saved from the stronghold of the Greed cult.

"... Impressive."

She still looked weak, but her eyes burned bright.

Slowly, she approached Ian.

"Big Sis!"

Scarlet rushed to support her, but Noxcar raised a hand to stop her.

She stood before Ian, staring deeply into his eyes.

Ian felt a strange sense of incongruity from her.

Power close to divine authority.

A worn-down soul.

And a body that was far too young for all that.

There was no way an ordinary human could have such an aura.

Yet, in Noxcar's crimson eyes, Ian's true nature was that of a perfect human.

And—

"... Remarkable."

Having lived through countless ages, Noxcar caught a unique and nostalgic scent from Ian.

"It's been a long time since I met a human who felt like this..."

She muttered, almost entranced.

"A very long time ago... I met a man similar to you."

A faded scene resurfaced in her memory.

A man who defied the laws of the world, twisted causality, and performed miracles.

"He called himself the 'Honored envoy of the Goddess'."

"I knew it!"

Nayuta, who had hopped off the golem at some point, jumped with excitement by Ian's side.

"...!"

Ian's ears perked up at Noxcar's words.

At last, he had met someone who knew about the Goddess.

"You resemble him—the sense of being detached from the shackles of time, that alien and sacred aura."

Noxcar brushed Ian's bangs back with trembling fingers.

"That guy back then also wielded unfathomable power in a human body—just like you."

Noxcar was certain.

The young man before her was the same.

One chosen by a god, bearing a vast mission.

That's why even the Cult Leaders could do nothing but kneel helplessly before him.

No matter how powerful the Cult Leaders might be, they could never withstand an agent who'd received God's mission and blessing.

"That one, too, was shrouded in mysteries. You'll be the same, won't you...?"

"..."

Ian gave a small nod.

No matter how much he trusted the blood kin, it was too dangerous to tell them everything—from his regression to his authority.

"As I thought. Then I won't pry. You wouldn't tell me even if I did. He was the same."

Noxcar slowly took Ian's hand.

Then, she gently pressed her lips to it.

This was the highest courtesy a lord of the blood kin could offer a savior, or the Honored envoy of a god.

"But one thing is certain. You protected my children and saved me."

She closed her eyes gently.

"I swear upon the name of Noxcar Ravierre. From this day forth, our blood kin will be your eternal blood allies, and your sharpest fangs. If the path you walk is God's will, we shall become the shadow that follows you."

"U-big sis...!"

Scarlet and the blood kin all watched with a swirl of emotions in their eyes.

Ian gently withdrew his hand.

"I simply helped my companions."

"Companions... Then we will see you as family from now on."

Noxcar took his hand again.

"Let us help you as well. No matter how arduous the road you walk, we want to be with you—as family."

The hand of the vampire lord was cold, but the feelings within were warm.

That was the moment Ian gained an ancient vampire family.