Chapter 270
Chapter 270
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 270
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-3. Lust
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At Metatron's words, Judah shrugged quite leisurely.
'With Sian watching intently from behind, what could he possibly try?'
Having something to rely on made his boldness grow naturally. Metatron's eyes narrowed thinly, as if saying, 'Look at this guy,' staring him down intently.
It seemed he'd ruffled his temper—his gaze wasn't ordinary. But clearly conscious of Sian, he didn't try anything foolish. Judah once again felt the importance of backing, even in this world.
-Fine.
Metatron sneered.
-Very well, then. Go ahead and do things your way. This kind of opportunity won't come twice, and you'll regret rejecting my offer soon enough.
Though the words bordered on a threat, they didn't faze him as much as expected.
Bell-Terza had said something similar already. Did the Holy King and Demon Lord have eyes that could see the future? It would've been nice if they'd told him when he'd regret it. Judah looked at him without taking it too seriously, but Metatron turned his back and met Sian's eyes.
-This is going to get interesting.
What would?
There was no further explanation. That was it. Then he vanished in a burst of light. Sian let out a sigh upon confirming Metatron was completely gone, glancing at Judah. Judah instinctively sensed from that look that he would leave soon too.
"Sian!"
He called his name hastily before he could go.
"See you."
Even after being called, Sian said his piece and vanished into the darkness, just as he'd appeared. Judah stared blankly at the spot where Sian had been. For the leaders of the Holy Realm and Demon Realm to show up, not much had really happened. In his pupils lingered only the faint cluster of light Metatron had left behind, twinkling softly. Even that soon faded, and darkness fully took over.
"...Damn it."
Damn Creator—praised one moment, then vanishing without a trace when called. If he really wanted this to be an enjoyable game, he could've given more generous support for gathering fragments. The strongest being in this game had only bestowed a blessing and left him to endless repetition.
What a load of crap.
But even if he'd stopped Sian, he probably wouldn't have had anything to say. He might've stammered stupidly until Sian got tired of waiting and left anyway. Even if he'd spoken up, his questions were limited.
Send me back to my original world!
Naturally, Sian would shake his head and leave.
Tell me what's happened to my original world!
When he'd first come to this world, Sian had said that gathering all the fragments would send him back to the exact moment he'd arrived here—so it probably hadn't changed much.
In the end, those were the only two things he could've asked.
'Maybe if I asked for just one punch...'
Haa—
Judah let out a long sigh.
Clang!
At that moment, the sound of metal rang out, followed by the noise of something charging from the darkness ahead, kicking off the ground.
Tatatak!
One of the red dots on the was closing the distance at high speed. As the light faded and his eyes adjusted to the dark, he spotted a figure wielding a massive blunt weapon, rapidly approaching.
'Not the time to be leisurely thinking.'
Someone was still left.
Organ—she approached with surprisingly light movements despite her heavy full-body armor and helmet, swinging a long, conical lance. More blunt weapon than spear at this point. The massive club swung mercilessly. He kicked off the ground and retreated from the blow crashing down from above.
Kwang!
Before his feet even touched down, the club slammed heavily into the ground, sending jagged debris flying from the uneven floor. He raised the flat of Yakal's blade in his hand to block the fragments hitting his body. Judah grinned wickedly.
"Yeah, that's right. You were the one left."
Wooong!
No sooner had he said it than both unleashed mana and holy power simultaneously, without need for who went first. The forces clashing from their bodies stirred up the dust that had settled quietly on the floor.
"It seems you've forgotten I was here."
"Just for a moment?"
At Judah's words, Organ slowly raised her lance, staring at him. She seemed displeased—her aura was formidable. But she felt much weaker than when they'd first met.
'Why? She seems exhausted... tired?'
He wondered why it felt that way, but the answer came quickly. Of course. Judah smirked.
"Summoning the Holy King must've drained you a lot."
Metatron was as powerful as Sian. If he had the strength as set in the lore, crossing into the middle realm wouldn't carry the huge penalties others faced. But if he'd conserved power just in case he had to fight Sian?
If Organ had used her holy power to summon such a Metatron, it was no wonder she was worn out. Thinking about it, she'd stockpiled holy power in all these weapons densely packed in this pupil.
'No wonder she's tired.'
Without something like Judah's fragment <Valentine>, she had no way to replenish her holy power anymore. Yet she lightly hefted the starfish and aimed it at Judah.
"Even tired, I'm not so weak as to lose to you, who dared mock the Holy King. I'll make you atone with death."
Judah gave a wry smile at her shout. The Holy King and Demon Lord hadn't fought, but instead, he'd have to fight her. Judah wasn't exactly Sian's subordinate, but having received a blessing and help, he couldn't claim no connection.
Organ raised the lance she'd aimed at Judah high overhead. Even in the darkness, she emitted holy power and glowed, so all her actions were visible.
Woooooong!
The entire pupil seemed to shake. The weapons around them—the mediums used to summon the Holy King—began glowing, pulling free and floating into the air. They trembled, their tips all pointing at Judah.
"Do you know how to dance?"
"Dance? ...No, I don't know at all."
"What a shame. But don't worry. You'll learn this time. If you have no talent, you'll die, though."
She said the chilling words nonchalantly. Then, without any hand signals, the floating weapons around her flew at him. Judah's brow furrowed as weapons poured in from all directions. His eyes darted quickly, tracking their paths.
'Should I summon Lusen Ardahan?'
But the cavern wasn't tall enough to summon Lusen Ardahan. Even if it could bear the weight was questionable. Fragment usage became instinctive upon acquisition, allowing partial summons. But blocking like that wouldn't be efficient.
'And it'd reveal my hand to the enemy.'
Most fragments he had were useless here. Artemia needed blood to shine, Yakal just kept boosting attack power. Valentine and Carpediem were support, and Lusen Ardahan was best saved.
He had no choice but to break through with his own abilities. Decision made, he activated skills swiftly.
—Shadow Sword Arts 10th Form
—Swordsmanship and Heresy Arts Enhancement
He'd kept basics like Potential Enhancement, Shadow Deployment, and Demon Eye active for ages, but the 10th Form—which doubled mana cost to amplify sword arts and heresy arts power—he'd held back.
—Shadow Heresy Arts 5th Form
—Guardian Shadow Wall
The effect triggered instantly. The moment sharp weapons neared within a 2-meter radius of Judah, black liquid burst into the air like ink from an octopus, intercepting and deflecting them.
He didn't plan to block everything. Normally it'd auto-activate and stop all attacks, but blocking fragment-empowered ones would consume too much mana. For efficiency, he focused on destroying weapons with Yakal, batting them away with Artemia, and using Guardian Shadow Wall for gaps in his defense.
It really felt like dancing.
And not by choice!
He extended his feet, retracted, retreated, advanced—repeating endlessly. No set pattern. Floating enemies weren't affected by Shadow Deployment, so didn't show their positions or forms. He had to whip his eyes around to track every incoming attack.
Even with sharpened senses from owning a spirit sword, blocking frenzied assaults from all sides in darkness was tough. Fortunately, all the weapons glowed with holy power influence.
Shweeeeeek!
While batting away the onslaught, Judah spotted a javelin flying at him. Unlike the others, it glowed brighter and approached faster, smashing through blocking obstacles.
'Starfish!?'
Guardian Shadow Wall tried to block, but it pierced like paper. Didn't even reduce its power.
Could he deflect it?
Maybe. But unwilling to gamble, he switched Guardian Shadow Wall to auto, slanted Yakal's tip into the ground, rested his shoulder against the flat, and braced his body.
Kwang!
A shell-like explosion rocked him with intense shock through his whole body. Protected by powerful authority, the fragment didn't break. Any ordinary sword—even treasure-grade—would've snapped.
"Krgh!"
Feeling his body buzz and vibrate, Judah glared at Organ. The deflected starfish turned to light and rematerialized in her hand. She readied another javelin throw.
Right—this game wasn't about defense.
Dodging endless weapons from all sides gave no sense of accomplishment if he didn't take her down. He had to drop her. Checking his half-depleted mana, Judah drew up more.
"Isn't it a bit much, making me dance alone?"
Rising, he gripped Yakal with his right and slashed Artemia across the artery on his wrist. In this unrealistic world with its game system, he had to exploit it. The keenly sharpened Artemia easily wounded his wrist, and blood spurted out—shwaaak.