Chapter 287
Chapter 287
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 287
Chapter Title: Chapter 6-4. Blue Lance Knight
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"Ha!"
Judah read the message floating before his eyes and let out a bitter chuckle. It was so absurd that laughter was all that came out. So that was it—until now, what had been rejecting him was a lack of anger. It seemed the current state pleased Yakal completely, as it no longer tried to seize his body. His vision didn't tint red, and the irritating symptoms didn't arise.
Unlike before, the sensation of gripping Yakal felt entirely different. The sword, which had always been heavy and unwieldy, now felt astonishingly light. Having gained recognition as its wielder, a new message appeared before him.
[The skill effects of 〈Light Bloom〉 and 〈Equivalent Exchange〉 receive a slight enhancement. (View details)]
[You have acquired the skill 〈Swordsmanship - Secret Arts of the Sword Demon〉.]
[The relevant skill is from the demon realm...]
It felt like it would drag on at length. With no time to leisurely read the message, he dismissed it without finishing. The translucent holographic window vanished completely from his sight. Without the distraction, his field of view seemed even broader.
In his expanded vision, he spotted Karikteser and Organ. More concerning than the two in their helmets, whose expressions were unreadable, was Iris farther back.
She had struggled considerably against them, now panting with her sickle in hand. She should have been wearing a relieved smile, yet her face was grim. Was she feeling guilty for failing to protect Lime and Arhil?
"......"
If so, she might be mistaken. The sin was his, not hers—and the guilt should weigh on him, not her.
If he had simply undone Asmodeus's seal and retrieved the fragment before escaping the labyrinth, none of this would have happened. The momentary indulgence in pleasure tormented him now. Had his last save point been after Lime and Arhil's deaths, he would have writhed in agony.
He had nearly caused a disaster, and that fact fueled his anger—at himself and at them. Perhaps due to the fragments' power, the rage only swelled with time.
Huuup—
He drew in a deep breath. Unlike the dank, chilly air of the underground labyrinth, humid warmth flooded his lungs. He clenched Yakal and Artemisia, the two fragments, tightly.
Boom, boom, boom—the ground shook, and cheers erupted from behind. It seemed Rüsen Ardahan had charged into the Blue Lance Knights' ranks with his twenty-four Akans. He didn't care how the battle fared or if they were holding their ground.
Let the enemy destroy them. Even if it took ages to repair the damage, it didn't matter. As long as no one interfered while he dealt with Organ and Karikteser.
One step, two steps.
He advanced slowly at first, then broke into a run. As he closed the distance in an instant, Karikteser reacted first.
Shield forward, conical magic lance drawn back, he moved to block Judah's path. Judah knew well that the shield he held—the nineteenth fragment, Moonlight.
He hurled the Artemisia in his left hand at him. The first targeted his brow, the second his side, then sequentially his left ankle, right thigh, and the hand gripping the lance.
As the five daggers flew toward him with slight delays, the shield on his left arm, Moonlight, emitted a strange pulse. Wind stirred around him, kicking up dust.
At the same moment, the sharply flying Artemisia halted midair, as if caught in a spiderweb, dangling before falling limply to the ground.
Even witnessing the nullification of ranged attacks, Judah remained unfazed.
He had expected as much. Moonlight could block not just spears, arrows, or stones, but magic as well.
As the gap narrowed, Judah activated Yakal's 〈Light Bloom〉. Red energy coated the blade, and wild mana surged from the hilt like a mad beast. With that, he triggered Shadow Step.
"!"
Just as with Iris, Judah vanished before their eyes, and Karikteser's helmeted gaze widened in surprise.
Where did he go? The moment the question formed, he sensed a chill down his spine, as if Judah would appear behind him like Iris had. Whirling around, he raised his shield.
Judah emerged from the shadows, greatsword wrapped in dark red mana raised overhead. Shadows dripped from his body like water.
"Your instincts... are sharp, aren't they?"
His voice, gritted through clenched teeth, brimmed with chilling fury and hatred that could make listeners' skin crawl. Was it just the voice? His eyes conveyed the same—promising certain death.
As a seasoned warrior, he assumed a flawless defensive stance in an instant. Yet Judah did not halt his downward swing.
Block it if you can.
Kwaang!
The clash of sword and shield unleashed an explosive roar, like a detonation. The force was far greater than expected. Despite his perfect stance blocking head-on and Moonlight absorbing most impacts, his arm still went numb.
'Amazing power!'
The admiration was brief. Fortunately, Judah's strength seemed superior. Karikteser shoved back with greater force against Judah, who pressed the blade flush against the shield. With his aged body, it might have been impossible before, but now, blessed by the saintess, he wielded near-peak physical prowess. As Judah staggered back, Karikteser thrust his conical lance toward him.
Watching the strike aimed at his heart, Judah glanced back leisurely. Organ, charging their way, recoiled from Iris's attack.
With that confirmed, Judah summoned the twenty-second fragment, Rudmilran, from beneath his feet. Chains could be called from any direction, so long as not too far from his body.
Three golden chains erupted from the ground, instantly coiling around the thrusting lance and yanking it downward.
"Ng!?"
The conical magic lance veered forcibly earthward, plunging deep with a crunch. Judah placed his left foot atop the embedded weapon. Karikteser's judgment was swift. Rather than wrestle the chained lance free, he released it and tried to retreat.
Unbelievable, but Judah's eyes now tracked every motion—every finger twitch. Time around him felt sluggish, crawling.
"Where do you think you're going!"
As he attempted escape, more chains summoned. Golden links burst from rippling space like vomit, swiftly binding his right arm. With a metallic clatter, his body was dragged forward.
'Mana's draining?'
Mana was being siphoned through his bound arm, sapping its strength. Realizing the peril as his body tilted, he braced his right leg and yanked hard. Shockingly, his trembling arm began pulling the chain in reverse.
But the chains numbered more than six. They summoned from all sides.
'My god!'
Golden chains wrapped his ankles, thighs, waist, right arm, and even Moonlight, suspending his body exposed. Mana drained faster, and the pull forced his shield aside, baring his vulnerable form to Judah.
Judah seized the opening. He raised his greatsword overhead for another strike. Karikteser gritted his teeth. Clearly a fragment—that blade could kill him if it connected. Channeling mana throughout, he swung his shield to block the descending sword. Judah's greatsword hammered the shield like a blunt club.
Had it been a standard Blue Lance Knight shield, it would have shattered. Because it was a fragment, he survived. The impact flung Judah's sword back; he released it, letting it slip from his grip and fly rearward.
Judah spread his bare right hand wide—no fragments or gear equipped. Dark mana, shadow-hued, gathered around it. To amplify power before activation, he triggered 〈Shadow Swordsmanship 10th Form - Swordsmanship and Heresy Reinforcement〉 and the fifth fragment, Valentina's 〈Mana Rampage〉. Both consumed extra mana but boosted skill potency. Then, 〈Shadow Heresy 4th Form - Greater Black Artifact Creation〉.
The swirling dark mana coalesced instantly into a thick gauntlet around his hand. No sooner formed than he thrust it out, gripping the shield's edge. Its razor-sharp rim would sever fingers barehanded; only the gauntlet allowed the hold.
"Hk!"
Karikteser gasped. The chains pulled his body while siphoning his reinforcing mana, leaving his left arm powerless. Helpless, he exposed himself as Judah pried the shield aside.
Judah lifted his left foot from the lance, stepping closer. Mana coiled around the reverse-gripped Artemisia in his left hand.
Shadow Swordsmanship 8th Form, Left Hand Sword Moonlight - Crescent Moon
At activation, Artemisia's blade unleashed black mana, severing Karikteser's right arm with a sickening slice. Blood sprayed as the limb fell. Ignoring the splatter on his face, Judah slammed the raised dagger into his thigh.
Iron plate guarded it, but Artemisia's edge sliced through effortlessly, burying deep. Bone caught midway, but it didn't matter.
"Kuh!"
As Karikteser clenched his teeth against a groan, Judah raked Artemisia sideways, amputating the leg cleanly like a sliced roll cake. Balance impossible on one leg in that stance, he toppled. Judah stepped back, gazed down impassively, then turned without remorse toward Organ battling Iris, activating his heresy.
Shadow Heresy 8th Form, Punishment - Execution Sickle
A black-robed reaper hooded in darkness materialized overhead. Its face invisible even from below, yet red eyes gleamed through the mist-like haze. Bony hands gripped a sickle, swinging it to etch a black line between Iris and Organ.
Iris, having retreated, was unaffected. Organ, advancing to spear her, glanced at his crossed foot and hastily withdrew.
────!
A razor-sharp, formless energy erupted upward from the black line.