Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Black Wolf Leader, Requiem
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"Tch!"
Judah clicked his tongue. His brows furrowed naturally at the sight of the broken blade lying limply on the ground. Of all times, Weapon Destruction had to activate right then. No, actually, it had been perfect timing. It was such a flawless hit that he couldn't even curse about it. Still, it stung that even a named sword, albeit the lowest grade, had snapped so easily.
Whoosh!
Judah lowered his stance as he watched Requiem leap toward him. A brutal crunch echoed right above his head. Requiem was still up there, just grazing past. He channeled mana into the broken sword in his hand. Black mana gathered at the tip, forming a temporary but complete blade.
'Cut!'
With the thought, his hand moved. The black sword, swung just before completion, reached Requiem's side and finished forming at that instant. A sensation he'd never felt before transmitted through the blade to his fingertips.
Slash!
Seeing the gushing blood, Judah steadied his unbalanced body. Requiem, having landed, grimaced at the pain in his side and glared at Judah.
He'd finally landed a hit. As Judah turned, he caught sight of blood splendidly scattering along the sword's arc. Requiem staggered upon landing, eyes flashing with fury as he glared at Judah. He looked like it hurt, his face twisted in pain. Staring at Judah, Requiem opened his hitherto silent maw and unleashed a howl.
───!
Regrettably, thanks to his title, the effect was halved. Moreover, with the God of War and Player traits, he felt no excessive fear. Finishing the howl, Requiem charged like a raging bull. His massive bulk made the approach menacing, but Judah didn't dodge. Instead, he switched the broken sword to his left hand and feigned preparing a skill. As black mana wrapped around the blade to form a long spear, Requiem closed in right before him. His jaws gaped wide, revealing teeth like saw blades.
'Gonna chomp and swallow me sword and all, huh?'
Judah chuckled, canceling [Single Point] mid-prep and activating [Shadow Sword 4th Form - Phantom Sword] to retreat backward. A shadowy figure formed of darkness entered Requiem's maw in his place. As the jaws clamped shut with a thud, the shadow tore apart. Watching Requiem barrel forward still chewing the shadow, Judah extended his right hand and kicked off the ground forcefully.
Like a windmill pivot, he planted his hand on Requiem's snout, spun his body, and lightly placed his foot atop Requiem's back. It was a movement straight out of an acrobatic circus.
Grrr!
Requiem finally growled in displeasure, the rumble emanating from deep in his throat—a dignified sound unlike other Black Wolves. Judah smiled faintly. This was fun. He balanced deftly atop the shaking Requiem. Before the charging beast could stop, he wanted to deliver a fatal blow. Smiling with his eyes, Judah reached into <Bag> with his right hand and drew the gladiator's spear. He recalled Cain watching from afar only as he gripped it, but by now, it didn't matter. Without hesitation, he drew the spear, positioning his right hand at his left waist and left hand at his right, shoving the blades inward. Black mana coiled along the double blades in his hands. He felt Requiem trying to halt his charge, but...
'I'm faster.'
Like drawing swords from his side, he crossed the two blades in an X and slashed upward. It was one of the imperial sword arts used by the gladiator Ea—immensely powerful. And it was more than enough, excessively so, to slice through Requiem's tough hide. The instant he completed the upward slash, Requiem screeched to a halt like slamming the brakes, and Judah's body flew off.
But it was already too late. The blades in Judah's hands had fully gashed Requiem from flank to haunch. Sailing through the air, Judah gazed at the red blood spraying over the dazzlingly bright moon and thought it beautiful. What a cinematic scene unfolding before him. And he was the protagonist. Watching the splitting hide and flesh, the spurting blood, Requiem's face contorted in agony, Judah couldn't suppress his smile.
"That’s gotta hurt."
The moment he spoke, time—which had seemed to slow—accelerated. Before crashing into the ground, Judah spun in midair and landed. But he soon lost balance and tumbled roughly onto the dirt.
Ugh—
Exhaustion? Sitting there, it felt like all strength drained from his body. Staring at the moon and drifting off would make for a perfect night, but it wasn't over yet, so he forced himself up.
....
Taking rough deep breaths, Judah eyed Requiem. The beast lay prone, his gaze surprisingly resigned to defeat. It seemed suspicious, like a ploy to lure complacency. A Black Wolf's intelligence made it plausible. Yet Requiem, who seemed to know honor, wouldn't resort to such cheap tricks.
Moreover, his current wounds weren't something ordinary regeneration could heal. Judah couldn't see the injuries from here, but recalling the glimpse before falling, they were deep. If such damage healed right away, it'd be a true monster.
'?'
Well, magical beasts were monsters by definition. But Black Wolves weren't known for exceptional regeneration. Unwilling to die in vain after coming this far, Judah stayed vigilant as he slowly rose.
"I win, Requiem."
....
His face twisted in pain, but he remained silent. As if acknowledging defeat, Requiem closed his eyes.
"Ha."
Judah let out an involuntary chuckle. What a noble creature. But he couldn't spare him. Stepping forward to end it, the surrounding Black Wolves suddenly rose as one, baring fangs. A ragged killing intent pressed in. Before he could react, Requiem opened his eyes.
Awoooooooo────!
"!"
Judah, dazedly hearing Requiem's howl, shivered at the entirely different vibe. The cry reverberated deep into the forest beyond the plains, intensely powerful. The Black Wolves, who had risen and bared killing intent toward him, hesitated at the sound. Requiem howled long once more, and only then did the wolves scatter in all directions. Exhausted from two howls, Requiem confirmed their departure, exhaled wearily, and forcibly sat on his haunches with unmoving muscles. Blood sprayed from his back.
"Impressive. Telling them to leave it to you alone?"
Requiem silently regarded Judah and nodded. Then, as if urging him to finish it, he closed his eyes. The sight was profoundly moving. Was this truly a magical beast?
'Use Subjugation?'
No, Judah dismissed the thought. Pernen's fragment would work on magical beasts too. But subjugating Requiem would be an insult. He'd ignore it for lesser beasts, but Requiem deserved a dignified death. Besides, with no way to heal the fatal wounds he'd inflicted, subjugation would just lead to a quick, pathetic end. That wouldn't suit him.
"I can't promise anything..., but at least if you stay out of the eastern forest, no one will hunt you."
The spear in his right hand became engulfed in black mana, forming a mana lance. He thrust it toward the heart of Requiem, who sat upright. With a squelch, under the moonlight, the Black Wolf Leader died.
[You have defeated the Black Wolf <Requiem>.]
[Lord's Request 2: Black Wolf Subjugation completed.]
[The Black Wolves under Requiem have scattered. The subjugation operation will continue as a cleanup later.]
Siiiizzle!
Black smoke began leaking from Requiem's corpse. Then, like a deflating balloon, his body shrank. Organs, muscles, bones—all turned to smoke and vanished. Judah watched silently. Teeth, claws, and hide remained. Faint light seeped from beneath the hide, like wiring. It was truly over. As he approached to collect the spoils from defeating Requiem, footsteps sounded behind him.
Ah, right—he'd thought it was done, but annoyingly, one remained.
Judah glanced at the gladiator spear in his hand. Too late to stow it in <Bag> now, and too heavy to keep holding in his fatigued state, so he did. Turning, he saw Cain approaching, torch in hand, helmet tucked at his side.
"Judah...!"
"What?"
Judah responded wearily to the voice that seemed to have something to say.
"......"
"Spit it out if you have something to say. I'm beat."
"......"
Cain was speechless. He chewed his lips, clearly wanting to speak but unable to start. Victory in the duel had him elated, but facing Cain like this was suffocatingly frustrating. As irritation boiled over and he nearly yelled, torchlight appeared from within the forest.
"Judah! Cain! You okay!?"
Kaseun burst out of the woods at lightning speed, followed by Tia and Jeanne. Judah shot a sharp glare at the still-silent Cain and let out a long sigh at the worried group rushing over.
His mood soured again.
========== Author's Note ==========
1) Thanks as always to Milrinbangse-nim and DUskHowler-nim.
Bought some Mom's Touch... lol.....
Man, you guys treat this rookie like that! Rookie vibes.
2) Ah, wondering why comments weren't posting—turns out I left them in the practice pad in drafts and spaced out. Haha.