Chapter 53
Chapter 53
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Nederman (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ku-rung! Ku-rung!
A deafening roar like the heavens and earth splitting apart echoed repeatedly.
The White Lion's blue aura intertwined with the wild dogs' dark red auras, whipping up whirlwinds in all directions.
The small battlefield blazed even more fiercely.
Kwang!
A powerful explosion's shockwave shoved the ground aside.
The surrounding terrain sank deeply from the destructive force.
"Kuhk."
Isoluni let out a short groan and pulled back his steps.
His comrades swiftly filled the spot he vacated. Clutching his wrist that felt like it might snap, he furrowed his brow deeply.
'...What the hell kind of monster is this guy?'
The White Lion's sword grew heavier with each clash, emitting sharper sword intent. Its relentless escalation showed no signs of stopping.
Meanwhile, their own strength was gradually waning.
It was only natural as fatigue set in. The battle with the dragon hunter must have taken its toll to some extent.
In that situation, this monstrous bastard was only getting stronger....
The once-balanced power gap widened steadily, and the battlefield's outcome tilted sharply.
Kwa-gwang!
A burst of light exploded, sending those surrounding the White Lion flying back.
At the center of the encircled wild dogs stood the White Lion alone.
His face was hidden behind a mask, making his expression unreadable. His breathing wasn't ragged either, leaving no way to gauge his condition.
'This motherfucker doesn't even get tired?'
The pressure of not being able to read his opponent's state turned into fear, weighing down on his shoulders.
'...No way he's a Sword Master, right?'
Isoluni gritted his teeth and shook his head.
There were only four such beings on the vast continent.
None of them had reason to be here. But... how else could he overwhelm them single-handedly if not a Sword Master?
It felt like standing before an impregnable fortress that wouldn't crumble no matter how hard you pounded it.
His comrades must have felt the same.
Defeat began to creep into their hearts.
"Is this all the power you have?"
The White Lion said, letting his sword hang loosely.
A blatant provocation.
Yet the wild dogs couldn't mount an offense, merely baring their fangs and growling.
* * *
"Then let's wrap this up."
I said.
Their faces instantly hardened like they'd chewed shit. They knew their own condition better than anyone.
The sharpness at the tips of their blades aimed at me was dulling.
No more power to expect from them.
It was time to end it.
Even so, it had been a fun battlefield after a while.
Lacking compared to the Demonic Cult bastards, but not bad for seven coordinating together.
The pressure was considerable, and shaking off their tenacious pursuit had its thrill.
It provided enough entertainment, even if it didn't bring real tension.
As expected, the Special Task Force name wasn't empty.
"Where do you get off bluffing!"
"Die!"
The ones grinding their teeth charged from all sides, denying defeat.
Assaults closing in to dominate the surroundings in an instant.
Since I'd decided to finish it, there was no reason to hold back anymore.
I channeled qi into the blade. Planning a swift conclusion.
The blade hummed with immense inner power.
Heavenly Spirit Divine Art, Swordsmanship Chapter.
Chapter 4: Radiant Burst Sword.
As I swung the sword, a blue flash exploded.
Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwang!
The beam riding the blade engulfed the entire space.
Sword intent-laden beams swirled in all directions, condensing into a semicircular barrier before expanding to the size of a large hill, sweeping away everything in the area in one go.
It looked like a semicircular glowing mass rising over the plaza.
Guoooo.
As the dust settled, the scene was惨烈.
The surrounding ground had been cleanly shoveled away, forming a deep crater. Amid the debris, the ragged wild dogs struggled to hold on.
A single strike had killed two, leaving five.
But among them, only Isoluni could stand properly.
I moved without giving them a moment's respite.
First target: Parfe gripping his spear.
My sword followed my form, thrusting straight in a line.
Parfe desperately raised his spear to block, but the white flash severed his neck along with it.
Chwaak!
"You fucking dog!"
A scream-laced shout accompanied a whipping lash. I pierced the cloud-like trajectory in a flash and thrust my sword.
Kwachik!
The straight sword pierced his heart.
A stealthy trajectory approached from behind in the next instant.
I spun and unleashed two consecutive strikes.
The first pale trajectory halved his side, and the second diagonally bisected his body.
Red blood embroidered the air.
"Uwaaak!"
A roar filled the space with sword shadows.
I deflected most, blocked a few, slipped past one, and thrust my sword.
The white flash claimed another life.
Only then did I pause my steps.
Four down in one breath.
Only Isoluni remained.
"Die!"
He charged at me with that.
His eyes burned with madness.
I met his charge head-on, brushing past with a sword flourish.
Puhwak!
A fountain of blood erupted behind my steps.
Silence fell soon after.
I let out a long breath and straightened my posture.
In that short time, I'd unleashed explosive power after so long.
It felt refreshing yet somewhat unsatisfying.
Finishing the situation, I climbed out of the crater when a voice came from behind.
"...Incredible."
Turning, I saw a beggar-like man. I barely recognized him as Nederman.
But I pretended not to know.
"Another enemy?"
"N-No! I'm not with them! Look at me. Do I look like one of the wild dogs?"
Nederman waved his hands frantically.
Ignoring him, I turned my gaze to the crows who had been widely encircling the area.
"What now?"
A question of whether they'd try.
The one who seemed the squad leader stepped forward.
"Please return the sword."
I tossed the sword in my hand to him.
It spun and embedded itself before him.
"Good work. It was well-maintained."
It was a sword I'd borrowed by force on the way. He pulled it out and sheathed it at his waist, saying,
"We're withdrawing."
He turned his back with a heavy declaration.
No one defied the order. The crows who had kept their distance followed him.
I could have cut them down, but they had lost the will to fight, and if they scattered, it'd be a hassle for me.
No reason to step up if I couldn't annihilate them.
That was why I let them go.
Now Halent would have a rough gauge of my power.
But I didn't mind.
Even if he gauged it precisely, nothing would change, and he couldn't truly gauge my power anyway.
How could one who doesn't know there's a sky above the sky measure its limit?
As they all left, Nederman approached me, flapping his mouth.
"Truly unbelievable. Have you reached the Sword Master realm? My heart's still pounding and won't calm."
I stared at him silently without answering.
"But there's something I want to ask...."
Without my permission, he spoke up.
"Did you... hear everything I said earlier?"
"Denying I heard it won't make the words unhappen."
"Damn, you did."
Nederman laughed boisterously for no reason and continued.
"Haha. You don't think I actually told them your identity, do you? It was just a ploy to get past a momentary crisis. You're the strongest, so you must have a big heart. I trust you'll understand with your magnanimity."
"If you know my identity, you should know I'm not the understanding type."
"...Damn. Believe me. I wasn't really going to talk!"
He protested as if wronged, then naturally changed the subject.
"Anyway, it was you after all. How did you get so strong at your age? Reaching the Sword Master realm, which only century's geniuses attain, at that age.... Are you some freakish eternal youth or something?"
He stared at me with a dumbstruck expression.
Freakish eternal youth. In a way, it fit, but I had no intention of answering.
Solving his curiosity came after what I wanted to ask.
"You, with the 'Winding Straits'?"
* * *
At that moment, Irriel and Allen lay prone on a hill far from the village, watching it closely.
"Looks like it's over?"
"Probably."
At Irriel's words, Allen nodded.
The crow knights on horseback were leaving the village.
"Let's go."
Entering the village quickly, they naturally headed to the central plaza.
The streets remained quiet.
The villagers, perhaps still fearful, hadn't come out.
"Lord Jenes!"
Entering the plaza, they approached the unharmed Jenes joyfully but flinched at the man in front of him.
"Ah, not done yet?"
At Irriel's question, the ragged man grinned openly.
"Hah, my appearance must be throwing you off. It's me. This is our third meeting already."
The two examined the beggar-like man closely, then slapped their palms together in realization.
"What? This guy's the one who handled it?"
Irriel asked in surprise.
Jenes stood tall as if untouched by battle, while Nederman was battered beyond recognition.
Given the traces around and his state, it seemed he'd fought alone. And he was someone Jenes acknowledged as strong.
At their reaction, Nederman scratched his head sheepishly.
"Embarrassing, but the wild dogs were handled by this guy."
Irriel and Allen looked at Jenes in shock.
They knew he was strong, but for someone who'd clashed with the prairie wild dogs, he was far too pristine.
They'd heard the earth-shaking roars from afar, making it even more astonishing.
Jenes spoke indifferently.
"He'll be traveling with us from now on."
"Yes?!"
Their eyes widened as they stared at Nederman.
Just recently, Jenes had turned this man away at the door.
And now suddenly traveling together?
Irriel asked.
"You said five."
She wasn't the only one objecting.
"I don't recall agreeing to join yet?"
Ignoring Nederman, Jenes answered only Irriel.
"He says he's an executive of the Winding Straits. Famous as the dragon hunter. With him, we can easily contact them."
They needed to contact the Winding Straits to deliver the cipher text.
From overhearing the wild dogs, he'd claimed to be the Sword of the West, and sure enough, he was their executive.
The enemies had vouched for his identity, so no need for caution, and traveling with him meant achieving their goal without hassle while delving deeper into the cipher text info.
In the current situation, it was a profitable companion in many ways.
"Yes?! This guy's the dragon hunter?!"
Allen and Irriel jumped back simultaneously, mouths agape.
Allen stared at him again.
This beggar claiming to be the Sword of the West, dragon hunter.
Fine, appearance aside, but his behavior so far had been lighter than a feather.
And he was the independence army's strongest, the dragon hunter?
Impossible to believe.
Allen whispered to Jenes.
"...Doesn't seem like it."
"The prairie wild dogs said it, so it's true."
Jenes said, glancing at the corpses. Nederman pouted at Allen, looking hurt.
"This stings. Saying it doesn't seem like it with me right here. Do I look that untrustworthy?"
"...."
As Allen silently affirmed, Nederman continued.
"Ahem. We'll talk about that slowly. First, let's finish the conversation with this guy."
Nederman shifted his gaze from Allen to Jenes.
Their conversation had been interrupted by Allen and Irriel's arrival.
He spoke in a serious tone unlike any before.
"So, you're saying His Highness the Crown Prince is still alive?"