Chapter 143
Chapter 143
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: The Legend's Return (6)
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[Indeed, your skills have improved. Even setting aside the bizarre functions that Sword that Cleaves the Heavens has gained, that's still the case. What a shame. It would have been great if you'd clung to life a bit longer so I could see just how far you'd come.]
"Hoo. I'm hardly in a position to say this after catching my breath thanks to you, but... don't you ever get tired of getting so lost in the means that you forget the end goal?"
[Hahaha. I've always been a bit of a man's man. It's only natural for a real man to earn the resentment of petty types when he acts like one. How could a man live like a man if he's shackled by such things?]
"...Are you aware that I'm calling you an idiot right now?"
[You think I care about hearing that? This world's nothing special, life's nothing special, so what's the point if you can't enjoy the finest liquor you've finally found right in front of you? If my so-called allies are the narrow-minded sort who demand I castrate my soul's joy just to stay on their side, then screw 'em—let 'em go their own way.]
"Wow..."
Azel was left in awe. This guy truly surpassed all imagination when it came to idiocy. It wasn't that he didn't know he was being an idiot—he knew full well and did it anyway because he wanted to!
"...Honestly, even back then, you annoyed me, but I never really hated you. You were that much of an idiot."
[Krr, what a pity. If you'd been a beauty, Azel, I'd have taken that as a confession and accepted. Of course, a rare opponent like you holds more value than any beauty. What's the point if you can't savor it to the fullest with a guy like you right here? I, Raegers, was born a man and lived as a warrior, so I won't leave a shred of regret when it comes to battle!]
"You died upholding that philosophy, and yet you're still the same. Impressive."
[Staying unchanged is a good thing. Humans call change a virtue, but sometimes what can't be endured is the beauty of something that remains unaltered by time or events. That's why I stood by the king's side and fought—for that value.]
Raegers was utterly unapologetic.
A man who spoke like this was utterly unqualified as a general. Raegers knew that too. Despite bearing the title of Dragon Demon General, he'd handed off command to his subordinates and pursued his own brand of combat. It was only because of his unwavering resolve and overwhelming strength that he remained an indispensable force in the Dragon Demon King's army, even as he acted with ruthless self-indulgence.
Countless strategists in the Dragon Demon King's army had lamented.
'If only General Raegers could fix that personality of his, he'd be perfect!'
Countless human alliance strategists had thought.
'We're so lucky Raegers has that kind of personality.'
Raegers had stayed true to himself until the very end. That's why he'd lost, and why he'd laughed without a single regret as he lay dying.
And now, awakened as an Undying after leaping over 220 years, he remained unchanged.
Suddenly, Azel asked.
"You haven't changed, but the world around you has. Do you still see those Dark Frozen Wastes bastards as worth risking your life for on the same side?"
[Hmm. Trying to drive a wedge? No way. That's not like you.]
"It's not that—I'm just purely curious. Waking up in this era and finding Dragon Demon Worshippers still around shocked me, and what the Dark Frozen Wastes crew is up to shocks me even more. I hated them back during the Dragon Emperor War too, but now... it's like they've really gone all the way down."
[That means... you weren't active all this time either—you were like me, your consciousness dormant for ages until you awoke in this era?]
"......"
[Whoa, getting info from the enemy slipping up? That's a fresh experience.]
"Urgh."
Azel grimaced. To make such a slip-up not to just anyone, but to Raegers—the poster boy for giving away info through blunders!
Raegers burst into booming laughter.
[Yeah, honestly, I don't like what the kids these days are doing. No spirit, no grit, and above all, they're sneaky!]
"...Hm."
How must the Dragon Demon Worshippers feel, hearing "sneaky" from an Undying whose skull was all that remained, puffing with ghostly energy in the darkness?
As Azel thought that, Raegers continued.
[They've turned into a full-on cult, and it's sad for the young ones. They're robbed of the chance to see the world with their own eyes, think with their own heads, and decide with their own hearts. Seeing pretty girls caught in that gloomy madness, all depressed—it's heartbreaking. If I'd had my handsome body from life, I could've comforted them, but in this state... regrets galore.]
"......"
[Still, my heart's the same as ever. I served Atein as king solely because I agreed with the ideal he presented, and that's true now too.]
"So Atein's resurrection isn't far off, huh. Your awakening is a sign of that."
[Call it a draw... but I think I blabbed more? Tsk tsk. Whatever. This is who I am.]
"You're hopeless, really."
[Hahaha. I've given you enough time to catch your breath, so how about showing me that hidden ace of yours? It's a huge shame I never got to fight you at your peak, when you felled the true king. I've paid a terrifying price—never eating meat again, never getting it up—but I've gotten this strong...]
"......"
Even the great Azel was speechless at that. He desperately wanted to retort, but couldn't find the words?
[Even so, if all you've got after fighting me is getting weaker, that's no fun. I've played the fool enough for you, so show me a brilliant comeback befitting a smart guy. One I can parry and smash with satisfaction!]
"In honor of that upright foolishness you've guarded across 200 years, I'll grant your wish. Thanks to you yapping away uselessly and buying me time, I've been able to play my trump card."
As he spoke, Azel's body began to split.
Overlapping his form as he slowly stepped sideways, an afterimage appeared. With one step, it flickered like a shadow; with two, it matched his exact appearance. With three, both flickered; with four, it doubled.
In an instant, 32 Azels surrounded Raegers.
[Your Incarnations have grown far beyond before. Even Almaric couldn't match this.]
"Almaric, huh. For such a brute, he was surprisingly technical. The opposite of you."
Azel's voice echoed from all directions. No single body was speaking consistently, yet it flowed perfectly.
[But this isn't everything, right? I acknowledge the amazing synergy from linking that sword with your clones, but it won't work on me now. And your mana force is dwindling.]
Raegers pointed out sharply.
Despite the breather, Azel's mana force was decreasing. Backlash from drawing power beyond his vessel. No technique or will could overcome that physical limit. The Dragon Demon Armament manifestation was likely nearing its time limit too.
The 32 Azels grinned fiercely.
"Of course not. Now, Raegers! As you wished, behold the true face of the Sword that Cleaves the Heavens—the one that felled Atein!"
Like Azel, the 32 Dragon Demon Swords howled in unison. Discarding their physical forms, they transformed into pure white flashes—visible as lightning or flame—and streaked through space.
[Hmm!]
Raegers was far faster and stronger than in life. But evading this Sword that Cleaves the Heavens' assault was impossible. No matter his reaction speed, the light-form blade reached imperceptible realms.
The only option was wide-area defense to endure. All who'd faced the light-form Sword that Cleaves the Heavens had abandoned precise blocks for energy-intensive barriers—and Raegers was no exception. In fact, it was his specialty.
But this time was different.
With reaction speeds vastly surpassing life, Raegers saw a new world. One where even Flash Step trajectories were clear—ultrahigh speed.
That was why Azel kept getting pushed despite pummeling him.
Azel's attacks were never weak. Even at the pinnacle of heavy-tank style, Raegers couldn't avoid stalled movement and impacts from Azel's hits.
He'd pierced them effortlessly through optimized defense.
Azel's prior foes had given up pinpointing the light-form Sword that Cleaves the Heavens' strikes. But Raegers could now.
'Left chest.'
Not for every attack—too many, too hard to discern real power from feints visually.
But some he could. Though light-speed strikes were imperceptible, he caught the instants Azel's clones energized then materialized at points, reading trajectories.
'Right knee.'
Humans without Spirit Order couldn't dodge arrows at close range by sight. But predicting from the archer's motion, trajectory, timing—that was possible.
Raegers did exactly that. Picking key attacks amid the barrage, he defended precisely, advancing through the shower of radiant blades.
'Same as before!'
The 32-fold onslaught was a true storm. But current Raegers could break through!
That was his thought—when it happened.
"Raegers, do you know why my Dragon Demon Sword is called the Sword that Cleaves the Heavens?"
One of Azel's clones whispered while clashing weapons. Pouring strength into his hand gripping the Seal of Soul Shackles, the clone scattered on lost repulsion—revealing a sight beyond it Raegers had never witnessed.
[This is...!]
The sky was splitting.
No storm clouds—this was clear midday sky. Yet lights streaking from ground to heavens tore it with overwhelming brilliance.
Like a colossal tree of light had grown. Massive beams linking heaven and earth, branches of light extending.
As if lightning's strike expanded eternally. Branches crisscrossing, shredding the sky—amid it, light-form Azels looked down on Raegers.
[This is your ace!]
Raegers's voice overflowed with irrepressible ecstasy. He gripped the Seal of Soul Shackles and yanked back.
No trace of fear. Like standing on a beach before a tsunami, facing inevitable catastrophe—his fighting spirit burned indomitable.
[Burning bright! Hahaha! Seal of Soul Shackles! Make the earth quake!]
Ruuuumble!
The ground shook around him, dust rising. Titanic waves from earth's depths converged on the Seal, Raegers's presence swelling endlessly.
Their gazes crossed in an instant. Azel didn't wait for full power— he charged.
'End it here!'
As Raegers discerned, Azel's mana force had peaked and fallen. Dragon Demon Armament manifestation time limit loomed.
The complete Cup of Lament could hold longer, but Sword-that-Cleaves-the-Heavens-via-Dragon-Sword-vessel? This assault was final. Azel's expanded vessel and mana force extended time greatly—but limits remained.
Thus, last chance. Raegers's obsession with peak combat itself gave it—Azel gathered all remaining power for ultimate secret art.
'Light Sword Sea!'
In that moment, sky-earth-linking flashes shattered into countless swords.
Hundreds, thousands, millions, billions... uncountable blades traced light trails in void. Lines converging, overlapping—forming a blanketing tsunami devouring all visible.
[This is...!]
Raegers regretted his absent heart then. Unable to pound at such splendor! But soul, pursuing extremity over millennia even in death, blazed!
It was but an instant.
The world-tree-like light beam splitting into myriad light swords—the moment all were captivated by that unforgettable sight—light's tsunami struck at light-speed, birthing massive vortex.
Aaaaaaaaah!
Burning vision, song of ruin echoed. Transcending dragon roars, transcendent calamity wrought overwhelming destruction—its aftermath alone searing watchers' sight, unleashing neural psychic torrents as if to incinerate nerves.