Chapter 56
Chapter 56
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Three Swords (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sword King Barad was hiding in a corner of the Ifrit’s chamber.
He looked down at the sword in his hand. The moment he’d entered this place, Hyeon’s fourth custom-made sword had immediately begun to melt.
The same was true for the armor he wore.
In just five seconds, it had lost about 30% of its durability.
‘Ban…’
Sword King Barad clenched the necklace around his neck.
The necklace his son had gifted him was also melting.
It was the Ifrit’s unique trait—the ability to melt even Unique-grade artifacts.
But Barad stepped out from his hiding place.
He had decided not to run anymore.
‘Even if I die, I’ll take him with me.’
Soon, the Ifrit revealed itself.
It stood three meters tall, its entire body wreathed in seething flames. In one hand, it held a burning spear.
[Ifrit Lv.406]
In terms of pure strength, the beast was weaker than Barad. The problem was its intense heat, which could melt anything.
Having revealed himself, Barad charged the Ifrit.
*SLASH—*
The moment the sword of the Sword King, known for his unparalleled swordsmanship, cut into the Ifrit, scorching flames erupted.
“Kuaaaargh!”
The sword had already melted by another 50%.
He plunged the blade into the beast’s chest and wrenched it upward with all his might.
*SQUELCH—*
*FWOOSH—*
At the same time, the Ifrit’s searing flames leaped onto Sword King Barad’s body.
[Ifrit’s Flames]
The flames of the Ifrit, capable of melting anything, ignited all over Barad.
But Barad did not retreat.
His sword strikes cut the beast, again and again and again.
But the Ifrit knew.
It had won.
The man was already dying, and his weapon was ruined.
The tip of that blunted sword could no longer…
*SQUELCH—*
“Uwooooh!”
He was cut.
The Ifrit could not hide its bewilderment.
The sword was half-melted, dripping molten metal.
A chill ran down its spine as it watched the man cut it with such a weapon.
It grabbed the man’s shoulder.
The man, too, possessed a remarkable body.
His flesh was regenerating at a rapid pace.
But it couldn’t keep up with the speed at which it was being burned away by its heat.
And yet, as his arm melted away, the man kept cutting, and cutting.
*SH-SH-SH-SHINK—!*
Fear.
The Ifrit was gripped by fear.
Barad gritted his teeth. Gripping the sword with both hands, he swung at the beast’s neck.
*THWACK—*
The dull blade couldn’t sever its neck in one blow.
Twice.
Three times.
Four times.
*I will take you with me.*
Just then, the Ifrit kicked him.
Sent flying backward, Barad felt the moment of his death approaching.
But there was still a chance.
The beast’s neck was half-severed, and he had one last ounce of strength to cut it.
Then, Barad realized he couldn’t walk.
“…”
Lava, summoned by the Ifrit, was flooding the entire floor.
Barad knew that even with his so-called immortal body, he would melt if he walked on that path of lava.
His gaze fell to his sword.
The sword that had been in his grasp was now completely molten, as was his armor.
Barad looked at the Ifrit.
The Ifrit, wreathed in fierce flames, was regenerating, unlike him.
And seeing the lava on the ground approaching, he knew that he, too, would melt.
But Barad took a step.
“…!”
The Ifrit was horrified.
The moment his foot touched the lava, he would melt, no matter how immortal his body was.
A primal fear seized the Ifrit.
It instinctively threw the searing spear it was holding.
*WHOOSH—*
The flaming spear, letting out a violent roar, shot toward his heart.
Barad’s eyes followed the spear.
He knew instinctively that the moment that spear pierced his chest, he would scatter into dust.
Barad was filled with regret.
To think that he had come here to avenge his son, only for both his son and himself to die at this creature’s hands.
Just then.
*CRACKLE—!*
“…?”
A look of confusion crossed Barad’s face.
The spear flying toward him had begun to freeze.
The spear’s velocity slowed.
And the seething flames on the spear froze in place, retaining their shape.
Barad’s thoughts came to a halt.
So did the Ifrit’s.
What were they seeing right now?
Then.
“…Your Majesty!”
A familiar voice. It was his second-in-command, Bella.
Then came a sound that seemed to freeze the surroundings at a rapid pace.
*CRACKLE-CRACKLE—*
A surge.
A tidal wave of ice, originating from the entrance, instantly froze everything.
Steam rose from the lava that had, just a moment ago, reached Barad’s feet.
And then it cooled and froze solid.
Hundreds of surging ice shards dominated the entirety of the Ifrit’s tomb.
‘…A sword.’
This was the blacksmith Hyeon’s sword.
But Barad let out a hollow laugh.
He knew that sword, too, would melt under the Ifrit’s power.
At that moment.
“Your Majesty!”
This time, it was the blacksmith Hyeon’s voice. Hearing it, Barad instinctively raised his arm.
Without even looking back, relying solely on his senses, he caught the grip of the flying sword.
*SHINK—!*
In that instant.
[A legend meets a legend.]
[All of the sword’s effects are enhanced by 5%.]
[Fire Resistance is 343%.]
“…?”
The Ifrit’s flames that had covered Barad’s entire body were extinguished by the chill flowing from him.
It wasn’t hot.
Neither was the sweltering air he had felt around him.
Nor the single drop of lava that fell from a stalactite.
And the Ifrit felt a sense of unease from that sword.
The Ifrit focused its power, trying to melt the sword with its unique trait.
*RUMBLE—*
Black flames enveloped the sword in Barad’s hand. But…
“I doubt you can melt that.”
A man who had suddenly appeared smiled with confidence.
The Ifrit frowned.
Impossible.
Its power could melt even things called Unique.
And yet…
The sword did not melt. Instead, with a crackling sound, it froze the black flames and made them fall to the ground.
*CRASH—*
Barad’s breathing grew heavy.
He wore an expression of disbelief.
‘Just what kind of power does this sword possess…?’
He checked the sword.
(Hyeon’s Sixth Custom-Made Sword)
Grade: Legendary
Durability: 6,000/6,000
Attack Power: 517
Requirements: Level 300~450, Sword Saint or higher.
Special Abilities:
· Fire Resistance +343%
· Ice Attack Power +194%
· Ice Attack Power against Fire monsters +397%
· Active Skill: Flower of Frost.
Description: Hyeon’s sixth custom-made sword, crafted for King Barad. It is Hyeon’s first legendary creation.
“…”
Barad felt as if his breath had stopped.
Legendary.
A sword that had reached the highest echelon.
This sword gave him conviction. Barad squeezed out his last bit of strength.
And holding that sword, he began to run.
***
Bella, who had arrived with Hyun-soo, watched His Majesty advance toward the Ifrit.
With every step he took, the space around him froze at an incredible speed.
The bewildered Ifrit unleashed a torrent of scorching flames.
The flames melted the surging power of ice that was rushing toward it.
The Ifrit used telekinesis to retrieve the spear it had thrown, aiming it at the approaching Barad.
The returning spear targeted Barad from behind.
But Barad’s body bent sharply backward, dodging the spear as he slid forward.
That spear…
*SQUELCH—*
…ended up piercing the Ifrit’s own chest.
The Ifrit was stunned as it tried to pull out the spear with both hands.
Barad’s sharp, dark eyes were glaring at it.
But the Ifrit smiled.
Unlike him, it had already recovered.
It would not die from a few swings of his sword.
Therefore, victory was its…
In that instant, Barad’s sword cut it down.
“Flower of Frost.”
With that whisper, the Ifrit saw snowflakes gently falling before its eyes.
From the wound where it had been cut, thousands of ice crystals were blooming like flowers.
The areas touched by the crystals rapidly cooled.
*CRACK-CRACK-CRACK-CRACKLE—*
Starting from the wound, the frost crept across the Ifrit’s body.
Soon, its face began to freeze over, and the Ifrit stared at Barad with trembling eyes.
*CRUMBLE, CRACK, CRUMBLE—*
The Ifrit’s body collapsed. And the collapsed parts rapidly melted, seeping into the ground.
*HISSSS—*
And so, the Ifrit, melting away, met its end.
With that, Barad collapsed.
Bella was ecstatic. His Majesty had finally achieved his long-held desire.
She tried to run to him with all her might.
But scorching flames erupted from around the dead Ifrit.
*FWOOSH—*
The flames blazed so fiercely that Bella couldn’t get close.
Some named monsters tried to take a companion with them even in their final moments.
The inferno spread around the kneeling king.
Unable to approach, Bella cried out.
“…Your Majesty, come out!”
But the king did not move.
He held the necklace with both hands, gazing at the empty air with a serene expression.
Bella realized.
The king had lost his reason to live.
Having lost his wife and son, he had lived with a new purpose, and now, he sought peace at last.
“Your Majesty, Your Majestyyy!”
She wanted to run to him.
But the inferno, threatening to melt her body, kept Bella from moving.
Her eyes took in the sight of the king, looking up at the ceiling, seeking peace.
Bella was thrown into a momentary confusion. Saving the king was the right thing to do, but was it truly what His Majesty wanted?
Though the flames were impossible for her to approach, Bella, who understood the king’s heart, could not find an answer.
Just then.
The outsider, Hyun-soo, began to walk forward, step by step.
The outsider, Hyun-soo, was far too weak.
So weak that even a moment’s contact with those flames would annihilate him.
But as he walked, minerals shot up above him.
The minerals, rising as a hologram, melted and underwent the processes of smelting, refining, forging, and polishing.
Blue armor materialized around his body.
*CLANK—*
*FWOOSH—*
A chilling aura spread from the armor, protecting him.
*WHOOSH—*
Hyun-soo walked through the flames. Bella’s eyes trembled.
He must know.
That he wouldn’t be able to withstand it for long.
For he was weak.
But he was speaking with the king.
He was shouting something, and the king grabbed him by the collar and shouted back.
Then, after a few more words from him, the king lowered his head and sobbed.
And slowly, very slowly, Hyun-soo’s hand comforted the king.
‘Consoling the king…’
Yes, the outsider Hyun-soo was consoling the king.
Patting his shoulder.
Offering him a few warm words.
She couldn’t hear what they were saying.
Soon, the king rose to his feet, and the outsider named Hyun-soo slowly turned to ash and scattered.
The king, after watching him for a moment, took one step, then another, and emerged from the inferno.
An expression of indescribable relief on his face.
The king looked back at the spot where Hyun-soo had been.
And then, he slowly collapsed.
“Your Majesty!”
Bella carried him and desperately fled the tomb.
A carriage transported the king, and he was cared for by the finest priests and the best healing potions.
A few days later, the king, who had opened his eyes, stared into the distant air and spoke his first words.
“I miss him.”
“…”
She had heard those words often.
He had always said them. That he missed the prince.
But then, the king spoke again with a bright smile.
“Hyun-soo. I miss that boy so much.”