Chapter 236
Chapter 236
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 236
Chapter Title: Twelve Heavenly Swords
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Rudain swung his sword relentlessly without rest.
His mana had run dry, leaving him unable even to ignite his aura, but it didn't matter.
The mysterious armor enveloping his body allowed him to ignore the enemies' attacks.
There was only one thing Rudain and the knights needed to focus on.
Severing the necks of those bastards.
"Kill even one more!"
"Revenge for Gailun!"
"You fucking bastards!"
The knights cried out the names of their fallen comrades as they slaughtered the Ancient Orcs.
But there were far too few knights left.
Just fourteen.
A mere handful compared to the Ancient Orcs.
Yet the knights did not retreat.
Even as ragged breaths poured from their mouths like they were vomiting blood, and their hands and feet trembled from utter exhaustion.
As they had shouted, the knights moved to kill as many as they could.
"Haa— haa—!"
Rudain pierced the head of a fearless Ancient Orc charging at him with his sword and gasped for breath.
Was it because of his ferocious momentum?
No more approached after that one.
"Instructor."
The knights gathered behind Rudain.
Thanks to Kim Dahye's metal suit, they too were unscathed.
Of course, they looked too exhausted to move properly.
"Is this all of us?"
Rudain let out a hollow laugh as he counted the remaining knights.
"This is more than we deserve. Without this armor, we'd all be dead already."
It wasn't wrong.
Surviving this long was a miracle in itself.
"What now, sir?"
One of the knights asked.
Retreat or advance.
If they pulled back now, they could save their lives.
The Ancient Orcs had halted their attacks, and the armor protected them from any mortal threats.
Rudain smirked.
"Our mission hasn't changed."
Take down as many as possible.
It might not mean much.
With just fourteen knights, their options were severely limited.
Still, they had to do it.
Even if just a little, they had to help the heroes.
"…I figured you'd say that."
The knights smiled along with Rudain.
They had long since accepted death.
Going back alive would just mean a lifetime filled with guilt and regret.
Better to fight to the end here and die honorably.
That was the only way to uphold their honor and avenge their comrades.
"Feeling rested?"
Rudain asked.
"Full of energy."
"I could cut down ten with one swing."
The knights replied.
"Good. Then let's go die."
Rudain's light yet heavy voice rang out, and the knights moved.
No, they tried to move but had to stop.
A familiar voice from behind held them back.
"Why throw your lives away?"
Startled, Rudain whipped around.
"…Seowoojin!"
How had he approached without notice?
Seowoojin stood right behind them with a sullen expression.
"Why throw your lives away?"
"Well, that's…"
Rudain faltered at Seowoojin's words.
"I went all out protecting you young punks, even at the risk of hurting myself. Don't talk about dying."
Seowoojin understood the mindset of Rudain and the knights.
But thinking of Kim Dahye, who had scraped together every last drop of mana to protect them, made him a bit angry.
'If you're saved, act like it.'
Seowoojin stared at the knights and sighed.
"I get it, but no more talk of going off to die. There's one kid who'd be disappointed."
Rudain couldn't tell who Seowoojin meant.
But he could easily guess it was the one who summoned this protective armor.
"Who is it?"
Rudain asked.
Their savior, the one who enabled even a sliver of vengeance for their comrades.
They deserved to know the name.
"You'll see on the way back. She's not in great shape, so go protect her."
This wasn't the time for long talks.
Over ten thousand Ancient Orcs remained, and there weren't many heroes left who could fight.
Talk later.
After resolving this situation.
"What will you do, Seowoojin?"
Rudain didn't think Seowoojin would fight alone.
No matter how strong, he couldn't handle that many by himself.
But Seowoojin was far stronger than Rudain imagined.
Ten thousand Ancient Orcs?
Seowoojin was confident he could handle thirty thousand if needed.
"You'll see."
With that, he brushed past the knights and walked forward.
Rudain watched his back for a moment, then turned.
"Return to base."
"But Instructor!"
The knights protested.
They thought they should stay and support Seowoojin.
But Rudain shook his head firmly.
"We'd just get in his way. Protecting the one Seowoojin asked about comes first."
He didn't mention "savior," but the knights understood.
"…Understood."
Fighting to the death mattered, but repaying a debt was even more important.
The knights began retreating toward the base camp.
Rudain moved with them but suddenly glanced back.
He wanted to see what Seowoojin would do.
And he did.
Twelve enormous swords filling the sky.
Whooooosh—
A foreign energy unlike mana descended upon the world.
Even outside the direct range, Rudain felt a suffocating pressure.
"Urk!"
"W-What is this?"
The knights groaned and looked back too.
An overwhelming sight.
Absolute majesty, as if the gods' weapons had manifested.
Twelve giant swords, each capable of shattering a city alone.
Rudain shuddered imagining them crashing down.
'No need to worry.'
Who was worrying about whom?
Seowoojin was already a transcendent being beyond his imagination.
Now, they were the ones in danger.
Getting caught in that monstrous attack would leave not even bones.
"Run, all of you!"
At Rudain's shout, the knights snapped to and bolted.
Lungs burning to the brink, barely able to move.
Still, they ran.
And behind them, the twelve giant swords began descending rapidly.
--!!!
No sound.
Or perhaps it was so immense they couldn't perceive it.
The twelve swords pierced the ground, scattering light like the sun.
A constellation formed.
Unlike any previous use of the Twelve Heavenly Swords by Seowoojin, the scale was different.
Bright as the sun versus fireflies—light erupted, pulverizing everything around.
It was a natural disaster.
Ancient Orcs, earth, air.
All engulfed in the light were shredded at the molecular level.
Not even a scream.
Split, split, and split again.
Until no trace remained.
How much time passed?
Less than ten minutes.
Not a single green-skinned Ancient Orc could be found, even searching with wide eyes.
Only one.
Seowoojin stood tall, gazing at the landscape he created.
* * *
"Insane."
Goo Donghwan let out a disbelieving chuckle at the sight before him.
"Looks like a meteor hit."
Lee Jia couldn't close her mouth.
Seowoojin's display was that awe-inspiring.
"Just how strong is that guy? Seems stronger every time."
A valid question.
Seowoojin's revealed class was D-grade Sword Soldier.
But no one dismissed him anymore.
Everyone knew he wielded power beyond grades.
Still, there were limits.
Wiping out over ten thousand Ancient Orcs in one attack?
Only the Empire's five guardians at the superhuman pinnacle could manage that.
Even they couldn't do it in one blow.
Yet Seowoojin did.
No wonder those who witnessed it doubted their eyes.
"Who knows. I'm starting to worry about something else."
Lee Jia tilted her head at Goo Donghwan's words.
"Worry? What about?"
No way Seowoojin would turn against them.
"The Demon King."
"…Yeah."
Seowoojin was strong.
Too strong for them to even gauge properly now.
But the Demon King was said to be even stronger.
His minions alone threatened the world's existence.
"Can we really stop them?"
Goo Donghwan's concern was spot on.
At the heroes' current level, victory in the Great Descent War approached zero probability.
But heroes grow.
At terrifying, unimaginable speeds.
They were far from Seowoojin's level now, but given time, they'd catch up.
Sure, Seowoojin would grow stronger too, but they could reach superhuman heights.
That made the war seem less hopeless.
"We've gotta try harder."
"Yeah, we do."
They were already working hard.
Their growth outpaced other heroes, proving it.
But it wasn't enough.
To stand beside Seowoojin and help, they needed to be far stronger.
"Gotta talk with the others."
About exactly how to grow faster.
Seowoojin was helping, but they needed additional methods.
"The Empire might have answers."
"Hope so."
Goo Donghwan and Lee Jia burned with desire to grow.
And it wasn't just them.
The heroes who witnessed Seowoojin's power up close had gleaming eyes.
This subjugation made them keenly feel their inadequacies.
A single goal etched into their hearts.
Admiration and envy.
Reasons varied, but their desire was one.
'We'll get stronger.
At least as strong as Seowoojin.'