Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Abyss
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Demonic energy is a power distinct from mana, spirit power, or holy power.
It takes root only with the Demon King's permission and grows by feeding on negative thoughts and blood.
As a result, any living being that encounters demonic energy instinctively feels repulsed.
No, it's more than that—it gnaws away at their mental strength and life force.
In particular, the demonic energy unleashed by a monster like Gerald could barely be endured by a handful of people even if you scoured the entire continent.
That was why Gerald paid no attention to the knights collapsed on the ground.
He was certain they could never move again.
Once he roughly dealt with the heroes before him, blessed by the Saintess, his long-cherished plan would come to fruition.
With excitement bubbling inside him, Gerald raised his axe—only for Seo Woojin's shadow to fall over his back.
“......What?”
Black-burning 'aura.'
It was a technique born from the fusion of the skills 'Black Flame' and 'aura.'
Van Slane had seen it and remarked that it was like a strike from the Demon King himself.
Of course, Seo Woojin had flinched upon hearing that, but it meant it was that powerful.
Roarrr—!
The black flames burned through the air as they descended toward Gerald.
“You dare!”
Gerald, who hadn't imagined Seo Woojin could overcome his demonic energy and move, was startled and swung his axe around.
Boom—!
Unlike Baek Siwoo's 'aura,' which vanished upon collision, this was different.
The black flames clung stickily, like demonic energy itself, and climbed up the axe.
Gerald recoiled in shock and hurled the axe away.
“What in the world are you?!”
“Urk!”
An immense shock assaulted Seo Woojin.
He had barely blocked the axe, but unable to withstand the pressure, a blood vessel burst, and blood poured from his nose.
It cascaded down like a waterfall.
Even so, Seo Woojin did not stop his attack.
No, he swung his sword even more ferociously.
The sword of Seo Woojin, employing 'Acceleration,' 'Rampage,' and 'Heavy Strike,' was something even Gerald could not take lightly.
But...
“Space Severance.”
The space between Seo Woojin and Gerald was cut off.
Zzzzzing—!
His sword couldn't pierce the severed space and halted in place.
“Gah!”
The shock started from his hand and shook his entire body.
The bleeding worsened, strength drained from his grip, and he finally dropped his sword.
'Damn...'
His mind grew hazy.
'I told you never to let go of your sword.'
He had been so thoroughly brainwashed that even now, Van Slane's emphasis echoed in his head.
“What the hell are you? How can you even move?”
Even in a situation where he could sever Seo Woojin's neck at any moment, Gerald asked a question.
Was it the leisure of the strong?
Or was it that important a question?
Seo Woojin didn't know, but this wasn't the time for Gerald to be looking their way.
'Look behind you, idiot.'
“You fucking moron.”
Gerald's eyebrow twitched at Seo Woojin's curse.
“If you were pinning your hopes on trash like them, you're a fool.”
Space was severed once more.
And Baek Siwoo's 'aura' vanished all too pathetically.
Kim Taejin's 'Inferno,' Park Jinhan's 'Overwhelming Strike,' Im Tae-eun's 'Breath,' and Sung Yura's 'Nemesis' met the same fate.
None could pierce the severed space and all disappeared.
“Do you think attacks from those who haven't even properly awakened could work on me?”
Gerald sneered at them.
Then, he spread his palm toward the elite friends.
“Space Contraction.”
Once again, a magic manipulating space unfolded.
'Magic? Is it really magic?'
No.
It was closer to an authority than magic.
'What the hell is that guy...'
Seo Woojin harbored the exact same doubt as Gerald.
Space began to compress.
Sung Yura and Park Jinhan struggled desperately to hold out, but their power was nowhere near enough.
“Urgh!”
“D-Do something!”
Baek Siwoo swung his sword.
Skills of formidable power poured out, befitting the 'Sword God.'
But it was all for naught.
Space continued to shrink, and soon those guys would be crushed into a single mass of blood and flesh.
'We're screwed.'
Seo Woojin hadn't even hoped the elite friends could defeat that monster.
But he had thought they could at least divert its attention...
Fat chance.
'Are we dying?'
There were no more means to resist the bastard.
'No, one left.'
A skill he had never used even once.
'Abyss.'
No matter how you dressed it up, it wasn't something a 'Sword Soldier' should have, so he hadn't used it until now.
But with things like this, he couldn't keep hiding it.
'No idea if it'll work, but I have to try something.'
Seo Woojin looked at Gerald.
Then, he opened his mouth toward the bastard's face, grinning with murderous intent.
“Abyss.”
Hell descended.
* * *
Fior gritted his teeth as he raced through the forest.
'Of all things, Gerald!'
Word had come that the monster bearing the worst infamy among the Demon King's followers had appeared near his kingdom.
Naturally, the kingdom had mobilized its knight orders and dispatched them posthaste.
Frankly, fear came first.
Gerald's authority to manipulate space was a power like a nightmare to knights.
With a single clench of his fist, hundreds of soldiers would be massacred.
Enveloped in that cursed demonic energy as well, it was a monster no mere superhuman could face.
But Fior wasn't worried.
Glance—
He looked at the white-haired old man running neck-and-neck beside him.
“How much longer?”
“We're almost there. About ten more minutes, and we should reach the site where the heroes are carrying out the subjugation.”
Fior answered with a highly tense expression.
There weren't many who could make someone like him—the kingdom's top knight and captain of a knight order—feel this uneasy.
“Sword Sage, it's an honor to fight alongside you.”
“Honor my ass. Cut the crap and just guide me properly.”
The old man called Sword Sage clicked his tongue and quickened his pace.
'Thank goodness he's nearby.'
One of the empire's boasted five superhumans.
Sword Sage Dariel.
He was the being closest to the pinnacle of the sword.
There were a few sword-wielding superhumans famous even in foreign lands, but Fior believed Dariel was the true king of swords.
With Dariel at his side, no matter how monstrous Gerald was, he wouldn't escape.
“That way.”
Based on the information from the empire, he pointed in the direction Gerald was likely to appear.
But Dariel's thoughts differed.
“No, this way.”
He gazed in the exact opposite direction from what Fior had indicated.
“Yes? But the intel says...”
“Can't you feel that filthy demonic energy? A whole lot of them have gathered.”
It wasn't just Gerald.
He could sense the auras of the Dark Elves under his command as well.
“This'll be a tough one.”
Dariel steeled his resolve.
Thirty years ago.
Back in the era before he earned the title of Sword Sage.
Unknown to the world, Dariel had once clashed with Gerald.
The situation had been similar to now.
While pursuing traces of monsters in imperial territory for subjugation, he had encountered him.
That day, two imperial knight orders vanished without a trace, and Dariel himself suffered severe injuries.
Fortunately, he had managed to land a solid stab in the bastard's gut.
Mutual destruction.
No, to be honest, Gerald had held a slight edge.
If reinforcements hadn't arrived in time, Dariel would likely have died right there.
That was how strong Gerald was.
Even so, Dariel didn't think he would lose.
Because in those thirty years, he had grown spectacularly.
To the point it could almost be called evolution.
The Dariel of then and the Dariel of now were entirely different beings.
Gerald had undoubtedly grown stronger too.
With countless monsters and Dark Elves besides, it wouldn't be easy.
But Dariel had confidence.
Confidence that this time, he could sever that damned Dark Elf's neck.
“Tell the knights to steel their hearts.”
“Understood.”
It was then, as Dariel spoke to Fior.
Rumble—!
The ground shook.
No, the world wailed.
And an alien energy, different from Gerald's demonic energy up to now, erupted explosively.
“Demonic energy? No, this is...”
It superficially resembled demonic energy, but something was off.
Deeper, darker, heavier.
Fundamentally different from demonic energy.
“I'll go ahead.”
Something beyond comprehension was clearly happening ahead.
Dariel kicked off the ground and soared forward.
“W-Wait, Sword Sage!”
Fior tried to stop him, but he was already hurtling at full speed toward the source of the energy.
'Unsettling.'
The closer Dariel got, the stronger the alien sensation grew, making him grit his teeth.
Disgust? No.
There was none of the sticky feel unique to demonic energy.
Nor was it a comfortable energy.
If he had to put a name to what Dariel felt now...
'Oppressive presence.'
He let out a hollow laugh.
In his nearly century-long life, it was a sensation he had never experienced.
Not even when he nearly died to Gerald.
Yet here he was, cowed by an energy sensed from afar—not even from an opponent's sword.
But that only piqued his curiosity more.
What this energy truly was.
And who possessed such overwhelming power.
His mind grew urgent.
Heroes had long faded from his thoughts.
'Could it be Gerald?'
Just as he had changed, had the bastard changed too?
If so, he couldn't predict the outcome of today's battle.
'This could be a day where the losses outweigh the gains.'
The closer he drew, the heavier the pressure bearing down on his body.
In the end, Dariel had no choice but to envelop his body in mana.
Without it, he couldn't take a single step.
Once he began circulating mana, Dariel pierced through the forest at a blinding speed.
Trees were mere obstacles in his path.
Crash—!
No need to swing his sword; he smashed through with his body alone.
And finally, he reached the source of the energy.
“What in the world is that?!”
Before his eyes stretched hell itself.
Literally.