The Fallen Sword Princess
"What the hell? Why is it acting like that?"
Yu-ha's eyes widened into perfect circles. Elesia reflexively raised her fists. The way Kor had gone completely still before now felt deeply suspicious. The creature was twitching and jerking as if it might collapse at any second.
It was an unnatural movement. Especially after the sudden surge of demonic energy we'd just witnessed.
Both Yu-ha and Elesia turned their gazes toward me. Their eyes demanded answers.
I met their stares and brushed my hands together, still struggling to process what I'd just encountered.
My mind was a mess. This world was far more intricately designed than I'd imagined. Especially when it came to the existence known as demons.
I'd killed the thing hundreds—no, thousands—of times in my mind. Yet here I was, completely thrown off balance. Because it hadn't even tried to kill me. Instead, it had shown curiosity. That might prove to be its fatal mistake.
But right now, something else matters more.
I shook off the complicated thoughts. There would be time for that after the subjugation was over. For now, I needed to focus.
My hands trembled slightly. The aftereffects of the demon's aura I'd faced head-on. Even though it had completely concealed its power, the Eye of the Transcendent had still managed to pierce through a fraction of it. And paid the price—half of the ability had been shattered in the process.
Fear born from ignorance can certainly terrify a person, but fear that's only partially understood is something else entirely. I'd caught a glimpse of the demon's true nature and paid the cost.
"Huu..."
I let out a long breath and pulled out the precious medicinal pill I'd been saving. It was a relief I'd brought one just in case. I needed far more mana than what my body could naturally produce for protection.
Without hesitation, I swallowed it whole. Power flooded through my veins. At the same time, I felt blockages in several spots along my bloodstream.
Those were probably impurities. Things the Holy Water couldn't completely erase because my tier was too low.
I'd never really noticed them before, but having seen what shouldn't be seen granted me this new sensitivity. And once felt, the solution became obvious.
"I'll go in first. Follow right behind me."
Yu-ha nodded when I looked at her.
"What about me?" Elesia asked.
"Stay in your usual healer position. Jump in if you see an opening. And if I ask, switch positions. Can you do that?"
"When it's time to act, you don't say 'can you do that?' You say you will do it, junior."
Elesia grinned after hearing the briefing. Her hand touched my shoulder, and a faint golden light wrapped around my sword. Some kind of enchantment-like ability.
I'd rarely used anything like it, but it was definitely better than nothing.
"Then, let's go."
I raised my sword and charged forward.
The screeching Kor locked eyes with me and Yu-ha, its gaze flashing with killing intent that hadn't been there before. The aura piercing my skin was thick with malice. The demon's brief descent had done something to it—its energy was far denser now.
At this point, blindly following the game's strategy would be foolish. I'd use it as reference, but approach this like it was my first playthrough.
Clang!
My probing strike bounced off its demonic energy. Its body was still transforming. I didn't know if it was because of the demon's power, but this looked nothing like the third phase I remembered.
Normally you're supposed to leave it alone while it's transforming, but...
"Who has time for that right now?"
I swung my sword repeatedly. I incorporated the sword dance I'd seen from Tana, the magic I'd learned in the dungeon, and the swordsmanship I'd copied from Yu-ha. Then I added Elesia's holy power on top of it all.
This was my best without using One Flash. I'd consumed the pill and used my traits to gather as much mana as possible. My heart was pounding wildly as a result.
I'd forcibly broken past the limits my body could handle. At 3rd Tier, I wouldn't be able to maintain this much mana for long.
Kor's arm grazed my cheek. Its body twisted and contorted, gradually taking shape. The countless arms pouring out kept targeting me.
"Ugh...!"
Yu-ha and I frowned and retreated. A single arm wasn't too threatening, but dozens overlapping created a nightmare. Even if I cut one down, others would immediately swarm me.
The moment we pulled back, the creature's main body moved with frantic purpose.
The completed form was truly bizarre.
Four arms. Two legs. And two faces. It looked like its upper body had been split down the middle. One of those faces was someone I knew.
"Tana...?"
Yu-ha's trembling voice echoed through the chamber. Kor's face wore an expression of rage. Tana's wept with sorrow. Her face was fully exposed.
"Goddammit..."
I ground my teeth. This severely limited where I could attack. Even if that face was fake, I had no way to prove it. And if it was the real Tana?
Attacking at all might harm her. It could end up killing her.
That left only one viable target—Kor’s face.
Srrrng.
Tana and Kor drew their swords in perfect unison. Their eyes turned toward us. They moved as one, yet the words that left their mouths were completely different.
"I resent you all."
"Kill me."
The voices were identical in tone but somehow distinguishable. Every time Tana spoke, Yu-ha's hands shook. Elesia's eyes wavered.
We hadn't known her that long, yet Tana Erhen had already carved a deep place in our hearts. Even without that, the fact that we might have to kill a fellow cadet was devastating. Especially when that cadet was desperately begging us to end her life.
Despite everything, I swung my sword. Avoiding Tana's face, I targeted only Kor. Cheon Yu-ha supported me while Elesia's holy power enveloped my body.
The light on my blade was fading. The mana I'd forcibly gathered through my traits was running dangerously low. I looked down at my violently trembling hands and shouted.
"Move!"
The most powerful strike I could unleash. Magic and sword fused into a devastating explosion.
"I resent you all."
"Kill me."
It was still standing. It had taken damage, but not enough to subdue it.
That cursed voice kept flowing out. It was agony to my ears.
But it wasn't just my ears that suffered. The side effects of forcibly expanding my mana and using One Flash were hitting me hard.
Every muscle in my body screamed. My heart felt like it would burst. The seemingly infinite mana had long since run dry. My overworked eyes throbbed and kept trying to close. My arms hung limp at my sides.
Yet despite all that, my body burned hotter. The heat clinging to me refused to fade. If anything, it urged me to move even more.
My breathing grew ragged. My vision narrowed until only Kor and I remained. The fire in my body and the terror of the demon pushed me forward.
I gripped my sword and charged. Elesia seemed to be shouting something behind me, but I couldn't hear it. Only the sound of my own heartbeat filled my ears.
My senses had never been clearer. I sliced off the hand flying toward my throat and pressed in deeper.
Kagagak!
I barely deflected the sword it swung. I shouldn't have had the strength left to even hold my blade, yet my arms kept moving.
Sparks flew. Wounds multiplied across my body. At the same time, the demonic energy protecting its form began to scatter.
I wanted to rest. But I couldn't. Hope was visible right in front of me. Just a little further and I could reach it.
It was pure stubbornness. If I'd been willing to kill Tana instead of trying to save her, this wouldn't have been so difficult. But having come this far, I refused to give up. Even with a demon's interference, I wanted to save her.
It wasn't just sympathy for the character Tana. If I surrendered and gave up here, I'd likely do the same later.
So I swung my sword. Feeling an emptiness like nothing I'd experienced before, I squeezed out every last drop of mana.
After all the trouble I went through to get that holy water...!
All of it, gone because of some sick game? Some twisted sense of amusement?
I refused to accept that.
I gripped my sword tighter. My senses had never been sharper. Heat bloomed in my stomach—the gathering point for mana. That energy rose to my heart, creating a tingling sensation.
It was a strange feeling. Something I'd never experienced before. The depleted mana began to refill. It flowed through my meridians.
"Cough...!"
Blood burst from my throat. I'd touched something I shouldn't have. My body was warning me—stop moving immediately.
Health rapidly declining. Internal organs under extreme stress.
Duration: Critical
[Warning: Current character HP is below 5%!]
[Recommendation: Character is attempting forced breakthrough. Failure may result in death. Success probability extremely low. Cancellation advised.]
The messages I'd seen several times before appeared. Some were new. I ignored them all and swung my sword again, focusing on moving my energy.
My head throbbed. My stomach burned. It felt like someone was hammering my heart. Every inch of my body screamed in agony. I wanted to stop immediately.
Slash.
I severed another of Kor's arms. It quickly twisted to shield itself with Tana's face. Her tears reflected in my eyes.
"Kill... me."
It was a sorrowful voice. And one I absolutely did not want to obey.
I gripped my sword tightly and deflected Tana's blade.
[Warning: Current character HP is below 3%!]
[Recommendation: Heal the character as quickly as possible.]
The messages blared urgently. Blood sprayed from my body. My veins felt like they would burst at any moment.
I controlled it all. Controlled it, then forced it forward. Poured everything into one strike.
My goal became crystal clear. I could control the energy. The moment that thought formed, my body responded.
Heavenly Martial Body activated.
Mana's Blessing activated.
Eye of the Transcendent activated.
Erectile Dysfunction is being alleviated.
Your tier is increasing.
My burning body surged toward a single point. The body that had been merely 3rd Tier began to change. Moving toward a higher realm.
4th Tier. The peak of ordinary talent.
The moment I reached it, I faced a wall. A wall so massive I finally understood why the 5th Tier was called the Wall.
But that wasn't important right now. The mana I could now control after rising to 4th Tier flowed completely into my sword. At the same time, I moved my feet.
"I resent you—!"
I moved so fast Kor couldn't react. Preparing One Flash once more.
Thud!
I thrust forward.
This time, nothing blocked it. The sight of my sword piercing deep was truly remarkable.