Chapter 234
Chapter 234
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 234
Chapter Title: 68. The Return of the Legend (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Crunch.
The demon sword tore into the ground and flew upward.
Rooooar.
Dusk cleaved through the air and rained down.
Boom!
Sword clashed against sword, sending fragments of blade light scattering in all directions.
The flying shards of light dazzled the eyes.
Beyond them, a chilling glare flashed.
Crunch.
The enemy's sword began pushing back Dusk.
If this had happened before, I would have been scrambling just to dispel the invading shockwaves. I would have pulled back my sword here and aimed for the next opening.
But not now.
"Hup!"
I drew in a short breath and poured strength into both hands.
The massive energy surging from my heart raced straight to my hands without any interference.
I gathered that power at my fingertips. I channeled that energy into the blade.
The demon sword, which had been shoving Dusk upward while holding its head high, began to falter.
Not satisfied with that, I pressed down harder on my sword.
Dusk turned downward.
Like dawn driving back the night to claim its place on the earth—downward, further downward.
Until it finally reached the black knight's shoulder.
Crack.
The massive pauldrons screamed as they were sliced away.
The black knight pushed back with force, but Dusk bit into his shoulder and held firm.
At this rate, it was only a matter of time before his shoulder was severed.
But he wasn't about to let that happen easily.
Whoosh.
The resistance traveling along the blade suddenly vanished.
Shing.
Dusk plummeted in an instant.
Having lost its target, the sword struck the empty ground.
Boom, with a thunderous roar, stone fragments flew.
Plip plop.
As the flying debris pelted my body, I raised my head.
The black knight, who had been staring at his severed pauldron corner, turned his gaze to me just then.
"I was aiming to cut it clean off, but I guess I underestimated you."
I chattered on as if disappointed.
Of course, I wasn't truly regretful.
I'd never thought I could land a fatal blow so easily from the start. Nor did I hope he'd go down that quickly.
Opportunities to fight a renowned Penta Chain knight didn't come often.
The real fight was just beginning.
[How dare you...]
A grating metallic growl rumbled from him like scrap iron grinding.
[Don't expect mercy from me...]
"Exactly ten steps."
[What...?]
"Back to square one."
The black knight flinched, glanced at his feet, then back at me.
And fell silent.
He'd finally realized that I was standing right where he had declared his domain—and that he had been pushed out of it.
"I hope you can hold onto that spot this time."
With that, I stepped forward again.
The moment my foot entered his domain, an overwhelming wave began crushing down on me.
But it could no longer stop me.
I stomped the ground fiercely and charged at him.
Reaching him, I swung my sword down once more.
He shook off his greatsword with power, repelling Dusk.
I slashed again. Thrust again. Sliced again.
Boom boom!
Countless sword strikes collided in midair.
The heavy impacts shook me to my core, like my organs were rattling.
But in this moment, pain meant nothing.
My blood boiled. My body burned hot.
It felt like flames had ignited deep within me.
The sensation was so exhilarating that I burst out laughing.
Boom boom!
I never let my hands rest for a second.
I swung my sword like a madman, pressing forward.
The black knight brought his greatsword crashing down.
My coat hem was sliced off by a hair's breadth.
He shook his greatsword fiercely.
A few severed strands of hair fluttered before my eyes.
He swung his greatsword again.
My face burned as if it were being torn off.
Boom boom boom!
My collar was shredded, my sleeves torn. The ornaments dangling from my coat were ripped away.
My palms were slick. My grip had burst open.
A metallic tang of blood filled my mouth. The unresolved force from a strike had damaged my insides.
My body was a wreck. His wasn't much better.
There was no trace of his initial majesty in the dents and crumples marring his armor.
No leisure left, either.
[Grrraaaah!]
Roars were standard,
[You're nothing but a lunatic!]
and insults came free.
It was delightful.
Seeing this guy—who acted so lofty, lording over the world from on high like his master—now barking and gnashing his teeth like a rabid dog was utterly satisfying.
Exhilarating.
The fact that I had an opponent worth clashing with at full strength kept elevating me endlessly.
"More! More! More!"
I shouted in ecstasy, swinging my sword wildly.
We fought and fought.
I lost track of how much time had passed.
When I came to, I found myself inexplicably standing in the middle of the palace garden, far from the banquet hall.
[Wait!]
The black knight swung his sword fiercely, shaking me off.
His greatsword dangled limply as he heaved for breath over his shoulder—like a pile of scrap metal dumped on him. Pathetic.
Looking at him, I glanced back.
The garden was devastated, with a hideous path carved right through the center.
A vivid trail of footprints scarred the torn, upturned earth.
It was obvious who had made that mess in the once-beautiful garden.
"I'm in for some nagging now."
Having trashed a meticulously tended garden like this, I couldn't escape the resentment of those who'd have to restore it and foot the bill.
I could already picture them scolding me about bankrupting the kingdom's treasury.
Mulling over that belated regret—way too late—I felt eyes on me and looked up.
The king and Maximilian, along with most of the banquet guests, were watching from a safe distance.
But their gazes were startlingly familiar.
Adelia—they'd looked at her exactly like that when her traits went haywire.
Stares like they were looking at a madman. Uncomfortably burdensome.
"Brother..."
Among them, Maximilian's gaze—full of his usual admiration—was especially heavy.
I turned my head, pretending not to notice, and bellowed,
"How dare you wreak such havoc on the palace!"
[What nonsense...]
"I'll make sure your master pays for this!"
I shouted, regripping my sword.
The black knight retreated.
[How long do you intend to continue this pointless fight?]
He proposed a truce.
I scoffed.
"Just because it's pointless to you doesn't mean it is for me."
I'd gotten caught up in the thrill and forgotten the essence for a moment, but this fight held more than mere entertainment for me.
"I wanted to know."
It meant far more.
"How far humanity can reach through the rings."
A gauge of human potential before the great war to come.
That was the meaning of this battle to me.
"You were far stronger than I expected."
The black knight was undoubtedly powerful.
"But compared to them, you're nothing special."
The problem was he fell woefully short against the monsters about to emerge into the world.
Still, I was deeply satisfied with the potential of the rings.
I glanced around.
The kingdom's knights, awakened to new possibilities without realizing it, stood there.
I was certain.
Soon, they'd understand.
What they'd realized. What they'd gained.
Their enlightenment wasn't deep enough to pass on yet, but it wouldn't take long.
And when that day came, the ring knights would gain new power.
I thought,
Then it might just be worth a shot.
Thus, I found the answer to a long-standing question.
"This is all thanks to you."
If he hadn't appeared before me, I'd have pondered much longer.
My gratitude was genuine.
But unfortunately, I had no intention of letting him go.
"Since we've come this far, help me a bit more."
He still had a role to play.
"I'll prove myself through you."
I raised my sword.
"By shattering the five rings, I'll show the world that the era of the Mana Heart hasn't ended."
With those words, I unleashed my presence in full.
[Even after being slashed so many times by Moon Eater, you still have the strength to fight!]
The black knight cried out in shock at my aura.
He expressed disbelief at my unscathed soul despite the demon sword that severs spirits.
No wonder he'd been stalling. Waiting for Moon Eater's curse to take effect, apparently.
As if a soul slashed and stabbed dozens of times would bear even the slightest scar.
I sneered at him.
"My first and last advice to you."
I warned coldly.
"From now on, you'll need to give everything you've got."
And added one more thing.
"If you can't block it, you'll die."
If he wanted to live, he'd have to muster every ounce of strength from his nursing days.
The black knight didn't dare dismiss my words and hastily gathered his aura.
A brilliant flash gathered on his sword.
Grrrrr.
Moon Eater began to wail eerily.
Even as it did, the light kept building.
I waited patiently.
Letting him draw out all his remaining energy, letting Moon Eater gather enough light—
I waited and waited.
Once his aura stopped growing after a long while,
"Cleaving the scales of a dragon that no famed sword can pierce."
I softly recited the epic chant.
Swinging Dusk downward.
In that instant.
Swoooosh.
The world split in two.
The empty air, the solid earth, the fierce sword light, the infamous demon sword, the black plate armor.
All of it. Without a single exception.
The black knight raised a hand to his helmet.
Crack.
A faint crack appeared on the black helm.
The thin slit widened bit by bit, then shattered completely.
The helmet fell away.
Snow-white hair spilled out.
Beneath it was the wrinkled face of an old man.
The old man looked at me and spoke.
[So this is the Dragon Slayer His Imperial Majesty spoke of...]
His words trailed like a sigh, and a red line appeared across his face.
Centering on that line, his face began to twist.
Very slowly. Very slightly.
Then it split entirely.
The old man's left half collapsed. His remaining right half followed.
Blood gushed out a beat later.
The corpse twitched in the pooling blood.
A pathetic end, unworthy of the realm he'd achieved.
I shook off Dusk and turned.
A sudden dizziness hit me.
My overheated body cooled in an instant. The pain I'd forgotten in the heat of battle crashed over me all at once.
My legs buckled. My knees gave way.
My body tilted.
No, I didn't want to collapse so disgracefully on the ground after finally defeating a Penta Chain knight.
Despite my will, the ground rushed closer.
But then.
Suddenly.
Firm hands caught me.
I turned my head.
Through my blurring vision, I saw jet-black hair and a porcelain-pale face.
I knew who it was.
"Arwen."
"Yes, Your Highness. Speak."
My lips moved, and Arwen leaned in close.
"It hurts like hell."
She smiled, flashing her neat teeth.
"You've had your fill of fun, so you'll have to endure that much, won't you?"
At Arwen's words, I laughed, agreeing.
"Ian."
Then the king's voice came.
"Was that the royal epic chant you spoke of?"
I nodded faintly.
A sigh pierced my ears.
But it didn't last long.
"We'll discuss the details later."
The king urged me to rest, his voice thick with concern.
"Leave the rest to me and get some proper sleep."
My vision was already fading anyway.
"Well done, Ian."
The king's voice grew distant quickly.
"...outrageous... bastards."
Then even that faded completely.