Chapter 141
Chapter 141
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Fallen One
Creeping.
Unpleasant auras were slowly descending from the mountaintop.
>
"...This is."
>
It was a power I'd felt once before.
The color was a bit different, but the essence of the power felt the same.
>
What should I even call this?
The first time I wielded the power of heavenly lightning.
Mana infused with the might of purple lightning.
But it was still mana.
Just mana that contained the power of purple lightning.
>
This felt the same.
Yet it wasn't mana.
>
It was like an utterly murky, pitch-black darkness.
And something added to it.
>
A jet-black hue mixed from countless colors on a pristine white canvas. A power that gradually dyes everything in its own color.
>
I'd encountered this power back in the Cradle.
>
"Demon King...?"
>
I'd met that nuisance Chloe.
And right after, when those Demon King's scouts or whatever showed up, I'd sensed something similar.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -It's demonic qi. -The power of the beings that once sought to invade this world.
"Beings invading this world... beasts?"
>
I asked tentatively.
But the Holy Sword remained silent.
Whether it had heard me or deliberately ignored me, I couldn't tell.
>
For some reason, the Holy Sword had mentioned those beasts and then lost its memory.
>
Which meant...
>
"The time hasn't come yet, huh."
>
When the time came, it would probably be...
After the Heroes' Tournament ended.
>
I let out a breath.
>
Thump. Thump.
My heart began pounding hard enough to ache.
As if it was looking forward to this fight.
>
Feeling it, I gave a wry smile inwardly.
A bittersweet realization that I'd changed after falling into this world and surviving.
>
"Ridiculous."
>
Looking forward to a fight with the being before my eyes.
>
I closed my eyes and sensed the presence ahead.
Even with my eyes shut, it was vividly clear, right in front of me.
>
"Can I win... or not?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Such probabilities are meaningless. The Holy Sword read my thoughts and replied tonelessly.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -A hero is one who cleaves through obstructing evil and despair. "I'm a thief, though."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -...... The Holy Sword clamped its mouth shut.
I chuckled and stepped forward.
>
I drew my bow.
>
"First, let's thin out their numbers a bit."
>
I drew my bow.
>
Spirit Dance: Phantasm.
>
Screeech.
As I nocked and drew the arrow, two clones popped out from my shadow.
>
The enemy hadn't spotted me yet.
But handling Overlord was still a bit taxing. More precisely, my vessel couldn't quite contain it yet.
The density was too high; it was still hard to control.
>
The power called fighting spirit had suddenly grown over three times stronger.
>
"No, not three times?"
>
At least five times, minimum.
It was a power that combined with mana and could be used in various ways, but its sudden surge made it burdensome.
In other words, fighting spirit was faintly leaking out.
>
"If I fire this shot..."
>
They'd spot me for sure.
So I had to hit as many as possible in one go.
>
Piercing was great for single targets.
>
"But there are too many of them."
>
So...
>
Split: Explosion x2.
>
And...
>
Whiiiiiish!
I released the bowstring, and at the same time, my two shadows loosed arrows as well.
>
As the three pitch-black arrows shot forth...
>
!!! The enemy noticed me.
A clear form emerged.
A man painted in inky black, with six arms and draped in rotting black hide-like skin.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Kradhurs. "Kradhurs?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Ancient beings meaning 'those who crawl in the darkness.' One of the Demon King's subordinates. "Pretty famous monster, huh?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Yeah, pretty infamous. But one with six arms is dangerous. Even you might struggle. "It's fine."
>
If worst comes to worst, I can run.
I eyed the Kradhur. It had spotted me, but...
>
"Way too late."
>
The arrows split.
The three arrows shattered into dozens, slamming into the ground.
>
BOOOOOM!!
A massive explosion rocked the mountain, blanketing everything in thick dust.
>
Of course, as expected...
>
"No damage at all."
>
Maybe because I didn't use Piercing.
The Kradhur crossed its six arms to block. Not even a scratch.
>
But...
>
"The others aren't so lucky."
>
The six-armed Kradhur was unscathed.
But the smaller ones behind it were different.
Most had been caught in the blast, limbs torn off or smashed into the ground, out of the fight.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Every time I see it, I can't help but think you're utterly absurd. "Hm?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -A preemptive strike from afar that wipes out most of an army if they march in. And the damage is insane. "Three Piercing shots could punch through even Gothash."
>
The weapon that could deliver such a fatal blow to Gothash, who had deemed my swordsmanship incapable of scratching him.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Hate to say it, but you're top-tier on my 'don't want as an enemy' list. "High praise."
>
In simple terms, it meant I sucked at games, right?
Unfortunately, I couldn't fire a second volley.
>
[Kuuuoooooo!!] From afar.
Enveloped in monstrous fighting spirit and demonic qi, the Kradhur roared at me.
>
"Impressive fighting spirit."
>
On par with Gothash, or more.
Just the fighting spirit alone; the other stats seemed at least double.
>
But a question lingered.
>
"A guy like that puts me in danger?"
>
What forces were there?
Yet the system hadn't lied so far.
>
A simple deduction came to mind.
>
"Then it's like last time—summoning the Demon King's elite."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Correct. At the Holy Sword's words, I poured more mana into my eyes.
>
Seed of Evil.
There might be one somewhere.
Maybe even inside that thing.
>
"...Fighting something stronger than me, with a time limit to boot."
>
Too hardcore a game.
Grumbling inwardly, I dashed forward, drawing the Thunder Dragon Sword and Holy Sword.
>
Crackle!
Purple lightning crackled wildly.
>
And then.
>
One step forward.
>
"Overlord's Supremacy."
>
A step that crushes the foe.
Its power amplifies when mixed with fighting spirit.
>
I was curious.
Overlord, which pushes mana, will, and fighting spirit to the limit.
>
How strong would Overlord's Supremacy be when unleashed with it?
>
[Kuuuoooooo!!] The Kradhur bellowed loudly.
Yet its body knelt.
>
Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.
Purple lightning arced, pressing the Kradhur before me.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -...Utterly ridiculous. What kind of insane fighting spirit is this...! The Holy Sword spoke in a voice laced with shock.
But it wasn't flawless. It could overwhelm foes, but...
>
"...Still, a bit... taxing."
>
Cold sweat dripped down. The Kradhur roared, trying to shake off my fighting spirit, but I pressed harder.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -You look strained? "A little more than a little."
>
I checked the rate my fighting spirit was draining. Pouring it out like this for this result...
>
"...Better save it for trash mobs."
>
This technique was inefficient.
The moment I judged that, I released the fighting spirit and moved.
>
Slash.
I swung the Thunder Dragon Sword once.
And simultaneously...
>
Shhhhwick!
Over thirty sword beams engulfed the Kradhur.
The Hero's orthodox swordsmanship.
But they left only scratches.
>
No matter.
I darted around. Our power was comparable.
But my speed dominated.
>
For every attack it made, I had at least three or four openings.
>
Slash slash slash!
Dozens of cuts.
Followed by thirty times that in sword beams.
>
Purple lines etched across the Kradhur's body, leaving endless scratches.
>
[Kuuuoooooo!!] The beast roared, locking onto me with its maw.
Mana gathered in its mouth.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Watch out...! Before the Holy Sword could finish, I took a step.
>
"Formless Step."
>
A single step to evade the enemy's attack.
A beam-like blast shot from its maw, scorching right beside me.
>
"...Where's the Seed of Evil?"
>
While suppressing the Kradhur, I scanned likely spots, but nothing.
>
"Then."
>
Knock it down in one go and search.
>
I compressed the sword beams.
I swung the Holy Sword.
It looked like an ordinary sword now, solid but otherwise useless.
>
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ -Hey? Over thirty sword beams compressed.
And...
>
CRAAASH!!
It smashed into the Kradhur's shoulder, sending out a massive shockwave.
>
"Bingo."
>
A deep gash from its collarbone diagonally across to its waist.
>
[Kuuuoooooo!!] From the pain?
The Kradhur broke free of Overlord's Supremacy, swinging its six arms.
>
Whoosh!
All six arms elongated.
>
Front, back, both sides.
Six arms attacking from all directions.
Formless Step to deflect the assault.
>
"No, better yet."
>
Lightning Flash Step to close the distance in an instant.
>
Step.
I advanced one step, dodging while charging, closing in.
But two arms closed in on me.
>
Thunder Dragon Sword.
>
Crackle.
Purple lightning gathered and swirled along the blade.
>
Crackle. Crackle. Crackle.
Overwhelming heat that would melt most metals.
Yet the Thunder Dragon Sword endured it.
>
CRAAASH!!
I swung, and the Kradhur blocked with two arms, reeling back.
I could feel its surprise.
>
"Shallow."
>
Attack power lacking.
I'd realized it upon hitting level 5—my offense was ambiguously high.
>
"Limit of a speed-focused swordsman."
>
Even refined with the Hero's orthodox swordsmanship, there was a ceiling.
>
Black Sea, Dark Moon. And Mysterious Heaven.
Basic attacks enhanced by Hero's orthodox swordsmanship.
Black Sea as a finisher.
>
In that moment, a revelation struck like lightning.
>
"Combine them."
>
Shhh.
Crackling purple lightning, overlaid with darkness.
>
Hero's orthodox swordsmanship.
>
And...
>
Black Sea.
Splaaash!
Darkness descended.
>
And within it...
>
Czzzzt!
Purple lines slashed through the dark.
>
Six purple lines carved out.
>
Splaaash!
The darkness parted.
>
And what emerged was the Kradhur, five arms cleanly severed, face frozen in horror.