Chapter 83: After Harabana Vanished
After Harabana vanished, a heavy silence fell between Rainer and me. I exchanged a quick glance with him, his face set in grim seriousness.
"Its existence... completely disappears from this world?"
"Yes. Not just turning transparent—its very existence is erased from this plane. I couldn't even sense its presence. With no physical form at all, swinging my sword wouldn't land a hit. That's why Harabana is so dangerous."
I nodded toward Rainer, who held his sword at the ready, sharply scanning our surroundings. This was exactly why I could only react late to Harabana's ambush.
Even I can't sense something that has no physical form.
If it were just invisible, I could sprinkle something colored to reveal it, but there was no counter for an assault from something without substance.
"Fortunately, Harabana can't attack in that state either. It can maintain it for a maximum of one minute. After vanishing once, it needs about five minutes before it can do so again, and holding that form drains a ton of stamina. Among the Harabanas I've fought, even the strongest couldn't vanish more than four times. It seems invincible, but it's not absolutely so."
I relayed every bit of intel I'd gleaned through painful experience while ceaselessly watching our surroundings. Only I, who'd battled Harabana firsthand, knew these details. When it came to fighting magic beasts, I could confidently say I had more experience and skill than anyone on the continent.
"Harabana's greatest weapon is its utterly unpredictable ambush, so the most important thing is your instantaneous reaction speed."
"Instantaneous reaction speed?"
"Yes."
Rainer asked even as he kept vigilant. I flashed a grin at him, looking every bit the earnest student, and poured my aura into my gripped sword like an explosion.
"Harabana can't attack without a physical form, so the moment it strikes, it must reveal itself."
The split-second its form materializes, that familiar pulse of demonic energy against my senses. The foul stench unique to magic beasts. My vision sharpening beyond any beast's the instant my aura ignited.
"And that's the perfect moment to counter-ambush Harabana when it's defenseless mid-leap."
Kraang!
The instant I sensed Harabana's presence, I swung my sword with all my might toward it. My wildly surging black aura arced like a crescent moon, flying at the Harabana that had appeared behind Rainer. I hoped it would swallow him whole in its gaping maw, but disappointingly, it just grazed its cheek as it twisted its head.
Black blood sprayed, and I shouted as Harabana screamed.
"Get down!"
Rainer, drenched in black blood from above, unleashed his mana and charged toward me. We both leveled our swords. A weary-looking Harabana positioned itself before us.
Shieeeek!
A fierce gust whipped up as black aura cloaked my blade. The moment Harabana faltered, I unleashed the restrained aura—and it dyed my sword far more intensely than before.
Before, it took three thrusts to pierce its hide.
I savored the mad pounding of my heart fueled by mana, letting a slow smile creep across my face. My eyes gleamed red in Harabana's pupils.
But now, I can do it in two.
I hadn't been slacking since joining House Crisis. I'd trained relentlessly and grown another step.
I'll finish it before it vanishes again!
Kwaaang!
My black aura cleaved the air, slashing Harabana's torso. The wound's depth was worlds apart from before. Harabana howled as black blood poured out.
"Rainer! Harabana's weak spot is the roof of its mouth! Pierce it, and it's done! To stab the roof, you need to slow its movements. I'll go for the front legs! You take the back legs!"
"Understood!"
I darted to its front leg and plunged my sword into the muscle. Harabana was a mighty magic beast with incredible speed, but its massive, mountain-like bulk gave plenty of targets. Confirming Rainer searing its hind leg with golden aura, I slashed the other front leg.
Kuwek!
Harabana let out a bizarre cry and thrashed its feet madly. The speed was unbelievable for that hulking size, but noticeably slower than before. I dodged its attacks as easily as an obstacle course.
"Rainer! Use your sword aura to pry its mouth open! I'll go inside and strike the roof!"
To catch a tiger, you enter its den. Harabana's maw was huge enough that I had to enter it to hit the roof.
Rainer's face hardened coldly at my seemingly insane plan.
"That's too dangerous! Let me do it instead—you—"
"Rainer!"
I bellowed while dodging. Our eyes met in a fleeting clash amid the frenzy. I stared unwavering into his trembling golden gaze.
"The stronger one should take the risk. Clear the path."
The strong must bear responsibility for their strength. It might seem foolish, but it was my creed.
"You..."
Rainer's stunned attempt to speak trailed off as Harabana's hind foot swiped at him. He dodged frantically, gritted his teeth, and nodded with a grim expression.
"...Understood. I'll force its mouth open now—get ready!"
From behind Harabana, Rainer evaded its whipping tail and charged toward me, summoning aura so potent it stirred a mana whirlwind. He leaped into the air and swung toward the side of its massive jaws.
Chwaaak!
Rotten stench rose from the seared flesh. Rainer was a powerful Sword Expert too. The thick hide split deeply, black blood gushing out.
Kraaaak!
And Harabana's mouth gaped wide.
My turn.
Kwa-gwang!
Vast mana surged through my veins, concentrating at my sword hand, exploding around me like a typhoon. My heart thundered at its limit, my right fingertips throbbing with power. My pitch-black aura, called the Black Calamity, shot skyward—and without hesitation, I charged into Harabana's maw.
Dozens—hundreds, maybe—of yellowed fangs dripped deadly venom. The putrid stench numbed my nose. As I leaped in, razor-sharp canines grazed my left arm, venom-melted flesh trailing in its wake, but I ignored it.
Fear, stench, pain—they were too familiar, born in the swamp of misfortune. I'd survived that place.
Puuk.
And I'd survive this. The gruesome sensation of flesh parting, still chilling despite familiarity, enveloped my sword hand. Black blood erupted from the pierced roof, drenching me.
My ears hurt.
Harabana's roar right in front of me left them ringing. If I weren't a Sword Master, my eardrums might've burst. I struggled to keep balance amid its thrashing maw.
Kyaak!
Now!
As it screamed in agony and gaped wider, I coated my feet in mana and hurled myself out at superhuman speed.
"Kashmir!"
Rainer's urgent cry pierced my ears mid-air. Before I could brace for landing, iron arms crushed me close.
Thud.
Harabana collapsed. The quake-like impact and dirt storm raged outward as its colossal body hit the ground. My ears buzzed, vision spinning.
Thus, Harabana died.
This much racket, and no one from outside came?
Impossible. Harabana's demise was loud enough to alert civilians a kilometer away.
And among the hunting contestants are two Sword Masters.
My father, Kaiser Crisis, and Rainer's father, Noah Ainheart. Both elite Sword Masters. Normally, they'd have sensed this by now.
Someone's tampered with things.
I concluded lightly. Black magic lingered despite Harabana's death. Frowning, I scanned around.
"Kashmir, Kashmir..."
My observation halted stiffly as warm arms crushed me tighter. Amid the vile Harabana blood-stink crept thick rosewood scent. Trembling iron arms. Silver-gray hair tickling my lashes. Looking up at his despairing face, I sighed.
"...Sir Ainheart. If you keep holding me, you'll get blood on you."
"Is that what matters right now?!"
Rainer bellowed. Drenched in Harabana's blood, his clothes were inevitably stained black too. I met his guilt-ridden golden eyes squarely.
"You agreed to my plan. Why act like this? It was my choice."
"Your arm's injured! I thought it was a plan you were confident wouldn't hurt you! Why don't you ever take care of yourself?! I should've done it!"
I saw Rainer raise his voice in anger for the first time today. Staring at his demonic scowl with mild surprise, I slowly lowered my gaze and murmured.
"This was the best way."
For me, the best way meant my sacrifice for minimal harm to others.
It's how I've lived.
To end a foe, I must risk death. That was the life I'd learned as the Black Calamity.
I recalled sparring with Kaiser. He'd told me not to get hurt; Aria said not to sacrifice myself. I knew their worry, their love—but old habits die hard.
Life had been too long this way. I'd survived like this.
Rainer, gazing down stunned, bit his lip with sad eyes. His meltingly mournful golden gaze pierced me desperately. Unable to meet it, I averted mine slightly—then his deep sigh brushed my nape.
He leaned down slightly, pressing brief lips to my dusty, blood-smeared forehead. A kiss so reverent and cautious it felt sacred. In that short touch, his overflowing emotions seemed to pour into me—I shrank back uncharacteristically.
"I want... you to choose the safest path, not just the best one, Kashmir."
His gruff whisper contrasted his meticulously tender words. My chest churned; I swallowed a gasp, closed my eyes slowly, and savored it.
It felt like solace for my life so far—like it was okay now. My heart ached.
"...Cartel."
The name, buried in long-forgotten memories, rose to my tongue. Rainer's shoulders trembled faintly.