Chapter 121
Chapter 121
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Mountains of Corpses, Seas of Blood (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
A flash gleamed. Something solid smashed into him head-on. Astonishingly, the sound of it slicing through the air followed.
In the past, he couldn't have even dreamed of blocking such a thrust. No, in fact, even now, he'd taken it cold on the first try.
But Cain had recognized the flash of that sword through Defeat Regression. This time, he reacted without the slightest difficulty.
'Indeed... this is what a Master is. Not just physical prowess—even reaction speed and stamina are on another level entirely.'
In the past, not only his death gaze, but even when forming aura with death force, it would deplete in moments.
But now that he'd ascended to Master, he could maintain not just aura, but even his death gaze for extended periods without his death force running dry.
The total amount had increased, of course, but the efficiency of his power stood out even more. In simple terms, the cost-performance had shot up.
Thanks to that, Cain had no trouble blocking Chris's sword strikes. This wasn't some trivial spar.
This was a duel—not a match, but a true clash of blades where both sides poured everything into overcoming the other. The only thing missing was killing intent.
Finally, golden aura began to blaze around Chris's entire body like flickering flames. Cain realized it instinctively.
'That's the Ultimate Realm...!! The hallmark of a Master, the pinnacle of enlightenment.'
They say you see as much as you know.
He hadn't understood before ascending to Master. But now that he had, he could see just how absurd the Ultimate Realm truly was.
Yet even with that impossible Ultimate Realm right before his eyes, Cain didn't retreat. Instead, he assumed his stance.
Soon, death force blazed like black flames, enveloping his entire body—the undeniable mark of a Master.
"...Looks like I've reached the Ultimate Realm."
"Thanks to someone putting me through the wringer."
"Impressive. You're a proper Imperial Master now."
Chris chuckled and sheathed his sword. As the golden aura faded, Cain did the same.
The Ultimate Realm.
Masters and factions called it by different names, but it all meant one thing.
In simple terms, it was a Master's signature ultimate technique. Every Master had their own unique one.
A prime example was Sea King Khan's scorching gale—a force akin to divine authority manifesting flames and wind.
'It always felt off. A non-mage wielding fire and wind... But to think that was his Ultimate Realm.'
Normally, only mages wielded elemental or summoning magic with such diverse mana manipulation.
Yet Sea King, no mage himself, could unleash blistering gales that crushed them utterly.
That was the Ultimate Realm. Transcending the world's impossible barriers to claim a power uniquely one's own.
From that perspective, Cain was the anomalous case. And Chris pointed it out.
"Most awaken their Ultimate Realm upon reaching Master, but you've reversed the order."
"A rare case?"
"Uncommon. No—among all the cases I know, yours might be the only one."
"I see. But I've got a question."
"What?"
"Why the sudden casual speech?"
Cain wasn't some stickler for formality. He could invoke military law if he wanted, but Chris was the Empire's ultimate weapon.
No commander, no matter how high-ranking, could treat him lightly. So why ask?
Pure curiosity. He'd been polite all along—why switch now?
"Hm, good point. How to put it... My formal speech is respect, but also a mask."
"A mask?"
"Yeah. Hard to imagine from my current self, but... the old me challenged everyone to duels at the drop of a hat."
"???"
Cain was dumbfounded. Was this serious, or a joke?
From the moment he'd heard the moniker Sword Flash, Cain had accepted it without question.
And that stemmed from Chris's words, of course—but more from his overwhelming actions beyond mere talk.
So hearing him now act like he wasn't Sword Flash was utterly ridiculous.
"I knew it was wrong. But I couldn't hold back. That's why I donned the mask."
"So all that polite talk was the mask?"
"Yes. But with those on my level—like fellow Masters—I can drop it."
"...".
Wordy, but it boiled down to treating fellow Masters casually now that Cain had reached the level.
Cain pressed his forehead with his fingers to soothe the rising headache. To each their own values.
A week had passed since the Kingdom's retreat from Despair's Cliff. He hadn't been idle.
To awaken his Ultimate Realm faster, he'd sparred with Chris relentlessly—and awaited supplies from the homeland.
They hadn't fully expelled the Kingdom from Imperial soil yet. He wanted to advance immediately, but...
War couldn't be rushed on a whim. Proper preparation was key to victory.
"Supplies are ample now, and the wounded have recovered enough with potions... Time to march."
"No objections. To think you'd grasp the Ultimate Realm in just a week. I figured it'd take over a fortnight. Remarkable talent."
"...".
For you, maybe a fortnight.
Cain's Defeat Regression had triggered dozens, sometimes hundreds of times a day. Defeat was still off-limits.
Thanks to that, he'd dragged out at least a draw against Chris in their duel. Which meant...
'Gahhh!! Morgana!! Anna!! Scardi!!'
If visions of his arm snapping came to mind, it was just his imagination. After all that agony, he'd finally grasped the Ultimate Realm.
Of course, it was fresh and imperfect... But experience would refine it.
For now, priority one: punish the Kingdom for daring to draw steel against the Empire first.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Kingdom's army had retreated from Despair's Cliff in defeat, but their situation wasn't utterly hopeless.
Considering the Kingdom's size and supply lines, merely occupying part of Imperial territory was a massive achievement.
Plus, the Alliance's hardliners were mobilizing. Hunker down behind the gates, and victory was plausible.
It wasn't a bad call. The immortality boon hadn't vanished. If the foe weren't Cain.
Boom!!
With a colossal explosion, the gate—unable to withstand the shock—crumpled like a puppet with cut strings.
"The gate's breached! Arm yourselves and fight back!!"
"God is with us!! Glory to His Majesty King Andre...!!"
Trusting their undying immortality, the Kingdom soldiers charged valiantly at the Imperials. But then—
Ominous black aura ignited like flames, spreading like wildfire to engulf the Kingdom forces.
Death force. The power that imposed mortality on their immortality. Stripped of their singular absolute edge, the Kingdom army was no longer undying.
Without that lone advantage, they stood no chance against the Imperials.
"Leave none alive—slaughter them all!!"
Boom!! Crash!!
Lightning from the sky pulverized buildings. Kingdom defenders inside were buried alive.
Those fighting outside fared worse. Outmatched in experience, skill, and even gear.
But the greatest gap was the absence of Master-level powerhouses. Only Masters could counter Masters.
And tragically, the Kingdom had none. Meaning they couldn't stop even one.
In the end, bereft of their sole superiority, the Kingdom swiftly lost the Imperial territory they'd seized.
"We've reclaimed lost Imperial soil and inflicted heavy losses on the Kingdom. A perfect victory, Lord Blackguard."
"Thank you, Your Highness. But we can't settle for this."
"Quite right. We've only reclaimed what's ours... The real fight hasn't even begun."
Cain nodded gravely. He'd already dispatched a messenger to the capital before reclaiming the land.
Even he couldn't move armies freely. Military action required sanction.
Cain sighed. What irony. The sword he'd forged to defend the Kingdom...
Who'd have thought it'd turn on them in just two years.