A Familiar Sword in Shared Battle
A sword familiar from past joint battles pierced the golem's arm. It wasn't black energy. But it carried an overwhelming holy power that rivaled it. Whatever it was, the crisis had been averted. Without a moment to glance upward, Rowen swung his massive greatsword. The ice greatsword, boasting an overwhelming length and size reaching five meters, traced a crescent arc. Veins burst between the muscles, necrotizing. It couldn't withstand the weight, but more than that, it had overexerted itself with the unbearable black energy.
Slice! The massive moving stone statue was cleanly bisected. From the gap where the sword had cut, black specks burned darkly.
"...Your Majesty Lucius? How are you here...?"
"Just Lucius is fine. I've relinquished all my titles. I'm nothing more than a human who's cast aside his greed."
"Then, Lucius. What of my family? Did you come with them? ...This place is dangerous. If you've come north with them...!"
A barrage of questions. He was that glad to see him, yet worried for his family all the same.
"Haha, it must feel like I saved you first and foremost."
"Thank you for that just now."
"Your gratitude's a bit late, but no matter. Don't worry too much. They're in Kalia Rune."
"...That's a relief. I can relax a little, then."
Lucius nodded. Rowen, whom he hadn't seen in ages, had changed a great deal. The boyish look of the past was gone, replaced by a young man brimming with maturity. Lucius, thanks to yin-yang and holy power, still retained some youthful features. They must be around the same age. The two-year gap made them see each other anew.
"You've changed a lot."
"A lot has happened."
"Can I hear the story later?"
Rowen nodded naturally. Lucius followed his gaze. A prickling sensation. That ominous feeling from moments ago.
Crackle! The thing tried to refract again. He'd seen it before, and Lucius knew what it would do. Above all, he remembered the moment he'd fled from it, when Kadan had raised his sword. So he dodged.
Rowen and Lucius. The two kings, reunited after two years, whirled through the air and combined their powers.
"My sword aura sucks everything in."
"I know. I saw it."
"...Frankly, it's disconcerting. The others vanished easily, but this one's different..."
"I sense a demonic seed's energy from it."
"Demonic seed?"
A word he hadn't heard in ages. Long ago, Uba would sometimes call demons that when excited, though he usually said demon.
Rowen analyzed Lucius's attire, speech, and aura. In that short time, he gleaned what the man had been up to for two years.
"You've learned exorcism."
"How did you know?"
"Anyone can see you're wearing an outfit screaming 'I'm a Kalia Rune exorcist.'"
Lucius glanced around him in midair, checking his clothes with puzzlement.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Well, whatever. It's a demonic seed. That means we've got the upper hand."
"With holy power, surely...! We can eradicate the demonic energy possessing it..."
"That's why I'll take the lead and suppress its regeneration. It might be too much for you, but push yourself just once more."
"...No choice. Besides, isn't this thing an object of hatred for you too?"
Lucius shook his head. There was a hint of hesitation, but he simply shook it silently.
"I've cast aside such greed. I follow only the great will of Kalia Rune."
"Then..."
Whoosh! Rowen gripped the massive ice greatsword. It was heavy, but he could still bear it. Not to the point of death or collapse.
...Honestly, it was grueling enough to kill him. But he had no choice.
The sword aura's output was one thing, but to contain its overwhelming volume, the medium—the weapon's size—mattered. Like a vessel for water; its capacity and depth were crucial.
The thing, now more demon than statue, dragged its massive body forward. The refracted black energy flew toward Lucius and Rowen. They dodged lightly and charged. They kicked off the air. A deep circular wave formed. Rowen followed.
Running along an invisible path in the sky. Over the flow of air, mana, the melody of life. All was the great will of Kalia Rune, the intent of the earth. He infused bright holy power, born from the depths of his heart, into Rosmerta.
Sound speed. His speed doubled—no, multiplied tenfold—until his form vanished from sight.
"White Light Ghost Weep!"
The golem's movements were fast. Proven unbeatable by anyone. But yin-yang and holy arts aided Lucius. Who could catch him?
By the time the golem's dark eyes caught Lucius's form...
Krunch! Its body shattered into cubic blocks. Over a hundred strikes in an instant.
Rowen, following behind, wouldn't miss it. The ice greatsword slashed down through the air.
Rumble! The sky thundered from the motion alone. The black sword aura swept the fragments in another crescent. Black specks formed, creating a black hole.
He wouldn't let it seal its body just before vanishing, like before. He decomposed the burdensome greatsword. A familiar shape naturally formed on his arms.
Crack. The cold ice enveloped his arms. A tolerable chill. The sharp sensation kept Rowen's mind clear. Abel's assassin sword form.
Rowen granted extreme speed to his body. Not quite Rosmerta's master, but his speed hit sound barrier too. He shredded the fragments clustering to regenerate, without mercy.
Rat-tat-tat-tat! Like pelting stones. Unquenchable blue flames, corrupted by black sword aura, created purgatory.
Unlike Pandemonium, their demonic homeland rife with demonic energy. Rowen's hellfire forged a prison amid the shredding.
Just like that, for a moment. Rowen and Lucius kicked off the air simultaneously. Pure white and pitch black drew circular waves. They merged into a spiral. Black-and-white helix: yin-yang.
A festival of massive sword auras unfolded. The remains were sucked into the black specks of sword aura.
They landed lightly. Snow from the plain scattered around. Lucius and Rowen breathed heavily.
How long since they'd fought together? The feeling of reuniting with an old friend hit late.
Two years. Short for some, an eternity for them. They looked at each other.
Thud. Fists bumped.
The battle on the plain was finally drawing to a close. The Frost Knights, led by the Ice Dragon, had perfectly countered the magitech. But many comrades had died too. They killed, and were killed in turn.
...Yet they pressed on. To avenge their stolen homeland, they gripped their swords.
"For the North!"
"His Majesty has triumphed over the giant demon. The rest are just rabble!"
"Surround them. Herd them in tighter!"
They formed a circle, spears raised. Ice mana spewed frost.
"...Damn it."
"Why hasn't General Lucius come?"
At the Arkanthia Imperial Army's frustrated cries, they thrust spears harder. These foes had families too. Sons, cherished husbands, fathers. What sin did soldiers following orders have?
But... no choice. To reclaim their stolen home.
Stab!
"Guh..."
No death throes. Just a spear through the throat. Blood poured from the hole. Seeing it, the Arkanthia soldier moved his magitech sword. Green rune fragments lit his chest.
But.
Clang!
"We told you not to move!"
"For the North!"
"For the North!"
"For the North!"
It wouldn't reach those obsessed with their homeland to near madness. No matter the power, a worthless user made it useless. Trash that couldn't be wielded.
Yes. They were trash. Even if by superiors' orders, they were the villains occupying half of Snowfall and Winterer.
So kill them. These were the last anyway. With the Ice Dragon looming behind, they couldn't move recklessly like before.
Victory was certain. Now... defend Snowfall, and the North would be theirs again.
The knight, armor soaked in enemy blood, swung his sword down. Blood slid along the blade, splattering the snow.
Drip drip!
Seeing it, he felt the reality of taking a life. War. In the frenzy of battle, he hadn't noticed. Now he did. He'd killed a human.
But no emotion stirred. Numb? No. They were just scum who raped homeland and family.
Many had suffered at Arkanthia's hands, not just him. The Frost Knights were made of such souls. That's why they fought at the forefront.
He hoped to stand with Valenos's son. Two years ago, seeing him fight alone, he'd felt it. They'd raised him to the throne.
Now, at last, a moment's respite. Looking at the clear sky eased his heart. Unbidden, his mouth opened. Loud enough for all, but not shouting. A low voice laced with tears.
"Let's go. Home."
The Frost Knights' advance ended. Snowfall's walls loomed ahead. Arahan scurried over, sticking to Rowen's side. She whispered.
"Shall we surround them?"
"No, no ladders. Only about a hundred remnants left in Snowfall anyway. Just charge through."
"Understood."
Arahan approached the disciplined Frost Knights. Spotting her, they stiffened, staring ahead. Some trembled. But that fear was necessary. Complacency meant disaster.
In the distance, Arahan explained the plan to the knights. Seeing it, Lucius smiled awkwardly.
"...Did I come for nothing?"
"Pardon?"
"No... You two seemed plenty capable without me."
"Haha. If not for that surprise."
"Still, we handled the surprise thanks to me. Broke even, I'd say."
"True. That was a close one."
Rowen laughed openly. His arrival was sudden, but welcome. Especially with news of the family.
"Curious?"
"Yes."
"Figured. Separated from family. Especially at our age."
"Lucius. You're my age too. Why act like such an old soul?"
"Hahaha. I lost my parents earlier than you."
"...Trying to make me feel bad now?"
"Kidding. Just... why does two years feel so endless?"
Clear sky. Vast plain. In the tent, gazing at the lofty heavens, the two sighed.
And... Lucius spoke first.