Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Master (1)
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The moment Demian activated Shadow Bind, Domenico was pulled into a strange place.
It was a space shrouded entirely in darkness, black no matter where he looked.
“Where is this?”
It was then, as Domenico panicked. Suddenly, someone appeared in the darkness.
—Domenico, that’s not how you hold a sword.
It was a middle-aged man with thick brown hair and a kindly face.
Adrian.
Domenico’s master and the previous count was bellowing at him.
“Master…?”
Domenico’s face went blank. Soon, tears welled up in his eyes.
“Master!”
Domenico sobbed as he embraced Adrian. But his body passed right through Adrian.
“W-what is this…”
Domenico looked back at Adrian. Adrian’s form turned to smoke and vanished.
A moment later, Adrian’s form reappeared. This time, he was seated cross-legged on the ground.
—You must never breathe quickly. Slowly, very deeply, feel the mana seeping in.
It was something Adrian had once said to Domenico in the past.
The moment he recalled that, Domenico realized it. What he was seeing before him was a memory from the past.
He didn’t know what was going on, but memories of training with his master were being recreated.
“That must be your master.”
At the sudden voice, Domenico startled and looked to the side.
Demian was standing there before he knew it.
“How are you here…?”
“Time is short. This isn’t the moment for trivial back-and-forth.”
Saying that, Demian stood still and watched Adrian.
—Domenico, the most important thing when facing an enemy is not to lose your momentum.
—Today, we’ll do a thousand downward strikes!
—You fool, didn’t I tell you? Don’t chop with breaks.
Before Demian’s eyes, Adrian began demonstrating his techniques one by one. They were all forms Domenico had seen in the past.
Domenico gazed at Adrian with wistful eyes.
Domenico missed Adrian as much as Frieze did. Adrian was the one who had taken in Domenico, who had become an orphan at birth and lived as a beggar.
That was why, when Gasdal promised to resurrect Adrian, he had harbored even greater expectations than Frieze.
Though it had ended with a horrific price.
“I see.”
At that moment, Demian stepped forward. Adrian’s form vanished like smoke.
Demian reached out into empty air, and a greatsword appeared. Gripping the greatsword, Demian began swinging it.
“You’ve handled a greatsword before, haven’t you? Pretty skilled.”
Domenico evaluated Demian’s greatswordsmanship that way.
But as time passed, Domenico could only be swept up in shock.
Demian’s swordsmanship grew ever more refined, reaching Adrian’s level in an instant.
“H-how in the world…”
It wasn’t just similar in form. The overwhelming pressure and precision he’d felt from his master were identical.
Was it perhaps his own illusion? Had he experienced too many shocks today, clouding his judgment?
It was as Domenico thought that. Demian brought the greatsword down with full force.
In that instant, a massive cleave fell upon the world. The ground split wide open. A deep gash like a valley was carved into the earth.
“…Impossible.”
Domenico muttered blankly.
What Demian had just shown was Adrian’s ultimate technique. A skill only his master in this world could perform.
“I haven’t seen your master in person, so I can’t be certain, but this must be about the realm he reached.”
Demian said as he planted the greatsword into the ground.
“From now on, I’ll pass on to you what I’ve comprehended.”
“Pass on…? What do you mean…?”
“Keep this in mind. What’s happening to you now is temporary. When the black magic I used is released, you’ll forget it all.”
Demian reached out toward Domenico.
“But with your level of talent… you might gain something.”
Demian added with a sly grin.
“Though it’s pointless since you’re a dead man anyway.”
With those words, the world crumbled.
* * *
Dazzling light accompanied Domenico opening his eyes.
“Domenico. Are you ready?”
The moment he opened his eyes, Demian’s voice rang out. Domenico asked with a face full of questions.
—…What just happened to me?
“Now’s not the time to worry about that.”
Demian pointed ahead. Domenico turned his gaze in that direction.
The first thing that caught his eye was the wreckage of shattered skeletons. White bone fragments and red bone fragments were mixed together.
Next was Gasdal, and beside him, his master’s corpse.
“If we don’t destroy that undead, we all die. You’ll have to take him on.”
Domenico looked at Adrian with trembling eyes.
His master, a great master in his previous life, had been reduced to a black mage’s plaything.
—…So you didn’t plan to resurrect Master, but to use him like that.
Domenico swallowed his rising fury and said.
“You’re not about to say nonsense like you can’t fight because it’s your master’s body, are you?”
—As if. I just want to grant him peace quickly.
Domenico reached out into empty air. He moved his mana according to the strange sensation flowing through his body.
—Is this how it’s done?
Aura gathered in his hand. The aura compressed together, forming a single greatsword.
Aurablade.
The symbol of master class manifested in Domenico’s hand.
—To think the day would come when I’d manifest an Aurablade with my own hand.
Domenico gave a wry smile as he looked at the Aurablade.
—Even if it’s not truly by my power.
“With your talent, you could have reached the master realm someday.”
Demian said with a calm face.
—No need for empty comfort. I’m just grateful right now.
Domenico gripped the Aurablade and stepped forward.
“Aurablade? An Aurablade?”
The moment Gasdal confirmed Domenico’s face, his expression twisted horribly.
“That death knight… It’s Domenico. He was originally high-class, wasn’t he? How is he using an Aurablade…? No way… Impossible…!”
Gasdal clutched his hair with both hands. His neatly combed hairstyle became a mess.
“You… created it… In that short time… What I struggled my whole life to obtain… You… You bastard…!”
Bloodshot veins filled Gasdal’s eyes. He ground his teeth and muttered.
“I won’t accept this! You! I won’t let you live!”
Gasdal reached out toward the front and shouted.
“Adrian! Kill them all!”
At the command, Adrian charged. Domenico rushed in just the same.
The two master classes clashed in midair.
* * *
The greatsword remade from the Evil Spirit Spear aimed for Domenico’s head and fell.
Coating the greatsword’s surface was the Aurablade. It was called the strongest weapon in human history.
No metal, no monster shell, nothing was more than paper before an Aurablade.
But this side had an Aurablade as well.
Domenico swung his greatsword in response. Their stances were identical. Like mirrors facing each other.
The two Aurablades collided.
In that instant, the ground shattered as if a volcano had erupted. Clouds drifting in the sky were torn to shreds.
The two masters glared at each other with their Aurablades locked.
No, glaring wasn’t quite right. Unlike Domenico’s vividly alive eyes, Adrian’s gaze was dull and vacant.
The two masters simultaneously tensed their forearms. Each was pushed back.
Domenico immediately sprang forward. Adrian did the same.
The two masters swung their greatswords to destroy each other.
The sword strikes were too fast to follow with the eyes. All others could see were afterimages and occasional flashes of blade light.
“Elevating a high-class to master class! I’ve never been so shocked in my life!”
Gasdal shouted from beyond Adrian.
“But in the end, the master I created is winning!”
As the battle dragged on, Domenico’s body began to break down bit by bit. Fine cracks spread across his body, unable to withstand the clashes.
“See that! The time and resources I invested in Adrian create this advantage!”
Gasdal’s triumphant smile floated up. Meanwhile, Demian watched the battle with an indifferent face.
“What do you think a master is?”
Suddenly, Demian spoke. Gasdal sneered.
“Asking a question with an obvious answer! Isn’t one right before your eyes! The master I created!”
“What you created is merely an undead that can use an Aurablade.”
“Of course! The Aurablade is the symbol of a master!”
At Gasdal’s shout, Demian clicked his tongue and shook his head.
“It’s true a master can use an Aurablade, but knowing how to use an Aurablade doesn’t make everyone a master.”
“You’re spouting nonsense now that defeat is near! It’s useless. You and that death knight will die here!”
A thick sneer rose on Gasdal’s lips.
“Listen well.”
Demian said slowly toward such a Gasdal.
“A master is one who has attained the master realm. Without reproducing that, it’s just an empty shell. I’ll show you the difference from now on.”
Demian commanded Domenico.
“Domenico. End it now.”
* * *
—Master.
While exchanging sword strikes with Adrian, Domenico said softly.
—I’m sorry. I failed to protect Lady Frieze.
Domenico confessed his sin in a finely trembling voice.
—I failed to protect the Baek Dominion from its enemies. I failed to protect the Baek Dominion’s citizens. I failed to protect the Baek Dominion’s honor.
Adrian showed no reaction at all. He merely stared at Domenico with hazy eyes.
—…At the very least, I’ll finish everything with my own hands.
Domenico swung his greatsword with full force. Not a slash, but as if to send him flying.
Adrian raised his greatsword to block Domenico’s attack. But he couldn’t withstand the impact, and his body was pushed back.
The distance between the two widened, pausing the battle momentarily.
In that brief time, Domenico recalled in his mental world the knowledge Demian had passed to him.
Adrian was a knight who wielded a greatsword. Naturally, Adrian pursued one-strike-kill heavy swordsmanship.
The realm Adrian attained upon reaching master class was ‘Solemn Gravity’.
Solemn Gravity was a realm that amplified the power of cleaves.
The simpler the motion, the greater the cleave’s power and range.
It was a realm containing Adrian’s sole intent to crush the enemy, needing no technique.
Perhaps this wasn’t the true realm. After all, it was merely what Demian had recreated from Domenico’s memories.
But Domenico, who had watched Adrian closely for so long, was certain.
Solemn Gravity was indeed the realm Adrian had attained as a master.
Domenico raised his greatsword high toward the sky.
The intent to cleave down with it was blatantly clear.
Reading intent was a straight path to defeat. But with ‘Solemn Gravity’, it wasn’t.
Domenico concentrated mana into the greatsword. The Aurablade, which had maintained a fixed form, began to burn like flames.
“Adrian! No more hesitation! Shatter them all!”
Gasdal issued another command. Adrian roared and charged at Domenico.
In that instant, Domenico brought the greatsword down.
A giant’s cleave fell upon the world.