Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: Master Class (1)
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The moment his body was sliced by the sword, the Weapon Master was flung backward. He smashed through several wooden pillars before crashing into the ground.
Buried in the earth, the Weapon Master thought.
What just happened?
He'd consumed both the Mita Sacred Water and the Fire Spirit Stone Elixir at the same time, not only survived, but boosted his physical abilities?
To the point of surpassing the dynamic vision of a Master Class like himself?
But the most astonishing thing was the magic sword in Demian Haksen's hand.
A sword without even Aura coating it had repelled an Aurablade? Something even a ducal-grade demon-forged magic sword couldn't do?
Incomprehensible events kept piling up. But the emotion coloring the Weapon Master's heart right now wasn't curiosity or amazement.
—...This insolent bastard.
Rage surged from his chest, grinding his molars to dust.
—Even if that wasn't your full strength... A mere High Class dares lay a hand on this body?
Right now, the Weapon Master was possessing Joshua Silva's body through the magic sword as a medium.
Compared to his true body, he could only exert about thirty percent of his power.
Even so, the Weapon Master was confident he was stronger than most Master Class fighters in this state.
That's why it was so hard to accept that he'd taken a hit from some High Class nobody.
—It's been a long time since I've felt this filthy.
The Weapon Master rose to his feet. Despite being slashed by the sword, his body was unscathed.
It seemed that magic sword could withstand an Aurablade, but it wasn't sharp enough to pierce his protective aura.
—You made me remember a forgotten emotion... So I should return the favor!
The Weapon Master leaped forward, swinging the magic sword. A pitch-black Aurablade aimed for Demian's head.
Demian immediately blocked the slash with his magic sword.
In that instant, the muscles in the arm gripping the sword burst open, blood flowing down. The sheer power was too much for his body to handle.
—Is that all you've got? You dared challenge me with this level of skill!
The Weapon Master targeted Demian's vital points, swinging his sword in rapid succession.
Demian Haksen blocked the relentless attacks without respite. Each time he parried an Aurablade, the shock caused muscles throughout his body to tear.
—Yes! That's more like it! This is how it should be!
Even if he'd boosted his physical abilities with elixirs, he was still just a High Class.
Compared to a Master Class like himself, he was sorely lacking.
—I'll never let you die easily! I'll sell your soul to the maddest black mage out there!
Each swing of the sword seemed to vent his rage. The Weapon Master let out a great cheer as he pressed Demian Haksen relentlessly.
Then, he noticed something odd.
Considering the gap between him and Demian Haksen, the fight should have ended long ago.
Yet Demian Haksen refused to fall, enduring and blocking every attack.
"Your expression doesn't look good. What's wrong? Things not going your way?"
Demian Haksen spoke. His voice dripped with mockery.
At those words, veins bulged on the Weapon Master's forehead.
—...I was just going easy on you! Don't get cocky!
At that moment, Demian Haksen bent at the waist. Dodging the slash, he swung his magic sword in return.
The blade traced a diagonal line from below upward, slashing across the Weapon Master's face.
—This guy?
Thanks to his protective aura, he wasn't cut. But the Weapon Master couldn't help but rage.
—A mere High Class... dares touch my body again!
The Weapon Master spat his fury. He pressed Demian even more ferociously.
—I'll kill you! Right now, I'll tear you to shreds...!
Slashes poured down without end. Both the Weapon Master and Demian Haksen moved busily.
But something was off. Even though he was attacking harder than at first, Demian Haksen wasn't being pushed back.
Not only was he blocking the Weapon Master's attacks with ease, he was even dodging some. A few, he counterattacked.
—No way...
He was getting stronger.
With every exchange, Demian Haksen's physical abilities were rising sharply.
The fact that he could keep up with the Weapon Master's movements was proof.
—How is this possible...?
Right now, Demian Haksen had ravaged his internals by consuming mutually incompatible elixirs.
Not only was he holding his own against a Master Class like himself with that body, he was even growing stronger?
—Y-you monster...!
Chills ran across his entire body. It was terrifying.
It was absurd. He, one of Pandemonium's great evils, feeling fear from some High Class?
—No way!
The Weapon Master bellowed. Unconsciously, strength surged into his arms.
Because of that, he swung the sword too widely. Demian Haksen didn't miss the opening.
Dodging the attack, he dove into the Weapon Master's guard.
He thrust the magic sword toward the Weapon Master's solar plexus. At the same time, he detonated his mana.
With a boom, the Weapon Master's body flew off and smashed into the cliffside.
* * *
'It's no use after all.'
Demian clicked his tongue as he checked the Weapon Master's condition.
He'd put everything into that strike to the solar plexus, but not even a scratch.
Because Erebos alone couldn't break the protective aura.
'If I manifest a divine authority, maybe...'
But Erebos's restoration rate was still too low. Not enough to face a Master Class.
Moreover, others lay unconscious nearby. They might get caught in the divine authority and die.
It was then.
Intense killing intent emanated from the Weapon Master embedded in the cliff.
Black mana exploded from the Weapon Master's body. It shot skyward like piercing the heavens.
—Y-you filthy worm...
The Weapon Master muttered. His voice was thick with rage.
—You dare... me, the great evil... I won't forgive you... Never...!
The Weapon Master raised his head. Madness gleamed in his eyes.
A spear lying at Demian's feet began to rattle. It was originally a soldier's weapon.
The spear floated into the sky. Not just that one—all the weapons scattered on the ground flew high into the air.
Swords, spears, axes, and more.
Over dozens of them. Black mana gathered around the weapons. Aurablades coated their surfaces.
—To think I'd have to use my ultimate technique on a mere High Class.
The Weapon Master spoke, filled with hatred.
—This time, you're dead.
The dozens of weapons plummeted down all at once.
A black downpour engulfed the ground.
* * *
Weapons brimming with Aurablades rained down on Demian Haksen from above.
The Weapon Master eagerly awaited the scene to unfold.
The sight of the weapons piercing and shredding Demian's body.
"Huuu...!"
Demian took a deep breath. Bracing for the incoming assault.
A longsword falling from the sky aimed to impale his throat. Demian swung his magic sword to deflect it.
But the power in the weapon was overwhelming. All he could do was nudge its trajectory slightly.
The longsword's path veered, grazing Demian's cheek as it passed. Flesh parted, blood trickling down.
But there was no time to tend the wound. The second weapon followed.
Demian parried the spear. But again, he couldn't fully deflect it. Just a slight shift in course.
The spear grazed his side and embedded in the ground. Blood burst from his flank.
Third, fourth, fifth.
Weapons kept falling endlessly. Demian gritted his teeth and deflected them, but he couldn't stop the wounds from accumulating.
When the downpour finally stopped, Demian's body was covered in gashes. Blood pooled thickly on the ground.
—...
The Weapon Master felt speechless.
An ultimate technique was meant to kill the enemy without fail. And some High Class had withstood it?
Even seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn't believe it. His mind refused to accept it.
"This won't do."
Demian spoke. One corner of his mouth twisted.
"What's the point of using an ultimate technique if you can't even aim it properly? If you're going to use it so sloppily, I can't die even if I wanted to."
At Demian's mockery, the Weapon Master was at a loss for words.
As Demian Haksen said, the Weapon Master had used the technique "sloppily." But that wasn't the Weapon Master's fault.
To a Master Class, a High Class was no different from a bug. They could crush them with a flick of the finger whenever bored.
What Master Class in this world would seriously unleash an ultimate technique on a High Class?
—...Thanks for the advice.
The Weapon Master raised his hand high. Weapons embedded in the ground were pulled free once more.
Aurablades formed on their surfaces again. The weapons turned black.
—This time, I'll use it "properly."
Demian Haksen was already exhausted. Covered in wounds all over.
—Die this time.
He lowered his raised hand. The black downpour fell again.
First, a spear shot toward Demian's heart. Demian struck it away with his magic sword.
In that instant, the spear bounced off. It spun in midair before falling to the ground.
At that moment, the Weapon Master felt doubt.
Why did it bounce away? He should only have been able to nudge the trajectory...
Second, a longsword fell. Demian brought down his raised magic sword.
The magic sword clashed with the longsword. Soon, the longsword slammed into the ground.
—Wait a second...
Third, an axe flew in. Demian swung his magic sword. The Aurablade and axe shattered entirely.
—How is this...
Fourth, a spear pierced the air. Demian slashed diagonally with his magic sword.
The Aurablade and spear shaft split in half. It fell limply to the ground.
—You don't mean...
Only then did the Weapon Master realize it. Something coating the magic sword's surface.
Blue?
The Weapon Master immediately denied his own thought. It wasn't just any blue.
Starlight.
A glow like the North Star shining at dawn faintly covered the magic sword's surface.
—No way...!
The black rain poured down thick enough to obscure vision. Amid it, Demian swung his magic sword repeatedly.
Each blue slash cut the air, severing the streams. Fragmented weapons fell to the earth.
With each swing, the blue glow grew denser.
Finally, after severing the last streak of light, blue radiance burst forth.