Ink Eye Sword Saint (2)
Domain Expansion—a technique that unfolds one's own world. It allows the use of the supreme power known as "Laws," crafting a reality most advantageous to the user.
But what happens when Law clashes against Law?
Kugugugugu—!!!
Baek Jin's body began to tremble violently.
How can this be...!
His sword realm was being devoured.
Not clashing in a battle of domains—no, it was simply being eaten.
Tyrbing's Ghost-Feasting Myriad Sword Realm.
A realm embodying the power of every sword Tyrbing has ever devoured. In simple terms, it transforms its own body into a world.
Naturally, its "Authority" applies, elevated one step further by the domain's power to function as a Law.
And Tyrbing's Authority of Gluttony...
It had perfect synergy with Baek Jin's world, where everything—mountains, trees, even the air—was turned into swords.
—Nice world you've got here.
The moment Tyrbing finished speaking, Baek Jin's world was devoured.
But they didn't revert to the original space. The domain hadn't ended yet.
"Huff... huff..."
Baek Jin gasped for breath, his entire body drenched in blood.
The wounds won't heal...
Reinforcing his body with mana should boost regeneration too. Yet the gashes on Baek Jin kept bleeding profusely without end.
What started as faint red stains had now soaked his pristine white robes completely.
"......"
Defeat meant death.
"Die—"
Before he could finish, thousands—no, tens of thousands—of slashes rained down on Baek Jin.
Kwagagagagaga!!!!
****
"Die already...!"
Kwaaaaang!!!!
—Calm down for a second.
Dainsleif dodged the incoming spells while speaking, but her opponent wasn't listening.
She was thoroughly pissed.
Even with other students around, she targeted only Dainsleif.
Kwaaaaang!!!! Pajijijik!!!!!!! Shushushuk!!!!!
Bolts like they could tear the world apart crashed from the sky, while black thorns erupted from the ground.
Dodging had its limits, so Dainsleif conjured a sword and swung.
Chwaak—!!!
Every time she tried to move, purple mists tried to bind her body.
Chwaak—!
She swung again, unleashing slashes, but they were blocked by the mist enveloping the purple-haired woman.
…….
Her power was far too lacking.
The other students were trying too, but all their attacks were stopped by that mist.
Domain...
Dainsleif fell deep into thought. Should she expand her own domain? But could she even manage it in this state? Wouldn't she just get overwhelmed by lack of power?
Thoughts swirled in her mind.
—Everyone, get back!
At Dainsleif's words, the students stepped away.
—Hup...!
Kwaaaaang!!!!
Even her full-power swing was blocked.
"Hehe, you think that'll pierce it so easily?"
Seemed like she had to deal with that mist somehow, but it didn't look easy.
"Hold up!"
Then, a black-haired man approached Dainsleif. His eyes gleamed golden.
"Every time she blocks an attack, the mana disperses slightly elsewhere."
—I see.
"Time your strikes to that."
It made sense, so Dainsleif nodded.
As he spoke, the man's body began to change. His ordinary teeth sharpened, claws and nails morphed into beastly forms.
Arima Kisho's beastman transformation trait.
Mana on a whole other level poured out.
Dainsleif dodged magic and swung her sword.
Kwaaaaang!!!
At the same time, Arima Kisho swung his right arm with full force.
Kugugugu!
The domain shook slightly.
Dainsleif and Arima Kisho thought the same:
It's working?
****
Yi Han-su unleashed the stored slashes from the protective barrier enveloping Melian.
Kwaaaaang!!!!
The barrier shook a bit, but incredibly, it held firm.
With the penalty active, he couldn't use iaijutsu.
"Can't do that trick again?"
Yi Han-su meant the ability that took the shackles.
—Impossible.
Of course, nothing came easy.
That was when.
"I'll help."
Kim Su-han, who had lost his will and slumped, now gripped a hand axe and approached Yi Han-su.
This bastard...
Yi Han-su had plenty of thoughts but kept them to himself.
Kwaaaaang!! Kwajik! Kwajik!
At first, the stored iaijutsu had shattered the barrier—or so it seemed. But this barrier's hardness was beyond imagination compared to then.
It's designed that way from the start, huh.
Then, a realization flashed in Yi Han-su's mind. Not a solution to the crisis, but something that had to be done.
He turned, scanning for one fallen figure.
Wearing white and blue robes blended together, gender ambiguous.
Yi Han-su spotted Yeon-woo and drew a black dagger.
And...
Kang—!
"Your dagger work is abysmal."
The blind gay swordsman, thought defeated, deflected Yi Han-su's strike with his scabbard.
Wha...?
"1st Grade Relic: Second Life."
The blind gay swordsman grinned.
But then, a hand axe flew toward Baek Jin.
Kwajik—!
Baek Jin swung his scabbard, but failed to deflect—it sank deep into his shoulder.
"Kugh...!"
Kim Su-han clenched his fist and charged Baek Jin. Gone was the coward; he was pure valor now.
Peok!
"Cough...!"
Baek Jin tried to parry with his scabbard, but his condition failed him—the punch landed square on his face.
"Heh."
Kim Su-han smirked slyly.
—Ugly human.
Tyrbing clicked its tongue. Kim Su-han was the epitome of the strong preying on the weak.
"Huff... huff..."
Baek Jin pulled a pure white dagger from his robes.
"...!"
1st Grade Relic: Matt White.
Pajik...!
"Kugh...!"
Sparks flew from Baek Jin's hand as he raised the relic.
Pajik! Pajijijik!!!!
Chiiik...
"Don't come closer."
Even then, Baek Jin shouted defiantly.
Like a master protecting his disciple—or a gay lover shielding his beloved.
Then Baek Jin hurled Matt White with all his might.
Yi Han-su and Kim Su-han dodged swiftly. But shockingly, the dagger's target was...
Saaah...
Melian's barrier.
"Gaaaaah!!!"
Matt White pierced the barrier effortlessly and embedded in Melian's side.
—!
In that instant, Melian's domain collapsed. Yi Han-su and Kim Su-han's gazes turned to her.
Seizing the gap, Baek Jin groped Yeon-woo's body—not a grope, but searching for an escape relic: an artificial portal.
Wuuuung—!!!
Baek Jin poured everything into it, dragging his disciple-cum-lover Yeon-woo into the portal.
Kugwoong—!
****
The mad bastard sacrificed the mage as bait and fled with his disciple.
—Humans are truly vile.
Tyrbing murmured lowly.
"Kugh...!"
A groan drew eyes to Melian, tears streaming as she struggled to pull the dagger from her side.
"Ughhh!! Cough...!"
Blood poured from her mouth.
Pushuk—!
Finally, the dagger came free, and Melian collapsed rolling on the ground.
"Ugh...!"
She glanced around, grasping the situation.
"Fuck..."
No sign of Baek Jin or Yeon-woo.
She'd been abandoned, or Baek Jin lost—either way, she was screwed.
The shock from the domain's end and Matt White's direct hit left her unable to move.
Then, two massive shadows loomed over Melian.
"Wha...?"
Looking up: the student who'd attacked her, and the Baekya Guild master.
Melian mustered her last strength and threw her hat.
It flew at Kim Su-han, mouth gaping wide.
4th Grade Relic: Mana-Eating Hat.
Kwajik—!
But Kim Su-han's strike smashed it into the ground.
"Haha... hahaha..."
Melian laughed with dead eyes.
Is this how I go?
Did she betray the Magic Tower and join Kkeut just to end like this?
With dead eyes, she glared up at Yi Han-su—the guy who'd dodged her relentless magic barrage.
Ha...
"Just one question: what happened to the two swordsmen who came with me?"
"They threw the dagger at you and ran."
At Kim Su-han's answer, Melian's eyes widened.
"What...?"
Her expression hardened.
Kkeut wasn't bound by loyalty. It was a system where mutual blackmail prevented betrayal—everyone held dirt on each other.
Melian both held and was held by others' weaknesses.
That damn gay bastard...!
Heat surged through Melian's body.