Chapter 83: Lantern (2)
Chapter 83: Lantern (2)
"Shit!"
"What the hell is that…?"
"Is it an ogre? Then again, with those orc bastards participating, it wouldn't be strange if the Arena clowns threw an ogre into the mix!"
The fighters who witnessed their comrade being sliced in half with a single stroke scattered in all directions. In a place where information was limited, few were foolish enough to charge a swordsman capable of butchering a human body in an instant. Standing alone as the crowd dispersed, I flicked the blood off my blade and clicked my tongue. Watching them flee, I had no intention of shouting nonsense like, "Are you even fighters?" or "Attack me bravely!" Instead, I felt a sense of relief.
‘…It’s still incomplete.’
I looked down at my hand, which was trembling violently after just one strike.
*
The grounds for the Infinite Duel were immense. Furthermore, the structure of this amphitheater differed from the standard Arena. Unlike the flat, open duel grounds of the usual Arena, this place featured various structures, as if a cityscape had been transplanted into the stadium. It was an environment where one could hide as much as they wished.
It was understandable why the fighters weren't rushing out to fight. If you could hide in a safe place and ambush those who approached, you could win easily—so why throw your life away for nothing?
Moreover, there was no reason to go looking for other fighters. The condition for winning the Infinite Duel was to be the last one standing. There were no secondary conditions regarding how many fighters you killed or how aggressively you moved. Unless one was a battle maniac who worshipped the Goddess Lefri so much they wanted to die quickly, or an orc afflicted with a charge-ahead complex who viewed hiding as cowardly, there was no reason to fight without rest.
A duel is an act of consuming resources. It drains stamina, overworks the body, and damages weapons and armor. In a place where you never knew when you might encounter an enemy, wasting stamina was foolish. Furthermore, getting injured in a meaningless duel would be a disaster. Among humans, only Monks and the Paladins guarding the temples possessed both the combat ability to fight on the front lines and the capacity for self-healing.
Thus, unlike the initial massacre at the start, the Infinite Duel proceeded somewhat quietly as time passed. I also moved in accordance with the general trend. I had only killed one fighter so far—the one I had cut down with a single strike.
Immediately after I killed him, the surrounding fighters grew wary and scattered. It meant the martial prowess I displayed was that overwhelming. At any rate, it was fortunate for me. I didn't want to fight non-stop from the beginning either.
I am neither a Monk nor a Paladin. While the Heart of Steel provides great assistance in recovering the body and stamina, it isn't omnipotent. It has clear limits. Furthermore, the sword I possess doesn't have great sustainability. Using Gale for a long time puts a strain on the body, and above all, the problem with Lantern was the most significant.
‘…I still can’t put proper strength into my right arm. Even though I used it as briefly as possible.’
Its original name was the Dragon Sword.
The power contained within that blade, which held the will of the Progenitor who founded Han, was excessively violent. The Progenitor’s realm was that of three pairs of wings—a mature Sword Runner. It meant it was a power I was not yet qualified to wield. Furthermore, there was an inherent problem with Lantern.
"Master."
「What is it?」
"I’m starting to think I might have devoured the Dragon Sword too impulsively."
「Why?」
"This blade… has no future."
Indeed, the power within Lantern was a power that paid with the future to overcome the obstacles of the present. For someone like me, who still had a vast path ahead, it was an ill-suited power.
"I’m barely managing to utilize it, but I worry my body might shatter into pieces with a single swing if I make a mistake. Why didn't you stop me? At this rate, I’ll really end up like the sword’s original owner—flashing once before turning to ash."
Of course, I was gradually learning how to use it by combining the memories within the sword with my Master’s teachings, but the fundamental instability of Lantern made me uneasy. Hearing my concerns, my Master let out a boisterous laugh.
「My young descendant.」
"Yes?"
「That is exactly why it suits you so well.」
I couldn't fathom what my Master was thinking.
「I guarantee it. There is no blade more sufficient to serve as nourishment for your wings than that sword. Truly.」
Well, even if it was hard to understand, what could I do?
The foolish disciple could only nod at his Master’s words. Even if the words were cryptic and abstract, my Master was always right when it came to the sword.
I suppressed the rising doubt. Right now, there was something more important than asking questions that led to more questions. Survival.
"I should look for a safe place first."
「Do you intend to hide inside those trivial buildings?」
"That would be wise. I plan to find a building close to the center of the narrowing Fence. Since the space is constantly being restricted, I should occupy an advantageous spot in advance."
「But wouldn't the other fighters think the same? The area near the center will be crawling with fighters prepared for ambushes. You don't think the fighters participating here are fools, do you, young descendant?」
"I know. Naturally, many will be hiding."
I slowly closed my eyes.
"But when the Fence narrows, even more fighters will gather. Rather than fighting in that chaos, it’s better to deal with the enemies now while my condition is good and my stamina is full."
As I closed my eyes, I returned the long Winter Steel sword to my waist. The blood-scented blade vanished into its scabbard.
And then.
"Besides, I think this kind of fight is advantageous for me."
I drew two silver-shining daggers I had pre-equipped near my thighs. The two daggers, reflecting the light, looked like the teeth of a beast.
Yes, just like—
"Would these fighters, who are used to fair duels with referees in open arenas… really be more skilled at ambushes than an Assassin of the Free City?"
Fangs.
*
The Fence newly introduced by the Arena Organizers was narrowing as time passed. The Fence was a device to ensure the match didn't become boring, as well as a leash tightening around the fighters' necks. Fortunately, no fighters were foolish enough to be ground to death by touching it. The speed at which it narrowed wasn't fast, and since it was circular, it was easy to know where to move. The Fence was slowly shrinking toward a single point.
Every fighter instinctively knew that place would be the site of the final battle. Therefore, everyone knew it would be advantageous to occupy it beforehand. One who preserved their stamina for the final fight versus one who was panting after fighting non-stop—it was obvious the former would win. Consequently, fierce battles were breaking out inside the black buildings located in the 'center.'
Even if it wasn't the absolute center, the number of fighters increased the closer one got to it. The noise of fighting to claim advantageous positions was loud. Those whose faces and bodies were stained black were entangled in combat, fighting again and again, unrecognizable to one another.
A fight for one's life. Naturally, it had to be fierce.
The duels, fought with everyone’s respective resolve, overflowed with a heat far more intense than what was usually seen in the Arena.
However.
"Huu, hu."
There were places where that wasn't the case.
"Come out! You coward—!"
A voice screamed until the throat seemed ready to burst. But there was no answer to that shouting voice. A terrible silence took its place. And silence is something that breeds anxiety and fear. The sword held in the fighter's hand was trembling violently.
"Fight like a fighter! Don't fight like those cowardly, valueless Assassins of the Free City! Like a fighter—!"
I squinted my eyes and watched the screaming fighter.
"Yes… fight like the brave Sword Demon Liam!"
I barely held back the laughter that threatened to burst out at those words. Instead, I muttered inwardly.
‘You idiot, the man standing right in front of you is that "brave" Sword Demon Liam.’
Why on earth were my nicknames getting more and more modifiers? In the first place, could the nickname Sword Demon and the modifier "brave" even go together? I shook my head briefly at the sight of the fighters attaching whatever they could, then moved again to end his life.
"Huu."
The clowns of the Arena were obsessed with strange details. They hadn't just built the structures and left the interiors empty; they had meticulously decorated them like actual homes. In the master bedroom, there were women's underwear, silk pajamas, and dresses; the living room was furnished with various pieces of furniture; and a small room contained a baby crib and blankets. It was to the point where one might mistake it for an actual city plucked and moved here. Well, at any rate, thanks to that, I had more than enough usable weapons.
『One had to know how to use everything within reach as a weapon.』
I kicked a nearby cabinet, sending it flying toward him. As the wooden cabinet flew at him, the fighter didn't dodge pathetically or swing his sword; instead, he stood firm and glared in this direction. He was trusting in his specially crafted dwarf helmet and armor. As expected, he wasn't easy. He didn't take his eyes off me to avoid creating an opening or losing my position. However—
『A blade is not the only weapon. Everything that can shake the enemy is a weapon.』
I had thrown the cabinet knowing he would react that way.
"…This—"
The wooden cabinet shattered the moment it collided with the sturdy helmet. As the cabinet broke, the flowing clothes stored inside spilled out. Splinters of wood and limp clothes became entangled and clung to the fighter's helmet. It was enough to cover the small eye slits of the helmet.
I immediately kicked off the ground and ran. Even if his eyes were covered, I couldn't be complacent. The enemy was a Sword Walker. If so, he would easily be able to sense the surrounding aura even without sight. The Path is an ability specialized in defense rather than offense. If one creates a dense Path to protect themselves, it is very difficult for another Sword Walker to pierce that defense. One would have to possess the genius to dig into small gaps like Seol-yoon or use power equivalent to a Sword Runner like Gale. But I had no intention of doing either.
Fortunately.
『I saw a hole in his Path.』
Fang had a fairly useful technique.
『It was a talent I possessed as a fugitive.』
『The talent to find a way to escape in any situation.』
The talent to pierce through a Path.
Though limited to the first moment, it was a lethal attack that had once even wounded the peerless genius Seol-yoon.
"…."
For a brief moment, I became an Assassin of the Free City.
Simultaneously, my body kicked off the ground and soared into the air. Instead of attacking honestly, I jumped into the air, kicked off a wall, performed a somersault to step on the ceiling, and dove downward. Then, putting all the rotational force into it, I drove a dagger into the helmet of the fighter who was focused on his front.
With a crunching sound, a crack appeared in the helmet, and a strangled gasp escaped him. I didn't expect to pierce the helmet, crush the skull, and reach the brain in a single strike.
The real attack came next. The fighter's body jerked back from the unexpected impact on his crown. He instinctively took a posture to protect his head. I shoved my foot near the crouching fighter's hip. Then, I pressed my knee against his back and grabbed his head with my left hand, pulling it back sharply. Like a snake.
As his head was wrenched back with a creak, his neck, which had been hidden by the pitch-black helmet and armor, was exposed. Bare flesh unprotected by metal. I drove the dagger in my right hand into it without hesitation.
"Ugh…."
His body trembled briefly, and soon, with a final groan, a life crumbled away. I pushed the fallen fighter into a corner. It wasn't a difficult battle.
‘How many have I killed with this?’
I had killed quite a few fighters. To claim a safe spot in the center, I was moving from building to building, engaging in continuous combat. Since running blindly outside carried a high risk, I moved slowly while hiding my presence. In doing so, I sometimes encountered fighters who were 'holding out' like the one just now. Those who were huddled up, pointing their swords toward the entrance.
‘…He was trying to ambush people like an assassin himself, so why call only me cowardly? I guess if he does it, it’s a rational and clever action, but if someone else does it, it’s a despicable and filthy deed.’
I clicked my tongue while wiping the blood off the dagger.
There had been several battles like this, but none were particularly dangerous. Fang was a great help when fighting in an environment with so many variables. Most fighters were only skilled with the sword and didn't know how to utilize the surrounding variables. I sat on a bed and took a brief rest.
The fact that I could rest away from others' eyes after a fight was another advantage of moving between buildings. If I fought another fighter out in the open, I would draw everyone's attention, and even if I won, I would be at a severe disadvantage if I were immediately ambushed. Wouldn't it be best to fight in peak condition if possible? In that regard, I had chosen the most rational method.
"Fortunately, it’s been smooth so far. I was worried a situation would arise where I’d have to use Gale or Lantern a lot, but luckily, that hasn't happened."
「Indeed. It is best to preserve your stamina if you can.」
"…Are you the Master I know?"
「Why?」
I tilted my head as I looked at Liam.
"No, I thought if it were you, Master, you’d say things like, 'How can a Caravan fight like that?' or 'Clash head-on and face them, you get harder the more you are hammered,' or 'Keep fighting until your body breaks.'"
「In a normal situation, I might have. But listen. This is the Infinite Duel, is it not?」
Liam laughed, somewhat unsettlingly.
「No matter how you fight, when you reach the end, you will eventually taste misery. That is what the Infinite Duel is, young descendant.」
"…."
「And also.」
Amidst the echoing laughter, a sharp sense of dread brushed the back of my neck. Doubt. The superhuman senses that gathered all information about the environment through the Path were sending a warning signal. I turned my head, following the warning. The direction the 'danger' signal was coming from was outside the window. Outside the window where the blue sky was visible.
「Even if you don't reach the end, a miserable and harsh trial will find you on its own.」
I swallowed hard.
「After all, trials constantly pour down on those with the blood of Steel flowing through them.」
It seemed my easy ride ended here.
「How about it? Aren't you happy?」
Dammit. It seemed I was destined to fail at taking the easy way again.
‘…Not even time to catch my breath.’
I took a deep breath. Until my lungs felt like they would burst.
‘Better to be prepared.’
Instead of exhaling the full breath, I applied pressure and suppressed it.
『Swords, spears, and shields. Rusted armor and arrows that embroidered the sky as they poured down.』
Soon, my body began to heat up slowly.
『Boys and young men thrown onto the battlefield without knowing anything. Countless lives were submerged in blood and crumbled, covered in dirt.』
Like steel being heated in a blast furnace….
『They could have become stars.』
*
The spectator seats, which had been filled with enthusiastic cheers until moments ago, were silent now. Everyone was holding their breath, swallowing hard. Why? Had the Arena Organizers suddenly told them to shut up and watch quietly?
"…What is that?"
No. There was no reason for the Arena Organizers to say such a thing, and there was no way the audience of Steel City would listen to them. Thus, the silence that had descended here was not caused by anyone's command. It was purely because of the 'spectacle' taking place in the middle of that vast arena.
"Can that… even be called a duel?"
A spectator muttered in a dazed voice. Countless spectators agreed with those words. Indeed, the scene just now could not be considered a duel. It was more accurate to view it as a one-sided hunt, a massacre. Seol-yoon, a genius who could see more than ordinary spectators, also agreed with the audience's opinion.
‘…It’s no different from a wolf let loose among a flock of sheep.’
Seol-yoon, who had sat in the spectator seats to comfortably watch Arhan’s performance, now had a somewhat serious expression. Could Arhan win against 'that'? No, it wasn't an opponent to weigh victory or defeat against. Could Arhan… survive? Thinking thus, Seol-yoon soon reached another thought.
‘If I were there, would I… have been able to survive?’
She couldn't say for sure. She was confident she wouldn't be helplessly defeated like them. She was confident she could put up at least a minimum of resistance. But she didn't know if she could survive in the end. Even though she had gained precious enlightenment, spread her wings, and even possessed the lethal weapon of Thousand Changes.
Seol-yoon frowned and looked at the vast arena.
There, a fighter whose appearance was entirely hidden by a pitch-black, specialized helmet and armor was sitting on a wall, nodding off. He was even yawning lazily.
And in front of him.
‘Where on earth did such a monster….’
Countless corpses of fighters were piled up. Like a mountain.
While Seol-yoon was seriously concerned about Arhan’s survival and feeling anxious, there was a man in a corner of the spectator seats laughing as if he found it amusing.
"Ho-oh."
A man who was watching the match with interest, his swaying ash-gray hair thoroughly hidden. Iron Prince Ian Chervil spoke.
"Carlos, is what I’m thinking correct?"
"Yes, it likely is. That sword belongs to the Great Five Families, and specifically 'them'…."
"Indeed. Though he hides it with crude helmet and armor, how could he hide even his sparkling bloodline? Ah, I didn't expect to see it here."
Ian Chervil rested his chin on his hand and smirked.
"How did a descendant of the Lazy Idlers end up in such a lowly place?"