Chapter 71
Chapter 71
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Blue Thunder Rampage
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Kwaaaang-!
Kwa-dudududu!
Lightning strikes down.
Blue lightning ravages the Black Forest, branching out in all directions.
"Graaaah!"
Kwang! Kwaang! Kwaaaang!!
"Insane…!"
A man stands with his back to the explosion of lightning.
To them, Kallias was terror incarnate.
Orkal's insects are incinerated by the lightning.
Druma's bindings shatter to pieces.
Raibun's poison doesn't even reach him.
The power of thunder that spreads in all directions with every swing defies imagination.
And his swordsmanship.
"What the hell is…."
Scattering petals turn into lightning.
Silver Flower Sword Wave - Flower Breaking Path.
They are not petals, but thunderbolts.
Replaced by blue lightning, they devastate everything around.
But it's not just from the sky.
"Graaaaaah!"
The lightning doesn't only fall from above.
It bursts up from beneath their feet, attacking them, leaving no way to defend.
Utterly helpless.
Kwaaaang-!
"Druma!"
Druma's greatsword shatters, and he crashes through several trees.
Unmoving, whether unconscious or dead.
Orkal and Raibun's faces pale, while Kallias calmly watches them, not a drop of sweat on him, utterly serene.
'As expected of the Thunderclap Sword.'
Among elemental swords, it's one of the top ten in destructive power.
Pure lightning power.
It synergizes perfectly with Silver Flower Sword Wave, the sword that generates it.
Silver Flower Sword Wave - Flower Breaking Path.
The white mist sword aura turns to lightning, amplifying the power and doubling the sharpness.
Moreover, the pure energy of thunder.
Even well-trained knights suffer muscle spasms and burns from the slightest graze.
'Just like when I faced Ames.'
The destructive force reminds him of being overwhelmed by Luteon wielding Storm Spear - Ames.
But now, he's the one wielding the violence, not receiving it.
"One down."
Sixth Division Captain Druma is out.
Gongdo - Guillotine uses earth power to erect walls of dirt to trap and crush foes outright—a fine sword if used well, but the matchup was poor.
Guillotine shattered against Kallias's blade, and Druma lost consciousness.
"Not dead, I see."
As Gongdo - Guillotine breaks into pieces, it dissolves into white smoke and vanishes.
With the sword's carcass manifestation undone, no need to worry about Druma anymore.
Rosario's scabbard housed the Black Spirit fused with the paladin; its collapse damaged Druma's soul too.
He must have suffered severe internal injuries—left alone, he'll die anyway.
He took a direct lightning hit, after all.
"I pulled the Tyrant Sword and drew the Thunderclap Sword for good reason."
Due to the thunder attribute's nature.
Its effects shine in one-against-many fights.
It subdues foes quickly and easily, and synergizes well with Silver Flower Sword Wave.
That's why Kallias spent the last three years trying to wrest swords from Bernard every meal to obtain the Thunderclap Sword.
Indeed.
One swing, and he feels it.
'With this, I can fight that bastard on even terms.'
Luteon.
Even that damnable one.
The only pity is he can't draw it freely due to its demonic energy.
"Haaaaap!!"
He blocks Orkal's charging sword.
Simultaneously, he unleashes a thunderbolt.
"Kughhh!!"
Just that.
But that's enough—blood bursts from Orkal's eyes and mouth.
His eyeballs are bloodshot, veins ruptured; his skin burns, the smell of searing flesh stinging the nose.
That's the overwhelming combat prowess a sword's power brings.
"Raibun!!"
Orkal, eyes rolling back, screams for Raibun.
But Kallias already knows.
He blocks Orkal's sword with one hand, then reaches into empty air with the other to draw the Devouring Sword and parry.
Kaang-!
Sparks fly.
The Devouring Sword's scabbard recedes, revealing a blood-red blade.
Chwaak-!
Raibun's arm flies through the air.
"Graaaaaah!"
Puk.
At the same time, the Thunderclap Sword pierces Orkal's abdomen.
Lightning surges along the blade, and Orkal foams at the mouth, passing out.
'Easy.'
The Heretic Inquisition's captain-class are all paladin-level.
Paladins divide into three tiers, and these are second-grade.
Kallias's current level lets him slaughter second-grade church paladins with ease.
'Luteon is first-grade to special-grade.'
He's reached that level now too.
With Storm Sword - Callis in hand, he'd teeter between special-grade and master, but no choice.
Callis has restrictions preventing use outside the North.
"…Even after this. Even making an enemy of the Church, do you think you can still wield a sword!"
Raibun's voice, shrill with rage, stings sharply.
But Kallias just sneers in disbelief.
"What are you saying? You lot tried to kill me on sight without evidence or anything—do you have the right?"
"…"
Raibun bites his lip.
Truth be told, he never intended to kill Kallias. But while he was away, Druma received orders from above.
He couldn't grasp exactly what was happening.
But the water was spilled.
No turning back.
"Things turned out this way, but I hold no grudge. Well, a little. You've been annoying since Toreth."
Raibun was just following orders, after all.
"Any last words?"
"May the wrath of the gods fill your path ahead."
"How kind."
Puk.
Devouring Sword through the heart.
Raibun collapses, and Kallias inspects the Devouring Sword.
[Devouring Sword - Roas]
Grade – Spirit Sword.
Indwelling Soul – Mixed Soul.
Unique Ability – Devour.
Noble Devour - 4
Noble Devour has become a saga.
As expected, from Raibun and his sword.
Breaking Akasha, it seems.
From captain-grade onward, devouring souls increases the count, so raising Noble Devour's count must bring benefits.
"Maybe a hundred for a change. Or a thousand."
That might evolve it to phantom sword or trigger other changes.
Feeding it sporadically isn't hard.
Time will handle it.
'That aside. Must be thanks to that strange seed taking root in my dantian.'
The purity of holy power.
And the amount has surged.
「Kallias von Jervan」
「Occupation」 – Pilgrim
「Holy Rank」 – 3rd Grade
「Holy Power」 – 11332/16531
「Talents」 – 【Blessing of the Bard】 【Instinctive Intuition】
「Traits」 - [Grace of the Hour] [Noble Duty] [Count Family Wastrel] [Death-Time Insight] [Church Renegade] [Big Eater] [Three-Color Eyes] [Pheromones]
[Stats]
Strength – 81 (30)
Agility – 55 (30)
Technique – 16
Vitality – 53 (30)
Faith – 83
Holy rank unchanged.
But quantity increased.
Since the seed rooted in his dantian.
After forming the tri-peaks, holy power steadily grew.
Increases are minor now, but enough that using Thunderclap Sword freely isn't burdensome.
Life's easier, but the seed's nature remains unknown, leaving him uneasy.
'Defeated.'
Defeated by what?
Suspicions exist, but no certainty.
Just guesses.
"Time to wrap up."
Kallias shakes his head and raises the Devouring Sword.
Raibun's body turned to a handful of sand as Devouring Sword sucked its vitality, but Orkal, struck by Thunderclap Sword, was different.
Unconscious but alive.
Better to kill for no loose ends.
Everyone knows Heretic Inquisitors entered to hunt the Thunder Dragon. Pin it on the dragon hunting them instead—no one will complain.
Sword's full enough; better let Devouring Sword feed.
"M-My lord!"
As he swings down.
Brans's shout accompanies.
"Die!!"
Druma, thought dead, ambushes with Orkal's holy relic sword.
Kallias tries to block with Devouring Sword but narrows his eyes and retreats hastily.
"Fleeing?! Fight! Heretic…."
Kwajik. Druma loses his head before finishing.
"Oops."
A mistake, thinking it over.
He spared Druma to interrogate who ordered the kill.
Behind him, a massive demon beast spits out the head it chewed, as if tasteless, then the body.
-Krurrr.
The Thunder Dragon.
Visibly furious.
Whether for invading its territory or something else, soon clear—it eyes Kallias's Thunderclap Sword intently.
"Come for this?"
It growls, baring teeth.
Likely sensed the same lightning aura and came.
Doesn't like the Thunderclap Sword, apparently.
"They say this might be your parent's."
Teasingly waving it, it claws the ground, poised to lunge.
Kallias sheathes Devouring Sword.
Then dashes, yanking the embedded Tyrant Sword.
The dragon charges simultaneously.
Lightning-fast, scattering thunder as it comes.
But Kallias is faster this time.
Kwoong-!
Grabs Tyrant Sword, deploys gravity field. Dragon flinches. But seal lasts an instant.
Blue lightning surges from its body.
It charges, cloaked in bolts.
Pajijijijik!!
But blue lightning roars from Kallias's hand too.
-Kraaa!!
Taeng-!
Barely dodges the body slam, slashes horizontally.
But the sound is dull, like blade on blade.
Its scales are tough.
Not even scratched.
Kwaang! Kwang!
Crashes through many demon trees before stopping.
Thunder Dragon's horn glows blue, head reared. It roars, summoning massive lightning.
Kwa-gagagaga!!
But expected.
"Hup…!"
Thunderclap Sword deflects its bolts.
One per swing.
Steadily batting them aside and wrapping them.
Silver Flower Sword Wave's essence dwells in Thunderclap Sword. First Form - Flower Breaking Path.
Shatters foe's aura, merges with own, scatters like petals in a wave-like assault.
Just like that.
Kallias's task simple.
Thunderclap Sword slays its lightning.
Wraps the scattered remnants.
Strikes them down.
Not petals in form.
Pure lightning.
Fragments whirl through air.
This is Flower Breaking Path.
Kallias manifests lightning Flower Breaking Path. A flower of thunder blooms at his blade's tip.
But Thunder Dragon dodges even that.
Incredible how its bulk evades them all.
No matter.
Expected.
It dodges.
But each dodge leaves lightning traces on the ground.
Those traces become white mist sword formations, erupting as lightning aura anew.
Silver Flower Sword Wave Second Form - White Mist.
Thunder Dragon takes its own lightning head-on, startled.
But its dragon scales and horn neutralize the bolts.
Startled, no damage.
That's enough.
Kallias's dantian fully blooms all three peaks.
Vast holy power circulates meridians, filling his body.
Circulating power gathers in one swing.
Tyrant Sword - Karakto.
Between thunder flower of Flower Breaking Path and White Mist.
Stabs the subtle center, completing the form.
Silver Flower Sword Wave Third Form - Other Shore Blossom.
Scattering Flower Breaking Path and White Mist coil around Tyrant Sword.
Compressed sword aura forms.
Formless qi becomes rigid strength.
Imperfect.
But the compressed qi's shape.
Unmistakably sword force.
Incomplete, but sufficient.
Other Shore Blossom intentionally explodes unstable sword force, after all.
Taat.
Holy power gathers in his legs, pierces lightning forward.
Thunderclap Sword scatters bolts, deflects dragon's, clears path.
Thunder Dragon doesn't sit idle.
Sensing something off, accelerates to keep distance.
Kwang! Kwaang! Pajijijik! Kurung! Kwaang!!
Exchange too fast for eyes.
Lightning ineffective on each other.
So it rears a foreleg.
Claws glow blue with lightning.
But that's its mistake.
"Raising it creates an opening."
Chwaak!
-Kraaaang!
Grazed. Barely dodged.
But slashed.
Enough for now.
Kwang!
Slashed hide bursts, dragon blood sprays.
Small, faint—but one flower.
Forms Other Shore Blossom's shape.
'Didn't need Flower Breaking Path or White Mist against the warlord.'
Couldn't use that Other Shore Blossom since. Power worlds apart from then.
Not even half, but so be it.
-Kraaaaa!!
Not banking on power now.
"Body feels heavier now."
Thunder Dragon's face twists.
Viscous blood pours from its maw.
Shoulder burst, staggering, struggling for balance.
But wounded shoulder weighs it down—movements visibly off.
Kallias seizes the gap.
Slashes again and again.
Indiscriminately. Neck, legs, torso.
Hide too tough to cut deep, but shallow wounds accumulate surely.
Tyrant Sword marks.
Its body changes.
Heavy as a thousand tons, movements sluggish.
Now Thunderclap Sword.
Stabs burst wounds.
Lightning resistance won't reach inside.
"Die too."
Blue thunder glints on Kallias's face. Thunder Dragon's maw gapes in roar. Bolts erupt instantly.
Useless.
Kallias's thunder faster.
Kwa-kwang!!
Once not enough.
Squeezes all holy power, rams lightning inside.
Kwaang! Kwang! Kwaang! Kurung! Kwaang!
A lightning storm erupts.