Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Dawn's Return, Against the Sword God War (2)
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3.
Thud──────!
The sturdy clock tower.
Shattered into powder by countless crystal blades slicing through it—a deafening roar.
────Kwaaaaaaaaang!
It was 《White Frost Ice Ring》, yet different. No need to control it with his hands.
???
Ikilas's Spiral Eye.
His entire left field of vision was an irritating pure white. Wherever this eye fell, the Absolute God's power manifested.
Chachachachachang──────!
His transcendent swordsmanship was the same.
────Thudaaaaaaaak!
Anywhere his gaze turned.
The air froze solid, forged into blades, then shot straight toward the target to pierce it.
Pibibibibibibing─────!
Impressive.
How long could he keep dodging?
──────Puuuung!
Kim Baek-jun was already at his limit.
He hurled his body aside, rolling across the ground, dodging crystal swords with footwork.
“…………?!”
But where he dodged, it waited—the 《White Frost Ice Ring》.
「“Your movements have slowed. Already at your limit?”」
No wonder.
From the moment the eyepatch came off, a frenzy of heaven-shaking madness had raged.
“No, not yet!”
Any ordinary hunter would have gone mad like a lunatic or had their brain burst by now.
His mouth was still working.
The mere fact he could move like this was proof of Kim Baek-jun's overwhelming prowess.
But.
No room to switch to offense.
He would keep getting pushed back in defense until he died.
Pabababababak─────!
Choi Sin-yul knew it.
Born into Korea's top kendo family, the Seo clan, he had gripped a sword since age five.
“Berkenxia, form shift…… [White Dharma Palm]!”
A near-heavenly exceptional physique.
His greatest strength: reflexes so unreal they defied reality.
────Chaechaechaechaechang!
Was that why?
Since age seven, perhaps.
Choi Sin-yul could read the lines of killing intent.
Whenever he fought someone.
He saw lines extending from the opponent—one if few, up to five or six if many.
Kaaaaaaaang────!
Those who'd played fighting games called them 'options.'
In simple terms.
Just by seeing the opponent's stance, he could read exactly how they would attack—an ultimate ability.
But at some point, Choi Sin-yul stopped liking this power.
What a bore……
The whole world had become boring.
After sixteen, no worthy opponents. Everyone's offense and defense were predictable……
Even so.
He never left the kendo world.
Because Choi Sin-yul harbored one desperate dream.
Someday……
Truly someday……
Like back when he first learned kendo, he would find an enemy who could make him feel that killing instant.
Even if that path's end.
Was his sword's tip. Even if it was life's end.
Just once.
Just once would do.
An opponent where he could pour his full heart and soul, and his sword's, unreservedly.
But.
In the spring at twenty-five.
During a match, an unprecedented accident: his kendo armor shattered for unknown reasons.
That day.
Fragments burrowed into his eyeball, costing him his left eye forever.
Zuzuzuzuzuzuzuzuzu───!
The lines of killing intent vanished, and his life and dreams crumbled.
- Is that guy Seo Yul?
- Yeah, but he's worthless now. Fucked-up eyeball.
He wasn't angry.
At the insults from such lowly scum.
What hurt…… What made tears well up…… Was that he could no longer find opponents.
- We can implant an artificial eye, ma'am.
Hope.
He clung to hope.
- But artificial eyes have clear limits. Recognition speed is markedly slower.
- Recognition speed?
- Fine for daily life, but for kendo…… sports where split-seconds matter, unfortunately unusable.
Someday.
Hope that this would all end.
Hope that this might be a nightmare.
Tomorrow, when he opened his eyes.
He would grip the sword again.
And bask in that ecstatic feeling as the sword awoke and time slept—hope.
And.
The lifelong rival he'd dreamed of since picking up the sword.
Hope of a fierce sword dance with them.
- Can he compete in worlds with one eye?
But.
Reality was merciless.
It pushed Choi Sin-yul to the brink.
- Impossible. Right now, he couldn't even beat a high school instructor.
That day.
Before the world ended.
Choi Sin-yul left a suicide note and climbed a skyscraper roof.
No reason to live, so die.
Only then, having given up everything, did tears flow. As he raised it over the railing.
「Humanity is no longer alone.」
The world's end began.
Then, bizarre slime dripped onto the skyscraper roof…… and a demon burst out.
[I have heard your lament.]
A mystical voice echoed in his head.
[That grand ideal, I shall fulfill it. If only you carry out my will.]
Who could it be?
No such question arose.
The moment that voice sounded, his left world returned.
- Ha…….
Lines of killing intent.
That absolute sensation returned.
- Ahahahahahahaha……!
He didn't care what it was.
Benevolent god or malevolent, its intent didn't matter.
- Reborn.
He could grip the sword again.
Immerse in this ecstasy again. That was all that mattered.
So he did as told.
The Absolute God's apostles numbered four besides him. At that path's end, he might find his lifelong rival.
“Pierce, divinity─────!”
No fervent faith.
Just aligned interests with Ikilas's Absolute God.
──────Chalaralararang!
Choi Sin-yul had always acted so, and the Absolute God seemed unbothered by his attitude.
「“You really underestimate me.”」
Choi Sin-yul raised both hands.
In an instant, a massive circle formed around Kim Baek-jun, flung far back—radius fifty meters.
A circle gleaming with frost light.
It might seem so at a glance.
But up close, it was merely tens of thousands of crystals swirling to blanket the target.
Choi Sin-yul clenched his fists.
That moment.
The crystals morphed into large and small crystal swords……
Chachachachachachachang────!
……and from all directions, they locked onto Kim Baek-jun, unleashing a crossfire.
─────Puuuung!
Next instant.
The six killing lines emanating from Kim Baek-jun snapped off.
4.
- 101st, this is my last gift to you.
One day at the holy temple.
Tersia placed her hand near my heart and said that.
- The Armor of Radiance.
Through her hand.
A mystical power flowed into me like warm sunlight.
- It was originally the 100th's armor.
- The 100th……?!
- But remember. Heavily damaged in the final battle, so you can't summon it unconditionally yet.
So.
When you think it's the limit, shout.
When your body is dyed in light's drive, devotion's blood.
“A bit…….”
I scanned my situation and sighed.
“I thought…… I could hold out just a little longer…….”
Surrounded on all sides.
Crystal blades blanketing every direction. No escape. And my body……
「“You really underestimate me.”」
Then I.
Pressed my right hand near my heart. And.
Shout it.
The true name of the Armor of Radiance.
Then, as the rightful successor, the 101st's call will awaken it.
- That armor's true name is.
Just one instant.
The instant death loomed.
The moment I uttered the name Tersia taught me.
“<Peitezla>…… release!”
Light.
Dawn's radiance.
Wound around my body, instantly forging full plate armor.
[User recognition…… complete.]
This……
Feels just like…… half of the Dawn Sword.
[Authority allocator confirmed…… ‘Master Code 02 - Tersia’.]
In that distant future era.
If future tech crafted medieval plate, it'd feel like this.
[Succession protocol complete. Connecting support AIs to user.]
But there was a problem.
A final battle armor, indeed.
Parts cruelly shattered here and there, blackened, rusted, worn.
[Combat Support AI, Alkaios online.]
[Intellect Support AI, Kadyuel online.]
[Emotion Support AI, Shuriel o, o, o, online!]
[Personality Support AI, Lyukael online!]
But.
Even so, this armor……
Was breathtakingly beautiful.
Ung, ung, ung, ung, ung, ung, ung.
Dawn's radiance flickering from the armor's seams…… wasn't it dazzling enough to entrance?
[Personality Support AI, Lyukael: User's madness level ‘97%’. Stabilizing with personality data.]
[Combat Support AI, Alkaios: User's danger detected. Deploying defense field.]
- User's unique skill, 《Dawn Sword Third Liberation: Divine Resonance》 synchronized with this <Peitezla>.
That moment.
As the frozen clock hands began turning again.
Whiiiiiiiiiiing─────
Tens of thousands of crystal swords surged.
───────Ung, ung, ung, ung!
Exactly then, <Peitezla> erupted dawn radiance in all directions.
Oh my…… God……
The miracle was plain to see.
The ferocious crystal swords swallowed by dawn, vanishing without trace.
「“……What?”」
This was unmistakably plate armor.
But…… light as feathers. Like wearing nothing.
[Intellect Support AI, Kadyuel: Activating vision UI.]
With this.
This power.
I might beat Choi Sin-yul without using ‘that.’
[Combat Support AI, Alkaios: Presenting 5 optimal target engagement options.]
What……?
That instant.
Like my old SWAT days.
A tactical UI activated in my vision, marking killing arrows in red.
[Combat Support AI, Alkaios: <Peitezla>'s signature ability, 《Thunder Command Step》, synchronized with user.]
This, this can't be.
The optimal route to kill Choi Sin-yul?
I didn't hesitate. Selected option 2 without pause.
My body became crimson lightning.
Worlds apart from my old light-shimmer steps…… untreadable trajectory, overwhelming speed.
「“Huh……?”」
Even Sword God Choi Sin-yul.
Only reacted just before I seized his back.
“Berkenxia form shift───────!”
「“………………!”」
“────────[Moonlight Sickle]!”
Chwahaaaaaaaak…………!
Blood droplets scattering everywhere.
Choi Sin-yul clutched his deeply slashed right shoulder, kicking off the ground to retreat.
Berkenxia, form shift.
[White Dharma Palm].
From the ground he'd just dodged.
Kuguguguguguk…… earth and snow blasted everywhere as massive iron stakes erupted.
[Intellect Support AI, Kadyuel: Obstacle recognition. Activating vision obstacle penetration UI.]
I could see.
Even through that dust cloud.
<Peitezla>'s vision UI made it crystal clear.
[Combat Support AI, Alkaios: Approaching threat detected. ‘Danger Level - AAA’. Defense field active.]
Pibibibibibing─────
Crystal swords raining down like arrows.
But caught in <Peitezla>'s Divine Resonance field, they vanished midair.
───Ung, ung, ung, ung, ung, ung!
Incredible.
This…… this thing is the real deal.
What kind of insane armor is this?
Whooooooo……………
As <Peitezla>'s tattered golden cape fluttered in the defense field's backlash.
“Berkenxia, form manifest.”
[Twilight Bow].
I morphed my pure white gauntlets into Twilight Bow form and loosed three twilight shots.
Chalaralarararang…………!
[Combat Support AI, Alkaios: Applying homing to projectiles.]
What……?
Homing?
Kaaaaaaaang───────!
Choi Sin-yul deflected the first twilight shot with swordsmanship, dodged the second and third by turning.
───Ziiiiiiing───!
That instant.
The missed twilight shots arced into the sky, shifted trajectory, then dove at Choi Sin-yul.
─────Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!
A massive heat blast threatening to burst eardrums and eyes.
“Berkenxia, form shift──────!”
Now.
Seize the momentum now.
Choi Sin-yul, caught in the blast, rolling on the ground then rising with a roll.
“────────[Dawn Sword]!”
Then.
The very moment Choi Sin-yul stood.
I surged straight at him with <Peitezla>'s 《Thunder Command Step》, swinging my blade.
“This ends it─────!”
No……?
I thought I severed his neck……?
────Puhaaaaaaaaak!
The Dawn Sword trembled.
Its dawn-gleaming edge……
「“Now I get it……”」
……halted at Choi Sin-yul's throat. Gripped in his right hand.
「“Unique skill armor manifestation.”」
This bastard, what power……?
Kakakaka…… couldn't press into the neck, couldn't pull free.
「“So that's your full power……?”
Choi Sin-yul's stark white eyes.
Ikilas's spiral whirling in those eerie eyes, staring straight at me.
「“Fun…… good……”」
Something.
Something felt off.
A chilling killing intent overwhelming my body.
「“Consider it an honor…… I'll cut you with Sherashul'Toryak's sword……!”」
Danger, too dangerous……!
I barely twisted the Dawn Sword free from his hand and retreated.
────Tududududududuk!
Choi Sin-yul's right fingers scattering blood long across the snow, rolling pitifully.
「“Manifest───!”」
As the incantation left his mouth, the earth began to quake.
Kugugugugugugugu…………
The heaven's outer light flickering……
Now dyed in alien pure white.
………Gooooooo.
「“───────Heavenly Snow Sword Realm”!」