Chapter 77
Chapter 77 - Collision(1)
We headed straight west after leaving Kern.
Kern and this area exist in a vast plain called the 'Plains of Promise', and at the western edge of this plain there is also a trial ground.
I clearly remember the 'Plains of Promise' trial being called during the Trial Veil Gate. I remember it distinctly since it closed shortly after I fell into the Trial Veil.
[Current location of Hero #163417413 Park Jeong-yong]
[Marktress. Western Plains of Promise, near the trial ground 'Promised Second Coming']
I nodded at the map displayed on the Mimir's Eye panel.
Looking around, my view is filled with empty blue fields without a single person in sight. A satisfied voice came out naturally.
"Nice and quiet. No one would know even if we drowned someone here."
The reason for coming here is simple. I just said it myself.
This is a trial ground that closed relatively early. That means the trial content wasn't as difficult as Halcenberg.
In other words, most heroes would have already finished the trial, and there's no place as quiet and empty as this right now.
It's not too far from Kern either, so it's perfect for having a private conversation.
"Now. It's time for a hot physical dialogue."
I found a suitable spot and immediately drew my dual swords.
Whoosh! Bestak and Espada held in both hands. And the blue magic blade that extended from both sides of me let out a dangerous resonance.
"Bite down hard!!"
I shouted boldly and immediately kicked the ground.
Boom! As the ground caved in, my body shot out like an arrow. This level of physical ability is laughable now that my level has shot up to the late 100s.
"Head!"
I spun like a windmill in the air and thrust my sword vertically at Zenon.
Slash! Espada poured down like lightning with added rotational and propulsive force. Until that moment, Zenon remained still in that spot.
This can't be dodged. Just as the image of Zenon being split in half flickered before my eyes.
"...How did you find out where I was staying?"
Such a voice rang out from behind me. And quite far away at that.
When I came to my senses, Zenon's figure had already disappeared from sight. I was momentarily stunned by the unexpected situation.
'What?!'
I turned around to look behind me in shock.
Zenon is standing about 10 meters away. In the same pose as when I was about to strike him.
"...If you're curious, try to find out with force."
I don't like losing in this way.
I immediately shot back and prepared to attack him again.
'Lotus Flower!'
Swish. My vision shakes instantly with the feeling of my body being pulled.
When I came to, Zenon's back covered in rags was right in front of my nose.
No time even to think. I immediately swung the dual swords in my hands in an X pattern.
"Got you!"
Right after I shouted. Zenon's figure vanished like a lie before my eyes.
Whoosh. The sword I swung left a void.
This was the second time. I watched it dumbfoundedly.
"Did you already know my purpose and chase after me?"
Without fail, such a voice rang out from behind me again.
I'd left my back exposed helplessly twice. Zenon's level should have been lower than mine.
Honestly, I was quite shocked.
'What the hell... what is this?'
Is this that famous fantasy cliché? The technique that goes "Where are you attacking? That's just my afterimage."
Actually experiencing this is more unpleasant than I imagined. Damn it.
'It doesn't feel like he's moving quickly...'
I'm certain of that because I know Zenon's specs. That kind of speed, which I can't even track with the naked eye, is something only a Margrave-level figure could possibly achieve.
'There's no muscle movement to begin with.'
Even the fastest movements must have minute preliminary motions. But there's none of that at all.
And something has felt off since earlier. A very unpleasant sense of dissonance.
'Should I test it?'
I gritted my molars and immediately gathered magic power.
Keeng! The magic swords began spinning in a spiral while letting out a cry.
"Seven Sword Pierce!"
Ping ping ping ping! I fired all the magic blades at once.
The magic blades fly towards Zenon's figure with a sharp void sound. And all 14 shots hit.
Good. I got through! Just as I clenched my fist.
"Answer my question."
This time, Zenon's figure suddenly appeared right in front of me.
I held my breath in embarrassment, but this is actually a good opportunity. I smiled precariously and thrust my sword at him.
"Haah!"
Bestak, which flew with a short battle cry, clearly penetrated his body.
But there was no feeling at all. Just as it felt like passing through empty air, Zenon suddenly disappeared.
'As expected.'
While hiding my surprise, I jumped up and hurriedly created distance.
I quietly stared in the direction where Zenon had disappeared while calming my startled heart. After a while, Zenon appears there again as if being reconstructed from far away.
'...That's an illusion.'
The Zenon I see before me must be fake too. That's why there's this sense of dissonance like swinging at empty air.
I bit my lip and recalled a fact I had overlooked.
'That bastard was a mage.'
Right. Come to think of it, he had cast a curse spell on Lucy. Why had I assumed Zenon was obviously a physical fighter? When you're stupid, your body really does suffer.
I said in an irritated voice:
"Why are you just sitting there checking things out? Wannabe assassin”
"Answer the question. Did you already know the purpose of my approach to you?"
"Because you need to turn the immortal Demon King into a sleeping beauty?"
"...!!"
"Looking at your face, I hit the nail right on the head, you son of a bitch."
I laugh fiercely and prepare to charge again. Only then does Zenon suddenly raise his head.
Though still covered in rags and hard to see, confusion was evident on his face.
"Could it be. Did you come here knowing everything?"
"... Know what?"
"Their objective. What's about to happen... No. Whatever. You... Just how much do you know."
This was unexpected.
I thought Zenon would charge at me once I set the stage.
I provoked him so blatantly. I even used his precious little sister to get under his skin.
'Oh. What kind of situation is this?'
But surprisingly, he's the one trying to talk to me. He seems quite curious about how I discovered his identity.
I let out a scoff along with my words.
"I know far more than you think."
"Impossible. I never made any mistakes. Where could the information have leaked from..."
"From a place you'll never know even if you die and come back to life."
Right. As if you'd believe me if I said the future Jena who's already gone told me.
I waved my dual swords near his neck. It meant shut up and stop running your mouth needlessly.
"Shut up and draw your weapon. Let's have a round."
"......"
"We can talk or you can beg after that."
Zenon suddenly fell silent. My eyebrow twitched for a moment at that.
Zenon's demeanor had changed. I felt it.
"... No. You haven't fully grasped their plan."
And just before I was about to charge, Zenon spoke heavily.
I flinched. But I shrugged my shoulders with false bravado. It meant interpret it however you want.
Meanwhile, I felt a chill in my chest at one newly realized fact.
'They?'
He's not alone.
Either it's an organization, or he's acting on someone's orders. At minimum, he has a partner.
'That means...'
In the end, this might not be resolved just by taking down Zenon. I clicked my tongue at the complicated situation.
A question passed across Zenon's face as he stared at me intently.
"Right. If their entire plan had been exposed, you wouldn't have come out of Kern alone."
"What?"
What's that supposed to mean?
If I knew the plan, I wouldn't have left Kern alone?
Then perhaps... Is he saying that to stop their plan, I shouldn't have left Kern alone?
An ominous feeling crept around my chest.
"I should be thankful. Thanks to you, I'll finish this request faster than expected."
Zenon concluded with a sinister smile. Simultaneously, he raised his finger to point at the sky. My gaze followed there involuntarily.
Peeeng-! A sphere of light shot into the sky from his fingertip.
"What..."
"You predicted my actions yet don't know the exact purpose. What a strange one indeed."
As Zenon muttered, paang, the sky burst with bright light. The light sphere he had shot up had exploded.
Fireworks? No. Similar, but that's probably...
'A signal flare.'
Zenon is now sending a signal to someone.
Thump, thump. The sound of my heart pounding shook my brain.