Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Cliffside Fury
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“...How dare you lay a hand on my son.”
A thick veil of rage settled over Natarsian's face as he pursued Kollepton.
‘His love for his son runs this deep?’
A smile tugged at Kollepton's lips as he raced through the dense forest toward somewhere.
Thud-.
He burst out of the woods and climbed to the mountain peak.
Hanging from a thick tree at the cliff's edge was Demian, head drooped downward.
Kollepton approached and lifted his chin.
“Still out cold?”
“Get your hands off him!”
Natarsian emerged from the forest and thrust his sword forward.
Whoosh-.
A fierce aura blade hurtled toward him.
“What's the rush?”
Kollepton extended his arm.
Boom!
His palm, wrapped in black aura, blocked the aura blade.
“...!”
Natarsian's face hardened.
It wasn't his full power, but it was still an attack from a Grand Sword Master.
No one could block it barehanded.
Kollepton flashed a sinister grin and showed him Demian's face.
“He's still alive.”
“I told you to get your hands off...”
Natarsian's features twisted as a tremendous pressure erupted from him.
Boom-!
A tidal wave of momentum surged forward.
But it halted just before Kollepton.
Natarsian had reined it in, fearing the tree holding Demian might snap and send him tumbling over the cliff.
In contrast, the pressure ravaged everything else in its path.
Enveloped in red aura, he leveled his cold gaze at Kollepton and aimed his sword.
“I'll tear you apart.”
He kicked off the ground and charged.
“Shall we get serious?”
Kollepton rushed to meet him.
At the same moment, he unleashed his full darkness energy.
The already dim surroundings plunged into deeper shadow, and Kollepton's body became cloaked in aura just like Natarsian's.
He thrust out a fist wrapped in pitch-black aura.
Boom-.
It exploded through the air like thunder, the aura fist streaking forward like lightning.
“An attack like that...”
Natarsian gripped his sword tight and drew it back toward his side.
Then, aiming at the incoming black aura fist, he unleashed his ultimate technique with full force.
Peridri Style First Form.
Flash!
The sword blazed in an instant.
No sound emerged.
Just a single streak of red light shot forth like lightning.
“...!”
Kollepton's face tightened slightly.
It was the exact same technique Demian had used on him, but worlds apart.
“Yes, now that's more like it.”
Crunch.
Kollepton clenched his fist, bringing it to his side and gathering mana.
He waited for the enemy's strike to collide with his aura fist.
As the aura around his fist grew denser,
Boom!
The two auras clashed.
As expected, the red flash pierced the fist and bore down on him. The closer it came, the brighter it burned, carrying terrifying pressure.
Crunch-.
“Darkness shall...”
Kollepton's clenched fist vanished entirely within the black aura.
“...devour the light!”
He shot his fist forward like lightning.
It made no sound either, streaking through the air amid even deeper darkness.
Red light and blackness collided.
Flash!
It blazed blindingly before vanishing, unleashing a vast shockwave.
Boom-.
“...!”
Natarsian and Kollepton swiftly deployed Defense Armor.
Debris flew with the momentum, battering their defenses.
Thud thud thud- Boom! Kaboom!
Fortunately, the tree holding Demian was behind Kollepton, sparing it from the shockwave and fragments.
The aftermath of the aura clash lingered for several seconds before fading.
The surrounding forest was gone.
Trees, rocks, boulders—everything had vanished, leaving a barren, desolate wasteland.
“Whoa~ You're exceeding expectations.”
Kollepton fiddled with his fist, his face alight with surprise.
Natarsian's expression, meanwhile, was grim as stone.
‘Blocking an ultimate technique with his bare fist...’
It went beyond surprise into shock.
A Grand Sword Master's ultimate was a perfected strike.
He hadn't expected it to be repelled so easily.
With his darkness power fully unleashed, Kollepton felt markedly stronger than before.
Beyond him, Demian's face came into view.
Rage boiled in Natarsian's veins.
“Fine! Let's go all out.”
Red aura flowed from Natarsian's eyes.
The sword in his hand floated into the air, flames erupting to envelop it.
Mind Sword deployed.
As endless mana surged into it, the sword hummed as if vibrating.
Whiiiirrr-.
“What's this?”
Kollepton sensed the ominous atmosphere.
Any more toying around could prove fatal.
“Hmm.”
The guy hadn't arrived yet. Going all out now would mean killing him.
‘Should I give up?’
Kollepton pondered briefly before deciding.
“No need to take unnecessary risks.”
He stepped toward Natarsian. With each step, his form began to change.
Fwoosh-.
Wings unfurled from his back.
The armor encasing his body shattered.
His limbs sprouted fur and elongated into hooked claws.
Blades sharp as sword edges bristled across his torso, and a spiked tail emerged.
Finally, he levitated, his face twisting into a grotesque monster.
It resembled a serpent's head, with slitted yellow pupils.
Kollepton's true form.
Roooaaarrr-!
His roar echoed through the Gopra Mountains.
Each flick of his elongated tongue released a nauseating stench.
It could choke any ordinary knight just from the smell.
“Die... now.”
He flapped his wings, unleashing a barrage of dozens of daggers at Natarsian.
Natarsian twirled two fingers in a circle.
His floating sword spun rapidly, deflecting every incoming dagger.
Kollepton charged straight at the sword.
Natarsian's face stiffened at the unexpected assault.
Kollepton batted the sword aside and slammed into his chest.
The surprise blow landed.
“Gah-.”
Natarsian spewed blood and flew backward.
Kollepton swooped in, seizing the fallen Natarsian with his hooked claw and thrusting.
“...!”
An aura fist rocketed forth.
Boom!
It dented the silver armor deeply.
Even in his true form, he wielded the Awakener's techniques freely.
He fired another aura fist.
Boom!
The armor at the shoulder tore away.
Landing on the ground, he clamped his foot around Natarsian's head and sneered.
“Your... son... is... mine.”
As he prepared to crush the helmet and skull together!
Natarsian's eyes snapped open, and he whipped his arm.
His sword flashed forward, slicing the leg gripping his head.
“...!”
The leg severed.
Kollepton's eyes bulged in shock. He threw his head back and unleashed his fury.
“Kiiiaaaak-!”
Natarsian, barely escaping the crisis, fixed him with emotionless eyes.
Red aura cloaked him once more, his momentum surging as bits of earth floated into the air.
A sword wrapped in red aura materialized before him.
Its tip locked on Kollepton.
Peridri Style Second Form.
Sky Piercer!
He thrust his arm forward with all his might.
No reaction this time—the sword vanished.
Natarsian was certain the monster would vanish with a hole in its chest, unaware.
“What the...”
His prediction failed.
Kollepton had folded his wings like a shield over his chest, blocking the sword.
The blade sank halfway in amid intense pressure, but its momentum died there.
“Try... harder!”
At Kollepton's shout, something powerful plummeted from the sky.
The darkness spirit, Krasena.
-It took a while to deal with those pests.
She eyed Natarsian with a predatory gleam, licking her lips.
-Worthy of your interest, Lord Kollepton.
“Thank... you... for... the... assist.”
Black aura flowed from Kollepton's severed leg, regenerating the missing foot.
‘Damn it!’
Natarsian hadn't known the monster could regenerate.
And he couldn't identify the newcomer.
It radiated dark energy, but murkier, more sinister than Kollepton's.
The worst possible scenario.
Yet even if he died here, he had to save Demian.
Gazing past Kollepton at his son, Natarsian steeled himself.
“I'll show you...”
He extended his arm sideways, and the sword flew to his hand like an extension of his body.
His other hand gripped it tight.
“...my true power.”
Fwoosh-.
Flames burst along the blade, making the sword appear enormous.
Kollepton sensed his momentum peaking, preparing a final strike.
But with Krasena blocking, he had no worries.
All he needed was to brainwash him during her distraction.
“Do... it.”
-Shall we play?
Krasena's eyes gleamed as she charged Natarsian.
“...!”
Natarsian blinked in shock as she appeared before him instantly.
Black aura slammed into him from all sides.
Thud thud thud-!
“Argh!”
He screamed and tumbled back.
The unprecedented attack left him no time to react.
The shock pierced to his bones.
But it didn't end there.
It churned through his body like a whirlwind.
“Urk-.”
Natarsian gritted his teeth against the agony.
He seized his sword like a staff and rose, glaring at Krasena.
-Coming again. Block this~
Krasena vanished.
“Damn!”
Natarsian couldn't sense her presence.
He swung wildly in all directions to ward off her approach.
-Aww, disappointing.
“...!”
Behind him.
He spun, slashing.
Whoosh-.
A wide red aura blade swept the area like area-of-effect magic.
-What are you doing? I'm up here.
Krasena hovered overhead, pouting.
-Humans are so frail.
“...!”
He sensed her at last.
A spirit!
It matched the aura from the spirits Arthur Julius had summoned.
‘What kind of spirit...’
Despair clouded Natarsian's face.
The world seemed to crumble; his will shattered.
Even as a Grand Sword Master, he was powerless before a spirit.
‘It's over.’
As he surrendered everything, Arthur suddenly crossed his mind.
What if he'd accepted the offer when Arthur came to him?
He might have avoided this.
Regret flooded him too late—then Demian's cry rang out.
“Father!”
Natarsian looked toward Demian.
His son was conscious.
But Kollepton was gone.
‘Where...!’
Thud.
A massive hand clamped onto his head.
Kollepton.
The monster had snuck behind him.
“You're... all... mine.”
Kollepton gripped his head and his eyes flashed.
Natarsian's gaze lost focus; the sword slipped from his hand.
Demian bellowed at the sight.
“No!”
-Congratulations in advance, Lord Kollepton.
As Krasena smirked slyly.
Screee-.
A sharp whine pierced the air.
Something gold-tinged streaked like lightning.
-Lord Kollepton!
“...!”
Kollepton halted the brainwashing and turned.
A massive aura blast hurtled in.
He sensed the hated energy too.
Too late to dodge—he wrapped his wings around himself.
Kaboom!
A colossal explosion.
Pain like a high-tier spell direct-hit engulfed Kollepton.
“Kraaaah!”
A mere lump of aura, yet its impact dwarfed ordinary ones.
A scorching gale passed, leaving his wings in tatters.
“Who... the hell... are you?”
As furious Kollepton scanned with killing intent.
Another sharp whine.
Screee-.
He whipped toward the sound.
A gold-tinged aura streaked like lightning.
“Block... it!”
As Krasena moved to shield him with a darkness veil.
Blinding light erupted.
-Th, this light...
Nigras appeared.
Eyes wide, he glared at Krasena.
-Return to whence you came!
He thrust his hand; blinding light shot forth like lightning.
-Damn you.
Krasena dissolved into the light.
The golden aura then smashed into Kollepton.
Boom-!
“Kiiiaaaak!”
He shrieked, ears ringing.
One wing hung in shredded rags, half-torn.
“Was it you who devoured Artisan?”
Arthur emerged from the forest.
A peculiar glowing orb on his shoulder pulsed assertively.
Arthur's new summoned weapon. The RPG-7.