Demon Sword Kaleon

My Mana Reinforcement was a little different from the skill that ordinary challengers had. It was the same cheat skill that bloated all my specs, but there were differences in the fine details. Why? Because I hadn't farmed a skillbook like other challengers or acquired Mana Reinforcement through my class specs.

My Mana Reinforcement had been registered as a skill in the same way as all my weapon technique skills—it was a technique I'd mastered on my own.

-Thwack!

The Demon King's tail attack shot toward me like an arrow. I thrust out my left arm, wrapped in Iron Wall, and deflected it. A boom rang out as the mana-infused tail bounced right off. The wide-area splash damage that came with every one of the Demon King's attacks was completely ignored. Thanks to the unique defensive effect of Mana Reinforcement.

Mana Reinforcement amplified both my stamina stat and defense separately, and on top of that, it provided its own unique protective ability through the mana coiled around me. That's why my already unparalleled defense among all my specs got amplified several times over. I could tank an attack like this no problem.

-Kwarung!

With a thunderous roar, I dove straight into the Demon King's embrace. I thrust my sword in a straight line.

-Crunch!

The blade pierced the Demon King's tough body, snapping every bone and reaching its organs. That was because I'd switched weapons to boost my attack power, and Mana Reinforcement had amplified it even further. The first big difference between my Mana Reinforcement and other challengers': the sheer magnitude of the boost.

"Hup!"

I twisted the hilt of the embedded sword 90 degrees to change the blade's angle, then ripped upward. It ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠shredded through connected bones and organs alike, the sword that had gone in through its gut emerging at shoulder level. A sword exerts its most destructive power when the entry and exit paths differ. It's just hard to pull off at will. But in my current state, with all stats bloated ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by Mana Reinforcement, it was a breeze.

"Keurk!"

A red critical effect exploded in one shot, and the Demon King crumpled. Part of me wanted to mock its pathetic state, but since I'd used Mana Reinforcement, it was best to end the fight quick. I swung my body wide, bringing my sword down hard toward the neck of the kneeling Demon King. More like a smash than a slash. It wasn't the proper way to use a sword, but the overwhelming output of Mana Reinforcement turned that brute-force strike into a valid attack.

-Kwajik!

It severed the arm the Demon King had raised in guard, the blade sinking halfway into its neck. Then came the follow-up.

-Pajijik!

The overflowing mana from Mana Reinforcement mixed with the lightning attribute of Lightning Charge and surged forth. The Demon King shuddered, letting out a "Ughruk" as powerful electricity coursed through its neck. Strength was visibly draining from its body. Man, even with the blade half-buried in its neck, it wouldn't die. Demons really had insane vitality. Or maybe I wouldn't die from a sword in the neck either. Back on Floor 3 with the lizardmen—my neck got stabbed once there and I survived. Though the enemy was a total retard that time.

"Just fucking die already."

I poured strength into my arm and cleaved through the rest of the half-severed neck.

-Kwajik!

They say every stiff neck ends up in the Demon King's hands. Did that happen because I said I'd eat a Demon King? Well, your stiff neck was in my hands now.

The moment that thought crossed my mind, the clear messages popped up along with the Demon King's severed head crumbling to ash.

After slaying the Demon King, I quickly released Mana Reinforcement. Agonizing pain ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flooded my entire body. It felt like every muscle fiber and blood vessel was tearing in real time.

"Gaaaargh, fuuuck...!"

The second big difference between my Mana Reinforcement and other challengers': the backlash after use was just as intense as the output. Maybe because of the emotional state when I first awakened, it was way too unstable compared to theirs. It didn't fit my basic combat style, built on high sustained fighting—it was a risky burst doping skill.

"Ah, fuck, shouldn't have used it, shouldn't have fuuucking used it... Graaah."

I rolled on the ground in agony, not even checking my rewards. This shit hurt like hell. The high output was nothing but poison right now. My base specs were already so good that Mana Reinforcement just turned everything into overkill. Still, I had to keep using it steadily to level the skill and improve proficiency, so in situations like this, I forced myself to.

"Agh, fuck, fuuuck..."

I couldn't help the curses spilling out every time. Potions wouldn't even touch this pain.

-Does it hurt?

Suddenly, someone sent me a telepathic message. What the fuck? Were there surviving demons? I'd killed them all?

-Seize me. I'll take away your pain.

I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠deployed mana sensing to pinpoint the telepathy's source. It was right in front of me—the gray sword the Demon King's body had turned into. No way the sword was talking to me? A sword? Come to think of it, one of the rewards was some demon sword. Telling me to grab it right away, and the name Demon Sword—it was way too obvious.

-Don't you want infinite power? I can give it to you. The moment you grasp me, the gray power will be yours.

Groaning, I staggered to my feet and approached the gray sword. The solid mana I'd felt from the Gray Demon King's body emanated from it unchanged.

Staring at the demon sword brought up the system interface, displaying its info.

The unique passive looked ridiculously good too—a weapon with specs way above its floor level. The source was probably the visible item grade. Epic grade, higher than Unique. The only other Epic I had was Elenoir's soul. Who knew I'd snag another one here.

But the equip conditions bugged me. No level or mastery requirements, but some weird restriction.

[Equip Restriction: Contractor of Demon Sword Kaleon]

I had no idea what the contract meant, but contracting with a demon sword screamed "not normal." And what did this have to do with the Gray Demon King? Was there some hidden lore I didn't know? Like, maybe the Demon King was a demon who'd claimed the sword—I'd have to tell the community historians later.

"Let's see."

Without much thought, I gripped the demon sword. Strange mana started flowing from it into me.

-Yes, that's it! From now on, you'll be the new Gray Demon King!

The slimy mana seeped into my body, trying to erode it. Typical demon sword—trying to take over my body. Guess that's what the contract meant. No wonder it had such cheat performance. Fuck, this item was trying to screw me over.

"Don't get cocky."

-Kurrung!

I activated Mana Reinforcement to push back the demon sword's mana. Sure, it had superior density and volume, but with my Mana Control, that didn't matter much. Combat wasn't just about brute force—I sharpened my mana and shredded the sword's mana particle by particle.

-What are you doing? Stop it now—stop, I said!

I systematically crushed the arrogant power that had dared erode my body, then poured my own mana in. Infusing mana into a weapon to dominate it was routine for me, who'd strengthened a single steel straight sword with mana to fight. It didn't take long—I successfully eroded and suppressed the demon sword with my mana instead.

The demon sword's info window changed—no more chatter, and "demon sword" was gone from the name. The item grade dropped from Epic to Unique, and the options and base performance shifted. Looked like it had some grand backstory, but it ended without me knowing shit.

"What the hell was that?"

"More than that, fuuuck... Mana Rein... forcement...!"

I was just writhing from the aftershocks of using Mana Reinforcement one extra time for no reason.