Chapter 89
Chapter 89
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Crodain Family (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I summoned the Holy Sword and stared at my opponent.
Gerard held the sword passed down through generations of family heads.
In the distant future, that would be mine.
But since I had my own exclusive weapon, I probably wouldn’t have much use for it.
Anyway…
Just by taking his stance, he exuded an extraordinary aura.
He didn't appear in the original story, so I didn't know for sure.
But from what my senses told me, his combat power easily surpassed S-rank.
Even with the advantage of my weapon, I’d be severely outmatched.
Then again, the difference wasn’t as great as it seemed.
The true power of the Holy Sword is unleashed when facing demons.
[The stronger the opponent, the more its true value is displayed. Current: 87%]
For now, that was the only relevant trait.
The fact that the value was nearly 100% told me everything I needed to know.
At this point, he was one of the few beings who could contend with the Four Heavenly Kings.
Of course, the Four Heavenly Kings were stronger, but just being able to face them was an incredible feat.
As expected, he had no openings.
It felt like I was looking at a perfected, flawless version of Jace.
“Come on, come at me!”
“…”
A short, powerful cry.
Perhaps because he’d recently attained some enlightenment, his powerful spirit was palpable.
Facing a man in the prime of his life was too harsh a trial.
Of course, it wasn’t like we were fighting to the death.
He would probably stop at just confirming his son's skill.
That was a relief.
I should think of him not as a father, but as an enemy.
Knowing Gerard's personality, he would want me to fight with all my might.
I had to show him my full capabilities to satisfy him and ease his worries.
In a way, that was also a form of filial piety.
I pointed my sword at my dad, but hey, I'm still a good son!
Without a moment’s hesitation, I went all out from the start.
A single strike utilizing Sword Aura and intermediate spirits.
Gerard blocked it with ease, yet he looked genuinely surprised, as if he’d seen something completely unexpected.
“Is that, by any chance…”
Ah, right.
I forgot to tell him about the spirits. Since I hadn’t mentioned them, of course he would be puzzled.
“Well, it just sort of happened.”
“…”
By speaking nonchalantly, I showed him how much I’d changed from before.
In response, he seemed to decide he would ask questions later, continuing the duel with a hardened expression.
Mind's Eye, Sword and Self as One, Perfect State…
It was a rare opportunity, so I drew out every bit of my strength.
I even used the Authority of Overlap to enhance the power of my Sword Aura.
It was a level that surpassed Jace in his prime.
But just as I’d expected, Gerard’s strength was on another level.
None of my attacks could get through.
It was like facing a colossal wall.
Still, I had achieved my initial goal.
Before long, Gerard’s eyes began to gleam sharply.
As if realizing he couldn't take it easy, his fighting spirit began to soar.
“Indeed… you are worthy of being chosen by the Holy Sword. I will get serious now.”
“—!”
Ah, I had a feeling this would happen!
It was nice to be acknowledged, but it also meant I was about to get beaten up.
But I couldn't just let him have his way.
Even if the outcome was already decided, I wanted to land at least one solid hit.
A breathtaking duel between father and son.
Befitting a man in his prime, every one of Gerard's attacks was heavy.
Every time I blocked a blow, I felt my strength being chipped away.
My mana was actually being consumed at an alarming rate.
But thanks to the spirits' blessing, I was able to hold on for quite a while.
“Excellent. I can tell you’ve worked hard.”
He suddenly showered me with praise.
I was already so exhausted I didn’t have the energy to reply.
My unfeeling dad…
I just wanted to land a single hit, but as if to say ‘not a chance,’ he blocked all of his son's attacks.
Well, whatever. It was all over now.
I wouldn’t have to clash with Gerard again.
It was an overwhelming defeat, but I didn't feel particularly resentful.
In a year… no, in just six months, I was planning to surpass his level.
My growth rate had been incredibly fast so far.
And since it was on a trajectory to accelerate even further, I felt no sense of urgency.
Of course, I couldn't let my guard down.
This world was, after all, reality.
A single mistake could lead directly to death.
I couldn't save everyone.
But I had to protect my family and comrades, no matter what.
As I renewed my resolve, Gerard suddenly let his mana explode.
“—??”
Wait, hold on a second…
It's over, so why are you doing this again?
I tried to protest silently with all my might, but it had no effect.
As if to assert his stubbornness, he simply held his stance in silence…
“—!”
In that moment, a shiver ran down my spine.
He gripped his sword with both hands, pulling it back slightly…
That was none other than the preparatory stage for his ultimate art.
It seemed he was about to use a so-called ultimate move.
The literal meaning of an ultimate move is a technique that ensures a person's death.
In other words, getting hit by it could actually kill me.
Even if he went easy on me, I was looking at a ten-week recovery, guaranteed.
Nah, it can't be, right?
Would he really use such a terrifying technique on his son… his one and only heir?
“Now, receive it. I know you can withstand this.”
“…”
My worst fears had come true.
I could tell from his eyes that he was serious.
Well, what could I do? I could only hope he’d take it easy on me.
I wasn’t entirely without a fallback.
Though not explicitly stated, the Holy Sword had a function to protect its master.
At the very least, I wouldn’t be defeated so helplessly.
I raised the Holy Sword upright and slowly began to wring out my mana.
Soon, a dense sword barrier formed around me.
If nothing else, I had become quite skilled at applying Sword Aura.
It was probably thanks to fighting so many duels against kids who would jump me at the drop of a hat.
Before long, Gerard had also finished his preparations.
The flow of mana around him swirled violently.
A power that shook the very laws of the world…
A wave of immense force surged toward me.
*KUUUUNG!*
Indeed, the first impact was anything but ordinary.
A fierce shockwave, strong enough to throw me off balance, struck me again and again.
A second wave, a third, a fourth…
As if insisting it would never end, it crashed over me like a tsunami.
The crystallization of overwhelming power.
This was only because Gerard was holding back; if he had gone all out, I would have been sent flying long ago.
My body grew heavier and heavier.
From the continuous impacts, the arm holding the Holy Sword had already lost all feeling.
My already dwindling mana was being rapidly depleted.
Is this it?
I had reached my limit; there was nothing more I could do.
This is enough, isn't it? I’ve shown him what I can do.
It wasn't that I was weak, just that Gerard was on a higher level.
As my mind grew chaotic, they appeared once again.
-It's easier if you give up!
An angel that looked just like me told me to hurry up and quit.
On the other hand, the devil struck a fighting pose and cheered me on.
-Life isn't that easy. Those who do their best are beautiful. Now is the time to believe in yourself!
You two, I think you’ve got your roles mixed up.
As if it were now the norm, they presented their opposing arguments.
They were still grabbing each other by the collar and fighting.
I ignored them and continued my train of thought.
I was suddenly reminded of my original mindset.
Though my possession of this body was unintentional, I had been happy.
A healthy body that moved according to my will.
Just obtaining that had been more than satisfying.
I had been branded a delinquent, but through constant effort, I had come this far.
Always reminding myself of my resolve to survive at all costs.
I had wished to become strong enough to protect the people precious to me.
“…”
I steeled my heart.
Until the Demon King was defeated, I could not let my guard down.
Give my all in every moment…
The will to never back down, no matter the opponent, was what mattered.
Even if this was just a practice duel.
I couldn’t just give up so easily.
At the very least, I would try one last desperate struggle.
And through that, I would create an opportunity for growth.
My sword barrier was destroyed, and I had only a handful of mana left.
As if in a trance, I slowly swung the Holy Sword.
Losing all track of time, I repeated the series of movements over and over.
And then, at a certain moment, the pressure constricting my body vanished completely.
“—??”
Wait, hold on… something’s strange.
All I did was flail at empty air.
I had just moved on instinct, without any thought.
But Gerard's ultimate art had vanished without a trace.
I stared at him blankly.
Did he withdraw his power at the last second? That didn't seem right…
“—!”
His expression was more astonished than ever before.
He looked as if something completely unbelievable had just occurred.
From the circumstances, it seemed I was the one who did it, but I still had no idea what had happened.
“How utterly absurd. It was a principle that, while theoretically possible, was considered nigh impossible in practice…”
He muttered in admiration.
It seemed my dad had a rough idea of what had happened.
“Did you, by chance, perform it unconsciously?”
“Yes. I just… acted on instinct.”
“I see, that can happen. It’s not an unheard-of phenomenon.”
Exhibiting superhuman abilities in a moment of crisis.
He went on to explain that it was a similar situation.
“Of course, what you showed was beyond that. I can't be certain, but you likely used the principles of the ultimate art against itself to nullify it. Or perhaps you destroyed the core of the technique, reducing it to nothing. Do you know what that means?”
“…”
“I would dare to call it the final destination of martial arts.”
The final destination of martial arts… that was practically the level of a god of war.
A power that didn't just counter an opponent’s attack, but erased it entirely…
Could there be anything more broken than that?
Whether it was the Four Heavenly Kings or the Demon King, they would all be equal before me.
But… was my dad really right?
It sounded good, but nothing was certain.
It was a product of chance.
It was nothing more and nothing less, but Gerard seemed to think differently.
“Remember the sensation from a moment ago. Then, someday, you will be able to control that power.”
He encouraged his son in a firm tone.
At the same time, he couldn't hide his excitement.
Though it was a distant realm for me now, he seemed to be thrilled by the fact that I had shown such potential.
“You will become the best.”
Was it because his wish was so intense?
My own mood began to lift as well.
It made sense; this was a power I had manifested completely unrelated to the system window.
That fact was significant in many ways.
Maybe I'd suddenly awaken and become strong enough to go toe-to-toe with the Demon King?
Well, that was an overly optimistic scenario.
I had definitely nullified Gerard's ultimate art, but I had absolutely no grasp of how I'd done it.
It was beyond perplexing; it was downright confusing.
When it came down to it, I was still a novice.
I had only grown strong quickly thanks to the system's blessing; the actual time I had spent training in swordsmanship was extremely short.
Reaching my current level had been easy because my body remembered it.
But from here on, I would be in unfamiliar territory, so I expected many difficulties.
As if he could tell just by looking at my face, Gerard clapped me on the shoulder.
“When I was your age, I was much weaker than you. This may be as far as I go, but you have nothing but growth ahead of you.”
He put himself down to instill confidence in his son.
To be honest, I liked my mom more, but my dad’s dependability was surprisingly charming…
“If you don’t mind, how about we try that again?”
“—!”
No, are you trying to overdo it?
I felt my breath catch in my throat and shook my head frantically.
Are you trying to kill your son for real?
If I got hit now, I was confident I would actually die.
When I refused with my entire body, he clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“…”
As you can see, the path of filial piety was a difficult one.
Still, my dad was among the top 0.0001% of parents.
He was handsome, strong, and admirable… and above all, I could feel how much he cherished his son.
If this was fate, then it was fate. I decided I would truly think of him as my father and serve him as such.
“In any case, this makes things certain. Originally, I was thinking of establishing a separate knight order and entrusting it to you. But there’s no need for that anymore.”
Was it because I had displayed abilities beyond his expectations?
Gerard was extremely pleased and made a bold decision.
“I will give you command over half of all the family's military forces.”
“Does that mean…”
“That includes the knight order, as well as the five thousand soldiers.”
“—!”
I never imagined he would be this audacious.
The middle-aged man’s boldness far exceeded my expectations.
I had only hoped he would go along with my plan…
But he just broke off half and gave it to me, as if telling me to do as I pleased.
I couldn't help but think, "My dad is the best!"
“Can you handle it?”
The lives of countless people now rested on my shoulders.
The best course of action would be to minimize casualties through efficient combat.
The pressure intensified, but I had to step up to end the war quickly.
“It’s what I’ve been hoping for. I will be sure to live up to your expectations.”
“Good. Go and unfold your will to your heart’s content.”
I recalled the Hero's mission and made another vow.
That I would join forces with everyone to bring peace to this world.
Well, if everything went according to the guide, it shouldn't be too difficult.