Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: The Demon-Slaying Sword's Judgment
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BOOOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the ground as if an earthquake had struck.
"What the hell was that?"
"You felt it too? So did I."
The quake and blast were so intense they pierced even the roaring cheers of the crowd.
Every spectator felt it, leading to a momentary silence before murmurs swelled into a growing buzz.
And at the center of the dome, where the crowd had gathered for the show...
Sword Tiger and Golden Cat, standing in the arena, scowled at each other.
"You heard that too, huh?"
"You mean the freak out there wielding a Marquis-level demon's weapon?"
"Can you even say that? I thought it was classified."
Sword Tiger shrugged.
"Doesn't matter. The crowd's attention's off us now."
Golden Cat glanced at the spectators following Sword Tiger's words.
The fans who'd been fixated on the arena were now staring off in different directions.
Seeing them whispering instead of cheering, Golden Cat smirked.
"Feels like yesterday you were shaking like a kid and running away. Grown a bit, have we?"
"Your turn this time. Just like in that hotel room."
Sword Tiger drew his sword.
His clean draw halted mid-air, the blade tip aimed straight at Golden Cat's throat.
Golden Cat's eyebrows twitched in irritation as he pointed outside the dome.
"You're joking, right? There's a Count-level demon out there right now!"
"Doesn't matter. It'll be over quick."
"You banking on Battle King or the others? Get real—even they can't handle a Count-level. You'd need Royal Class for that."
Golden Cat spoke like he was lecturing a clueless child.
But Sword Tiger just snorted mockingly at his words, infusing mana into his blade.
"Heh, it's not them I'm counting on."
"What? If not them, then who... No way."
Golden Cat's eyebrows twitched again.
If not Battle King, then who? One name flashed through his mind.
The bastard who'd twisted his guts in agony.
Yong-un.
"You're serious...?"
"You know, living with my master, I've never once imagined him falling. Not even to a demon."
"Hey!"
"It's wild, even for me. Think you won't feel it too? Heh."
The sword aura cloaking Sword Tiger's blade vibrated, extending toward Golden Cat.
Realizing it could pierce his throat, Golden Cat hastily summoned his yellow mana again, swinging his hand.
Clang!
Sword Tiger's sword aura clashed with Golden Cat's yellow mana, ringing out clearly.
And with that, their battle erupted into chaos amid the asura field.
In that moment when all eyes were elsewhere...
BOOOOM!
At the moment of the explosion.
Sword Dragon, mid-reach, leaped back desperately to escape the blast radius.
'What the hell was that?'
He couldn't gauge how massive the explosion would be—the worst possible situation.
Yet Sword Dragon couldn't stop thinking about the shadow he'd glimpsed just before it started.
Wasn't it bizarre?
Even with all his senses maxed out for any contingency, he hadn't detected the presence entering that blast.
Not even the so-called strongest, Battle King, could pull that off. Sword Dragon shook his head.
'Impossible.'
He was denying what he'd seen.
Because it was impossible.
Hiding one's presence was one thing, but entering at that exact moment with such speed? No way.
'Forget it. Priority one: get clear of this explosion.'
Getting caught in it meant certain death.
Shaking off the thought, Sword Dragon gathered mana.
'Dodge.'
And as he eyed the blast—
His feet froze to the ground.
Ruuuumble.
That much mana and power condensing—he figured it'd soon erupt, obliterating a third of the dome.
The writhing mana storm confirmed it was imminent.
But just as Sword Dragon tensed to launch—
Something unbelievable happened before his eyes.
"...!?"
The condensing mana storm didn't explode.
It compressed even further.
"What the...?"
Sword Dragon's feet wouldn't budge from the incomprehensible sight.
The mana storm shrank steadily, soon small enough to reveal Battle King's form—smaller than the explosion itself.
Then it compacted until even Daemon was visible, defying Sword Dragon's eyes.
But at the blast's center stood not just Battle King and Daemon.
"That guy's..."
A familiar face.
Yong-un stood between Battle King's fist and Daemon's sword, blocking both attacks with his bare hands.
'So that shadow was...'
The shadow he'd dismissed as impossible.
Seeing its owner, goosebumps erupted across Sword Dragon's skin.
"So it's come to this."
"You?"
Battle King withdrew his fist, face grave.
"Y-You...!"
Daemon yanked back his sword in panic, clutching it like a child caught with a forbidden toy by his parents.
Yong-un glanced at them both, then hurled his clenched fist skyward like pitching a baseball.
Whiiiish!
The vanished explosion's glow trailed as a streak of light, rocketing high into the sky.
And then—
BOOOOOOM!
A colossal blast erupted far above, unleashing storm-like winds.
"Ngh!"
Battle King, Sword Dragon, and Daemon shielded their faces and crouched.
The massive explosion's mana shockwave cracked the ground, warping nearby trees and cars.
Whoooosh.
The lingering mana storm faded.
Battle King, Sword Dragon, and Daemon slowly opened their eyes, blinded earlier by wind and mana.
The devastated landscape came into view—and amid it all, Yong-un stood unscathed.
"The explosion..."
"...didn't vanish."
Sword Dragon and Battle King stared gravely at Yong-un.
"Hiiik!"
Unlike them, Daemon bolted upon seeing Yong-un, fleeing like a terrified dog.
"That bastard."
They hadn't anticipated Daemon running.
If he headed into the crowded downtown, the casualties would be unimaginable. Battle King surged his mana.
As he tensed to pursue—
Yong-un's hand landed on his shoulder.
"I'll handle it."
Before Battle King could respond, Yong-un vanished from the spot.
At a speed neither Battle King nor Sword Dragon could track.
'I hoped it wouldn't come to this...'
The scenery stretched like taffy, whipping past.
Amid it, Daemon fled without looking back, screaming.
'G-Gotta run.'
Daemon had soloed GHO Hunters and snipers, withstood Battle King and Sword Dragon's joint assault.
Yet now, he fled from Yong-un.
Overwhelmed by terror boiling from his chest.
'Why the hell am I running?'
But mid-stride, doubt crept in.
'Who is that guy that even I—who beat Battle King—am running?'
Daemon clutched his head, scowling.
His skull throbbed like it might split.
Yet no memories surfaced.
Just a burning desire to grow stronger and slaughter visible Hunters.
"Who the hell is he to scare me like this... Who...?"
Thwack!
"Gah!"
Fueled by sudden rage, he'd halted to wreck the surroundings—
When a neck-snapping impact froze the blurring scenery.
His head rang, breath cut off.
Stomach churning like after Battle King's hits, vision spinning.
'It's fine. I've got the Marquis's weapon. It'll be okay soon.'
Like after Battle King thrashed him.
Daemon grinned creepily.
'And I'll get stronger. Kill that scary bastard too.'
This Demon-Slaying Sword will make me.
Like how he'd surged after Battle King, Daemon believed it'd happen again.
But his sweet delusion shattered like glass at the voice.
"Devoured, are you?"
"...?!"
Daemon's eyes bulged.
His viewpoint higher than usual, Yong-un's face loomed, arm extended.
"Hiiik!"
Terror wracked him again, limbs flailing.
"Let go! Let go!"
But Yong-un's grip on his throat was ironclad.
"I said let go!"
As he thrashed wildly—
Yong-un's gaze shifted to the Demon-Slaying Sword in Daemon's hand.
"What a stubborn bond."
In that instant, the sword slipped from Daemon's grasp.
It flew through the air, settling perfectly into Yong-un's hand.
Like returning to its true master.
"Come here!"
Seeing the sword in Yong-un's hand instead of his, Daemon strained, veins bulging on his neck, reaching out.
"Give it back! It's mine! Give it!"
His emotions flipped in a heartbeat.
Face purpling from asphyxiation, yet his obsession with the Demon-Slaying Sword held firm.
Eyes bloodshot, he clawed desperately—a madman who'd fool even a jiangshi.
Yong-un couldn't just watch. He slammed Daemon into the ground.
Thud!
"Keurgh!"
The earth cratered deeply.
Daemon vomited blood from the impact.
"G-Give... it..."
His focus shattered from the concussion.
Yet he crawled, seizing Yong-un's foot.
A horrific obsession to grasp the sword even in death.
Yong-un eyed the sword wistfully.
"Old friend, I wished another righteous soul had reformed you. But it ends like this."
"M-Mine... Give..."
Yong-un's gaze turned to Daemon.
"Tsk tsk. So strong-willed. Reaching out despite knowing it's poison?"
"Mine... Let..."
Blood-flecked drool spilled as he stretched toward Yong-un.
"Fine. Take it."
Yong-un placed the sword in the outstretched hand.
Daemon's fading focus sharpened, black aura rising slowly.
Precisely, the Heavenly Demon Cult's demonic energy.
But only for a moment.
"Grrrrgh..."
Crack. Snap.
As Yong-un's gaze swept Daemon's arms, legs, and chest, bones shattered where it lingered, crushed by immense force.
"Gaaaah!"
Legs buckled, arms dangled limply.
Blood oozed from the caved chest.
Yet he clung to the Demon-Slaying Sword.
"The Demon-Slaying Sword is my comrade. A cursed blade that walked my path. Even if it wields my arts, it can't mend broken bones."
"Ughhhh."
Like a puppet with cut strings, mouth agape in agony. Yong-un clicked his tongue, shaking his head.
"I have family, so I can't take you. In this world full of unknown powers, someone will find a way to redeem you."
Hummm. Whoooohm.
As if understanding, the sword resonated loudly.
But Yong-un coldly averted his gaze.
"I want to believe in this world still. But if you can't be redeemed..."
His eyes snapped wide.
"I'll shatter you myself."
His gaze locked on the sword, unleashing unprecedented killing intent.
Whirr...
Fearful of the Sword Demon's malice?
The loudly humming sword fell silent, swallowing its black glow.
In Daemon's broken hand, the sword's light died.
Yong-un turned away without regret.
This was Daemon's greed, sword or no.
He etched the dying man's final sight into memory, then headed toward the dome's entrance.
Leaving Daemon as a grim example.