Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Black Storm (3)
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Camillia Andalusia's gaze soon shifted past me toward Dang Moojin.
She must have been uncomfortable with him sprawling out the moment the match began.
Still, the firepower Dang Moojin had shown earlier was beyond imagination.
A single strike on par with Myoran.
For a moment, I even suspected he might be Myoran in disguise.
But when I supported her and glimpsed the small tattoo on her ankle...
That was when I finally dispelled my doubts.
No matter how overflowing with yin energy Myoran was, she wouldn't have a tattoo like that.
In other words, my partner was indeed a glass cannon.
I had to hold out until she could recharge her technique.
If anything, that worked in my favor.
If I took out both opponents single-handedly, they couldn't drag me down from the warden position citing my skills anymore.
'Time to prove it properly.'
I drew Anje Renault's sword from my belt.
With the steadfast stride of my days as Knight Commander, I advanced to the center of the arena.
"......"
Meanwhile, Steelman glanced back toward Dang Sopa.
"Hey, you okay?"
"......"
Dang Sopa seemed considerably flustered, unable to open his mouth easily.
A lowly warrior he hadn't even registered as an enemy had suddenly unleashed a Sword Sage's strike. He was dumbfounded.
"I'm fine. But it looks like my shoulder got sliced along with the sword aura."
Blood dripped steadily from beneath his black sleeve.
His tendons must have been severed; one arm dangled limply and ragged.
"Is he really that strong?"
"Yeah, that's not someone from our group that I knew."
Dang Sopa picked up his bamboo hat with his remaining arm.
He adjusted the tattered brim and issued a warning.
"He's someone else wearing Dang Moojin's skin."
"So they swapped people out?"
"That's right. Seems the warden prepared some cunning trick."
"The Minster family after all."
The two eyed the silver-haired man striding to the center warily.
He had eliminated his useless partner and disguised his own weapon to join in.
The moment the match started, that weapon had severed his opponent's arm.
And now, the meticulous precision to finish it alone.
"How long do you think it'll take for you to recover?"
"I could fight right now if it's a battle. But since I don't know that guy's strength, I'm wary."
Dang Sopa winced at his injured shoulder.
Seeing this, Steelman chided him in the refined manner of a noble knight.
"Then rest and prepare your hidden weapons. I'll handle him alone."
"You sure? He's skilled not just with the longsword but daggers too."
"I prefer one-on-one anyway."
"In that case... I leave it to you."
As the Eastern master focused his inner energy on his injured arm,
Holy Knights Order Commander Steelman walked to the center.
"It's Commander Steelman!!"
"Commander, please crush the Minster family!!"
Cheers and applause erupted from countless women.
His entrance completely erased the memory of Dang Moojin's iaijutsu from moments ago.
That was the influence and fame of the 'Prophet' Steelman.
If I was darkness, he was a being of light.
Even if the Holy See committed foolish atrocities, his mere presence allowed them to dream of resurgence at any time.
"Derek Minster."
The commander drew his famed sword, Hisperia.
With it, he had slain countless monsters and villains until now.
"I heard from your partner—he doesn't seem to be Dang Moojin after all."
He believed he grew even stronger when facing villains.
"You acted dishonorably first, so don't hold it against me."
Steelman was now convinced.
The warden was a venomous serpent who spared no means or methods to win.
"My faith may be shallow, but I get stronger against villains."
Roar―――.
Pure white flames erupted along Hisperia.
They enveloped the long blade, exuding an overwhelming menace.
"It's out—the Flames of Purification...!!"
"The technique that only ignites when slaying evil!"
It was indeed a performance that captivated the audience.
The Empire's citizens had waited solely for this moment since Steelman's name appeared as a participant.
"Today, in the name of God, I shall judge you."
In the name of God, my ass.
In truth, it wasn't some divine blessing.
It was just holy power mixed into flame magic for a white glow effect.
That said, Steelman wasn't weak by any means.
His flames clung to clashing foes, inflicting continuous damage.
I had to end it before the damage piled up on me.
"Flames of Purification? Hilarious."
I adjusted my black uniform cap.
From the shadowed face, green eyes brimming with venom glared fiercely.
"While you lot cling to your pathetic religion, I've shouldered far more."
The golden lion badge symbolizing the warden gleamed on my chest.
I tucked it into my pocket for a moment and infused magic into my sword.
Today, I wasn't standing as some frontier warden.
I stood as the regressor who had once held back annihilation alone.
"So cut the nonsense and let's get started."
The platinum-haired holy knight smirked.
He charged at the villain who showed no hint of faith, with all his might.
Where the holy knight passed, pure white flames bloomed beautifully.
The sight drove the audience into even greater frenzy.
Even the princess burning with jealousy tensed up again.
Screeech―――!!
It was the most chilling sword swing I'd ever heard.
The sound was so immense and sharp that even the pitifully prone Dang Moojin lifted his head.
But.
"Dodging that...?"
I'd heard strikes like this countless times in the previous timeline.
Clashed with them until I was sick of it, endured them until I was numb.
"You thought that was impressive?"
Stepping aside let his sword slam into the ground.
Dust billowed up from the dirt in a hazy cloud.
The moment visibility was blocked,
I swung my sword precisely with the eyes of an assassin accustomed to darkness.
Clang―――!!
Steelman defended on instinct, thanks to his accumulated experience.
He furrowed his brows sharply and pressed harder in response.
Roar!!
The white flames leaped from Anje's sword to my body.
Yet despite the scorching heat, I didn't flinch an inch.
"......?"
Steelman recoiled at the warden's savage face, staring solely at him even as the flames singed him.
The young warriors he'd faced before always winced from the burning pain.
That momentary disruption in focus was supposed to be his strategy.
"What the hell...?"
Instead, he was the one flustered.
And I exploited the opening in reverse.
Screech―――.
Anje's sword slid cleanly off Hisperia's blade.
His blade reached all the way to my hilt.
His weapon's balance completely shattered.
The instant his grip loosened,
"Kuh...!!"
I spun and slashed his side.
Tearing the pristine white uniform long and deep.
"Shattering a defensive spell in one go...?"
"Maybe because I'm a 'villain,' it's dealing extra damage to you."
He realized my swordsmanship was sharper than expected.
I wasn't just some prison slob toying with inmates and drowning in booze.
"You... what the hell are you? A mere warden can't wield swordplay like this."
"Ask your precious god why I'm beyond spec."
The sight stunned even the princess rising from the railing to watch,
Dang Moojin watching with inner concern,
And Grand Elder Dark and Anje Renault viewing remotely through the crystal orb.
"He's fighting better than I thought."
Camillia Andalusia murmured, stroking the key in her hand.
If the warden got hurt, she planned to halt the match and drag him to her clinic.
Use treatment as an excuse to tame him over weeks, no, months.
"Well, seeing him look this dashing isn't bad either."
His unexpectedly manly figure made her lips curve subtly.
The cat-masked woman was the same.
Before she knew it, she was watching the warden's swordplay with a relaxed expression.
"He's using the techniques I taught him... cleverly, if a bit rough still."
She envisioned training swordsmanship with him in the household where replica flowers bloomed.
Teaching their many children together.
"At this level, I could trust him with the household."
Everyone backing the warden began viewing the situation positively.
But one among them thought differently.
Grand Elder Dark, watching with Anje through the crystal orb.
"The real problem is ahead."
"What's so serious?"
The green-haired princess peeked out and asked.
The taciturn Anje seated her on the sofa and explained.
"Because of Steelman's Flames of Purification."
"Didn't know even saintesses knew duels well. You're right."
Grand Elder nodded approvingly.
"Derek got in a lucky hit now, but it'll be disadvantageous from here."
"Stealman's sword burns foes with every clash,"
Anje added gravely, as a former Holy See member.
"The longer it drags, the more the flames spread to Derek and wear him down."
The princess sulked, glancing between the saintess and elder.
Then she chuckled alone and shrugged.
"Why so serious? You think the warden will lose?"
She recalled the golden-magic man she'd fought 200 years ago.
The one who single-handedly tore apart the black mages worshiping her.
"Not from what I see."
The warden, identical to that man in her memory.
She was certain he wouldn't crumble easily.
"I don't think he'll lose either. Just worried about burn aftereffects."
"Right. That firm skin and flesh getting scorched would be a shame. I applied buffs last night, but they won't hold long."
Grand Elder and the princess turned to the saintess in unison.
Her last line was oddly suggestive.
"Saintesses are all the same, past or present."
"These young ones nowadays."
The Red Saintess cleared her throat awkwardly.
She refocused on the warden's back in the crystal orb.
Dusting off the sleeve with white flames casually.
"So how to counter the Flames of Purification..."
"I hid a hint for countering it, but not sure if the warden will notice."
Grand Elder eyed the soggy dirt floor intently.
Soon, my boots in the orb firmly planted on it.
'The flames are tricky, sure.'
I was ignoring it, but my arm where it touched earlier stung faintly.
"What's with that look? You seem in a lot of pain."
Steelman asked leisurely, sensing my pain.
I pointed lazily at his side in response.
"Isn't that the one throbbing most right now?"
"Guess we'll see soon enough."
The Holy Knights commander ignored my taunt.
He rushed faster than before, flames intensifying.
"We'll see who falls first."
Clang!!
White flames assaulted with every clash.
Devouring both my arms more fiercely than before.
"How long can you just block?! Keep it up, and that ugly mug of yours will burn too!!"
Steelman pressed harder.
Unaware the ground was growing slick beneath our clash.
'The ground's gotten slick?'
While parrying, I glanced at the floor.
Especially where he'd struck early on—it was particularly soaked.
Realizing what that meant, I curled my lips in a faint smile.
The sinister smirk unique to the Minster family.
"What's with that shady face...?"
Steelman faltered at my savage expression.
In that instant,
I condensed golden magic into Anje's sword to its limit.
Planting both feet firmly.
"Idiot. You think I'd take a obvious finisher like that?"
The Holy Knights commander retreated swiftly.
But soon he realized.
My sword wasn't aimed at him.
I slammed the firmly gripped sword down onto the arena floor with all my strength.
And then.
Whoosh―――.
The underground water vein surged violently.
Shooting skyward before cascading like rain.
"Groundwater...?"
The icy torrent quenched the flames scorching the ground.
Steam rose, forming a thick mist.
The perfect setup for an assassin.
"Your fancy flames are gone now, huh?"
Venomous green eyes gleamed in the fog.
Just like when I'd subdued the Spear Master princess with Confession Magic.
"Ridiculous. Even without those Flames of Purification, trash like you..."
Steelman scoffed in disbelief.
Thinking I was just a worm crawling in the dirt anyway.
But.
In the blink of an eye, those green eyes closed in on his face.
"Trash like me what?"
Only then did Steelman realize.
The opponent wasn't some frontier snake...
Just the tail of a massive serpent.
"What kind of freak speed is this...?"
Steelman panicked at the movement he'd never experienced.
He hastily raised his sword to defend, but it was far too late.
His pristine white uniform was already.
Dozens of daggers weaving patterns across it.
Red lines on a white canvas.
His flabby form fully gnawed by massive fangs before he knew it.