Part 2, Episode 246.
-… … Bloodline factor?
A dramatic change, enough to even make one think that way for a moment, travels through the air and is transmitted down to the cellular level.
This is the sense of strangeness that the Black clan might feel when using bloodline factors.
Moreover, a change of this magnitude is truly ‘Bargan’ level…
I should be careful…
Volkarn’s pupils widened.
Taat-!
No sooner had I thought I should be careful than the Empress rushed in immediately.
A reckless charge that gives absolutely no thought to what lies behind.
There didn’t even seem to be any will to evade in the movement rushing in a straight line.
However, for that reason, it was too destructive.
Kwaaaaang!!!
-Cough!
Volkarn is a giant that has grown to 10 meters by expressing the bloodline factor.
To that extent, the principle of all things returning to one is also in a state of further strengthening.
Even though his physical strength should be tougher than anyone else’s due to the significant amount of elements he had already consumed.
The moment he was struck by that white woman’s blood-stained gauntlet, blood spurted out of his mouth from the impact.
“Is this a human fist?”
It was nonsense.
This is the power of a race that reigns several levels above humans.
For example… … like a giant.
The problem is that the Empress’s power does not come from strength.
Bang! Crash! Crunch!
Whir- snap!
Fists, elbows, knees, insteps, and even the forehead.
A barrage of attacks continuing without hesitation, pouring out the optimal force to the fastest and most effective parts depending on the distance.
Pa-ba-ba-bak! Kwa-ga-ga-ga-gak-
-You ignorant… …!
Volkarn flipped over and counterattacked the fighting style he had never seen before in his life, but it was futile.
Pfft!
If you turn your body or flip it over.
Because he plunged a blood-made sword, whose origin was unknown, into his back and kept stabbing his elbows while hanging there.
As if that wasn’t enough, the sight of him climbing onto his back and punching him was nothing short of madness.
The biggest problem is… … .
Bang! Bang!
The fact is that every single one of those fists piercing the inside, as if ignoring the defenses, is extremely threatening.
Kwaaaah-!!
Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, Volkarn bent down and then straightened up, and a powerful energy burst forth, shaking off the Empress.
Finally, I succeeded in getting rid of that leech-like guy.
Even so, in preparation for an immediate attack, it flapped its wings and fired black energies in the shape of sharp blades in all directions.
This is not a noble duel, but a war.
They probably won’t be able to approach easily. It looks like they are fighting while sacrificing their own lives.
The people on this side watching for an opportunity, and the opponents blocking them.
And even the monstrous beasts swarming in like a pack of dogs, roaming here and there.
There were plenty of people who could get in the way, and even a single magic flying around nearby would be fatal to that woman.
“Hiiik!”
“Run, run!”
The shrimp gets crushed in the fight between the whales.
In fact, aren’t even the humans who looked at him with sparkling eyes like a savior, and the other opponents, busy running away?
Even that headstrong woman won’t be able to close the distance right away…
Ta-da-dat!
-… … ?
Volkarn’s prediction that it would be was incredibly wrong.
‘… … Aren’t you avoiding it?’
Does the word ‘avoidance’ not exist in their mind?
Seeing him running so honestly that it made him think that, Volkarn involuntarily stopped.
Whether a black blade grazes the face.
Whether the human enforcers nearby stealthily shoot out magic.
Grr-!
Even though demonic beasts from the abyss had suddenly appeared from somewhere and were attacking from behind, he completely ignored them and just ran in a straight line.
The fighting style felt like something beyond mere obsession, to the point where Volkarn let out a hollow laugh.
One thing is that, and that’s that.
I wasn’t the type to turn down a rolling opportunity, so I opened my mouth right away.
[Volkarn Black casts ‘Eclipse Devourer’.]
[Condenses and releases energy imbued with a portion of the all-consuming power of gluttony into a single point.]
Power comparable to a dragon’s breath.
Kwaaaah-!
If hit squarely by that, even Volkarn Black himself would not be confident he could withstand it.
Given the massive range capable of sweeping the entire front, there is no way for a guy making such a simple-minded charge to avoid it.
However, Volkarn did not know.
[Reaching the pinnacle of swordsmanship, one crosses the gate.]
[Player ‘Sword Saint’ has stepped into the realm of the Supreme.]
[While in the area, the unique trait ‘One Who Walks the Supreme Path’ is activated.]
[A distant realm dwells in the sword.]
[Swordsmanship that has reached a profound realm cuts through all energy.]
Swish-!
“……No matter how much you train, does that reckless fighting style never change?”
Even though the Empress has a ruthless personality, she doesn’t act like this just anytime.
Her extreme moment was only one moment.
“Why bother when you’re here? I’m comfortable this way.”
“Haa, I didn’t learn this just to take care of a guy like this.”
“Provide cover quickly instead of talking. We can’t maintain it for long due to the risk.”
“Tsk, I’m already doing that.”
When the Sword Saint is by your side.
Only then does she focus solely on the attack, and is she finally completed.
As the two people raced through the breath that parted like the Red Sea, the spot where the Empress passed glowed red.
It was an effect that appeared by unleashing every single one of the Berserker’s forbidden buffs.
[Due to the effect of Bloodlust, you become stronger the more blood you flip for 70 seconds.]
[Due to the Berserk effect, damage taken increases significantly for 80 seconds, but attack power increases significantly.]
[Due to the effect of Diehard, physical abilities increase by the amount of life force sacrificed.]
[Saved 80% of your life force.]
[With the Madness effect, health decreases by 1% per second for 90 seconds, and stats and all speeds increase in proportion to the percentage of current health.]
The Bloodthirsty Combination known as the Berserker’s Forbidden Buff Trinity.
However, she did not stop here.
[Consumes all but 4% of remaining HP to create a Blood Sword.]
[Completing the Flying Blood Sword.]
[When dealing damage to a target, damage increases, triggers a small blood explosion, and restores a small amount of health. Gains an acceleration effect when stacked above a certain threshold.]
[The lower your vitality, the stronger the effect; the higher your vitality, the weaker the effect.]
[You can amplify your physical abilities by consuming recovered vitality.]
“Ah, yeah. This is the taste.”
“……I simply cannot understand it. What on earth is so good about fighting while destroying oneself…….”
“What can I do? I understand your way of speaking, so you should understand too.”
“…….”
Volkarn fell silent at the sight of the not-too-blank look of hesitation during the process.
‘… … This is not a duel. It is war.’
And a great war fought on such a vast battlefield where one never knows what kind of attack will come.
In the midst of utter chaos where you never know what might come flying at you from anywhere at any moment, are you really saying you would pour everything into trusting just one person?
What is even more surprising is that the woman with the black silk hair is making it possible.
Near-perfectly mastered swordsmanship reaches the supreme realm and blossoms into a new form.
[The sword-drawing technique blossoms.]
[The Sword of the Path of Hegemony blossoms.]
… …
[Beyond the Unity of Body and Sword, one reaches Sword Transformation.]
[Beyond the body and sword becoming one, existence itself becomes one with the sword.]
[As you have not yet fully reached the Supreme Realm, only some of the effects of Sword Transformation are applied.]
… … That’s surprising.
A momentum that doesn’t lag far behind even when compared to the White Woman.
However, the fundamental basis was the exact opposite.
If it feels like the Empress has become a different, destructive being, rather than a human…
The sensation that the author has become not a living being, but the sword itself. That is why it cannot be read.
Also, for that reason,
[The airspace opens up and reaches the ‘Sword Zone’.]
[Cuts down everything that enters the area.]
“Cough!”
“Uh, I can’t see the sword.”
“What? You’re going to deflect this? How far does that range extend!?”
“It even deflects magic? Is this right?”
He completed the given mission perfectly, like a machine.
At that, Volkarn gathered his full strength.
Gooooo-!
“Uh, uh? What is it?”
That monster is getting bigger?
“It’s not even a raid boss, so how many phases is there?”
“……Ah, let’s just leave it to the two of you and head somewhere else.”
A larger size and a correspondingly powerful aura.
Users nearby, regardless of whether they were opponents or enforcers, cautiously withdrew.
They instinctively felt that it was not a fight for them to get involved in.
[It fully awakens the ‘sin of gluttony’ residing in the bloodline factor.]
[The principle of “all things return to one” is manifested to the extreme.]
[Physical ability and magical power increase to their maximum.]
[The power of gluttony is manifested.]
The appearance of the completed form that the captain tried to stop during the guild battle.
Caw!
“……What, isn’t it going in?”
Bang!
“Get out of here for now, Kuku. The energy has changed.”
White smoke billows out like steam from Volkarn’s mouth, who has gained a body several times harder than before.
I admit it. I will consider you to be facing Vargan.
The sin of gluttony, a bloodline factor akin to power that enabled him to ascend to the position of Vargan.
It was the moment that true power finally revealed its maw.
-Hoho.
Cardium, who was watching the scene from above, let out a questioning exclamation of admiration.
To think Volkarn would show his true colors. That’s unexpected.
It was a mysterious matter, even though they were not key figures.
I wondered if Seraphiella’s judgment was wrong, but I soon dismissed it.
It didn’t matter anyway.
Because Volkarn was the most trusted person among the members.
“Just the fact that you inherited the sin of gluttony is enough to qualify.”
So now… … .
It was time to pay more attention to the immediate matters.
Sorry for getting distracted. Right, did you say you came to cut off my head?
“……That’s true.”
-That’s ridiculous. How would he do it when we can’t even get through?
You can’t reach the commander with just a nobody like you.
At the Sword Emperor’s calm answer without any excitement, Kisen Uraku instead flares up and shouts at him.
Even as the Sword Emperor, he could not simply ignore it.
Because the power felt through the clashing swords was extraordinary.
I have never faced a giant, but it is a weighty power, enough to make me think that if I could experience the power of a giant, it would feel like this.
If his understanding of the sword had been even slightly lacking, he would have crashed and been slammed into the ground long ago.
Is that so? Then give it a try.
-……heartbreak?
I will stand still. So, spread out everything you have and try to cut off my head.
Whether you ignore Uraku or come anyway, it is up to you.
Cardium approaches with a relaxed demeanor, like a noble showing generosity to a homeless person.
There was not a shred of tension in that appearance.
As if there was no way it would ever reach him… … .
No, they might see it as meaningless even if they reach it.
It could be called well-founded confidence, made possible by someone possessing such power.
“You are truly generous. It is a pleasure to see you so at ease all alone in this fiercely competitive place.”
It is a qualification reserved only for the strong. Isn’t this a good opportunity for you?
“……Right. I have no intention of refusing.”
Then listen… … .
That’s why it’s a shame.
Before the words “Come in” could even be uttered.
The corners of the Sword Emperor’s wrinkled lips curled up slightly as he cut off his words.
Did he sense something chilling in that smile?
Cardium’s expression instantly turned cold, and feeling a strange sense of unease, Kisen Uraku roughly shook off the Sword Emperor’s sword.
One is already too late.
It is because there is a passenger.
-……what.
Because at the same time the Sword Emperor continued his strange words, Cardium vanished without a trace.
As if its very existence had been erased, only the cadmium vanished cleanly.
Kisen Uraku’s pupils shook violently as if there had been an earthquake, at the event that unfolded before he could even react.
-D-Captain!?
-What on earth is this… …what have you done!
The Sword Emperor answered with a benevolent smile toward the guy who was acting anxious like a puppy that had lost its owner and suddenly snapping in anger.
“Didn’t I tell you there are passengers?”
-……what?
“I have prepared something very good, so your commander will surely like it, too. Good enough to make him die.”
-… … .
The Sword Emperor’s voice as he said this was eerie, unlike his smile.
How dare this bastard.
I’ll kill you… …!
Kisen Uraku, who had been expressing intense anger, opened his eyes wide.
The Sword Emperor’s figure, which had moved away while shaking off the sword, had vanished.
It cannot be seen, but it can be felt.
A chilling sensation, as if my neck were about to be severed at any moment.
When the creepiness reached its peak.
Kaang-!
“Hoho, if I block this, what will I become?”
Focus, Kissen.
-… … Uh, Uraku.
Kisen Uraku blocked the sword and immediately counterattacked, but the Sword Emperor was no longer there.
A peculiar footwork as unpredictable as mountain fog.
Swish-swish!
Kaaang-!
Some attacks are incredibly heavy, while others are infinitely light.
Just like being in a mountain full of fog and trees.
It was a chilling swordsmanship, like the Mountain Lord slowly driving his prey.
Contrary to popular belief, Sangun is meticulous and clever.
It never reveals a weakness until it judges that the prey has been sufficiently driven.
The goal is to calmly and surely aim for a knockout blow.
[Reaching deeper into the realm of the Supreme, the Sword Emperor’s sword principles converge into one.]
[The Sword Emperor’s ultimate swordsmanship, Sangun Docheon, is manifested.]
[The unique swordsmanship ‘Hichiku’ is manifested.]
chin.
-ah.
Just like now.
Though lacking, this strike contains my entire swordsmanship. Take it.
-… … !
Whether the opinions of the two personalities, Kisen and Uraku, clashed.
Or perhaps he got caught while trying to follow the Sword Emperor’s peculiar footwork.
The Sword Emperor, capturing the moment the sword path subtly blurred with the eyes of a beast, lowered his sword and added a word.
O King of the Oni.
The black that fell slowly was clear enough to be clearly visible even to ordinary people.
Just as a human climbing a mountain cannot avoid the Mountain Lord even though they know he will charge at them when they face him.
That black… that fell at the precise timing.
—-!!!
It was a blow that could not be avoided, even if one knew it was coming.
