The Failure Marquis Is A Genius [EN]: Chapter 181

21. Hero: The Dazed Fool

I sparred several more times after that.

And the conclusion I reached was that the Heavenly Demon’s Slash wasn’t about speed at all.

Was it cutting down the enemy with murderous intent?

The Heavenly Demon’s will becomes a domain, reaching that place, and the moment the domain touches me, the slash is ‘created’ there.

This isn’t something you can see and avoid.

You just die if you’re there.

A normal swordsman makes a motion to draw and swing the sword, so you can react by seeing it.

However, the Heavenly Demon hardly moved throughout the fight, so the basic concepts of martial arts and physical skills were useless.

He was… already half-shed of his physical shell.

But I didn’t just get beaten helplessly.

As I repeated the tests, I also found my own appropriate responses.

I looked at the opponent through Merlin’s eyes and pushed the Druid’s potential to the limit.

If in the early stages of the test, I was just recklessly pouring out skills believing in their power, now I understood and combined each skill to pursue efficiency.

For a simple example, there’s the battle method using the World Tree’s absurd recovery power.

No matter how the Heavenly Demon attacks using his domain, the ultimate target is me.

If I show a weakness, the Heavenly Demon has no choice but to react.

Swish! Swish!

Arms and legs were severed.

Sometimes a hole was pierced in my abdomen.

Pain that seemed to paralyze my brain rushed in, but it was okay.

Because I gave up my body to get a chance to attack the Heavenly Demon.

[Bind]

[Rain]

I used the opening to plant Druid skills.

While the Heavenly Demon blocked my skills, I completely recovered from my injuries with the World Tree’s healing power.

It was a mindless fighting method that resembled an undead, but it was a great improvement compared to when I couldn’t do anything and was helplessly defeated in the beginning.

And that’s not all.

I transformed the tree roots I used as a means of restraint into sharp blades to aim for the Heavenly Demon’s blind spot, and I used wind skills to the extreme to move at high speed.

[Giant]

The giant hand that I had previously formed based on my body could now be created in the air on its own.

The giant palm, the size of an average village area, fell down on the Heavenly Demon’s head like the Tathagata’s Palm [a reference to a powerful Buddhist technique].

Kukwakwakwakwa!!!

A deafening roar burst out in succession, and the terrain changed in real time.

Nevertheless, the Heavenly Demon was the same as before.

He didn’t sweat a single drop and cut down and severed all my attacks.

The attacks don’t work, but it’s the same for the Heavenly Demon not being able to catch me. My skills have improved a lot in a short time.

“What’s the name of that technique?”

A brief lull.

I asked the Heavenly Demon.

While taking the test, I saw the Heavenly Demon’s technique over and over again. I crammed the image in my head until I got a headache.

A technique that makes space his domain and cuts it freely. I wanted to hear the name of that technique.

“Spatial Severance (空間斬).”

“…I see.”

I’ve seen enough.

I’ve taken enough classes, so to speak.

From now on, it’s study time.

I have to reflect on the battle with the Heavenly Demon several times and realize it myself.

Especially the Heavenly Demon’s skill, Spatial Severance.

It’s like a higher-level version of Crescent Moon Slash, and my body was itching to go back to reality and practice.

[You have cleared the test.]

[You acquire a Golden Branch.]

[Promotion complete!]

I finally made the sixth Golden Branch completely my own. I checked the skill tree with a pounding heart.

———————-

[Congratulations.]

[You have become a Legendary Druid.]

[Buff existing skills.]

[Acquire new skills.]

———————-

——————–

1. Wood Control

-Enhanced Bind (MAX)

-Wood Golem (MAX)

-Wood Rain (★★★) -> Wood Storm (★★★★)

-Giant Wood (★★★★)

2. Crystal Control

-Crystal Lance (MAX)

-Crystal Shield (★★★★) -> Crystal Wall (MAX)

-Crystal Golem (MAX)

-Crystal Rain (★★★) -> Crystal Storm (★★★★)

-Giant Crystal (★★★★)

3. Wind Control

-Instant Step (★★★★)

-Haste (★★★★)

4. Life Control

– Shared Vision (★★★★)

– Taming (★★★★)

– Memory Recall (★★★★)

– World Tree Sapling Summon (MAX) -> World Tree Mature Tree Summon (MAX)

——————–

Legendary Druid… It’s a title that makes my pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi feel magnificent just by looking at it.

Skill improvements were also dazzling when I became a Legend.

Most of the basic skills have reached the highest score, MAX. This means that there is nothing more to be desired in terms of power.

Of course, it’s good news, but while taking this test, I realized that it’s not the end if simple power increases.

Even MAX skills vary greatly depending on how I apply them, so the real start can be seen from now on.

In addition, most of the skills that did not reach MAX were upgraded to 4 stars.

Perhaps those skills will only reach MAX when all seven branches are collected.

And some skills have been transformed into new, higher-level skills.

First of all, the Rain skill.

The Rain skill, which was an evolved form of the Spear skill, was a technique that dropped icicles from the sky like rain.

This skill became the Storm skill with the promotion.

Judging by the name, wouldn’t it be a skill that sweeps stronger and thicker icicles like a storm?

It’s so terrifying that I shudder just imagining it.

The second is the Shield skill.

Until now, the Shield skill, along with Bind, was my staple skill.

It blocked the opponent’s attack route, blocked the view, and directly blocked attacks.

The Shield skill has now gone beyond a one-dimensional shield and has the destructive power to reverse the terrain, so it seems to have evolved from Shield to Wall.

The last skill is the essence and identity of the Druid skill, the long-awaited World Tree Summoning.

Originally, it was Sapling Summoning, but it changed to Mature Tree Summoning.

Just because it’s a Mature Tree doesn’t mean it’s the magnificent body of Yggdrasil [the World Tree in Norse mythology] that I saw in the Golden Branch test.

It will be bigger and more effective than a sapling.

Even that alone is amazing.

As a skill that was a cheat from birth, my potential as a Druid has increased dozens of times.

‘It was quite a good income.’

I was about to return to reality in a satisfied state, but a system window popped up in front of me.

[There is a saved memory.]

[Would you like to recall the memory?]

[Y/N]

Is there a remaining memory even though the test is over? It might be a hint for the last Golden Branch, so I pressed yes.

[You have selected YES.]

[Starting memory recall.]

[There are a total of two episodes of recall.]

[Memory 1]

Spot!!

Merlin’s memory unfolded with flickering lights.

The Heavenly Demon Sword was embedded in his heart.

The Heavenly Demon overcame Merlin’s interference and finally won.

“You were quite tricky because you were a Taoist with many tricks, but it was fun. Know it as an honor. This is the first time I’ve praised you this much since I became the sky.”

Merlin, whose heart was pierced, coughed, bleeding from the corner of his mouth.

It was an obviously bleak situation.

In the meantime, Merlin’s smile was still there.

The Heavenly Demon, feeling uneasy, frowned.

“It’s over like this.”

“No, it starts now.”

Merlin grabbed the Heavenly Demon’s arm.

“I couldn’t approach because you were flying strange sword strikes from afar. It’s not me who’s caught, it’s you. Hehehe.”

“The game was over long ago and the victory and defeat were decided. Don’t make the clean and fair duel more sordid.”

“Well, we’ll have to see. You underestimated the Druid too much. I don’t want to do this either, but I can’t help it because you’re stronger than I expected. Pay the price now.”

Kukwakwakwakwa!!!!

The ground shook and the rising tree roots wrapped around the Heavenly Demon and Merlin.

The Heavenly Demon snorted, thinking it was the same restraint skill as before.

“Another simple attack. Don’t you have the ability to learn? This kind of prank will soon… um?”

The Heavenly Demon’s Spatial Severance doesn’t work.

Because what was wrapping around them now was no ordinary tree.

It was the World Tree Yggdrasil itself that moved.

Merlin chuckled and sneered at the Heavenly Demon, who was clearly embarrassed.

“The fight is ultimately won by the one who survives to the end. Let’s see who will be standing last.”

Spot!!

The World Tree that wrapped around the Heavenly Demon and Merlin emitted a dazzling light.

The light was so intense and bright that it was like a small sun had risen on the ground.

The light, which was a single light source, soon split into 7 pieces and spread to various parts of the continent.

I instinctively felt that this was the Golden Branch that I had been looking for since arriving in this world.

The World Tree, which spat out 6 fragments, slowly sank with a light that was clearly fainter than before.

Yggdrasil, which sank deep into the ground, soon disappeared. Only the Heavenly Demon Sword remained stuck in the ground.

‘There was such a backstory hidden in the sealing of the Heavenly Demon Sword.’

I had heard it from the old man before, but it was different to see it with my own eyes.

There is still one more memory left.

I played it in succession while I was at it.

[Starting memory recall.]

[Memory 2]

Spot!!

This is… a half-collapsed fortress.

Floors covered with moss, walls cracked like spider webs, and water droplets dripping from the open ceiling.

It seems like a long time has passed, but I recognized where this was at a glance.

It was the village where Merlin and the Heavenly Demon had fought to the death.

It’s more correct to say it’s an abandoned ruin than a village now.

“Here is…”

“Benefactor! Have you woken up?”

The giant spoke to Merlin.

The giant, who was young when I saw him last time, had sparse white hair and a thick beard.

“How much time has passed?”

“980 years have passed.”

“!!”

980 years.

It’s a very long time even for a Druid with a long lifespan.

The reason why it took so long to come to my senses was because of the amount of energy spent sealing the Heavenly Demon.

“He’s a truly terrible guy. But it’s okay. It was a time of nearly a thousand years. His ego has worn away and his reason has disappeared. I am the ultimate winner.”

“Congratulations, Benefactor.”

“The losses are too great to receive congratulations. My soul was split into seven pieces. Thanks to that, I will disappear if I leave the World Tree’s domain.”

Merlin continued in a gloomy voice.

“So, Adam, complete the original purpose in my place. Massacre and destroy all intelligent beings by traveling the continent. And collect the Golden Branches. That’s the only way I can regain my strength.”

Even with Merlin’s order, the giant called Adam hesitated and could not answer easily.

“Why don’t you answer?”

“The situation has changed a lot while the Benefactor was asleep.”

“What do you mean?”

“The human race has greatly increased. It’s not a scale that I can handle alone now.”

“What?”

“They recently sealed the Demon King Baal. I can’t do what even the Demon King couldn’t do.”

“!!!”

A silence that lasted for a while.

After a while, Merlin’s mouth opened.

“The greedy human race sealed the Demon King?”

I cut off all their limbs a thousand years ago and only left them with breathing holes, but they stubbornly survived and prospered again.

They really have cockroach-like survival skills.

At the same time, the countless atrocities they committed flowed through my head like a panorama.

Merlin felt extreme anger.

I could vividly feel his feelings even though I was possessed.

After burning his hatred for a long time, Merlin cooled his head and muttered quietly.

“Are there any remnants of those who followed the Demon King still left?”

“Yes.”

“We will win over the defeated soldiers. In addition, we will select strong humans and put them under our command. We will use them to search for the Golden Branches. Adam, you can do that much, right?”

“It is possible. Does the Benefactor want to create an organization?”

“I originally prefer to work alone, but I can’t help it since the situation has become like this.”

“I understand. Please name the organization.”

Merlin, who was contemplating for a while at Adam’s words, slowly spat out a name.

“The organization’s name is Twilight Church. We will be the last sunset before the eternal night comes.”

I was mentally dazed by the shock.

I have been working hard to find out the identity of the leader of the Twilight Church, which has been shrouded in mystery.

However, only a very small number of the top executives of the Twilight Church knew his true identity, and there was no way to know.

The leader’s identity was Merlin, the first Druid I had been tracking.

“Adam, I will give you one more order.”

“Speak, Benefactor.”

“A thousand years is enough time for another Druid like me to appear. While you are looking for the Golden Branches, find and bring any Druids you find.”

“What are you going to do with them?”

At Adam’s question, Merlin drew a line at the corner of his mouth.

It was a smile that gave me an ominous feeling.

“Fellow Druids are the best tonic and nourishment for me, I will swallow them and be resurrected.”