The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 264

184. White Bunker Battle (4)

Zhiiiiiiiing—! Clang—!!

Armor plates resembling gauntlets spun and detached in four directions from Revol’s wrist, the one holding the axe, hissing with escaping steam.

Tsseuuuu……!!

As the steam cleared, jets of scorching flame erupted from the vents, and a magic circle flared into existence simultaneously.

With the added thrust of the flames from the magic circle, Revol gained momentum and swung the axe with all his might, the axe still pinning Khalil.

Khalil leaped into the air, twisting his body once before landing lightly on the ground, just as Revol’s axe reversed its trajectory and plummeted toward where he’d been standing.

Kwaaaaaang——!!!

The axe slammed into the ground with a deafening explosion that seemed to cleave the very sky.

The surrounding buildings, unable to withstand the concussive force, shattered and burst apart in all directions.

Debris flew like deadly projectiles, further demolishing the already devastated surroundings.

A crater tens of meters wide appeared where the axe had struck, the ground completely pulverized, exposing the raw earth and gnarled tree roots.

Ujikkun—!!

The trees that had once lined the street were crushed under the golem’s immense feet, instantly transforming the entrance of the White Bunker into a scene of utter ruin.

However, knowing that this was only the beginning of the battle, onlookers watched the golem with fearful eyes, wondering how much more destruction was to come.

“Is it over……?”

“There’s no way anyone could have survived that.”

People huddled in distant shelters spoke in trembling voices.

Visibility was poor due to the thick dust cloud, but they could feel Revol’s raw power emanating from the swirling dust, like a miniature sandstorm.

Pusssseusseusseus…….

The dust cloud gradually dissipated, mingling with the persistent snowstorm.

Kwang……!!

Suddenly, Revol’s massive body staggered, the arm that had delivered the earth-shattering blow recoiling upwards.

“……!!!”

As the giant, pillar-like Revol stumbled backward, the settling dust swirled violently, rising again in a vortex as tall as the golem itself.

Paang—!!

Khalil exploded out of the dust cloud.

The swirling dust trailed behind him like a tail, marking his trajectory.

With a roar, Khalil swung his ice claw horizontally with all his might, mirroring Revol’s earlier attack.

Compared to the golem’s colossal axe, his sword looked impossibly small and fragile, like a mere toothpick.

“Heup……!”

As the ice claw absorbed arcane power, a blade of crackling purple energy sliced through Revol’s electric aura.

Keukkagagagagak——!!!

Incredibly, the moment Khalil’s sword struck, flames erupted from the point of contact, the sword blade and axe blade locking together in a shower of sparks.

“No way…….”

The people in the shelter stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before them.

The balance of power was visibly shifting.

A tiny human, no bigger than the golem’s little finger, was pushing back against a towering god dozens of times his size.

[Damn it……!!]

Wingel Hart gritted his teeth inside the cockpit.

A flashing red warning band appeared on the edge of the magic mirror that provided his view.

He channeled more magic power into the propulsion device on his wrist, but despite the golem’s immense strength, Khalil remained unyielding.

Deureureuk—!!

Wingel yanked a lever.

A hissing sound came from the magic power charger behind the cockpit, and he raised his other arm, swinging the golem’s shield like a massive bludgeon.

The shield, raised high above, crashed down like a falling meteor.

With a ground-shaking tremor, the rubble and debris from the earlier explosions were thrown upwards as if weightless.

“Kyaaaak!!”

“Euaak?!”

People covered their ears and ducked, frantically searching for Khalil’s location.

But Khalil had vanished from sight.

Time seemed to hang suspended.

Pa bat—! Pat—!

In a fleeting moment, barely a few seconds, the sound of Khalil’s footsteps echoed as he zigzagged and leaped across the floating debris.

A speed so great it was impossible to follow with the naked eye.

Khalil used the debris as stepping stones, finally landing in a stable stance.

Second Unicorn Posture.

The moment he assumed the second point attack, intense magic power coalesced around his sword blade.

Having risen to the ranks of the 6th class, Khalil was able to manipulate magic power with far greater precision than before.

However, he was still dissatisfied with his reliance on the sword to channel that power.

He had, after all, reached a level that even 7th-class archmages couldn’t surpass, wielding only a sword unimbued with magic.

Comparing a simple spell to his sword infused with magic power was absurd.

Kaiye Essir, the legendary mage of the Magic Era, had mastered only one attribute, focusing his efforts on amplifying its power.

But Khalil, unlike him, possessed dragon magic power, capable of wielding all attributes.

‘Magic Power Synthesis.’

The fusion of different attributes, not just a single one.

Khalil glanced at the arcane blade erupting from the ice claw, resolving to one day create a new form of magic, unique to him.

Khalil’s eyes narrowed.

Kwagagagak——!!!

His arcane blade, spiraling along the sword’s edge, shot out like a drill.

[Keuk?!]

Inside the cockpit, Wingel Hart frantically pulled the control stick, and Revol raised his arms, crossing them in an X-shape to block the attack with the shield.

Seukang!!

Khalil and Revol collided in a head-on charge.

Tak!

Tatak!! Tatatak!!!

Khalil shot past Revol and landed on the ground, sliding forward from the immense speed.

He quickly regained his balance, leaping to reduce his momentum.

Just as he managed to stop by twisting his ankle around his left foot, a shadow fell over him.

Revol, with terrifying speed, twisted his body and brought his fist down vertically.

The giant shield attached to the back of his arm hurtled down to crush Khalil like a fly swatter.

Kwaak!!!!

Khalil tried to raise his sword to block the attack, but Revol’s shield was simply too fast.

“Be, careful……!!!”

“It’s dangerous!!”

People shouted in alarm.

Tung—

But the warning was drowned out by the sound of the giant shield impacting the ground, inches from Khalil.

“……Uh?”

The people who had squeezed their eyes shut cautiously opened them, staring at Revol in confusion.

“Wh, what is it?!”

Those searching for Khalil were speechless at the sight before them.

“……!!!”

The shield had stopped just above Khalil’s head, riddled with cracks that widened until it split in two, the halves falling harmlessly to either side, burying themselves in the ground.

Kukung—!!

Khalil kicked one of the giant half-shields, sending it crashing to the ground with a deafening boom.

Tapping the other shield piece, he said,

“I don’t know if it’s the pilot’s lack of skill or the limitations of the technology, but it seems you can channel mana into blades but not shields. It’s being cut off so easily.”

He pushed the other half-cut shield as well.

Kuuung……!!

As the severed shields, resembling fallen tombstones, crashed to the ground, Khalil raised his head and said in a low voice,

“Such shields are just paper to those who have reached the realm.”

His figure blurred and vanished.

[……!!]

Revol, staggering, hesitated and stepped back, and the golem’s arm holding the shield was cleanly severed, falling to the ground with a crash.

[Keuk?!]

Black oil gushed from the severed joint like blood.

“Uh…… Uh uh…….”

Watching the scene, not only the citizens in the shelter but also the nobles in the Principality Hall were rendered speechless. The same was true for the nobles watching the battle from the White Bunker’s residence.

“Wh, what is that…….”

“Are there even monsters like that?”

At the unintentional outburst, Tuli glared sharply.

The young noble flinched and covered his mouth, but even she couldn’t deny his words.

If there was any difference, it was that in her eyes, he looked like a demon destined to crush her plans, not just a monster.

Tseuuuuueueueueuaaaaaak——!!!

Khalil leaped up, spun around, and slammed the blade of the ice claw into Revol’s chest with all his might.

With a tremendous impact, the giant Revol’s body slid backward.

The golem, unbalanced with one arm severed, staggered precariously.

Fourth Riffle Posture.

His sword relentlessly targeted Revol’s joints. Dozens of precise stabs followed in rapid succession, before he repositioned the sword blade, altering its trajectory and unleashing a devastating strike.

Colorless Qi Sword – Form 4

Kung!! Kukung……!! Kukang!!

Each time the ice claw struck, the giant god’s upper body swayed violently, Revol staggering further, unable to withstand the relentless assault.

Kwajik—!

A giant statue was crushed under the golem’s feet.

[……!!!]

Wingel Hart frantically turned around. The head of the shattered statue bore a striking resemblance to Tuli’s face.

Revol, pushed back relentlessly, had already crossed half the distance to the White Bunker and was nearing the castle where Tuli was located.

“Shout out a cheer!”

Looking at the scene, Miliana raised her sword as if she had been waiting for this moment and shouted.

Waaaaaaa——!!

Waaa——!!

Unlike before, the soldiers of the Fran army roared their approval at her command with all their might.

The shouts of the soldiers surrounding the White Bunker were deafening, as if they would swallow the castle whole.

Tudeudeudeuk…….

The armor on Revol cracked and buckled, debris falling to the ground.

Cheolkeok—!!

As Wingel tore off the dangling chest armor, a large core began to spin rapidly within Revol’s chest.

Kwakwang!! Kwakwakwakwang!!!

In front of the core, the air rippled in the shape of a large ring, like a sonic boom, and a beam of intense light shot towards Khalil.

The debris of the building was swept away by Revol’s energy wave, creating a vortex.

Udatangtang……!! Kageugeugeuk……!!

The floor struck by the light beam shattered once more, the stones glowing red.

Khalil calmly assumed a stance, watching the torrent of energy hurtling towards him.

One-Sword Severance.

The moment he drew the ice claw from top to bottom, the beam of light emanating from Revol’s chest split apart, diverging to either side, and a gaping wound appeared on the golem’s chest with a sickening Kwajik!

It was utter annihilation.

Jijik…… Jijijik……!!

Revol’s waist buckled, sparks flying from the severed flank with a Pajeujeuk……!

Keudeudeudeudeu……!!

The giant golem’s body slowly began to topple backward.

“Euaaaak!!”

“Aak!!”

“Ru, run away!!”

The nobles in the castle behind Revol screamed at the sight of the collapsing golem.

The hall descended into chaos, a scene of carnage, but escape was impossible.

Some nobles barely managed to turn the doorknob and open the door, but the golem was already about to crush the building.

“Kyaaaaaaaa!!!”

“Eu, euaak!”

People sat down, covered their heads, and screamed.

It was then.

“Wh, what is it……?”

“……Uh?”

Those who had resigned themselves to death cautiously opened their eyes, surprised to feel no pain.

“Di…… Did we live?”

Darkness filled the hall.

The nobles, realizing the darkness was the shadow cast by Revol, muttered quietly, staring at the back of the golem, which seemed on the verge of collapse.

Keude…… Keudeudeudeuk…….

Incredibly, at the last moment,

The one holding the giant Revol upright was none other than Khalil.

Tulseok—

“We lived…….”

Tuli staggered, her legs weak, grabbing the table for support.

“Who?”

At that moment,

A cold sword blade pressed against her neck, taking advantage of the darkness.

“……!!”

As the hand holding the dagger applied slight pressure, droplets of red blood trickled down Tuli’s neck, staining the blade.

“The lord…….”