The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 304

204. Sword Festival (2)

“……What?”

“Did I hear wrong?”

“What an arrogant bastard.”

“Ha, all of us? This guy’s got some nerve.”

The chieftains standing on the hill scoffed at Khalil’s words, as if they were absurd.

“You better be careful. He’s been recognized even by Digon of the South.”

Alsharr, the chieftain of the Cold Wind Tribe, said cautiously, taking out his chakram [a metal ring with a sharpened outer edge used as a throwing weapon].

Unlike the others, he had been watching Khalil carefully from the beginning. The Cold Wind Tribe had deep ties with the Black Eye Clan.

“That’s right. And I’ve also brought the Duchy under my control.”

“……!!!”

Alsharr quickly turned around at the voice coming from behind him.

Before he could even unfold the chakrams mounted on both arms, he staggered, unable to come to his senses from the punch that struck his face.

Khalil grabbed his face and slammed it into the ground, and the floor cracked with a shattering sound……!

“As you said, you better be careful. Or this is what happens.”

“Ugh…… Ugh……!”

Alsharr struggled to remove Khalil’s wrist.

‘What kind of power is this……?!’

But he was just struggling against the pressure as if a giant pillar was pressing down on him.

“You……!!”

At the sight, the remaining chieftains hurriedly drew their weapons.

Whoosh―――!!

Whoosh――!!

At that moment, Khalil took out Agnel from his chest and swung it. Flames flashed from the blade, arcane power was released, and purple flames rose.

Hunching over, he twisted the blade of the Ice Claw behind his wrist, scraping the floor and raising it.

Crack……! Crackle……!

Then, frozen spikes popped out from the floor along the trajectory of the Ice Claw’s blade.

“Ugh?!

“Dodge!!”

The chieftains who were trying to save Alsharr instead retreated from the flames and ice that Khalil spewed out.

“Since it’s 6 against 1, it’s okay to use this power this time. Instead, you can all go all out.”

“How dare you……!!”

The chieftain of the Iron Tribe raised a huge hammer and slammed it down with all his might.

Kwaaaang-!!!

With the impact that shook the earth, the ice spikes that had sprung up from the Ice Claw shattered, and fragments scattered in all directions.

Behind him, the chieftain of the Cat Tribe crossed the hooked claws on the back of her hand and aimed for Khalil’s neck.

“Haaap!!!”

The nimble woman changed direction several times in the air and slashed with her hooked claws. Khalil avoided her offensive and grabbed the arm that brushed past his chest, twisting it.

“Ugh!?”

With that force, the Cat Tribe chieftain’s body flipped in the air.

Khalil slammed the wide side of the Ice Claw’s blade, imbued with the power of the Arcane Blade, into her stomach with all his might.

Thud!! Kwaaaang……!!

The Cat Tribe chieftain, who fell to the ground on her back, bounced back up as if the impact hadn’t subsided.

Khalil did not miss the moment and rotated his body once, kicking her in the side.

Paang―!! With the sound of air bursting, the Cat Tribe chieftain’s body slid forward and flew away.

The eldest of the three heads of the Thunder Clan received the Cat Tribe chieftain who had bounced in front of him, and the second and third threw the small hammers they were holding in both hands forward.

Quazzzzzik……!! Kwazik!!!

The heads of the hammers flashed as if they contained electricity, like the clan’s name, and a thunderous sound rang out.

“Hup……!!”

Khalil cut the hammer thrown by the second with the Ice Claw, and surprisingly, his blade, which easily cut even steel, failed to cut the head of the hammer and bounced off.

Losing his balance, Khalil staggered, and the hammer thrown by the third and the huge hammer of the Iron Tribe chieftain aimed for Khalil.

Just before being pushed back, Khalil kicked up the second’s hammer that had fallen to the floor after colliding with the Ice Claw.

The hand hammer spun around and collided with the third’s hammer with a thunderous bang―!!

This time, conversely, the third of the Thunder Clan was thrown back by the impact.

Woooowoong……!!

Khalil condensed dragon magic into the Ice Claw and Agnel. The magic power drawn from the magic blood exploded in the two swords. Khalil, who had burrowed into the arms of the third of the Thunder Clan, who had been thrown back, crossed the two swords and slashed, and the hammer he was holding was now completely cut in half.

“Aaaagh!!!”

What was cut was not just the hammer. With the third’s scream, his wrist was cleanly cut off by the sharp blade.

Overstepping him writhing on the floor in pain, the first and second jumped towards Khalil.

Kwaga gag……!!

Kwaggeugeugeuk……!

Meanwhile, the Iron Tribe chieftain twisted the handle of the hammer he was holding, and a ring connected to the head of the hammer appeared inside.

As he turned it in a circle, the head of the hammer made a threatening sound like a flail.

Chwararararak―!!

Like an earth dragon, the Iron Tribe chieftain’s flail poured down on Khalil in a spiral.

“…….”

Khalil touched the floor.

“Rock Blaster.”

Two magic circles appeared under his palm at first, then divided into four again, and finally, two more circles were drawn in between.

A 6th class magic.

Rocks covered in snow floated up from the floor as if defying gravity and flew towards the Iron Tribe chieftain.

Bang……! Kwagang……!!

The flail, which had been flying at a fierce speed, lost its power as it collided with dozens of rocks.

Pat―

Khalil kicked off the floor and jumped up, stepping on the head of the falling flail and approaching the chieftain in one breath.

“Not so fast!!”

The two brothers of the Thunder Clan blocked Khalil’s path as if they had been waiting and attacked Khalil.

3rd Long Weeping Posture.

Khalil deflected a total of four hammers as if letting them flow, and took a stance.

Colorless Qi Sword – Form 5.

He struck the wrist holding the hammer of the first of the Thunder Clan with the back of the handle of the Ice Claw, then threw Agnel into the air before opening and grabbing his empty palm.

Kureureureureuk……!

Then, a dark black liquid covered his hand from the back of his hand to his wrist, and grew long like a sharp blade.

It resembled the weapon used by Duat, the King of Darkness Spirits, one of the two wildernesses [referring to realms or domains].

As Khalil slashed his arm, his black blade passed through the first’s hammer and cut the first’s shoulder.

“Aaaagh!!”

But the offensive did not end there.

“Burn Flare.”

A hot explosion erupted from the wound cut by the black blade, engulfing the first’s entire body.

“Brother!!”

The second screamed, looking at him falling backward, clutching his face.

[Your magic has become quite familiar. Certainly, crossing the wall of the 6th class has changed the operation of magic power.]

“Aaaagh!! Aaaagh……!!”

[Moreover, not just simple flames, but even maintaining the magic power so that it doesn’t go out. Not only sharpening magic power in the sword, but you’re also worthy of being called a magician.]

Aln Zabiuss nodded in satisfaction, not even paying attention to the first who was rolling around with burns on his face.

[Of course, you’ve only just crossed the threshold of a novice. Don’t be satisfied with this level of magic power control.]

The second of the Thunder Clan looked at the spirit body made of black smoke and couldn’t close his mouth, unable to attack or run away, with a troubled expression.

When he came to his senses, he realized that all the other chieftains except him were lying on the floor.

[In my opinion, a little more magic power from the magic blood…….]

Looking at Aln, who was speaking in an excited voice as if he was enjoying it, Khalil smiled and waved his arm.

The second of the Thunder Clan looked at Hwaryun with trembling eyes, and she shrugged as if she had expected the current result.

“Hwaryun.”

Khalil turned his head.

“Even if they are the same chieftains, the sense of intimidation is completely different. I don’t think these are the people who will decorate the end of the Sword Festival……. Tell me honestly. Not the old men’s tricks, but the real ending of the Sword Festival.”

She smiled bitterly at his words.

“I already acknowledge you. Just inheriting the blood of Kaliak is enough reason for you to lead the immigrants.”

“I’m not trying to receive the immigrants with sympathy or inheritance. Complete surrender. Not just coercion by simple force, but as reverence that you can all accept.”

Khalil said, pointing his sword.

“What is this will of Lycan that they spoke of? The eyes of the last chieftains didn’t show embarrassment about defeat, but seemed to want something from you.”

“It is one of the two artifacts passed down to the immigrants. One is Agnel, which you have, and the other is this.”

She took out the necklace hanging around her neck.

Whooooosh…….

A mysterious green light scattered and disappeared repeatedly.

[Could it be……. Is the power of Samaad there?]

Looking at Hwaryun’s necklace, the Flame Tyrant Raminu said in a trembling voice.

Mad Wind Samaad.

When the name of the Wind Spirit King was mentioned, Khalil looked at her necklace once again.

[It’s different. It’s a power that spirit kings like you wouldn’t know.]

[……What?]

It was then.

Khalil glared at Mael’s words.

[That’s it. What I said when I first met you in the sealed box. It’s amazing. To meet the Master Key again in this place.]

‘……Master Key?’

Khalil kept his eyes on Hwaryun’s necklace and spoke to him in his head.

[Do you remember? The name that refers to the fifteen weapons of the Blader is the Master Key. From the Ain Trigger containing Raminu to the twin swords used by the Southern woman, the fourteen are weapons of different shapes, but the fifteenth is special.]

Khalil nodded.

‘Didn’t you say that it is the only Master Key that can rise to the position to oppose the god who speaks of the unchanging two digits? And isn’t that you?’

[That’s right. But as I said then, the fifteenth is not one. Up to the fourteenth are general weapons, but the last fifteenth simply means the position. We have egos and compete with each other, and only one occupies that position. Together with the user, in the candidate for the god called the unchanging two digits.]

‘So, is Hwaryun’s necklace also a weapon called the Master Key with an ego?’

[That’s right.]

‘Why does she have the Blader’s weapon?’

[You have it too, so why wouldn’t they have it? Besides, they are the ones who inherited the blood of the Godslayer more than anyone else.]

Mael said as if he was spitting out a laugh.

“As you said, defeating me is definitely a way to gain the loyalty of the immigrants rather than fighting those hundred people.”

“Then why did you waste time unnecessarily instead of taking the easy way?”

Hwaryun smiled at Khalil’s words.

“It’s quite difficult for me to use this. Besides, I don’t want to kill you.”

Crack―!!!

Hwaryun grabbed the necklace around her neck and broke it with all her might.

[Ha, haha. It seems she has learned a slightly different way of using Lycan than you.]

Mael smiled faintly as he watched the scene.

When the blue snake raised the corners of its mouth, a chillingly cold feeling came over him.

But Khalil, unconcerned about his appearance, tightened his grip on the hand holding the Ice Claw.

“……I see.”

As Hwaryun grabbed and broke the necklace around her neck, her already solid muscular body became even thicker, and the corners of her mouth rose long, and sharp fangs grew.

“Krrr…….”

[Divine Beast Transformation. A method of condensing and fusing the power of the Master Key in one’s body as it is. It is impossible without monstrous physical abilities……. Even the owners of the previous Lycans have never become such monsters.]

Even without listening to Mael’s explanation, Khalil knew that she in front of him was no longer the warrior he had faced a little while ago, but a beast itself.

‘Then can you do something like that too?’

[Of course. Why? If you want, I’ll devour your body. The power you’ll gain in return will be enormous.]

‘Nonsense. Even if I die and wake up, that will never happen, so just lend me your strength.’

[Indeed……. I’m looking forward to it.]

Mael spiraled around the blade of the Ice Claw once and disappeared.

[He’s still an unlucky bastard. Even though he’s just a freeloader, he acts like he’s the owner. That’s why the fifteenth is called the glutton who covets the body of the Godslayer.]

The Queen of the Hail, Etheral, spat out bitter words towards Mael, who was disappearing into the Ice Claw, as if she was disturbed by her rest.

But it was undeniable that her coldness became even colder and the blade of the Ice Claw became much sharper as the power of the blue snake was added.

They were beings who lived in the same mythological era, but if the spirits were incomplete beings born in the boundary of the world created by God, called the rift, the weapons called the Master Key were weapons created directly by God.

[A fight between Master Keys……. It reminds me of the Blade’s Age, called the primordial era before the mythological era. The fun days when we bit each other over the throne.]

Mael said in a somehow excited voice.

‘Shut up and focus.’

Khalil drew his sword to finish the Sword Festival.