The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 355

228. The Battle for Four Nines (3)

“Kwell.”

Kwell called out Yulston’s name, his gaze sweeping over him. It was a reunion after a long time, but as always, their meetings were never peaceful.

“To not lay down your sword even knowing the Empire is under the protection of the Dragon… Are you that confident?”

“I wouldn’t have started if I wasn’t.”

Caryl said, pointing to Python above.

“Even the Platinum Dragon will yield to me.”

KWA-KWANG—!!

The moment Caryl and Kwell clashed, sparks flew from their swords.

“Many people will die.”

“I have no intention of rationalizing it. However, war is a way to save more than the blood spilled.”

Caryl brought down the Ice Claw with all his might. Kwell blocked his attack, turned his body, and deflected the Ice Claw.

CHAA-ANG!!

The impact lifted his leg off the ground, and Caryl’s body staggered along Kwell’s sword.

“Hmph!”

Caryl released the Ice Claw as it bounced off, landed on the ground, and drew Rakna from his waist, slashing horizontally.

McGovern Family Traditional Swordsmanship, Second Form – Scarlet Rainbow Blade.

At that moment, Kwell’s Yulston blocked Caryl’s sword and aimed for his neck, the blade seeming to bend impossibly.

Faced with Kwell’s unpredictable trajectory, Caryl bit his lip slightly, took out Agnel from his chest, and parried.

Annihilation Strike – First Strike.

The moment Rakna and Agnel collided, scorching heat and burning flames erupted.

“Ugh!!”

“Aaaargh…!!”

The pure white vapor emitted tremendous heat, and the surrounding soldiers hurriedly retreated, but the quickly spreading flames engulfed their bodies, and screams echoed everywhere.

However, Caryl’s attack did not stop there.

Fourth Riffle Posture.

Caryl pulled the two swords inward towards his chest, lowered his waist, and increased his speed even more.

Second Unicorn Posture.

The point attack that followed the Riffle Posture exceeded the speed a human could achieve.

“Kuh?!”

Kwell quickly retreated, trying to deflect Caryl’s attack, but Caryl pushed his face forward between the sharp blades, moving even faster.

It was a dangerous act, but ironically, he knew that this fleeting moment was the only time the two could talk freely.

“What did you see in the North?”

“…….”

Instead of answering, Kwell deflected Caryl’s sword.

Seeing his pale face, Caryl could now be certain.

‘In my past life, you must have seen both caves in the North. And you told me about one of them. The other one… Why did you hide it from me?’

Thanks to Kwell, he learned in his past life that the Barbarians were descendants of Blader and that they, who were not actually Imperials, had fought for humanity.

However, after regressing and finding the cave in this life, he discovered suspicions that went beyond that secret.

The first was the man with golden hair left next to Judex’s ice pillar, the first Blader. And the second was another cave known to Gordon and Kwell, besides the Millennium Ice Cave he knew.

He wanted to check the cave right away, but he couldn’t recklessly start something in the middle of a war, not knowing what might happen inside.

‘The only way is to end the war as quickly as possible.’

If he were to enter a place disconnected from the current world inside the cave, like the subspace in the box where he obtained Mael, the tide of the Imperial war would clearly lean heavily towards the Empire in his absence.

“Hmph!!”

Not missing the gap Caryl created, Kwell twisted and drew his sword again, slashing.

McGovern Family Traditional Swordsmanship, Third Form – Thunder Heat Blade.

‘Fast.’

Caryl frowned slightly, looking at his sword. Kwell had used Thunder Heat Blade even in Heim. But back then, his muscles swelled like a huge rock at the start of the draw, requiring preparation time until the sword was fully drawn.

But now, his body was so well-trained that he could reach that point of explosion without any preparation, and the explosion of magic power was happening smoothly.

Caryl knew the reason well.

‘It means Dragon Mana has been completely absorbed into his body. The magic power in his magic blood has increased more than before. He couldn’t have eaten the Dragon’s Heart, so how can it continue to increase?’

Even when they reunited in Heim, Kwell McGovern’s magic power was already at the 6-class stage. Seeing his current state, Kwell seemed to have surpassed that realm.

Perhaps he, too, was standing in the 7-class realm that he had reached.

However, the decisive difference between him and Kwell.

First, Divine Power.

Caryl looked at Kwell’s rushing Yulston and spun the two swords behind him, crossing and colliding them.

The silver-gray Aura Blade poured out with a thunderous sound.

Annihilation Strike – Second Strike.

Hwaaaaaaa—!!!

The figures of Lamine, Etheral, and Duart appeared behind Caryl in a fan shape.

Second, Spirit Power.

[Kuaaa!!!]

Lamine, who appeared in the center of the Spirit Kings, gathered his fist and struck down with all his might from his head.

“Kuh?!”

Kwell hurriedly sheathed his sword and turned his body to the side to avoid Lamine’s attack.

But at that moment, Etheral’s sharp ice spikes fell like rain over his head.

At the same time, Duart’s hands behind him lengthened like sword blades and slashed with all his might as if to cut his neck.

Chwaaaaa—!!!

“Father…!!”

The three McGovern brothers shouted Kwell’s name all at once at the sight.

[Impressive…]

Lamine said, withdrawing his hand.

[Certainly, he is the strongest besides you. This is not just a matter of magic power, but it is only possible with innate talent.]

[That’s right.]

Strangely, the Spirit Kings who had poured out attacks all praised Kwell.

Surprisingly, Kwell, who appeared through the pure white vapor, had blocked all the Spirit Kings’ attacks.

‘Nar Di Maugh had said that my father could have reached a higher level, but his age was a pity when he evaluated him.’

But this life was different.

Perhaps because of himself, the Platinum Dragon had influenced Kwell McGovern’s swordsmanship.

Caryl felt that the swordsmanship he used was similar to Blader’s swordsmanship.

That was because the person who taught Blader’s swordsmanship to Altemann was the Platinum Dragon. Even though it was only half-baked, it was an excellent swordsmanship that could be called Sword Demon.

Moreover, since the McGovern family’s swordsmanship was originally created from the Sword Demon’s swordsmanship, it was natural that the Platinum Dragon’s teachings led to Kwell’s great growth.

“Certainly… I can’t beat you with my skills. With the Dragon and the Spirit Kings, it’s ridiculous for humans to discuss who is the strongest on the continent, but you are definitely the strongest human being.”

Buzz- Buzz-

The Imperial soldiers burst into voices here and there the moment Kwell acknowledged Caryl.

The fact that even the Empire’s best knight could not win meant that none of them could stop him.

“But.”

Unlike the bewildered soldiers, Kwell said in a calm voice.

“War is not fought alone.”

Swooosh-!!!

He raised his sword and shouted.

“All troops!! Prepare for battle!! We will capture the enemy’s leader in this place. It is something no one has ever done. Today, you will become heroes with me!!”

Even though Caryl was in the enemy’s position, he felt an unknown sense of elation boiling from his heart the moment he heard Kwell’s voice.

In his past life, he had fought with all his might in the battle against Corruption, listening to that voice.

Caryl closed his eyes at that moment.

* * *

[Are you still sad about Bran’s death? He was someone you had a connection with in your past life, but you acknowledged it too. Even if you become king, not everyone can like you.]

Aln asked Caryl, who was on the ramparts after occupying the Marquisate, after collecting Bran’s body that night.

[If you want, use Zarka Hochi to resurrect him as an undead. Nine Darhon’s Undead Legion is born only as warriors without abilities, perhaps because the power of Corruption is imbued in them. Zarka Hochi can even resurrect him as a Lich with reason. Or there’s also a way to put his soul into that kid Kei’s doll.]

“You know I wouldn’t do that.”

When Caryl answered with a bitter smile, Aln laughed out loud in response.

[Yes. You are not a god. As a human, you cannot do everything perfectly. However, there are those who died because of the future you changed, but conversely, there are also those who can live their lives thanks to you.]

“…….”

[And that also means that you can now obtain the power you couldn’t get in your past life. Isn’t that right?]

* * *

Caryl slowly opened his eyes.

“That’s right. War is not fought alone.”

At that moment,

A masked man jumped out from behind him and blocked Caryl’s path.

“……!!!”

“……!!!”

Before he knew it, Ganes, along with the masked man, aimed their halberds at the Imperial soldiers to protect Caryl.

“Randall…?”

Kwell looked at the masked man aiming his sword at him and said with an unbelievable expression.

Even though his face was covered, he could tell just by the way he held the sword and the eyes visible in the mask.

Randall and Ganes.

Those two were also powers he had not obtained in his past life.

But…….

“What are you doing!!!”

Tiren shouted with all his might, looking at the scene.

It was then.

Surprisingly, black figures jumped out around Tiren, who was being protected by the Imperial soldiers, and aimed their swords at his neck.

“……!!!”

Another power he had not obtained in his past life.

Four blades faced each other, and the swords were draped around Tiren’s neck in a square shape, making it impossible to escape.

Cold black eyes were staring at him.

There were knights around, but they were just bewildered, not knowing what to do, looking at Tiren, who had become a hostage due to their sudden attack that they couldn’t even sense.

“Don’t move, anyone. The moment you do, this one dies.”

Ziggrah of the Black Eye Clan showed his teeth low, like the growl of a beast.

Caryl turned his head.

Then, Ziggrah and the assassins of the Black Eye Clan looked at him as if waiting for orders.

“I clearly told you.”

With a cold smile, Caryl looked at the Imperial soldiers who were about to rush at him and said.

“You guys can’t do it.”