The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 382

236. The Final Battle (13)

[The King of Light Spirits……?!]

“To think it was really sealed inside that heart…….”

Aln and Kay Rothschild exclaimed in surprise at Khalil’s words.

[That’s not what’s important.]

Zarka Hochi, barely leaning against a pillar with his broken body, said,

[If Larcis was sealed inside the Platinum Dragon’s heart, it means that both Great Wildernesses have now been absorbed into Khalil’s body.]

“That’s something that was impossible even in the Age of Myths.”

“……!!”

“……!!”

Kay, Wingel, and Zarka turned their heads towards the voice they heard.

“Altemann. So you’ve come too.”

Kay said to him as if he expected it.

“I was a little late finishing up the cleanup. Actually, I wanted to witness this moment more than anyone else……. Milliana allowed you instead of me. It can’t be helped.”

Altemann said with a bitter smile.

“Well, we should be grateful just to observe the relics of the era.”

[You and I are not much different, having lived through the Magic Era. However, I am grateful for your concession.]

Zarka nodded with difficulty, his body broken and unable to move.

“I also have Elven blood flowing through me. I don’t like the idea of Elvenheim being ruined. And since I also have human blood in me……. I didn’t want to ignore the human problem either.”

Altemann shrugged lightly at his words.

“Even if neither side accepts me.”

Slelf [half-elf].

He was a slave elf who was abandoned by Elvenheim because he had human blood mixed in, and conversely, he lived as a slave in the human realm because he had elven blood mixed in.

In a way, it was a life not recognized by either world, but Altemann now had an expression that said he didn’t care about such a past.

His appearance, calmly speaking about his situation, was somehow carefree.

“There’s something more important. If the world moves according to the Platinum Dragon’s will, that would distort everything.”

“Humanity? You’re good at saying cheesy things. How the world turns out is a later problem. The biggest reason for drawing a sword is revenge. There’s no need to think about what comes after if you can’t even achieve your personal goals.”

Kay said, sweeping back his disheveled hair.

“You’re all the same in the end. The people here have gathered because they want the Platinum Dragon to die. Since you’re the most intact person here, why not take the opportunity to stab him with a sword?”

Altemann could only smile bitterly at Kay’s words.

[But what did you mean by that earlier? That it was impossible even in the Age of Myths.]

“Everyone knows now that Judex, the first Blader, Tosca, the Golden Dragon, and the Spirit Contractor, the Platinum Dragon, were the mainstays of the Godslayers.”

[You should exclude the Platinum Dragon. That guy is a traitor, so the word Godslayer is hardly appropriate.]

Aln scoffed at Altemann’s words.

“Okay. Anyway, they were each those who had reached the pinnacle of one aspect. Judex was the sword, Tosca was magic, and the Platinum Dragon was the spirit. But unlike the name Spirit Contractor, the Platinum Dragon did not control all spirits.”

Everyone nodded at his words.

[I know. Even Judex, who used the great magic we talked about, the power of the sword, magic, and spirits, only had the power of Duat [realm of darkness].]

“That’s right. And the Platinum Dragon was the one who guarded the power of Larcis. The two Great Wildernesses are originally one and not one, so Yula divided the two powers and gave them to the Blader.”

Altemann took a light breath and said.

[It seems that the Platinum Dragon was trusted by Yula even back then. Judging by the fact that she entrusted him with the most dangerous power.]

“Well, I don’t know if it was trust or a test.”

He shrugged.

“Where there is light, there is also darkness. Certainly, the power of Larcis, the King of Light Spirits, has the same attributes as God and has power comparable to God, but that power alone is not enough.”

[Yes. If the power of God were completed with just that, she would be no different from a spirit.]

“Spirits are beings born from the cracks that occurred in the process of the world being formed. They have the power closest to God, but that power is like a separated power of God.”

The reason why the attributes of the Spirit Kings and the attributes of magic are the same may also be because of that. All of that was one classification that made up the world.

“Therefore, if the darkness of the spirit is Duat, then the darkness of God is…….”

“Corruption.”

Altemann nodded as if catching his breath at Kay Rothschild’s words.

“That’s right.”

[I see……. We were mistaken. The traces of Larcis we found in the Platinum Dragon’s lair were not because his seal was broken, but because the Platinum Dragon had it from the beginning.]

Aln wondered why Deril Harian knew the secret that Larcis was sealed inside the Platinum Dragon’s heart.

[Finding out the truth about that guy will remain a task for later…….]

He muttered to himself, inaudibly, and looked at Altemann.

[The possibility that the Platinum Dragon was experimenting with is not light but darkness. Duat and Corruption. He was preparing both?]

“That’s right. He tried to contract with Duat through the object called Neil Blanc, and through Rael, he had the power of God along with definite corruption…….”

[It’s truly a self-inflicted wound.]

Aln said in a low voice at Altemann’s words and looked ahead.

[His plan rather became an opportunity for Khalil to gain both powers. Now that Khalil has both attributes that only God can have, he has set foot in the realm that the guy wanted so much before anyone else.]

“Does that mean he is now in the realm of God…….”

“Lord…….”

At his words, Kay and the others there looked at Khalil and exclaimed.

“But there is something we must not overlook.”

Unlike them, who were feeling thrilled, Altemann said in a still calm voice.

“Something very important.”

* * *

“Nar Di Maugh.”

Khalil raised his head and looked at the Platinum Dragon. The hole in his heart was now filled with black smoke, and a terrible magic power was flowing from his entire body.

“That state is no different from corruption.”

With half of his body already consumed, he was no longer in a state that could be called a dragon. He was barely maintaining his life, but it was questionable whether he could be said to be alive.

“You’re pathetic. Where did the dragon’s honor go? The realm of God you were pursuing shouldn’t be like that.”

[Krrrrrr…….]

Just a distorted posture refusing death. Abandoning reason and clinging only to instinct, he had simply degenerated into a monster.

Kwaaaaaang—!!!

Nar Di Maugh leaped towards Khalil.

As he transformed back into the shape of a dragon in the air, one of his wings was left with only bones like a bone dragon resurrected by necromancy, and black corruption was seeping out from inside the tattered flesh of his shoulders and legs.

Skang!! Kagagaga……!!!!

Every time Nar Di Maugh flapped his wings, red flesh fell in all directions.

The lumps of flesh were permeated with the energy of corruption, and every time they fell to the ground, they made a hissing sound……!! Along with black smoke and a foul stench.

[It’s terrible. We should keep our distance. Such a strong energy……. Humans can melt just by touching it.]

Mael said, looking at Nar Di Maugh.

[To have changed this much. The name corruption really suits his appearance.]

Thud- Thud- Thud-

It was then.

Khalil instead began to walk fearlessly into the miasma of corruption falling in all directions.

[W-wait a minute……!!]

“Don’t worry. It doesn’t work on me.”

[……What?]

Chiiiiik……!!!

As Khalil said, surprisingly, the Platinum Dragon’s miasma, which had been instantly killing the earth, did not reach him.

As if blocked by an invisible wall, the miasma disappeared around Khalil as if crumbling.

[…….]

Looking at the scene, Mael closed his mouth as if he was speechless.

Because the forms of Duat and Larcis appeared behind Khalil’s back like wings.

* * *

[What is it that we must not overlook?]

Zarka Hochi asked Altemann.

“Why would Nar Di Maugh aim for both Duat and Corruption in such a complicated way?”

[To avoid being detected by God. Killing Rael in a hurry would be for a similar reason.]

Aln answered his question as if it were obvious.

“But now God will know that Nar Di Maugh was hiding the power of corruption. Everything has gone wrong. Khalil should have killed him before that. Before God knew this fact.”

Altemann said in a trembling voice.

[Aln. You are connected to Khalil’s mind, aren’t you? Tell him. We must hide Khalil’s power. If we can’t protect him, we will experience the same future as the Bladers who lived in the Age of Myths.]

The reason he rushed from Tatur to the Imperial City may have been to awaken this sense of urgency.

[There’s no need.]

However, Aln instead answered with a sneer at his words.

[Shall I tell you why the Platinum Dragon failed?]

“……?”

[Because he tried to hide it.]

Altemann’s eyes shook.

[Yula. She is an omniscient God. She created this world, didn’t she? Do you think such a being wouldn’t know what’s happening on the continent? You can’t hide it by hiding it.]

Aln pointed upwards with his finger.

[Trying to cover the sky with your palm is a foolish act. Perhaps the reason God has left the Platinum Dragon alone until now is because she knew he would fail from the beginning.]

“…….”

[We were played with. God was just enjoying looking down on the sight of a toy struggling.]

At his words, everyone just looked at Aln’s finger with pale faces.

[The reason why the Holy War, the rebellion of the first Bladers, failed was not much different. Because she knew everything, she was able to offer the Platinum Dragon the temptation of betrayal.]

“Does that mean it was a rebellion that was destined to fail from the beginning…….”

Altemann said with a hardened face at his words.

[So you don’t have to hide it.]

“……What?”

[Just show hostility and direct your killing intent towards the enemy. There’s no need to hide or do behind-the-scenes work. If you’re not going to hide it, there’s no need to worry.]

“Are you saying you’re not afraid of God…….”

Aln chuckled.

[No, I’m afraid. I’m a body that died to someone like the Platinum Dragon. But he’s not. Because he’s a guy who came with that mindset.]

Aln didn’t bother to say ‘going back in time’. If he retraced the story he had told Altemann, Khalil’s position was terrifying.

God knows everything.

If that premise is certain, Yula already knew from the moment Khalil went back in time through Parel, and just like Nar Di Maugh, the fact that she has been watching his actions means that she is confident that Khalil will fail.

[…….]

He pointed to Khalil.

[Look. Even the Platinum Dragon, who we thought was the last enemy, is considered a gateway for him to grow……. His eyes are already looking beyond that.]

God knows everything.

Bearing that fear from the beginning, Khalil has finally come this far.

[So how can we give up.]

* * *

Woooooong……!!

Khalil reached out his hand.

Then, Duat and Larcis behind his back began to intertwine as if merging.

“Mael. Reveal yourself.”

At the same time, the blue snake sleeping in his hand appeared and opened its huge mouth towards the sky.

As it swallowed the bead condensed with the power of the two Great Wildernesses, the blue snake was absorbed into Polsetia as it was.

Sreureung-

From the pages of Polsetia [a magical book] that unfolded as if drawing a sword from its sheath, Khalil once again drew his sword.

“Let’s try it one more time. He’s a good practice partner.”

[Kekeke……. Treating the Platinum Dragon as nothing more than a scarecrow in a training ground.]

“What does it matter? I haven’t reached ‘that’ yet. I feel like I can grab it if I reach out a little further. This time, I’ll be able to test it for sure.”

Khalil raised his head.

“Just as you have done to humans until now, this time you will have to become the sacrifice. Nar Di Maugh.”

He grabbed his sword.

In the silence where even the sound of breathing could not be heard, everyone looked at the tip of Khalil’s sword.

[The sixth stance of the sword.]

Aln’s voice trembled.

“The sixth……?”

Altemann, who had not seen the clash between the two earlier, asked him back.

[Altemann, be grateful that you are in this place. It’s not just a trivial matter of being able to see the end of the Platinum Dragon.]

Aln said, recalling the sense of incongruity he had felt earlier.

[It will be a blessed place as a swordsman. Khalil, who has obtained Polsetia, the symbol of magic, and made the two Great Wildernesses, the achievement of the spirit, his own, will now surpass even the realm of the sword achieved by the last first Blader.]