The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 431

261. The Power of the Sun (5)

“W, what is this?!”

Yooleen Hugarre exclaimed, his voice filled with astonishment at the sudden appearance of the skull that glowed with light.

Kugugugugu….

As Tosca’s bones, which they had thought were merely a corpse, began to move, Kahill, too, watched with a tense gaze, as this was an unexpected event.

“So, it wasn’t just a simple tomb.”

As if waiting for his words, the shattered bones pieced themselves together like fragments, and the form of a massive Bone Dragon began to appear.

From the patterns engraved on the thick bones, a faint, hazy smoke flowed out, covering the bones like leather and beginning to shine brilliantly.

[Kahill, the movement of life we felt before entering this place… It seems this is it.]

“Life from a guy who only has bones left… That’s absurd.”

[In the incongruous situation where there is divine power within the body of an undead, it’s not strange to have an immortal dragon either.]

At Aln’s words, Kahill slowly raised his head and spoke in a low voice towards the Bone Dragon looking at him.

“Immortal? That’s not a grand enough name to call him. He’s just a part of the dead. He’s no longer the Golden Dragon who was a Blader of the Mythic Age.”

Swish—

Kahill slowly mimed drawing a sword in the air. Then, following the movement of his hand, a sword appeared from the empty space.

Yooleen Hugarre swallowed hard, staring at the blade that emitted intense magical power.

He was reminded of the time when he had beheaded the Platinum Dragon with that sword.

[I don’t think you should use Polsetia. That power originally belonged to Tosca, so if you use great magic, it might show hostility.]

Lamine was worried.

[The Golden Dragon’s power was comparable to Judex, who was called the first Blader. If he thinks his magic tome has been taken away…]

The Spirit Kings, who had experienced the Divine Spirit War, knew Tosca’s might better than anyone else.

He was the ultimate being who had mastered all magic of all creation, and for the Spirit Kings, who were the condensation of natural forces, he was an even greater being than the Platinum Dragon, who was called the Lord of the Spirits.

“Then I should fight with Polsetia’s sword even more.”

However, Kahill coldly laughed at Lamine’s words.

“If I remember correctly, Tosca’s soul is sealed within the Thousand-Year Ice Cave. But if, apart from that spirit, the body instinctively feels Polsetia…”

Swish-

As Kahill drew up his magic power, the blade vibrated and began to wail.

“Now is the perfect opportunity to make it clear who the real owner of Polsetia is. Shouldn’t we let him know that the times have changed?”

[Are you… saying you’re going to fight the Golden Dragon?]

“There’s no reason not to.”

He slowly nodded at Etheral’s question.

“There are already two dragons in here. What problem would there be with catching one more?”

‘T, two dragons?’

Yooleen Hugarre was startled by Kahill’s words and looked at him. He knew that Kahill had defeated the Platinum Dragon in the Empire, but he didn’t know that Kahill had consumed the Flame Dragon’s heart as well.

‘I see… So that’s how he could have such absurd power.’

[Kuaaaaaaaa—!!!]

Tosca roared, opening his massive mouth.

“Is he… alive?”

Yooleen Hugarre could only stare blankly at the sight.

“He’s not alive. It’s just that the bones inside aren’t visible because of the reflection of light, but it’s just a form made of smoke. It’s definitely different from a typical Bone Dragon, but…”

Kahill stared intently at one spot through Tosca’s translucent scales.

“But Yooleen, I can fully understand why you’re mistaken. Look there.”

“That is…?”

There was a part that emitted an unusually strong light between the ribs. Yooleen looked at Kahill as if demanding an answer.

“Tosca’s heart.”

[Hehehe, coming here wasn’t a wasted trip. I thought only the Platinum Dragon’s trash was left, but to think there would be such a real treasure. Wouldn’t that heart be the ultimate essence of the sun?]

But unlike Aln, who was delighted, Kahill didn’t say anything, as if lost in thought, staring at the third dragon’s heart.

“But that’s strange. Why is Tosca’s heart here? If this is the place the Platinum Dragon used as an experimental site, there’s no way that guy would have just left it here.”

[Well… There could be several reasons, but maybe it wasn’t that he put it here, but that he had no choice but to put it here.]

“What do you mean?”

[A dragon’s heart is the most important organ in a dragon’s body. That’s why they create their own barriers in their bodies to prepare for those who aim for the heart. The patterns engraved on Tosca’s bones are like that.]

“Hmm…”

Kahill nodded.

He knew better than anyone how powerful the barrier magic on a dragon’s bones was.

The scarlet armor made by melting the bones of the Flame Dragon Liceria, Rex Hander, was the armor that Oliven wore in his previous life.

It was a weapon superior to any armor in the Imperial Palace’s treasury, and it was made by Calibson, who melted a single bone fragment of Liceria that was accidentally discovered and mixed it with mithril and orichalcum [mythical metals].

If the power of just one fragment was that great, then Tosca’s massive bones, which remained intact, were truly an enormous treasure.

[That’s why extracting a dragon’s heart is not an easy task. Tosca is a dragon from before Nar Di Maugh [likely a significant historical event or era]. Perhaps Nar Di Maugh may have failed to extract his heart.]

“But Liceria’s heart was hidden separately in Einherjar [Hall of the Slain in Norse Mythology, here likely a specific location], wasn’t it?”

[There are still questionable parts about the Flame Dragon’s death… If he left the dragon’s heart behind of his own will, it would have nothing to do with the seal.]

Kahill slightly glared at Aln’s words.

“Well, even if I obtained the Platinum Dragon’s heart, its power wouldn’t fully come to me until the covenant with the Empire was in place. Tosca’s heart may also be useless in some ways if I can’t find the key to unlock the seal.”

“…….”

Yooleen looked at the two of them.

To be honest, what was more surprising than the fact that a Bone Dragon remained in this place was the fact that they were having a leisurely conversation in front of Tosca.

[Judex… Is that you.]

It was then.

Surprisingly, the Bone Dragon’s mouth opened, and a low, eerie voice flowed out.

‘Is his consciousness still there?’

Kahill shook his head from side to side as if his head was dizzy and looked at Tosca, who was struggling to speak, with interest.

“No. I definitely met his will in the Thousand-Year Ice Cave. And that seal hasn’t been broken yet.”

Looking at Tosca, he organized his thoughts.

“At best, it’s just a lingering thought.”

But the fact that this much will remained even in a state of being sealed by a god meant that Tosca’s power was that strong, and that something he was desperately trying to protect remained inside.

“Indeed…”

Kahill wore a faint smile.

Clang—!!!

An Aura Blade soared from the blade of Polsetia, which was drawn out without a word.

[Human…]

Tosca said, looking at Kahill.

Crackling…!! Crack…!!!

At that moment, Tosca’s massive mouth opened towards Kahill. A breath of light began to condense with intense heat.

“Evade!!!”

Kahill shouted at Yooleen, and Yooleen hurriedly cast a barrier spell, hiding his body while covering his front with the Hellish Mace like a shield.

Kwagagagagagaga—!!!!!

Like a sun rising in the underground chamber, the breath, along with tremendous heat, instantly melted the surrounding rocks and engulfed Kahill.

“Huk, huk…”

Yooleen Hugarre made the sign of the cross and exhaled with a flushed face. He hurriedly cast a blessing.

It was the highest-level protection magic he could use, but Tosca’s heat penetrated the shield and burned his body. Yooleen tore off the tattered sleeves of his robe that were burned here and there.

Kugeuk…!!!

Thump! Thump! Thump!!

Tosca, who had spewed out his breath, suddenly began to stomp his feet as if in pain.

Every time his massive body moved, the ground rumbled as if an earthquake had occurred, and the underground chamber shook as if it would collapse at any moment.

Kaaang—!!!

A sharp blade sound was heard amidst the chaotic shaking.

“Lasis.”

Kahill called the name of the Spirit King of Light in a low voice.

[Understood.]

The power of Lasis, who resonated with his will even without him having to say it, permeated the blade of Polsetia as if absorbed.

[We’re going too.]

As if waiting, Aln condensed the dark power of Duat [Egyptian underworld] and created a staff.

Flash-!!

The moment he stepped forward as if kicking off the air, a round shockwave-like thing formed under Kahill’s feet, and he rushed into the inside of Tosca’s flank as if sprinting.

2nd Unicorn Posture.

Polsetia’s sword flashed, emitting a flash of light. If it were a living body, it would have torn the skin, but Kahill pierced through his body, which was made of smoke, and penetrated into the inside of the bone.

“Hup…!!”

As if waiting, Kahill reached out from inside Tosca’s body.

Polsetia, Ancient Magic.

-2nd Gray Fill.

A gray orb appeared above his outstretched palm.

[Kuaaaak…!!]

The orb began to spin at a terrifying speed inside Tosca, as if it would suck in anything.

[Kaaak!!!]

As the bones around the heart began to turn gray, Tosca began to scream in agony.

Kwagang!! Kwagang!!

Kahill shouted his name amidst the fluctuating gray storm. The gray orb that Kahill created quickly circled around Tosca’s heart, aiming for the heart like a net.

Crack…! Crackling…!!

But at that moment, the surrounding bones began to wrap around it as if trying to protect the heart.

[Be careful. Ancient Magic is magic created by Tosca. Of course, he will know how to break it.]

“That’s why I used it.”

Kahill said, looking at the bones that were beginning to bind him.

“Yooleen!”

As he shouted, Yooleen grabbed the Hellish Mace as if he had been waiting.

“Break his ribs!! The opportunity is only once. Pour out all your divine power!!”

Gulp-

Yooleen swallowed hard, looking nervously at the sight of Tosca’s bones wrapping around Kahill’s entire body.

“Okay… I can do it. What’s so special about a dragon? Yeah, nothing special! Ptooey!”

Yooleen spat on his palm as if making a vow and grabbed the Hellish Mace.

“I’ll slice you up. Bonehead.”

Boooom…!!!

His sturdy forearms, clearly visible outside the torn sleeves of his robe, swelled up as if about to burst the moment he grabbed the Hellish Mace.

Kwaaang!!!

The Hellish Mace struck Tosca’s leg exactly with a roar. Yooleen’s attack, imbued with divine power, had a definite effect on the undead Bone Dragon.

[Kueueueue…!!!]

At that moment, Tosca’s center collapsed, and he staggered as if collapsing. Not missing the opportunity, Kahill stabbed Polsetia’s sword into the bone surrounding the heart.

Crack…! Crudedeuk…!!!

[You…!! Are you tormenting me again!! Judex!!]

“I’m not Judex.”

[I will never trust you again… In the end, you will be defeated…!!]

“I wouldn’t have started if I was going to be defeated.”

Tosca, who only had thoughts left, was saying different things as if he couldn’t understand Kahill’s words, but strangely, their emotions felt connected to each other.

“In the memories of Polsetia that you left behind, you didn’t seem like such a weakling. The Golden Dragon who gave blessings to the clan that followed you until the end.”

Kahill slowly raised his sword.

“If you have given up fighting, I will not force you any further. But I will continue to fight and become stronger.”

Crackling……. Crackling…….

Flash……!! Swish……!!

As Polsetia’s blade resonated with Tosca’s magic power, the gray spheres that were created around Kahill in an instant began to shatter his bones.

[Kuaaaak!!!!]

Tosca screamed in agony.

“Can you see? Even the Ancient Tome you created seems disappointed in its master who has lost the will to fight. It seems it’s lending its power to me, not you.”

Golden light began to leak through the crumbling bones.

Kahill looked at it and said in a low voice.

“If you won’t fight, I’ll take your heart.”