The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 440

264. Hekt Battle (5)

[What are you talking about? This bastard.]

Mael shuddered, flicking his snake-like tongue as Samiad appeared, and shouted.

[I’ve never liked you. I just don’t understand why someone like you is the Master Key.]

[That’s a joke. Of course, a guy who challenged the Master Key position and failed wouldn’t understand. Did you really think the 11th position, Swiftness, was suitable for you?]

[……What?]

[Well… unless it’s the 15th, there’s nothing special. How many Master Keys are even on this battlefield right now? But Karil is commanding the battlefield. Only the 15th Master Key is the real key.]

[Crazy bastard.]

[And among the 15th, only I, Mael, stand at the apex. What can a nobody who didn’t even make the cut for the 15th do…]

“Both of you shut up.”

Karil, who had been listening to the conversation between the Wind Spirit King and Mael, opened his mouth. The two forces, who seemed ready to fight at any moment, quieted down at his words.

“I don’t care who rises to the position of Master Key. What’s important to me is whether your power is helpful to me.”

Karil raised his arm.

“Mael, I don’t forbid you from wanting my body, because I know that greed is the source of your power.”

[Heh heh… That’s a relief.]

“And I’m using your desires as well, so I have no complaints. You’ll end up being used by me anyway.”

[……]

Karil transferred Mael’s power to Falsetia’s sword. Then, the aura blade held by the sword began to glow blue.

“Samiad, I didn’t expect to meet you like this, but you’re keeping your dignity as a Spirit King, right? I’m glad that you, who have been quiet all this time, broke the seal and spoke to me.”

“But you’re the first among the Spirit Kings to call Mael a crazy bastard. I like it.”

[If you find the Thunder Lord later, please let him meet Mael. You’ll see something interesting.]

“Can you guide me to the Lightning Spirit King?”

[You know the way better than I do, so there’s no need to explain. But the wind can find paths that are invisible to the eye. If you open the door to the Spirit Realm, I will guide you.]

“That’s good news.”

Karil looked at Samiad and was now convinced that he would soon obtain the remaining two Spirit Kings as well.

[Human, will you make a contract with me?]

Whoooooooo……!!!

The wind rose.

Karil ran towards Hekt without delay. There was no answer, but the wind blew around him and gradually intensified.

Bang! Bang!! Kwaang!!!!

Every time he took a step, a roar erupted. Running and dashing through the air, he seemed unconstrained, as if he were running on the ground.

A little more.

Karil lowered his waist.

The resistance of the air hitting his face disappeared.

A little more.

Karil put strength into his legs.

Then, although there was nothing under his feet, every time he took a step, his jumping power began to increase dramatically, as if a stepping stone was pushing up and supporting his legs.

Skaang-!!!

The moment he leaped onto Hekt’s chest and stabbed with his sword, the realm of sound couldn’t keep up with him and was heard a step late.

Kwaaaaaaaaang—!!!!

Hekt hurriedly stepped off Hawat, whom he was stepping on, and took a stance due to Karil’s attack, but he fell backward from the even more intense impact.

[Krrk?!]

The guy who fell ungracefully on his butt looked at Karil in disbelief.

But Karil, who had launched the attack a moment ago, had disappeared without a trace.

[The power of the wind isn’t just speed.]

As Samiad’s wind enveloped Karil, his figure completely disappeared. Hekt hurriedly looked around to find him, but he couldn’t find him as he was already hidden behind the wall of wind.

Karil aimed for the guy’s back as if he had been waiting for this.

Paat-!!

He jumped up and kicked the guy’s chin with all his might. As the wall of wind disappeared and he appeared right in front of him, the guy was startled and raised his spear, but Karil’s kick hit him faster.

Bbagagak……!!!

The sound of bones breaking was clearly heard, and the guy’s large, frog-like head twisted backward.

[Kaaaak!!]

Even though his head was grotesquely turned towards his back, he didn’t die and instead roared as if even more enraged.

Kukwakwang!!!! Kwakwang!!!

The guy stood up and poured out his trident as if to crush it. Every time the spear hit the ground, shards burst out in all directions like a patch of bombs exploding.

Huge holes continued to deepen, as if meteorites had fallen.

[Die……!! Die……!!]

The guy, as if his pride was hurt by being hit by an unexpected blow, threw away the spear as if it wasn’t enough and alternately slammed down with both fists.

Kukukukung! Kwakwang!!

Bang! Bang! Bang!!

A dust storm soared, and even in the dust-filled ruins, the roar created by the guy’s fists vibrated.

“Karil…….”

Miliana called his name without realizing it at the unbelievable sight.

Kkwak-

As she gripped her twin swords and tried to go inside, her sisters hurriedly stopped her.

“It’s dangerous!”

“Let go. That’s an order.”

“If you go, Sister, we will go with you.”

“It’s different for you. I have Dragon Transformation. I can withstand his attacks.”

“At best, it’ll be one hit. Didn’t you see Hawat’s armor being blown away in one blow?”

Kanocho blocked her way.

“Get out of the way!”

But Miliana pushed the giant Kanocho away nervously and ran.

Pussssseusss…….

It was then.

Hekt’s pouring punches stopped, and the soaring dust began to slowly subside.

Miliana stopped running at the sudden silence.

Kwaang!!!

In that moment, Hekt’s body staggered once again, and the fists he had stabbed countless times were pushed upward as if bouncing off.

With an intense shock, the guy staggered backward. Despite the relentless attacks, there was clearly bewilderment on his face.

“……!!!”

Miliana urgently used Manhwan (卍環) [a technique to enhance perception] to look into the dust. A single figure visible through the dust.

Karil was slowly walking out of the deeply dug pit.

Shhhhhhh……!!!

As he took a step, a strong wind swept away the dust. The airflow surrounding him was spinning in the form of a sphere.

Surprisingly, he seemed unharmed by Hekt’s indiscriminate attacks like a bombing.

“Did you do it all?”

A figure without a single scratch.

“Ha…….”

Miliana involuntarily trembled and exclaimed.

[Kuaaaaaaaa!!!!]

Hekt’s body swelled up. Veins bulged on his bursting muscles, and he picked up the spear that had fallen on the floor and stabbed Karil with all his might.

Uuung……!!

A strong magic power was felt at the tip of the spear.

Kwaaaaaaaaang!!!

With a roar, the spear collided with Karil. But at that moment, the wall of wind created by Samiad absorbed the guy’s impact like a net.

Tsuzzzzzzzz…….

The blade of the spear stopped right in front of Karil’s nose.

Hekt tried to pull the spear back, but the spear was held tightly by an invisible force and didn’t budge.

With a calm expression, Karil crossed Falsetia’s sword and Lakna.

Annihilation Strike (殲擊) [a powerful sword technique].

Skaang–!!

Leaving afterimages, Karil instantly dashed hundreds of meters and plunged his sword into the guy’s leg.

Chwaaaak……!!

Like a water balloon bursting, the guy’s left leg exploded from Karil’s attack, and thick fluids gushed out from within.

Karil, who had passed behind the guy, turned his body and jumped up, swinging his sword once again.

Sixth Boundary Severance (境界絶) [another advanced technique].

Paaaaak!!!

This time, Hekt’s right shoulder exploded, and the guy dropped the trident he was holding.

But Karil’s attack was not over yet. With Hekt in the middle, he moved in a zigzag diagonal line as if he were trampling on him, cutting off the guy’s limbs one by one.

[Kaak!! Kak!!]

Hekt struggled to block Karil, but the more he did, the more he would only become a sacrifice to his sword.

The power of the Second Disaster was formidable, but it was no threat to Karil.

“I can’t reach… him. How can he achieve such speed?”

Miliana said in disbelief at Karil’s speed, which even her Manhwan couldn’t follow.

Now, with magic power and the body transcended, and the power of the spirits combined, he was demonstrating the ultimate skill that had surpassed his limits by one step.

“…Something is different from before, isn’t it?”

Certainly, it was.

Including the Flame Tyrant Laminu, Karil had already made contracts with Spirit Kings such as Etheral, Laxis, and Duat. But it was a completely different appearance from when he had used the power of the spirits until now.

“It’s dangerous….”

Miliana recalled the epithet of the Wind Spirit King, Gale (狂風) [meaning ‘violent wind’ or ‘storm’]. Until now, the Spirit Kings had been adjusting their power, thinking about the safety of their contractor, Karil.

But Samiad was unleashing his full power as it was, as if he had no consideration for the contractor.

[Kuaaaaaaaa!!!!]

Hekt hurriedly began to restore his severed limbs. True to the Disaster of Propagation, the guy’s body was regenerating at a terrifying speed.

[This fly-like bastard…!!]

Pueok……!!

But at that moment, the guy’s face was crushed and bent backward.

[Keo… Keokeok!!]

Kuoong-!!

The guy, who had stood up awkwardly, collapsed backward as if collapsing. Karil landed on the chest of the guy who had fallen to the ground.

“Shut up.”

[Y… You bastard…!!]

Sasa삭……!! Seogeok……!!!

As a flash of light flashed, Hekt’s limbs were once again shattered and cut off. Karil climbed onto the guy’s torso without waiting.

Thump-

The guy, with only his torso and head remaining, seemed to feel the fear of death for the first time, and swallowed dry saliva without realizing it.

“Hoo-eup…….”

Karil finally took a rough breath for the first time.

A drop of sweat ran down his forehead, which had seemed calm.

[Karil, the power of the Gale is a double-edged sword. It’s a power that even he can’t control. Samiad himself would know that. That’s why he didn’t make a contract with you on purpose when he was sealed within the will of the Lycanthrope.]

[…But it’s also true that he couldn’t have faced Hekt without his power.]

[He may have endured many sacrifices…….]

The Spirit Kings said worriedly.

Of course, they knew Samiad’s characteristics. A spirit contract is an act of lending the spirit’s own power to the contractor.

But Samiad was different.

He creates power by using the contractor as a medium and creating a strong shock of wind inside his body. The power is strong, but conversely, it erodes the contractor’s body.

It’s completely different from the general power of wind.

That’s why it’s called Gale (狂風) [Violent Wind].

[Heh heh heh… Samiad, your tricks are still the same. Your power kills the contractor. What’s better about you than me? No, that’s not right. At least I don’t kill the contractor. That’s why you couldn’t become a Master Key.]

Despite Karil’s words, Mael only clicked his tongue and laughed as if enjoying it.

I don’t know what happened between them, but Mael and Samiad bickered with each other from the moment they met without backing down.

“Shut up and eat the guy’s heart.”

Karil shouted at Mael, looking at Hekt’s tattered heart.

[…As you command.]

Seuaaaaaak—!!!!

Mael’s huge fangs, which sprang from the blade of Falsetia’s sword, tore Hekt’s heart and swallowed it whole.

[K… Kuaaaaaaaa!!!]

The guy, whose limbs had been cut off, tried to regenerate again, but sharp blades of wind continued to cut off the guy’s flesh on the severed surfaces of his limbs, preventing regeneration.

[Kuaaaak!!!!]

The guy’s torso flailed around.

But that was only for a moment, as Mael’s fangs pierced the guy’s armor and pierced his heart.

[Keok…! Keokeok…!!!]

Seuseuseuseuk…….

The body, which had been flailing wildly, trembled and stopped.

The guy met his death so completely and futilely without even resisting.

“Hawat, take the spear and stick it in the altar in Parel in the Thousand-Year Ice Cave. It will show Yula our second victory.”

Karil said, pointing to the trident Hekt had left behind.

“…I understand.”

Hawat had watched Karil’s battle, which had been like an overwhelming victory, and simply followed his orders as if he had lost his words.

“Even if you don’t defend him, I, who made a contract with him, know better than anyone that the power of the Gale is completely different from yours.”

Karil came down from Hekt’s corpse and swept back his disheveled hair.

“Samiad.”

Then he called the name of the Wind Spirit King.

“A double-edged sword? If this is the end of your power, I’m disappointed to attach such a modifier.”

Pasuseuk-!!

Karil stepped on and crushed Hekt’s head and moved on.

“Putting up with childish pranks ends here. I hope you meet my expectations in the Spirit Realm.”

The Gale, who heard his words, looked at Karil with a blank expression as if he had lost his words.

[K… Keukheuk!!!!]

But soon he shook his head as if he had lost and burst into laughter.