The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 70

60. Labyrinth Attack (2)

Sreung—

The sound of Ice Claw’s blade echoed sharply within the labyrinth.

‘Is that the relic he got from the Gray Church? He managed to bring it without the lord noticing,’ Aidan thought, watching Khalil’s sword.

‘Will I get to see him use magic this time? He didn’t really use it properly during the competition.’

He had seen Khalil fight Quron in Tatur. He knew his swordsmanship skills well. But that’s why he was even more puzzled.

‘The Expert Competition is, after all, a competition only for those who have entered the ranks of magicians.’

Aidan, who didn’t know about Baron Beryl’s recommendation letter, was always curious if Khalil’s magic was really at the level to participate in the Expert Competition.

‘If he really has enough magic to be in the ranks of magicians…….’

Moreover, the level of swordsmanship he had seen.

‘It’s no exaggeration to say he has the skills of a Sword Master.’

Aidan looked at him with trembling eyes.

Paaat—!!

As if not caring about his thoughts, Khalil moved his body, leaping towards Agma.

[Listen carefully. Until now, the places where you unfolded the Colorless Sword Energy were virtual spaces I created. Those places focus more on imagination than the limits of the body. Therefore, it may be different from actually unfolding the Sword Energy in reality.]

Kaaang—!!

Kagang—!!

Aln warned Khalil, who was deflecting Agma’s spear. Listening to his words, Khalil silently focused on Agma.

“This… There’s no room to interfere.”

Mikhail muttered lowly, watching the fight between Agma and Khalil. He had seen him in the competition, but it was as if that was just a game. He stared blankly at his completely different battle.

He hadn’t been in the Cult Mercenary Corps for long, but he had received some training.

However, even following Khalil’s sword with his eyes felt overwhelming.

Kwagagagagak……!!

The sound of the sword blade cutting through the floor erupted. Despite Khalil’s relentless barrage of attacks from all directions, Agma skillfully deflected his attacks with the shield he was holding.

‘It feels like fighting a person, not a monster,’ Khalil thought, feeling his sword narrowly miss by a hair’s breadth. His eyes sharpened.

‘Then…’

He slightly raised the corner of his mouth at the sight of Agma avoiding the attacks.

As Aln Zabiuss had said, he was an opponent against whom he could comfortably unleash his Magic Swordsmanship.

“Huu…!!”

Khalil adjusted his grip on the sword and pulled Ice Claw towards his waist.

Colorless Sword Energy Style 2.

As he lifted it up and struck down, the heavy weight fell on the monster’s shield.

Kwaaaang—-!!

Agma’s body staggered.

The second style, which can be obtained after achieving the basics of the first style, was the one that Kalnere put the most effort into among the Colorless Sword Energy styles.

It was the only sword style that even Khalil thought didn’t need to be touched from beginning to end, unlike the others.

In that moment,

A strange sound of muscles twisting was heard.

“……!!”

Despite the powerful attack, Khalil’s sword could not penetrate the monster’s shield.

Not only that, but along with the strange sound a moment ago, the cone-shaped spearhead that Agma was holding began to twist into a spiral, like a pretzel.

[Be careful!!]

At the same time as Aln Zabiuss’s warning, Agma’s spear flew in a straight line as if he had been waiting for it.

Kwagagagagak……!!

Kwagagak……!!

A tremendous roar erupted along with the dark dirt.

“Khalil-nim!!”

Mikhail urgently called out Khalil’s name, who had disappeared from sight due to the soaring dust, and gathered his magic.

Wind stirred in his hands, and the hazy smoke began to swirl and gather.

“……!!”

Khalil’s figure became visible through the dust being sucked in as the airflow changed due to Mikhail’s magic.

“Hwup…!!”

The sound of exhaling the breath he had been holding back was heard through the dust. The moment he turned his head, Mikhail saw red blood flowing down Khalil’s shoulder.

He had narrowly avoided Agma’s spear, but the wind pressure had torn his flesh.

“Be careful!!”

Agma, standing behind Khalil, looked as if he was about to pounce on him, aiming his spear from top to bottom.

Mikhail shouted, and Aidan hastily adjusted his dagger and ran to get him away from the monster.

“It’s okay.”

In that moment.

Khalil’s calm voice rang out, and Agma, who was standing above his head, moved faster than he could move.

A very subtle movement that was so fast that it felt like he was standing still.

Seogeok-

Ice Claw twisted strangely.

In a fleeting moment, Khalil’s wrist, which was holding the handle, moved, and only Aidan noticed it.

‘What is it……?’

But it was such a small movement that even he only saw that his wrist had moved and didn’t realize that the blade of Ice Claw at the end had pierced Agma’s neck.

Five Sword Step.

Second Unicorn Posture.

Tuk-

As he twisted the blade that penetrated the neck, the monster’s helmet fell to the floor.

But that’s not the end.

The chest with the mouth was the real head.

Inheriting the momentum of the surging blade, Khalil moved his sword once again.

[Keeeek……!!]

As the Colorless Sword Energy sword style continued from the sword posture unfolded, the monster was unable to avoid it and was cut off with a strange scream.

Tseueueueuk……!

As if ashes were scattering.

The flesh inside the carapace turned black as soon as it came into contact with the air.

“Huu….”

Khalil let out a low breath and put his sword away, looking at the fallen Agma.

[Just now… what was that?]

Aln Zabiuss asked Khalil with wide eyes. Despite being a soulless spirit, his face was full of surprise.

‘It was the second sword style of Colorless Sword Energy that you taught me.’

[No, no. Before that. That thing you held strangely and shook up and down……!]

Aln Zabiuss couldn’t stand it and shouted at him as if he was arguing.

‘……Can’t you explain it properly? It sounds weird.’

[Th, that’s. Never mind, anyway, what did you do?]

Aln Zabiuss seemed a little embarrassed by Khalil’s words but soon asked as if urging him.

‘It’s nothing much. It’s one of the five postures I created inside the tower. I thought it would be good to use it as a combo when learning Colorless Sword Energy in the illusion space.’

At his question, Khalil shrugged his shoulders lightly as if it was not a big deal.

‘Besides, I didn’t think it would be possible this quickly… Thanks to the training in the illusion space, I couldn’t break through the blood vessels, but instead, I was able to use the second step.’

He wore a satisfied expression.

The five sword styles he had learned while cutting down countless monsters in the tower to return to the past.

To the eyes of ordinary people, it may just look like a basic posture, but within it, countless ever-changing sword styles could be derived.

[Five postures……?]

Aln Zabiuss, although he couldn’t use swordsmanship, could see the movement of the sword more clearly than ordinary humans due to his special form as a spirit.

That’s why he could see the small difference.

‘Don’t be so surprised. Colorless Sword Energy is also good swordsmanship. I have never ignored the Council of Seven Elders. Besides, it goes well with the second posture.’

[…….]

Aln didn’t say anything at Khalil’s words.

[You created that swordsmanship?]

‘Yes. It was made with the blood of the monsters I cut down while climbing the tower.’

It is a lonely experience that I never want to experience again.

His bitter expression showed how difficult it was.

‘When I swung my sword countless times, I suddenly saw another realm. If it’s a trick of fate, it’s a trick. The time inside was terrible, but I gained something thanks to it.’

[I see.]

Aln nodded and asked again.

[You created the swordsmanship…….]

‘That’s right.’

Was it because he thought he didn’t trust him and kept asking? Khalil frowned slightly and answered Aln, who kept asking.

‘Anyway, tell me if there’s anything useful on this guy.’

[……Okay.]

As life left, Agma’s appearance was limp like a deflated balloon.

“Mikhail, if you lived in Cobb Village, you would know how to dismantle it, right?”

“Yes. I’m not skilled, but I know the basics. But have I ever told you about my hometown?”

Khalil smiled lightly at Mikhail’s question and pointed to Agma’s corpse.

“Separate this guy’s flesh and carapace [hard outer shell]. If you use the carapace as a material, you can make armor with anti-magic power.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Mikhail looked at the corpse with slightly widened eyes at his words.

Armor with anti-magic power was so expensive that it was worth a fortune.

Especially.

It was difficult to make, but the materials were rare, so it was considered a symbol of the nobles.

Regardless of the strength of the effect, even if it was simply labeled as anti-magic armor, wealthy nobles would try to buy it with their eyes wide open.

‘Of course, it’s not something those guys would use,’ Khalil thought, looking at the carapace.

“We can’t carry it right now, so after removing the carapace, mark it and bury it directly in the ground and take it later.”

“I understand.”

“And the cut flesh cannot be eaten, so throw it away, but there will be a hard stone-like thing inside the heart. Scrape it off well and store it. It’s a material used for magic tools.”

“Magic tools?”

“Yes. It’s difficult to handle, but if you refine it well, you can make artifacts for magicians… No, you can make them.”

“Wow… This one corpse is a complete treasure trove. Anti-magic armor and artifacts.”

Mikhail licked his lips at his words. Then he nodded and said.

“Khalil-nim knows everything. I’ll start dismantling it first. It will take some time.”

“Good.”

At his answer, Khalil nodded and let out a low sigh.

In fact,

He was just continuing Aln Zabiuss’s words, so he blamed his carelessness for almost making a mistake.

‘I need to be more careful. I’m not used to it yet.’

Aln, who would have made fun of his mistake as usual, was silent for some reason.

Khalil, thinking nothing of him, touched his shoulder that had been attacked by Agma a moment ago and said.

“It hasn’t been long since we came in, but let’s take a break while Mikhail dismantles it.”

“Yes.”

Aidan quickly moved his body at Khalil’s words.

* * *

Kuuung-

After putting the torn thick carapace into the dug pit and covering it with dirt, Mikhail wiped away the sweat.

“Is it over now?”

Aidan, who had been waiting, said while stretching lightly.

“Why didn’t you help me?”

“A mercenary can’t do this much alone.”

“……I’m on the magic side now.”

“That doesn’t mean your affiliation is changing from the Cult Mercenary Corps to the Magic Society, does it?”

“Kkeueung.”

Mikhail licked his lips as if he was disappointed at Aidan’s joke.

“Let’s go. We still have a long way to go.”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

Khalil, who had a bandage on his shoulder, moved a few more times and nodded as if he was okay and got up from his seat.

‘I unexpectedly wasted time. It’s not good to be in the labyrinth for a long time. There’s poison.’

In his previous life, he didn’t know that its identity was dark power, but he knew well what effect the poison in the labyrinth had on the body.

‘I’ll attack this place and go back within 12 hours.’

Khalil quickened his pace as if he had made up his mind.

In that moment.

‘What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming?’

[It’s nothing.]

Khalil glanced back at Aln Zabiuss, who was standing still behind him.

He couldn’t act obviously because he was invisible to the other two.

‘He’s been quiet since earlier. Is there something wrong?’

[No. Now, let’s go quickly.]

‘Hmm.’

Khalil turned his head again at Aln’s words and started walking.

[…….]

However, Aln, who seemed to be lost in thought, looked at Khalil’s back as he entered the cave and muttered in a low voice.

[No matter how I think about it, that swordsmanship you created…….]

In that moment.

He hesitated for a moment.

He thought without saying a word.

‘I’m sure I’ve seen it somewhere before.’