The Shadowed Legacy of the Soulless Messenger [EN]: Chapter 211

“Hatir is like a son to me, and you are a disciple, but still, you are not family.”

Kazas had no choice but to say that.

And that answer was rather good news for Azadin. At least it meant that Kazas didn’t blindly condone Hatir’s atrocities.

To help because he is like a son. Having that perception meant that he didn’t fully agree with Hatir’s actions.

“From my perspective, Hatir doesn’t seem like such a great son? He doesn’t seem to have such outstanding filial piety that he should summon the Nether’s envoys and lead the era of Jupiter together.”

The elders who were listening couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Are you laughing?”

When Hatir got annoyed, the elders immediately stopped laughing.

Watching that, Azadin was utterly disappointed.

When he was young, the elders were the very embodiment of authority within the clan. Seeing them being so careful with their words and actions, watching Hatir’s every move, made him feel pathetic.

And he was disgusted by the power and authority concentrated on Hatir. All the acts of corrupting and destroying this world, making rivers and mountains with the blood and flesh of innocent people, were all the deeds of Hatir, that demigod, yet Kazas loved and prioritized such a man more than Azadin.

Hatir also couldn’t tolerate Azadin’s presence.

“You’re not only making yourself a laughingstock, but you’re making me one too. Son of Acre. I should have killed you, but Aldis stopped me and let you live….”

“Do you regret it?”

“Yes.”

“If you regret it, that means you’re aware that you made a wrong judgment in the past. Then, there’s no guarantee that what you’re doing now isn’t also a wrong judgment?”

“You’re just splitting hairs. I thought we could have a conversation for amusement, but you’re not even amusing.”

Chieftain Hatir was about to give the order to kill Azadin’s group.

“Then, Chieftain Hatir! I challenge you to a duel!”

Azadin challenged Chieftain Hatir to a duel.

“What?”

“You said yourself you were looking for amusement, right? Surely you can’t make excuses now that you’re busy. Why don’t you accept my challenge?”

“This guy….”

If he thought about it calmly, Hatir had no reason to accept this duel. Even at this moment, reinforcements were arriving from the rear, and if he just waited a little longer, Azadin and Araiel’s faction would be completely surrounded.

It was something that could be ended with numbers. However, Azadin was a figure known as a dullard of the Herald clan, and if he avoided the duel challenge of such a person, it would be a major blow to the chieftain’s honor.

Even among the young Heralds, doubts were rising. If that hadn’t been the case, Araiel wouldn’t have been able to get this far, no matter how many Nether creatures she commanded.

They had arrived here because the clan was engaging in a work slowdown, because many people didn’t sympathize with Chieftain Hatir’s vision.

In this situation, would he really ignore Azadin’s duel challenge?

Hatir considered Azadin’s duel challenge to be audacious.

“I can see right through your intentions. Fine. I can’t leave the stain of running away from a duel challenge from a dullard like you. But Araiel, maybe, but you? Do you think you’re on my level? Azadin of Muan? A duel challenge is only valid if the opponents are of a certain level.”

“If you win against my sister, I’ll give up my life too. How about it if I guarantee it?”

Araiel offered her own life as collateral.

“Your life is already mine, Araiel. What’s the point of offering something that’s already in my hands?”

“I assure you, if I unleash my true power, half of the elders here will die. And you won’t get my body alive either. But if you defeat Azadin, I’ll surrender alive. How about it?”

“…….”

“Lady Araiel?!”

The Four of Hwajopungwol were shocked. If Azadin lost, she would surrender without resistance. That’s what Araiel was saying.

‘To that extent?’

‘No, Lady Araiel’s condition isn’t good.’

Currently, Araiel had used a lot of power to break through the numerous troops. In fact, just arriving here was a miracle, so she had already accomplished a miracle.

As a result, she was consuming her magic and life force, suffering from fatigue and anemia, so if Araiel were to duel Hatir here, she wouldn’t be able to display her full abilities.

‘But why Azadin of all people?’

‘Do you think we’re not up to par? He lost his left hand?’

The Four of Hwajopungwol were disappointed with Araiel’s choice, but… they soon changed their minds.

The Araiel they served never did anything in vain.

It wasn’t because she was biased towards Azadin because he was her brother, or to give him glory, but because Azadin was the only one among the group who could truly defeat Hatir, that she was putting him forward.

“Hmm?”

Hatir also noticed that Araiel was desperate to make this duel happen by any means.

“Alright. I understand, Azadin. I’ll accept that challenge. Be happy. You’re the first person to challenge the chieftain in 150 years. But starting 100 paces away in the clan’s way would be impossible now, right?”

“Yes!”

At that moment, a sword of light was swung from Hatir’s hand. Before he could even react, the sword of light cut across Azadin’s neck.

“The, the Emperor’s Sword!”

“Ararat!”

Those who were watching were shocked.

The sword of light that the Emperor was said to have used when subjugating mythical creatures was unleashed from Hatir’s hand.

It was so fast and weightless that even Azadin couldn’t react.

“Ah.”

Araiel was flustered, and….

“It’s over.”

Hatir chuckled, but….

“?!”

Azadin was standing there without any injuries.

Azadin was also flustered.

He had heard of the Emperor’s Sword, the myth of Ararat. That attack that was said to split a giant the size of a house had cut across Azadin’s neck, but strangely, it didn’t hurt or itch.

“This can’t be!”

Hatir cast another spell.

This time, the sky turned golden and a bolt of sacred lightning struck Azadin directly. And the gold became as bright as if thousands of lights had gathered, then flickered.

The sacred lightning that could burn even the demon gods.

But Azadin was standing there unharmed again.

“What is it?”

Normally, it would have blinded someone, but Azadin, who had no eyes, wasn’t blinded.

“Is it my turn now?”

Azadin took a deep breath and drew out the power of the Divine King’s Scripture sleeping within him. White magic surged, clashing with Azadin’s innate imperfect colorless magic of Hwajopungwol [a unique magic system], creating a terrifying synergistic effect.

This enhanced Azadin’s physical abilities, but it also harmed his body. But for some reason, now the power flowed smoothly without the stinging or tingling pain.

[I will lend you my strength!]

The Emperor’s voice was helping Azadin.

The artificial spirit, which existed only to support the Heralds because it could not directly interfere in human affairs, was directly helping Azadin, even at the cost of its own existence.

“Well, there aren’t many Heralds left now, are there!?”

Azadin leaped forward.

-Kazas’s Art, Dusk!

Azadin’s body deceived people’s eyes and instantly closed the distance. Hatir tried to counterattack, but Azadin’s movements were faster.

The axe-spear, the Azure Executioner, slashed at Hatir’s waist.

Hatir created a shield of light, but… Azadin’s attack tore through the shield of light, pierced through the armor of light, and grazed Hatir.

The reason Hatir wasn’t hit directly was because he had used a defensive magic while being half-doubtful himself.

He had avoided Azadin’s attack with amazing reflexes, but Azadin’s physical abilities were also extraordinary, so he was grazed by the Azure Executioner, and….

At that moment, Hatir tumbled and bounced off the floor in a disgraceful manner. He had only been grazed, but a wound appeared on his arm, tearing his muscles and exposing his bones.

“No way!”

The first to notice the reason was Kazas.

“Hatir! The Emperor’s magic doesn’t work!”

“What!?”

Then the Emperor’s voice echoed.

[Since the Emperor’s proxy is here, the Emperor’s weapons and magic follow the voice of the true owner. Hatir. You are an outcast.]

“The Emperor’s proxy?!”

Everyone was shocked to hear those words.

Azadin was here as the sole existence as the Emperor’s Herald, the full proxy of the Emperor’s voice, and the entire clan, even Hatir, the Emperor’s son, was excommunicated.

If so, Hatir had to face Azadin not as the son of the living god Emperor, but as one of the Aragasa [a clan of warriors].

“Don’t be ridiculous! Even without the power of God, do you think I can’t defeat the likes of you?”

Hatir leaped back to create distance and drew his sword. The black steel sword, made of black steel, was swung, scattering ominous darkness as if it would absorb all light.

But….

-Kazas’s Art, Twilight!

Azadin’s body left a blurry afterimage and dodged Hatir’s sword.

And a blue light trail that seeped along the ground, the axe-spear of Azure Steel flew, cutting low across the ground as if to reap shadows.

‘Azure Steel weapons are great, but they can’t match black steel!’

Hatir aimed to destroy the weapon, aiming his black steel sword at the ground to shatter Azadin’s axe-spear, but….

-Kazas’s Art, Willow!

Azadin’s axe-spear struck the ground and instantly pulled his body up. Azadin, who had leaped above Hatir in an instant, threw daggers and attacked with his bare fists.

“Ugh!”

Hatir also used Hwajopungwol magic instead of the Emperor’s magic to counter.

He deflected the flying daggers with thunder and wind and struck Azadin’s bare fist with his black steel sword.

He would be able to cut off his arm!

That’s what he expected, but….

-Thud!

Following Azadin’s arm, an amber-colored club danced and rotated, striking the side of the black steel sword.

‘I knew you’d try to cut me with your sword if I attacked with my bare hands!’

Azadin had a weapon that could move without using his hands, Grimslaw’s club. He had succeeded in protecting his arm and closing the distance by using it.

“Ah?!”

Azadin’s fist landed on Hatir’s face.

-Thwack!

Those who were watching were shocked by the sight.

Was that a human fist? With one blow from Azadin’s fist, Hatir’s jaw was dislocated and half of his face was gone.

“Hiss!”

Azadin turned his arm back, grabbed the axe-spear he had planted in the ground, and swung it, aiming for Hatir’s neck and collarbone. The attack, swung as if to cut his body diagonally, sliced through the air.

-Hwajopungwol Willow!

Hatir, who had cast the technique Azadin had used, but with real magic, teleported about 1 jang [approximately 3 meters] away to switch places.

Unlike Azadin, who imitated it with a similar sleight of hand using martial arts, he used real magic. The gap as an Aragasa clan member was clear.

However, it was Hatir who was on the defensive.