Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 153

Weapon-Devouring Bastard – Episode 153

Undead are inherently tricky opponents.

Ideally, they should be confronted by someone who can use shamanistic or purification-based magic.

While warriors who have mastered Aura can fight them, it’s not very efficient.

Of course, warriors do have options.

They can use holy relics imbued with divinity.

KWA-KWAK-KWANG!

Ron’s strike split the skull of an axe-wielding undead, and the blue flames in its empty eye sockets flickered out.

‘Sacred Relic’ is merely a classification of weapon grade; not all Sacred Relics possess divine power.

However, the Sword of the Lake, when fully awakened, is a top-tier Sacred Relic, comparable to a Celestial artifact.

-Kyak!

Merely touching it caused the undead to scream, and those struck by Aura-infused attacks hastily retreated.

‘The Sword of Ron is more effective here than Black Night.’

Black Night indiscriminately cuts through everything.

Using its power carelessly in this state could obliterate crucial parts of this ruin.

“Haa, haa… it’s endless.”

Tudung! Tung!

Dark gray bone fragments and rusty equipment piled up along the path Ron and I had cleared.

It had been nearly two hours since we entered this ruin.

The initial Einherjar [warriors of Norse mythology, chosen to fight in Odin’s hall] had long been dealt with.

The problem was that they weren’t the end.

These immortal guardians appeared in greater numbers the deeper we went.

Consequently, neither Ron nor I had taken a proper rest, only brief moments to catch our breath.

And now.

“We’re finally here.”

We had finally reached our destination.

-Kiek! Kyak!

-Keureureuk!

-Keueok!

A wide, open chamber.

Dozens of Einherjar were gathered there.

And beyond them, we saw a massive object.

It was a colossal door, resembling a fortress wall or tower.

A magnificent stone structure, like the Arc de Triomphe in Paris with doors attached.

The Einherjar stood guard before it, blocking our path.

“…What is that thing?”

Among the Einherjar, there was a figure unlike any we had seen before.

A giant form stood tall, guarding the door.

-Keureureu….

At least three times the height of an adult male, with long limbs and a rugged face.

Ron muttered blankly.

“To use giants as undead…”

The giants were a race known for their overwhelming strength derived from their robust and massive bodies.

Yet, one of them was undead, guarding the door.

“That one seems to be the leader of these guys.”

“Not exactly, but close enough.”

-Keureureuk!

The giant turned its head and looked at us.

Simultaneously, the heads of dozens of skeletal soldiers turned towards Ron and me.

“…I’ll ask again, once we get past that door, we won’t have to worry anymore, right?”

“Yes, once we get inside, they can’t target us anymore.”

Ron frowned, seemingly lost in thought.

-Keueooo!

As if not giving us time to ponder, the Einherjar horde roared and charged at us.

I took a step forward.

“I’ll take the big one.”

“Understood. I’ll handle the small fries. I’ll clear a path. Just hold on for 30 seconds!”

Ron shouted, gripping his sword tightly in a middle stance.

Twooooong-.

A clear chime… or the sound of a lake rippling in the wind echoed.

The Sacred Relic-grade Holy Sword, Ricus Galradio.

It was the moment to unleash the power it held.

Kwang! Kwaduduk!

I shattered the approaching Einherjar with swift movements.

And exactly 30 seconds later.

Kooong.

A low, heavy resonance emanated from the Holy Sword.

Ron, who had been closing his eyes, slowly opened them.

Holy Sword Unleashed.

Russell Swordsmanship Secret Art, Ripple.

Koooong!

There was no violent shockwave or explosion.

Only a clear blue Aura spread through the air in concentric circles, like ripples on a lake.

However, the sight that followed this serene phenomenon was shocking.

-Kieeeeeek!

Kwaduduk! Wooduk!

The Einherjar, struck by the Aura’s ripple, collectively fell into confusion, losing their balance and collapsing or flailing in the air as if swimming.

“Hoo!”

Ron’s eyes gleamed as he sweated.

“I’ve disrupted all their senses. There won’t be any interference, go!”

Tueong!

Without a word, I kicked off the ground.

The Einherjar barely reacted as they noticed me, but when they reached out, they only grasped my afterimage.

-Keureuk!

I deployed the Mana Body just before reaching the giant.

Koooong-!

In a world where all spacetime moved slowly.

The giant swung a bludgeon as large as my torso.

Kwaaaaa!

The giant was moving, albeit slightly, even within the Mana Body’s spacetime.

Even with the influence of Ron’s secret technique, it moved this much.

Pueoooong!

Even though I dodged with plenty of distance, I felt like my body would be sucked in by the wind pressure.

‘It’s disadvantageous to drag this out. I’ll end this quickly, even if it’s a bit reckless!’

Following that, the bludgeon swept low, as if to sweep the ground.

Tueoeong!

I immediately turned Mujin into a shield and pushed it into the path of the bludgeon.

Four powers simultaneously imbued the shield.

The Masterpiece-grade shield, Ankile’s Spirit Magic Barrier.

The Masterpiece-grade necklace, Holy Power of Protection.

The Masterpiece-grade sword, Effenberg’s Coldness.

Finally, the Strong Qi Art, Gravity Press.

These powers coiled around the shield one by one.

Ron, who was watching from afar, widened his eyes.

Although the appearance was different, the operation of that Aura was Black Lotus.

And Ron’s insight was correct.

Mujin Style 2, Black Lotus. Modified.

Kwaaaaaaaang!

The Spirit Magic Barrier’s magic deflected the bludgeon, and the ice imbued with divine power froze the giant’s right hand from the fingers to the elbow.

Finally, Gravity Press.

The frozen right arm could not withstand the weight of Gravity Press and crashed into the ground, shattering.

-Keueooo!

Tjeooooeong!

The ghost fire in the giant’s eye sockets flickered.

After learning 4-Star Magic and manipulating Aura and Secret Arts at will, I could freely disassemble and combine all techniques like this.

-Keueooo!

The giant screamed and swung its left hand.

I kicked off the ground and swung Black Night.

Seugaak!

The swung Black Night cut off the incoming left hand from the fist, past the forearm, to the shoulder.

As it was a being who had died long ago, no blood came out.

Only the remaining left arm fell uselessly to the ground.

And then.

All that remained was the neck.

Aura imbued Black Night.

Tjeoeok!

A strike swung wide to the side drew a black Aura line in the air.

The giant’s neck split open, and it rolled to the ground.

Koooong!

A heavy noise, as if a bomb had dropped, flowed out, even though only the head had fallen.

“Hoo!”

I suppressed the slight Mana Reversal rising from the aggressive Aura operation and took a breath.

With the advantage in compatibility and me taking the initiative. Moreover, I know the giant, but the giant doesn’t know me.

Given these conditions, this much was a piece of cake.

* * *

It didn’t take long for Ron to deal with the Einherjar horde either.

Before the duration of the Secret Art ended, he unleashed the 6th Secret Art, Dragon’s Breath, with all his might and swept them all away.

‘Hoo, tiring.’

Ron sheathed his Holy Sword and clenched and unclenched his fists.

As he did so, he glanced at Icheol.

Ron was in the middle of battle, so he couldn’t see properly, but he was still conscious of Icheol.

‘That giant looked quite strong.’

He didn’t handle Aura or Mana, but he had tremendous power and speed that couldn’t be seen as undead.

Even if it was an absolute advantage in compatibility, could he have dealt with it so quickly?

‘…I’m ashamed.’

Icheol, who used the jet-black sword, the shape-shifting ring, and the stylish coat he wore, was truly terrifying.

He wanted to take back his words that he had confidently said that it would be different if he used the Holy Sword during the Grand Tournament.

‘A simple guy. It’s obvious what he’s thinking.’

Ron’s majesty, who instantly neutralized dozens of Einherjar and single-handedly defeated them in a short time, also looked quite impressive.

Anyway.

“Let’s go in right away since you’ve recovered to some extent.”

“What’s inside here?”

“You’ll know when you go in. Grab the other side.”

I put my hand on the door.

Ron put his hand on the other side.

And.

Geugeugeugeugeuk!

The massive door slowly opened.

* * *

It was a dark space, so dark that there was little difference between opening and closing your eyes.

But it wasn’t just a dark space.

I immediately turned to Ron and said.

“Don’t turn on the magic lamp.”

“Yes, I know.”

I swallowed hard.

This dark space was filled with a high density of Mana that made it feel suffocating.

It was a huge amount of Mana that I had never felt in any territory or sacred mountain.

If I had accidentally ignited the magic lamp, it would have led to an explosion.

‘My Mana was quite depleted, but it’s filling up quickly.’

Just breathing was enough to quickly fill up my Mana.

That’s how enormous the Mana was. The problem was that such a high density of Mana was never good.

‘There will be a problem if I stay here for a long time.’

Anything in excess becomes poison.

If I rashly try to train Mana here, my Mana circuits will be completely shattered.

“It’s terrifying. Such pure Mana. Moreover, it’s so thick that it feels like I’m drinking fog. If a low-level person comes in here, they’ll get Mana poisoning.”

Ron swallowed hard and said.

As we walked through the darkness, we soon saw a bright light flowing from the ground in the distance.

All of this dense Mana was flowing from that place.

And that was the place I was aiming for.

“A spring?”

Ron looked at the place with wide eyes.

It was a beautiful spring, as if the Milky Way had fallen to the ground as rain.

Fragments of sparkling light flickered on the calm surface, and it glowed softly even in this dense darkness.

“What… is this?”

Ron doubted his eyes.

It didn’t feel like a real spring, but like Mana clumped together and liquefied. All of the dense Mana in this space seemed to originate from this spring.

“Don’t you have a few legends that come to mind? It could be one of them.”

“Haha… really?”

Ron looked at the spring with a surprised expression.

From the legends about the three springs linked to the World Tree in Norse mythology to Eitr [a poisonous substance in Norse mythology], the origin of life from which the primordial giant Ymir and Jormungandr [a sea serpent of Norse mythology] were born.

“This… is really amazing, but there’s no way to use it. Did you come here to find this?”

The air flowing out is so dense with Mana that it makes it hard to breathe, and if you put your mouth to this spring, which is the source, it will be truly irreversible.

“I’m not going to eat it. I can’t eat it in the first place.”

I took out Ru’s Spear from my chest.

I won’t eat it.

This spear will swallow that spring.