Weapon-Eating Bastard [EN]: Chapter 221

Weapon-Eating Bastard – Chapter 221

When discussing the danger level of dungeons or unexplored territories, or the martial prowess of warriors or mages, it’s often said that Class 3 and above are on a different level.

Class 1, Class 2, Class 3.

In reality, those three classes exist in an almost incomprehensible realm.

Of course, there are differences in strength, but beyond that point, classifications made by ordinary people become meaningless.

Those who enter that realm display incredible power and numerous miracles that defy common sense.

The Guisusan I faced was no exception.

“Haa, haa… Ptooey!”

I gasped for breath and spat out the phlegm mixed with blood that had gathered in my mouth.

I used my aura to staunch the bleeding from the wounds all over my body and glared at Guisusan.

‘It’s almost insulting to compare it to the Guisusan I faced before.’

The Guisusan I met during the naming ceremony and the one I am facing now feel like entirely different species.

Back then, Guisusan hadn’t finished growing, and most of its power and abilities were restricted by the tamer.

In comparison, the Guisusan in front of me now is in perfect condition.

It was revealing its power to me as a proper Class 3 monster.

-Woo-ooo-ooo!

Kwaaaang!

Guisusan’s magic bullets rained down like a storm.

I gritted my teeth, dodging them while glaring.

‘The abilities of Guisusan that have been identified so far number over 36.’

Blood mist, poison, primal magic, super regeneration, manipulation of natural objects, mind control, creation of subordinate entities….

Even without the characteristics of a dragon, it possesses that many abilities.

Perhaps there are still some that haven’t been revealed.

However, those abilities were manageable.

The biggest problem wasn’t that.

‘My sword doesn’t reach him.’

I had succeeded in attacking Guisusan several times.

However, Guisusan suffered no damage at all.

Should I call it immortality?

Or should I call it invincibility?

-Woo-ooo-ooo-ooo!

Looking at the wailing Guisusan, I recalled a story circulating in the hunter world.

-Class 3 monsters are walking nightmares.

It was a story that emerged during the Class 3 monster subjugation in the unexplored territories of Africa long ago.

The demon-type monster that appeared at that time faced hundreds of Class 4 warriors and 12 near-Class 3 mages and still didn’t die.

In the end, the demon-type monster devastated more than half of the country and was only subjugated after the appearance of Saintess Christina of the Theocracy.

That was the story that circulated at that time.

The reason why Class 3 monsters and above are called nightmares, disasters, or destruction is because of that.

It was a story born from the despair that no matter how many hundreds or thousands of low-class warriors or mages gathered, they could not defeat that monster.

And I, too, was keenly feeling the meaning of those words as I faced Guisusan.

‘The condition of this test is clearly to win only with the 12 Zodiac Techniques. It must be….’

Compared to the blocked magic deployment of other techniques, the 12 Zodiac Techniques were not blocked.

But is there a hidden meaning in the test?

Or is there something I haven’t yet realized about the 12 Zodiac Techniques?

“……”

Since entering this space, I have been endlessly repeating battles.

I couldn’t even push Guisusan, let alone defeat it.

“Haa, haa.”

I gritted my teeth and glared at Guisusan.

* * *

Paah-aah-ahng! Kwaang!

The closer I got to Guisusan, the higher the density of the magic field that dominated the space became.

Even huge piles of stones crumbled like sand the moment they touched that magic field.

‘What on earth is the essence of this test?’

I kept my distance for now and continued to unfold the 12 Zodiac Techniques.

Every time I moved, I felt like I was swimming in a mud pit rather than cutting through the air.

Suddenly, Guisusan’s huge eyes turned and stared straight at me.

I felt the hairs on my body stand on end.

‘It’s coming!’

Koo-ooo-oong!

The moment I kicked back and created distance.

Kwaaaang!

Guisusan’s huge foot slammed down on the ground.

The ground rippled like water, and all kinds of earth and sand began to rush towards me.

I slammed Heukya [Black Blade], which I had raised above my head, straight down.

Kwaaaang!

With a fierce explosion, the rushing earth and sand split to both sides.

A technique similar to Cheokma [Cleaving Horse] and Circular, the 1st Secret Technique, Beoncheon [Overturning Sky].

And a path was created ahead of the split earth and sand, stretching towards Guisusan.

Tuh-uh-uhng!

I immediately kicked off the ground and swung Heukya.

No, I was about to swing it.

‘It’s on the left. Something’s coming.’

My intuition quickly sensed the danger, and my Mana Eyes accurately analyzed the threat.

The earth and sand were splitting and flowing to both sides.

I identified Guisusan’s magic that had stretched out between them.

That was none other than.

‘Primal magic!’

Kwaaa-aaaa-aaaang!

Grains of sand, pieces of stone, fragments of wood… all of them were exploding like small bombs.

I stopped running and immediately created weapons with Black ki [spiritual energy].

Seukak! Kwak! Kwaaaang!

I unleashed sword energy around me faster than the explosions could occur.

Numerous sword strikes overlapped, creating afterimages, and the weapons made of Black ki were swung in the air, reflecting the sunlight.

It was swung so quickly that it looked as if a barrier made of black aura was surrounding me.

However, I could not cut down all the fragments of earth and sand.

Kwaaaang!

Several fragments that were not cut down by the sword strikes exploded like grenades, sweeping the surroundings.

“Keuek!”

Due to the aftermath of the long battle, all the joints in my body ached.

Both internal and external injuries were considerable.

All my attacks were blocked, but all of Guisusan’s attacks were hitting me.

Koong!

Guisusan rushed at me as if it had no intention of waiting even for a moment.

A speed that did not match its enormous size.

-Kioooooooo!

Kaga-ga-gak!

I bit down on my molars, cutting through the dense magic like a storm that Guisusan was wearing.

I leaped to the side, dodging Guisusan’s forefoot, and deflected the numerous magic bullets flying towards me in the air with Heukya.

And the gap that appeared.

I raised Heukya high.

Secret Art, Lightning Drop.

A technique with terrifying power that Lee Seohyun had used against me in the preliminaries of the Grand Tournament long ago.

Knowing the defensive power of the magic that Guisusan had already surrounded the surrounding space with, I added even stronger power and unleashed sword energy.

The condensed aura stretched out and struck Guisusan’s carapace like an iron mace.

Kwaaaang!

It was a direct hit.

Guisusan could not defend or evade.

However.

‘Again……!’

-Woo-ooo-ooo!

Guisusan was unharmed.

The aura that formed the Lightning Drop only spread along Guisusan’s surface.

I clicked my tongue and had to move away from Guisusan again.

For several hours already, this kind of battle had been endlessly repeated.

‘My attack can’t even peel off a single scale from that guy.’

It’s not because of the dragon’s unique powerful body.

If that were the case, the damage should be small, but it shouldn’t be nonexistent.

‘……Damn it. What on earth is it?’

What is the meaning of this test?

What is it asking of me?

What is the reason for restricting what I have and making me fight only with the 12 Zodiac Techniques?

‘Is there another meaning to this test?’

I have to think.

I have no intention of dying in such a meaningless place.

The battle continues even as I continue to think.

If I failed to deflect an attack, my arm would break and blood would burst out.

Still, I didn’t try to stop thinking.

The meaning of this test.

The way to victory.

‘This test…… is to see if I have completed the 12 Zodiac Techniques.’

I have definitely learned all 12 Zodiac Techniques. It’s safe to say I’ve completed them.

However, if you ask me if I have awakened them, I couldn’t give a definite answer.

The 12 Zodiac Techniques.

Why were they created in the first place, and what were they created for?

Are they just techniques that are difficult to learn and powerful?

‘In the first place…… what are the 12 Zodiac Techniques?’

Kwang!

Guisusan’s magic field strikes me.

Even as I flew through the air and bounced away, I didn’t stop thinking.

However, the price for thinking differently in the already tilted battle was great.

Kwaaaang!

A fragment that flew in pierced my abdomen and got stuck.

“Keuek!”

Thud! Thud!

Bright red blood poured down on the ground.

My vision blurred.

-Woo-ooo-oong!

Guisusan approached.

Even as I felt death approaching, I didn’t stop thinking.

I disassembled, combined, and reassembled the 12 Zodiac Techniques in my head.

And at some point, the structure of the 12 Zodiac Techniques themselves began to blur.

Which one is the 1st Secret Technique, which one is the 2nd Secret Technique…….

The forms disappeared, and the distinctions between each Secret Technique and Ultimate Technique blurred.

‘I can’t lose in a place like this.’

Now, that was the only thought that filled my head.

The moment I didn’t even realize what I had to do, Heukya in my hand began to move.

The flow of all power felt like it was within my grasp, and I began to predict how even a speck of dust or a grain of sand would move and scatter.

‘A way to cut a Class 3 monster…… a way to win…….’

That was all I was thinking about.

What about the 12 Zodiac Techniques, what to do, how to do it.

What about the danger of death, what about fear.

Those thoughts had been erased long ago.

And at that moment, Heukya in my hand scattered a jet-black light around it.

“I will cut.”

I will win against the opponent in front of me.

With that one word that I repeated to myself like a spell, I felt as if my entire body was being sucked into Heukya in my hand.

-Woo-ooo-ooo-ooo!

Guisusan’s cry burst out.

From top to bottom.

The legs on the ground firmly supported the body, connecting through the spine to the back, arms, and hands, reaching the tip of the sword.

The 1st Secret Technique, Beoncheon.

That technique that I have been using repeatedly.

No, it wasn’t Beoncheon.

It looked similar to Cheokma, and it also looked similar to Meteor, Shadow, Lightning, or Yeomra [Underworld King].

The sword strike was a simple downward strike.

It was an ordinary strike that exists in any martial art, striking down from top to bottom.

And.

Swish-!

That strike cut off Guisusan’s neck.

Koo-ooo-ooo-oong!

Guisusan’s huge neck fell, shaking the ground.

“Heok, heok, heok……?”

I breathed roughly, shaking my body.

My lungs moved madly, craving oxygen, and my heart pounded.

‘Did I cut it? Just now?’

I looked at Guisusan’s neck.

I cut off its neck, but I couldn’t believe it.

‘What was that just now?’

I stared blankly at my hand.

When I wiped my face with the back of my hand, blood from my eyes and nose smeared on my hand.

Perhaps I had concentrated too much, my head became dizzy and a sense of emptiness spread through my body.

“Just before…… that was definitely.”

I felt like I wanted to collapse right away, but I stared blankly at Heukya in my hand, feeling the realization that had come to me.

The last sword strike.

It was a sensation I had experienced in the B-1 District and felt in the family.

It is Simgeom [Mind Sword].

I unfolded Simgeom just now.

‘No, it wasn’t a proper Simgeom. It’s different from what my father or Saintess Christina unfolded.’

I can’t explain it, but it’s lacking compared to that.

But anyway, I unfolded ‘something’ that had entered the beginning of it.

‘I haven’t consciously used it even once since I unfolded it to Gu Ryongchaeju [Old Dragon Lord Gu].’

I had felt that something had changed as I gained enlightenment through a series of events, but I had never done it according to my will.

It was just that I had obtained one clue of enlightenment.

But just now, I felt like I had obtained another piece of that clue.

And at that moment, I was also able to realize the essence of the 12 Zodiac Techniques.

‘Could it be that the 12 Zodiac Techniques are…….’

The six Secret Techniques and six Ultimate Techniques.

That is just a form.

The 12 Zodiac Techniques are…… principles.

They are the principles and laws of handling power.

What is written in the underground scriptures of Janggyeonggak [a library] is just to make it easier for the user to understand.

The countless forces that fill this world.

Create the principle of that power and explain it in twelve ways.

I blankly picked up the sword again.

And I grabbed the sword with both hands and struck down from the sky.

Swish-!

It was a form similar to the Secret Technique Beoncheon or the Ultimate Technique Lightning Drop.

However, in fact, it was Mujin Style 1, Cheokma.

I blinked and swung the sword again.

A black lotus-like aura bloomed at the tip of the sword.

Mujin Style 2, Black Lotus.

But it was more powerful and stronger than any Black Lotus I had ever unfolded.

‘The 12 Zodiac Techniques…… are they martial arts created to reach Simgeom?’

Everything becomes simpler as it reaches its extreme.

That’s what my father did, what Gu Ryongchaeju did, and what my first brother and second sister did.

And that’s what I was like at the moment I faced Gu Ryongchaeju.

However, within that simplicity, there was a noble reason that could not be easily fathomed.

I was able to defeat Guisusan because I had briefly touched it as well.

That being said.

“……Why isn’t the test over?”

I blankly looked around.

After a while.

Woo-ooo-oong!

The space twisted again.

It seemed that the test was finally over.

The scenery of Jeokcheongdo [Crimson Azure Island] disappeared, and what appeared before my eyes was the scenery of the sea where the horizon continued to the end.

-Keu. Eo. Eo……!

And I felt a huge presence of unknown origin from the bottom of that sea.

Kwaaaang!

That huge presence burst through the surface of the water and soared up.

The moment that presence rose above the surface of the water, my mouth dropped open.

‘Water Dragon……? Was the test not over?’

A dragon of the East.

That long dragon was baring its teeth at me.

And a thought flashed through my head.

‘The Ancestor had also cut Guisusan and dragons.’

In the legends related to the Ancestor, there were many stories of cutting down particularly powerful monsters.

And Heukya’s seal usually follows the Ancestor’s achievements.

‘Could it be…….’

I blinked, taking the pouring seawater on my body.

‘Does this test end only when I hunt all the monsters that the Ancestor caught!’

-Kieeeeeeeek!

Before I could even get an answer to that guess.

The Water Dragon began to fly towards me.

‘Mi, crazy!’

I had no choice but to come to my senses and swing Heukya.

* * *

Flash!

As soon as I opened my eyes, I jumped up and looked around.

There was nothing.

All that was around me was just the scenery of an ordinary tomb.

“……I, is it over?”

Releasing the tension, I slumped down.

My guess was correct.

The total number of monsters I faced was 9.

All of them were only those that had been cut down by the Ancestor’s hand, which remained in legends.

There were 4 Class 3 monsters and 5 monsters that seemed to be near Class 3 or Special Class 4.

I had to face them continuously without even having time to rest.

‘I thought I was going to die.’

Each time one ended, my body recovered, but my mental strength did not recover.

I swallowed dry saliva and staggered up from my seat.

Was it because it was something in a fantasy?

My body was in top condition, but my mental strength was exhausted and I was so tired that I felt like I was about to collapse.

“Still, I have to finish what I have to do first.”

I forced my body to move and headed towards the altar.

Clang!

One of the four letters shimmering on the surface of Heukya shattered, and Heukya began to release power.

It is a phenomenon that signifies the end of the test and the release of the seal.

I shone my eyes and grabbed Heukya on the altar with my hand.

‘I succeeded.’

I was exhausted, but at the same time, I felt a sense of accomplishment filling my whole body.

I had finally finished the sixth seal.

And I looked at the three largest letters shining at the end of the sword.

Now there were three seals left.

Whirly-lyoo!

And soon, a rough wind blew, and I felt new letters rising above the Ancestor’s memorial tablet.

Those letters were announcing what the next seal would be asking for.

‘……Are you telling me to go there again?’

I realized what the next seal’s test was asking for.

Almost after 10 years.

The time has come to return to that place again.