◈ Episode 143. Splendidly (3)
Harkon’s voice echoes in my ears.
—“……
On the battlefield between life and death, sword qi grows denser, for it takes on its unique color.”
I suppose I really do stand at the crossroads of life and death.
Those words, which I had only half understood until now.
I realize them in an instant, you see.
In the slowed flow of time, I gazed at my sword.
Sssss—The stage above sword qi, sword gang.
A blade edge turned an ink-black as dark as pitch.
A silver aura rising to envelop that pitch-black sword body.
Didn’t they say it was the user’s unique color……
Did I manifest the silver hair from my dark past, or what.
Anyway.
Anyone could tell—this is my, I Hoyeol’s, sword gang.
However, what matters more than sword qi is that this is sword gang.
This too must be thanks to Grandfell’s talent.
Just as I grasped the realm of magic in an instant. I could naturally realize how different sword qi and sword gang were.
And how difficult the rank of sword gang was to reach.
Why, you can tell just by looking at the current situation, can’t you?
It means this is a realm reachable only when pushed to the brink of death, even with Grandfell’s talent.
I would have liked to leisurely savor this tremendous growth, but……
[A status abnormality, ‘Bleeding,’ has occurred.]
[Warning: Your vitality is too low.]
[Warning: Your vitality is too low.]
…….
The messages flashing since earlier are so chaotic.
Sshh—Even the sword gang slashing through demons.
Thwook—Even the crossbow bolts flying out.
They feel slow, unlike before.
I can truly feel that my body has reached its limit.
There was no choice but to persist.
This is too much, even for Grandfell’s pride.
However, just as I had guessed even before entering the Arcana Continent.
Thwack—Swoosh—I never stopped hunting for even a moment.
If my movements have slowed, then so be it.
As long as stamina remains, to hunt even one more demon.
I was forcing my screaming body onward.
Sheer force.
There is no force more forced than this, Grandfell.
Truly, it is befitting of a dark past.
Death, whatever.
As expected of the specter from the days of storm and stress, when nothing was feared. Yet for that very reason, I am grateful.
If it were not for me from those days, this battlefield would have been utterly impossible to endure.
Fzzzzzt—!
Along with the noise.
Mana scattering into the air.
The mana dragon, having reached its limit, dissipates.
[The Wicked Earth Dragon’s Fang] returns to inventory.
Now, only I remain on the ground.
The gazes of tens of millions, hundreds of millions of demons focus solely on me.
[Lv.900 : Wandering Giant Hellhound]
[Lv.950 : Apostle of Despair]
[Lv.1,000 : Raksioros, Conqueror of the Western Demon Realm]
…….
Each and every one of them is insane…….
No, they are levels so distant they are incomparable.
However, what terrifies me more than the numbers is that among these countless demons, not a single high-ranking demon king has shown itself.
Well, to catch just me.
There’s no need for the lofty ones to step forward, I suppose.
I muttered.
“Your attitude in greeting a guest is lacking.”
Even as I looked ready to collapse at any moment, the words came out smoothly.
But perhaps they too see my limit?
Someone’s voice rang out.
“As expected of the Akshan of the world, the last survivor! I, Raksioros, Conqueror of the West, acknowledge you. You were brave to the point of foolishness until the very end. It would be a waste to treat you the same as cowardly humans!”
Raksioros, Conqueror of the Western Demon Realm.
The guy spouted nonsense while mounted atop a massive beast-type demon.
“Very well. I shall grant you the opportunity to serve this body even in death. Anyone will do! Take that demon hunter’s body! Possess it! Then I shall grant you the glory of participating in the Demon King Contest alongside me, Raksioros, as equals!”
So they even hold a contest to seize the position of Demon King?
The demons sure have it good.
While we live each day not knowing what monster or demon will burst from the rifts.
And what?
Possess me?
‘I have a lot to say, but I…….’
I do not mix unnecessary talk with prey.
Instead of words, I moved my finger.
Click—Raksioros, that bastard, raised his palm and blocked the bolt.
I hadn’t expected it to work.
As expected, an expression as if tickled.
The bastard looked at his pierced palm and let out a snicker.
“Hahaha!”
The pupils of the guy turned pitch black.
“Is this your final struggle? O last survivor of Akshan!”
Chief’s wordplay too……?
You really do all sorts of things.
But fine.
Chuck—I let my hands, gripping sword and crossbow, go limp.
“Have you finally realized? O demon hunter! It is over! Everything!”
Gulp—The sound of demons swallowing their saliva resounded.
Heh heh heh—A laugh half ecstasy, half mockery, rang out.
“Arrogant. Arrogant beyond humanity. Did you think you became something by hunting demon kings and great evils? To come here alone! Beyond arrogance, it is foolishness!”
At that declaration, the demonic eyes in the night sky flinched.
From a full moon to a crescent moon.
The demonic eyes filling the night sky formed a smile.
Perhaps because I had fallen on the Arcana Continent.
Suddenly, Akshan comes to mind.
‘I wonder if the demon hunters of Akshan felt this way too.’
To carry out their pride.
They fought against demons until the very end.
But what returned was nothing but the demons’ mockery, I suppose.
“How about it? Have you the heart to wail now? Go on, wail like the demon hunters who died before you. Twist that arrogant face, I say!”
As Raksioros said.
On the threshold of death, perhaps ironclad mental strength would crumble.
But I know.
“Shut up.”
Yusra.
Frost.
Tetpern.
Akshan.
Because I had the experience.
Even if I hadn’t known, now I could not help but know.
That human pride is an endless continuation.
The annihilation of Akshan?
As I said many times, it happened during the blank period.
It can be considered unrelated to me.
However, now that I know Akshan’s pride, I cannot stand still.
Whether they were manipulated by demon schemes or whatever.
Those who were abandoned even by their allies in the end.
I cannot turn away from them forever.
Yes.
This finale.
Is my requiem for Akshan.
Sss—Slowly, I raised my head.
A massive vessel faintly visible beyond the clouds.
My backing, the Iron Castle.
Though I was alone on the ground.
Up in the sky above, I too have something floating, just like you lot.
A flash.
The gun barrels of the Iron Castle.
Gleamed differently than before.
In my blurry vision, a message arose.
[Flying Mechanical Castle, Iron Castle: Mana Beam Cannon loading complete]
If I’m going to die anyway.
Of course, recouping my investment,
Splendidly.
And worthily, shouldn’t I die?
That’s right.
This too is part of the thorough preparations.
I disappear along with the Arcana Continent and millions of demons.
Zzzzzzzzing—!
The pinnacle of dwarven technology, the Iron Castle.
Such was the attack unleashed by the Iron Castle at full power.
In other words, that beam cannon possesses greater might than any magic or skill I have seen thus far.
A massive condensation of mana.
Because of it, the clouds clear, and the vessel’s form is revealed.
Whirring—The smile they had been wearing turned meaningless.
The pupils of the demonic eyes rolled frantically in their sockets.
It seems they’ve finally grasped the situation, albeit late.
Regrettably, it is too late.
“……!!!”
Like telepathy.
It seemed information was being relayed through the demonic eyes.
Raksioros, that bastard’s face twisted mercilessly.
“……
You are out of your mind, demon hunter! This is mere flailing! Even if you throw your life away, nothing changes. Even if you strike down millions of demons here, tens of millions, no, hundreds of millions of demons are born anew!”
Inconsistent to the end.
Your tongue has grown longer, showing none of your earlier momentum.
I do not engage in unnecessary conversation, but there are things that must be said.
I opened my mouth.
“Then I need only hunt hundreds of millions of demons as well.”
“……
What?”
You must not understand.
And rightfully so.
At the doorstep of death, how could you hunt hundreds of millions of demons, when you’re about to be swept away in a mana bombardment? Utterly incomprehensible.
But don’t jump to conclusions.
Who said anything about dying?
[Last Adventurer: You do not die on the Arcana Continent. Upon death, you immediately return to reality and cannot approach the Arcana Continent for a set duration.
- Cooldown: 24 hours]
The Arcana Continent.
If I only find the way to re-enter.
I shall appear before you again, as many times as I please.
Truly, until I have slain hundreds of millions of demons……!
Because I am the type who cannot rest until I keep my word.
But today ends here.
I continued.
“This is merely the beginning.”
“……?”
“I am a demon hunter.”
“……!”
“I am your natural predator, and your terror.”
I finished words I could not utter composedly.
Then I clamped my mouth shut.
Yes, silence is my posture when facing the hunt.
It is the signal.
[Flying Mechanical Castle, Iron Castle: Mana Beam Cannon fire]
Shooooooo—!
Soon, a mana beam of terrifying power covered my vision.
Amidst the demons’ desperate screams, messages arose.
An enormous number of messages beyond counting.
[……
Kill contribution acknowledged.]
[……
Kill contribution acknowledged.]
…….
[Your level has increased.]
[Your level has increased.]
…….
[You have died.]
[Death penalty applied.]
[Acquired experience is reduced.]
…….
[Your achievements echo across the Arcana Continent.]
[The beings of the Arcana Continent speak of your sacrifice.]
[You acquire the title, ‘Sublime’.]
[The title, ‘Last Adventurer’ effect activates.]
[Returning to reality immediately.]
[Cooldown: 23 hours 59 minutes.]
*Iron Castle.
“……
Damn it!!”
The dwarven leader, Chainwalker Hardrock, spat out his fury.
“Was there truly no other way!”
Everything flowed as predicted.
To slay the last survivor of Akshan.
Demons had gathered, and to sweep away those demons, the Iron Castle’s trump card had been used.
Indeed, when he had heard the plan through the spirit, Haiel, it had been bewildering. The maximum output of the Iron Castle.
No matter how proficient Hoyeol was in magic, blocking it without harm was impossible.
—“Still, believe in me. That is what Lord Hoyeol commanded.”
But what is a covenant?
Something one can only follow.
Moreover, the covenant with Akshan was absolute and could not be defied.
Filled with worry, he had no choice but to follow the plan.
But is this truly the intended procedure?
Chainwalker and the other dwarves witnessed the entire situation.
“……
That is not a quantity one can handle alone!”
“Chainwalker! We must join him, even now!”
“We cannot lose the survivor of Akshan like this!”
At the very end, they spotted Hoyeol letting go of sword and crossbow.
Anyone could see he was cornered.
Is there truly a way?
Doubt constantly arose, but Chainwalker had no choice but to decide.
“Betrayal once is enough. We simply believe in Akshan.”
Click—Fire.
The mana beam cannon devouring millions of demons.
Using the explosion’s aftermath as propulsion, the Iron Castle moved.
Naturally, retreat was also part of the plan Hoyeol had established.
Creaking—Chainwalker ground his teeth.
“……
Do we even have the right to worry about him?”
Lost in thought but for a moment.
“!”
Haiel.
His thoughts reached the spirit.
Haiel was Hoyeol’s contracted spirit.
She was proof that Hoyeol was alive.
And he witnessed it.
For some reason.
Haiel radiating a light beyond elegance, a ‘sublime’ light.
“Haiel, Lord Hoyeol is……?”
To Chainwalker’s question, Haiel answered.
“There is no need to worry. He is safe. As always.”
With a voice kinder than ever before.……
As if to spite the fact that I had chosen the rift closest to the Magic Tower.
‘What the hell.’
My physical condition was perfectly fine.
In other words, to put it simply…….
Back when Arcana was merely a game.
Like waking up after lying in a VR capsule.
Exactly that level of fatigue.
‘From night until dawn.’
I had fought incessantly, you see.
When I checked the time, only two hours had passed.
I wanted to return to the Magic Tower immediately.
Checking whether Marcelo was safe was the proper procedure.
But then I remembered striking all sorts of poses at the Round Table Conference.
Causing such a ruckus and returning after a mere two hours would be rather embarrassing……? I looked around the rift with that in mind.
Since I should check the message that came up anyway. Slowly returning on the way…….
“!”
But I ended up checking.
It was my jacket, shirt, and slacks torn to shreds.
Though the wounds were gone, bloodstains remain.
My inner flesh is fully exposed.
I’m embarrassed myself.
Grandfell would never tolerate such beggarly attire.
I manifested a portal at once.
Two hours out or whatever.
First, I needed to change.
I changed with overflowing restraint.
‘I’ll change and go out again or something.’
However, my resolve notwithstanding.
Knock, knock—An urgent knocking sound rang out.
…….
Would it kill you to pretend I’m not here?
I answered as if I had been waiting.
“A moment.”
First, the buttons.
“You may enter.”
At my permission, the door opened immediately.
The one who entered was Bellier.
Bellier spoke to me while I was wearing Count Swalin’s prized possession.
“I did not expect you to return so quickly.”
Neither did I.
“Marcelo. No, Chief Marcelo has awakened……!”
I had expected as much.
Even so, hearing that he had awakened put me at ease.
“……?”
The gaze of Bellier, having delivered the news, soon turned toward the rags hanging neatly on the chair. Fixed on the clothes torn to shreds and soaked in blood. Before I could even open my mouth.
“……
Chief I Hoyeol? What are those clothes?”
Bellier asked with a trembling voice.
“What on earth……? What happened to you on the Arcana Continent?”
…….
This damn personality.
If it’s wrong, I can’t just listen quietly.
I adjusted my attire and spoke brazenly.
“I wasn’t attacked.”
“……?”
“I went and hunted millions of demons.”
“……
What?!”
Well, I mean, we died together, but it’s not wrong, is it?