Chapter 71
Kwaaang-!
Kwadeudeudeudeuk!
Lightning strikes down.
Blue lightning surges through the dark forest, spreading in all directions.
"Kuaaaagh!"
Kwang! Kwaang! Kwaaang!!
"Crazy...!"
The man standing with the lightning explosion at his back.
Callius was their terror.
Orkal's worms are burned by the lightning.
Druma's bindings are shattered to pieces.
Ryburn's poison doesn't even reach him.
The power of the thunder azure spreading in all directions with every strike is beyond imagination.
Moreover, his swordsmanship...
"What in the world..."
The scattered petals become lightning.
Silver Flower Shattering Sword - Shattering Blossom.
It was not petals, but thunder azure.
Replaced by blue lightning, it devastates the surroundings.
But it is not only the sky.
"Kuaaaaagh!"
Lightning doesn't just fall from the sky.
It bursts forth from beneath their feet and attacks them, leaving them with no way to block it.
Truly, completely helpless.
Kwaang-!
"Druma!"
Druma's greatsword shatters, and he collapses, smashing through several trees.
Whether he lost consciousness or died, he doesn't move an inch.
Orkal and Ryburn's complexions turned pale, while Callius, watching them calmly, remained perfectly tranquil without shedding a single drop of sweat.
'As expected of the Lightning Azure Sword.'
A destructive power said to be within the top ten among elemental swords.
The pure power of lightning.
The sword that generated it had excellent synergy with the Silver Flower Shattering Sword.
Silver Flower Shattering Sword's Shattering Blossom.
As the White Trace's sword aura transforms into lightning, the power is further amplified, and the sharpness doubles.
Furthermore, the pure aura of thunder.
No matter how well-trained the knights are, even a graze will numb their muscles and inflict burns.
'It's like the time I was struck by Ames.'
A destructive power that reminds him of the time he was helplessly defeated by Luteon, who wielded the Explosive Spear—Ames.
But now, he was no longer on the receiving end; he was the one wielding the violence.
"One's down."
Druma, the captain of the Sixth Division, is retired.
Bow-Path: Guillotine was a sword that used the power of the earth to create earthen walls to trap and crush opponents. It would have been a good sword if used well, but the opponent was unfavorable.
Guillotine was shattered by Callius's sword, and Druma lost consciousness.
"He didn't die, I suppose."
As Guillotine shattered into several pieces, it turned into pure white smoke and disappeared.
The sword's undeadification had been released, so there was no need to pay any more attention to Druma.
The sword that housed the Rosario's sheath had its soul united with the paladin, and since that was destroyed, it meant Druma's soul had also taken a blow.
He must have suffered severe internal injuries, so he would die even if left alone.
Since he also took the lightning head-on.
"There's a reason I put away the Tyrant Emperor Sword and drew the Lightning Azure Sword in the first place."
Due to the characteristics of the lightning attribute.
Its effects are outstanding in one-against-many battles.
It can quickly and easily subdue opponents, and it's a sword with good synergy with the Silver Flower Shattering Sword.
That's why Callius had tried to snatch the sword from Bernard like eating meals over the past three years to obtain the Lightning Azure Sword.
Certainly.
Swinging it once, the feeling comes to him.
'With this, I can fight that guy on equal terms.'
Luteon.
Even with that damned bastard.
The only regrettable thing was that because it possessed demonic energy, he couldn't draw it carelessly.
"Haaap!!"
He blocks Orkal's rushing sword.
At the same time, he erupts with lightning.
"Keuheuheuheuk!!"
Just that.
But with just that, blood bursts from Orkal's eyes and mouth.
His eyeballs were bloodshot with all the capillaries burst, and his skin was burned, the smell of roasting meat piercing his nostrils.
The power of a sword creates such overwhelming combat.
"Ryburn!!"
Orkal, with his eyes rolling back, screams for Ryburn.
But he already knows that much.
Callius blocked Orkal's sword with one hand, and with the other, he reached into the air, drew the Predator Sword, and blocked.
Kaang-!
Sparks fly.
The sheath of the Predator Sword slides off, revealing a blade body as red as blood.
Shwak-!
Ryburn's arm sweeps through the air.
"Keuaaaaagh!"
Puuk.
At the same time, the Lightning Azure Sword pierces through Orkal's belly.
Soon, lightning surges along the blade, and Orkal foams at the mouth and faints.
'Easy.'
The captains of the Inquisition were all at the Paladin level.
Even among Paladins, their ranks are divided into three tiers, and their level is 2nd-class.
It was safe to say that Callius's current level had risen to the point where he could easily slaughter a 2nd-class Paladin of the Order.
'Luteon is around 1st-class to special-class.'
He himself must have risen to about that level now.
If the Storm Sword—Kalis, was in his grasp, he would barely be between special-class and Master, but it couldn't be helped.
Kalis was a sword with the restriction that it couldn't leave the North.
"...Even like this. Do you think you can still hold your sword after making the Order your enemy!"
Ryburn's voice, screaming with malice, was quite piercing.
However, Callius merely sneered as if dumbfounded.
"What are you talking about? Is that something you bastards, who tried to kill me outright without any evidence, should be saying?"
"......"
Ryburn bit his lip.
Actually, he had no intention of killing Callius. However, while he was away, Druma had received orders from above.
He couldn't figure out exactly what was going on.
But it was already spilled water.
It couldn't be undone.
"Things turned out this way, but I don't hold any particular grudge. Well, maybe a little. You've been annoying me since Toret."
Well. Ryburn was probably just in a position to follow orders too.
"Any last words?"
"May the wrath of God fill your path."
"How very grateful."
Puuk.
He pierced his heart with the Predator Sword.
Ryburn collapsed, and Callius examined the Predator Sword.
[Predator Sword - Loas]
Grade – Spirit Sword.
Imbued Soul – Mixed Soul.
Unique Ability – Predation.
Noble Predation - 4
Noble Predation had become 4.
It was originally 1, but with Ryburn and his sword... Destroying Akasha seems to have done it.
Seeing as the count only increases by eating souls of captain level or higher, he thought there might be some advantage to increasing the number of Noble Predations.
"I probably need to fill about a hundred. Or maybe a thousand."
Only at that point might it transform into a Phantom Sword or undergo some other change.
Feeding it between intervals wouldn't be that difficult.
It was something time would solve.
'Anyway. Is it definitely thanks to that strange seed settling in the Dantian?'
The purity of the Divine Power.
And the amount had increased dramatically.
[Callius von Zervan]
[Class] – Pilgrim
[Holy Power] – 3rd Class
[Divine Power] – 11332/16531
[Talents] – [Bard's Blessing] [Instinctive Intuition]
[Traits] - [Grace] [Noble's Duty] [Count's Ruffian] [Repentance of Past Wrongs] [Order's Prodigal Son] [Glutton] [Three-Colored Eyes] [Pheromone]
[Stats]
Strength – 81 (30)
Agility – 55 (30)
Dexterity – 16
Health – 53 (30)
Faith – 83
Although his Holy Power grade didn't rise.
The amount increased.
Ever since the seed took root in his Dantian.
Ever since forming the Three Peaks, the amount of Divine Power had continuously shown a gradual increase.
The increase had now become negligible, but thanks to it, there was no major burden in using the Lightning Azure Sword freely.
It made life easier, but since he still didn't know what the seed's existence was, it felt a bit unsettling.
'I was defeated.'
By what was he defeated?
There were certainly suspicious parts, but no certainty.
Only speculation.
"Shall I just wrap this up."
Callius shook his head and raised the Predator Sword.
Ryburn's body had turned into a handful of sand as the Predator Sword sucked out its essence, but Orkal, pierced by the Lightning Azure Sword, was not.
He fainted, but he was still alive.
He had to be killed to avoid future troubles.
The news that the inquisitor had gone in to hunt the Thunder Wolf Dragon was already known to everyone.
If he covered it up by saying they were hunted by the Thunder Wolf Dragon instead, no one would be able to say anything.
The sword was sufficient for now, so it was better to let the Predator Sword eat him.
"L- Lord!"
The moment he was about to strike down.
Along with Brans's shout.
"Die!!"
Druma, who was thought to be dead, held Orkal's Insect Spirit and ambushed him.
Callius tried to block the guy's sword with the Predator Sword, but he suddenly narrowed his eyes and hurriedly backed away.
"Running away! Fight! Heresy..."
Crick. Druma lost his head before he could even finish his words.
"Oops."
Come to think of it, he made a mistake.
The reason he left Druma alive was to investigate who was trying to kill him.
Behind the guy, a giant demonic beast that had chewed off his head spat out his body as if it tasted bad.
-Grrrrr.
It was the Thunder Wolf Dragon.
It looked quite angry.
Whether it was because its territory was disturbed or something else, he could soon tell. It was staring intently at Callius's Lightning Azure Sword.
"Did you come seeing this?"
It bared its teeth and growled.
It probably sensed the aura of lightning, similar to its own, and came here.
It seemed to really like the Lightning Azure Sword.
"They say this might be your parents."
As he shook it teasingly, it gripped the ground with its front legs as if it would pounce right away.
Callius sheathed the Predator Sword.
And in an instant, he dashed out and pulled out the Tyrant Emperor Sword stuck in the ground.
The beast charged at the same time.
It rushes in, scattering lightning at a speed as fast as lightning.
But this time, Callius was faster.
Gwung-!
As soon as he grabbed the Tyrant Emperor Sword, he deployed a gravity field. The beast flinched. However, binding its movements lasted only an instant.
Blue lightning surges from its body.
It charges wrapped in lightning.
Pajijijijik!!
However, from Callius's hand as well, blue lightning rose with a loud noise.
-Kuaaah!!
Taeng-!
Dodging its body slam by a hair's breadth, he slashed horizontally.
But the sound that came was only a dull thud, as if a sword had struck something.
Its scales were hard.
Not a scratch was left.
Kwaang! Kwang!
It only stopped its body after knocking down several flame trees.
The Thunder Wolf Dragon mutates its horns blue and raises its head. As it howls, a massive lightning bolt strikes the area.
Kwagwagagaga!!
But that much was already expected.
"Heup...!"
The Lightning Azure Sword strikes away its lightning.
One per strike.
It steadily deflects and entangles the lightning.
The essence of the Silver Flower Shattering Sword imbues the Lightning Azure Sword. First Stance - Shattering Blossom.
A sword technique that shatters the opponent's sword aura, merges it with its own, and makes it flutter in all directions like flower petals, surging like a wave.
It was the same.
What Callius had to do was simple.
The Lightning Azure Sword deflects its lightning.
It entangles the scattered lightning again.
He strikes down what is entangled.
Its outward appearance is not a flower petal.
Just lightning.
Fragments of lightning fluttered in the air.
This was Shattering Blossom.
Callius created a Shattering Blossom of lightning. A flower made of lightning bloomed at the tip of his sword.
But the Thunder Wolf Dragon even dodged that.
It was a wonder how it dodged all of them with such a massive body.
But it didn't matter.
He had expected that much.
It dodges.
But the more it dodges, the more the traces of lightning remain intact on the ground.
Those traces become White Trace's sword resonance, surging up again as lightning sword aura.
Silver Flower Shattering Sword, Second Stance - White Trace.
The panicked Thunder Wolf Dragon takes its own lightning head-on.
But the Thunder Wolf Dragon's dragon scales and its horns cancel out the lightning.
It was only panicked; there was no damage.
But that was enough.
The buds of the Three Peaks in Callius's Dantian all bloom.
A massive amount of Divine Power circulates through the Holy Veins and fills his entire body.
The circulating Holy Power gathers into a single sword.
Tyrant Emperor Sword - Karaktu.
Between the lightning flowers of Shattering Blossom and White Trace.
Piercing into the subtly unfolded center, it completes a single stance.
Silver Flower Shattering Sword, Third Stance - Equinox Flower.
The fluttering Shattering Blossom and White Trace become entangled with the Tyrant Emperor Sword.
Compressed sword aura is created.
Formless qi gathers to form Gang.
It is incomplete.
But a compressed form of qi.
This was surely that of a Sword Gang.
Incomplete, but this was enough.
Originally, Equinox Flower itself was a technique that intentionally detonated an unstable Sword Gang to use it.
Tat.
The leg, imbued with Holy Power, pierces through the lightning and advances.
Sprinkling lightning with the Lightning Azure Sword, he strikes away its lightning and carves a path.
The Thunder Wolf Dragon doesn't stay still either.
Sensing something was wrong, it increased its speed to maintain its distance from him.
Kwang! Kwaang! Pajijik! Kururung! Kwaang!!
An offense and defense unfolding at speeds invisible to the eye.
Lightning doesn't work on either of them.
So it raised its leg.
It raised its front leg, and lightning imbued its claws, turning them blue.
However, that was its mistake.
"Raising it in the first place is an opening."
Shwak!
-Kuaaang!
It grazed it. The beast dodged by a hair's breadth.
But he slashed it.
For now, that was enough.
Kwang!
Immediately, the slashed hide bursts open, and its blood scatters in the air.
Small, faint, but it was a single flower.
Taking the shape of an Equinox Flower.
'When I fought the Commander, I didn't need to use Shattering Blossom and White Trace.'
Since then, he hadn't been able to use the same Equinox Flower as back then. Because of that, the power of this Equinox Flower was worlds apart from the one back then.
It's not even half, but so what.
-Kuaaaaah!!
Because he wasn't expecting power right now.
"Your body will feel a bit heavy."
The Thunder Wolf Dragon's face crumples.
Thick blood pours from its mouth.
Its shoulder burst open, making it hard to keep its balance as it staggered quite a bit.
It was using all its strength to keep its center.
But perhaps the area near its wounded shoulder had become heavy, as its movements were visibly strange.
Callius didn't miss that opening.
He slashed and slashed again.
He slashed indiscriminately. Slashing its neck, its legs, its torso.
Its hide was so tough that it didn't cut well, but shallow yet certain wounds were increasing.
Marks slashed by the Tyrant Emperor Sword.
Its body was different from before.
It became as heavy as a thousand pounds, starting to struggle to move easily.
This time, he held the Lightning Azure Sword.
He stabbed the spot where the wounds had burst open.
And no matter how much resistance it had to lightning, it wouldn't have it inside its body.
"You try dying too."
Blue lightning flashes on Callius's face. The Thunder Wolf Dragon's mouth opens wide as it roars. Lightning immediately bursts forth.
Useless.
Callius's thunder azure was faster.
Kwakwang!!
Once wasn't enough.
Callius wrung out all his Divine Power and drove lightning into its body.
Kwaang! Kwang! Kwaang! Kururung Kwaang!
A feast of lightning unfolded.