Chapter 335

EPISODE 335 – SWORD HORIZON (3)

It was a chain effect.

The moment one fell, it was already irreversible.

The dominoes were collapsing.

It continued to fall as it resonated with each other.

***

First Sword could not hide his surprise.

The Holy King’s Cross Sword that shone in front of him burst into light.

It was only one move, but he could tell.

“More than Count Hræsvelgr.”

Count Frederick Hræsvelgr, the Sword of Holiness.

The leader of the Jackdaws defending the north.

First Sword had seen the Holy King’s Cross Sword of the count before.

So he was sure.

The Holy King’s Cross Sword in Lucas’ hands was close to completion.

The true sword of the Holy King was in Lucas’ hands and not Count Hræsvelgr.

But how was that possible?

Lucas was definitely a gifted child. His nickname, the Girin of the North, was not a lie, and even First Sword himself highly regarded Lucas until Jude appeared.

But not to this extent.

Growing to a level close to that of a great swordmaster was amazing, but he was also nearing the completion of the Holy King’s Cross Sword.

“There is something.”

Something that First Sword himself neither knew nor understood.

“Well, it doesn’t matter.”

Whatever the reason, Lucas had become stronger.

It just meant that Lucas became a prey he coveted.

First Sword threw away his broken sword. He pulled out a new spare sword and showed a completely different stance than before.

“Come, Lucas. Let’s play after a long time.”

Lucas did not bother replying to the friendly-sounding words. He held his breath and raised the pure white cross.

It was a strange feeling.

It was complicated yet clear in his mind.

A horizon had appeared beyond the dark road.

And that road continued endlessly to the horizon.

He saw a man standing on that road.

It was really strange, but that man was Lucas himself.

The man was much older than he was now, and had a lot of experience… but at the same time, his heart was wounded from numerous wounds.

Was the man his future self?

Or perhaps it was him who walked a different path following Biltwein the Hero?

He did not know the answer.

But he could clearly feel it.

The path the man walked.

The road the man took one step at a time.

It was not anyone else’s experience.

It was Lucas’ own experience.

Not a fantasy like the one he experienced in dungeon books, but his real self.

‘You can be Biltwein.’

The last words the man had left.

Lucas let out a long breath. He stared straight at First Sword in front of him.

It felt like his mind was getting clearer and clearer.

“Rhun Froud.”

The Sword Saint of Light.

Duke, the top-ranking demonic human of the Devil’s Hand.

Sword Demon.

First Sword.

This was not the first time he had met this enemy.

But Lucas could feel it.

Among the First Swords that he had experienced in the past, the First Sword in front of him was the strongest.

The strongest First Sword that ever existed.

A tough opponent.

However, there was no hesitation in Lucas’s steps.

He also did not question on what he should do here.

“Come.”

First Sword laughed at Lucas’ words. He excitedly smiled and kicked the ground. When he charged at Lucas, he unleased a sword strike of light.

It was fast.

His sword strike was truly like light.

But Lucas did not bother trying to look at it.

He somehow saw and sensed it.

Although he had not yet reached the sword’s inner essence, he responded as a person who saw the horizon.

Claclaclaclaclaclang-!

Sharp metallic sounds continued like lightning.

Pure white sparks covered the surroundings, and surprise and joy spread in the eyes of First Sword.

Lucas’ sword was not flashy.

It was not as fast as First Sword’s own attacks.

With minimal movement, Lucas blocked, deflected, or dodged all the sword attacks.

Perfect basic skills.

The sword of Count Hræsvelgr that was plain yet very strong.

Clang!

The sword of First Sword was deflected again. As Lucas had done earlier, he destroyed the path of First Sword’s sword.

But First Sword did not drop his sword. He leaned towards the direction of Lucas’ attack and smoothly turned along the course of the force as he fired a fierce aura blade at Lucas.

Bang!

However, Lucas’ sword destroyed the aura blade this time.

He was as firm as an unshakable fortress.

So instead of attacking Lucas like that, First Sword took a step back.

Lucas also adjusted his posture by taking a deep breath instead of rushing towards First Sword.

His situation was different from Elune.

The sword of Elune was beautiful and elegant, but it was more for her self-satisfaction so it was actually like a dance. That was why her sword lacked killing intent and aggression.

It was not a true sword for fighting.

So Elune was very easily defeated by First Sword despite both of them being equally strong Sword Saints.

But the sword of Lucas was different from the sword of Elune.

His sword belonged to that of a warrior, forged from his long training and abundant practical experience.

Scarlet entrusted Elune to the hiding Kirara, and immediately treated Kajsa’s wounds. She wanted to look back at Lucas, but she just gritted her teeth and held it in.

A loud noise was heard again.

Fights between great swordmasters were always like that.

It would shake the earth and make the sky tremble. Their trained swords could naturally devastate the surroundings.

Because Scarlet could do the same.

When she fought a life-and-death battle against Kajsa, or when she confronted Lucas.

She was confused.

Memories that were unfamiliar to her yet were clearly her own memories had appeared blurrily like a haze.

She had died in Lucas’ arms.

She was in love with Lucas.

She had her last kiss with Lucas.

‘Focus, Scarlet. Focus.’

Scarlet forced herself to concentrate. She stopped her thoughts to completely focus on treating Kajsa’s wounds.

Kajsa stared at such a Scarlet.

A thousand emotions crossed her mind.

She felt the urge to instantly kill Scarlet by snapping her slender neck and also the desire to hug Scarlet in her arms.

“Haa… haa…”

“Hang in there, I’m almost done.”

Hearing Scarlet’s words, Kajsa clenched her teeth.

She suppressed her opposing urges and focused on the sounds.

Lucas was fighting First Sword.

She felt like her heart was about to burst. Her love for Lucas soared.

Strange emotions and memories.

But it belonged to her. The emotions and memories clearly belonged to Kajsa.

She along with Lucas had fought Scarlet.

Instead of despairing in a world where there was only darkness, she and Lucas comforted each other and strengthened their will.

She had stabbed Lucas herself.

She had unleashed the power of the divine creature to kill Lucas.

She was dizzy. Unlike Scarlet who saw the world with her intellect, Kajsa saw the world with her instincts and emotions, so she was even more confused.

“Lucas.”

Bang!

The clash between Lucas and First Sword became more intense.

First Sword’s attacks intensified more, and the light emitted by Lucas’ cross sword grew stronger with each repeated sword strike.

First Sword took a step forward.

Lucas did not back down, but felt the pressure.

First Sword took another step.

His eyes changed to that like those of beasts. His body itself was strengthened and the power of his sword became stronger.

As a result, his speed became faster.

Lights burst once again.

Lucas held his breath. The light of the Holy King who destroyed evil was further amplified.

The other Lucas was standing in front of that road.

But he could not fully catch up.

He did not have enough time for that. Lucas’ own body was not as disciplined as the other Lucas in front of that road.

Lucas focused instead of giving up though.

First Sword did not use any tricks. He was pushing Lucas with only his pure strength and speed.

Demonization.

He already knew that First Sword had become a demonic human.

He had encountered that First Sword several times.

But it was also different from before.

The current First Sword was the strongest among all the First Swords he met. He had maintained the appearance of a pure swordsman.

Bang!

The domino fell.

As the first domino fell, the rest of the dominoes also began to fall.

Lucas saw his other selves.

And it was the same with First Sword.

But there was a clear difference between the two.

Clang!

The distant horizon.

The road leading to that horizon.

First Sword continued to step forward. He proceeded without stopping to reach the sword horizon.

He kept swinging his sword.

He could not describe it, but he felt nervous at that ominous feeling.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

First Sword became a complete demonic human.

His eyes turned yellow and the skin of his entire body turned pale. Six horns rose above his head.

“You will die here.”

First Sword spoke.

He continued to talk as if pouring it all out to Lucas.

“Your resistance will be futile.”

He would kill Lucas, kill Scarlet, kill Kajsa, kill Elune, and kill everyone in the Red Gate.

His malice soared.

He ignited his hatred amidst the anxiety he could not explain.

In front of the raging and destructive bombardment of light, the sword of the Holy King gradually lost its light.

But Lucas did not yield to the words of First Sword.

He resisted the attacks to the end and fiercely stared at First Sword’s eyes.

An unbreakable will.

Even when the successor to the Holy King’s sword became a demonic human, he suppressed himself with his own will until the very end.

Bang!

The light exploded.

Demon Bane was greatly deflected, and Lucas’ arms were stained with blood. The sword of the Holy King lost its light.

First Sword clenched his teeth. Instead of going mad, he stared at Lucas.

“You will die like a bug.”

You will die being worthless.

Like… like…

First Sword swung his sword at Lucas.

Lucas looked straight at such a First Sword.

He thought as he stared straight into the eyes of the First Sword full of nervousness.

‘I’m not worthless.’

The other Lucas opened his mouth.

The one standing on the road leading to the horizon looked at Lucas and said.

“You bought time.”

You bought time to save everyone.

So that Jude and Cordelia would not grieve, so that they could move forward with Scarlet and Kajsa.

You bought time to protect Elune, Kirara, and everyone in the Red Gate.

“You saved them.”

Lucas had a bitter smile.

He did not look away from First Sword.

And light rained down.

It descended from the sky!

Babababababababababang-!

A thousand magic spheres rained down from the sky.

The sun’s brightness reduced the ground full of darkness.

Slaaaaaash!

First Sword quickly swung his sword and cut the magic spheres.

The aura blade slashed the flow of mana of the swirling magic spheres, instantly annihilating the spheres.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

First Sword continued to swing his sword.

He looked straight ahead amidst the explosions and brilliant light.

Cordelia who was letting out the divine power of the sun with her wings was retrieving Lucas.

And right next to her was Jude staring at First Sword.

“Jude Bayer!”

First Sword fiercely shouted and shot his aura blade.

Instead of destroying the aura blade, Jude unleashed the power of the seventh door. After he dispersed the aura blade with only his immense energy, he added the power of Valencia to himself.

“First Sword.”

No further words were needed.

First Sword adjusted his posture. The moment he faced Jude, his nervousness and irritation intensified. Staring at the horizon, he spread out white wings. Jude also spread out black wings and rushed towards First Sword.

The Sword of Light technique – Heavenly Wings of Light.

Valencia’s creation – Black Wings Valiant Sword.

White wings and black wings collided.

It entangled and shook the surroundings.