Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 154
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 154
Episode 154. Reenactment of Annihilation (2)
* * *
“….”
“….”
“….”
Right after Gaon entered the trial.
The Imperial Palace Treasure Vault fell into deep silence.
Everyone’s gaze was directed toward the tightly closed door.
From beyond the door, an eerie aura continued to flow out.
─You follow as well, Pean.
Fortunately, Gaon did not challenge this desperate trial alone.
Two people.
That was the maximum number who could enter this particular trial.
Thus, just before passing through the door, Gaon requested Pean to accompany him….
─Yes. Of course that’s what we should do.
…Pean followed behind him without a moment’s hesitation. As if he already knew that Gaon would call for him.
Creeak, thud-.
As the two Sword Masters disappeared into the room, the door that had sealed the trial closed tightly once again.
A challenge to prevent the destruction of the Rashutku Empire.
Two Sword Masters stepped forward together into that terrible calamity that even The Great Ones couldn’t handle and fled from.
“In my 212 years of life, I’ve witnessed a total of four ‘trials’….”
Just then, Biyolf muttered quietly.
His voice was filled with worry.
“…That damned trial has the most vicious aura among all of them.”
Swoosh-.
The old mage paused briefly and stared at the sealed door.
In his eyes was an instinctive fear that only one who had lived through long years could possess.
Adelia, who had been quietly watching him, carefully asked a question.
“Are you worried about the safety of the Heretics?”
“Of course I am.”
Whew-.
Biyolf let out a deep sigh and shook his head.
“No matter how great Sword Masters The Protagonist and Pean may be, the trials of Evil Gods must never be taken lightly. Especially when they contain such terrifying aura as ‘that thing.'”
Biyolf muttered with a darkly sunken expression.
It wasn’t doubt, but a statement born from pure concern.
Clench-.
Upon hearing those words, Adelia unconsciously bit her lips tightly.
To be honest, she was equally anxious deep down.
Gaon had overcome countless trials so far and decisively conquered even seemingly impossible situations.
But this time was different.
Grooooooo-!
The aura rising from beyond the door was more threatening and desperate than any trial they had faced before.
Even Adelia herself couldn’t properly face the door and could only reflexively turn her head away.
‘Still….’
Adelia tried to steady her heart.
‘…If it’s The Protagonist, he will surely overcome it.’
Recalling the image of her master who always rose above despair and turned the impossible into reality.
Adelia quietly reinforced her faith.
“By the way.”
It was then that Selena carefully spoke up.
“What did The Protagonist mean by his last words?”
“….”
“….”
Drip-.
Instantly, the treasure vault was enveloped in silence once again.
From the primordial era to the fall of the Rashutku Empire.
Too little information was known about all of it. Even Markus, who was most knowledgeable about ancient lore, couldn’t understand the meaning contained in those words.
However.
Only two people showed different reactions.
The thought-form of Emperor Tarosk.
He who remembered the primordial era could vaguely guess the meaning of Gaon’s words.
And the other person, Taragon… no, Strawberry Latte was also silently staring at the door where Gaon had disappeared.
As another Possessed One who knew the truth of this world, he understood Gaon’s intention more accurately than anyone.
‘The plan is perfect.’
Strawberry Latte muttered to himself.
If it was anyone else, he couldn’t be sure, but if it was Gaon, he would be able to overcome that trial.
It meant he could perfectly conquer Rashutku’s Nightmare that no one else had ever managed to overcome.
“….”
Clench-.
But even with such conviction….
In one corner of his heart, worry for Gaon couldn’t help but creep up.
Because he knew what lurked beyond that trial.
‘Please, may you be able to escape safely.’
* * *
Creeak, thoom-!
With the sound of the door closing, Pean and I were completely trapped in an isolated space.
In the room was a dark red crystal orb.
A sinister aura emanated from the crystal orb. A more intense and overwhelming sense of pressure than any other trial. It was even more intense than Camillo von Taribas’s trial.
However, what concerned me right now wasn’t that trial, but….
‘Did it work?’
…precisely, the reaction of Pean who had entered this room with me.
To be honest, I wasn’t confident whether this deception would work either.
I had scattered quite a few hints in front of Pean so far, and as a result, he was misunderstanding me as a Primordial Being.
But this time the level was different.
‘I openly appealed that I’m on the same level as The Great Ones….’
He might believe I’m a Primordial Being.
But would he believe even more than that?
“Gaon.”
While I was having such thoughts, Pean spoke up.
For some reason, his voice contained sincere gratitude.
“Thank you for sharing such a great secret with me.”
“…?”
“Others may not have understood, but I certainly grasped your intentions clearly.”
Pean’s voice became even more serious.
In his eyes was deep respect, along with an intimacy as if sharing a secret conspiracy.
“Now that everything has been revealed… I will do my utmost to assist in fulfilling your will.”
And.
Hearing those words, I…
‘It worked!’
…cheered inwardly.
As expected of Pean.
Whenever I drop some bait, he misunderstands it perfectly on his own.
‘At this level, he’s basically a bait-eating machine.’
A perfect catch, a perfect catch.
He’s not even a fish, yet it’s amazing how he bites every time I cast my line.
‘Anyway.’
With this, I’ve secured a reliable ally following Adelia.
Of course, I’ll need to carefully maintain this concept going forward, but I’ve overcome the biggest hurdle for now.
If a skilled individual like Pean completely sides with me?
Future situations will become much easier.
And as I’ve said many times.
Since I was unjustly dragged into this game world, I intend to survive by any means necessary.
Even if it means claiming to be a god.
However…
‘…It’s a bit concerning that one of us must die because of the 「Sword Master’s Pact」.’
But there’s no need to worry much about it. That’s also a problem I can solve soon. After all, I already know the solution from my 200 loops of experience.
“So.”
Then, Pean asked while looking at the crystal sphere.
“If we enter that trial… will ‘that’ formidable enemy appear, the one even you, Gaon, find difficult to handle?”
Nod-.
At those words, I nodded my head.
A trial I could never clear with my strength alone.
The biggest reason I dragged Pean all the way to Dawnguard was for this very moment.
“Are you prepared?”
“Of course.”
There was no hesitation in Pean’s answer.
With his usual calm expression, he seemed firmly resolved.
Of course, I couldn’t know his true feelings. Like the cunning creature he was after living thousands of years, his exterior and interior were different.
Even if he appeared calm on the outside, he might be swallowing anxiety inside.
‘But that’s not important.’
Since he had already completely declared himself my ally, there was no need to worry about such details.
Now I just need to focus on one thing.
Successfully clearing this trial and obtaining Rashutku’s true reward.
Swoosh-.
I slowly approached the sphere placed in the center of the room.
The closer I got, the stronger the energy emanating from within became.
Like something awakening from a long slumber beginning to breathe.
Crack-!
I placed my hand on it. The sphere shattered into pieces, and crimson light instantly swallowed us.
* * *
“Haa, haaa…!”
A room splattered with blood and flesh everywhere.
One-Eyed Jack was looking down at Hairy Brute’s corpse, breathing heavily.
His breathing grew increasingly intense. As if intoxicated by something.
Clank-.
Then, the knight removed his helmet.
What was revealed underneath was neither a human face nor hair… but a smooth, cold black sphere.
“Calm yourself, Batu. Now is not the time to be swayed by emotions.”
“B-but still!”
One-Eyed Jack slowly turned to look at the Golem Knight.
His face still flickered with mad satisfaction.
“I, I, I gathered a lot of information, didn’t I?”
Hiss-.
One-Eyed Jack smiled eerily.
“Heh, I figured out what the Black Flame Guild is targeting at this auction, and confirmed how much capital Cheonghae Trading Company brought.”
“…”
“A-and most importantly! I found out that the ones who’ll spend the most budget this time… are the mages from Wintershield!”
All information extracted from Hairy Brute.
As befitting a Guild Master renowned for intelligence gathering, he knew many truly useful insider details.
Swish-.
The next moment, One-Eyed Jack began moving his hands skillfully.
Hairy Brute’s corpse twitched.
Like a puppet on strings, with drooping, lifeless movements.
Creak, crack, thud-!
Soon, following One-Eyed Jack’s sewing-like hand gestures, wounds and scars began to be ‘stitched’ together one by one.
Before long, the restored Hairy Brute opened his eyes wide.
Though his appearance was completely different, just by smiling the same way as One-Eyed Jack, it felt like they were the same person.
“I, I will… continue devouring big shots like this until the auction begins.”
Hiss-.
The smile spreading across his lips was more chilling than anything in the world.
“I’ll fill the auction house entirely with my puppets, make it my own ‘stage’, then take the brain core and… th-th-then…”
Batu declared.
“I’ll kill that damn Sword Master bastard too!”
* * *
Ding-!
〔Rashutku’s Nightmare: You have entered the trial arranged by ‘■̸̨̹̀̃@̷͎̜̤̥͐̌̓͝■̵̲̳̳̻̈͘#̸̻̝̐̇̐͝!̵̤̼̈́̅͊?̴̡̧̠́́̏■̴̼̿͑̈́̾%̸̦͎̯̀’. 〕
A notification sound echoing in my ears.
The next sense to return after hearing was smell.
The scent of something burning. No, not simply burning, but… the disgusting stench of flesh and bone burning.
‘This place is…’
I looked around.
The balcony of Rashutku Imperial Palace. But it was completely different from the ruins I had seen so far.
It was much more splendid and brilliant, with pure golden light untouched by the patina of time coloring everything around.
Literally, I had returned to a moment of the glorious past.
“….”
Swoosh-.
Beyond the balcony, the empire’s territory could be seen at a glance.
However….
The scenery visible outside was utterly horrific.
Flames were rising everywhere, and black smoke covered the sky. People’s screams carried on the wind, and the thunderous roar of massive buildings collapsing echoed endlessly.
Heavily armed knights and troops were hurriedly moving toward the fortress, but their movements were filled with despair. Expressions that seemed to already anticipate defeat.
“S-save me! Guh, guaaaah!”
“Oh gods… have you truly abandoned our Rashutku?”
And in the distance.
Something was slowly revealing itself above the sky.
No.
To be precise, it had begun to cover the entire sky in pitch black.
Ding, ding, ding, ding-!
〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ resists the opponent’s overwhelming presence.〕
〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ resists the opponent’s overwhelming presence.〕
〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ resists the opponent’s overwhelming presence…〕
An existence that was difficult even to call a form. Countless tentacles and eyeballs, and geometric structures incomprehensible to human reason tangled together, floating in the air… whenever ‘that thing’ moved, space itself seemed to twist, and just looking at it made nausea surge up.
Countless people collapsed, losing their minds the moment they saw ‘that thing’. Some laughed madly before choosing suicide, while others had their sanity completely shattered on the spot, their bodies convulsing as blood poured from every orifice before dying instantly.
〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ resists the opponent’s overwhelming presence.〕
〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ resists the opponent’s overwhelming presence──〕
〔@̴̛̬̪̭̖̼̤̹̦̻̖̟̜͖̃͗̿̌̚͜͠*̵̡͍̘̯̞̮̜̹̥̬͔͉͍̊͗͆̈͗̽͐͑͋̕ͅ&̵̡̨̝̫͓͍͙̯̖͉̼̭͚́̈̋̃̈́͘͝(̸͉͎͛̾̅̾͐̓̔̊̈́̋̄̕͝#̴̬̐́́̊̂̑&̶̜̗̲̞̼̽͑̈́̆̇̆͗̑̃̎̆̒*̵̢͎̯̦̯͉̼̟͉͉͆̔̔͝!̴͓͔̙͊̏̃̋̔̏͒̀͒̌̊^̵̝͖̩́̅͛̔̐̓̇̈́̇̆̋̚̕̚͝*̶̧̫̽̅́$̵͚̬̮̼͉̌̿̃͌͠ͅ!̸͚͉̠̹̺̽̽͛͗̂̈́$̷̧͍͓̍͗͐(̶̢͕͎̘͍͍̯̼̰̲͚̏̈̕̚͘̚͜*̷̢̲̻͓̦͈̤̾́̋͒͋̊ͅ〕
〔──Cannot resist.〕
〔Cannot resist.〕
〔Cannot resist.〕
Urgh-!
Vomit surging up from within.
I barely managed to avert my gaze and turned my body in the opposite direction.
‘…As expected, even Mental Power MAX can’t withstand ‘that thing’.’
Of course, Pean was also unable to maintain his composure.
“Th-that thing….”
Hah, hah-.
He too, with his eyes covered by bandages, was gasping for breath while looking at ‘that thing’.
No. Perhaps with his supernatural senses, he was feeling the essence of ‘that thing’ even more vividly than I was.
“…That thing, is that the existence we must face?”
The existence that had driven the Rashutku Empire to destruction.
The calamity that had turned the brilliant ancient civilization to ash overnight.
A bizarre divine entity that had crossed over from another dimension to invade this world.
The apocalypse itself, which even The Great Ones could not handle and had to flee to the Heavenly Realm.
Evil Deities.
Or, Outer Gods.
Today, we had to go against fate’s march toward destruction… facing the enemy that even gods had fled from.
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE
