Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 166

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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One-Strike Kill Swordmaster Episode 166

Episode 166. Outer God Hunt (3)

* * *

Kuguuuuu-!

The treasure vault of Rashutku Imperial Palace.

Those guarding the outside of the trial all wore grim expressions.

As time passed, the aura emanating from within became increasingly ominous.

[This is…]

Emperor Tarosk’s eyes narrowed.

[Certainly not a good sign.]

“Pardon?”

[If they had chosen to ‘flee,’ both of them should have already escaped from the trial by now.]

Gasp-.

Adelia’s expression darkened rapidly upon hearing those words.

In an already worrying situation, Tarosk’s statement only deepened her anxiety.

“What do you mean by that!”

Someone shouted angrily at that moment.

Professor Biyolf.

He raised his voice as if desperately trying to deny reality.

“Didn’t you say that The Protagonist and Pean were the first challengers of this trial? How can you speak so definitively!”

To that question, Emperor Tarosk answered in a calm but heavy voice.

[The trial itself is indeed the first. However, the ‘situation of that day’ which the trial recreates has already occurred.]

“That’s…!”

[I am one who directly experienced that actual situation.]

“…”

[How the Outer Gods invaded. How many lives were lost. And how long that desperate situation lasted. I remember everything vividly.]

Pause-.

In an instant, everyone’s faces slowly hardened.

That’s right.

Tarosk’s thought-form retained all the final memories up until the emperor’s death.

The horrific scenes of that day would remain vivid in his memory.

[By now, with this much time passed, half the empire would already be destroyed. The escape routes would be sealed as well.]

“…”

Professor Biyolf’s face darkened.

He could only tremble his lips, unable to continue speaking.

Though he tried to argue back, he simply had no words to say.

[…]

Swoosh-.

Emperor Tarosk also lowered his head silently.

Though he tried to appear composed, deep bitterness seeped through his expression.

‘I had hoped to see the empire saved, even if only in the trial…’

In the end, even that was a vain expectation.

As expected, there was no miracle.

The different ending he had so desperately wished for simply didn’t exist.

‘…Actually, the fact that they’ve lasted this long is already a miracle.’

It was only possible because Gaon and Pean’s abilities were so exceptional.

But no matter how skilled they were, there would ultimately be limits.

‘How regrettable.’

Clench-.

Emperor Tarosk clenched his fist tightly.

In fact, there was a reason why Emperor Tarosk spoke so definitively.

He had personally experienced just how overwhelming and despairing the divine beings from another realm were.

After all, hadn’t even The Great Ones ultimately abandoned this land and fled to the Heavenly Realm?

To harbor hope in the face of such absolute despair was rather cruel.

The pain when vain expectations are shattered to pieces. The despair when even the last thread of hope is broken.

Tarosk remembered all of it far too vividly.

That’s why it was better to accept reality in advance. That way it would hurt a little less.

“What if…”

Just then, a pink-haired mage spoke up.

“What if those two could really defeat the Outer God?”

[…?]

Emperor Tarosk frowned.

Meanwhile, Taragon carefully continued speaking.

“What Your Majesty said was based on the premise of ‘escape,’ wasn’t it? If the reason they haven’t come out yet is because they couldn’t find a chance to flee, then naturally it would be hopeless.”

[…]

“But what if The Protagonist and Pean are trying to directly defeat the Outer God? Then wouldn’t it be natural for it to take a long time?”

Whew-.

Emperor Tarosk let out a deep sigh.

[As I said before, that’s impossible.]

“…”

[I don’t intend to deny that Gaon is an extraordinary person. Just from seeing him throw himself into danger to save an already fallen empire, I can tell what noble will he possesses.]

It wasn’t limited to just this incident.

Could there be anyone more noble and great than the Elder who remained alone on this land to save the world?

[However, I experienced that day directly. Therefore, I know just how absolute an existence the Outer God is.]

“…”

[For two people to face such a being is impossible. No matter how exceptional their abilities may be, that fact doesn’t change.]

The atmosphere grew even heavier.

The testimony of someone who had personally experienced such devastating destruction was more persuasive than anything else.

“Teaching Assistant Taragon.”

Then, Selena Servich, who had been quietly observing, spoke up.

“I fully understand your feelings as well.”

Her voice was gentle.

But it contained the meaning that he should face reality.

“The Protagonist saved your life. If it weren’t for him, you would have become a sacrifice to The Adversary and lost your life.”

“…”

“Because of that, you hold Gaon in higher regard than anyone else, and earnestly wish for his safe return.”

Selena paused for a moment before continuing.

“I too hope for The Protagonist’s safe return. But…”

Pause-.

Selena stopped speaking.

She couldn’t bring herself to voice that it was impossible.

Then, Taragon shook his head and added:

“I’m not saying this simply because I’m swept up by emotions, Professor.”

“…?”

“This is a conclusion I’ve reached based on my own judgment and evidence. The Protagonist and Pean are fully capable of facing the Outer God.”

Thud-.

Suddenly, an awkward silence fell.

The Wintershield Expedition and the Koshat Siblings wore bewildered expressions.

Judgment and evidence? It wasn’t like there was any separate data, so what was he trusting to speak so definitively?

‘Huh.’

While everyone harbored such doubts.

Only one person was showing a completely different reaction.

It was Adelia.

‘There was someone who trusted him… even more than me…?’

Adelia prided herself on trusting Gaon immensely.

And rightfully so, since she was Gaon’s top disciple.

But even she wasn’t as confident as Taragon.

She had only been anxious ever since Gaon entered the trial.

The moment she realized this fact, a strange competitive spirit surged up.

“I-I think so too…!”

Adelia shot up her hand and shouted.

But when all eyes suddenly focused on her, she felt embarrassed and slowly lowered her hand.

Sigh-.

Strawberry Latte, who was watching this, let out a small sigh.

He had always detested this kind of gloomy atmosphere.

‘…But it really is possible, isn’t it?’

* * *

Ding-!

[Strawberry Latte] : (˃̵͈᷄⌓˂̵͈᷅)

“…?”

A note came from Strawberry Latte.

Just from the emoticon, the meaning was obvious.

It meant the people waiting outside were worried.

‘Well, quite some time has passed since I entered “Rashutku’s Nightmare.”‘

It’s fine.

Now it was time to end everything and return.

‘Yeonwoo.’

[…Ah, you mean me?]

When I called Yeonwoo the Feathered Sword, a response came immediately.

Her voice still carried a bewildered tone. The shock of the Soul of the Sword Master must have been that great.

‘In your opinion, do you think I can defeat an Outer God?’

[That’s…]

A moment of silence passed.

Yeonwoo was a being who had lived for a very long time.

Even just the time she was called the Feather Sword after being sealed was thousands of years.

In other words, Yeonwoo was an ego sword that had mainly been active in ancient times.

Therefore, she knew the true nature of the Outer Gods who brought about the end of that era better than anyone.

[It’s impossible.]

A firm answer came back.

‘What’s the reason?’

[My last master was the strongest swordsman of his time.]

“…”

[But the moment he faced an Outer God, he was annihilated on the spot without being able to do anything.]

Yeonwoo continued speaking.

[Not killed, but annihilated. Literally, his very existence was erased from this world.]

“…”

[Actually, he was so ugly that I was looking for opportunities to deal with him from time to time… but I never thought he’d go so pathetically before I could even make a move.]

…What?

[Anyway, your swordsmanship is certainly marvelous. It’s incomparably superior to anyone I’ve ever met.]

“…”

[However, divine beings from another world aren’t simply ‘strong enemies.’ They are absolute existences that twist and distort the very laws of this world. You can’t defeat them just because your swordsmanship is a bit superior.]

Yeonwoo the Feathered Sword finished speaking.

There was something slightly strange mixed in the middle… well, anyway. What she wanted to convey was clear.

No matter how absolute the Soul of the Sword Master skill was, it was currently impossible to defeat an Outer God.

Right.

That was, as far as ‘Outer Gods’ were concerned.

‘Then…’

Swoosh-.

I turned my gaze far away.

The Heart of the Empire was already shrouded in deathly silence.

Complete silence where not even screams could be heard. Only the occasional sound of debris from collapsed buildings falling echoed hollowly.

And…

Kugugugugugugugu──!

The massive shadow that had devoured the sky had already arrived right in front of the Imperial Palace.

Throb-!

Just having ‘that thing’ brush past the edge of my vision made my head throb.

I quickly turned my head the other way.

‘…Then, do you think I can defeat ‘that guy’?’

It was certainly a question that would be puzzling.

Since I had already received an answer that it was impossible, it might sound like I was repeating the same question.

But the question I asked had a distinctly different target.

An Outer God.

And that guy.

Right.

A fact that could be understood just by recalling my encounter with Upapa in the Aquarium Basement.

Upapa wasn’t ‘real.’

It was just a replica to recreate a divine being that had been annihilated at the current point in time… in other words, just a dummy.

‘The current situation is the same.’

The Outer God rampaging above my head also wasn’t ‘real.’

It was merely a replica created for the trial.

And…

Yeonwoo the Feathered Sword, who had seen a real Outer God, would have immediately recognized that it was an incomplete replica.

Ah, of course.

Separate from that fact, it was certain that the guy was a stronger opponent than any enemy I had faced so far.

[Yes. It’s possible.]

“…”

[It will be difficult, but you can defeat ‘that monster.’]

Right.

That was enough.

Sring─!

I gripped the Feather Sword.

The blade emitting a subtle light gleamed coldly in the darkness.

Today I will kill the shell of a god.

And someday, I will cut down even its true form.

What I had never seen even after repeating 200 cycles….

〔MP : 1/1〕

Tick-.

〔MP : 0/1〕

For the true ending of this world.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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