Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 238

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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 238

Episode 238. Zahhar (1)

Wooong, woooong-.

I lowered my gaze downward.

The energy gently radiating from my chest.

It was a strange sensation that was both warm and cold, heavy yet light at the same time.

‘Dragon Heart.’

Four days ago, the Dragon Heart I obtained by absorbing the Ancient Dragon’s sacred body had settled within me.

At the time, excruciating pain had struck me.

The process of my mana heart and entire body’s mana circuits being reconstructed.

The agony of blood vessels being torn and muscles being ripped continued relentlessly.

Ding-!

〔Passive Skill: 【Intermediate Pain Resistance】 is activated.〕

‘This was the same phenomenon I experienced when I obtained the Dragon Body.’

I had prepared myself to some extent, but… damn it. This was something I could never get used to.

Pain wasn’t something that lessened just because you became familiar with it.

Above all.

‘The Pain Resistance skill isn’t an ability that reduces the pain itself.’

It was rather the opposite.

The instinctive panic state that occurs when experiencing pain. It was a kind of ‘correction’ skill that suppressed reflexive actions like screaming or writhing.

This passive had been a definite advantage in combat.

I could respond coolly even when suffering fatal injuries.

‘But in a situation like this?’

It was rather poison.

Thanks to my remaining clear rationality, it meant I could feel the extreme pain of my body being torn apart completely and vividly.

─What, what’s wrong! Are you okay, Gaon!

Even Tyrant Dragon, who was beside me at the time, was so flustered that it said everything.

When I writhed in pain, the guy frantically grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

‘But…’

Now, four days later.

I was perfectly fine.

The pain had disappeared without a trace, and only stable power had taken its place.

Wooong, woooooong──!

The Heart of Tolong I had obtained previously granted the characteristics of a Dragon Body.

It enhanced physical stats and changed the constitution itself… literally a reward specialized in physical enhancement.

‘Then what about the Dragon Heart?’

The Dragon Heart was the essence of mana.

It wasn’t just about increasing the amount of mana.

The constitution itself improved, and mana operation and affinity all increased as well.

It was truly an item no different from a dream relic for mages.

However.

〔MP : 10/10〕

From 1 to 10.

Such a dream item could only increase my mana stat by a mere nine points.

Well, I wasn’t dejected or disappointed by that.

It was a result I had already expected.

Roel is a game where foundation is important. Magic power was especially so.

Innate talent was the most important stat of all, and no matter how much effort you put in later, you couldn’t surpass your natural vessel.

‘If I had obtained the Dragon Heart after establishing some foundation, the situation would have been different…’

Someone with ordinary talent could have leaped to the realm of genius, and a genius could have risen to the ranks of transcendents.

But what was my starting point?

1.

Moreover, even this was just a number given by default when customizing the character.

Since I hadn’t added any points, it was safe to say I had virtually no magical talent.

Absorbing a Dragon Heart in such a state wouldn’t cause a miracle. At best, it would turn someone who was beyond help into an ordinary level.

‘It’s like pouring water into a bottomless jar.’

No matter how precious the water you pour, it’s useless if the jar itself has holes.

However.

‘The Dragon Heart plugged those holes.’

Now I could hold water.

The size of the jar itself remained small, but at least I could stand at the starting line.

The number 10.

In the game, it’s similar to the mana level of an ordinary NPC. Not a genius. Not a hero. Just about the level of a common person on the street.

But that was enough.

‘The difference between 0 and 1.’

I knew better than anyone how decisive that could be.

Especially in a situation like this.

‘And…’

While the number ’10’ might seem disappointing on the surface, from my perspective, my mana had increased tenfold.

It was safe to say that the utility of 【Soul of the Sword Master】 had increased by that much as well.

Ding-!

[Strawberry Latte] : What?

[StrawberryLatte] : You ate a dragon heart and your magic power only went up by 9? ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[StrawberryLatte] : You should have given it to me instead lol

[The Protagonist] : Originally, going from 1 to 10 is harder than going from 100 to 1,000, you bastard.

[The Protagonist] : And you have the Brain Core anyway.

[Strawberry Latte] : Hmm…

[Strawberry Latte] : Agreed

During the four days of preparing for enemy attacks, I also exchanged silly notes with Strawberry Latte.

Of course, she wasn’t seriously demanding the Dragon Heart either.

She was probably just surprised by the terrible character performance that could only grow this much despite having such a good item as the Dragon Heart.

Of course.

It was thanks to focusing everything on just one talent that I obtained the skill 【Soul of the Sword Master】.

Ding-!

[Strawberry Latte] : No, but anyway…

[Strawberry Latte] : It’s amazing that you cleared the Ancient Dragon’s Lair with just 1 mana.

[Strawberry Latte] : Isn’t this practically a first?

[The Protagonist] : What’s so surprising about that.

[The Protagonist] : I’ve already defeated Camillo von Taribas, the fallen Jaque, and even Puppet Master Batu with 1 mana.

[StrawberryLatte] : shivering

[Strawberry Latte] : Now that I think about it, you’re right?

[Strawberry Latte] : This person is a complete monster, isn’t he?

I’ll admit it.

[Strawberry Latte] : Anyway.

[Strawberry Latte] : When does the Vilopozy battle start?

[Strawberry Latte] : Isn’t it about time for Zahhar to come declare war with Dorico Shiro?

“….”

I paused.

After checking Strawberry Latte’s message, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

‘Seriously.’

This guy has really gotten good at this.

As expected of the 2nd ranked player, how does he time things so perfectly?

[The Protagonist] : It just started.

[Strawberry Latte] : (ʘᗩʘ)!

[The Protagonist] : I’ll rescue Muwolcha and come back.

A brief silence passed.

Not long after, Strawberry Latte’s reply arrived.

Ding-!

[Strawberry Latte] : (b˙◁˙ )b

It was a cheerful emoticon as usual.

* * *

Right after hearing from Adelia that the Black Mage and Dorico Shiro had appeared.

Thud, thud-.

I was hurriedly putting on my coat, strapping the Feather Sword to my waist, and leaving the dungeon.

“Ah, Gaon.”

As I turned the corner of the passage, I encountered Tyrant Dragon.

“Did you hear the news too? About the Black Mage and Dorico Shiro coming.”

“Yeah.”

“Damn bastards….”

Tyrant Dragon growled lowly.

“Wasn’t it just a few days ago that Dorico Shiro came and caused havoc, and they’re already back?”

“I definitely told you. The attacks from Worshippers of Evil Gods would become more frequent.”

“…Tch. I know. I know that. Can’t I complain once?”

Tyrant Dragon grumbled with an irritated voice, but there was tension mixed in as well.

He must have known that a different opponent was accompanying them this time.

Thud, thud-.

We walked side by side.

A moment of silence passed. Only the sound of footsteps echoed in the darkness of the dungeon.

Eventually, Tyrant Dragon cautiously spoke up.

“By the way, is your body alright?”

“As you can see.”

I answered calmly.

Tyrant Dragon had witnessed everything I went through while absorbing the dragon heart.

He would vividly remember that horrific scene of how much I suffered during the process of my mana heart and mana circuits being reconstructed.

─The constitution of the Dragon Clan can also be acquired later in life. The Ancient Dragon’s Lair we found is one such place.

Since I had already finished explaining before entering the Ancient Dragon’s Lair, there was no room for misunderstanding.

However.

For some reason, the way Tyrant Dragon looked at me had changed since that day.

A gaze mixed with curiosity, envy, and some indescribable longing.

I knew the reason.

“Gaon.”

Just then, Tyrant Dragon spoke up.

“If I didn’t see it wrong… the Ancient Dragon’s body decomposed and was absorbed into you, right?”

“Correct.”

“Hah.”

Tyrant Dragon let out a hollow laugh.

“Amazing. To think that the Ancient Dragon, the primordial dragon and my ancestor, is living and breathing inside your body.”

Swoosh-.

Tyrant Dragon’s gaze turned toward my heart area.

It seemed his sensitive senses had detected the changed energy of my mana heart.

“A Sword Master who devoured a dragon, huh….”

Tyrant Dragon stared at me for a long time like that. As if trying to confirm something.

“When you first obtained dragon traits, you said you got them in a similar way, right?”

“Yeah.”

Nod-.

I nodded my head without hiding anything.

There was no need to create misunderstandings here.

Tyrant Dragon’s brow furrowed. An expression of deep thought.

“Then….”

Not long after, he spoke again.

His voice had changed. It was low and cautious, unlike his usual self.

A tone as if he was afraid of revealing the inferiority complex he harbored.

“…Could I also become a more perfect dragon through such a method?”

Sigh-.

I let out a small sigh.

I knew he would ask that question.

The innate complex of being a hybrid human-dragon. The obsession to overcome it was deeply rooted in Tyrant Dragon’s inner depths.

I answered with a deliberately cold expression.

“Foolish.”

“What?”

Tyrant Dragon’s expression hardened. It seemed to be an unexpected reaction.

“I merely use the Dragon Clan’s traits as a means to an end.”

I continued speaking slowly.

“It’s just a tool to gain power, not my goal itself.”

Swoosh—.

I could see Tyrant Dragon’s eyes wavering.

“But it seems like that has become your purpose. Becoming a more perfect dragon. That has become your everything.”

“Th-that’s…”

Tyrant Dragon tried to retort, but the words got stuck in his throat.

He probably wanted to deny it, but couldn’t. He must have instinctively known that my words had hit the mark.

Right at that moment.

Whooooosh—.

Wind blew in from outside.

Before we knew it, we had arrived at the dungeon’s exit.

And in the distance.

I caught sight of Dorico Shiro along with a familiar Black Mage.

Flowing snow-white hair.

Wearing a neat robe, he stood beside Dorico Shiro with his arms crossed, gazing down at Vilopozy as if surveying his own territory.

Pale skin. Narrow, slit-like eyes visible behind his glasses.

And within them, a cold yet arrogant gleam that flashed.

Ding—!

〔Part of the hidden message is revealed.〕

〔Causality is being twisted.〕

〔The encounter with Black Mage Zahhar has been moved up.〕

‘Zahhar.’

A Black Mage of pure dragon blood. An executive of Ataraxy, and the being Tyrant Dragon had hated his entire life.

He had finally revealed himself.

“…!”

Flinch—.

In an instant, Tyrant Dragon’s body stiffened.

The moment he spotted Zahhar, his entire body began trembling slightly.

He clenched his fists, but his fingertips remained uncontrolled.

It was a natural reaction.

As we had seen at the Spring of the Ancient Dragon, Zahhar was Tyrant Dragon’s deepest trauma incarnate.

‘In contrast…’

Zahhar was completely at ease.

Even after seeing Tyrant Dragon, he didn’t even acknowledge him.

Like looking at a pebble rolling on the roadside, he simply cast an indifferent glance.

He hadn’t come for an all-out battle.

Negotiation, or perhaps a declaration of war.

His posture exuded overwhelming confidence—that he could eliminate us anytime but didn’t need to bother.

“…?”

Then, Zahhar slightly furrowed his brow.

His gaze had been directed at me all along.

His narrow, slit-like eyes behind his glasses scanned me over, as if he had discovered something strange.

“Dark blue hair and golden eyes.”

Zahhar muttered, then turned his head slightly to ask Dorico Shiro a question.

“Is that bastard Gaon, Dorico Shiro?”

“…Y-yes.”

Dorico Shiro answered somewhat timidly.

At this, Zahhar tilted his head even more puzzled.

“Strange.”

He stared at me intently again.

“Why do I sense the aura of my kin from that bastard?”

Kin.

In other words, he had detected the Dragon Clan’s aura from me.

Zahhar crossed his arms and looked me up and down, then continued coldly. His voice was full of arrogance.

“Explain it yourself with your own mouth, thirteenth hunting dog of the old ones.”

“…”

“Why do I sense the Dragon Clan’s aura from you?”

Thirteenth hunting dog of the old ones.

It was an insulting expression, but it flowed so naturally from Zahhar’s lips.

Right at that moment.

“How dare you!!”

Tyrant Dragon roared furiously. It was the moment anger pushed aside fear.

“What kind of manner of speaking is that, Zahhar!”

Tyrant Dragon’s voice echoed thunderously throughout all of Vilopozy.

“Gaon is the Sword Master who devoured your mother!”

“…What?”

“So show him the proper respect he deserves!”

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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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