Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 40

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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 40

Episode 40. Corpse Exhibition (6)

* * *

‘What on earth…’

Sikan Bauer’s body stiffened rigidly.

‘…What on earth is that person thinking, provoking Camillo like that?’

Camillo von Taribas.

The lich who once plunged the continent into nightmare was shouting with a voice full of rage.

The thick demonic energy emanating from those who made contracts with evil gods pressed down on the surroundings.

“Why did you ignore the intentions I prepared!! Why on earth!!”

“Kugh…!”

Clench-.

Sikan Bauer gritted his teeth.

He gritted his teeth and somehow endured the demonic energy, but his vision began to gradually blur.

Beside him, Adelia was already kneeling on one knee, breathing heavily.

‘This kind of pressure… is a first.’

He thought he belonged to the ranks of the strong, but to become helpless before such a monster.

‘But…’

Swoosh-.

Sikan turned his head with difficulty to look at Gaon.

Amidst Camillo’s rage and the surging demonic energy, he was utterly calm.

To the point where no sign of wavering or even the slightest disturbance could be felt.

‘That guy is really…’

The pressure that even he, who had undergone countless training as an inquisitor, found hard to endure.

Demonic energy so powerful that a high-ranking knight had to kneel.

Someone who couldn’t even feel the slightest bit of that energy was enduring it all too calmly.

Surge─!

However, there was no time to feel wonder or admiration about that fact.

Because of Camillo’s demonic energy, his consciousness and vision were gradually becoming blurred.

‘Damn it, I can’t endure any more…’

Kwaaaaaaaang─!

“…?”

That was the exact moment.

Gaon’s figure suddenly disappeared, and only golden afterglow remained in that spot.

The long scattered light trail showed exactly the path the sword had taken.

And at the end of it stood Camillo von Taribas.

…With a golden line drawn across the middle of his torso.

“Huh?”

Thud-.

A terrible silence flowed.

The storm that had been raging with demonic energy disappeared in an instant.

Only the questioning sound that leaked from Camillo’s mouth lingered in the room.

“Keu, keuaaaak!”

The next moment, a scream filled with pain was heard.

That groan gradually faded and soon completely died down.

Craaaack─!

Something unbelievable happened.

In Sikan’s blurry vision, he could see the immortal lich who had lived for hundreds of years slowly splitting like paper.

And through the gap, Gaon, who had disappeared, revealed himself again.

Kuuung─!

Camillo’s elongated body separated into upper and lower halves and collapsed.

Yes.

That was all there was to it. There were no flashy techniques or complex movements.

No, even if there had been, he wouldn’t have been able to follow those movements with his own eyes.

“What is this…”

One thing was certain.

That was the fact that Camillo von Taribas was dead.

* * *

“Phew.”

Swoosh-.

I let out a sigh and turned around.

Camillo von Taribas’s upper and lower body were cleanly separated.

Even the「Five Nightmares」who received the favor of evil gods could do nothing before【Soul of the Sword Master】and met a miserable end.

‘…As expected, it’s a tremendous skill, really.’

Of course, I naturally expected it would be like that…

Actually seeing Camillo die in one hit left me dumbfounded.

Every time I use this mythic-grade skill, I realize how overpowered the ability I brought into the game is.

Rather, if I had possessed a hexagonal character with properly balanced stats, I never could have dreamed of something like this.

“H-how did you manage such…”

Then, Sikan Bauer’s voice was heard from far away.

He was looking at me blankly with a bewildered face.

‘In contrast, Adelia is…’

Swoosh-.

I turned my gaze to Adelia, who was right next to Sikan Bauer.

Perhaps because she had seen me use【Soul of the Sword Master】several times, she wasn’t particularly surprised anymore.

There was admiration in her expression, but she didn’t show the same shock as before, should I say?

“Wow…”

Just then, Adelia muttered in admiration with a voice as if enchanted by something.

“No matter how many times I see it, it’s a beautiful strike…”

“You can’t let your guard down yet. Camillo isn’t dead.”

“…!”

Flinch-.

As soon as my words ended, Adelia and Sikan Bauer were startled.

Their gazes turned toward Camillo’s corpse all at once.

“Y-you’re saying that thing isn’t dead yet…?”

Adelia asked back with a half-believing voice.

That was understandable.

Camillo’s corpse wasn’t moving at all.

Moreover, even the eerie energy that had been pressing down on the surroundings until just moments ago had completely disappeared.

In such a situation, no one would think he was still alive.

[Keu, keukeukeuk…]

But at that very moment.

[I was completely fooled. I knew you followed those decrepit gods and had a rough idea, but I never imagined you were a Sword Master.]

Camillo’s leisurely voice began echoing throughout the entire building.

[How did you hide such tremendous energy all this time?]

“….”

[I’ve lived for hundreds of years, but I’ve never felt such overwhelming presence. At least in the moment you swung your sword… you seemed to have reached a realm far beyond other Sword Masters.]

As if he had become one with the exhibition hall, his gentle voice could be heard from all directions.

“G-Gaon-nim…”

Upon hearing this, Sikan Bauer and Adelia’s faces turned pale in an instant.

They began taking combat stances again as if they were about to fight immediately.

“There’s no need to be that wary.”

Swoosh-.

I raised my hand in a reassuring gesture to calm them both.

While it was forbidden to completely let their guard down, there was no reason to be that frightened.

“He can’t harm us right now anyway.”

“…Ah.”

Only then did Adelia and Sikan Bauer slowly lower their weapons.

A lich is an immortal being.

But his physical body had been completely destroyed by the Soul of the Sword Master.

It would take quite some time to fully recover from this.

“Phew.”

“Th-thank goodness.”

Upon hearing my explanation, Sikan Bauer and Adelia finally began letting out sighs of relief.

[Kekeke.]

Of course, Camillo just let out an unpleasant laugh.

[That’s right. Correct. Right now, no matter what I try, I can’t harm any of you.]

“….”

[But it’s fine. I will resurrect someday.]

Madness began creeping into Camillo’s voice.

[Five years? Ten years? I don’t know exactly when it will be… but I will reclaim my body. Just as I always have for the past hundreds of years.]

That’s right.

A lich, an archmage who overcame death.

As long as his Life-Vessel, the source of life, wasn’t destroyed, he could maintain eternal life.

To a lich, the physical body was nothing more than a meaningless shell.

Camillo von Taribas had changed countless ‘shells’ throughout his existence. That’s why he could be so indifferent to the death of his physical body like now.

[And finally, when ‘that day’ comes when I reclaim my body…]

Camillo paused for a moment before shouting in a voice filled with malice.

[Then I will definitely!! Kill all of you without fail!!]

“Ugh…!”

Sikan Bauer and Adelia squinted their eyes and covered their ears.

This time, even I couldn’t help but flinch.

Simply because his voice was far too loud.

‘…My ears hurt.’

Why is he suddenly screaming and making a fuss.

That last one probably had higher decibels than a mandrake for a moment.

I rubbed my ringing ears with an absurd expression.

‘Actually, thinking about it, it’s kind of funny.’

Camillo von Taribas.

A boss monster that ranks in the top five in Roel.

Yet the only meaningful damage he inflicted on me was acoustic terrorism.

Snicker─.

Thinking about this, I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

[Huh…?]

But Camillo seemed to interpret my laughter differently.

[…Laughing?]

Killing intent began seeping from his voice again.

[Fine. If you wish to die in agony, I’ll come find you first once I reclaim my body and tear you limb from limb. I promise you that.]

Kugugugu-!

Camillo’s voice echoing through the exhibition hall was filled with mad killing intent.

A chilling warning that made Sikan Bauer and Adelia’s faces turn white.

However, I maintained my composure and replied.

“Why promise for the future. You could kill me right now if you wanted.”

[…What did you say?]

“Wouldn’t it be possible if you had your Life-Vessel.”

I continued speaking calmly to provoke him.

“Through that ‘trial’, you could kill me.”

The air froze instantly. An extremely chilling silence flowed, then soon an ominous laughter could be heard.

[You bastard who knows nothing about art… dare try to teach me? Do you think I don’t know your scheme?]

“I’ll say it again, I don’t lack knowledge of art.”

I replied in the most emotionally controlled voice possible.

“If I didn’t know art, I couldn’t have created such sculptures in the courtyard.”

[Then why did you ignore my exhibition…]

“It’s simply because I was genuinely disappointed in your level.”

[….]

A moment of silence.

Camillo’s voice was completely cut off.

Soon a voice on the verge of exploding with rage filled the exhibition hall.

[…Is that so? Fine. Let’s see you demonstrate your amazing skills.]

Whiiiiing-!

Suddenly a vibrating sound rang out in the air.

Then a crystal sphere emitting dark red light gradually revealed itself.

It was the Life-Vessel that guaranteed the lich’s immortality.

[This is what you wanted so badly. The moment you touch this, the trial begins.]

“….”

[If you pass the trial, I will lose my immortality, but…]

Camillo’s voice became increasingly distorted and grotesque.

[If you fail, I’ll create a truly wonderful artwork from your corpse.]

“….”

[Kekeke, the corpse of someone who was once a Sword Master. Just thinking about it makes my heart race.]

Each of his words reeked of chilling obsession.

“What’s there to be excited about.”

[Because the stronger the corpse used as ‘material’, the more magnificent art is born!]

“….”

[Originally, art shines brighter the rarer the materials used!]

An excited voice drunk on madness.

That voice, excited like a child waiting for a new toy, echoed through the exhibition hall.

[So with your corpse, a masterpiece will surely be born…]

“Aha.”

I cut off Camillo’s words.

“Then your corpse would make an excellent material.”

[…What did you say?]

“You said the rarer something is, the more it shines, didn’t you?”

Freeze-.

Camillo’s voice that had been echoing through the air suddenly froze.

Breaking through that momentary silence, I muttered in a cold voice.

“Indeed, could there be anything rarer than the corpse of one who cannot die.”

Swoosh-.

I slowly extended both my hands toward the Life Vessel.

Sikan Bauer and Adelia held their breath as they watched that moment.

Crackle-!

And the moment my hands touched the crystal sphere, a blinding flash enveloped me.

Ding-!

〔You have entered the trial arranged by ‘■@■#!?■%’.〕

…It was the second 「Trial」 I had encountered since opening my eyes in 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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