Sword Master With One Strike Kill - Chapter 85

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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 85

Episode 85. The Adversary (7)

* * *

‘Insane.’

Adelia watched Gaon with bated breath.

The sight of him deflecting each drop of the pouring black rain with his sword.

Even the technique of precisely adjusting the blade’s angle whenever the mana clinging to his sword seemed about to fall precariously.

‘How is that even possible…?’

Shing-!

Like filling a wine glass to the brim without wetting its rim.

Gaon’s sword held droplets even beyond its limits.

‘…Such incredible delicacy.’

Adelia had witnessed the swordsmanship of countless master swordsmen since childhood.

Middletemple had many excellent Paladins.

However, the swordsmanship Gaon displayed was on a completely different level from theirs.

In a life-or-death situation where losing even a single drop of mana meant death, he performed his sword dance with such ease.

How precise were his movements?

The technique of adjusting his blade’s angle in split-second intervals, controlling hundreds of droplets without missing a single one.

Yes.

It wasn’t mere swordsmanship. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a ‘miracle’ that defied the very laws of the world.

“Kugh, kughh…!”

The monster let out groans filled with agony.

Naturally, the battle ended in Gaon’s victory.

The monster, caught in its own attack, couldn’t avoid fatal injuries.

“Huh?”

But such joy was short-lived.

“W-We must stop it immediately! If that ritual is completed…!”

The area was thrown into chaos once again.

“…The Adversary will recover to its complete state!”

Flinch-!

Her mind snapped to attention as if cold water had been poured over her head.

What?

Recover to its complete state?

Hearing Selena Servich’s words, Adelia hurriedly turned her gaze.

‘The Protagonist’s condition is…’

Haa, haa-.

Gaon was breathing heavily.

Perhaps due to the incredible swordsmanship he had just displayed, he looked visibly exhausted.

His rough breathing was clearly visible.

Come to think of it, it would be even more absurd if he remained perfectly fine after performing such miraculous sword work.

‘…Could he face that monster in its peak condition in that state?’

She didn’t know.

No matter how excellent a Sword Master Gaon was, even Adelia couldn’t guarantee it.

After all, that monster was also an incredibly powerful being.

“…”

“…”

“…”

The other companions seemed to have realized this fact as well.

Despair flickered in their eyes for a moment.

Smirk-.

Not missing this scene, The Adversary opened its mouth as if driving in the final nail.

“Give up.”

“…”

“There’s no way for you to stop this ‘ritual.'”

Whooooo-!

The creature continued speaking in a leisurely voice.

The dark red aura surrounding the altar was growing stronger with each passing moment.

“What blocks your path is a barrier created over hundreds of years. It’s composed of complex spells that even ‘Dorico Shiro’ couldn’t decipher. And…”

Snap-!

The Adversary trailed off briefly and snapped its fingers.

Along with a clear sound echoing through the crypt, the world suddenly became as quiet as if it had stopped.

“Selena Servich.”

“…”

“The moment you handed over the Holy See’s ‘seal,’ the outcome was already decided.”

Hearing those words, Selena flinched in surprise and asked back.

“Wh-What do you mean…?”

“Haven’t you realized it yet? That the seal isn’t simply an object containing the Holy See’s authority?”

“…!”

“The true purpose of that sorcery is ‘binding.’ Any being marked with the seal falls under my control forever.”

The Adversary continued.

“The seal is sorcery that accepts a part of me. The ability to give ‘Absolute Commands’ to the Robed Member was all possible because my power was at work.”

Flinch-.

Selena’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.

This was a fact she had been completely unaware of.

To think that the seal was sorcery that accepted a ‘part’ of The Adversary.

‘If that’s the case…’

…What happens to Gaon, who received the seal?

“Foolish creatures.”

As if reading Selena’s anxious thoughts, The Adversary spoke again.

“Why on earth did you give the seal to a Sword Master? Did you perhaps want to meet your death directly at the hands of the savior you relied on so much?”

Kahahaha-!

The Adversary burst into laughter as if it could no longer contain itself.

A bizarre laughter that sounded like dozens, perhaps hundreds of people laughing at once began to fill the crypt.

As if mocking everyone, it shouted in an exaggerated theatrical tone.

“I clearly told you! That the ‘game’ ends here! My screams of agony! My appearance of being caught in crisis! It was all just an act!”

“Th-That can’t be…”

“Of course, I never thought that bastard’s swordsmanship would be so outstanding, but thanks to that, the stage became even more dramatic! Thank you! It’s been entertainment I’ve enjoyed for the first time in hundreds of years!”

The Adversary’s eyes held the certainty of victory.

The authority of the seal is absolute.

No matter how strong one’s will, they have no choice but to kneel before an ‘Absolute Command.’

This sorcery was a binding that constrained the very soul itself. Once the seal was imprinted, whether Sword Master or not, no one could escape The Adversary’s grasp.

Whoosh-!

The Adversary waved its hand toward Gaon and shouted.

“Now then, go and kill them all, Sword Master!”

Shing-!

Gaon raised his sword high.

As if he had become a puppet following The Adversary’s words.

His eyes were hidden behind his bangs, making them impossible to see clearly.

Gaon took a stance as if he would unleash a sword strike at any moment. Despair began to swirl in the eyes of Selena, Isaac, and Adelia.

‘…It’s over.’

Clench—.

Adelia couldn’t help but close her eyes without realizing it.

If Gaon had really fallen victim to that monster’s ‘brainwashing,’ she would surely meet her end here.

Knowing Gaon’s martial prowess well, she couldn’t think of any way to block his strike.

‘But…’

Hesitate—.

That was the exact moment.

Something suddenly flashed through Adelia’s mind.

‘…Would The Protagonist fall so easily for someone’s scheme?’

No.

At least the Gaon that Adelia had observed was absolutely not that kind of person.

From their first meeting in Dungarrd, the Dark City, to Bertas, the Free City, Camillo von Taribas’s Corpse Exhibition, and even the holy trial at Middle Temple, consistently.

Rather, Gaon was a calculating strategist who endlessly profited by turning others’ plans to his advantage.

Even in situations where everyone had given up, and even in extreme crises where everyone cried it was impossible.

He always looked down at every situation one step ahead. From the beginning, he would set up the foundation for reversal and turn the enemy’s traps into his own leverage.

So…

‘This situation won’t end so futilely either.’

After all, hadn’t The Protagonist even threatened her by releasing chilling killing intent to obtain the 「Seal」 from the Crimson Empress?

─To kill the Adversary, the 「Seal」 is absolutely necessary.

‘…The Protagonist definitely has a plan.’

Flash—.

Adelia opened her tightly closed eyes.

Her strong trust in Gaon, her reverence for following him, made her realize one important fact.

The sight of the Adversary so triumphantly confident of victory must also be part of Gaon’s thorough ‘plan.’

Therefore…

‘I must watch closely.’

Adelia’s eyes widened.

She focused all her concentration on watching Gaon’s sword.

‘And I must realize.’

From their first meeting until now.

Gaon had generously bestowed enlightenment upon her.

Now it was time to advance to the next level once again through the ‘sword’ he wielded.

Swiiiiiiish—!

Gaon’s sword cut through the air. A very clean strike without a single unnecessary movement.

And…

Clang—!

“…?”

An unexpected sound reached their ears.

Before long, a completely unexpected scene began to unfold before their eyes.

‘This is…’

Like a glass window shattering into pieces, the translucent barrier crumbled down.

Those fragments scattered glittering to the floor.

That’s right.

Just like in the Forest of the Heavenly Sea, Gaon’s sword had once again broken through a barrier.

‘…Ah.’

The strike that shattered a barrier intricately woven over hundreds of years in an instant was truly breathtakingly beautiful.

Cracks spread like flower petals from where Gaon’s sword had traced, opening wide gaps in the barrier. Glittering fragments scattered through the air, dancing a dance of light.

And…

While everyone watched with eyes filled with astonishment, Gaon walked toward the altar without hesitation.

Thud, thud—.

One step, then another step.

The sound of his footsteps echoed hollowly in all directions.

For the first time, genuine bewilderment seeped into the Adversary’s voice.

“What, what is this…!”

Breaking free from the seal’s restraint and brainwashing in one go.

And even collapsing a barrier built over hundreds of years with a single sword strike.

At this series of impossible situations, the color began to drain from the Adversary’s once confident face.

“…Im, impossible! This is absolutely impossible! You bastard! What the hell did you do!”

Gaon gave no answer.

He simply climbed the altar steps one by one with the clear appearance of a victor.

Holding his sword resolutely. And with infinite composure.

Swoosh—.

Before long, the Sword Master’s shadow fell over the Adversary’s head.

The terrified Adversary, with his initial domineering attitude nowhere to be found, desperately screamed and shouted.

“You, you bastard! You won’t reveal what you did to the end…!”

“Stop barking so noisily.”

Shing—!

A sharp metallic sound rang out.

Gaon had sheathed the sword he held back into its scabbard.

Soon, with an indifferent expression, he plopped down across from the Adversary with the altar between them.

“…?”

“…?”

“…?”

Instantly, everyone looked at Gaon with confused expressions.

What was he doing? When he should kill the Adversary immediately, he was sheathing his sword again?

Regardless, Gaon paid no mind and shamelessly urged the Adversary.

“Just finish what you were doing.”

* * *

I had fallen into a game without dreams or hope.

But there was no need to despair.

‘I have a 12-rank mythical skill.’

In fact, as long as this skill called 【Soul of the Sword Master】 existed, no enemy was a match for me.

No matter how strong an enemy was, I could instantly kill them with just one click of the skill.

In that sense, perhaps someone might wonder.

Wouldn’t everything be solved simply by using such an overpowered skill directly on the Adversary?

‘No.’

That was too short-sighted thinking.

‘What if I had failed to persuade the Crimson Empress and couldn’t obtain the seal?’

The 9th Rank Mage would have immediately become an enemy and attacked.

If I hadn’t brought her along for the Adversary subjugation, she would have gone on a rampage at Wintershield Magic Academy. Then hundreds of mages would have been massacred.

The worst situation of having to face two terrible bosses.

It would be better to eliminate that dangerous element even if it meant consuming the 【Soul of the Sword Master】… No, more precisely, it would be better to ‘transfer’ it to me.

After all, I was immune to all forms of brainwashing and mental attacks.

Having even broken through Dorico Shiro’s illusions in the yard, I would naturally be able to resist the Adversary’s “Absolute Command” as well.

Ding-!

〔Mental Power ‘MAX’ resists the seal’s absolute command.〕

‘Perfect.’

As expected, everything flowed according to my plan.

Having used 【Barrier Destroyer】, I was able to break through the barrier and invade the Adversary’s domain.

Swoosh-.

I looked straight ahead once more.

The Adversary, who had been conducting the ritual, was looking at me with a genuinely confused expression.

“…What kind of nonsense is this?”

To the Adversary’s bewildered question, I answered in a calm voice.

“Why? Isn’t this the first perfect ‘shell’ you’ve found in hundreds of years?”

“…”

“But it would be unfair if you died without even completing the ritual.”

I concluded while looking at the Adversary.

“So I’m giving you a chance.”

Upon hearing my words, the Adversary’s expression twisted sharply.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

Did he think I was mocking him? His face began to fill with indescribable rage.

“The moment this ritual is completed, I will fully assimilate with a body of tremendous talent. Born as a perfect being with an immortal soul combined with the finest physical form… At that point, your shallow swordsmanship won’t be able to stop me.”

He shouted with veins bulging in his neck.

“So stop this mockery and kill me already! I don’t need your pity…”

“Enough.”

I cut off the Adversary’s words and muttered in a cold voice.

“You’re saying if you possess that body, you’ll become incredibly strong.”

“…”

“Stop talking and hurry up.”

Hey.

Don’t you still understand why I’ve kept you alive until now?

The reason I persistently drove the Adversary to the brink of death. The reason I tried to eliminate him through troublesome methods without using the 【Soul of the Sword Master】.

The reason for all of this was precisely…

‘Please upgrade our Strawberry Latte a bit.’

…It was to use the Adversary’s “ritual” in reverse.

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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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