The Swords I Raised Are Too Strong - Chapter 22
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 22. Aberration (2)
Ghost Cry is an aberration born from the screams of spirits.
But there exists a far more terrifying sound that makes that seem trivial.
Have you ever heard the forest scream?
‘It was probably during Iris Ruzbella’s growth period.’
The moment her [Blood Vampire Sword] evolved into [Predatory Extreme Demon Sword].
Iris Ruzbella herself had reached the realm of Sword Master and was beginning to walk the path of the Demonic Way in earnest.
“Those abominable wretches have hidden themselves in the skirts of the Earth Mother Goddess to escape me!”
Iris Ruzbella’s enemy was nature itself.
The Great Forest that sheltered the elves.
It was the domain where the World Tree, the Earth Mother Goddess who had lived through eons, dwelled—the true homeland of the elves.
Originally, the Demon Worshippers had corrupted the World Tree to create a terrible monster, but I sent Iris Ruzbella to the World Tree’s forest to prevent this beforehand.
“Cruel demon-wielding slaughterer, leave my forest at once!”
The World Tree declared it.
The entire vast forest turned hostile against Iris Ruzbella alone.
Even the World Tree in its uncorrupted state was formidable.
The ages the Earth Mother Goddess had lived became her experience, making things difficult for Iris Ruzbella.
At that time, Iris Ruzbella could not cut down everything.
Swooooooosh———.
The entire forest resonated, driving out Iris Ruzbella’s demons.
The thunderous cry brimming with the life of primordial nature symbolized sanctity itself, so the demons vanished without resistance.
The demons at that time were merely summoned creatures, numbering only a hundred.
―Demons are but extensions of me. Old tree, become nourishment for me!
Iris Ruzbella fought alone.
She set the forest ablaze and hacked the trees to pieces.
Yet that was all.
Because the World Tree, the source of life, existed, nature endlessly shared its power and regenerated.
Around the tenth attempt, I found the answer.
‘What if the demons consumed sound itself?’
Even the sounds of nature must have a source.
I used the [Advice] system to inform Iris Ruzbella of this possibility.
“Sword, what do you mean by having the demons devour sound?”
This was before she began calling herself a ‘girl.’
I was still an adolescent then.
“Devour, to consume….”
In any case, Iris Ruzbella achieved enlightenment on her own at that moment.
“Sound is formless. If I teach the demons the power to cut the formless? Hahaha! I am a genius.”
In the end, Iris Ruzbella annihilated the elves and consumed the Earth Mother Goddess.
She gave the entire Eastern Great Forest as sustenance for the demons.
Thus, she laid the foundation for my build—the [Million Demons] legion.
‘Iris Ruzbella, who cuts through anything, and the demon, who devours anything.’
And now.
Ghost Cry in Gwacheon.
Having drawn [2nd Sword, Iris Ruzbella], I passed through the corridor opened by the Aga Sword, enveloped in a sense of omnipotence.
I had infiltrated a [Black Gate] not yet revealed to the world.
Keeeeeeee—————.
A chilling sound greeted me first.
And then―.
Whoosh!
[You have entered Ghost Cry.]
The information about this place appeared a step too late.
I expanded my perception using a transcendent’s awareness.
The world of spirits shrouded in violet mist became vividly apparent.
This place was filled with screams, death, and spirits.
A land where humans cannot survive.
Keeeeee————.
In particular, that horrific sound like metal scraping against steel stood out distinctly.
In other words, the very essence of this entire space was sound.
‘That’s why memories with Iris Ruzbella came to mind.’
The World Tree was nature.
Ghost Cry, on the other hand, was spirits.
Though their natures were opposite, they shared the similarity of attacking intruders through sound.
Keeeeee————!!!
Ghost Cry—literally, the screams emitted by spirits.
Following those screams, an intense force seeking to annihilate me spread outward.
‘If the Gate appears and this scream spreads across the world―.’
If Ghost Cry fully revealed itself, ordinary people would undoubtedly go mad.
Even now, property values in Seocho District were plummeting; that entire area would become uninhabitable.
Of course, I suffered no damage.
To one who has transcended, such things mean nothing.
The same held true for Iris Ruzbella.
Swooosh―.
The crimson greatsword in my hand scattered the blood mist.
A red sphere enveloped my body.
To protect me.
Naturally, this was not power I wielded―.
【Just as you protected the girl through your sword, Master, now I shall protect you!】
Iris Ruzbella was expressing her joy to me.
Even amidst this, Ghost Cry’s screams grew louder, tightening their grip around me.
I waited without worry for Iris Ruzbella’s next words.
【So you fulfilled the girl’s revenge… for the sake of days like these we could spend together.】
I had no such intention back then.
I simply became overly invested in her, abandoned by family and rejected by the world.
‘I won’t explain myself.’
However, unlike with Reinhardt Euclid, I chose silence.
Flexible responses suited to the right moment and place were necessary.
Each of my swords was far from ordinary, after all.
Small talk was enough at this point.
I nodded appropriately and spoke.
“Consume it.”
With those words.
Boom———.
The world stopped.
Or rather, it felt as though it had stopped.
[5/100]—five seconds of omnipotence.
Already one second had been consumed in idle conversation, leaving four seconds remaining.
Dividing and subdividing that time eventually became an eternity.
Such was my transcendent perception.
‘Time overflowing abundantly.’
Massive monsters began appearing above the crimson veil surrounding my body.
A summoning of a million demons.
Enormous heads with gaping maws split horizontally across their faces.
The demons opened their jaws wide.
Crunch———.
Crude yet colossal teeth gnashed through empty air.
They devoured the screams of spirits.
Uuuuaaahhhhh————!!!!
The demons roared.
Then they began devouring everything that composed this space.
Sound, mist, the shadows of spirits, terrain and landscape—everything, down to the faintest presence or trace.
【Ah… the demons are sending their power to the girl.】
Originally, in [Sword Cultivation], the [Abyss] had rules or conditions for clearing.
It was similar to the Quest that appeared to eliminate the source for the complete annihilation of the [Red Sea].
‘What’s the difference between Black and Red?’
Until recently, all Gates on Earth were Red.
Now that I’d experienced it firsthand, they felt similar.
The Red Sea was also a type of phenomenon, just like the screams of Ghost Cry.
As for the differences…
‘Difficulty.’
The Red Sea had begun as a small ocean.
That was raised by Gye Man-hwi, the patriarch of the Gaecheon Faith.
This Ghost Cry naturally possessed an enormous scale.
In other words, a Black Gate could be considered a superior version of a Red Gate.
‘What… that has nothing to do with me.’
The level of Gates held no meaning for me whatsoever.
Much less did I need to concern myself with their rules and patterns.
The Second Sword, Iris Ruzbella, possessed the power to sever all things and the power to consume all things—utterly disregarding such rules and order.
Naturally, I had deliberately cultivated her to be this way.
‘My other swords are similar.’
My swords could ignore all laws granted by Gates and slay every aberration and monster that had eroded reality.
Which meant I could do the same.
There was one regrettable thing, however―.
‘Demon Worshippers.’
I understood the Gate’s transformation.
Unfortunately, I had no information regarding the Demon Worshippers.
All I knew was that they wielded power upon falling into corruption?
To investigate them, I had no choice but to move with my own two feet.
Just as I had discovered the Black Gate.
Still, I harbored no worries.
‘The Aga Sword.’
I possessed one more small, precious blade brimming with infinite potential.
The power of [Chaos].
The abilities revealed thus far were―.
【The power to tear space asunder and forge a path to locations of differing phases.】
That was all.
As I cultivated this Aga Sword and discovered new builds, perhaps one day I would obtain boundless power whose depths could never be fathomed.
—————.
Silence descended upon Ghost Cry.
A perfect void of sound.
All directions fell quiet as if nothing had ever existed.
And four seconds passed.
【I shall grow splendidly and eagerly await the day I face you once more, Master.】
With Iris Ruzbella’s parting words, the form of the crimson greatsword vanished.
The small, precious Aga Sword rested in my hand.
And….
Whoosh!
[You have cleared the Black Gate.]
[Level Up!!! 4→5]
[The Aga Sword’s trait has not been selected.]
[Select a trait and unlock a new ability.]
A message materialized before my eyes.
Because the balance of good and evil had shattered, I hadn’t yet selected a trait for the Aga Sword.
I quickly examined the sword’s available traits.
———————
Traits.
1. Time.
2. Space.
———————
When the balance of good and evil had tilted toward [Good], traits like [Path of Sanctity] had emerged, but now that I maintained a perfect 50:50 equilibrium, traits befitting the Aga Sword had appeared.
‘Time or space.’
If I chose time, I could utilize my second-by-second omnipotence far more efficiently.
If I chose space?
‘I’m uncertain.’
The chaos of the Aga Sword could already cleave through space.
For that reason, I selected [Time].
Making my second-by-second omnipotence more efficient seemed the more pressing priority.
Yet, rendering my deliberation meaningless―.
A brilliant flash erupted.
[5Lv Privilege: Please select a trait for the Aga Sword.]
The moment I completed my deferred choice, another opportunity was granted.
———————
Traits.
1. Space.
———————
Ironically, only [Space] remained this time.
I selected the Aga Sword’s trait.
Thus I had obtained two traits: time and space.
‘Chaos, a holy demonic blade, and time and space….’
Was I being urged to wield some technique of spacetime severance?
Though questions abounded, I would come to understand these new powers in due course, and now it was time to claim the rewards of the [Black Gate].
A resonant hum filled the air.
A vast plaza materialized before me.
Despite having vanquished Ghost Cry, that distinctly Korean abomination, the plaza evoked the sensation of medieval Europe.
Rough yet orderly brown brick.
And at its center, an altar.
A deep thrumming emanated from it.
Upon the altar gleamed a fragment of stone radiating with five-colored brilliance.
Mystery itself.
Yet….
‘Why is there so much of it?’
While not as pure as the ingots I’d obtained from the Red Sea, the quantity was substantial enough to appear to weigh at least 500 grams.
I could sell it for an astronomical price, and the applications for my own use were boundless—yet I couldn’t bring myself to rejoice.
‘The appearance of Black has increased the mystery surrounding this world?’
It felt like an omen that the world ahead would become far more desolate and harsh.
* * *
One undergoes bizarre and uncanny experiences.
One overcomes them.
These are the awakening conditions everyone knows.
—Is it true that Ghost Cry has stopped?
And those bizarre and uncanny phenomena sometimes became monsters invading reality itself.
Among them, what was considered particularly uncanny was erosion without a Gate, much like Ghost Cry.
But….
—Gwacheon is actually completely silent?
—Is Seocho District skyrocketing?
—Seoul National University will rise again.
Within mere hours of Shin Si-woo heading toward Ghost Cry, changes began to unfold.
The culprit that had reduced the prestige of South Korea’s number-one university, Seoul National University, to ruins was the 【Ghost Cry】 that had consumed the Gwacheon and Gwanak Mountain regions.
It had vanished.
In mere hours, no less.
【An official government announcement will be made. The bizarre phenomenon, ‘Ghost Cry,’ which had eroded the Gwacheon and Gwanak Mountain regions, has been officially eliminated.】
Erosion without a Gate.
The uncanny phenomenon had disappeared.
South Korea descended into a frenzy of excitement.
—Insane!!! Even Patriot couldn’t eliminate it, so how did they manage this?
—Let’s normalize Seoul real estate prices!!
Beginning with citizens who owned property in Gwacheon and Seocho District―.
—Can a 15-billion-won apartment be restored?
—I bought at the peak and there’s no way out!!! The bank’s network has been transferred to WorldNet, so I have to pay off all my debts….
Residents of Jamsil Lotte Tower, which had transformed into a dragon’s lair.
—Can we prevent erosion at the 38th Parallel?
Residents of Gangwon Province, suffering from the polluted monsters China was releasing across the 38th Parallel.
—Can we finally go home?
—Can Jeonju in Jeolla Province also be saved?
—Videos are still being uploaded to the Jeolla Man channel… There are survivors here!!!
—Please save Jeonju first!!
Even residents of Jeonju in North Jeolla Province, a city engulfed in darkness.
All were filled with hope.
Soon, that hope spread beyond Korea to the entire world.
Had they truly ended erosion without a Gate?
Even Jesus could not accomplish such a feat.
—Is he really not a god?
—He’s already brothers with Jesus.
—He even fixed baldness.
—That’s totally Si-woo!!!
* * *
Immediately after I dealt with Ghost Cry, Director Kang Mu-jin and President Lee Seok-hyun summoned me.
The moment I crossed through Hyunmu’s gate, the presidential office materialized before me.
“With this, we should be able to reclaim a substantial portion of the territory we’d abandoned.”
“Si-woo, you are the hope of this nation!”
Both men spoke while gazing at me.
Their eyes held a depth far beyond that of parents looking upon their grown children.
Especially President Lee Seok-hyun—his gaze carried a subtle, unsettling fervor.
‘He’s grown quite a bit.’
Though still downy, the president’s previously sparse crown had become considerably fuller.
The [Supreme Celestial Cradle] I’d woven across all of South Korea.
Its effects continued to manifest.
“It truly feels like a miracle from God.”
The president, noticing my gaze, spoke with an embarrassed expression.
A miracle from God.
That wasn’t exactly a phrase I welcomed.
—Ego Sword Summoning (Authority):
[Communication Ability] [Sword Master’s Dominion]
1st Sword, Reinhardt Euclid. [4/100]
2nd Sword, Yulia Lanestia. [10/100]
3rd Sword, Jun. [0/100]
4th Sword, Muratan. [0/100]
5th Sword, Iris Ruzbella. [8/100]
6th Sword, Bellatrice. [0/100]
When I devoured Ghost Cry, I transferred all my power to Iris.
Iris’s manifestation index, which had been at 5, grew to 8.
I thought there’d be no need to worry thanks to the sacred power that accumulated with every breath, but…
“Everyone keeps deifying me. Can’t you stop that?”
With the entire nation talking only about me, [Infinite Sanctity] and [Holy Body] respond accordingly.
Yulia’s index keeps rising, and I’m worried the balance of good and evil in the Aga Sword will collapse again.
“Si-woo, think about what you’ve done,” Kang Seol-ah said calmly, standing steadily beside me.
“You handled the Red Sea flooding and became Jesus’s brother. Because of that, we’ve become the United States’s first ally since the Gate incident, haven’t we?”
“….”
I couldn’t deny it—I’d accomplished too much.
It seems I’ll need to keep feeding something evil to the Aga Sword to maintain the proper balance.
It seems I’ll have to keep feeding something evil to the Aga Sword to balance out the good and evil ratio.
“So what’s the real matter?”
The fact that Hyunmu had summoned me using their official seal meant something serious was afoot.
Seol-ah began explaining naturally in response to my question.
I couldn’t hide my shock at what she said.
The government had resolved a problem that had been frustrating me all along.
“You’re saying you’ve captured a Demon Worshipper alive?”
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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