Chapter 119
Those who witnessed the mystic swordsmanship of Basel Scott, the legend of the Drason Empire, all said the same thing,
‘It’s as if he cuts through space itself.’ Basel Scott’s sword cuts through anything.
Even the hardest ore.
Even flowing river water was inevitably cut by Basel Scott’s sword.
It seemed impossible unless he cut through the space where objects existed.
Whoosh!
Hundreds of tentacles flew in.
Tentacles were all that could be seen in every direction.
There was nowhere to escape.
Instead of despairing, Basel Scott gripped his sword.
Space Sword
Form 1 – Harvest Scythe
It is a straightforward horizontal slash.
Though swung through empty air, the result is devastating.
Slash!
All tentacles in Basel Scott’s line were completely severed.
He immediately charged forward.
He knew that even this path opened before him would be filled with tentacles in the blink of an eye.
Before that happened, he needed to close the distance with Hemis.
Basel Scott shouted, “How long do you plan to run!”
“Run? This is a reconnaissance battle.”
Hemis increased the distance while swinging her hand.
Black flames shot from her fingertips.
Whoosh!
A small flame the size of a fist.
Its internal temperature was unimaginably hot.
The flame’s mere presence caused the surrounding temperature to rise dozens of degrees.
Even dried leaves quite far away caught fire and emitted acrid smoke.
“That won’t work on me.”
Basel Scott didn’t dodge the flame.
He simply raised his sword and swung.
Slash!
The flame that seemed capable of burning anything was cleanly cut in half.
As Basel tried to pass through the gap.
Whoosh!
The divided flames moved again, chasing after Basel.
Basel couldn’t help but be shocked.
‘How…!?’
What he had cut wasn’t just the flame, but the flow of magic within it.
Magic, demonic energy, holy power.
It was common sense that any magic created by any power would dissipate the moment its internal flow was cut.
“Still a monster, I see.”
Basel Scott channeled his magic.
His magic control technique was near perfect.
Despite his vast magic reserves, only a tiny amount leaked from his body.
Space Sword
Form 6 – Beast’s Wild Claws
Dozens of slashes followed in the blink of an eye.
A violent attack like a beast tearing with sharp claws.
The two incoming fireballs split into hundreds of pieces and disappeared.
Basel Scott continued swinging his sword without pause.
Space Sword
Form 3 – Thorn Pierce
Three sudden thrusts.
Though she dodged the first two attacks, the third was unavoidable.
Slash!
Blood droplets sprayed as the sword energy grazed Hemis’s skin.
Hemis stuck out her tongue and licked the blood flowing from her wound.
‘The wound isn’t healing?’
Hemis’s monstrous body had extraordinary recovery abilities.
Ordinary wounds would heal automatically without any particular attention.
A wound like this should normally disappear in less than a second.
However, blood continued to flow from her arm.
‘Hmm~ Not bad at all?’
In Hemis’s memory, Basel Scott had been merely a youngster.
150 years ago.
Even then, Basel Scott was called a legend, but he fled without even touching a hair on Hemis.
Now that same Basel Scott is wounding Hemis.
And with wounds that wouldn’t heal.
“This is fun.”
Hemis grinned.
Basel Scott’s lips twisted in response.
“Seeing you can still say such things, we’ve got a long way to go.”
“Aren’t you getting too cocky over just one scratch?”
“This is only the beginning.”
Basel Scott kicked off the ground.
Hemis fired magic wildly to block his approach.
Boom!
Consecutive explosions of demonic energy rang out.
The power was enough to devastate the surroundings in an instant.
However, Basel Scott remained unfazed.
Hemis’s magic was helplessly cut down before his sword.
‘This is tricky.’
Basel Scott’s sword didn’t just cut physical things.
It sliced through everything, including invisible magic and demonic energy.
That’s why any magic used before him was useless.
After all, magic was merely the result of demonic energy flows.
Slash, slash!
The wounds on Hemis’s body increased.
Though they were shallow wounds that merely grazed her skin, her dress gradually turned red like clothes getting wet in the drizzling rain.
“Still having fun? Hm? I’m curious about your thoughts.”
Basel Scott asked.
Hemis stroked her chin with her pale white hand.
“I’ll give you credit. Space Sword, is it? While it doesn’t actually cut through space, it’s an extremely advanced technique.”
Basel Scott smirked.
“Looks like you’ve figured out my technique somehow. But nothing changes.”
“Oh my, what are you saying? I knew about your technique from the start.”
“What…?”
Basel Scott’s eyes narrowed for a moment.
Hemis continued speaking while maintaining her smile.
“This is just me complimenting you on handling a difficult technique well.”
“Still trying to act tough?”
Basel Scott shook his head.
Space Sword was a technique he developed by investing over a hundred years after becoming a legend.
A unique technique that no one else could use.
It made no sense that Hemis would know about it.
“Seems like you don’t believe me… Should I show you?”
Hemis raised her hand.
An enormous amount of demonic energy began gathering at her fingertips.
“This isn’t a technique you can use just by pouring in demonic energy!”
Basel Scott swung his sword again.
Whatever Hemis was preparing, he just needed to cut through it.
Slash!
Basel Scott’s sword swung.
At the same time, Hemis’s hand fell downward.
Their sword energies intertwined.
Basel Scott’s eyes widened.
Clang-!
The sword tip was cut off.
The fallen sword fragment emitted a sharp noise as it hit the ground.
“What… Just now…?”
“Well, that’s what I meant.”
Hemis swung her fingernails as if slashing.
Simultaneously, a barrage of sword energy made of demonic energy rushed toward Basel Scott.
Slaaash-!
***
Sword energy flew in from all directions.
Too many to counter one by one.
At times like this, selection and focus are necessary.
Whoosh!
Reidrun activated his magical energy as he kicked off the ground.
Reidrun-style Fighting Technique
Form 3 – Fierce Charge
The Fighting Technique Fierce Charge that Choi Hyun-seok had used several times.
A technique where you run by kicking off the ground and ram your shoulder into the opponent’s body.
However, Reidrun’s Fierce Charge was slightly different.
Cruuuush-!
He charged forward, completely destroying everything blocking his path.
Like a buffalo.
Reidrun sprinted across the battlefield like a madman.
“Commander Herickson!”
“The Commander has fallen!”
“M-Monster… Run away!”
“It’s the Red Nightmare! The Red Nightmare has pushed all the way here!!!”
Reidrun was facing the enemy at the frontline.
Though he always gave his best, this time his determination was different.
‘This air raid is like an opportunity traded for Lady Hemis’s life.’
Even if the future was predetermined, he had no intention of being discouraged.
Through this opportunity created by Hemis, he needed to inflict maximum damage on the enemy and seek his own growth.
That’s why Reidrun couldn’t stop.
Crack, Crunch! Snap!
He tears apart any enemy within reach.
He crushes anyone blocking his path.
“Buffalo. Stop rampaging. Is it your hobby to show off your strength against weaklings?”
The one who acts arrogant claiming to be a hero…
“Hero of the Valteon Empire, Dimos Ketler…”
He wants to thoroughly trample him so he can never speak again.
“Wha…!? What!”
Reidrun approached hero Dimos Ketler and grabbed his body.
Surprised by the grapple instead of a strike, Dimos couldn’t respond properly.
“Die.”
That was the only reason why Dimos Ketler needed to die.
Reidrun-style Fighting Technique
Form 10 – Death Sentence
Reidrun headbutted Dimos’s head.
Splat!
With a bursting sound, Dimos Ketler’s head shattered.
As if a massive explosion had occurred inside his head.
Blood and flesh fragments flew everywhere as his head was destroyed.
Splatter!
Red flesh pieces rained down on the soldiers.
Despair settled in the eyes of those covered in blood and flesh.
“Aaaaah!”
“Sir Dimos Ketler has fallen!”
“The, the hero is dead!”
“Run! We have to run…!”
The fear was so intense that some soldiers even soiled themselves.
However, unfortunately, there was no sympathy in Reidrun’s heart.
“You’ll have to die for Lady Hemis.”
Just desperately.
He simply kills as many as he can.
***
“What a shame~ The momentum was really amazing.”
There was genuine regret in Hemis’s voice as she spoke.
In front of her stood the legend, Basel Scott, in tatters.
“The battle isn’t over yet.”
“You’re saying you’ll continue fighting in that state?”
The situation is clearly overwhelmingly disadvantageous for Basel Scott from anyone’s perspective.
Covered in blood, he kept staggering, unable to properly maintain his balance.
In contrast, Hemis only had one wrist cut off.
The wounds on her body had already disappeared.
Even her severed wrist was bubbling and in the process of recovery.
‘It will return to normal within 30 minutes at most…’
Basel Scott couldn’t understand.
He had cut off the flow of magic.
Once cut off, demonic power and magic cannot move for a while.
That’s why physical recovery should be impossible.
In fact, Hemis couldn’t recover her body in the early stages of the battle either.
“Sorry, but thinking won’t change anything. Just give up.”
“…”
“Still, I’ll give you credit, Basel Scott. You’re among the top five Legends I’ve faced.”
Hemis spread her snow-white hand.
“I’ve killed roughly a dozen Legends… So being in the top five is something to be proud of!”
“I have no intention of dying yet.”
“You know, don’t you?”
Hemis grinned.
“Your intentions don’t matter.”
It had always been this way.
When it comes to whether opponents live or die, the most important thing is Hemis’s mood.
If she wants to let them live, they live.
If she wants to kill them, they die.
That’s all there was to it.
“By the way, where are your other friends? There’s no way you’re alone. You must have prepared something.”
“What are you talking about…”
“Aw~ No need to pretend. I came knowing everything.”
Despite her persistent questioning, Basel Scott’s expression still showed he had no idea what she meant.
Hemis raised her hand and scratched her head.
“Are you really alone? You don’t know anything?”
“What nonsense have you been…!”
Just as Basel Scott was shouting.
A pillar of pure white light fell from the sky.
Kwaaang-!
The light pillar didn’t end with just one.
Kwaaang-! Kwaaang-!
Light pillars continued to fall one after another.
A total of six pillars surrounded the area.
Woong…!
Soon, the holy power emanating from the pillars began to envelop everything.
“Oho~ This is a barrier I’ve never seen before. Is it new?”
Hemis sensed that what she’d been waiting for had finally arrived.
In contrast, Basel Scott still couldn’t grasp the situation and stood there dumbfounded.
“What the hell is going on? Answer me, Hemis!”
Basel Scott bellowed.
The answer came from behind him.
“It’s been a while, Sir Basel Scott.”
“Asahel Bald…?”
The Legend of the Holy Empire Gatren.
Asahel Bald was walking out of the forest.
“Holy Maiden Moriel… Even the Ten Stars of the Holy Empire…!”
Holy Maiden Moriel of the Deusis faith.
The Ten Stars, the ten heroes said to protect the Holy Empire.
That wasn’t all.
“God’s Grace…”
The largest and most powerful military group in the Holy Empire.
The Knights of God’s Grace.
Composed of a thousand holy knights, their military might is considered capable of surpassing Legends depending on the situation.
In other words, the Holy Empire’s greatest fighting force had gathered in one place.
“Oh my~ It’s really crowded here. It must have been hard sneaking in. You could have just come openly, you know.”
Hemis welcomed them as if she had known all along.
Only Basel Scott in the middle looked around in confusion.
“Sir Asahel Bald, what is the meaning of this…?”
The Legend of the Holy Empire Gatren, Asahel Bald, approached.
“First, it seems we should heal your wounds.”
“Ah, understood…”
Asahel Bald extended his hand.
Holy power that could stabilize people dwelled at his fingertips.
“I’ll leave the rest to…”
Suddenly, a snow-white sword formed in Asahel Bald’s hand.
Asahel Bald instantly pierced Basel Scott’s throat.
“Keh, kek…! Keek!”
Basel Scott grabbed his spurting throat and opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
Asahel sighed and shook his head.
“It’s pathetic. Too pathetic. Even though the opponent is a Grotesque Eater, for someone called a Legend to not inflict any damage.”
“Keek, kek…!”
“It saddens me that a being like you has been breathing for three hundred years.”
Asahel Bald swung his sword.
Slash-! Thud…!
Basel Scott’s cleanly severed head fell to the ground.
Watching this, Hemis tilted her head.
“Oh? Is it okay to send him off like that? He was quite useful.”
“There won’t be any problems dealing with you, so don’t worry.”
“Well, it certainly looks that way. You really brought a lot.”
Hemis looked around.
The Legend of the Holy Empire.
The Holy Maiden of the Deusis faith.
Ten of the most renowned heroes.
And a thousand elite knights.
This level would be dangerous even if a Corps Commander’s grandfather showed up, let alone a Corps Commander.
“By the way, did you know we were coming?”
Asahel Bald asked.
Hemis nodded.
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Yet you came on your own feet instead of running away.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell me another Corps Commander is…!”
For a moment, Asahel Bald frantically looked around, wondering if they had fallen into a reverse trap.
“Ohohoho! Relax. I came alone.”
“…”
Asahel Bald looked at Hemis with disbelieving eyes.
“Really. You knew about this situation and still came alone?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“How arrogant.”
Hemis shook her head.
“Arrogance… That’s something that applies to those without foundation.”
“…”
“For me, wouldn’t you say it’s overflowing confidence?”
She was already rotating her fully recovered wrist.
Her appearance seemed not just calm but even comfortable.
She raised her hand and beckoned.
“What are you doing? Not coming in?”
At this moment, the Holy Empire’s greatest fighting force could only gulp in unison.
