Ch.13The Sword King (3)

What kind of creature was he?

No, before that, why had he become an enemy?

He wasn’t angry about being blasted away twice by someone of ‘the same kind.’

After all, even among monsters, they often fought to establish hierarchy.

But the reason why this horned-masked creature of his kind, whose title he didn’t even know, fought against him…

When he realized it was to protect humans who should be subjugated and ruled…

“Traitor! You damned traitor!”

The Sword Monster roared with fury.

He had heard rumors.

That among monsters, there were some eccentrics who had forgotten their species’ ‘mission’ and joined hands with humans just to fulfill their own selfish desires.

Pathetic creatures.

How could monsters, superior to humans in every way except numbers, lower themselves to serve humans?

But even those would look like angels compared to this one before him.

This ‘traitor.’

“A monster! Saving humans for no reason?!”

“Grrrr…”

“You should be ashamed! If you want to regain even a shred of your tarnished honor, commit seppuku!”

Monsters who joined hands with humans at least had their own purposes.

This one was simply a ‘heretic.’

A piece of trash who, despite having the form of a monster, not only forgot a monster’s mission but stood on the opposite side.

And cutting down such traitors was the most basic use of a sword.

The Sword Monster threw a short wakizashi blade from his waist toward his betraying kin.

Then he said:

If you truly are a monster like me, then ‘commit seppuku’ right here and maintain some dignity.

He gave him a chance to die honorably.

But of course.

CRACK.

“You…!”

The Sword Monster’s kindness was trampled underfoot and shattered.

Because the Horned Mask Monster was actually ‘human.’

“KRAAAAAAAH!”

“A garbage that can’t even speak… how dare you reject my kindness like this.”

Foolish creature.

Stupid creature.

And simultaneously, arrogant one.

How could he act so confidently just because he succeeded in landing a few attacks while I was off guard?

THUMP THUMP.

Just look at how he’s charging.

Like a moth to flame, rushing in without any footwork technique, relying only on brute strength.

“Let me show you, who only has strength…”

The Sword Monster took a drawing stance, mocking those predictable movements.

And simultaneously became a flash of light.

“This is the essence of technique.”

Wolf’s Breath.

Ultimate Technique.

Eighth Form – Stern Father…(Enpu Jia…)

THWACK.

“Kuhak?!”

But the Sword Monster who was flying in fiercely.

What shadowed his face wasn’t the traitor’s blood, but once again that guy’s fist.

“Keu, keueogh…!”

“Grrrr.”

It was a brutish punch without a hint of technique.

***

His movements were incredibly crude.

The movements of a beginner… no, worse than a beginner—someone who had never been taught.

Yet why?

“Wolf’s Breath Third Form – Love and Cherish (Aeji Seokji).”

Even when trapped in a whirlwind of slashes that cut upon mere contact.

THWACK.

“Kuk?!”

He just charges forward recklessly and throws another punch.

“Wolf’s Breath Sixth Form – Seeking Flowers Like Bees and Butterflies (Tamhwa Bongjeok)!”

A thrust concentrating all power into a single point.

A laser-like slash that pierces the heart in one breath, yet he kept charging forward after being hit.

Of course, he was only pushed back momentarily.

There wasn’t a single wound on his body.

CRACK.

“Kuhak?!”

This is impossible…

This is impossible!

“Wolf’s Breath Seventh Form – Sin of the Remaining Peach (Yeodo Jijoe)!!”

I am the Sword Monster.

Once the ‘Emperor’ who ruled this land.

Now a true powerhouse who had even mastered the swordsmanship of the one who once defeated me.

Yes, I am the strong who rule the weak.

I am not destined to be beaten by trash who fights like a common brawler.

So what is this situation?

What are you that you can keep smashing me down?

“Die! Just die!”

The slashes unleashed by the Sword Monster transformed into wolf shapes.

And began circling around the Horned Mask Monster.

These were slashes with ‘intelligence.’

Like guided missiles, these slashes could cut through mountains depending on the user’s ability, and now they had thoughts to target only the enemy.

‘This technique once drove me into a corner in the past.’

Think about it.

Slashes that track you on their own.

Who wouldn’t be caught off guard seeing this technique for the first time?

The moment you try to dodge, the returning slash breaks your stance for the first time, followed by more slashes mercilessly tearing your body apart.

Even the hardest rock.

If you keep digging at one spot, cracks will gradually form until it eventually breaks.

‘I’ll acknowledge your tough body.’

But that ends now. ‘Technique’ will overcome everything.

“Hunt.”

With the master’s cry, the wolf-shaped slashes began attacking one by one.

As expected, they stuck to the Horned Mask Monster as he tried to dodge, and began exploding one after another, shaking the ground.

But it wasn’t over yet.

“Wolf’s Breath Ultimate Technique.”

“Grrrr…”

“Eighth Form – Stern Father, Loving Mother.”

This probably won’t be enough to kill you.

So I’ll specially deliver my best strike to your neck this time.

With that determination, the Sword Monster enveloped himself in the light of a black flash, eventually becoming a pitch-black wolf and charging forward in an instant.

“This is the end!!”

Perhaps the accumulated damage from the still-exploding slashes had taken its toll.

Toward the neck of the motionless opponent…

CLANG.

He finally delivered his ultimate strike.

‘I’ve won…!’

The Emperor landed safely behind the traitor whose head should now be gone.

Though momentarily confused by the opponent’s impossible physique, who was he after all?

Certain of victory, the Sword Monster, as if confirming his thoughts were correct:

“Didn’t I tell you, technique overcomes everything! KUHAHAHAHAHA!!”

He laughed loudly, thinking he had reclaimed his past glory…

No, achieved even greater glory.

A few seconds later.

SNAP.

“…Huh?”

Now that the traitor had been eliminated.

Until he tried to sheathe the sword he had been using.

“My sword… broke?”

I’m the Sword Monster.

But my sword, which could be called my symbol, broke?

This was… impossible.

It felt like my very existence was being denied.

And there was one more truly shocking thing left.

“Grrrr…”

“Wh-what…!”

After enduring countless slashes and a direct hit to the neck.

The Horned Mask Monster stood in exactly the same place, in exactly the same state, as if nothing had happened.

“Don’t be ridiculous…”

“……”

“Don’t be ridiculous!!”

The technique I just used was truly ‘the best.’

The limit point of myself that I might never reach again in my lifetime.

It was the fastest and strongest draw that seemed to transcend that limit for just a moment.

But… you’re unharmed?

Even the Adam’s apple.

The weakness of all living beings that can never be trained.

How are you still perfectly fine after being slashed directly there?

This was strange.

I should be drawing a new sword while frowning at this absurd situation, but.

SHIVER.

A sensation I’d never felt before.

An emotion I hadn’t even felt toward the first head of the Okami family who had defeated me.

Cold sweat dripped from my forehead, and my body trembled despite it not being cold.

My breathing grew unnecessarily loud, and my feet kept stepping backward regardless of my will.

“What is this?”

What could this be?

I seem to have seen this behavior many times in the past.

Yes, I was rather the one who caused such behavior.

All humans showed this behavior and ran away as soon as they saw me.

The emotion I finally realized.

Fear.

Or terror.

“I… the Emperor, am trembling in fear?”

Dying in battle is honorable.

Even when I was defeated by the first head of the Okami family as the Sword Monster, I looked forward to the next time, never feeling fear or cowardice.

But why has such a human-like instinct awakened now?

The reason was quite simple.

What I had been doing wasn’t a noble act like fighting in the first place.

A fight is defined as an exchange of blows between similar opponents.

But did I fight with this traitor in front of me like that?

No, it would have been better if I had.

The logic was simple.

A match between a baby and a champion fighter.

Who would call that a fight?

This wasn’t a fight.

Yes, just as hundreds of eggs thrown at a rock won’t even leave a scratch.

What I had experienced until now was merely ‘abuse’ by an overwhelming being.

“I, I… became stronger than the first head of the Okami family.”

“Grrrr…”

“If it weren’t for you! This city should have been mine again!”

There’s nothing wrong with those words.

In the original story, the Sword Monster who revived like this actually wiped D City off the map.

Hoshino was supposed to live a miserable life as a pathetic princess who couldn’t protect her family, clan, or the city’s citizens.

Of course, that wasn’t the case anymore.

THUD THUD.

“Damn it, who the hell are youuuuuu-!”

The Sword Monster, having lost his sanity, charged at Kang Janghoon with swords in both hands.

Facing him, Janghoon clenched his fist harder than ever before.

CRACK.

Because of this trash, Hoshino had almost regretted her very existence.

Thinking of that child who was probably still crying in her mother’s arms, he felt overwhelming anger.

“If only guns hadn’t been invented, I would still be the strongest…?!”

“KRAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

The swords wouldn’t pierce his body anyway.

He just took the hits while delivering an angry punch straight to the face of the monster who only had a mouth.

BOOM.

Immediately.

The air pressure created by the punch instantly obliterated the Sword Monster without a trace.

Simultaneously, the rising air current that soared high into the sky eventually became dark clouds, dropping raindrops onto the burning territory.