Ch.278278. Convergence (3)

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A slash. The act of swinging a sword to strike an opponent.

Perhaps this is an action that has accompanied humanity and its history since weapons were first invented. Throughout history, there must have been as many people performing similar actions as there are grains of sand on a beach.

And among them.

Those who could do something similar to that are either non-existent or can be counted on one’s fingers.

The feeling that when the act of cutting an opponent with a sword reaches its extreme, it can reach that level.

-!!

-!!!!

Seeing the predator being split in two by a sword strike that descended with such force it seemed to burn the very air, I can’t help but click my tongue.

‘…Wow, insane.’

I’m truly fortunate that I’m not the target of such an attack.

“Wait, no matter how powerful it is, if it takes that kind of attack, it will split…!”

Serath opened his mouth in shock, but.

Somehow, before he could finish his sentence, “flames” suddenly erupted from the cut surface.

“This way it doesn’t split.”

“…”

How did you do that?

Flames erupting from the cut surface with a time delay?

What’s even more absurd is that it actually doesn’t split after taking that hit.

The Sword Saint shrugged at Serath, who had fallen silent, and trudged toward us.

Well.

He just came back after single-handedly slicing up targets similar to or larger than the predator’s split form that fell on our side.

“…You really arrived right on time.”

I say while checking my wristwatch.

I had estimated how many minutes it would take him to arrive when the boss battle started, but it’s ridiculous how he showed up exactly as predicted, with only seconds of error.

“Are you alright? You weren’t caught in the attack just now, were you? I did control my power…”

“…Control your power?”

That was controlling his power?

But the Sword Saint responded to my reaction with a surprised voice.

“Of course I had to. Is there any reason to kill everyone here?”

“…”

Sadly, this doesn’t even feel like showing off. It just feels like a calm statement of fact.

As I sigh at this realization, Victoria calls out to me urgently from the side.

“Thanks to you, that thing isn’t dead yet, you idiot!”

“…”

What kind of abuse is that, Victoria?

But her words aren’t exactly lies, as the predator that was hit by the Sword Saint’s attack has started to twitch again.

“…It’s still alive after that?”

The Sword Saint mutters in disbelief as he prepares another strike, but I raise my hand to stop him.

“You…?”

“No. Would you leave the finishing blow to us?”

“…If it survived that attack, it’s too much for your level. I should finish it myself-“

“No.”

I shake my head firmly.

I promised these guys.

That I’d at least let them kill their enemy with their own hands.

“But-“

“You just showed us.”

I sigh and continue speaking to the Sword Saint who tries to object again.

“An attack that definitely works on that thing.”

Originally.

When I said I needed ‘one powerful, heavy blow,’ it was because I needed to see it with my own eyes.

I collect the purple demonic energy rising from Victoria and Serath with my seal. The effect is ‘amplification.’

And then.

My ‘black demonic energy’ from the seal mixes with it.

“…!”

“…!”

Victoria and Serath both turn to me with surprised eyes.

They probably instinctively realized what this demonic energy is doing to them.

Despite the impact of what I’ve done at the school festival and on battlefields before.

‘Subduing’ people is not the ‘power’ given to me.

The special ability that demons typically possess. I didn’t have one yet.

And as you can tell from my use of past tense.

As my seal level increased, I became able to imitate ‘fragments’ of it.

This is one of them.

I take a deep breath and recall the scene I just witnessed.

What I’m trying to ‘copy’ is.

The sword path that the Sword Saint just demonstrated right before my eyes.

I ‘inject’ it directly into Serath and Victoria.

They’re both assassins who have reached mastery. They should be able to imitate the power of that strike, if not perfectly, then at least similarly.

And with that, I activate my searching eye.

Finding the most vulnerable part of the opponent.

“Vital point.”

I guide Serath and Victoria toward it.

“Strike.”

The next moment.

“What-“

Just as the Sword Saint’s jaw drops.

Victoria and Serath’s bodies shot forward like arrows.

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Dust settles all around.

It’s not as powerful as the Sword Saint’s slash that felt like it could tear the world apart, but there are twice as many attacks here. It’s definitely an explosive level of attack.

And the predator that was hit by it is clearly not in its original form.

“…Did we get it?”

I smack the back of Victoria’s head with full force as she mutters those words.

“…”

“…”

“…”

Not just Victoria who got hit, but Serath and the Sword Saint also look at me in silence.

Victoria, who was dazedly rubbing the back of her head where she was hit, soon starts trembling.

Tears even form slightly in her eyes.

“…Why, why…?”

She was probably going to ask why I suddenly hit her, but before she could finish, my voice dropped coldly.

“You deserve to be hit for saying something like that.”

“…”

Instead of answering her look that seemed to say ‘what crazy nonsense is this,’ I anxiously examine the predator that took the attack.

I hope not, but still…!

“…Got it good.”

I breathe a sigh of relief seeing the predator showing no further movement.

Seriously, I was terrified when she started chanting that magical spell that could revive the dead.

“…Darwood Campbell.”

As I’m thinking this, the Sword Saint walks up to me and firmly grabs my shoulder.

“That just now, it was the attack I just performed, wasn’t it?”

“…”

“…How did you do it?”

Well.

To explain that, I’d first have to tell you that I’ve stepped far beyond humanity into the realm of demons.

“…It turns out I can do various things.”

Since I can’t explain it straightforwardly, I give a vague answer.

“Actually, I might have an incredible talent for martial arts that allows me to copy movements after seeing them once-“

“Even someone like that couldn’t ‘copy’ it onto others just like that.”

“…”

“…What kind of ability do you possess?”

The Sword Saint asked with a furrowed brow.

“Being able to copy an ability you’ve seen once and inject it into everyone near you.”

He paused briefly, then continued with an expression of disbelief.

“…That sounds like you can strengthen yourself and your ‘forces’ almost infinitely.”

“…”

Well, that’s true.

The essence of the ‘power’ I received is so absurd that it seems like it was designed specifically for that purpose.

But right now, there’s something more urgent.

“…I don’t think this is the time for leisurely conversation.”

I sigh as I say this, and simultaneously.

“There’s still an ‘enemy’ remaining.”

Following that.

The Sword Saint instinctively drew his sword, startled by the powerful aura felt from behind.

“…!”

Though he immediately froze upon seeing who was approaching from behind.

“Your Majesty…?!”

The Sword Saint exclaimed in a surprised voice as he saw the figure slowly walking toward us.

As he said, it’s His Majesty the Emperor. But his condition is clearly abnormal to anyone who looks.

He walks as if all the joints in his body are creaking, like a marionette handled by a terrible puppeteer. There’s no light in his eyes either. As if none of his personality remains.

This behavior clearly shows that he’s being controlled by ‘something else,’ not himself.

However.

Regardless of that, everything touched by the aura emanating from every part of the Emperor’s body begins to rot and wither.

It’s the Brown Demon’s power of ‘decay.’

“…”

I heave a deep sigh inwardly.

Ah, yes.

Welcome, chapter boss.

“What is that…!”

“Darwood, what on earth is that?!”

Serath and Victoria also exclaim in confusion at the brown energy spreading around, but.

Instead of answering, I silently stare at my wristwatch.

Let’s see.

The ‘others’ should be arriving soon…

“The Sword Saint is already here, what else are you waiting for?!”

I heard Victoria’s voice, filled with frustration, but.

There is.

Someone who will definitely come here.

As I’m thinking this while looking at my watch.

The voice I’ve been waiting for falls around us.

[And so I beseech thee.]

[And so I beseech thee.]

【May it be in proper order】

Looking at the brown energy dispersing with those sentences, I smile wryly.

See.

He’s coming.

“Hey.”

With those words, I look at the water-filled swallow-like fellow dropping from above with a grin.

Talker. The speech sorcerer. His name is Seonhwa-ryun.

“Looking bright, Black Demon?”

“…Please cut the useless talk, Talker.”

Next to him descends the closest aide of the ‘Luminary.’

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The Luminary walked up to me and silently looked at me.

“…What?”

“…What what.”

I respond with a frown to this person who opens the conversation with strange words.

The Luminary tilted his head slightly and continued.

“Is that all the reaction I get after not seeing you for so long?”

“…We’re not exactly on friendly greeting terms.”

“I thought you’d at least show some surprise?”

“…”

Well.

To be honest, I had a hunch this guy would show up around now.

I had no evidence or proof, but he always appeared whenever something big like this happened.

“Hey. Let’s get one thing straight.”

“…Yes?”

“I really need to ask this before I go. If I want to survive what comes next.”

Actually, I’ve only had suspicions until now, with nothing concrete.

But seeing this guy drop in out of nowhere after being silent all this time, it’s almost confirmation.

There were quite a few paths to this conclusion, but the most important thing first.

“You like me, don’t you?”

“…”

I probably couldn’t see it clearly because of the mask.

But underneath, the Luminary’s eyes must be wide open—that’s obvious without seeing.

“Help me out.”

“…”

“I’ll repay you handsomely.”

“…”

Seeing the Luminary unable to follow the topic, I tilt my head, thinking my explanation might have been insufficient.

“I’ll do lewd things for you.”

“…”

“Help me-“

“…Shut your damn mouth, you crazy bastard.”

“…”

Why are you cursing and making a fuss?

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