Ch.40The Emperor’s Sword

“They’re coming.”

“Not even a moment to rest…!”

In response to Andur’s words, Theo grumbled as he ran across the golden grain fields. They had changed clothes to avoid being tracked and even split their group into two teams. But it had been a meaningless effort.

The enemies followed them as if they knew exactly where the Blue Wing was heading. Without the slightest hesitation. They had stayed up all night, and now dawn was slowly breaking.

They had sent signals to the Empire for help, but there was still no response.

“It seems the enemy has someone blessed with tracking abilities.”

“Oh no! Senior, don’t you have something that could help?”

At Theo’s complaint, Andur closed his mouth. He too had received the world’s blessing at birth. However, his blessing wasn’t helpful in this situation.

“What about you?”

“I…!”

Theo fell silent. He did have something. A way to overcome this situation. If he used his blessing, he could shake off all their pursuers.

But the risk was enormous. Unbelievably enormous.

‘One of my futures would disappear…’

Theo steeled his resolve. Whether he died here captured by those people or lost one confirmed future, he wouldn’t reach it either way.

Just as Theo’s hand was about to pull on the golden thread, a sound pierced the air.

Screeeech-!

A magnificent cry cut across the dawn sky, echoing throughout the world. The sound was high and sharp, yet carried a majestic resonance.

“… Looks like they’ve finally arrived.”

Theo and Andur looked up at the sky. Any Imperial citizen would recognize it. It was the cry of a griffin, the symbol of the Karma Empire.

A massive bird approached, silhouetted against the faint light. The moment the bird’s gaze—carrying a lion’s courage—looked down upon the ground, a great wind blew.

Whoosh-

The wind changed direction. The pursuers stopped in their tracks as the fleeing Blue Wing slowed down. The faint light of dawn illuminated the griffin’s form.

There was no one riding on the griffin’s back.

Unable to hide his confusion, Theo asked:

“There’s no one there…?”

“…They’ve already dismounted.”

Just as Andur finished speaking, a dark shadow moved faintly across the vast golden grain fields.

As the shadow approached with a subtle breeze, passing by the soldiers of Silverhill territory, countless deaths unfolded.

Theo’s eyes widened. He couldn’t even perceive the sword strikes. The soldiers simply collapsed as the shadow passed by. The scene continued to unfold.

The soldiers themselves probably barely understood their own deaths. Their expressions only changed at the moment they fell.

Thud-

The blurry shadow’s form became clear. With a subtle breeze, a man in black attire appeared. His skin was pale and his eyes were red. The black formal uniform covering his entire body rippled like a shadow.

At that moment, a gentle breeze blew, and a massive griffin landed behind the man.

The man, with his mouth half-covered by a mask, spoke:

“I came in response to the high-priority support request. I am Jerold, Vice Commander of the Shadow Knights.”

Theo stared blankly at the man before him. He had slaughtered nearly two hundred soldiers without getting a single drop of blood on himself. His skill was chilling.

‘He feels different from Vice Commander Kanok…’

“But this is strange. A high-priority support request warrants the dispatch of a vice commander-level personnel. You should know that…”

It was natural for Jerold to be confused. If it had been just two hundred well-trained soldiers, the personnel already dispatched here could have handled it. Just as Theo was about to speak, Andur, who was beside him, stepped forward.

“The enemy split into two teams. The reincarnator went with the other group.”

At Andur’s words, Jerold looked into the distance. As his red eyes glowed ominously, his figure disappeared in an instant.

“He… he vanished…”

“Phew…”

Only then did Andur let out a sigh of relief and slump to the ground. Well-ripened grain scattered around him.

“Is it okay if we don’t go?”

“It’s fine. We wouldn’t be much help anyway. And it’ll be over before we get there. It’s better to recover our strength here.”

The senior was right. Theo nodded and lay down on the ground. His Blue Wing uniform got dirty, but he didn’t care.

“But… are we just going to leave that one like that?”

At Theo’s question, Andur looked at the large griffin. The creature sat quietly with its wings folded, its battle armor gleaming.

“It’ll manage on its own…”

Screeeech-!

***

Seorin and Flora ran through the mountains, breathing heavily. Steep paths unfolded one after another. They leaped over treacherous cliffs and crossed fierce streams, continuing to run.

Their stamina was reaching its limit. Seorin took deep breaths and gripped his sword more tightly.

Splitting the group into two teams had been a good idea. When they had shaken off the enemies, they thought they could catch their breath. But that wasn’t the case. The enemies quickly caught up.

“Hahaha! How long do you plan to just run! Show me more of your power!”

The voice, infused with inner force, echoed throughout the mountain. It was so loud that even small mountain animals scattered in fright.

“Crazy bastard…”

Seorin nodded at Flora’s words. Baron was showing off. If he used his true abilities, Seorin and Flora would be captured without even putting up a decent resistance.

But Baron didn’t do that. He maintained a distance that made them feel like they might escape, giving them false hope. Was it the leisure of a strong opponent, or some perverted taste?

“Flora.”

“… What?”

Her response was delayed. Flora had also reached her physical limit. She occasionally stumbled, suggesting she had injured her ankle while fighting Baron.

“Go ahead.”

“What…?”

Seorin stopped and spoke. What choice would his brother, Seiran, have made? He had been pondering this while fleeing, because this body wasn’t his own.

‘Seiran…’

Seorin swallowed dryly and uttered his final words.

“I’ll buy time here. Go and request support. I won’t die anyway… You heard what they said, right?”

“But…!”

There was no time for a leisurely conversation. Seorin immediately drew his sword. It wasn’t the White Dragon Sword he used to use, but Baron’s sword.

Yet it felt familiar. The memories etched in his mind, the experiences carved into his body, made the sword feel natural.

The drawn sword rotated slightly, scattering blue light. The light of the breaking dawn dispersed along the blade. Facing the incoming wind, Seorin left his final words to his companion.

“Go quickly!”

As long as one lives, opportunities will come. The anger within him burned even more fiercely.

“Looking at you, I understand! Your lightness skill needs work!”

Lightness skill. A martial art designed to run more effectively over long distances. Through memories from another dimension, he understood the concept, but hadn’t inherited memories of specific lightness techniques.

‘He’s coming…’

The sky approached. The emperor’s aura, spread wide, was enveloping the entire forest.

How many moves could he withstand? Seorin glanced back. Flora, who had been hesitating, turned and started running. That was a relief. He didn’t want the girl, who was around the same age as his sister, to die.

With his resolve firm, Seorin drew upon his last remaining mana. Without inner force, he could no longer use the Emperor Sword Form.

Blue mana transformed into a chilling cold following the principles of the White Dragon Heart Sutra. From the tip of the sword, which had been emitting blue light, white frost began to settle.

Swoosh-

A dark shadow covered the light of dawn, as if to obscure it.

Clang-!

An intense wave of energy burst forth. As Seorin felt a wind pressure strong enough to send his body flying and lowered his stance as much as possible, Jerold emerged from the dark shadow.

“Who are you!”

Jerold didn’t answer Baron’s question. His bright red eyes flashed as he surveyed the scene. Two girls fleeing. Both wearing the emblem of the Blue Wing.

Situation assessment complete. It was the shadow’s role to punish enemies threatening the Empire.

“I don’t know which noble you are, but this is a matter within my territory. It would be beneficial for your well-being to mind your own business and be on your way…”

The voice that flowed out was loud, enough to disturb the surrounding air. It seemed he was trying to establish dominance by showing his aura, but it was a meaningless action. Jerold pointed his sword and replied:

“Your death awaits.”

At Jerold’s pronouncement of death, Baron’s face turned red.

Clang-!

Two swords, swung like lightning, tangled in mid-air. Jerold’s sword strikes, appearing as if teleporting while scattering shadows, brought dark clouds to the blue sky.

“Ugh…!”

As the sky darkened, Baron’s face also turned deathly pale. With each clash of swords, his complexion rapidly deteriorated.

The strength drained from his powerful sword, and the emperor’s aura that had dominated the surroundings also waned.

“Co-coward…! You used poison…!”

At Baron’s words, Jerold paused his movements. Then, as if he truly couldn’t understand, he tilted his head.

“You speak of cowardice in a life-or-death battle?”

Just as Baron was about to open his mouth in a fit, Jerold’s figure momentarily disappeared, and a straight, dark shadow was drawn.

Like an ink line drawn across a painting of a blue sky.

Slash-!

The emperor’s head fell, and the blue sky was covered with dark clouds.

“Ah…”

Only then could Seorin breathe a sigh of relief.