Ch.61Cutting Through the Darkness (5)

“This…”

Azest’s eyes narrowed as he examined Garoth Yuris’s curse. Far away, he felt a very faint ripple that made his hand tremble.

A ripple so subtle that no one but him would notice. That power, seemingly blocked by something and diminished in force, was nonetheless so powerful it made his body tingle. Azest’s gaze turned toward the empty air as he realized the direction of that power—where Evan was.

‘He’s realized it.’

The mana possessed by the knight Evan Fried carried the power of a dragon. And wasn’t the Fried family itself deeply connected to dragons from the beginning?

The knight called Evan, who had awakened to that power, could now be considered a knight that couldn’t be ignored even on this continent. The only concerning thing was the darkness felt alongside Evan’s mana. It was different from a dark mage’s mana, but its wild and tyrannical aura made Azest frown.

‘It’s a shame I cannot move.’

He couldn’t move. The curse rising from Garoth Yuris’s body was gradually fading. His job was to continue monitoring the duke’s condition. At this rate… he would likely fully recover in about a week.

“…I hope you stay safe.”

Azest quietly murmured, hoping that the knight Evan Fried would remain safe against that power strong enough to make his body tingle, remembering the favor he had received a year ago.

#

The exhilaration enveloping his body, power incomparable to before. Evan’s eyes gleamed strangely as he looked at the flames surrounding his body.

It was different. He couldn’t tell exactly what had changed, but when he faced his true nature, he felt as if something had broken through a wall.

The mana he thought had burned down to embers now felt more abundant than ever. And these flames, the flames enveloping his body, were different in quality.

‘…Much hotter.’

Hot enough that he could feel the heat despite it surrounding his own body, hot enough that flames rose from the ground where the fire touched. The heat emanating from the pure white flames enveloping his body was incomparably greater than before.

And the power he felt in his body—tremendous power that made him think he might have reached master level—stirred throughout his body. He wanted to pour out this power. He felt the urge to swing his sword and release the explosive power building up inside him.

Grrrr-

But his thoughts didn’t continue for long. Evan gave a bitter smile as he looked at the true dragon, Maloric, floating in the sky.

How should he kill that thing? He didn’t feel hopeless like before, but he couldn’t deny that the dragon’s power was stronger than any enemy he had ever faced.

Whoosh! The flames grew more intense, instantly clearing away the black fog around him.

The black fog could no longer hinder him. When he had cleared away all the black fog surrounding what was once a forest, Evan frowned at the lingering sense of discomfort. It felt as if the surrounding space was disconnected.

All the magical power, waves, everything felt within this space couldn’t leak outside what was once a forest.

“…The black fog.”

The black fog still writhing at the edges—that must be the cause. But he thought that was better. If reinforcements came from elsewhere, they would likely be swept away instantly.

Without at least the crown prince’s level of power, they would have already died in the cave.

[What are you?]

A voice that tore through the air. Just hearing it made his body tingle, and Evan glared at the being before him with tightly closed lips. Maloric, was it? Now he could meet those eyes.

Unlike moments ago when just looking at those eyes made him feel like his breath would stop, he could now directly face the purple flames rising from those eyes.

Evan did not answer Maloric’s question. He merely glanced at the shattered sword that had fallen to the ground.

He thought he’d heard it was an unbreakable sword, but to think it would break so easily. Yet he felt a strange feeling. A sword that responded particularly sensitively to his mana—perhaps he could reforge that sword?

Kwaaaa-

As Maloric drew closer, Evan noticed the hostility directed at him growing stronger. Gripping the broken sword’s handle, Evan quietly drew up his mana.

Thump. His heart pulsed. Whenever he held this sword, a strange sensation would wrap around his body. At the time, he thought it was just a characteristic of a magic sword, but perhaps… he thought the sword might be resonating with him.

Light seeps in.

Light began to gather in the broken sword, in the handle that remained when he thought there was no hope left. Its appearance was different from before. The hilt had become a dragon with its mouth open, and the elongated blade above it was whiter than before.

Like a burning sun, the pure white sword began to shine brilliantly.

‘As I thought.’

This sword was related to blood. No, more precisely, it was related to the dragon lineage he possessed. A sword that only opposed black magic—he surrounded the blade with burning holy flames.

There was no need for lengthy conversation. Since Berman had summoned that thing, he had to deal with that being in this space alone.

KWAAANG-!

Power incomparable to before violently shook the earth. Evan let out a hollow laugh as he saw the ground crack. Just how much stronger had he become?

He felt he couldn’t maintain this power continuously. He couldn’t know the exact time, but there would likely be a time limit like before. Three minutes—estimating the time, Evan stepped toward Maloric.

Maloric also quickly realized that Evan would not continue the conversation. Then he would kill him. He had no intention of being kind to someone who repaid kindness with hostility.

Guwoong- Maloric’s wings trembled slightly as he realized the power in his body wasn’t complete. Perhaps about 50% of normal—Maloric roared at the power that wasn’t properly filled, likely because his consciousness wasn’t complete.

[Damn you all, not one bit of help!]

He thought the summoning was a bit early. But that early summoning wasn’t because preparations were complete, but rather a means to resolve an urgent situation.

Black flames writhed in Maloric’s mouth. Unlike the black flames of dark mages, these were black flames made of mana boiling from a dragon’s heart. It was dangerous. Recognizing this, Evan twisted his body in mid-air.

Whoosh! As the flames surrounding his body spread like wings, he realized he could leap much further than usual. Maloric was thrashing wildly as Evan’s body touched those bones, trying to avoid those flames.

But he endured. Evan gritted his teeth as he drove his sword into the body. The holy flames touched by black flames instantly vanished. Heat so intense it could crumble his body on contact, sweat pouring like rain—he began to step slowly toward the wings without even wiping it away.

He couldn’t predict the direction of attacks. He had to see and dodge all attacks directly since he couldn’t see muscles or gaze.

‘Still better than before.’

Clearly, he had been covered in wounds before collapsing, but the flames rising from his body were healing those wounds. The wound in his stomach had already completely healed. One arm still creaked, but Evan was grateful that his condition was much better than before.

KWAAANG, it was incomparably stronger than bone armor. The quality of mana itself had increased, but not having reached master level, its power was still insufficient to break bones in one go.

Dark threads swooping down, black flames trying to burn him, and bone spikes rising from the ground. In that situation where he walked the line between life and death, Evan closed his eyes.

Recalling his previous duel with the crown prince, he slowly began to feel those attacks coming toward him.

Heightened senses—dragon mana had the characteristic of harmony. It resonates with nature. It becomes one with nature. The blowing wind was whispering to him about the attacks coming his way.

Minimal movement, but achieving maximum efficiency with that movement. It might have looked like he was dancing. Twisting his body, pulling his tensed shoulders to continuously cut away at the wing joints.

Crack crack crack! The bones were still hard. Evan gritted his teeth as he saw the wings, which seemed to melt slightly where the flames touched but still remained intact.

Just maintaining balance on the shaking body consumed quite a lot of energy. Thump, to make his beating heart beat faster. He stimulated his heart’s pulsation by raising mana.

Faster blood flow, more expanded muscles. The heat rising from his muscles added to the flames, making his speed increase even more.

PAAANG-!

At some point, the air began to tear as the sword was swung. One step, the speed of swinging the sword became faster than the movement to avoid attacks, and the flames engulfed the black flames faster than they could touch him.

Things were slowing down. In his slowed vision, Evan’s eyes saw a crack. When did that crack appear? He thought, no… his thoughts were becoming blurred.

He felt as if his body was being smudged. Becoming one with this space, his consciousness gradually became hazy. But his vision remained clear. The trajectory of the sword, like a brush. The sword was clearly tracing lines in the air, using red blood as paint.

‘…Ah.’

Mu-a (No-self).

Forget existence. Forget myself. What am I holding right now? Forget. What am I swinging? Forget.

This time, this action I’m performing, forgetting this black flame covering the surroundings. Focus only on one action.

Cut.

In this space where silence spread, Evan remembered only one action. Cut down those wings. Drop them to the ground. That was enough.

The burning flames emitted an even more brilliant radiance. Not pure white, but brilliant golden flames flickered and began to burn the wings.

[KRAAAA!]

The flames were so hot that even Maloric felt the pain. Black flames that touched the fire faded helplessly. They could no longer withstand the heat.

Crack, when one wing broke, Maloric transformed all his rising anger into magic. Hundreds of magic circles covering the sky—

Flames, lightning, earth, ice—magic containing all those elements poured toward his body, but Maloric didn’t stop. That single thought of wanting to remove the one clinging to his body!

Eventually, the magic touched.

Lightning struck, and heat flames flickered, melting bones. Earth fragments shot at the frozen ice where the melted bones were, beginning to shatter.

But Evan was not there. KWAAANG! Landing on the ground, Evan shook his head and slowly regained his senses.

He had achieved his goal by cutting off the wing. Watching Maloric slowly falling to the ground, Evan slowly inhaled.

Sssss-

‘That just now… I need to practice more.’

Entering a state of no-self. While he could make the strongest attack by focusing solely on one action… it was difficult to grasp the surrounding situation. Just now, if he had been a little late, he would have been trapped in that magic and died.

The being called Maloric seemed unskilled in fighting. Was he flustered, or was he unable to utilize his power because he had just been summoned?

Whew,

Exhaling, Evan stepped on the ground while looking at Maloric again. Perhaps this would be the final attack. The flames were subsiding.

His wounds had completely healed, but he was certain he wouldn’t be able to draw out mana for a while. One minute, no. Perhaps all his mana would be depleted with just one attack. Carefully, and with certainty.

Kuwoong, his footsteps were heavy. If he failed this time, what would happen next? Fear came first. Of course. If he fell here, it was obvious that dragon would head for Yuris.

Whoosh, pieces of clothing began to burn and scatter in the burning flames. Evan laughed at the sight of his pants somehow remaining intact.

Thump.

His heart was beating as if it would burst. As if it would explode like a bomb inside his body at any moment, the sound of his swollen heart echoed vividly in his ears.

The fiercely rotating mana in his heart made his muscles move. KWAAANG! As Maloric, who had touched the ground, moved his body, the earth began to shake.

The ground where his hand swept rose up and began to engulf the surroundings. In the thick mist, Evan moved.

Those eyes that at first only inspired fear—now their positions were reversed. Maloric was afraid of his own death in this unexpected situation.

And himself? He wasn’t afraid. He had certainty. He was certain he would cut down that being and return to Irene. What was contained in the sword was only belief in himself.

At this moment, what he wanted to trust was himself and the sword in his hand.

It burns. Fiercely burning flames began to engulf the earth. There was no longer any darkness on this earth.

Evan had a radiance that shone more brilliantly than the unrisen sun, than any light that might exist in that dark sky. The flickering sword, the burning body, and within it, golden eyes that sparkled toward Maloric.

At this moment, Maloric realized. Perhaps he might really die. The heart that only dragons possessed remained even after death, but its power was not yet complete.

If he had just one more day, or even half a day, he could have exerted his full power. But since he couldn’t, Maloric decided to burn his heart.

Guooo-

When black flames began to rise from his mouth, Evan realized those flames were not ordinary. Breath, a great magic that only dragons could perform. The flames leaking from that mouth would cover this entire area. So he didn’t avoid it. He didn’t change the direction of his drawn sword.

At this moment, Evan thought.

Names to protect.

All those people he had promised to bring happiness to someday, held in his heart. The past he once regretted. The memory of that time when he resolved never to repeat it again, when he determined to protect this time.

The music he played by that riverside where moonlight spread abundantly, the old connections he had let flow away.

He contained them.

Eventually, darkness began to writhe. Breaking the heart, the darkness that covered everything was truly pitch black. In that darkness where he couldn’t see an inch ahead, Evan saw despair.

The past where he couldn’t protect anyone, that day when he was bound by darkness. He felt fear from the flames licking his entire body. He saw what would unfold if he failed to overcome this being.

That darkness whispering to drop the sword he was holding, to give up everything and quietly fade away. Evan closed his ears. He closed his eyes. By blocking his senses, he even stopped breathing.

It was darkness. He might have succumbed to this pitch-black darkness where he couldn’t see an inch ahead.

But everything had an end.

Whoosh, a streak of light appeared in the darkness where nothing could be seen. Slowly, and gradually. Holy flames rising up, devouring the darkness, began to clear away Evan’s darkness.

Regret, he had felt much of it. There were times when he was immersed in sadness, longing for someone he could never see again. But he didn’t want to repeat it.

He recalled the moment when he first picked up a sword to protect Irene.

Magical power that constricted his breath, heat that rose as if to burn him at any moment, thick darkness covering everything, making it impossible to detect anything beyond his immediate surroundings.

The situation was so urgent it would be laughable to compare it to that time, but in the end, his mindset was the same. If he wanted to protect, truly. If he wanted to protect the person he cherished.

In the end, there was only one action he could take. He murmured. Recalling the mark engraved on his chest at the knighting ceremony. The short phrase he had recited inwardly whenever he reached his limit.

“Knight.”

Raise your sword.

Flames flickered from the raised sword. Mana was added to the white extended blade. Long, elongated. Until it could split this darkness at once and reach that being called a dragon.

The flames surrounding his body disappeared. At this moment, he drew all mana to the existence of the sword alone. It rises up. Brilliant golden flames, light that flickered so brightly it made the existence of darkness seem colorless.

The raised sword was heavy, so he gritted his teeth. His tightly drawn shoulder swung, and the light-filled sword moved forward. A long sword energy, a brilliant trajectory like flowing stars was drawn in the air.

[I! I cannot fade like this. I am- I am-!]

He thought he couldn’t fade like this. He was of the great dragon clan, once dead but now alive again.

But to die so futilely? He drew up his magical power. However, his burst heart no longer responded. Because he had forcibly drawn up mana, even the vitality to continue life had disappeared.

The moment that light touched his head, Maloric sensed his end. And looking at those brilliant golden eyes watching him… he quietly lamented.

Swoosh-

It cut through the darkness. A pure white flash that spread at once cleared away the surrounding darkness. It touched the bone, but even that bone shattered. A huge roar was heard.

The dragon’s final death throes, not long. In a world divided into two colors, black and white, only white remained. Shadows faded. Darkness was torn.

…Eventually, light appeared.

When at last white light appeared through closed eyelids, Evan slowly opened his eyes. A faint breath escaped at the light leaking from the sky, not the flames he was emitting.

The dragon split in half. Even the dark heart was split in half, and he could finally exhale a long breath when he felt no more life force.

“Haah…”

The clouds were gradually clearing. The pitch-black sky had disappeared, and sunlight was leaking through the heavily clouded sky. As bright pillars of light descended to the ground, Evan smiled faintly at that all-too-natural light.

It didn’t feel real that everything was over now. Unable to even guess how much time had passed, he gently closed his eyes as he watched the sky gradually revealing its blue color.

Many people came to mind at this moment, but soon only one person dominated his thoughts.

‘Irene.’

Even as he collapsed to the ground, unable to control his body as tension drained away, even as he stared blankly at the sky with his sprawled body, Evan quietly smiled at that face that came to mind.

He had missed her.

So much his heart ached.