The Strongest Swordsman 2

+++

Unusually, the Demon Lord left her throne and found a hidden room somewhere within the Demon Lord’s Citadel.

Grotesque and densely intertwined vines, like roots or blood vessels, spread throughout the room, absorbing the ambient demonic aura and carrying it somewhere.

In the dimly lit interior, crimson, azure, and violet lights faintly illuminated the Demon Lord’s front.

She raised her head and gazed ahead.

There were three massive eggs, each emitting a different colored light – the sources that fed the vines blanketing the room.

An egg about 5 meters in size glowed red on one side, and another blue egg of the same size on the other side. Between them pulsated an ominous violet egg that appeared at least 20 meters large.

The Demon Lord’s gaze was directed towards the silhouette of a small boy visible inside the violet egg – Satan.

[…]

After watching him for a while, the Demon Lord walked over and stood before the red egg.

She caressed the egg’s surface with her palm, lost in thought.

About two weeks ago, the awakening of the Alliance forces had been confirmed.

The enemy had reorganized their forces and marched again, constructing another forward fortress at a point two-thirds of the distance from the Demon Lord’s Citadel.

Until now, she had remained still for the growth of these children, but the situation could no longer be delayed. An all-out war was now unavoidable.

[It is not yet time, but…]

She muttered.

There was no choice. First… she had to hatch at least one being to buy time.

[Awaken.]

Flash—

The surface of the red egg flashed, and the silhouette within opened its eyes.

The Demon Lord withdrew her hand and turned to leave the room. As her gaze retreated, the egg violently pulsed, seeming to burst through its thin membrane.

Step by step.

Her will, carried by the demonic aura, resounded throughout the Demon Lord’s Citadel as she walked away from the egg.

[Deploy.]

The total war between the Alliance and the Demon Lord’s forces was approaching.

+++

The Alliance’s northern advance proceeded smoothly.

They had pushed forward to the second point and succeeded in constructing a fortress. However, the atmosphere was not so good.

By now, even others besides Doyun could sense something amiss.

They had already advanced more than halfway to the front lines. Yet the Demon Lord’s forces had shown no response whatsoever.

No matter how badly they had been defeated in the previous war, the Demon Lord’s forces could not be dismissed so lightly. This was an evident fact the Alliance had learned the hard way over the past few hundred years.

Thus, everyone could tell:

‘The Demon Lord’s forces are preparing something.’

This eerie calm before the storm was undoubtedly the prelude to a tempest.

The Alliance forces made every effort to prepare their defenses amid the tension-filled days.

The lack of combat also meant that Vyuskr’s power had barely accumulated, which was not good news.

“Loyalty!”

The soldiers guarding the Supreme Commander’s office saluted Dokkomuyoung.

With a nod, he knocked on the door to the Supreme Commander’s office.

Knock, knock.

“…”

There was no response.

‘But he hasn’t left his post.’

He could definitely sense Lord Enoch’s presence inside.

Dokkomuyoung glanced at the soldier beside him, who promptly reported with a brisk salute:

“The Supreme Commander is currently engaged in personal training inside!”

“Were there any instructions not to be disturbed?”

“No, sir!”

Well, then. Dokkomuyoung cleared his throat again and knocked.

“Knock, knock.”

“…”

“…”

The two soldiers desperately maintained poker faces.

“Lord Enoch, it is Dokkomuyoung. I shall intrude for a moment.”

As always, Dokkomuyoung wore a genteel smile as he opened the door.

But the dense mana emanating from inside caused him to flinch and stiffen his expression.

“…”

After a momentary daze staring inside, Dokkomuyoung quietly entered, careful not to disturb.

Gulp.

He regulated his breathing, overwhelmed by the mana that filled the room with an almost suffocating intensity. Then he looked at Enoch.

Sitting in a lotus position on the bed, Lord Enoch was surrounded by a golden aura rising from his shoulders and crown.

Shhhhhhhh…

Doyun was meditating with his upper body bare, revealing his sculpted, marble-like physique.

Beads of sweat constantly trickled down his searing muscles, steaming.

Dokkomuyoung could not help but marvel at the intensity Doyun exuded.

‘Truly… an immense level of concentration and mana.’

According to the records, Lord Enoch had always emphasized the importance of ‘willpower’ in mana control.

And Dokkomuyoung himself, as one of the strongest warriors on the continent, was an exceptional practitioner, especially in mana control.

Yet Dokkomuyoung still could not grasp this ‘willpower’ that Lord Enoch spoke of.

This implied that Lord Enoch had reached an unfathomable realm in mana control that Dokkomuyoung could only look up to in awe.

Watching the meditating Enoch, Dokkomuyoung suddenly had this thought:

‘Mana is the source of all power. If one could wield it as freely as their own limbs…’

Could such an existence be called anything but divine?

Just how far could Lord Enoch ascend, still growing at this terrifying pace?

Perhaps…

‘…Nonsense.’

Dokkomuyoung shook his head, dismissing such outrageous musings. He chastised himself for having such idle thoughts in his old age.

And so he waited for Lord Enoch to finish his meditation.

Woooooo…

Doyun’s body glowed with heat, the golden mana light rippling like a mirage.

The blazing Dragon Heart in his dantian heated the mana. The scorching mana, drawn up like heat from the dantian, gathered in his chest to warm the second Dragon Heart in his heart.

Originally, the heart was merely a cool gemstone, a frozen star that Doyun could not control, despite containing an immense amount of mana.

However, during the previous Demon Lord war, Doyun had ignited the second heart. As a result, he could briefly step into the realm of Level 9 Mana for a short time.

And the sensation had remained in Doyun’s body.

‘I must not forget that feeling.’

Since then, Doyun had meditated whenever he had the chance, warming the heart in his chest to recall that sensation.

His willpower had grown even stronger through the battle against the Demon Lord, and cultivation was the sole talent of this dullard.

As a result, Doyun succeeded in somewhat controlling the second heart.

‘On the battlefield, I can reactivate the heart for a limited time.’

Although he could not ignite it immediately like flipping a switch, he knew it would be possible once he engaged in battle.

Willpower is the most potent driving force for mana control. If he unleashed the centuries-old hatred and rage against the Demon Lord’s forces, particularly the Vanguard Commanders, his willpower would undoubtedly set his heart ablaze.

Doyun was prepared to advance to Level 9 Mana at any time, regaining the output of his previous life.

“Whew…”

He stopped concentrating and exhaled a hot breath, wiping the sweat-beaded jawline with the back of his hand.

As he opened his eyelids, his previously radiant golden eyes dimmed, returning to their original black hue.

‘Level 9 Mana. How long did it take to reach this point?’

In his previous life, he had accumulated mana through repeated cycles, resorting to all sorts of means. As a result, it took 200 years to reach his prime level.

But in this life? With this divine beast’s body?

‘Around a year, wasn’t it?’

Merely a year. It had taken only a year to match the achievement of 200 years.

Doyun could barely stifle a chuckle.

‘Heh… so this is what they call talent?’

Flashes of Vyuskr, Hecleus, and the many other geniuses and comrades he had encountered passed through his mind.

‘The greedy bastards had been hogging all this to themselves.’

Thinking this, he let out a laugh. The remarkable progress in his cultivation put him in such a buoyant mood that he even spouted nonsensical jokes.

Doyun brushed aside his idle thoughts and accepted the proffered towel.

“Thank you.”

In response to his gratitude, Dokkomuyoung smiled graciously.

As Doyun wiped his sweat-drenched torso, he asked:

“What brings you here? The enemy doesn’t seem to have stirred yet.”

“I wished to inquire about something, as well as present you with a gift, if I may.”

“A gift?”

Doyun gestured for him to continue.

“Lord Enoch.”

“Yes.”

“You possess an Elixir, do you not?”

“…Indeed. It was Grandmaster Dokkomuyoung who retrieved the Elixir from the warehouse when I was bedridden.”

The Elixir.

A legendary potion that, upon consumption, perfectly cures any existing injuries or disabilities, regardless of their form, while greatly enhancing the drinker’s potential.

Like the existence of dragons, opinions had been divided on whether it was real or merely a legend. However, its existence was officially acknowledged in Enoch’s journals. And in this century, it was a treasure that had not appeared in the world.

However, when Doyun had been incapacitated after his battle with Verde, he had sent warriors to Enoch’s inheritance – the precious item warehouse.

There, they found not one, but two Elixirs, with one immediately used to treat Doyun.

And the remaining Elixir was kept by Doyun in his subspace, prepared for emergencies.

“Lord Enoch.”

Dokkomuyoung adopted a grave expression as he broached the subject.

“Allow me to ask you something.”

He looked Doyun squarely in the eye.

“If Lord Vyuskr were to face a life-threatening situation, would you use the Elixir on him?”

“…”

“Or would you allow your friend’s death? Please answer me.”

Dokkomuyoung pressed Doyun for a response.