Chapter 246 – The [End]

Clatter! 

The chains shattered, and the greatsword was pulled free. The remains of the chains that had bound it scattered across the ground.

The moment I drew the greatsword from within my body, I instinctively realized it. Right now, I, my very existence, had transcended all [Law]. I had gone beyond [Law], beyond the very fabric of this world.

“Hoo…”

I exhaled the breath I’d been holding back.

I was holding the greatsword, yet it felt as if I wasn’t holding anything at all.

For a moment, I stared at the greatsword, now completely one with my body.

I saw it clearly. My arm. The blood running down my arm. The hand that carried that blood. The greatsword in my hand.

A shape I’d never seen before.

…It looked distinctly ominous.

Unlike the [End]’s sword, which had a solid, defined form, my greatsword didn’t have a true shape.

A flickering black blade, with a crimson energy radiating from it.

To the eye, a black-and-crimson greatsword. A deeply foreboding blade. It seemed to be a color similar to my [Aura], just as Rubia once said.

That something like this came from inside me…

At first, it felt unsettling, but knowing it came from within me made it seem a little cool.

Still, at least it had taken the form of a greatsword. Not a blade for cutting, but a greatsword for smashing with weight, the kind I liked.

For a moment, I blinked my unfamiliar eyes a few times and wondered: if I didn’t have a greatsword, would I not be able to see? The answer came immediately.

I could see it. No, I”m seeing it. The idea of being without a greatsword is impossible. This greatsword is me, my very self. And I’ve broken free of every restriction.

I’ll always be able to see it.

With that thought, a small smile came to my lips. I was excited at the thought of seeing Rubia’s face again.

I raised my head. I saw the [End] swinging her greatsword. At first, I hadn’t realized it, but now, having stepped beyond the world, my body, my eyes, could see at a glance just how immense the power within the [End] was.

It was a power more than sufficient to destroy a world. No, it was more than enough.

With that power, a city the size of Ursphere could be wiped out in a single blow.

Yet, even facing that strength, I felt, I could do this.

And that thought became resolve: I would win.

While I was thinking this, the [End]’s [Sword-force] was complete. A strike swung from a distance that could never reach me. But I knew what it was, Luchi’s sword.

I moved immediately. Two steps to the left. One step forward. Step, my body, lighter than after the trial, moved with my thoughts.

At the same time, slice, my hair, too slow to keep up with my body, was cut away. And then, I was standing right in front of the [End].

“You adapted quickly.”

“…I”m a veteran at this.”

“Really?”

A conversation exchanged in the blink of an eye. The [End] smiled. She swung her greatsword overhead. There was no process, only result. The strike landed right away, only slicing the edge of her cloak. Of course. By now, her [Ki sense] moved her body with near prescience.

“Then, try blocking this one, too.”

With that, the [End] moved. A single swing of her sword.

That’s what it looked like, but my [Ki sense], my instincts, my intuition, told me this was no simple [Sword-force].

So I raised my greatsword. I gripped the hilt so hard it felt like it might break. Crack. It really sounded like it might snap, but it was fine. This greatsword, I, would never break again. Never dull. Never disappear. I cast aside all doubt. I was sure.

The greatsword responded to me. My soul responded.

Crimson [Aura] surged. I put strength into my body so I could face the [End]’s [Sword-force], filling the space around me.

My eyes darted. My [Ki sense] expanded. My instincts spoke. My intuition screamed. The first attack would come from the left.

Thud. 

My left foot struck the ground. My greatsword surged through the sand. 

Kaang! 

A sharp sound rang out as the [End]’s [Sword-force] vanished. Chains fell where it had been. I reversed my grip on the greatsword. I swung upward.

Chains, slashes, thousands of arrows, spells, shadows, 

With that upward motion, every attack I’d faced until now erupted at once.

Then I turned my head to the right. Twisted my waist. A spear shot by, just missing. I brought my knee up, altering its trajectory. The sharply rising spear shattered. Shards grazed my skin. Blood sprayed. But the path to the right opened up.

I walked that path. It was only one step, but I was right in front of the [End].

I brought the reversed greatsword down. The [End] stepped back. Her greatsword, with a dragon’s fang set in the hilt, was falling toward my back. Instantly, I lunged forward. I dove into the [End]’s space.

A strange light flickered in the [End]’s eyes. In mine, there was only certainty. I gripped the greatsword straight. Turned my foot. My body spun to follow. My arm followed. The greatsword, held firm, soared upward with an unstoppable will to cut.

Toward the [End]’s wrist.

At the same moment, the [End] gripped her greatsword in reverse. She twisted her stance. Her body, which had been facing me head-on, turned to the side.

The hilt became the blade.

Beheading.

The [End]’s guillotine-shaped greatsword fell toward mine.

Kaang!

A sharp sound pierced my ears. Tremors shook the ground. The earth flipped. The sky shuddered. Sparks flew from where the blades met. Sparks became flame. Flame became a dragon. The dragon’s jaws opened toward me.

I responded. I kicked off with the leg bracing me from behind.

My body rose into the air. I pulled my greatsword in, shifting my weight.

The greatsword, suddenly heavy, dragged my body down. Step, my foot touched the ground. At the same moment, I hurled myself forward.

My body moved in staggered, broken frames, and once again, I was standing right in front of the [End]. Far too close to swing a greatsword. I didn’t retreat, I threw a punch.

The [End], who’d been preparing for the next attack as if she expected me to retreat, paused and smiled. There was surprise in her smile, but her response was swift.

The [End]’s knee shot up. Crack, her knee struck my wrist upward. It was an unstable move, but it carried fierce power.

My wrist shot up, and as the [End] lowered her raised knee, thud, she stomped the ground. Black feathers rose up. The demonic energy inside those feathers shot toward me. Between them, more slashes like before raged at me.

I focused my mind. Eyes wide, I searched for a breakthrough amidst the death that filled my vision. Ignoring the hand forced up, I swung wide with the other.

In the wild swing of my greatsword, the light of [Heaven-Reversing Blade] shimmered.

Brilliant light scattered. It lit up the space wrapped in black feathers. The all-consuming light of [Heaven-Reversing Blade], which devoured everything without distinction, erupted.

Everything blocking my sight vanished. I escaped the spot immediately.

Crash! 

The hellfire that shot up where I’d just stood soared to the edge of the sky and then faded, leaving the world scorched.

I drew a breath from the dried, shriveled air. Then I charged the [End] again, scattering my greatsword.

The [End] did the same, rushing toward me with a bright smile and swinging her greatsword.

In a battle where even a moment’s distraction could decide victory or defeat, we exchanged hundreds, thousands of blows. There were no wasted moves in either sword, each attack could have dealt a fatal wound.

And then, a drop of blood shot up, marking the end of that exchange. Blood from the [End]’s neck.

It was a deep cut, but not a mortal wound.

Even that healed quickly, as the [End] unleashed the [Mana] within her body.

Boom! 

A wild surge sent both our bodies flying apart.

Immediately, the [End] swung her arm. In response, a massive gravity pressed down on me, Heinzel’s ability.

The gravity bore down as if to force me to my knees, but I stomped my foot. Crack, the torn-up ground resisted the gravity and shot up. My freedom of movement returned. I used the rebound to swing my greatsword. The [End] did the same.

Light erupted between the two greatswords.

And then, it exploded.

―――!!

A deafening roar shook my mind. A noise no one would believe came from clashing swords. In the confusion where only ringing was left, the [End]’s presence vanished. I immediately spread my [Ki sense].

Before it fully spread, a sharp sensation ran across my right cheek as if hit by electricity. I turned my head left. Crack, a blinding flash pierced my hair.

It hadn’t even grazed me, but tiny wounds appeared on my cheek. Blood scattered. The lightning faded. The light died. The roar faded.

And the [End] was gripping my forearm.

Purple flames erupted from her hand. The fist pulled to her waist was the same. Sharp, blazing violet flames, Hermilla’s [Aura]. Soon, flames enveloped the [End]’s entire body and bared their jaws at me.

Could I break free from her grip on my forearm? Could I dodge those flames? Countless thoughts flashed by in an instant, but it was all meaningless.

There was no need to dodge.

No need to block.

No need to deflect.

I’ll break it.

That’s all I need.

I twisted my waist. With the arm not caught by the [End], I swung. I poured my will into the greatsword that followed her. I’ll break it. Smash it. Shatter it. What? Those flames? No, everything in my way.

At that moment.

Boom. Something ignited inside me. A searing light burst in my mind. Explosion. A massive explosion raced through my body. It set my soul ablaze. But it didn’t hurt. It didn’t burn. Instead, it gave me strength. It added power to the swung greatsword.

An overwhelming force. An almost unbearable force.

I instinctively felt that swinging at full power would be disastrous, so I tried to stop myself. But my body, already set in motion, my greatsword, would not stop.

I clenched my teeth. Roaring as if in agony, I suppressed the force as best I could.

And so, with only a third of its true power, the greatsword rushed toward the [End].

The greatsword, infused with an unfamiliar force, tore toward the [End]. Seeing it, the [End]’s eyes widened. Her lips parted, anyone could see she was surprised, but soon a deep smile spread across her face. She couldn’t hold it in, and finally burst out laughing.

“Ahahaha!”

With that laugh, the [End] released my arm. She leapt back, spinning in midair. As if that wasn’t enough, she immediately summoned her greatsword and swung it with all her might, slicing apart the very space she stood in.

For a brief moment, the [End]’s space was completely isolated.

Because of that, my greatsword only cleaved empty air.

And then.

Half the end of the world disappeared.

No, it shattered.