Chapter 257

“What is a sword?”

Old Man Baker asked me the day after I had fully mastered the secret technique, Explosion Slash Form.

I realized it wasn’t a simple question.

Because it was a situation that had never happened before in the game.

I felt it coming.

The true secret technique that Old Man Baker had been intentionally hiding.

This question was related to it.

“A sword is a weapon,” I replied, giving a common-sense answer.

“Hmm, that’s right. It certainly is.”

Old Man Baker nodded and asked again.

“Then what kind of weapon is it?”

“If I had to be specific, it’s a weapon for killing.”

“That’s also right.”

Old Man Baker kept agreeing with me.

I still couldn’t figure out what he was trying to say.

Old Man Baker continued, “But some say it’s a weapon that saves lives. That’s not entirely wrong either. A sword is just a tool. It all depends on the wielder’s intent.”

Was he just talking about general principles?

As I thought that, Old Man Baker said in a clear voice, “But let me make one thing clear. If you want to learn a sword that saves lives, find another teacher now. I only know how to kill with a sword. For me, a sword is nothing more than a tool for killing.”

A sword for killing.

It was a fitting sword for Old Man Baker, who had been consumed by revenge.

And it was also the sword I needed now.

Kill or be killed.

That was my situation.

“I understand what you mean. But you’re the one who took me in as your student, even though you’re telling me to find another teacher now.”

“Heh, ahem… That’s just a figure of speech.”

Old Man Baker coughed awkwardly and continued, “Anyway, I’ll ask again. What is the state of ‘Sword-Human Unity’ that people talk about?”

I thought for a moment and replied, “Well, I guess it’s a state where the person becomes the sword and the sword becomes the person, literally becoming one.”

I could only answer based on speculation.

Because I had never even come close to such a state.

Sword-Human Unity and other such profound concepts were only achievable by master swordsmen.

It was beyond my comprehension.

“That’s also right.”

Old Man Baker agreed again.

Did that mean he knew about Sword-Human Unity?

But he wasn’t a master swordsman, was he?

My mind was filled with questions.

“Then how can one become one with the sword?”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“Haha, that’s true. Then let me give you a clue. What did I say a sword was?”

“A tool for killing?”

“Exactly. Now I’ll ask again. How can one become one with a sword, a tool for killing?”

“Hmm… Well…”

I still didn’t understand what he was trying to say.

No, wasn’t the direction itself strange?

I didn’t know much about Sword-Human Unity, but I had heard some things.

-A sword is not a mere blade or a tool.

-A sword is my body and my will.

-To wield a sword is to express one’s will.

Even the way they treated the sword was completely different.

For Old Man Baker, it was just a tool for killing.

But the sword in Sword-Human Unity wasn’t treated as a mere killing tool. It was something much more profound and noble.

And since it was a state of such high attainment, it was probably closer to the truth.

Talking about a tool for killing seemed more fitting for a mercenary who lived and died by the sword.

That’s why I felt something was off.

“Hahaha, is it that difficult? You’re thinking too hard.”

Old Man Baker laughed.

His laughter had a depth to it.

He definitely had his own unique insights.

Even if it wasn’t the level of a master swordsman.

‘He killed a master swordsman. He might not be a master himself, so it’s unlikely that it’s true Sword-Human Unity, but it must be an incredible technique.’

I was certain.

Killing a master swordsman wasn’t something that could happen by chance.

And since I had come this far, I had no choice but to trust him and follow his teachings.

“Please teach me.”

I said.

“Haha, of course. Then I’ll explain it very simply.”

*Clank.*

Old Man Baker drew his sword.

“There’s only one answer to becoming one with a sword for killing. The will to kill.”

*Shiver.*

A chill ran down my spine.

Old Man Baker’s aura had changed drastically.

His eyes, his expression, his entire being, from head to toe.

An overwhelming aura of murderous intent.

It was as if his flesh and blood were made of murderous intent.

Even a bloodthirsty serial killer wouldn’t have such an aura.

‘W-What is this…?’

My gaze wavered.

A monster.

There was a monster standing before me.

A monster that should never be unleashed upon the world.

For a moment, I felt like I had made the wrong choice.

“The will to kill. The will to kill. The will to kill. The will to kill. Kill. I must kill. I have to kill. Because I have to kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Kill. Death. Death. Death. Death…”

His voice was chilling, filled with murderous intent.

I instinctively took a step back.

But at that moment, I realized.

“Death…”

The word slipped out of my mouth.

Old Man Baker was gone.

The sword was gone.

Only death remained.

Two become one…

Sword-Human Unity…

“Killing Slash Form.”

Death severed the air.

* * *

It was as if time had stopped.

Kalkus’s massive hammer approached slowly, like an illusion.

I didn’t breathe.

I just observed.

My entire being.

And I surrendered to the murderous intent.

A sword for killing.

The will to kill.

I amplified it.

I amplified it.

My will.

The will to kill.

The will to kill, the will to kill, the will to kill, the will to kill, kill, I must kill, I have to kill, because I have to kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, death, death, death, death.

Murderous intent surged through me.

Through my entire being.

My flesh and blood were stained with murderous intent.

It wasn’t enough.

More.

It wasn’t enough.

More.

But a sharp sensation pierced my mind.

It was time to move.

I exhaled.

I moved my sword.

The true secret technique of Baker’s Swordsmanship.

-Killing Slash Form.

I unleashed a fatal blow, my sword and death becoming one, and swung it upwards.

The massive hammer filled my vision.

My sword clashed with the hammer.

At that moment,

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

A deafening roar erupted, a sound that defied belief, considering it was just a clash of metal.

* * *

“Dream Moon.”

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

The air ripped apart as her invisible blade sliced through it.

But her attacks weren’t straightforward.

They twisted and turned, like a flexible sword.

It was an attack that made one question whether it was even possible to dodge.

*Slash!*

Blood splattered from Hiresia’s right thigh.

But she ignored the pain and nocked an arrow.

Transformation Arrow.

And on top of that,

-Silent Arrow.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

The sound of five arrows being fired.

But in reality, six arrows had been released.

One arrow, fired silently, followed closely behind the others, approaching stealthily.

Unpredictable changes in speed and a hidden arrow.

Even Natasha couldn’t react to the first Silent Arrow.

*Thud!*

The arrow pierced her left shoulder.

*Snap.*

Natasha immediately broke the arrow.

And then she threw it to the ground in frustration.

“Ha, seriously. It’s been a while since I’ve bled this much.”

Natasha clicked her tongue and sighed.

That wasn’t the only arrow embedded in her body.

They weren’t fatal wounds, but there were arrows sticking out of her here and there.

Her clothes were stained with blood.

“That’s hardly the price for the blood you’ve spilled.”

Hiresia said coldly.

Hiresia’s body was also covered in cuts.

Both of them were clearly injured.

And yet, they were still standing, as if it was nothing.

It was a testament to their superhuman willpower and determination.

“Of course not. But it won’t be easy to collect that price.”

Natasha raised her invisible sword, her hand dripping with blood.

“I don’t care. I’ll make you pay.”

Hiresia also grabbed an arrow, her hand stained with blood.

Just as they were about to resume their deadly battle,

*BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!*

A tremendous roar erupted from the distance.

It was so loud that it felt like their eardrums would burst.

Hiresia and Natasha turned their heads, their faces contorted in pain.

And then,

Hiresia’s eyes widened in realization.

*Tap, tap, tap!*

She ran towards the source of the sound, her expression frantic.

It was a sight they had never seen before.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Natasha frowned and followed her.

* * *

“Ugh… Ugh…”

I saw Kalkus collapsed on the ground, vomiting blood.

His massive hammer was shattered into pieces, its fragments scattered across the ground.

It was the price he had paid for taking the full brunt of my Killing Slash Form.

Even I couldn’t believe the sheer power of that technique.

Yes.

I had succeeded.

It was a miraculous success.

Because I had thought the success rate was less than two out of ten.

And its power, unleashed for the first time in actual combat, was beyond my imagination.

It had shattered the monstrous hammer that had clashed head-on with my sword, and the shockwave alone had turned Kalkus’s armor and helmet into rags.

Kalkus had been sent flying, rolling across the ground.

He managed to prop himself up with his arm, but he was clearly severely injured, as he kept coughing up blood.

The problem was,

“Ugh…”

I wasn’t in good shape either.

There was no way I could use such a powerful technique without any consequences.

It felt like all the energy in my body had been drained.

My head was spinning.

That was the price of immersing myself in murderous intent.

It put a tremendous strain on both my body and mind.

That’s why Old Man Baker had warned me time and time again.

Not to use it unless absolutely necessary.

I had used it at the right time.

But.

‘I didn’t finish him off.’

It meant the fight wasn’t over yet.

I had to admit it.

My trump card had fallen short.

It also meant that my opponent was that strong.

I knew the terror of this strongest dwarf warrior better than anyone.

“Y-You…!”

Kalkus gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up.

His durability was truly superhuman.

His eyes were bloodshot, tears of blood streaming down his face as he glared at me.

I couldn’t lose either.

I was the one who would win this fight and survive.

*Thud!*

I used my sword as a crutch and pushed myself up.

My legs trembled.

But so did his.

I steeled my resolve.

It was then.

“Max!”

I saw Hiresia running towards me from afar, her eyes filled with concern.

Her body was covered in wounds, a sight I had never seen before.

At that moment,

Strength surged through my body.

I couldn’t rely on her again.

I couldn’t be a burden to her when she was already fighting a difficult battle.

I would finish this fight.

“I’m fine, stay back, senior! I’ll finish this!”

I raised my sword high.