HBWnovel Chapter 218: Holy Sword (7)
Chapter 218: Holy Sword (7)
Chapter 218: Holy Sword (7)
“W-what just happened...?”
Zirukan's eyes widened as he looked at the Holy Sword in Kai’s hand.
There’s no way. I definitely stored the Holy Sword in the subspace.
Retrieving an item stored in someone else’s subspace was impossible.
Zirukan’s hands moved quickly to grasp the situation. He pulled out a sword from the subspace he opened in an instant, and compared his own Holy Sword to the one in Kai’s hand with a sharp gaze. He realized a fact that anyone with eyes would see unless they were blind.
The Holy Sword I’m holding is a fake.
The Holy Sword, which he believed to be real because it held faint holy power, turned out to be a well-made replica. Nothing more, nothing less.
... If that’s the case, this is truly a big problem.
For the first time since the battle began, cold sweat started to bead on Zirukan’s face.
I suppose I’ll have to be more cautious from now on.
Of course, Kai holding a single Holy Sword didn’t mean Zirukan’s defeat was certain. However, Zirukan felt a significant threat from the mere fact that his previously 0% chance of losing had risen to even 1%. That meant this fight, which he couldn’t afford to lose, had turned into a battle he might actually lose.
Meanwhile, Kai was observing his surroundings in frozen time.
What is this? Is this an event?
His curiosity was answered within seconds. A knight clad in shining holy armor appeared before him.
—At last, you’ve gathered all the legacies me and the predecessors have left behind.
“... Patrick!”
The knight’s identity was Patrick of Radiance. Kai vaguely remembered seeing him at the Trial of Hanox.
Patrick looked at the Holy Sword in Kai’s hand with a pleased expression.
—The legacies of the predecessors are no longer in our hands but have now been entrusted to you. Our era has ended, and yours is beginning.
“I will listen closely.”
—The path you must walk from now on will be filled not only with villains but also with remnants of the Church of Muldine and the forces of the Demon King. You could prioritize protecting your allies like the first generation, save souls like the second, or, like me, cut down all your enemies to eliminate future threats. Of course, you may also follow your own convictions as you walk your path. The choice is yours.
My beliefs, my path...
Kai stayed silent at the thought of something abstract he had never considered before.
—The Swordsmanship of the Dawn I left behind allows one to summon the Holy Sword upon reaching its peak. That will lay the foundation for the Sword of the Heart you must attain someday.
“The Sword of the Heart?”
—Slashing an opponent you truly resolve to defeat—that is the Sword of the Heart. The Holy Sword is merely a tool to draw out the sword that resides within your heart.
In other words, there was still a long way to go.
Patrick slowly turned his head toward Zirukan within the frozen time.
—It seems we don’t have much time to talk today.
“We can talk anytime in the future.”
—Indeed, anytime. But I wanted to leave you with this.
Patrick smiled radiantly at Kai, his face glowing with a bright smile that seemed to justify his title as the Radiant.
-—You’ve done well up to this point. Now, there are only a handful on the continent who can face your sword.
“I won’t let pride get the better of me.”
—That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. Thank you. Continue to strive forward and protect justice on this land.
With those words, Patrick’s figure slowly faded away. At the same time, time, which had been frozen, began to flow again.
—Hmm? Congratulations.
Cherantia greeted Kai, who was staring blankly at the Holy Sword. He unconsciously sensed that something about Kai had changed.
However, Kai was busy reading the messages that had appeared before him, and had no time to respond.
[Sublime Sword of Judgment]
Grade: Eternal Legendary
Attack Power: Fixed at 40% of Holiness stat
Strength: +50
Agility: +50
Holiness: +100
Dignity: +50
Damage dealt to Demons/Undead: +50%
Ignores durability loss.
Skill Radiant Sword available.
Can communicate with Patrick’s thoughts.
This holy sword was named Prius by Patrick of Radiance, and was used by him.
Composed of holy power, this sword carries the aura of eradicating evil and breaking curses.
“Alright.”
Kai nodded and began walking forward without hesitation. It was an ordinary stride with no trace of technique.
“Argh!”
Yet Zirukan felt immense pressure from that casual walk. To him, the Kai approaching now seemed no different from a grim reaper coming to claim his life.
“Just die already!”
As Zirukan’s desperate plea left his mouth, the chaotic mana around him transformed into hundreds of spears. Each spell was powerful enough to kill even high-ranking players in a single strike.
The hundreds of dark spears surged toward Kai.
Watching the attacks rushing at him, Kai instinctively muttered, “Use skill, Radiant Sword.”
At the same time, the Holy Sword in his hand—the one Patrick had once named Prius—began to shine brightly.
Is this... holy power?
The blade was enveloped in concentrated holy power. The strength it emanated was beyond ordinary holy energy.
Fwooosh!
The dark spears flying toward him lost their momentum before the Radiant Sword.
Kai walked forward like a machine, and also swung his sword like one. Each swing effortlessly sliced through the dark spears, scattering them to nothing.
At this rate...!
Feeling danger, Zirukan unleashed every spell that he could.
“Darkness Fog!”
“Hellfire!”
Countless spells were unleashed toward Kai. Among them were spells he recognized and others he had never seen before. However, they all shared one common trait. They all equally vanished equally before the Holy Sword.
“Ugh!”
In the end, Zirukan’s final, desperate choice was none other than taking a hostage.
“S-stop.” Zirukan extended his left hand toward the iron cage holding Karundal. “If you take one more step, the cage will turn into spikes and tear that dwarf to shreds.”
Kai stopped in his tracks and silently stared at Zirukan.
The emotion Zirukan felt at that moment was none other than emptiness.
Is this how fleeting individual strength is supposed to be?
Just moments ago, Zirukan had boasted his overwhelming power, seemingly fearless of anything. Yet, the moment the Holy Sword appeared, his power truly came into light.
Strength is always relative.
No matter how powerful one was, if the opponent was stronger, then the other became the weakling.
Kai showed a bitter smile as he lowered his sword, looking at the pathetic fall of a once-mighty enemy.
Zirukan mistook this for acceptance, and a glimmer of hope sparkled in his eyes.
Good. If I just keep my distance and retreat...
The adventurer would be exhausted by now. If he regrouped with his allies and launched a counterattack, he could surely kill him next time. This wasn’t a retreat—it was a strategic withdrawal.
Zirukan discreetly began casting a teleportation spell with his right hand.
—Are you just going to watch?
“No.”
Kai slowly shook his head and gripped the sword hilt tightly.
“Don’t you dare move—”
Sensing danger, Zirukan tried to warn him, but he quickly realized his voice wouldn’t come out.
W-when did...?
Slash!
Zirukan felt a rush of dizziness as he stared at the blood gushing like a fountain from his neck. He had no idea when Kai had approached and slashed his neck; he hadn’t even seen or sensed Kai’s movements.
“Well then, goodbye.”
Kai gripped the Holy Sword with both hands and plunged it into Zirukan’s heart.
“Kugh...!”
As the holy power spread throughout his body, Zirukan felt his consciousness fading.
Th-this can’t be...
He couldn’t believe that he, the one who once struck fear across the continent, was meeting his end at the hands of a rookie adventurer. Yet, even as death approached, he smiled.
The Church of Muldine... They’ll face a formidable opponent.
The only regret he had was not being able to witness that amusing sight himself.
With his waning consciousness, Zirukan slowly closed his eyes.
I’m heading off first, Demon King.
And his eyes never opened again.