Chapter 43

The Swordsmanship Genius Possessed by a God — Chapter 43

_______________

Allen ran, executing his footwork techniques in rapid succession.

He ran and ran, to the point where he wondered if he might actually advance his mastery of the Hundred Lotus Steps.

Upon reaching the Sword Graveyard, Allen shouted toward Lucas and the Lord of Steel Castle in the distance.

“Waaaaait a minute!”

The two looked as though they were about to cross swords and fight to the death at any moment, making Allen desperate to stop them.

His voice thundered through the gorge.

Fortunately, the fighting quickly stopped.

Both Lucas and the Lord of Steel Castle, who was possessed by the Demon Sword,

Turned their attention toward him.

“Hah, hah. Phew.”

Once it seemed the immediate crisis had been averted, Allen gradually slowed down and caught his breath.

The possessed Lord of Steel Castle looked at Allen as though wondering who this fellow was.

Everyone else reacted similarly.

Lucas, whom Allen had been counting on, looked bewildered by his presence, and the other squad leaders of the Flying Sword Division didn't seem particularly pleased to see him either.

The Imperial knights even turned their gazes away almost immediately.

But Allen paid them no mind.

“I'm exhausted. I should've practiced lightness skills from time to time instead of focusing only on footwork.”

Having arrived at the battlefield, Allen addressed Lucas.

“Commander, are you all right? You haven't been injured anywh— Oh, you've got a little scratch. That's unfortunate. Still, it looks like it'll heal with a bit of ointment.”

With so many people watching, Allen at least spoke respectfully to Lucas. But the content of his words was utterly playful.

Lucas, his tension giving way to disbelief, asked,

“Why have you come here?”

“Why else? As the leader of the Flying Sword Division's Second Squad, I've come to help.”

“I'm asking how you knew what was happening here.”

“We can discuss that in detail later.”

Thinking a full explanation would take too long, Allen turned toward the Lord of Steel Castle.

More precisely, toward the demon possessing the Lord of Steel Castle's body.

“So you're the fake?”

Lucas's eyes gleamed at Allen's words.

He had assumed Allen knew nothing about the situation here, yet somehow Allen had already grasped the general circumstances.

“You insolent human. Who are you calling a fake?”

“You weren't what we were looking for.”

“Someone like me?”

Displeasure appeared on Belvemos's face.

The next moment, the old iron sword in his hand moved.

Steel Style, Second Form.

Iron Chains.

Scrrrrrape!

The Lord of Steel Castle's technique, formed from demonic energy, surged toward Allen. Dozens of chains flew at him, leaving no room to evade.

Then—

Crash!

Whoosh!

A streak of sword energy flew from behind Allen and completely neutralized the incoming chains.

Celestial Star Style, Third Form.

Surge.

It was a technique unleashed by Lucas.

“Thanks, Brother.”

“I feel like I've just gained another burden.”

“Don't pretend you're not happy to see me.”

“Watch your mouth, Second Squad Leader.”

The two men's carefree conversation left Belvemos with a strange feeling.

Why was that?

‘How unpleasant.’

At that moment, Belvemos felt an inexplicable sense of displeasure.

It was directed at an ordinary human who appeared weaker than the Lord of Steel Castle and Lucas, and even weaker than the Imperial knights.

Meanwhile, Allen, who had been casually exchanging words with Lucas, turned his gaze toward the demon wearing the Lord of Steel Castle's face.

His empty hand.

Searching for the Demon Sword, Allen looked into the distance behind the demon.

For some reason, the Demon Sword had fallen from the hand of the Lord of Steel Castle, whose body had been taken over.

‘So even if he drops the Demon Sword, the soul doesn't separate from him.’

The fake Demon Sword supposedly made by Renard's father.

The Lord of Steel Castle had lost control of his body after grasping the fake Demon Sword that Vishken and the Empire had been pursuing.

‘He's no ordinary demon.’

Not all demons were alike.

Even a high-ranking demon couldn't simply seize control of a swordsman as powerful as the Lord of Steel Castle.

This was the result of the trap involving the Demon Sword, the castle lord's lowered guard, and the demon's own power.

Whoooo.

Allen's Reflecting Eye examined the Lord of Steel Castle's body.

Within his reddened eyes,

Allen could see two different energies colliding inside his body.

‘His soul hasn't been completely taken yet. It's not too late.’

Allen sent Lucas a telepathic message.

—“Do you happen to know that bastard's name?”

He wondered whether they might at least have exchanged names while he was absent.

—“He's a demon called Belvemos. He's no ordinary opponent.”

—“...Belvemos?”

Allen's eyes turned cold at Lucas's answer.

It was a familiar name.

Whoooooosh.

Rain began falling within Allen's mind.

Amid that rain, Belvemos stood atop the corpses of countless comrades, holding the Demon Sword.

Despite all those sacrifices, they had ultimately failed to defeat him. The suicide squad had fled, and among those who had turned their backs and run was Allen himself in his previous life.

The Third Demon among the Ten Great Demons.

The Demon Sword, Bain Belvemos.

He had appeared here.

‘That bastard...’

Originally ranked as the Ninth Demon, Belvemos had risen all the way to the position of Third Demon after obtaining the real Demon Sword.

Back then, Allen had known nothing about where Belvemos had come from or where he had acquired the Demon Sword.

Unlike now.

‘I suspected Belvemos might be involved in this affair... but I never imagined he'd be inside the fake Demon Sword.’

At first, Allen had suspected that the demonic human he encountered at Renard's forge might have been a contractor of Belvemos.

But after seeing him use the low-level technique known as Demonic Beast Transformation, Allen had concluded otherwise.

The demonic human who appeared at the forge had simply been a highly skilled swordsman. The demon he had contracted with was not particularly powerful.

—“He probably hasn't been fully released yet.”

As Allen sent the telepathic message, he recalled the Belvemos he had seen in his previous life.

That monster had been far more powerful than this. Even without the Demon Sword, he had ranked as the Ninth Demon among the Ten Great Demons.

If the being here were truly one of the Ten Great Demons at full strength, the casualties would never have been limited to this few.

—“What makes you think that?”

—“That bastard just used the Castle Lord's swordsmanship. It's probably because he hasn't recovered his full power as a demon.”

Lucas was startled by Allen's speculation.

He hadn't expected Allen, who had only just arrived, to see through something Lucas himself had only recently figured out.

—“That's right. I think the same thing. That bastard is growing stronger as time passes.”

—“We can't drag this out much longer.”

—“I was about to finish it, but someone suddenly interrupted.”

—“I don't mean we should kill him.”

Lucas looked puzzled.

Did Allen have another way to resolve this situation?

Rather than explain, Allen chose to act immediately.

—“For now, keep that bastard occupied. The look in his eyes is terrifying.”

—“You're the one who provoked him.”

—“Isn't it the commander's job to clean up the mess his squad leaders make?”

—“Don't talk about filth over telepathy. It's disgusting.”

As though he weren't merely joking, Lucas stepped forward with an expression of genuine revulsion.

“Demon.”

Lucas pointed his sword at Belvemos and revealed his aura.

“From this moment onward, I will cut you down.”

Lucas meant every word.

Although Allen had said he had a way, Lucas couldn't afford to waste more time simply trusting that claim.

If Belvemos completely took over the Lord of Steel Castle's body, he would become an opponent that even Lucas could no longer handle.

“You certainly have a talent for spouting arrogant nonsense.”

In response to Lucas's aura, Belvemos also intensified his demonic energy.

Rumble!

Their energies collided in the center of the gorge. The pressure was so overwhelming that merely approaching them seemed enough to crush a person's body.

The next moment, Lucas's figure vanished.

Whoosh!

Lucas's sword energy, unleashed through Behold, slashed toward Belvemos's shoulder. Belvemos blocked Lucas's sword with the rusty blade he had picked up from the ground.

Their exchange of attacks and defenses began anew.

The techniques of the Lord of Steel Castle collided with those of Lucas. As techniques powered by demonic energy and mana clashed, they carved into the cliffs of the gorge.

Every time Allen blinked, the two had changed positions. Their swords moved so quickly that it was difficult to follow their trajectories with the naked eye.

‘So that's my brother's swordsmanship.’

It was Allen's first time seeing Lucas's abilities from such a close distance.

If he could, he would have liked to keep watching. He wanted to see how his brother, who used the same swordsmanship as him, executed the Celestial Star Style.

Unfortunately, the situation was far too urgent for that.

‘I'd like to keep watching, but...’

Setting aside his regret, Allen turned his head.

It was impossible for him to interfere in that battle.

Both Belvemos, who possessed the Lord of Steel Castle's body, and Lucas wielded power on an entirely different level from his own.

But that didn't mean he intended to remain outside the battlefield forever.

‘Someday, I'll stand there too.’

No.

Somewhere even higher.

With that resolve, Allen headed toward the fake Demon Sword lying on the ground.

_________________

Lucas unleashed Rainstorm repeatedly.

Amid countless strands of sword energy pouring down from the sky,

Lucas sent a streak of sword energy toward Belvemos's waist.

At the same time, the Lord of Steel Castle's technique came flying toward him.

Celestial Star Style, Third Form, Surge.

Steel Style, Fourth Form, Iron Flow.

Whooooosh.

Boom!

The rapidly surging wave collided with the Lord of Steel Castle's technique.

As the two techniques clashed, shattered sword energy exploded outward in every direction.

Lucas staggered backward, deep wrinkles forming on his forehead. Belvemos still wore an expression of utter enjoyment.

‘He's definitely much stronger than before.’

His demonic energy had grown denser. More importantly, the Lord of Steel Castle's consciousness had not resurfaced.

That meant his soul had fallen into an even deeper slumber.

‘It'll be dangerous if I waste any more time.’

Sssht.

Belvemos's sword grazed Lucas's shoulder.

At the same time, the distance between them narrowed, and Lucas seized Belvemos's arm.

Just as Belvemos looked at him in confusion,

“Sorry, but I'm not alone.”

Whoosh!

Three figures appeared behind Belvemos.

They were squad leaders of the Flying Sword Division, including First Squad Leader Kasar.

These swordsmen, who represented the Flying Sword Division, aimed for Belvemos's back.

Whooooosh!

Three strands of sword energy flew along different trajectories.

Slaaash!

Blood sprayed from the Lord of Steel Castle's back. All three squad leaders had landed their strikes.

But the squad leaders' expressions were anything but pleased.

‘Too shallow.’

The Lord of Steel Castle's body was literally as hard as steel.

Although they had swung their swords enveloped in sword energy with all their strength, the blades had barely penetrated the skin.

They had inflicted nothing more than tiny scratches.

And that wasn't the only problem.

Riiiiing.

The blood spraying from his back began to swell.

Sensing the demonic energy within it intensifying, Kasar turned and shouted.

“Watch ou—!”

Boom!

The blood infused with demonic energy exploded. The three squad leaders were hurled away, protecting themselves with their swords.

Lucas was also driven backward by the explosion.

Sssst.

A small burn had appeared on the back of his hand.

Lucas stared at Belvemos as he emerged from the black smoke.

‘A demonic technique?’

For the first time, his opponent had used a technique belonging to a demon rather than one of the Lord of Steel Castle's techniques.

It meant he had recovered that much of his power.

‘Could it already be too late...?’

It was then.

Behind Belvemos, who was approaching him,

Lucas caught sight of Allen through the black haze left by the explosion, and his eyes shook violently.

Before he could think about anything else, Lucas shouted at the top of his lungs.

“Hey, Allen!!!”

His damned younger brother was reaching toward the Demon Sword embedded in the boulder.