Swords clash against each other.
A blue Aura Blade and a white Aura Blade collide.
The collision of the two Aura Blades erupted with a tremendous noise and light, like the collision of two stars. Flashing intensely, the amount of light overwhelmed the vision and enveloped the world.
“Huuu-!”
Unoosu’s swift swordplay had no particular style. It simply pursued speed. One might say it lacked history, but that changes when an Aura Master seeks such a path.
An Aura Master is originally a master who has mastered one type of swordsmanship, a superhuman capable of enforcing their will with just a single sword.
If there exists an Aura Master who attained mastery by pursuing only speed, then their sword can be faster than anything else in the world.
Unoosu’s lightning-fast sword energy targets Kail’s vital spots. The reason Kail could barely fend off these attacks was due to his accumulated experience.
‘In the real world, this would be over in one hit.’
Kail sighed, wondering if he had foolishly dragged them into the Demon Sword. What if he had faced Unoosu in reality? No matter how fast she was, she couldn’t handle ten Aura Blades at once.
If he created dozens of Aura Blades to attack simultaneously, even her swift swordplay would have been skewered instantly. Unfortunately, there was no escape from this world within the Demon Sword.
There was only one way out of here: someone had to die. While other warriors each had one of Apophis’ subordinates, the Master himself had entered to face them directly.
‘I shouldn’t have come in.’
If either Kail or Unoosu died, they could leave this world. However, Kail had no intention of dying, and neither did Unoosu.
Thus, the only option left was a life-or-death duel. Fortunately, the situation where their powers were restricted gave Kail some spiritual inspiration.
“Hmm, hmm-.”
“Haaaak-! Take this!”
“Oh, so this is how it’s done?”
As Kail blocked Unoosu’s fiercely swung sword, he began to realize the necessity of swordsmanship.
It was a different experience from relying solely on his overflowing Aura talent, overpowering opponents with sheer force.
Pure advancement in swordsmanship flickered before him.
“Haa, haa-.”
“What? Already tired?”
“You… you dare mock me?”
Unoosu, madly swinging her sword, bit her lip upon seeing Kail, who remained smiling despite being covered in wounds all over his body.
Kail shrugged as if to say, “What nonsense are you talking about?”
“What? What’s with that talk?”
“Show me your true power.”
“I’m already going all out.”
“Just looking at you, I can tell you’re holding back.”
“I am trying my best.”
Thinking there was something to gain from fighting weaker opponents, Kail realized this ability wasn’t entirely useless. Occasionally, he could bring other Masters into dreams for earnest sparring.
However, the very act of such distraction felt like arrogance to Unoosu. For Masters to fight each other with such ease was insulting to her.
“Ancestors, countless forefathers who perished on this land, grant me your strength…!”
Gritting her teeth, she enveloped her entire body with Aura and called upon the spirits of long-dead warriors.
Unoosu’s eyes changed, and ancestral gods flashed within her mind.
With ancestors backing her, Unoosu stood before Kail and declared confidently,
“Go all out, Kail.”
Feeling the mysterious energy emanating from her body, Kail recalled the spell she had chanted and smirked.
“Oh, you. Did you just call upon your ancestors?”
“And if I did?”
“I can do something similar.”
“Bring it out. I’ll wait.”
True to her word, Unoosu crossed her arms confidently, waiting for Kail. Seeing her stance, Kail sneered and began fiddling with his sword.
Since this was his dream world, the appearance of the sword began to change with his hand movements.
“Was it like this?”
“…What are you doing?”
“Oh, I remember now.”
Kail created a larger and blunter broadsword than the one he usually used, placed it on his shoulder, and flicked his hand lightly.
Seeing this, Unoosu charged at full power and swung her sword, while Kail calmly watched the incoming blade and deflected it effortlessly.
Thud! The mastery of the heavy sword repelled her blade. Unoosu glared at Kail with an expression of disbelief.
“You, you bastard…”
“Hey! Unoosu! Long time no see!”
“Kail Maieeeeer─!!”
Possession by ancestors—Chantalka.
Kail imitated Chantalka.
Seeing this, Unoosu flew into a rage and charged at Kail.
“Getting excited is poison.”
Still young, Kail murmured, easily blocking the excited Unoosu’s sword and strongly striking down.
The technique of smashing the enemy while defending severed Unoosu’s body. As she was cut in half and fell, Unoosu still stared at Kail with burning eyes.
“Come, Burny…”
And thus, Unoosu died.
And woke up from the dream.
* * *
On top of the Great Wall.
Yuri, who had been gazing intently at the wall below where Kail had descended, cautiously asked Rizelotte,
“Do you think… he’ll be okay?”
“Why, are you worried?”
“A little…”
“Don’t worry, child. If Kail were in danger, Merlin and I would have moved first.”
Rizelotte said this while pointing to Merlin, who was posing next to her. Merlin, feeling awkward after being pointed out, turned his head away.
Amidst the commotion of whether anyone saw him turning his head, the darkness that had spread below the fortress began to converge into one spot.
“Kail-!”
Realizing Kail had returned, Yuri leaned against the Great Wall and looked down, spotting Kail giving a thumbs-up amidst the fallen Barbarian warriors.
His return meant the Demon Sword’s power had neutralized the warriors. Yuri surveyed the surroundings and issued orders to the soldiers.
“All units—eliminate the Barbarians!”
“Yes!”
Under Yuri’s command, who had taken the position of acting Duke, the soldiers swiftly advanced beyond the fortress walls.
Though she wanted to go down and assist Kail, she couldn’t. She was the acting Duke now.
No war commander ever steps onto the battlefield themselves.
‘…Kail.’
So she prayed he would return soon.
Yuri continued to watch the battlefield intently.
* * *
Emerging from the world within the Demon Sword, Kail let out an exclamation of admiration upon seeing Unoosu kneeling before him.
When he had used it on the Empire’s Knight Order, both Masters and others had collapsed. It was quite surprising that she remained conscious despite being killed by him.
‘Are the Barbarians superior to the Empire’s knights?’
While pondering this, the fortress wall behind him opened, and soldiers from the North began pouring out.
The soldiers that poured out began hunting the writhing Barbarian warriors lying on the ground. A one-sided slaughter as spears impaled the fallen warriors.
Unoosu, attempting to stop the soldiers, was held firmly by Kail and couldn’t move an inch. Realizing this, she bit her lip tightly.
“…Kill me.”
“Huh? What?”
“A weak warrior is unnecessary to our tribe. …I am no exception.”
Blood trickled down her lips. Was losing so unbearable to her? But that was that, and this was this. Kail had no intention of killing Unoosu.
“Whether to kill or spare you isn’t decided by the defeated.”
“You─! Do you have no honor as a warrior!? You insist on mocking me till the end!”
“…What?”
“Toying with my body, forcibly impregnating me, and making me bear children equal to those you’ve killed… Just kill me!”
“No, what is this…”
Kail couldn’t understand what Unoosu was saying. Was she resorting to verbal combat after losing in a sword fight? Trying to tarnish his reputation and wage a public opinion battle?
Suppressing the urge to shut her mouth, Kail slowly approached her. Realizing nothing could stop Kail’s movements, Unoosu prepared to take her own life.
And then.
─Boom!
A spear flew in from afar and planted itself before Kail. Seeing Merlin’s barrier that had blocked the spear, Kail glanced up at the Great Wall.
Merlin gave a thumbs-up as if asking how he did. Nodding slightly, Kail scattered Aura again and focused on the direction from which the spear had flown.
Beyond the horizon, shirtless warriors slowly approached. The warrior at the forefront carried an axe on his shoulder, imbued with an Aura Blade.
Seeing the fierce expression and the Aura surging from his entire body, Kail recalled what Unoosu had said earlier.
─Our generation…
If the tribe had only one Master and one spear thrower, there was no need to mention generations. Simply saying “we” would suffice.
If she specifically mentioned generations, it meant…
“Wow, these guys.”
It meant there were at least three Masters.
Kail marveled at the Barbarians who had unbelievably pulled off a jackpot in talent acquisition.
