357th Chapter
“…”
The heart of the Empire collapsed.
Amidst the torn debris, a scorching storm raged.
The surviving citizens of the Empire were forced to face an utterly devastating and unbelievable scene.
Countless materials, structures, and lives had vanished in an instant.
The only solace that could be found amidst this hell was that the high-level forces immediately available had suffered relatively minimal damage.
The Empire’s elite powers were gathered near the Imperial Capital, having positioned themselves to surround Ray.
Thus, before the meteor struck, they managed to take refuge within the protective barrier of the capital.
The defense system of the Imperial Capital achieved the remarkable feat of withstanding even a direct meteor strike, and as a result, the losses among the Empire’s elite were limited.
However, the protection extended only to the Imperial Capital itself.
Regions hundreds of kilometers away from the capital also suffered significant damage due to the meteor.
Of course, everything within that radius wasn’t entirely destroyed.
Knights and above, if not directly exposed to the heat and shockwave, might have survived despite severe injuries.
Key facilities of the Empire, equipped with their own defensive systems, did not completely lose functionality despite the shockwave and earthquakes.
But that was all. Only the ‘tools’ immediately usable remained relatively unscathed.
The foundation sustaining the Empire was obliterated by the meteor that struck the Imperial Capital.
The very basis necessary for maintaining and developing the Empire had crumbled.
It was akin to a giant tree whose leaves remained but whose roots had been entirely burned away.
No matter how intact the branches and leaves appeared, a tree without its roots cannot sustain life. The same applied to the Empire.
As a result of today’s calamity, some would turn their backs on the Empire, while others would bare their teeth against it.
Inevitably, the Empire too would desperately struggle to avoid collapse by trying to seize the resources of others.
The dream of a bright future shared by all had vanished.
An era of endless chaos and turmoil was now upon them.
Ernst stood at the starting point of the impending darkness, gripping his sword.
“…Is this your choice?”
Ernst felt his emotions boiling over.
The essence of those surging emotions was less anger than resentment, and less resentment than a profound sense of betrayal.
“Just one person would have been enough.”
The Emperor had ordered the execution of both ‘Lea’ and ‘Bella.’
If Ray personally ended their lives, he promised to overlook all matters and treat him as a hero. Furthermore, the Emperor vowed not to punish any other parties involved in the current situation.
This was undoubtedly the greatest mercy the Emperor could offer to Ray, who had concealed the royal family, as well as the respect owed to a hero who sacrificed himself for the continent. It was also an opportunity given due to Ray’s limited remaining lifespan.
However, Ernst did not follow the Emperor’s command to execute both women.
Ernst told Ray that just Lea alone would suffice, and if Ray agreed, he would stand by his side.
This defiance of the Emperor’s firm decision was only the second time in Ernst’s life that he had done so.
“Isn’t one person… enough?”
Ernst knew what kind of person Ray was.
He understood what Ray prioritized and could guess the depth of affection Ray held for the woman he regarded as his mother.
Thus, Ernst promised Ray that he wouldn’t take Bella away from him.
Despite the heavy price of sparing Bella, Ernst resolved to bear that cost on Ray’s behalf.
To shield Ray from the Emperor’s wrath and preserve the Emperor’s dignity and authority, Ernst chose to relinquish his significant power and step back.
It was a choice that brought nothing but loss—a rather foolish decision.
And yet, the reason Ernst made such a foolish choice was…
Because he empathized with Ray, because he owed Ray a debt of gratitude, and because it was personal respect for the hero who had protected the Empire.
“But is this your choice?”
Ray had chosen the path of losing everything.
Ernst couldn’t understand Ray’s decision.
Ray was willing to sacrifice the legendary achievements he had built with his life just to save a cousin’s child…
He was trampling on his own mythic accomplishments and courting destruction for the sake of saving someone who, even if rescued and sent outside the capital, would never lead a normal life.
By clinging to the miserable life of that child, Ray had pushed everyone he loved into despair.
Ernst simply couldn’t comprehend Ray’s choice.
What was Lea to Ray?
She was an unwanted offspring of the woman he regarded as his mother, the root cause of sacrifices in his life, and a burden that excessively tied him to the Empire’s scrutiny.
Was this calamity worth so many sacrifices?
“Did I not ask if this is your choice?”
“…Yes, it is.”
Turning his back on all his past accomplishments, relationships, and affections solely to protect Lea, Ray answered while facing Ernst.
Ernst saw calmness in Ray’s eyes.
Ray showed no resentment or anger toward Ernst.
From the beginning, Ray knew the Empire could not accept Lea’s existence, and he was aware of the great patience and mercy the Empire had shown despite its overwhelming superiority.
Thus, Ray carried out his duty with unwavering calmness, without throwing a tantrum.
This disturbed Ernst.
He wished Ray would show intense resentment and hostility.
He wanted Ray to question whether the reward for his achievements was worth this much.
But Ray looked at Ernst now with the same gaze he had when slaying demon worshippers threatening the continent.
This made Ernst feel unbearably wretched.
Only then did Ernst clearly realize how vastly different their perspectives truly were.
“…Do you intend to strike me down?”
“Yes, I do.”
“…Very well, let us see.”
The Absolute Domain unfolded.
At that moment, both Ray and Ernst were recalling the same past—their first meeting in an awkwardly luxurious room.
Where did they go wrong? What choices led them here? Answers didn’t come easily.
After that fateful meeting, Ernst had received much favor from Ray.
He had regained a bloodline he nearly lost, and thanks to Ray, he saved the Empire from great peril.
With Ernst’s help, Ray managed to untangle complex issues more smoothly.
Thanks to Ernst’s support, Ray could escape difficult situations and actively pursue his goals.
Though Ernst often acted like a weasel, he tried to respect Ray, and Ray, under Ernst’s backing, crushed burgeoning disasters with the Empire’s support.
Through it all, Ray could bestow better lives and opportunities on those he cared about, albeit as modest rewards compared to his achievements.
Everything seemed to align perfectly.
Looking back, both had supported and respected each other.
Yet briefly, Ernst regretted ever letting Lea cross paths with them.
Simultaneously, Ray briefly regretted not hiding Lea better.
Had things been different, perhaps they could reminisce about the past together, sharing a bittersweet smile.
Putting aside these meaningless regrets, now they swung their swords, driven only by a sense of duty.
The clash of blades resounded.
A massive tremor spread, instantly dispersing the oppressive heat surrounding the Imperial Capital.
Ray shook off the shockwave coursing through his body with ease.
An overwhelming power surged from his rampant Core, one potent enough to overpower even Anthonyus wielding a Sacred Sword.
Yet, a ‘Swordmaster’ wasn’t someone who could be easily overwhelmed by sheer force.
Otherwise, the title of Swordmaster wouldn’t rank below that of an Archmage.
Whoosh!
Waves of mana Ray couldn’t fully control spilled out in all directions.
Then, the influence of the Absolute Domain began affecting the unruly flow of Ray’s mana.
Ray observed the overflowing mana twisting toward Ernst but made no effort to regain control.
Even an Absolute Domain couldn’t fully govern the torrential flow of mana compressed like liquid.
Completely controlling it was beyond the reach of even a Swordmaster, requiring a being who had stepped into realms far beyond.
Additionally, the mana Ernst absorbed alleviated the immense strain on Ray’s physical form.
Within the Absolute Domain, after losing some of his strength, Ray could finally wield the mana flowing through him more efficiently.
Crack!
The waves of mana, which had previously flowed like jelly, finally took the proper form of Sword Energy.
The Sword Energy Ray unleashed tightly wrapped around his blade, emitting flashes of light as if it could shatter it.
Holding two swords, Ray swung them straightforwardly at the Empire’s Swordmaster.
Clang!!!!!
The aftershock of the colliding blades caused the ground to sink.
Pushed backward from the center of the colossal collision was Ernst.
With his rampant Core, Ray surpassed Ernst in raw power and firepower by more than double.
It was an undeniable, overwhelming disparity.
Being pushed back in a direct clash of strength was an unfamiliar and bizarre experience for Ernst.
Ray pressed forward, accelerating the assault.
Expecting Ernst to create some distance, Ray planted his feet firmly on the ground.
Instead, Ernst advanced towards Ray.
Witnessing Ernst’s unwavering stance, Ray instinctively hesitated to retreat despite holding the upper hand.
In that fleeting moment, Ray twisted his face in exertion as their blades clashed once again.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!!
A series of thunderous sounds reverberated through the air.
Each time their blades met, Ernst was pushed back slightly.
Ray was clearly overwhelming Ernst.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Spatial Blades, condensed to an inexplicable degree, ferociously distorted space as they took the form of Sword Energy.
Even Ray felt disoriented within the warped space, akin to a crumpled piece of paper being stretched and compressed repeatedly.
Nevertheless, Ray crossed his dual blades, determined not to yield and to dominate Ernst.
Just as the titanic forces resonated and prepared to collide—
Ernst’s greatsword traversed the distorted space, flowing along Moros like a wheel rolling smoothly across a flat surface.
It pinned the intersection where Ray’s dual blades were about to meet.
!!!!!!!!!!
The uncontrollable power emanating from Ray violently erupted downward toward the ground.
The already sunken ground collapsed further, shaking the Imperial Capital.
Before Ray could regain control of his power, Ernst leveraged the counterforce to pull his greatsword upward.
A long gash appeared across Ray’s shoulder joint as the sword ascended.
Now, instead of blood, overflowing mana burst forth from the wound.
Just as Ray, engaged in blade-to-blade combat with Ernst, was about to take a step back—
A concentrated beam of light descended from the sky.
Imperial Swordmaster (Part 3)
