42. Sunset of the King (2)
“···Do you know what it means to draw a sword in front of me?”
Guimerin sneered as he observed Fernandez’s stance. A wounded body that posed no threat to anyone. Even if he had conquered the Verelide Magic School, there was no remaining magical power left in his body.
He already knew that Fernandez was Diemonica. But even if Diemonica had the nickname of “Butchers,” the limits of what could come from such a frail body were obvious!
-Clash!
Fernandez charged toward Guimerin. The acceleration was something unimaginable for someone wielding a greatsword. But Guimerin was an elf. Elves are a race that decides battles in an instant with their sword strikes!
-Swoosh!
Light flashed from Guimerin’s empty hand, and a blade emerged. Low-level magic like this was simpler than breathing.
Fernandez and Guimerin’s swords clashed, scraping against each other’s blades. Fernandez’s cold eyes burned close to Guimerin’s face.
-Clang!
For a moment, their powers clashed. When Fernandez swung his sword and stepped back, his blade was already riddled with marks of wear.
Full Saintmetal wasn’t a metal focused on durability. It was blessed steel, a sword designed for hunting demons.
-Clang!
Guimerin’s sword flashed, scattering light like waves. A tremendous pressure weighed down on Fernandez’s body. But he could still block it. He could still hold on!
Guimerin wasn’t using magic right now. This was likely due to the ritual he had been preparing until now. This was almost the only chance to attack Guimerin directly!
And Guimerin’s weakness was—
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
Fernandez frantically blocked Guimerin’s onslaught and retreated. Guimerin swung his sword wildly, laughing maniacally.
“Is this all? Is this all you’ve got to oppose me? Little human. Agent of the human god! Pathetic and miserable! Look at you!”
-Clang! Clang!
Fernandez bit his lip and kept retreating. Guimerin’s strikes were manageable, but the difference in the length of their swords made it impossible to counterattack. An elf, abandoning speed and choosing a battle of strength!
-Grit.
‘Right. The worst five minutes.’
Five minutes. The remaining time until the overload of the Bronze Throne subsided. The greatsword’s blade was gradually denting and breaking. Would it hold until then?
-Clang! Swoosh!
King Guimerin changed the pattern of his attacks. The strikes that had been aimed at Fernandez’s body now clearly targeted the cracks in the blade.
“Hohoho, let’s see how long you can hold on. I won’t kill you! I have so many questions for you. You’ll make a good conversationalist!”
-Swoosh!
Guimerin’s eyes gleamed viciously. Yes. A conversationalist doesn’t need arms or legs. Guimerin licked his lips and swung his sword toward Fernandez’s shoulder.
-Crash!
It was a fierce strike. The hand gripping the greatsword’s hilt trembled from the impact. The blade’s scream echoed in his ears. The sword’s lifespan was almost over.
Fernandez took another step back. Guimerin grinned and swung his sword wide.
-Slash!
“···?!”
Blood splattered. The dull impact of the blade cutting through flesh. Guimerin sensed that he had sliced through flesh, but Fernandez was smiling as he stepped back. He slowly turned his head.
“Cough···Ugh.”
The subordinate who had been performing the ritual at the altar fell, deeply cut from shoulder to chest, spitting blood! Guimerin hurriedly adjusted his blade.
“W-What?”
“King Guimerin. You should’ve been more aware of your surroundings.”
Somehow, they had reached the center of the altar! A cruel smile spread across Fernandez’s lips. You got too carried away with your attack.
“You bastard!!”
“I don’t start with just one move, Your Majesty.”
-Slash!
The Bronze Throne? That was just one of his many moves. Fernandez deflected Guimerin’s blade to the side and cut down another subordinate.
“Stop!! Stop it!!”
Desperation crept onto King Guimerin’s face. Fernandez smiled and raised his blade. The blade was on the verge of breaking.
The better the swordsmanship, the more it minimizes the load on the blade during combat. Moreover, unlike longsword techniques, two-handed sword techniques are optimized for deflecting enemy attacks, contrary to many people’s misconceptions.
Yet, they had exchanged such intense blows that the blade was nearly destroyed. It wasn’t just because he was on the defensive.
It was all a performance prepared for this very moment.
-Slash!
Guimerin’s attacks grew faster and more intense. Not because he had the upper hand. Guimerin was growing anxious. He kept glancing at the sun hanging from the ceiling.
One by one, with each attack, an elf subordinate was slaughtered by Guimerin’s hand. Fernandez skillfully retreated and swung his blade wide.
-Swoosh!
Guimerin’s blade slid along the greatsword’s blood groove. A perfect deflection, as if straight out of a textbook! A swordsmanship unique to humans, unseen in elf techniques.
Fernandez deflected Guimerin’s blade to the side and twisted his wrists, crossing his hands. With the sensation of flicking a lever, his wrists flexed elastically.
-Clang!
Like a silk cloth fluttering in the wind, Fernandez’s sword slid along Guimerin’s blade and aimed for the tip under Guimerin’s chin.
Guimerin desperately blocked and stepped back.
“Damn it!”
By now, half of the magic forming the altar was distorted. Half of the subordinates maintaining the magic in his place were dying. Fernandez turned his back to the remaining subordinates and glared at the panting Guimerin.
-Fernandez. It’s ready.
‘Ah, I shouldn’t get used to this.’
-Tch.You’re funny.
As Fernandez grumbled, Faijashi chuckled. The Bronze Throne was ready. The overloaded Bronze Throne had calmed and now shone with a deep blue-black light.
Fernandez crossed his hands on the hilt and leaped into Guimerin’s embrace. Even if he couldn’t deal with the remaining subordinates, the magic had already reached a point where it couldn’t maintain balance unless Guimerin directly controlled it.
When a Great Magic of this scale collapses, the backlash’s direction is obvious. The fate of this half-destroyed capital ship, already losing its functionality, would be decided in that moment.
“Youuuu!!!”
-Clang!
King Guimerin roared and swung his sword.
