Chapter 297
“Th-that?!”
“Reckless!!”
It was clear he would be brutally shattered, like a small boat swept away by a stormy sea.
But an unbelievable miracle occurred.
Chris’s sword calmly cut through the waves made of sword presence and advanced.
He wasn't breaking through with force.
As if ignoring the Wave Sword, he advanced without meeting any resistance.
The Willow Branch.
A secret technique of the renowned swordsmanship house.
A technique that used the pinnacle of parrying, it could deflect all of an opponent’s attacks.
A technique that was the perfect counter to the Wave Sword.
Of course, to deflect such a violent wave of sword presence was only possible for someone with the senses of Chris or Evan.
‘I am the Master of the Sword. The sword is completely under my will.’
Following its master’s pure will, Chris’s sword ignored all the sword presence and advanced.
The Ghost Sword King’s face turned white.
He hastily tried to withdraw the Wave Sword and strike Chris’s blade away with the edge of his hand, but it was too late.
Fwaat!
Chris’s sword, which had been swaying like a twig, suddenly changed its momentum and shot out like a ray of light.
Finally.
Tak.
A deathly silence fell upon the venue.
Chris’s sword was touching the Ghost Sword King’s neck.
It was his victory.
“I-impossible.”
“The Hero won?”
The spectators from the Alliance were lost in shock, and Evan alone nodded his head as if he had known all along.
But the reaction of the magi from the Ghost Sword Demonic House was strange.
Fwaat!
They suddenly scattered and began to surround the people from the Alliance.
“What is this?”
“What are you trying to do?!”
The faces of the Alliance members, who had noticed the opponent's intentions, hardened.
The Ghost Sword King, with his neck held at swordpoint, let out a laugh.
“Kukuk, brilliant. That was quite fun. But the child's play ends here.”
“Will you not admit defeat?”
“Defeat?”
The Ghost Sword King scoffed.
“You are all going to die here anyway, so what defeat are you talking about?”
That was right.
From the very beginning, the Ghost Sword King had no intention of accepting defeat.
“No, we have to run!!”
“Her Majesty, the Holy Emperor! Quickly, get to safety!!”
If the Ghost Sword King were to unleash his true power, there was absolutely no way they could stand against him.
The members of the Alliance drew their weapons with pale faces.
Chris raised the corners of his mouth in a smirk.
“Just as I expected, you're playing dirty. Kneel.”
“…What?”
“I told you to kneel, now.”
It was in that moment.
The unbelievable happened.
Stagger.
The Ghost Sword King’s body swayed.
“What the?”
He hastily tried to draw up his demonic energy, but it was useless.
As if his core had been sealed, it wouldn't budge.
“Why?”
“Didn't you make a vow before the duel? That upon defeat, you would follow the winner’s words.”
Chris raised the corners of his mouth.
“Since you've already made a ‘pact’, you are now in a position where you must give me absolute obedience.”
The Ghost Sword King had a look of disbelief on his face.
It was just a superficial, false oath.
It had no real binding force, did it?
“That's why you should watch who you're running your mouth to. Haven't you ever heard that you shouldn't carelessly make false promises to a devil or a Constellation?”
“!!”
This had happened because Chris’s soul possessed the rank of a Transcendent Being.
An ‘oath’ made to Chris now had a binding force as powerful as one made to a devil or a Constellation.
“Wh-what are you?”
“Me? I'm the Hero. And you, you're really not listening, are you? Are you not going to kneel at once?”
Myriad Demons' Submission was unleashed.
Thump!
The Ghost Sword King fell to his knees on the ground.
A shocking sight.
“I-impossible? E-even if he is a Hero?”
“What do you mean, impossible? Everything is possible for me. Now it’s time for you to pay for your sins.”
THWACK!!!
Chris kicked the Ghost Sword King squarely in his core.
“Keoheok!!”
Having been struck while completely defenseless, the Ghost Sword King suffered a fatal internal injury, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and collapsed.
As the Ghost Sword King was subdued, the Holy Emperor Istanya shouted.
“Defeat those demons!!”
“Waaah!!”
The Starlight Knights and the members of the Alliance charged at the magi of the Ghost Sword Demonic House. The Ghost Sword magi, unable to respond properly with the Ghost Sword King taken hostage, soon retreated.
And so the commotion came to an end, and everyone’s gaze fell upon one place.
It was toward Chris.
As it happened, Chris was standing with the Ghost Sword King at his feet, lost deep in thought.
‘…Ah, that was hard as hell. I’d like a beer to wash that down. Damn it, why do I always have to go through such hell.’
...That is what he was thinking, but to others, the scene looked like a moment from a heroic legend.
“…That is the Hero.”
The voice of someone, filled with awe, flowed into the hearts of all.
It was the moment the birth of the new Hero spread throughout the continent.
* * *
The Hero had defeated the Ghost Sword King!
The news struck the continent like a blow.
Whether they were of the Alliance or a magus, everyone was plunged into a great shock.
“How could a Hero, of all people, defeat the Ghost Sword King?”
“And he won with pure swordsmanship?”
“Impossible. Wasn't the Hero supposed to be a rookie? And yet the Ghost Sword King was defeated?”
The entire Magus Empire was in an uproar.
The shock felt by the magi of the Tri-Alliance, in particular, was immense.
There were three lords who led the Tri-Alliance.
The Ghost Sword King, the Beast King, and the Duke of Illusion.
Among them, the Ghost Sword King’s prestige could not be compared to the other two.
At the unexpected defeat of the Ghost Sword King, who had reigned as the absolute leader of the Tri-Alliance, they were all left utterly stunned.
On the other hand, the people of the Alliance cheered fervently.
“Waaah!! All hail the Hero!!!”
“The Hero will drive out the demons of the Magus Empire!!”
He would have been an object of admiration even as a regular Hero, but he had subdued the Ghost Sword King.
The new Hero, upon his appearance, instantly rose as a hero and a beacon of hope for everyone in the Alliance.
Meanwhile, there were some who heard the news of the new Hero's appearance with a somewhat strange gaze.
They were Nordian and Count Khazar.
“…No way, it can't be?”
“…I think it is.”
“…That crazy bastard?”
“……”
In truth.
Before beginning this operation, Chris had told Count Khazar and Nordian his secret.
He had revealed that he could use the power of Stellar Radiance.
-Since I'm such a genius, I got bored of learning only demonic energy, so I tried learning the power of Stellar Radiance as well.
He had told them because he would now have to be active in the Alliance in earnest.
And enough trust had been built that he felt it was alright to tell them this much.
Of course, both of them had jumped up in shock.
-This crazy son of mine? What were you thinking, doing something like this?!
-…Yes, it was rash. It doesn't matter to us, but if this fact were to be revealed to the outside world, it could cause a huge problem.
It wasn't criticism, but concern.
Concern that it would become an unnecessary pretext for trouble.
-In any case, you could have become a Demon King more powerful than anyone with just Dark Demonic Energy, so why did you do something so unnecessary?
Something unnecessary.
Nordian’s words were not wrong.
Dark Demonic Energy was a power superior to any other energy in the world.
Especially with Chris’s talent, he should have been able to fully awaken the authority of Dark Demonic Energy.
There was no need to covet the power of Stellar Radiance.
However.
-It is to obtain a power that surpasses Dark Demonic Energy.
-…What?
-I plan to dominate not only the darkness, but the light beneath my feet as well.
Nordian’s eyes wavered.
He had understood Chris’s words.
-Dark Demonic Energy is the power of dominance. But that dominance is limited to the darkness. It can only rule half of the world.
-…….
-But I will make the other half, the light, submit as well. And so, I will obtain a truly great power.
That was right.
Chris hadn't learned the power of light simply to use it as a hidden weapon.
This was the reason Chris was training in the power of light as well.
‘Simply possessing Dark Demonic Energy is not enough.’
If he grew as he was, he would become one of the greatest Demon Kings in history.
He might even be able to surpass the Demon King of Annihilation.
But that was not enough.
‘If I can make Dark Demonic Energy dominate even light, I will obtain a truly great power that surpasses all others.’
And so, Count Khazar and Nordian had accepted that Chris possessed the power of Stellar Radiance.
However.
‘Even so, to become the Hero? This crazy son of mine!’
Count Khazar swallowed a curse.
They were certain that the Hero who had appeared as if dropped from the sky was Chris.
After all, Chris had told them he was going to take care of the Ghost Sword King.
But then, Nordian suddenly burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! As expected of my grandson.”
“…Father?”
“If he’s going to raise hell in the Alliance, he might as well be the Hero. At this rate, won't our Christian be the best in both the Magus Empire and the Alliance? Just like my grandson.”
A classic doting grandfather.
Nordian seemed proud that Chris had become the Hero.
“With my grandson being so active, I can’t just stand still either.”
Nordian climbed onto the castle walls.
The Dark Alliance’s army, according to Christian’s plan, had captured the Basque Fortress and now held the Corridor of Death under their feet.
In the distance, the army of the Four Kings' Castle could be seen.
“It is time to show the entire Magus Empire the greatness of our Dark Demonic House.”
Hwaaaaaaak.
Dark Demonic Energy rose up from Nordian’s body, and the curtain rose on the war between the Dark Alliance and the Four Kings' Castle.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that moment, our great Hero Chris.
“Waaah!! All hail the Hero!!”
“Sir Hero, please look over here!!”
“He's so handsome!!”
He was participating in all sorts of parades and commemorative events celebrating the birth of the Hero.
‘Damn it, why do I have to participate in this kind of event!’
He had no choice.
For the Holy Emperor Istanya to seize power in the Holy Empire, it was essential for her to ride on the Hero's prestige.
Although he had effectively brought it on himself, he got goosebumps every time he heard the cheers directed at him.
He scowled deeply, but no matter what he did, the people cheered.
“Look at that cool face. He’s so beautiful.”
“…I think he’s angry, though?”
“Hush! How dare you doubt the Hero? One can see the anguish of him worrying about the continent's future!”
Evan, who was standing next to him, nodded as if in agreement, infuriating Chris even more.
‘Damn it. If I'm going to attend a banquet, I should at least be able to have some fun, but since this body can't handle alcohol, I can't even do that.’
The Holy Empire, befitting its status as the most culturally developed nation in the Alliance, had a great variety of fine liquors.
Every time he participated in the various commemorative banquets, all sorts of sweet liquors would make a glamorous appearance, but they were all a tantalizing sight he couldn't touch.
He grew even angrier, as he was in a position where he could only lick his lips.
‘Damn it, this cursed Dark Demonic House bloodline that can't handle alcohol. To hell with it. I'm going to act out.’
It was as he was sighing heavily in a corner of the banquet hall, strawberry juice in hand.
Istanya approached.
“Care for a drink?”
“…Didn't I tell you I can't drink?”
Since there was no one else around, Chris also dropped his formal speech.
“Ah, right, you said you pass out after just one drink? Pfft. So, strawberry juice? You’re a complete baby.”
“…I’m an adult. I just turned eighteen a while ago.”
“What good is that? You can't even have a single drink. Never mind the strawberry juice, do you need some milk?”
Istanya teased him, thoroughly enjoying herself.
‘This brat. I used to be a much better drinker than you!’
For reference, the two of them were drinking buddies in their previous life. They always shared cups of liquor while bickering.
“Anyway, you’re leaving now?”
“I have to go.”
‘I have to make the Tri-Alliance submit.’
Having lost their leader, the Ghost Sword King, all activities of the Tri-Alliance were currently halted.
But he couldn't be complacent.
‘Either the Beast King or the Duke of Illusion will become the new leader.’
No matter who became the leader, there was a high possibility they would join hands with the Four Kings' Castle and strike the rear of the Dark Alliance.
‘After dealing with them both, I must make the Tri-Alliance kneel before the Dark Alliance.’