Chapter 383

This time, it was the shoulder closer to the neck. If he hadn't reflexively turned his neck, he would have lost his life.

Realizing that this situation was no coincidence, the Sword King's face hardened.

"The great Meier family is the overlord of the sword. To think the self-proclaimed head of the house would use a mere trick like the Curtain of Swords. How pathetic, uncle."

To call the Curtain of Swords, one of the most powerful Domains of Dominion in the alliance, a mere trick.

"Behold. This is the true sword of the Meier family."

Fwoooosh.

A transparent domain spread around Evan.

It did not hold an intense aura.

Since Evan's current vessel was at the level of a low 8-Star, the energy contained in the domain was only about that much.

But the meaning contained within the domain was on a different level.

Master of the Sword (劍主).

The authority to contain all principles of the sword within one's own.

This was the new Domain of Dominion that Evan had obtained.

***

'It's thanks to Christian.'

In his previous life, the Domain of Dominion Evan had obtained upon reaching high 8-Star was the Celestial Star Sword (星天劍).

The authority to imbue the power of the stars into his sword.

If nothing major had changed, he would have obtained a similar Domain of Dominion this time as well.

But as Evan was contemplating the Celestial Star Sword, he had a thought.

'A level like this is not enough.'

The Celestial Star Sword would surely become one of the most powerful Domains of Dominion.

But it was not enough.

He had to obtain an absolute authority, one of a kind.

Just like Christian had.

-How about giving up the blessing of the constellation?

The 'Sword Saint' blessing Evan had received was the foundation of his sword.

He could have risked having all of his swordsmanship crumble, but he followed the advice without hesitation.

Because he believed in Christian.

Forcibly activating his potential was a gamble.

Just as Christian had said, it was fraught with danger.

But as he reflected on his own sword at the crossroads of life and death, moment by moment, a path began to appear.

His sword already contained everything.

All that was needed was to become the perfect master of the sword.

Fwoooosh!

Evan's Domain of Dominion expanded its range.

Within this domain, he could become the true master of the sword.

"Evan, you bastard!! It seems you've gained some enlightenment, but it's useless!!"

The Sword King grit his teeth and unleashed his power.

As if he were going all out, a barrage of sword strikes incomparable to before rushed in.

It was like a raging storm, but...

"Pathetic."

Evan stared coldly at the scene.

He was the master of ten thousand swords (萬劍).

He could see every detail of the sword intent (劍意) contained in his opponent's attack.

It was shallow beyond belief.

Swoosh.

Evan raised his sword.

It was a straight thrust.

A single strike that looked insignificant compared to the storm of swords unleashed by the Sword King.

But the sword principle contained within it was beyond comparison.

-A single sword shall cleave the entire world.

The principle of One Sword to Sever the World (一劍斷世) dwelled in Evan's sword, and in a single blow, it tore apart the Sword King's attack.

"Keuk!!"

The Sword King suffered internal injuries and vomited a mouthful of blood.

Evan was not unscathed either.

The authority of the Master of the Sword allowed him to dominate and use all the sword principles in the world, but the higher the principle he used beyond his own achievement, the greater the backlash.

The One Sword to Sever the World just now was a principle that was too much for Evan's current state, and his insides churned.

'I can endure this much.'

For a moment, Christian's image came to mind.

People called Christian a monster, or said he worked miracles with a touch, but Evan knew.

How desperately Christian had struggled to achieve all those things.

He could not lose.

Fwoooosh!!

He broke through the Sword King's counterattack again.

Gulp. His stomach churned again, but he endured it.

And finally.

Slice!!

The Sword King's left arm flew into the air.

An unbelievable sight.

Fear crept into the Sword King's eyes.

"S-save..."

A pathetic plea, unimaginable to have come from the mouth of the head of the swordsmanship house.

'Personal grudges don't matter to me anymore.'

He had overcome such petty emotions long ago.

This, too, was thanks to Christian.

'If I let him live, he'll only continue to be a thorn in Christian's side.'

With that judgment, not even a shred of hesitation remained.

Stab!

Evan's sword pierced the Sword King's chest.

"Keo, heok..."

That was the end.

The end of the Sword King, a giant of the alliance.

At the same time, it was a scene that announced the birth of a new giant.

"The, the Sword Emperor (劍帝)..."

Someone muttered, swallowing hard.

Evan's appearance just now had reminded them of his father, the previous head of the swordsmanship house and the greatest sword in the alliance, the Sword Emperor.

Having defeated the Sword King with a sword, Evan could now be called the new greatest sword in the alliance.

"It's not over yet."

Evan turned his gaze.

Towards the pale-faced elders.

The rotten ones who had orchestrated this incident with the Sword King.

"All of you, come up. As the new head of the swordsmanship house, I will pass judgment on the sins you have committed until now."

It was a declaration that the swordsmanship house would be born anew.

***

Meanwhile, at that time, on a low mountain overlooking the dueling grounds.

Three figures were conversing.

[Who would have thought the Sword King would be defeated.]

[Indeed. At this rate, won't all our Holy Assembly's plans be ruined?]

The Holy Assembly.

These were the Holy Masters!

To be precise, they were two Holy Masters.

The low 9-Star Dark King.

And the advancing 9-Star Prophet.

The Dark King was one thing, but for the Prophet, known as the sage of the alliance, to be a member of the Holy Assembly was unexpected.

The Prophet had not joined the Holy Assembly out of greed.

[The will of the constellations must be fulfilled.]

The Prophet lamented.

He was one who read the will of the constellations.

It was the will of the constellations that had led him to the Holy Assembly, and so he had joined.

[Originally, we planned to open the Glass Lake by using the people of the Opalma Kingdom as a sacrifice, but now that the swordsmanship house has fallen into their hands, it is impossible.]

The scene of Evan mercilessly cutting down the elders who had joined forces with them came into view.

It was a miscalculation.

No one here had expected Evan to win against the Sword King.

[Is there no word from the Fairy King of the Mirror Ice Palace?]

He was the last of the four members of the Holy Assembly. The other one, the Master of the Magic Tower, had already been killed by Chris.

[The Fairy King said he is following the will of the constellations separately.]

[This is troublesome.]

The Prophet frowned and turned his gaze.

A mysterious person wrapped in a robe embroidered with the eerie crest of a devil stood there.

It was an Apostle of the Mystic Demonic House.

'Why did the constellations command us to join forces with the dogs of the Mystic Demonic House?'

He did not understand, but it was an order, so he had no choice but to obey.

[What does the Mystic Demonic House plan to do?]

[We must open the gates of the Glass Lake as planned.]

A beautiful voice flowed out.

From under the robe, a glimpse of the lower half of a face was revealed.

Though only the lower part was visible, it was enough to tell that she possessed a very beautiful appearance.

However, a scar could be seen running diagonally across her face.

[How can we, when the plan has gone awry? It is impossible for us alone to sacrifice the people of the Opalma Kingdom.]

[We can just offer another sacrifice.]

[...Are you saying there is another sacrifice?]

The Apostle nodded as if to say yes.

[The two of you.]

[...What?]

[If we offer you Holy Masters as a sacrifice, we should be able to open the gates.]

[!!]

The faces of the Dark King and the Prophet hardened.

[How dare you!!]

Paaat!

They moved away from the Apostle and drew up their power.

However.

[Th-this is?]

The bodies of the Holy Masters stiffened.

Chwa-rurururuk.

A demonic magic circle unfolded.

As if a trap had been laid in advance, it was a high-dimensional magic circle that could even bind Holy Masters.

[You bastards, don't tell me you planned this from the beginning?]

[Don't be too upset. This is not our will, after all.]

The Apostle could be seen smiling with her red lips.

An unbelievable story flowed out.

[The constellations you serve. They have handed you over to us as a sacrifice.]

[What nonsense is this!]

[If you don't believe me, try confirming it with the constellations yourselves. Ah, perhaps they won't answer your call now?]

Soon, the faces of the Dark King and the Prophet were colored with bewilderment.

[Wh-why?]

Their connection to the constellations had truly been severed!

The blessings the constellations had bestowed upon them had also vanished as if it were all a lie.

[Please become a sacrifice for the sake of the constellations with a joyful heart.]

[Sh-shut up!!]

Unable to accept reality, the Dark King and the Prophet drew up their energy in a rage.

No matter that the blessings of the constellations were gone, a 9-Star was a 9-Star.

An aura that no one could ignore raged, but...

[Kekek, good. That's how you should be. Ah, my heart trembles. I wonder what kind of screams you will let out for me.]

A laugh tinged with madness.

Just then, the top of the robe that had been covering her face was blown off by the wind, and a surprising face was revealed.

An appearance as beautiful as a woman's.

A scar cutting diagonally across the face.

[Please let me hear your desperate screams. So I can enjoy them as entertainment before I hear the screams of my beloved Christian.]

The first prince of the Dark Demonic House, and in a previous life, the infamous Demon King of the Blood Shadow Demonic Legion.

Sherad had appeared as the Apostle of the Mystic Demonic House.

***

Evan had achieved a perfect victory.

"Waaaaah!! Long live the swordsmanship house!!"

"Long live Young Master Evan!! Long live the new master!! Hail the Little Sword Emperor (小劍帝)!!"

The knights of the swordsmanship house shouted Evan's name in fervent cheers.

Evan shook his head at everyone's cheers and said.

"The one who should receive the cheers is not me. It is the Hero."

"!!"

"For it was the Hero who supported me in adversity, who helped me stand up, and who made me this strong."

'...Don't say things like that! You crazy bastard.'

Chris made a disgusted face, but it was too late.

The knights of the swordsmanship house glanced at Chris, then turned back and raised their voices again.

"Waaaaaah!! Long live the Hero!!"

"Long live the Hero! Long live the master!"

Just as Chris sighed and was about to reluctantly raise his hand, he paused.

'What is it?'

An eerie premonition crept down his spine.

It was not a simple feeling.

His hair stood on end, and his fingertips trembled faintly.

Something terrible was happening.

"...This is?"

Evan's expression also hardened, as if he had felt something similar.

At the sight of the two, the others tilted their heads in confusion.

That, too, was for a moment.

"...Why is the sky like that?"

"Ashen gray? What is it? There aren't any clouds?"

The surroundings grew dark.

It was a bizarre sight.

The weather had been clear without a single cloud, but it had turned ashen gray.

'It's an encroachment phenomenon where Gehenna and reality are overlapping!!'

Chris grit his teeth.

'The gates of the Glass Lake have opened!'

They had clearly opened the gates by some other means.

'It's not too late. The encroachment is still in its early stages, so I have to go and stop it now.'

But there was a problem.

Kekek. Kekek.

A terrible laugh echoed through the arena.

"Demons!!!"

Demons began to appear from all over the place.

Since it was still the early stages, the total number was not large, but the problem was that high-ranking demons were mixed in.

'Damn it.'

As he bit his lip, an unexpected voice was heard.

"Leave this place to us."

"!!"

It was Shattering Mace Aiden.

A rising star of the Round Table whom he had met at the training academy.

It was not just Aiden.

Shield William and the other heads of the Round Table also drew up their energy and stepped forward.

"We will take on those demons."

"Hero, please go and catch the culprit who caused this incident."