Chapter 20: 1000 V/S 1

Surrounding me were countless figures entrenched in formation.

Awakeners belonging to the Shinhwa Guild, the Alliance, and the Affiliated Guilds.

Nearly a thousand strong, they all radiated hostility toward me as the ‘enemy.’

1,000 to 1.

An overwhelmingly unfavorable numerical disadvantage, a ratio that guaranteed certain defeat.

Yet.

They did not move easily.

“Whoooom!”

Because of the thousands of swords dominating the area.

“What are you afraid of? There’s only one enemy!” Someone shouted.

Not from Shinhwa Guild.

Probably someone from the Alliance or one of the Affiliated Guilds.

That’s how humans are.

When there’s strength in numbers, they arrogantly believe they can overcome any situation.

“They’re just floating swords.”

“There’s only one guy! Why are you scared?”

Voices echoed in agreement nearby.

“Step.”

And a forward step was taken.

The atmosphere was tense, like they were about to rush at me any second.

Will ignited.

It was the killing intent directed at the enemy.

“Swish!”

At the same moment, dozens of swords moved.

The trails they carved in the air—

“Pew, pff-pff-pff!”

In an instant, they advanced upon the source of the sound and created death.

“Ugh!”

“Argh!”

Agonized screams.

Thud!

Bodies collapsed on the spot.

The hall fell silent once again.

Within that silence were hidden complex and diverse emotions: confusion, shock, terror.

It was inevitable.

Because dozens of swords flying true had turned several of the arrogant Awakeners who had shouted recklessly into a shredded mess.

It was not their deaths that mattered.

No one present had properly seen the trajectory of those swords.

That was the fear.

The terrifying truth that whenever I chose to act, they too could die just like that.

Naturally, because of that—

“Ziiiiing, ziiiiiing!”

A ringing pierced my ears.

A sharp pain.

A severe headache as if needles were stabbing my brain.

I had unfolded the Sword’s Tomb and could control the swords with my will.

But it was a rather forced situation.

In the past, when I was at the Peak of Knight, I could have deployed this effortlessly, but now—

‘I’ve recovered quite a bit of power.’

Just moments ago, after my fight with Malice Bastide, I had regained a full 10% of my strength.

10% of my prime.

The level I thought necessary to defeat Shinhwa and its Alliance and Affiliated Guilds was 20%.

Only half recovered, but that was fine.

At least I could unfold the Sword’s Tomb.

This was the secret technique of Malice Paladino, one of the countless Knights I once was.

Raised like a dog by Malice Bastide, and through the pursuit by the Asran Kingdom that was triggered by his schemes, I had attained this enlightenment.

Of course, since I am not an Awakener, a medium was required to manifest the power.

That medium was the Knight Sword Lapide and the Knight Armor Umbra.

By combining the abilities of these two weapons, I created a virtual space.

Unlike other barriers that reduce stats, restrict actions, or strengthen allies, this had no other special abilities.

What I was realizing was a fragment of a battlefield I had experienced, a forgotten piece of history.

The current space was the very scene where we had repelled the Asran Kingdom’s pursuit—a fierce battlefield.

Thanks to that, I could mimic the pinnacle of sword control by will.

Of course, that was mere bluff.

With my weakened strength, I couldn’t wield it perfectly.

But it bought me time.

One death.

And the silence that followed.

In that strange tension, I arrogantly scanned the battlefield.

Chulwoo Shin and the Shinhwa Guild executives were all here.

But the face I truly expected to see was absent.

“…Where is Ha Yeon Lee?”

If it were someone who liked to step forward, who held a deep grudge against me, it would be normal for them to be here.

No answer came.

It didn’t matter.

I wasn’t really expecting one.

But from the fleeting expression I caught, I read the truth.

‘I see.’

Ha Yeon Lee was not here.

Most likely—

‘She has gone in search of another host.’

Just as she left me to parasitize Chulwoo Shin , now she had moved on.

Because Chulwoo Shin was no longer useful.

That’s how parasites are.

They suck the sweet nectar dry and move on when there’s nothing left to feed on.

Realizing that the host she had chosen, Chulwoo Shin , was about to collapse, she changed her nest.

And most probably—

‘The next host will be an even more formidable figure than Chulwoo Shin .’

Just as she shifted from me to him.

The main actor, Ha Yeon Lee, was missing from the stage.

But it was fine.

Chulwoo Shin would know where she was.

After killing all the dogs who bared their teeth at me, I would track her down.

“You…” The silent Chulwoo Shin finally spoke, “…Do you really intend to go this far?”

An unexpected question.

“I have no intention of stopping until you, Ha Yeon Lee, and all who helped you are dead.”

“Isn’t that too cold? Show a little mercy.”

“Nice try.”

He was stalling.

He was trying to buy time to lift the Sword’s Tomb I had unfolded.

The Shinhwa Guild was the largest guild in South Korea.

Naturally, there were members with diverse abilities.

Some could even nullify specific powers.

They were secretly signaling to try to lift my Sword’s Tomb.

“I’ll say it clearly. It’s impossible with your pathetic strength.”

That was like trying to smash a rock with an egg.

No, it was even more reckless than trying to break Orichalcum with an egg.

A barrier was ultimately a realm of the mind.

My mind had been honed over hundreds of years, seasoned on battlefields where life and death intertwined.

It was like a finely sharpened sword.

So no matter what traits or powers they unleashed, breaking through my mental realm was impossible.

His stalling was nothing more than a meaningless act.

He exchanged glances with the guild members in the rear.

Their faces contorted.

They must have realized my words were true.

But with thousands of swords floating in the air, none dared attack.

“Thunk.”

I dropped the bluff.

“Tututututuk!”

Swords fell from the air to the ground.

If I wasted any more spiritual energy, my balance would break.

Having confirmed that Ha Yeon Lee was not here, there was no reason to keep up the bluff.

“See!”

Chulwoo Shin watched with a bright expression.

“So you were just bluffing!”

He must have guessed my current condition.

I said nothing to his words.

Silence meant affirmation.

“All units…”

And the only action he could take was—

“Attack!”

The judgment on the one who had bluffed.

Nearly a thousand people.

Among them, of course, were many ranged attackers.

It started with their assault.

“Kwa kwa kwa kwa!”

Various projectiles and magic rained down.

A display of colorful abilities painted the front like fireworks, but within lay a thick will to kill and destroy.

“Swish.”

I reached out.

“Click.”

In my hand was Lapide.

[Extreme Acceleration]

Infuses the sword with power.

“Pop!”

In an instant, I pushed off the ground and leapt through space.

“Bang, kwa kwa kwang!”

Behind me, a massive explosion erupted from their own abilities.

But I was already out of range.

“Huh?!”

I infiltrated the formation through extreme movement.

Thanks to Lapide’s ability, I could execute momentary, unparalleled movement.

I tore through the formation.

No need to distinguish friend from foe.

All I saw, all I touched, were enemies.

“Argh!”

“Ugh!”

Screams echoed with every trail my sword left.

“Catch him!”

“Protect the formation!”

They didn’t just watch as the formation collapsed.

[Charge]

[Leap]

Close-range dealers moved in to protect the ranged attackers who were vulnerable to melee.

I watched the shrinking gap.

The power of traits—it was an absurdly strong ability.

Without much training, just using the ability granted such rapid movement.

The convenience of killing someone with a simple flick.

It was like skills used in games.

‘That’s why they’re weak.’

Their karma was flimsy.

My heavy karma, forged through overcoming death hundreds of times, was beyond their feeble reach.

“Swish.”

I reached out again.

The Lapide I had just held fell to the ground and was replaced.

A heavy greatsword.

Strength enhancement.

I didn’t know whose sword it was.

But it must have belonged to one of the Asran Kingdom’s Knights or their retainers who had chased me.

After confirming the power within, I immediately used it.

“Whooosh!”

Swinging the sword like a windmill, I threatened all who approached with deadly strikes.

[Wall of Shields]

[Last Stand]

“Kakakakakaka!”

They activated defensive traits to block the circular sword strikes.

No, that was their misconception.

“Shreek!”

“Gah!”

The greatsword, enhanced with strength, was no weapon that could be stopped by mere defensive traits.

But I used that brief moment.

“Tat-tat-tat-tat—”

Ranged attackers shifted their formation.

Suddenly, I was surrounded by tanks and melee dealers.

“Click.”

I reached out to switch weapons again.

This time, a thick lance.

“Huuup!”

I tensed my arm and supporting leg and I hurled the spear.

“Thwack!”

My target was the center of the ranged dealers, who were desperately trying to keep distance.

As a white trail stretched from me to that center like an elongated arm—

[Explosion]

“Kwa kwa kwa kwang!”

A powerful explosion triggered by the spear’s ability.

“Ughhh!”

“Ugh!”

The surprised crowd hadn’t expected me to use ranged attacks, let alone explosive ones.

This was why I unfolded the Sword’s Tomb.

I could use the Knight Swords from the battlefield.

Many Knights and retainers had died during the Asran Kingdom pursuit.

If I could wield their swords, my strength would multiply.

Enough to replenish the remaining 10%.

“Profit!”

“Kill!”

The confused attackers resumed their assault.

Fire Sphere.

[Spear of Frost]

Multi-Shot.

Even amidst panic, the ranged dealers activated their traits.

Watching that, I switched weapons again.

“Click.”

A pair of slightly shorter swords.

[Swift Acceleration]

[Body Awareness]

I used two abilities infused into the blades simultaneously.

“Pop!”

I parried the incoming attack.

“Papapapapapap!”

Not a single move faltered.

[Curse of Blood]

Negation.

[Weakening]

The debuff curses rained down, bought by the time from previous attacks.

“Suuuck!”

With a simple click, my body’s strength and condition deteriorated.

Truly a formidable ability.

The debuffs from dozens of opponents halved my power.

And the hyenas took advantage of the opening.

[Storm Strike]

[Drawing the Sword]

[Earth Cleave]

A barrage from nearby dealers followed.

They sought to finish me easily while I was weakened by debuffs, but, well—

“Click.”

Weapon changed again.

Unlike the previous swords, this was a mace.

Purification.

It was the weapon of a Theocracy Paladin.

Some of the Paladins allied with the Asran Kingdom had moved to capture me.

That was why this weapon remained here.

Thanks to it, all debuffs branded on me were cleansed.

“Click-click.”

I gripped the pair of short swords again.

“Shreek!”

The slaughter began.

“Ugh!”

As expected.

Their level was miserable.

Their obvious movements, their tricks, and even the next moves revealed through their bodies.

I read that entire sequence.

“Swish.”

I dodged.

“Kaaang!”

Blocked.

“Thuk!”

I plunged my sword into the opening.

This was no longer a battle.

It was a massacre.

Like a wolf breaking into a flock of sheep, I indiscriminately slaughtered.

Of course, enduring multiple attacks without rest was no easy feat for me now.

An attack grazed near my waist.

“Drip—”

Blood seeped out.

Not just my waist.

My shoulders, arms, thighs.

In the chaos of combined attacks, I allowed more and more unavoidable wounds.

“You can do it!”

“He’s not a monster.”

“We can win!”

That seemed to give them hope.

Like a raid, they thought they could gradually wear me down.

“Foolish hope.”

This was my battlefield.

In the Sword’s Tomb, I could wield omnipotent power.

“Click.”

Yes, just like now.

[Divine Healing]

Through the sacred sword emitting a golden aura, healing manifested.

“Sssshhh—”

Thanks to that, all the sliced and cut wounds instantly healed.

Hope turned to despair in an instant.

And I started hunting once more.

“Shreek, shreek!”

“Thousands, tens of thousands of battles…”

Muttering almost like a song.

“…I survived alone.”

I danced.

A movement of past memories and enlightenment.

Blood forming rivers.

Corpses piling into mountains—the hellscape of corpses and blood.

No family, no friends, no place to rest my heart—only loneliness on the battlefield.

My only friend there was the sword.

With a sword in hand, what was there to fear?

Just cut.

“Shreek!”

“Shreek, shreek!”

Cut again.

“Shreek, shreek, shreek!”

Only cutting.

My desire was the death and destruction of everything in this hall.

The Dance of Death.

It was a sword dance that summoned death.

The ultimate movement for a feast of slaughter.

How long had passed?

The same silence as before now ruled the hall.

It was hard to find anyone still standing nearby.

Not all had died.

But many were gravely wounded, with limbs severed or on the brink of death, strewn everywhere.

“Ahhh!”

One trembling in terror, his arm severed.

“Step.”

I approached Chulwoo Shin.

“I’ll ask.”

I had spared him on purpose because I had questions.

“Where is Ha Yeon Lee?”

Though he was also a target of my revenge, the root of this entire mess was Ha Yeon Lee.

And Chulwoo Shin was the only one here who knew her whereabouts.

“S-she’s in… Japan…”

“Japan?” I asked, surprised by his words.

“She betrayed me. To Ikeda Kaito in Japan…”

He sounded half out of his mind; his words were incoherent.

But I heard what I needed.

As expected, Ha Yeon Lee had abandoned her host Shin Chulwoo and chosen a new one—Ikeda Kaito in Japan.

“I see.”

“Please, spare my life…”

Before he could finish speaking—

“Swish.”

A red line appeared across his throat.

“Grrrk.”

His severed head couldn’t utter another word.

“Thud.”

He collapsed, powerless.

I gazed briefly at the scene.

‘Japan, huh.’

There was no time for sentimentality.

I had warned them clearly.

I would destroy everything connected to Ha Yeon Lee.

Despite the warning, Japan and Ikeda Kaito had welcomed her.

It seemed I had to teach them all a harsh lesson about what it means to ignore such a warning.