Chapter 16: The Crisis of Snowfall (2)

Mana surged from Richard’s body, intertwining and shaping into a form—behind him floated a sword of mana, truly worthy of being called a “Sword Star.”

“That’s…!”

Aaron’s eyes widened.

“No doubt… That’s Sir Vallach’s sword technique!”

Vallach, second only to the head of House Bartenberg, was a swordmaster shrouded in mystery.

Aaron had seen him once during a great war, cutting through mages with eight shining swords.

Richard had just recreated that very thing.

Though small and unstable, it was undoubtedly a Sword Star.

Aaron swallowed hard.

This was on an entirely different level from an aura blade.

BOOM!

The sword star, glowing blue, hurtled toward the Death Knight, leaving a tail of light.

“K-Kraaaah!”

Sensing the threat, the Death Knight released his dark aura—something he hadn’t used until now.

CLASH!

The two forces collided violently.

The ground split open, and mana erupted into a wild torrent.

The Death Knight screamed.

Even as an unstable manifestation, the Sword Star was overwhelming.

The Death Knight was thrown back, with no chance to recover.

The sword shattered the Death Knight’s dark aura and pierced through his armor.

Then came a massive explosion.

“Huff… huff…”

Richard gasped, drained.

Even though he’d used it only once, the attack was far too powerful to believe it came from him.

His mana was fully depleted, and his body screamed from overexertion.

“Kugh!”

He vomited blood and collapsed to the ground.

Snow and dust swirled violently around him.

He steadied his dizzy mind.

‘It’s not over yet.’

He could still sense it—The Death Knight’s murderous aura hadn’t vanished.

And he was right.

The dust cleared, revealing the wounded but still standing Death Knight.

Creak… creak…

“You… You’re dangerous…”

Dark energy surged from the gaping wound on his chest.

“I shall offer my life… to slay the enemy of my master!”

It was berserk mode—A last-ditch transformation that traded life for overwhelming power.

The Death Knight charged at Richard, faster than before.

“Young master!”

Aaron’s scream rang out.

But Richard was out of strength. He couldn’t move, let alone dodge.

The Death Knight’s massive sword came crashing down toward him.

Aaron couldn’t stand by.

He abandoned the mid-level undead he was fighting and launched himself at the Death Knight, hurling a spear imbued with mana.

He intercepted just in time.

As the giant sword descended, Aaron activated his ultimate technique, something he could only use once.

His mana slithered up the spear like a snake.

CLASH!

The spear and sword collided.

The force shook Aaron’s mana.

Though the spear clashed valiantly, a mid-level knight couldn’t stop a berserk Death Knight.

Still, it was a remarkable feat to block it at all.

“Aaron, you…!”

Richard’s eyes trembled.

Blood gushed from Aaron’s side—an injury from shaking off his previous opponent.

His right arm was twisted and bleeding.

Muscles torn from using the technique.

“Don’t interfere!”

The Death Knight roared and swung his sword again.

Aaron raised his spear—but it was too easily shattered.

Then came his body.

A massive gash from shoulder to waist burst open with blood.

It wasn’t instant death, but a fatal wound.

The Death Knight raised his sword again, ready to strike both Aaron and Richard down.

Just then—

“Thank you, Aaron… You saved me.”

Richard wasn’t looking at the Death Knight.

His gaze was behind him—in the sky.

BOOM!

Something massive crashed down, hurling both Richard and Aaron away.

***

They slammed into the ground, blood spurting from their mouths.

“If you’re gonna help, do it properly…”

Richard groaned and looked up.

“It’s over.”

Vallach had arrived—stepping through the air, stopping the Death Knight’s sword with just two fingers.

“W-Who are you?!”

The Death Knight was stunned.

He tried to pull back his sword, but it wouldn’t budge.

Vallach’s brow twitched.

“Silence.”

CRACK—

Vallach grabbed the Death Knight’s shoulder.

His armor crumpled like paper.

“Ah… That’s definitely the mark of the Sword Star.”

Vallach stared at the deep chest wound, judging Richard’s technique.

His aura shifted.

“You dare hurt my disciple.”

His murderous intent dwarfed the Death Knight’s dark aura.

Richard, watching, was stunned.

‘Wasn’t he the one who didn’t want to take me as a student?’

Now he was acting like a doting master.

‘Whatever… Thank God the gamble worked.’

Richard never thought he could defeat the Death Knight on his own.

The Sword Star was top-tier swordsmanship in this world.

He could never draw out its full power.

‘So I called that old man.’

Vallach was the one who engraved the sigil on Richard.

Opening the sigil would naturally alert him.

And opening the sigil fully was a big enough deal to summon him instantly.

It was a gamble—but it worked.

Had Vallach been late, both Richard and Aaron would’ve been dead.

“Aaron! Are you okay?!”

Aaron didn’t move, but he was still breathing.

His twisted right arm…

If not treated soon, his life as a warrior would be over.

But Richard had no faith left to use his godly powers.

He looked toward Vallach.

‘Please, old man… finish this quickly!’

CRASH!

Three massive, deep blue swords appeared behind Vallach.

They cut through undead like stars streaking across the sky.

It wasn’t a battle—it was a slaughter.

Vallach never took a single step.

Everything was annihilated in moments.

“So… unfair…”

CRUNCH—

Vallach stomped the Death Knight’s skull, ending it.

“Whew… barely made it out alive.”

Richard’s body ached.

His wounds screamed.

“WAAAAH!”

“We survived!”

The villagers cheered, hugging each other and sobbing.

Some even shouted the name of a god.

“Young master! A-Are you okay?!”

Mary came running, eyes teary.

Her slapped cheek was swollen.

“I’m fine. Aaron needs help more—”

“Oh my god! So much blood… Huuuuhwaaah!”

Mary burst into tears.

The villagers rushed over at the sound.

“No, young master!”

Seeing Richard soaked in blood, the crowd erupted in wailing.

The cheers vanished, replaced by sobs.

“Cough!”

Richard spat out black blood.

He had overdone it—just like Aaron.

The crying around him grew louder.

‘Ugh, my head… I might really die this time…’

He looked at Vallach approaching with his hands behind his back— and blacked out.

“Hick… Young master!”

***

Vallach frowned at the crying crowd.

“Out of the way.”

He pushed through to Richard.

His body was covered in blood.

Vallach had left Bartenberg less than a week ago.

He had only recently engraved the sigil.

“How…?”

He had clearly felt the sigil open while he was in the Rofen Kingdom.

He ran—traversing a distance that would take a day by horse—in just moments.

If he had been late, Richard would be dead.

CRACK—

He nearly lost the disciple he had searched for his whole life.

Vallach’s anger turned to the knights.

“Since when were Bartenberg’s knights so weak?”

“Your master is covered in blood, and you’re all spotless—armor shining and all.”

Then his gaze turned to Aaron.

His wounds were grave.

A junior knight stepped forward.

“He is Sir Aaron Meyer, a mid-level knight serving in place of Lord Gid.”

“Tch. He’s got some talent…”

Vallach clicked his tongue, then looked back at Richard.

The sigil on Richard’s hand was distorted and forcibly opened.

But Vallach was not disappointed—instead, he was impressed.

“No one’s ever done this before!”

Who could twist a sigil?

Though curious, Vallach didn’t dig deeper.

He quickly treated both Richard and Aaron with herbs and potions he had on hand.

Their wounds began to heal.

“We’ll meet again soon.”

Vallach felt thrilled—like he hadn’t in years.

“Maybe I’ll give them a gift.”

As he reached toward Richard, he noticed Aaron too.

He paused—then smirked.

“You’re getting one too.”

His hand reached both of them.