[Trantor - Kiteretsu]


    [Proofreader - Kyros]


    Chapter 86


    The northeastern city, where the portal to the Demon Realm had opened, waspletely devastated by the relentless surge of monsters.


    At the center of the destruction, a towering figure d in ck armor spoke in a low voice.


    "Humans are truly useless, even as mere pawns."


    Whooosh—


    In response, dark energy gathered before him, and a ck skeleton materialized.


    Even when he was reduced to dust by Kaylen and Violet, he had maintained a grin. But now, in front of the demon legionmander, he trembled in fear.


    "[Great one... I am deeply sorry.]"


    "You should be grateful that I indulged my fleeting curiosity. Otherwise, I would have simply left you to disappear."


    "[Yes... I am truly grateful.]"


    The ck skeleton nodded repeatedly.


    His opponent was someone who meant what he said.


    He could feel that his life had been spared merely on a whim.


    "The kingdom should already be under our control. Why did you fail?"


    "[An unexpected pdin appeared, far stronger than anticipated.]"


    "Pathetic... You''ve lived for centuries as ck Skull, yet you couldn''t handle a single pdin? It seems you’re not even worth keeping alive."


    Swoosh.


    As the demon legionmander extended his hand, an overwhelming force of absorption was felt.


    He was attempting to strip away the skeleton''s magic.


    ''This can''t be...!''


    The demon legionmander always followed through on his words.


    In a desperate attempt to regain his favor, ck Skull quickly blurted out,


    "[T-That pdin was different! He was a Sword Master!]"


    "A pdin, a Sword Master? Now you''re mocking me. Pdins can never achieve the rank of Sword Master."


    A threatening red glow flickered across the demon legionmander''s ck armor.


    To think that this wretch, who had been defeated by a mere pdin, dared to report that his opponent was a Sword Master.


    "[I-It’s true! He wielded not only the aura of light but also the aura of darkness. He blocked the moonlight, preventing our regeneration. All of my kin, except for myself, perished without receiving the moon’s blessing...]"


    "Hmm?"


    He used both light and dark aura?


    At those words, the demon legionmander retracted his hand.


    A pdin could never wield the power of darkness.


    Crossing his arms, themander spoke.


    "Transfer your memories to me."


    "[Y-Yes!]"


    Swirl.


    Dark energy seeped from ck Skull’s head and flowed into themander.


    As the demonmander absorbed the magic and examined the memories, he nodded.


    A knight who wielded both light and dark mana wlessly.


    Though d in white armor and emanating a holy presence like a pdin...


    The darkness he controlled was as precise and refined as his light.


    For such an existence to appear in the barrennds of the middle realm...


    The demon legionmander’s eyes gleamed.


    "Indeed. He is a Sword Master... and a rare one at that."


    "[Exactly.]"


    "If his aura control is this precise, he’sparable to the Sword Masters from a thousand years ago. Among the specialties of Colony Zone E, he would be considered a top-tier product."


    The demon legionmander spoke as if he were appraising Sword Master Kaylen.


    To the demons, the middle realm was nothing more than a colony, and humans were mere beasts they allowed to exist.


    Among these beasts, a Sword Master was the rarest species...


    And even rarer was one who could wield both the powers of light and darkness simultaneously. The demonmander couldn''t hide his delight at such a discovery.


    "Offering him as tribute will surely yield great rewards..."


    "[T-That valuable, my lord?]"


    "Indeed. An Aura Master’s worth is whatever the highest bidder will pay. With this level of rarity... Haha. You''ve finally brought me some useful information. This is the most valuable thing you''ve ever done."


    "[Thank you!]"


    The demon legionmander pondered.


    How could he acquire this rare specimen?


    If he acted personally, he could subdue him immediately, but if the Sword Master belonged to the Sanctuary, the situation would beplicated.


    ''If I move recklessly, he might escape.''


    Sanctuary—the refuge created by theckeys of the Celestial God.


    To the demonmander, it was nothing more than a nest of pesky rats.


    However, since its location was still unknown, tracking someone who fled there would be difficult.


    Letting such a valuable specimen escape would be a lifelong regret.


    The demon legionmander turned to ck Skull.


    "ck Skull. I will grant you a name."


    "[A... A name, my lord?]"


    ck Skull''s voice trembled with emotion.


    It was only natural—being granted a name by the demon legionmander meant he would no longer be a mere skull. He would gain a full body.


    Not only would his dark magic grow stronger, but it would also greatly elerate his transformation into a full-fledged demon.


    "Yes. Return to the royal pce. Keep the Sword Master upied. Ensure he does not flee to the Sanctuary."


    "[Understood!]"


    "If you seed in this mission, I will make you a true demon."


    "[Yes, my lord!]"


    Who would have thought that his defeat at the hands of the Sword Master would turn into such an opportunity?


    ck Skull could barely contain his excitement, wanting to dance with joy.


    As he stood there trembling with anticipation, the legionmander asked,


    "What was the name of this kingdom in Zone E-12?"


    "[It is the Kingdom of Bormian.]"


    "I see... Bormian. Your name shall be Bormian."


    Chiiiiiik.


    As soon as he received his name, dark energy gathered beneath ck Skull’s cranium.


    Soon, the energy coalesced into a full form—torso, arms, and legs—made of ck bones.


    He now bore the skeletal frame of a humanoid figure.


    The name "Bormian" once belonged to the founding king of the kingdom.


    A legendary figure, one of the seven knights under Emperor Ernstine, who had risen to the rank of Spear Master.


    His greatest achievement—ying a demon count—was still sung by bards even after a thousand years.


    And yet, his descendant now stood in awe, thrilled to have been given a skeletal body.


    If the real Bormian were to witness this, he would surely rise from his grave in fury.


    Deep within his newly granted form, the ck skeleton shivered at the overwhelming power coursing through him.


    ''Haha... I’ll pay you back for my humiliation soon, Sword Master.''


    * * *


    Dungeon Guild, Alzass Branch.


    The branch building, where the Saintess and the pdins were temporarily staying, was inplete chaos.


    "A... A dragon!"


    "Are we under attack?!"


    Whoosh. Whoosh.


    A massive dragon was pping its wings above the building.


    People stared in shock, unable to close their gaping mouths at the majestic creature they had only read about in storybooks.


    "Is that... a drake? I think I saw one at the knight academy."


    "Drake or dragon, does it even matter? That thing ising down right now!"


    As the enormous drake slowly descended toward the Alzass branch, guild-affiliated Meisters rushed outside.


    Rather than standing in awe, their priority was to stop the creature fromnding.


    "Fireball!"


    "Wind Cutter!"


    The Meisters of fire and wind unleashed their spells.


    The spells, powered by their activated mana suits, surged toward the drake—erged fire orbs and sharp wind des slicing through the air.


    However—


    sh.


    A magic circle engraved on the drake''s skin glowed brightly.


    "What the...?"


    "How did a 3rd-circle spell just vanish?!"


    Their attacks disappeared without leaving a trace.


    Even though they had cast them hastily, these were spells powerful enough to damage dungeon cores—how could they be so easily nullified?


    The Meisters were momentarily thrown into panic.


    "Ugh... Quickly, use stronger spells—"


    "Get the other Meisters ready!"


    "We don''t know when it will attack. Hurry!"


    The Meisters snapped out of their panic and began preparing more powerful magic.


    Just as they were about to strike—


    "Magic will be useless."


    Step. Step.


    A woman d in pure white armor stepped forward.


    Gone was her usual gentle demeanor; instead, her face was cold and resolute.


    She fixed her gaze on the drake.


    ''This pattern of subjugation ispletely different from before.''


    Until now, the demon realm''s invasions had always followed a fixed pattern.


    They would summon massive monster portals, unleashing berserk creatures.


    Once those were dealt with, the demon legionmander would invade with mana eaters.


    Nations had managed to fend off the attacks by following these patterns—or, if theycked the strength, they would retreat.


    ''If the demon legionmander isn''t following the usual routine, we won''t be able to stop them.''


    She drew a dagger from her waist and aimed it at the drake.


    "O fragment of Asteh."


    Asteh—


    In this continent, that name referred to only one thing.


    The Holy Sword.


    A supreme divine artifact that had in countless demon kings and crushed evil.


    The woman, known as the Saintess, now held a dagger in her hand—calling it a fragment of that sacred de.


    "Grant us the sword of the heavens,


    I humbly beseech thee."


    sh.


    A golden light spread from above the drake.


    Cracks of light formed in the sky, and from within them, a sword began to emerge.


    A pure white de, condensed from the mana of light.


    It was massive—so immense that it seemed capable of crushing the drake beneath it.


    It was, quite literally, the Sword of the Heavens.


    One of the divine powers of the Holy Sword Asteh, unexpectedly wielded by the Saintess.


    "With that sword..."


    "We can stop it!"


    The sight of the heavenly sword brought relief to those who beheld it.


    As the sword descended toward the drake, the Meisters loosened their tense stances, and the Holy Knights who followed the Saintess gazed at her with reverence.


    Surely, that enormous sword would pierce through the drake.


    Just as everyone expected—


    Crackle. Sizzle.


    A blinding white sword shot up from the drake’s back.


    A sword of light, rising to meet the descending heavenly de.


    Although it was much smaller inparison, the moment the two swords shed, the heavenly sword''s descent came to aplete halt.


    "No way..."


    "Is that...?"


    "There''s something on the drake''s back..."


    Something?


    The Saintess, startled, focused her gaze on the drake''s back.


    From the ground, it was impossible to see who or what was there,


    —but she possessed many divine abilities.


    "Eyes of the Firmament."


    A power that allowed her to share her vision with the heavens.


    Using it, she was finally able to see the figure standing atop the drake.


    A knight d in pure white armor.


    "You’ve prepared quite the grand wee."


    While holding back the sword, the knight directed the drake tond swiftly.


    "And now..."


    Whoosh!


    The knight raised his sword, forcing the heavenly de to retreat skyward.


    Before long, the celestial sword lost its power and vanishedpletely.


    The Saintess stared nkly at the sight before her.


    "A-Asteh''s power... is gone..."


    Even though she had only summoned a fragment of the Holy Sword''s power,


    —it was not something that could be blocked by a mere sword.


    Yet, that knight had deflected it with a single de?


    A thought crept into her mind—N?v(el)B\\jnn


    The ultimate state that all swordsmen aspire to reach,


    —an unparalleled realm that no one had achieved in centuries, a state that had be legend.


    ''Could it be...?''


    "My name is Stein."


    Sching.


    The white knight slid his sword back into its sheath and slowly approached the Saintess.


    "I am the head of the Meier Sword n."


    [Trantor - Kiteretsu]


    [Proofreader - Kyros]