Chapter 97. Stubborn Bastard (3)

The saying about standing at the crossroads of life and death truly resonated with me at this moment.

Never in my life had I experienced such pain and suffering.

As someone who had lived as an ordinary citizen, casually playing games, I never imagined I would find myself injured to the brink of death like this.

Even though some of the pain was numbed thanks to a special trait, the overwhelming agony that surged from my toes to the top of my head was enough to make me faint, even if just for a moment.

There was not a single part of my body left unscathed, and the instinct to survive dimmed like a flickering candle about to go out.

'Even my fingertips... it's hard to move them.'

Three places were pierced by spears.

The abdomen.

The right side of my chest.

My thigh.

The injuries were so severe that it was impossible to continue the fight.

An ordinary person, no, anyone would have died instantly from blood loss and shock with such wounds.

But I realized once again.

'Yulian's body is incredibly durable.'

The body I had possessed was beyond what I considered normal.

Floating above the surface, I could only assess my body's state through feeling.

Though it was sturdy, the truth was that even 'Yulian' should have died from wounds like these.

The reason I was able to keep breathing was purely thanks to 'Sombra' protecting my organs and preventing blood loss as much as possible.

'That guy doesn't want to die either.'

The moment I absorbed the Soul Stone, 'Sombra' became one with me. Its earnest efforts in healing were desperate attempts to save itself as well.

'And I'm no different.'

I didn't want to die in such a place.

Furthermore, dying due to something I didn't cause, a karma that had nothing to do with me, wasn't acceptable.

'Get up.'

The moment I resolved to stand, my body, which couldn't even move a fingertip earlier, slowly started to obey.

At the same time.

"Ugh."

My dormant nerves awoke, and the pain in my ruined body became all mine.

The discomfort pierced the sky.

Though I was too weak to easily move, I felt the distinct sharpness of the agony.

"This much... I can endure."

Despite everything, this damned mouth of mine put on bravado, attempting to hypnotize myself.

The pathological vitality within me was surprising even to myself.

'Yeah. Somehow, endure it.'

If I died, who would water the orchids waiting at home?

The newly adopted two kids also lingered in my mind.

Realizing that, my will to live intensified.

"Keuuu...!"

Refocusing, I started pulling out the spears lodged in my body one by one.

Bang──!

Beside me, there was the sound of someone crashing into a wall.

"Keheuk, cough!"

Ignoring it, I concentrated on pulling out the spears.

Pulling these things out that pierced through my body would surely cause massive bleeding.

'If you want to live, stop it yourself.'

I tried speaking to 'Sombra', though I didn't know if it could understand.

If it had any sense, it would handle it.

One.

"Ngh..."

Two.

"Huh, huh."

Three.

With hands barely holding any strength, I managed to pull out all three spears.

As expected, 'Sombra' blocked the significant holes that would have caused bleeding for me.

My bloodshot eyes felt like they'd been doused with boiling water, but my gaze instinctively scanned my surroundings.

'Where is the Moonstone Sword...?'

A remarkable fighting spirit that was almost incomprehensible.

Even in this situation, I was sitting and searching for my sword.

But this time, I didn't deny 'Yulian's unusual fighting spirit.

The battle wasn't over yet.

The demonized Idel was still alive, and I was still standing at the crossroads between life and death.

'Where is it?'

The expensive sword wasn't visible.

Already, I felt like I was going insane from the pain, and without the sword, I became irrationally irritated.

Keheuk.

Coughing, I barely managed to stand on my two feet.

Was the sword broken?

No, it couldn't be.

It must be somewhere within the pile of demon corpses stacked like a mountain.

'Can I find it?'

I shook my head.

I was certain of it. In this situation, I couldn't find it.

I'd have to dig through the corpses one by one, but Idel wouldn't stand by and let me, and I didn't have the strength to do so.

Clang.

At that moment, a short sword wrapped in cloth fell from my chest.

The sword once used by Sword Saint Hayden Reich.

It's so old that it has lost all its former glory, with more than half of the blade missing.

'It resembles the current plight of the Sword Saint himself.'

Nevertheless, I grabbed the hilt of the sword.

Smooth, gritty, and strange to the touch.

In the midst of the storm of pain, I could feel it clearly.

Originally, the sword the protagonist should have wielded.

===

⇒ The trait 〈Amnesia〉 has transformed into 〈New Sword Saint〉.

===

As the unfamiliar text appeared, I felt a slight lessening of the pain.

Simultaneously, a clearer understanding of how to wield the sword I held was emerging.

- To proclaim greatness.

By reinforcing the short blade with 'Moonlit Sword' through 〈Aura Conversion〉, a sharp killing intent directed itself towards me.

Tri-horned Demon, Idel.

The monstrous being shifted its focus onto me.

"Sir Yulian!"

Without me noticing, Rinne had arrived at the scene.

- Of the Hyrans family.

"Be careful!"

With her shout, a spear whistled through the air, hurtling towards me.

Clang──!

Barely managing to parry the attack with the sword, the impact was so tremendous that my upper body wobbled.

Moreover, my legs, barely keeping me upright, threatened to give way at any moment.

- Grrr...!

Still, I couldn't falter here.

After all, I was 'Yulian', known as the 'Master of Demon Hunting'.

I gathered all my Strength into my legs.

Feeling the muscles that were once wilted becoming taut, I sprung forth, closing the distance with Idel.

Thunk!

As if to deny my approach, the spear once again flew towards me.

I could feel the improvement in my vision after acquiring the new trait.

Even if the speed wasn't visible to the naked eye, I could observe its trajectory.

However, though my 'eyes' improved, my already ruined body hadn't.

Furthermore, the demon's slime and blood-soaked ground were massively unstable.

Squelch!

'If I don't dodge, I'll die.'

A looming sense of foreboding filled my mind.

"Huff!"

Fortunately, it didn't become a reality.

Rinne, who had followed me, swung her blade, managing to divert the 'spear' slightly.

I tried blocking it myself, but the power contained within that 'spear' was formidable.

Because of that, Rinne lost her balance and toppled over.

'It's enough.'

Watching that scene, I stepped forward towards Idel once more.

As I approached, Idel ceased launching spears and prepared for close combat.

With his arms hardened to an impossible degree by hyper-hardening, he struck straight down.

Smash──!

Just barely blocking it by raising my sword beside my face, fiery red sparks burst forth.

Each time Idel's arm clashed with the sword I wielded my Moonlignt imbued sword, the aura surrounding it gradually chipped away.

"Damn...!"

Though my lower body felt glued to the ground and barely listened to my commands, I forced my arms to swing the Moonlit Sword at his body.

Smash──!

Again, bursting sparks.

What chipped away wasn't Idel's body, but the aura enveloping the Sword Saint's sword.

'If so, hone it even further.'

Though it was just a crude aura cloaking a broken sword, I continued refining the aura.

Increasing its hardness and sharpening its cutting-edge.

Though I knew all too well that it wouldn't penetrate his body covered in hyper-hardening, I relentlessly swung the sword.

The embers ignited in mid-air occasionally burned my cheeks, leaving them scarred, but I didn't stop.

For this was the only method I had at my disposal now.

- To the glory of the Hyrans family.

Undoubtedly, Idel wasn't just standing still and taking it, allowing himself to be hacked away without retaliation.

Each time I swung the sword, a counterattack followed, forcing me to roll across floors paint-slicked with the viscous blood and torn flesh of demons to evade.

A primordial repulsion gurgled from the depths of my chest, but.

Screw it.

Surviving is priority now.

- Glory...

The more familiarity I gained with the Sword Saint's sword, the sharper my Moonlit Sword became.

- Of the Hyrans family... Grrk!

Inversely, the sword's blade diminished in length.

"Keugh... no..."

"Ki ki ki ki."

Denying the desperate cry of Rinne, and dismissing the mockery-laden laughter of Idel, I rammed my foot into the sticky floor.

Clang──!

There lay the long-sought 'Moonstone Sword'.

Found it.

"No way..."

Slick──!

Ignoring the muttering Rinne behind me, I breathed aura into the Moonstone Sword, which I had grown accustomed to.

It accepted my aura without any objection.

That's MY sword.

With a satisfied smile, I glanced at the sword in my left hand.

'A sword the Sword Saint once wielded...'

I let it fall from my hand.

Though it held immense significance for me, there was no longer anyone in this world meant to wield it.

Only twistedly withered nobility remained.

'Farewell.'

Amid a self-deprecating smile, I gripped the Moonstone Sword with both hands.

"Raaaargh!"

Noticing an even more potent energy, Idel's eyes shot open.

With a furious roar, it raised both arms high, utilizing its absurd hyper-hardening ability and furiously swinging its arms.

Tap.

I dashed up those massive hands corrupted by demonization towards the spot on Idel's left chest.

'The single attack I can muster forward.'

Reflecting on my physical condition, I understood that this could indeed be my final attack.

===

Using trait, 〈Sombra〉.

===

Hence, I resolved to employ every means I could muster, drawing out every last drop of strength.

===

Trait, 〈Moonlit Sword〉 and 〈Sombra〉 are repelling each other.

===

Such power was an arsenal that was uncontrollable even in peak health.

'Ah.'

But after barely clinging onto my life, my mind cleared up, perhaps?

I realized just now why I wasn't able to control this ability properly.

'It had no name.'

In this world's narrative, the 'name' holds significant weight.

The stronger the magic, the more unique a name it possesses, applied equally to personal traits and aura.

Even the 'demons' are affected by names, altering their strength.

- To the glory of the Hyrans family!

In this critical moment, Idel mimicked human speech, disrupting my train of thought.

Damn creature.

Instinctively, it likely recognized that this was the final moment as well.

To finish that creature off, I focused on the Moonlit Sword bathed in 'Sombra'.

Evenly hued by moonlight now veiled in shadowy rivulets, becoming shrouded in darkness.

'Eclipse (月蝕).'

Yes, your name is 'Eclipse.'

===

You've successfully created a new trait.

Acquired 〈Moonlit Sword / Eclipse〉 for the first time.

===

Once its name had been inscribed, 'Eclipse' no longer had aura pulsating uncontrollably as before.

Thanks to this, I could deliver a slightly sharper strike.

'The left side of his chest, where the crest of the Hyrans family still remained.'

- To glory!!

As Idel's spear and fist converged upon my suspended form, I twisted my body, deflecting them.

Raising to his left chest, I drove the sword home.

Puuu─!

The blade, once dyed in glossy ebony, plunged swiftly into the creature's heart this time.

"Grrk, krrrk."

The 'Hyrans family' crest was split neatly split in half with that blow.

From my knowledge, the Soul Stone in humanoid demons is generally located near the heart...

Yet, Idel was somehow still moving.

"It wasn't near the heart...!"

"Truly a despicable creature... it is."

Though it preached about the glory of the family, it hadn't housed its stone in the heart.

The saving grace was that the intention for this assault hadn't prioritized the Soul Stone.

The trait, 〈Eclipse〉, while sharp, primarily focuses on the sheer 'explosive power' from the repulsion.

The fusion of a demon-slaying sword and demon characteristics.

As the traits diverged, a restrained explosion surged tumultuously from the tip of the blade.

"Ggggh, ghhhck..."

Crash──!

From within Idel, jet-black swords emanated in a shadow-like manner.

"Seems the inside... wasn't so tough."

With a crackle!

Viscous blood splattered onto my face, and for a moment, as if time froze, Idel glanced down at me.

Not a glint of demon's crimson, violence-laden eyes, but his glance was infused with close-to-human sentiment, encapsulating only a single emotion among many.

- Yu, yuli...an.

Above, his visage marked by 'hatred', he was seeing me, not as Demon Idel, but as Idel of the Hyrans family.

"You served the Imperial Court well, didn't you? Wasn't it because you stirred up discord that your house was wiped out?"

This must be the 'Yulian' way.

"Yuliaaaan!"

With a scream-like bellow, Idel's figure crumbled away.

Clatter.

Simultaneously, the sword lodged in his heart plummeted to the floor.

Initially, 'Eclipse' was shrouded in dark, but it gradually reverted back to its original 'Moonstone Sword'.

"... Haha, it's an unbelievable monster."

From where he had been flung, the Black Chain member let out a hollow laugh.

Having avoided the spear by launching herself, Rinne approached me, dragging a ragged body.

"Are you okay, Sir Yulian!?"

Am I okay? Damn it. I'm nearly at death's door here.

"I'm merely embarrassed to have been injured by a demon."

In this situation, my ego foolishly showed bravado once more.

"... Don't joke around. The wounds are so severe you can see through to the other side!"

Just as she claimed.

While the wounds from the spears had been plugged by Sombra, they persist still.

With such injuries, I'd be justified in whining a bit about the pain.

"For a swordsman, injuries are just part of the work."

That damn it pride.

Clacky's Corner:I got confused when he mentioned two kids, then remembered, oh yeah he bought 2 new orchids. :$

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