Volume 2 Chapter 75 The Sun’s ‘Magic Sword’
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”…….”
”That swordsman with the bishop staff, splendid moves. I’m impressed that you have such a good partner.”
As he spoke, he unfastened the golden sheath strapped to his back.
With a slight lightness, he readied the holy sword again.
”This warm-up is over. Let’s go.”
”────!”
In an instant.
His body vanished, leaving a cloud of dust behind.
So quick.
He made a run-around.
And gripping the holy sword with one hand, Oswald spun in the air, targeting Kian’s neck from the side.
A sharp whooshing sound passed overhead as he ducked instinctively.
He stepped forward in time with the movements of the young man of the sun.
With his body still crouched, he advanced his left foot toward him and thrust the sword toward his chest.
Had it not been Oswald, it would have been a deadly strike, but he deflected the thrust naturally with the armor covering his arms.
In response, the blonde youth executed a horizontal slash, transitioning into an upward swing.
His arms whipped like a whip, enhancing the power of the attack.
(Right, left)
However, he could evade simply by twisting his body.
Evading the upward slash, he rotated his body and thrust the sword from behind his waist.
It’s a bit tricky, but this is also a style found in Mercenary King’s swordsmanship.
”Hmph────”
Oswald seized Kian’s wrist and rotated his body to slip past the blade.
They closed in with their backs facing each other.
Their gazes collided at point-blank range.
”────”
”…Hehe…”
A wink.
It honestly felt a bit unsettling.
Yet the strength on his wrist was real.
”Shh!”
Normally, they would have strayed into a grapple, but this time, the nearby Natra’s attack broke the stalemate.
She crouched low and swung her bishop staff, aiming to pierce Oswald’s kneecap.
Oswald must have seen her feet; he jumped to avoid it, stepping down toward Natra and bringing down the holy sword.
”────”
”……Ugh…! No…!”
Kian kicked Oswald.
Natra wrapped his body around the bishop staff as the shaft and dodged the blade that was swinging down.
A scene where Kian and Natra spin flamboyantly around Oswald.
The venue erupted again at the sight of a pair of men and women dancing in a swirl of sand.
After the flashy magic, it was time for the real demonstration.
It was a showcase of techniques by 3 who had disguised themselves as western swordsmen.
(It’s getting faster. Little by little.)
The sound of slicing wind filled the air.
As he stepped in, his arm coiled like a waterwheel.
His movements resembled a series of attacks with a saber.
However, he wielded the Holy Sword of the Sun with both hands.
The nature of his strength remained a profound mystery.
”────”
Oswald only took the first hit of Kian’s double strike.
The second hit was absorbed by Natra, who was glued to his back, stepping forward to take it.
In that moment, Kian countered with a thrust at Oswald.
Oswald was joyfully laughing at the duo of Kian and Natra, who constantly swapped positions and retaliated alternately.
He was not holding back at all.
His eyes were serious, yet a smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.
(Even though it’s an exhibition match, he can’t hide his excitement. But I feel the same way.)
A thrust—swift and direct.
Dodged.
Natra’s horizontal swing followed immediately—
Blocked.
At the same time, he jumped, but the second thrust was out of range.
His movement was seamless—a leap and landing so light it seemed to defy gravity, like a bird gliding to rest.
(I’m gradually losing the ability to perform as the ‘Thorn Demon,’ but if I let that bother me, I’ll lose.)
He chased after the sunlit youth who had jumped out of range.
”Ooooh!”
”Yah──!”
Kian leaped from the ground, while Natra soared through the air, pouncing on Oswald.
Below and above.
It was impossible to block both at the same time.
One must be dodged while the other is received.
Or there might be a way to avoid both.
After dodging Natra’s attack by leaning back, Oswald thrust the holy sword into the ground in a collapsed stance.
A high metallic sound rang out.
Sparks flew.
The sword had a strong recoil.
Even though he had the advantage in position, his hand tingled as if struck from above.
”────!”
(His stance is broken. Yet, he was able to block my sword.)
He felt a sense of awe at the youth defending with the holy sword in a leaning position before him.
What incredible core strength he possesses.
Could this also be the work of the holy sword’s blessing?
What is the true nature of that holy sword──?
What exactly is enhancing Oswald, he wonders.
”Ha!”
”……”
”…kuh…”
Once again, he was forcefully deflected.
Natra seemed hindered by the bishop staff as well as the excess decorations.
Kian was no different from Oswald in that regard.
Yet it is precisely because of this that they could engage seriously in battle.
In terms of Western swordsmanship, the 3 martial artists at a master level would never be defeated by attacks that could lead to death.
The visible limitations allowed them to exert their techniques and strength to the fullest.
”‘Knights of the Sun’ battled the ‘Thorn Demon’ for 3 days!’ The ‘Knights of the Sun’ repeatedly scorched the ‘Thorn Demon’, who grew thorns upon each defeat, resurrecting every time! But behold! Every matter must come to an end!’ The power of the ‘Thorn Demon’ is waning, and the final moment is approaching!”
Accustomed to the divine speed of Azrael’s Dance Swordsmanship, this battle with its defensive maneuvers felt unusually prolonged.
In truth, it seemed considerable time had passed, including the moments of glaring and gauging distances.
The bard was moving towards a conclusion.
”‘Knights of the Sun’ raised the blade of their holy sword high against the Demon!”
”Hey, Kian. Don’t you think it’s boring if it ends like this?”
”……? What do you mean?”
”I mean I want to taste the thrill of possibly dying. Of course, I don’t want to kill you, but more than that, I want to engage in a genuine fight and feel the pleasure of it. It seems I’ve developed a taste for it in the previous battle.”
”────”
”I will now use my Secret Technique.”
”────!? What, now?”
”I said I will use my Secret Technique, Kian Vahid.”
Oswald declared this as he severed the belt of his armor.
The golden armor peeled away.
The heavy metal clattered loudly onto the sand.
Revealing the black armor beneath.
The youth of the sun swiftly transformed into a lightly armored warrior monk.
”Wha…”
”But the Secret Technique must not be seen by others. A distraction is necessary. Therefore,”
He kicked off the ground.
The golden sheath, buried in the sand, was rescued and settled into Oswald’s hand.
”With the sun’s ‘magic sword,’ I will blind the audience. You brought the wind-song magic sword, right?”
”Y-yes. But…”
”I will attack from above. You will attack from below. Let’s clash. And when our attacks cancel each other out, we will begin to prepare for the Secret Technique. The technique I will use is the ‘Pursuit of the Shadow,’ a secret technique that lies beyond the mastery of basic skills. You might be able to counter it by using ‘Leap’ as well.”
”No, but…”
”In other words! After a contest of strength between our swords, we will see who is faster. How about it? I will appear to win in the end, but the match will be serious until then. Just one Leap. Just one Leap, will you not fight me seriously?”
”────”
”The reward is the Secret Technique ‘Pursuit of the Shadow.’ Feel free to steal it from me. If it’s not enough, I will show it to you again later. If you team up with your partner, you will likely learn the Secret Technique. Unlike the ‘Shot’ or ‘Wall’ techniques, it should be compatible with you, who has honed the basic skills.”
”Does it have to be here? If it’s for fun, it would be better to do it another time.”
”It must be now, here. As I said this morning, I want to know you, Kian Vahid. By clashing, I will likely understand your existence.”
”────”
”And by understanding the strength of the sun’s power, I feel I can clearly know what I want to do in the future. When I instill awe in the audience with an unmatched power that repels all, my inner desires will manifest. Will I fear power, restrain it, dominate it, drown in it, resolve to protect, become a destroyer, or simply revel in it?──I wish to be true to my own heart.”
”Sorry, I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”
”Haha, that’s true. But I’m sorry, I will now show you my true self in this moment.”
Oswald’s blond hair flickered.
With a crackling sound, the phantom shadows of sparks scattered beyond the dust.
His golden eyes shone brightly, like the captivating eyes of a vampire.
”Draw your magic sword, Kian. If not, you will die.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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