I Obtained Sword God Level Talent - Chapter 28



27 – 027. Snow Flower (3)

*CRACK!*

The shattered carriage collapsed in a heap.

The only saving grace was that all three of us had trained in mana. The instant the carriage went airborne, getting clear of it wasn’t difficult.

*THUD!*

“Ho ho.”

“……!”

Having landed on the road, the fiend who’d overturned the carriage let out a sound of surprised admiration.

“Not bad. Judging by the mess you’ve made, I figured you weren’t just ordinary folk!”

*Clap clap!*

Perhaps he found our soft landing amusing? The red-clad freak even clapped, laughing loudly.

“……Blood Lion.”

Recognizing his identity, I let out a heavy voice.

Blood Lion. The last descendant of the Blood Cult, a villain among villains who would settle down in the West Continent in the future and cause all sorts of trouble.

“Huh? How do you know my identity?”

His carefree laughter abruptly ceased. And then, his scarred, gruesome face twisting, he spoke.

“…….”

I answered curtly, my expression incredibly serious as I surveyed our surroundings.

Judging by the lingering presences, there were many enemies here besides him. The Blood Lion alone was a 7th-tier adept. Even with the three of us combining our strength, we couldn’t hope to defeat such a formidable foe.

‘Damn it.’

The situation was so dire I couldn’t help but bite my lip.

The Blood Lion was strong. Around the mid-game when he’s subjugated by the ＜Sword Saint＞, even players could defeat him without much difficulty. But right now, we haven’t even reached the early stages of the ＜Silver Ring＞ main storyline.

Which meant.

‘……Our odds of victory are slim.’

A heavy reality. I faced the situation head-on.

Tiers, the levels in ＜Silver Ring＞, were like that. Even if a genius armed with a powerful unique trait appeared, could they stab to death a behemoth like a Demon King or Sword Saint right from the start?

No.

Tiers and levels existed for such ‘irregulars.’ Just as a cat cannot defeat a tiger. That was the common sense here.

“F-Frey……”

Ariel’s body, still held in my arms, trembled slightly. I could feel her fear, a tangible thing between her skin and clothes.

Ariel, too, seemed to grasp that the monster’s power far exceeded our own.

“…What do you want?”

“What do I want?”

*Sssiiick.*

The blood lion, its mouth twisted into a grotesque sneer, echoed my question with another question. As if my inquiry was utterly absurd, it burst into a booming laugh.

“Death! Death it is! Offer your blood and flesh to us. It is the only duty you have! *Uha ha ha*!”

“…It’s dangerous. That thing is at least a 7th-circle threat.”

Lancelot, who had been watching with wary eyes, approached me and spoke.

I knew it. That blood lion was a 7th-circle. In short… it possessed a power two stages higher than Lancelot and I.

“Ariel, step back.”

“Wh-What? What are you talking about, Frey? Are you seriously thinking of fighting that thing?”

I gently set Ariel down. Then carefully pushed her away. Immediately, Ariel’s disbelieving voice rang in my ears.

“There is no other way.”

I knew very well that the odds of winning against it were slim.

But if we ran? The result would be the same. No, we’d have an even lower chance of survival. Even if one of us was sacrificed for the others to escape, I knew we wouldn’t last long before we were cut down.

That was why.

*Shhrrng!*

“We fight. Lancelot, protect Ariel.”

“Hmm. Frey, you’re thinking of fighting, then.”

“Of course. Once the battle with it starts, its underlings will target Ariel. The mage is the biggest variable on the battlefield, after all.”

“Understood.”

Lancelot nodded silently without another word.

He knew it, too. This was the only option left for us.

“*Kuk kuk*! A tearful display of friendship, isn’t it. I never thought a mere 5th-circle worm would dare to oppose me.”

*Kaga, gaga, gak!*

The blood lion began to move, dragging its long sword across the ground with slow steps.

*Gulp!*

My mouth went dry.

An opponent I couldn’t dare face. An inevitable clash with him. A reality I couldn’t even imagine when playing the original game, yet it set my blood ablaze.

*Clang!*

I drew my sword. And with eyes as calm as could be, I stared down my foe.

Rank 7, Level 79. His trait is ‘Regeneration’. An enemy with power far surpassing ours radiated a dense killing intent.

“Ariel.”

“…Yeah.”

“Just one favor.”

“Uh-huh, a favor?”

“Once this battle is over, I want to hear the truth you’ve been hiding.”

I’ll admit it. I’m a coward. But what else can I do when I’m about to go mad with curiosity?

“…!”

Ariel couldn’t speak, she just covered her mouth. Without waiting for her answer, I stepped into the fray.

My footsteps were heavy, and my legs wouldn’t stop trembling. Traits like ＜Calm＞, ＜Clear Mind＞, ＜Cold-blooded＞ bolstered my will, but the wall of reality, even more immense, still shackled my whole being.

“…Hah! Whether to call you a prodigy or a fearless minnow.”

The Blood Lion shook his head, his gaze locked on my stiff neck.

He must find it absurd. The disparity in power is clear at a glance, he probably expected us to crumble, wailing in terror.

“You, are you a knight from the Western Continent?”

“…Why ask?”

“Just curious. You looked like one of those knights so keen on honor!”

The Blood Lion shrugged and then burst into a booming laugh.

And then.

“Charge!”

His face twisted like a beast’s, he roared.

*Rustle! Thump!*

At the same time, about ten Bloodfiends leapt from the woods.

Unlike the ones we encountered in the village, these ones were properly trained in martial arts. They relentlessly targeted the vital points of Lancelot and Ariel.

*Shing! Clang-clang-clang!*

Luckily, Lancelot was holding his own against the many. The number of attackers wasn’t that high to begin with. If it weren’t for the most dangerous foe, the Blood Lion, we could’ve secured victory.

And maybe, once Ariel’s magic unleashes, the situation will improve.

“Heh heh, shall we get started then?”

The blood lion, trailing his blade, grinned cruelly. For a moment, he watched with amusement as his underlings clashed with Lancelot, then his own blade was raised.

And.

*Fwoosh-!*

He planted his foot. The ground instantly turned to dust and scattered. His blade flew through the air, aiming for my throat.

*Clang!*

“Kuh!”

Sword and blade collide. Immediately, a metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.

I’d clearly pulled up the maximum mana just before impact, but the blood lion’s blade was easily overwhelming it.

“Intriguing. Is this not a fledgling who has just ascended to the 5th Circle?”

His scarred face cracked into a smile. Sensing a deep unease, I abruptly turned my head. In that instant, his foot appeared out of thin air.

*Whiff!*

“Oho. You dodged that?”

*Tap tap tap*, I quickly retreated, and the blood lion cried out as if surprised. The corners of his mouth were stretched wide, almost tearing. His face, enjoying this battle, was like that of a child tearing the wings off a dragonfly.

“Try blocking this, then!”

The blood lion surged forward, cutting through space in an instant. His speed was so tremendous that I couldn’t even follow with my eyes, so I moved my feet rapidly.

*Whoosh!*

Heavenly Drifting Cloud Steps.

The teachings of the benevolent Sword Demon. A footwork forged by the great masters of the Heavenly Demon Sect. Immediately, the mystical movement produced a faint afterimage.

*Swish!*

‘…A gap!’

Even for a formidable enemy of the 7th Circle, there was a gap. A gap that was so brightly illuminated, it was impossible to miss.

*Swoosh!*

Mana wraps around the jet-black blade. The dark ink sword aura moves toward the opening.

“Y-you b*stard!”

In the chaotic moment of clash, the blood lion let out a flustered cry as my attack, delivered with a slight twist of my body, landed.

“…Damn it!”

The way he reacted immediately caused my expression to twist.

His gap had given me conviction. But the instant I went to unleash that attack, the light flickered. In essence, his evasion vastly surpassed my strength and speed.

But I wouldn’t back down. The gap was still there. Thus, I pushed the sword through the space.

*Shunk!*

From noble mtl dot com

“……Huh!”

The Blood Lion stepped back a few paces, as if he’d been hit with a sudden, chilling sensation. He then touched the spot where his hair had been cut.

“Heeehee, heeheehee!”

“…Crazy b*stard.”

He’d nearly lost his head, yet the b*stard was instead letting out a bizarre laugh. A reaction no ordinary person could comprehend.

“Interesting. So interesting! Hahahaha!”

He burst into laughter like a madman. Could he not have imagined that a mere 5th Stage swordsman would be able to cut his hair? Or perhaps, was it that I had discovered his weakness that he found amusing?

*Thwack!*

“Come.”

I gripped my sword tighter and muttered lowly. Only two exchanges had occurred. That meant he had yet to truly show his capabilities.

“Arrogant, aren’t you? But because you possess the ability and talent, it’s truly fascinating.”

*Ssshhh—!*

The Blood Lion’s eyes began to turn a crimson red.

A sign that he was using his prized Blood Demon Arts. The blood-red glare, scattering crimson light, was like a predator stalking its prey, focused on me.

“Here… why don’t you try taking this?”

The blade in his hand became stained with blood and mana.

And then.

*Tadadak!*

Closing the distance with speed that was hard to react to, the Blood Lion swung his blade. The bloody mana, containing the grudge of countless victims, filled the space.

*Pababaaak!*

An excruciating pain surged through my entire body. The blood mana… was lacerating me all over as if it were conscious. I gritted my teeth and pushed my mana to its limit.

I couldn’t fall. I couldn’t lose. I couldn’t be beaten by a b*stard like him!

But then, at that moment.

“Frey! We’ve finished dealing with them!”

“Wai, wait! I’ll be there to support you…!”

“Oho. A rather capable mage, it seems.”

The Blood Lion’s eyes, which had been locked in combat, flickered around. His red gaze landed on the two people at the rear of the line.

*Paaah!*

Releasing his blade, the b*stard threw himself backward, like a ghost. At a speed I couldn’t even react to, while my sword was still locked with his, the Blood Lion lunged towards Lancelot and Ariel.

And then.

* * *

SPLAT! WHOOSH!

“No———!”

Bright red blood burst forth.