Chapter 193 : Final Battle (2)
Final Battle (2)
Two blades collided.
- Kaaaang!!
An ear-splitting metallic scream.
- Chiiiiiiik!
"Haa, haa...!"
Yuria, gasping for breath, slid backwards with a Drrrrip sound.
The divine sword Genesis in her hand trembled violently, and her grip throbbed as if it would split apart.
'So strong...!'
Yuria grit her teeth, eyes widening.
Standing in her way was a monstrous giant at least four meters tall.
A demon realm great general, his muscular torso sprouting bestial horns.
"Keh heh heh... A plump little wench, aren't you?"
The demon realm great general slung his axe, as large as himself, over his shoulder, sticking out a tongue like a serpent and licking his lips.
"Such pale skin and plenty of magic power. If I chew you up, you'll be the finest delicacy. I'll savor every single strand of your hair as I eat you, just for you."
"... Disgusting bastard."
Yuria readjusted her grip on Genesis and stood tall.
A cold bead of sweat trickled down her spine.
'That monster... he's no ordinary foe.'
He was on an entirely different level from the hundreds of demonkin she'd cut down so far.
With each and every clash, if she relaxed her strength even a little, she felt like her whole body would be shattered.
'Can I win?'
Frankly, to keep fighting like this was too dangerous.
If possible, she wanted to retreat for now, bring her big sis or oppa, and launch a pincer attack.
But.
- Chang! Kagagagak!
- Charge! C-Charge!
- Hold the front line!!
'No. Retreating isn't an option right now.'
On this front, Yuria was the core force.
If she withdrew, the rest of the swordsmen standing here would be massacred in an instant.
'I have no choice.'
She was the direct descendant of the Heavenly Sword Lord, chosen by the divine sword.
If there's something she must protect, she never retreats.
"I'll finish it with the next move."
- Hwaaaaaaaaa!!
A pure white light—Heavenly Energy—erupted explosively from Yuria's entire body.
"A delicious aura, indeed. Heh heh."
The great general, his eyes gleaming with greed, raised his axe.
Right before the final clash was decided—
- Paaaaaaat!
A streak of ashen light slashed across Yuria's vision.
- Seogeeeok!
"... Huh?"
The great general's vision twisted grotesquely.
And then.
- Kuuuuung!
His mountainous body collapsed, spraying a fountain of blood.
Behind it, Ian appeared, catching his breath, greatsword as dark as night hanging from his hand.
"Ian!"
Yuria's face brightened as she called out to him, but Ian's expression was grim, rigid with tension.
"Lady Yuria! Why are you here!"
Ian hurriedly approached and checked her over.
There were minor scratches, but thankfully nothing serious.
Ian's eyes tightened as he spoke.
"This is the front line! It's far too dangerous! Withdraw immediately and go to Commander Preben's side!"
"What?"
Yuria raised her eyebrows at Ian's words.
"What are you talking about, Ian! You came all this way!"
She gripped Genesis tightly and shouted,
"I'm a swordsman too! I didn't take up the sword just to hide behind others! Honestly, most people here are weaker than I am—why should I go to the rear!?"
"..."
Yuria's words weren't bravado.
Right now, her level was master, advanced-rank.
With the overwhelming amplification of the divine sword Genesis, her actual might surpassed low-rank Grandmasters.
A clear powerhouse, rivaling even the elders of Hisperion.
But.
"Still, no! You must retreat!"
Ian furrowed his brow, eyes scanning the surroundings.
This was no ordinary battlefield.
- Swiieaaaaaaak!
- Kwaaaaaang!!
The earth rising like mountains. Blinding flashes erupting everywhere.
This was a demon realm where demigods caused natural disasters.
Even a peerless Grandmaster could lose his life at a blind strike from the Grand Duke.
"There's no time! The situation is too urgent—if I have to, I'll drag you back—!"
"W-what! Ian! What are you—!"
Just as Ian tried to forcefully carry her to the rear—
- Zzzt!
"...!"
A chilling killing intent raced down his spine like ice.
"Yuria!"
No time to think or look back.
- Paat!
Ian instinctively hugged Yuria tightly and rolled to the ground.
"Kya, kyak!?"
- Kwaaaaang!!
The spot where they just stood disappeared in a black explosion.
- Swwk.
"Ah..."
A hazy, languid voice drifted from the dust-filled air.
"What a shame. I meant to tear your throat out all at once."
"...!"
When the dust settled.
There stood a pure white girl, a figure utterly unsuited to the blood-soaked battlefield.
The perpetrator of that nightmare who, in Yuria's previous life, had cut her throat.
The Grand Duke of Lust from the demon realm—Lilith.
"... Insane."
Ian shielded Yuria behind him and gripped his sword tighter.
"... Lady Yuria. From now on, do not leave my side. Not a single step."
Yuria confidently stood beside Ian and declared,
"Don't worry, Ian! I'll protect you!"
"...."
Far from being comforted, Ian grew even more uneasy, but said no more.
The enemy before them was the peak of the demon realm—let your guard down for even 0.01 seconds, and it would cost your life.
At that moment, Lilith smiled sweetly at Ian and spoke.
"Long time no see."
"...?"
"Exactly five years and nine months... 2,099 days, to be precise?"
"...!"
For a second, Ian's pupils quivered.
The time of his regression, which only he should know... that devil had counted it exactly.
"Kyahaha!"
Seeing Ian's startled face, Lilith burst into merry laughter.
"Ah! So you can make a face like that too? Really, waiting and enduring that long and dreadful time was worth it."
Lilith placed a finger on her lips and winked.
"Don't worry. Ian."
She acted as if she were reading Ian's mind.
"Only you and I know about your regression here. Just the two of us. Our little secret. It makes your heart flutter, doesn't it?"
"..."
"Ian...?"
Seeing Ian's grave expression, Yuria asked,
"Do you know that woman...?"
"No, it's just..."
He was about to say she was an evil to be torn apart.
- Paaaaaaat!
"You shouldn't be distracted. Talking to another woman with me right in front of you?"
Lilith darted forward like a bullet, clawing for Yuria's neck with sharp nails.
- Swiieeeeak!
"Grrr!"
- Kaaaang!!
Ian barely managed to block Lilith's claws.
The moment blade met talon, Ian's arms felt as if they would be torn off from the pain.
Who could believe such overwhelming strength came from this delicate, youthful girl's body?
- Kwagagagak! Kwagagagak!
Blade and talon crashed furiously, showering sparks.
"Hm... You're definitely stronger than in your previous life, all thanks to regression, right?"
Lilith's clear blue eyes curved in a smile, gazing past Ian's shoulder at Yuria.
"You've already protected that female from me twice, haven't you? In your previous life... you never once managed to save her, and ended up sobbing at my feet. Remember? The feel of that pale neck growing cold in your arms?"
"...!!"
A fragment of that horrific memory flashed through Ian's mind.
Yuria's bloodless neck, cold in Lilith's grasp.
- Kwaduduk!
Ian ground his molars to the breaking point.
"This time, it'll be your head that falls...!"
"Get away from my Ian!"
- Swiieeeeak!
Yuria swung Genesis, pouring all her Heavenly Energy into it.
"Whew. Annoying."
- Pat!
With a frown, Lilith lightly sprang back.
"Well then. Struggle as much as you want again this time."
Lilith spread her slender arms.
"But destiny cannot be changed, can it? Ian. In the end, you'll become my slave and fawn over me for all eternity."
- Kirrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
As Lilith spread her arms, her shadow stretched wide across the ground, as if to swallow it whole.
- Ggigigik! Ggigik!!
The boiling shadow erupted as swarms of giant centipedes, thick as anacondas, poured out.
"... Ugh!"
Yuria reeled and tightened her grip on her sword.
"Lady Yuria! Never leave my side!"
Ian repeated urgently, hurling hundreds of legendary swords he had floating in the air like thunderbolts.
- Kwakwakwakwak!!
- Kiaaaaaaak!!
The battle began.
* * *
Tens of thousands of centipedes were slain, thousands of legendary swords were destroyed.
After a suffocatingly fierce exchange—
- Puuuuuk!
Vladiark pierced Lilith's chest.
"... Ha, haa. As expected, Ian, you're amazing."
Lilith peered down at the sword lodged in her heart.
"This is my first time... being skewered like this. Uh, uh! So hot... so big!"
"...."
Vladiark was surely devouring her magic power relentlessly.
But Lilith's face showed no pain—only blissful ecstasy.
"I'm so happy that you're the first to pierce me... Ian."
"Insane."
Ian scowled darkly.
"Sword Spirit Release, Vladiark!"
- Kwadududududuk!
"Kuh, huh, huk...!"
Dozens of black tendrils burst from her flesh, piercing through her skin.
Only then did Lilith's composure fade, spilling brilliantly colored blood in a gush.
"Ah... haa... this..."
Lilith murmured, blood streaming from her eyes,
"It's... certainly fatal. My magic power is leaking out too fast..."
But there was still an ominous smile on her lips.
'... What's this disquieting feeling?'
With her heart impaled by Vladiark, Lilith should be surely dead.
It was a clear victory for Ian and Yuria.
But Ian's instincts were screaming at him to withdraw his sword and retreat immediately.
"Still..."
- Swish.
Lilith softly cupped Ian's cheek with her bloodied white hand.
"At last... you've come close enough to touch... Ian Greysel."
"... What?"
At that moment—
- Kwajajajajak!
- Jjejejejejeok!
From beneath their feet, transparent amber rose like ice, encasing Ian and Lilith together.
"W-what!"
Suddenly, Ian's feet were trapped.
"Surprised...?"
Lilith whispered tenderly with bloodstained lips,
"It's okay. From now on... we'll just be together forever."
"What...!"
Ian thrashed wildly, trying to break free from the amber.
"No. You can't escape now."
Lilith pulled Ian closer.
- Puuuuuk!
"Awoooooooh!"
Uncaring that Vladiark stabbed even deeper into her own body, Lilith wrapped Ian in a complete embrace.
Pressing her lips to Ian's ear, Lilith exhaled a hot, ragged breath.
"Ha, haa...! Haa...! You underestimated me too much. Ian Greysel."
"Kuh, kuh!"
The amber was rapidly encasing Ian from his chest up to his shoulders and neck, freezing him tight.
"Ian!! Iaaaan!!"
Yuria shrieked in panic, striking at the amber cocoon with Genesis.
- Kaaaang!!
"U-uh!?"
Even the divine sword's fierce strikes bounced off the cocoon, unable to leave a scratch.
"Ufufu..."
Lilith laughed.
"You thought I'd give you up to her if you stuck such an abomination in my heart?"
A chilling obsession burned in her blue eyes.
"Even a mantis risks its life to mate. That is the original sin of lust. Ian, you're mine now. Forever."
"D-damn it...!"
- Jjejejejejeok!!
In the end, the amber cocoon completely swallowed Ian and Lilith.
Frozen inside a giant gemstone like some preserved lovers,
Ian and Lilith remained locked, heart to heart, solidified together.
Lilith smiled with an eerily peaceful face, eyes closed, while Ian was bound tightly in her arms, trapped within.
"No...! Ian! Iaaaan!!!"
Yuria wept, pounding the cocoon till her hands bled.
Her hollow cries echoed across the battlefield for a long time.