Sword Devouring Swordmaster

Translator: AkazaTL

Pr/Ed: Sol IX

***

Chapter 195 – Hero (2)

“They keep refusing our aid.”

“They must be trying to preserve the uniqueness of the Southern Continent.”

“Tsk, how naïve they are.”

“Do they really think they can handle the Conquest Army of the Great Land without us?”

“They can think so only because they’re ignorant. Peace has lasted too long—they’ve forgotten the heavens’ burden.”

“Those who have never suffered violence forget the value of peace.”

“Then perhaps it’s time we reminded them of the heavens’ necessity.”

“Are you sure about that? The Southern Continent will be left in ashes.”

“That’s fine. Even if only ashes remain, don’t we have the power to make them shine again? Crisis is opportunity—don’t forget that. War is the greatest business.”

“Then we’re all agreed.”

“Yes.”

.

.

.

“The Southern Continent is abandoned.”

“And the fruits left behind at war’s end—we shall claim them.”

“As we always have.”

***

Aaron could not believe what was happening.

This was a White Steel Shield—the rarest material in the Southern Continent. A supreme artifact, gifted by the Machine Empire’s Magitech Corps, who had appeared together with the barbaric army of the Great Land. He’d heard it was one of the top five pieces of equipment across the entire continent. And yet.

“Huuh, haa!”

At this moment, the White Steel Shield was shattering pathetically. The assembled layers came apart, the shield failing to fulfill its most basic function of absorbing impact. Each time Aaron received Arhan’s blade, his arm felt as if it would rip off. If this exchange continued, his limb might truly be torn away. The swordsman before him wielded that much power.

“Can’t even deflect properly with your shield!”

“Gave him the best equipment money can buy, and for what…”

“That wretch calls himself a Great Warrior of Judgement? Damn it, so that’s the newly appointed one? He fights worse than a child! We should’ve equipped our War Mage with it instead. Even our youngest apprentice could swing that shield better than him!”

The War Mages from the Machine Empire, allied with Aaron, did not hold back their ridicule.

They had refrained from criticism until now for the sake of unity, but the sight of their precious White Steel Shield being smashed to pieces broke that restraint.

“Urgh…”

The newly ordained Great Warrior of Judgement—Aaron—was utterly incompetent. From the start, he had not been a Crusader or an Inquisitor. He was merely a senior priest of the Papacy—one who prayed or invoked miracles from the rear lines during battle, a non-combatant through and through. Compared to Ismael, who had served for decades as a true Great Warrior, the difference was heaven and earth.

“Are you really a Great Warrior?”

Arhan shoved Aaron back and spoke.

“The Great Warrior I knew wasn’t this weak.”

Arhan’s words struck Aaron exactly where it hurt. He himself had wondered countless times—Do I truly have what it takes to be a Great Warrior? But hearing it from someone else’s mouth was unbearable. And when a man’s insecurities are pierced, anger follows. And anger… makes one simple-minded.

“Shut up!”

And that is why.

“You—bast—ghk!”

Emotion is forbidden on the battlefield.

“……!”

Aaron thought, for a moment, that his head had fallen off.

It wasn’t a thought—it had. His head and body had been separated.

He didn’t even know how Arhan’s sword had taken his life. Aaron was alive only because of his necklace. A magic artifact that bonded soul and body even at the brink of death, preventing fatal injury—so rare that only a hundred existed across the continent.

Twice. Twice now, I’ve died in an instant.

Feeling his life restored, despair crept deeper into Aaron. All his rage, his forced posture of righteousness, everything he’d built to convince himself that he was worthy—it all cracked.

How could he win? How do you fight a monster like that? Can I even win at all?

They had said that the Great Warrior of Judgement, Ismael, had once cornered this same swordsman to the verge of death.

The elders of the Papacy had told Aaron that, being younger and armed with even greater weapons than Ismael, he would crush Arhan easily. But the more he fought, the more he realized the opposite. Instead of confidence, he felt reverence for the old woman who had defied this monster. How could that aged warrior have gained the upper hand against such a being? Aaron did not know how to wield the Miracle of the Cross. He could use it, but only clumsily; swinging his mace was easier.

They said Ismael had moved the Cross like her own limbs, but for Aaron, trying to emulate her only led to dizziness and nausea.

“Huff… huff…”

His will to fight was gone. Reality and imagination were far apart. Even his once-overflowing faith began to waver. Maybe the Son of Sin and Punishment was wrong. Maybe the god had made a mistake in choosing him. Why would a deity select a fool like him as the new Great Warrior? Tears welled up from frustration and despair. And in that moment—he heard a voice.

「Do not despair, my Aaron.」

It was the voice of God.

「I chose you because I was pleased with your sense of justice. Because your fear makes you cling to me more earnestly than anyone else. Ismael was a powerful Champion, but her own thoughts clouded her faith. She did not trust me.」

“My Lord…”

「Give me your body, Aaron. Surrender even your soul to me.」

The Son of Sin and Punishment— One of the Seven Divine Lords—spoke in a voice that filled the world. And Aaron wept. As Arhan approached, he nodded willingly.

“What are you doing, idiot!?”

“Why are you just standing there!?”

“Damn it. We should’ve crawled under the Iron Kingdom’s scrap heap instead! Even that iron prince who devoured his own father is better than this fool. We thought we caught a lifeline, but it’s rotten rope!”

And then.

“Silence.”

With a thud, a giant cross fell from the sky. It struck the ground and stuck upright, blood smeared across its edges. The next moment, the black heavens turned crimson. The night of blood had come. And the trembling priest named Aaron was gone. In his place stood a single being who had fully accepted the will of his god—a true Great Warrior.

“If you do not cease your blasphemous tongues, I shall judge you all as sinners.”

***

The air changed completely. From the chill crawling down my neck, I immediately knew Aaron had used Descent. The strongest miracle a Great Warrior could invoke. But even so—it was one I’d already experienced. And I never lose twice to the same trick.

“Yooouu—!”

A booming voice shook the battlefield. Even the War Mages supporting the Crusaders bit their lips. As soon as Aaron invoked Descent, I withdrew the souls I had summoned through 「Radiance」. I didn’t plan to confront him head-on; I fell back instead. At this stage, normal attacks would be useless.

“Everyone, retreat!”

I ordered the people of Antoine to withdraw. Turning back, I saw that the mercenaries from the Black Archipelago were already guiding the civilians away. Veterans that they were, they had sensed the danger of Descent.

As for Zeppelin Gold—he was nowhere to be seen. He had already run long before the situation turned deadly. I extended a Path behind me and shifted backward. Appearing among the fleeing crowd, I accelerated by chaining Paths several times, quickly returning to Antoine.

Among the ruins, beside the lifeless body of Priest Frey, sat Moses—the girl bathed in starlight.

“I have a question.”

“Ask, Traveler.”

“Are you now a Great Warrior of the Star?”

That was a crucial question. I had the means to kill a Great Warrior—but using it was complicated. If there was a better way, I’d take it. A Great Warrior should face another Great Warrior. If they fought on equal ground, my attacks could connect.

“I’m not,” she said. “Priest Frey granted me the Star’s Authority, but I haven’t been officially recognized as a Great Warrior yet.”

“Then could you become one soon?”

“No. I’d have to undergo many trials first. Thanks to Priest Frey, I have basic powers, but the Star hasn’t acknowledged me.”

Hmm. That meant it wouldn’t be easy.

“What can you do, then?”

“I can seal other miracles, guide the lost back to the right path…”

“Is that all?”

“I can also sing the beautiful Song of Stars.”

Useless. Nothing had changed.

“Moses, then please lead the townspeople to safety.”

“Where?”

“Somewhere safe.”

“Traveler, there is no safe place left in this southern land.”

Moses smiled faintly. Before I could reply, Zeppelin appeared.

“My lord, I have a proposal.”

“A proposal?”

“Take them in—into your territory.”

Zeppelin Gold’s eyes gleamed.

“For the Karavan Domain to thrive, it needed a major church anyway. A church benefits the people and makes the domain safer. No one dares attack a territory protected by a holy order—unless they justify it as a crusade. And no one declares war on the Church of Stars, since they preach only peace and harmony. Your domain would be untouchable.”

“……”

“Don’t worry about the cost. I’ll pay for it. That girl is one of the last remaining priestesses of the Star Church, isn’t she? And she might even become a Great Warrior. That means your domain could gain both new citizens and a divine protector. If the City of Stars falls, your land could become the new Holy Ground of the Stars.”

Zeppelin’s golden eyes glimmered greedily. He’d found another business opportunity. But I didn’t mind—it worked in my favor.

“Moses.”

“Yes.”

“Would you come to our domain?”

“You mean to leave this land.”

“If you’d rather not, I’ll understand. This place must hold meaning for the Church of Stars and its people.”

She shook her head.

“I’ll go.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. The Star exists everywhere, and the City of Stars is simply where those who follow it gather. As long as there are people, the city never disappears. I accept your offer, Traveler.”

Zeppelin grinned.

“I’ll handle the details, my lord.”

No doubt his mind was already calculating profits.

Then Moses said quietly,

“But can we leave safely?”

Her eyes were fixed far ahead— toward where I had come from, where Aaron now was.

The girl bathed in starlight was still anxious. I told her,

“You don’t need to worry.”

It might be troublesome, sure. But still.

“Today, every cross will break.”

I would not lose.

***

Aaron felt the surge of power. Divine energy filled his body to overflowing. Even the foreigner, Arhan Karavan, had fled. Overwhelmed with rapture, Aaron pursued him. His mind was hazy, dreamlike, drunk on the excess of strength. And then.

“The lights of countless stars have dimmed.”

He saw a faint glow beyond.

“They vanished before they could even shine.”

The light took shape—a man standing alone in the desert, a flame in his hand.

“I cannot accept this.”

A blazing lantern flared.

“I cannot accept an age where young lives are swept away by the times—where children who should have shone are discarded, where those who danced and sang died screaming, where those who wished for love and peace vanished.”

The man looked both young and old. But Aaron did not fear him. For his great god was with him.

“Judge the sinner!”

At Aaron’s cry, the Crusaders charged.

The man still did not move.

“How joyful was the age when one could gaze upon the starlit sky, read the map of paths to travel, and know there was still a way to go?”

The man recited verses like poetry. And with them, the lanterns multiplied. One became three, then six, then dozens, then hundreds. Each flickering light was held by a king—old kings, young kings, small kings, warrior princes—each bearing the same mark on their chest, the character of “Han.” A dynasty of men who once were.

“And the age when starlight still illuminated those paths—”

Wings unfurled.

The man who had once chased the stars—his dream passed to another man, his children, his brothers—blood to blood, voice to voice. The first will of mankind, carried through the ages, now took shape upon the world. Through Arhan’s 「Radiance」, countless lanterns bloomed across the desert.

“How happy it was.”

With a crushing sound, the first Crusader who charged forward shattered apart. The lights swept through, and one by one, the burning lanterns went out. The radiant blades split the armored knights in half, halting the army’s advance. The War Mages’ eyes shook in disbelief.

“This… this violates natural law…”

Panic spread among them, but Aaron did not fear. If his brothers could not, then he would.

“Brothers, behind me!”

He pulled the Crusaders back and charged himself. He believed his current power could overcome anything. And.

“……!”

His feet sank suddenly. The ground collapsed beneath him. The War Mages behind him tried to invoke earth magic, but their formulas disintegrated instantly.

“What—?”

“Spirits! It’s the power of an elemental spirit—higher even than our magic!”

The Earth Spirit King— Gaia, residing within the sword.

“You—…”

Aaron flailed as he fell. Even with Descent, he could not defy natural law itself. It was a lesson Arhan had learned while fighting Ismael. So Arhan had dug a trap. He had hoped this rookie Champion would leap forward recklessly, looking only ahead. And then.

“Farewell.”

At the very bottom of the pit waited for Arhan himself. The Third Steel—Polished Light— his sword gleaming brightly as he prepared.