Chapter 136 : External Field Trip (9)
Chapter 136: External Field Trip (9)
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Among the elements an assassin searched for in a target, there was something called temperament.
It was a sensory realm that encompassed a person’s gait, body scent, the angles at which they usually swung their limbs, and even their personality, and if one dug deeper, it included the aura one gave off depending on their mood that day.
If one had reached the level of mastery as an assassin, a mere glance was enough to roughly gauge the target’s condition and even their thoughts.
In that regard, Carl could be said to have reached the peak.
He had risen to become the Greatest Assassin of the Central Plains and had accumulated decades of experience.
Therefore, it was safe to say that no ordinary human could deceive his eyes.
All the more so, how could he not notice the change in atmosphere of someone he usually stayed close with?
‘This aura is…….’
The aura Carl usually felt from Laysis was clean.
She had the dignity befitting a princess and had properly learned the art of restraining her presence.
But now, he felt nothing from her.
As if she were not a living person, there was no aura at all.
“Miss Laysis.”
“……Ah, Sir Carl.”
At his call, Laysis widened her eyes and turned back.
Her face, her voice, her movements, her demeanor were all the same as always.
Feeling a brief sense of incongruity at that sight, Carl tilted his head and stepped closer to her.
“I was startled because you were standing there absentmindedly. I worried if something might have happened.”
“Ah, forgive me. I must have hurt my head when I fell, I felt a little faint, so I was resting while keeping watch.”
“Was this your doing, Miss Laysis?”
“Yes. Something had happened here. Until you arrived, something attacked me, and I fought to drive it off.”
“I am relieved that you are safe.”
Carl exhaled in relief, brushing his chest with his hand.
Then he pointed toward the path he had come and spoke.
“The exit is that way. There is a passage that leads down here from the main fortress above. The fortress itself must be a decoy, and this is likely the true purpose. In any case, since you seem injured, it would be better to go outside and receive treatment.”
“Yes, that would be better. If we are too late, others will worry.”
Laysis nodded.
Carl looked at her with concern, then urged her to hurry as he started walking ahead.
Just before they left the space with the altar—
“……”
Laysis smirked slyly and stretched out her hand toward Carl’s back as he walked in front.
Very sharp, very stealthy.
Her fingertips aimed directly at Carl’s heart.
Thud!
The thrust lunged without hesitation, piercing into Carl’s back.
But instead of blood spraying as expected, his body turned into black smoke and vanished.
“……!”
Laysis’ eyes widened as she looked around.
She was about to call out for Carl, but immediately, she felt a heavy force rush in from her side and raised her arms.
Clang!
A tremendous shockwave erupted.
Even though she had struck with considerable power, Laysis retreated with ease, without a single wound.
Carl narrowed his eyes at the sight.
Landing on the ground and widening the distance, Laysis shrugged her shoulders and said.
“What a violent man. To swing your fists like a ruffian at the woman you cherish.”
“Who are you?”
“Well, who could I be? Who else could I be, dwelling inside your woman’s body?”
Her face and voice were undoubtedly Laysis’.
But the gaze and expression that looked at him were nothing like her usual self—they were mischievous to the extreme.
‘Her eyes.’
Her blue emerald-like eyes had changed into a chilling crimson glow.
‘A demon?’
It was only natural to suspect that.
There were few beings that could seize a human’s body, disguise themselves, and toy with others.
Then, as if reading Carl’s very thoughts, Laysis furrowed her brows.
“Do not insult me by likening this body to such lowly creatures.”
“Then step out of that body and show yourself directly. Do not torment Laysis.”
“How could I possibly do that? This is a body I worked so hard to obtain.”
Laysis smirked and spread her hand wide.
White light condensed above it, stretching into a long form.
It soon solidified into a sword, which she gripped tightly.
“……”
Carl watched in silence, then slowly drew his own sword.
Shrrng.
The Divine Sword Cheonroe.
Gray energy surged upward along its sharpened blade.
It had not been long since that being had seized Laysis’ body.
So all he could do was hold onto the faint hope that there was still a chance.
“……”
Still smirking as if amused, Laysis suddenly froze.
“……?”
Her eyes widened, staring straight at the sword in Carl’s hand.
Her face twisted as though she had seen the unseeable, and she ground her teeth as she asked.
“You wretch, what is your relationship with 《Justice》?”
“……”
Carl gave no reply and simply raised his sword higher.
But inwardly, he was greatly shocked.
He had never expected that the being possessing Laysis would bring up Justice.
‘……Could it be, it recognized Cheonroe?’
Sure enough, Carl noticed Laysis’ gaze fixed upon Cheonroe.
“That sword, I have seen it before. It was one of the swords carried by that boastful swordsman.”
“……You speak as though you had seen him directly.”
“Ha!”
At Carl’s words, Laysis sneered.
“Do you think I merely saw him? Because of those detestable ones who called themselves heroes, I was buried in this bottomless abyss.”
What could enrage it so deeply?
The words, spewed with Laysis’ gentle voice, made the rage feel even more alien.
“Amusing, so amusing. For you to have received that sword means you passed the trial left behind by 《Justice》 and were acknowledged. After countless ages, the successor of a hero comes to find me.”
Boom!
Laysis stomped on the ground.
Dozens of sword strikes surged toward Carl, following the sudden trajectory of light that slashed at him.
Shshshshk!
An irresistible downpour.
To block it, Carl raised his sword sharply and unfolded a sword barrier before himself.
Gray energy roared, erecting a thick wall, yet the weight of the pouring rain was unbearably heavy.
Thud, thudooom.
Each time the white downpour struck directly, Carl was pushed a step back.
Drip.
Because he failed to fully disperse the overwhelming aftermath, his body was marred with wounds here and there, and blood seeped through his garments, staining them red.
‘Such tremendous swordsmanship.’
Carl clicked his tongue inwardly and swung his sword even more fiercely.
Every time the rain clashed against him, the shock that poured through the Divine Sword rattled his wrist.
It was an attack imbued with martial skill so high he thought this might be the most formidable being he had ever fought.
Shaaah.
The cascading rain gathered once more atop Laysis’ hand.
Meanwhile, Carl regained some composure, exhaling briefly as he lifted his head.
“Hoo.”
There were no fatal injuries.
This level of wound could be stopped without pressing acupoints, simply by exhaling and tightening his muscles.
‘Perhaps she may even be stronger than me.’
On top of that, Laysis’ body was being held hostage, so he had to subdue her without causing harm.
A battle of adding impossibility upon impossibility.
Carl could only let out a bitter smile.
Clatter.
But giving up never crossed his mind.
Because he wanted Laysis.
If he were to give up this easily, he would never have dared to desire her in the first place.
“……”
Seeing Carl’s unyielding momentum, Laysis smirked.
Her crimson glowing eyes flashed through the darkness, drawing a curve as her lips parted slowly.
“Good.”
She raised her sword, pointing it at Carl.
“You want to save this woman, don’t you?”
“……”
“I need a body that can withstand my stature. If you yield your body, I will release her. What say you?”
It was an abrupt proposal.
But Carl instead saw it as an opportunity.
“……Even if I do so, do you think I will meekly hand over the control of my body?”
“Ha-ha, such confidence. Very well, if you endure, I shall acknowledge you.”
Laysis—no, the Demigod Kailos—sneered.
Did a mere human think he could withstand a divine mantle?
Judging from his soul’s resonance, he seemed far from ordinary, but could any extraordinariness ever be compared to that of a Demigod?
“……”
Carl steadied his aura.
Should he accept that being’s proposal?
At present, it was indeed the only way to resolve the situation without harming Laysis.
And besides, he had the confidence that his spirit would not lose.
Swish.
Lowering his sword, Carl spoke to Laysis.
“Swear it. Swear that you will release Laysis, enter my body, and yield if defeated.”
“So be it. I swear by the ancient covenant.”
Laysis drew the holy sign while curling her lips upward.
‘To think he would hand himself over this easily.’
To enter the body of someone at that level was difficult even to attempt.
Yet he yielded so readily.
Once inside, everything else became easier.
For in a battle of souls, no being could withstand the stature of a Demigod.
“……”
Sensing the resonance of mana, Carl nodded and lowered his sword.
Since the oath had taken effect, even if it were a demon, breaking it would bring ruinous backlash.
The higher the being, the stronger the binding, so this was all he could trust.
“Good.”
Laysis likewise released her sword of light and in an instant closed the distance to Carl.
In but a moment, she was close enough that their breaths mingled.
When Carl faltered slightly, she reached out playfully, grasping his neck so he could not escape.
“So innocent. Have you not even shared a kiss yet? Stay still.”
Her lips drew close, nearly touching.
No, just before they met, a white breath exhaled from within Laysis’ mouth and entered Carl.
Shaaah.
The Demigod Kailos exulted.
Time in the Bottomless Abyss flowed differently from outside.
How many ages had he rotted away in this place?
Had he not been a Demigod, his spirit would have long since worn down and perished.
[But I endured! I survived!!]
And now he had even ensnared the hero’s successor who had sought him out, stealing his body.
Shiiiiiing!
He drew close to the world of the mental image.
At once, Kailos unleashed his divinity, imposing his dominion from within.
Thoom.
Blinding white bolts burst out in torrents.
Kailos raised his head, lips curling in delight.
[Excellent! Truly a vessel worthy of being chosen as the successor of a hero! Even as I pour my divinity into him, there is no end! Where could such a……!]
–Foolish.
Kwooooom!
Suddenly, pitch-black lightning, Black Thunder, fell from above.
The shockwave was so fierce that Kailos, who had been exuding divinity without restraint, was slammed into the ground and buried.
[……Kh, agh!]
In the vast crater, Kailos barely regained his senses.
What was this, what was this power?
Slowly lifting his head, he looked up to see a colossal presence gazing down upon him from the sky of the mental world.
–Though not of direct lineage, he is the successor of my legacy. How could I allow a godhood of another realm to covet his spirit? Is that not so, Bingbaekmok?
Fssshhh.
Suddenly, the surroundings filled with icy cold.
It was the World Tree.
A World Tree, its abundant leaves and trunk all covered in pure white ice, appeared suddenly before Kailos.
[What is this…….]
Kailos lifted his head in disbelief, looking around.
[The godhood of another realm? How could a human body hold two divine mantles…….]
For such spirits to reside within this mental space.
Just what was the true nature of this human?