Chapter 281
6.
There had been countless battles up until now.
Thanks to the ghost’s memories and experiences, Seong had managed to get through them well.
But this time, it was different.
A fight against a Fragment of a Transcendent—no less than one of the Nine Heroes.
Having already faced a Fragment of the Transcendent Apophis, Seong couldn’t help but feel tense.
It had already been overwhelming just to face a portion of a dead Transcendent.
But now, he had to face the will of a living Transcendent.
Still, there was no backing out.
He had to obtain the Demon Palace Bow.
Even if he died, he could always be resurrected.
‘If I don’t get it here, the loss will be huge.’
He’d come too far to retreat now.
He had no choice but to move forward.
While strategizing with his subordinates—
A sudden system message appeared out of nowhere.
[We apologize for having to deliver this message to user 『Seong』.]
It looked like a system message, but the tone felt more like a developer’s personal note—familiar in the worst way.
Could it be?
He’d received something like this once before, and the ominous feeling returned.
But what followed was entirely different from last time.
[As user 『Seong』 may have already noticed, there is a knight participating in the tournament who bears the will of the Sword Saint. We sincerely apologize for our failure to prevent this in advance.]
“Oh?”
This time, the message had a positive effect—Seong’s face lit up immediately.
His subordinates, who’d been helping plan the strategy, waited quietly upon seeing his reaction.
As he continued reading, Seong mulled over the message.
So they’re going to release the Sword Saint?
‘That’s a bit of a shame.’
Facing the Sword Saint was a massive burden.
Yet the thought of not being able to fight him?
That too was a bit disappointing.
He was curious—how long could he last in such a fight?
Would he never get to find out?
That idea left him a little regretful.
Might as well keep reading.
[However, erasing the Sword Saint’s will at this point would mean removing a choice from user 『Seong』 after the story has already progressed this far.]
[At E-World, we have always stood against the loss of freedom and free will, and it is for that reason we are sending you this message.]
‘Oh?’
A surprisingly emotional message.
He kept reading.
[If you wish for the Sword Saint’s will to disappear, we will honor user 『Seong』’s wish.]
[However, should you choose to face the challenge—should you decide to confront the Sword Saint’s will regardless of the risks—we at E-World will fully support your will and choice.]
“...Wow.”
He was honestly a little moved.
He’d thought they might hate him.
But instead, they were saying they supported his decision.
It made him wonder if these were really the developers.
And when he saw what came next—the rewards—
Seong couldn’t help but be even more touched.
[If user 『Seong』 wishes to fight the Sword Saint, we will provide you with a replicated item identical to the Demon Palace Bow, the tournament’s grand prize.]
[Additionally, any demonic artifacts you may lose upon defeat will also be replicated and preserved.]
[Furthermore, as a token of our support, once the tournament concludes—regardless of your choice—we will unlock the Almighty-grade skill 『Galactic Sword Dance』 embedded within your current Legendary item, 『Hero Hindel’s Sword』, as a bonus reward.]
[Whatever you decide, we wish user 『Seong』 the best of luck.]
“...They’re really... giving me all that?”
After reading the full message, a wave of emotion swept over him.
They were offering rewards no matter which path he chose.
Even if he lost, his demonic weapons would be restored.
Such a level of thoughtful support—
It was impossible not to feel moved.
Then again, the Sword Saint’s appearance was justified.
Transcendents were borderline cheat-level beings.
Just reading that message gave him a burst of strength.
No matter what he chose, they were backing him.
“Let’s go all out.”
With that thought, Seong renewed his resolve.
He turned to his subordinates and discussed the plan.
How to fight. What formations to use.
As they spoke, Helena and all the others nodded firmly, faces filled with determination.
They all knew this would be an intense battle.
Everyone wore serious expressions—
Everyone except Seong, whose face had relaxed.
There was nothing to lose.
So then—
‘I’ll give it everything I’ve got.’
[You have chosen to battle the Sword Saint.]
[Additional rewards and compensation in case of defeat will be granted after the match.]
[We support your decision.]
Since he was even getting their support now—
Seong nodded, feeling a surge of strength welling up inside him.
From afar, a voice echoed.
[The long-awaited final match!!! Begins now!!!]
The ever-excitable commentary spirit shouted once again, prompting Seong to rise from his seat.
Far in the distance, atop the arena stage—
Seong began to walk toward it.
With all of his subordinates by his side.
7.
The long-awaited final match.
The moment everyone had been waiting for was about to unfold.
Seong was the first to step onto the stage.
The sight of Seong entering the arena with an overwhelming number of subordinates was truly a spectacle.
Helena and Fiora flanked him.
Behind them stood Serpina, Leonic, Valtar, Drakanos, and Silvanor.
At the very rear, Barfur stood tall while Kalisha and Anemore circled the skies above.
[OHH!!! Seong is deploying all of his subordinates right from the start, fully prepared for war!!!]
The commentary spirit practically shrieked.
But it wasn’t just the commentator who was startled.
—He’s going all-in already?
—Isn’t that his full force?!
—He’s split his power across fights before, but this is the first time he’s brought them all at once!
—Yeah;;; feels like he’s completely serious.
—Or maybe that means Gam is that high-level?
—Yeah yeah yeah, I told you, he's insane.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Everyone was shocked to see even the Demon King preparing for battle.
Had Seong ever fought this seriously before?
That’s why it was even more surprising.
Even with everyone reacting in awe,
Gam—ascending the stage alone—wore only a sneer, as though he felt nothing.
The other knights entered as well, but they might as well have not existed.
Looking at Seong, Gam scoffed and spoke.
“So you’ve figured out who I am, haven’t you?”
His arrogant mumble earned only a nod from Seong.
The Sword Saint—the backbone of the Kingdom of Rieskan’s dark magic.
There were many things he wanted to ask,
But he knew there would be no answers.
So Seong said nothing.
He simply summoned violet flames and darkness to prepare for battle.
At that signal, his subordinates began to move.
First was Drakanos, the swordsman, followed by Leonic, Valtar, and Silvanor charging ahead.
Behind them, the close-combat fighters Barfur and Fiora took their positions.
Seong stood with Helena and Serpina.
Above, Kalisha and Anemore sealed the skies.
Even as the formation tightened into a near-perfect encirclement,
Gam—or rather, the Sword Saint—showed no concern.
He simply drew his sword.
[Gam draws his sword!!! Despite the overwhelming enemy forces, he insists on facing them all alone!!!]
His reckless solo stance seemed almost foolish.
But—
The moment he drew his blade, an immense pressure erupted, pressing down on the arena like a tidal wave.
It was a force only those standing on the battlefield could feel.
Behind his mask, Seong let out a faint grin.
The gamer’s spirit was beginning to burn within him.
Meanwhile, the commentary spirit seemed to find Gam’s lone stance absurd.
[The match hasn’t even started yet, but every Featherwing Knight except for Gam looks ready to run off the field at any moment!!!]
Viewers were just as stunned.
—He’s taking on the Demon King’s entire legion alone?
—Even the Demon King looks nervous;;;
—All the subordinates’ faces are stiff too;;;
—Man, how is this going to go?
With everyone watching intently—
The commentator finally shouted:
[Let the match begin!!!]
In an instant, Seong’s subordinates launched into motion.
They were so fast—
If the footage hadn’t gone into slow motion for MeTube, no one would’ve seen a thing.
And in that slowed-down moment, what appeared behind Gam—bearing the will of the Sword Saint—
Were two figures not yet seen on the field.
Two long-lost subordinates of Seong had returned, striking like assassins.
Shivren, the serpent beastman.
Noirtein, the spider beastman.
Appearing from thin air, they ambushed Gam from behind.
Shik!
Shaaa!
[W-What is this!?!? Two more subordinates have suddenly appeared from nowhere!!! They’re trying to assassinate Gam!!!]
With Shivren and Noirtein making a rare appearance, some viewers immediately recognized them.
—LOL aren’t those the guys from that last war?
—Finally back, hahaha
—I thought they were gone for good!
—How’d they sneak in without anyone noticing?!
While the chat erupted—
The Sword Saint simply raised his blade and gave it a lazy sweep, as though swatting flies.
And just like that, Shivren and Noirtein’s bodies were blasted away, thrown backward in a violent explosion.
BOOOOOM—!!!
KWAAAAANG—!!!
Repelled by the immense force, the two were flung back.
Drakanos stepped forward in their place, drawing his blood-red sword.
The aura erupting from his blade was redder than any blood, hotter than any flame.
But even as the scorching blade surged toward him—
The Sword Saint clicked his tongue in disdain.
“You think a sword like that can harm me? Pathetic.”
Without even using sword energy, he deflected Drakanos’s strike with ease.
As expected of one whose sword had touched the stars.
The same strikes that had always worked before were dismissed like child’s play.
But even so, the Sword Saint’s expression twisted for a moment.
His stance had shifted—just slightly.
To think such a trivial strike could even nudge his footing.
Offended, he readjusted his grip.
And then came the counterattack—
Leonic, Valtar, and Silvanor charged in together.
Swiiiiiish—!
A sharp, radiant blade aura tore through the air.
A sudden strike, but a flawless one.
If the sun itself could wield a sword, it would look like this.
The brilliance and searing heat of the sun compressed into one perfect slash.
The eyes of the three attackers wavered.
That much force, from just one stance?
They tried to intercept it with their own delayed attacks—
But were overwhelmed and blown away, scattered like dust in the wind.
KRAAAAANG—!!!
And at that moment—
As time seemed to slow and fragment into grains—
Particles of light gathered, coalescing above into a storm of cyan lightning.
It splintered, scattered, and reformed again into a vast thunderbolt, plummeting toward the Sword Saint’s head.
A waterfall of thunder crashing from the sky.
But as it fell—
The Sword Saint raised his blade—
—————!!!
The slash rose, cleaving through the storm.
The vast ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ waterfall of lightning was swallowed up—
And in its place, a blazing sun ascended into the heavens.
Basking in that golden radiance, the Sword Saint spoke.
“This... is a sword.”