64 – The Reaper (5)
Crash!
Once again, a loud noise erupted.
And the pile of rocks turned into rubble, scattering in all directions.
However, the one who caused this destructive spectacle.
“….”
Still, his expression remained grim.
The black ball stood still, staring straight ahead with sunken eyes.
Where his gaze fell upon.
“….”
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Wade, still covered in blood, stood there.
Slightly different from before.
The black ball’s eyes narrowed.
‘…He deflected it.’
His sword.
A deflection containing the essence of his attack.
He deflected it.
By clashing swords, causing an attack.
Although his power couldn’t match his opponent’s determination, and it only slightly diverted the trajectory, it was undeniably a deflection.
‘Just a while ago, he couldn’t even react properly.’
Just a while ago, Wade couldn’t even properly respond to his attacks.
He barely managed to move his sword to prevent being completely cut down.
Thanks to that, he avoided losing his life in a single strike, but that was the extent of it.
Without being able to fully dissipate the impact, his body was left in shambles.
It wasn’t a result of Wade being weak.
It was simply a consequence of the black ball being too strong.
There was a gap between Wade and complete devastation after just two blows.
However.
It was clear that it was so.
This time, the outcome was a little different from before.
The Swordmaster had thought he had perfectly grasped Wade’s abilities through their previous battles.
Therefore, he believed he could end the match with this strike.
But.
That belief turned out to be wrong.
“…Was he hiding his skills?”
When pushed to the brink, humans squeeze out even the last drop of their strength.
If the earlier strike from Wade was indeed an attack that had exhausted all his power, then this unexpected outcome was not entirely unreasonable.
Although the gap was significant, Wade, as his opponent, had also reached a level where he could wield the Sword of Determination.
For a swordsman who had reached such a level, deflecting his strike if he put all his might into it was entirely possible.
“Indeed, there’s still a move left.”
Praising Wade, the Swordmaster raised his sword once again.
“Where to, can you block this too?”
And then, he swung his sword.
Swish—
Another strike unfolded.
Boom!
Rocks rained down without mercy.
Yet.
Even this time, Wade stood firmly on both legs.
The Swordmaster’s eyebrow twitched.
It was understandable to block once.
Assuming he had exerted all his power, it was a plausible feat.
But if it happened twice, it couldn’t simply be overlooked.
Moreover.
“The angle has widened.”
The area deflected was even larger than the one swung earlier.
There was no possibility that the power of his strike had weakened.
He had reached a level where he could perfectly control all his attacks.
In that case, there was only one remaining possibility.
“…He’s progressed.”
The fact that he deflected the third strike was not due to pouring out all his power.
It was simply because he had progressed.
“…”
In truth, it was quite common for someone cornered to grow.
Human survival instinct takes precedence above all else, often drawing out hidden potential just to stay alive.
However.
Clearly, there are limits even there.
If it were just once by chance, it would be unknown, but to repeatedly grow in such a short time is certainly exceptional.
Originally, growth is not something that can be achieved so easily.
It takes a lot of experience and time to accumulate before one can take a step forward on the path of the unknown.
Moreover, the deeper one ascends, the more severe it becomes.
For an unmanned like Wade to take a step forward, it takes a considerable amount of time and effort.
He achieved that, one after another in this short time.
As if simply walking on flat ground.
Swish—
Without saying a word, the swordsman once again swung his sword.
However.
Kwaaang!
“…….”
The outcome was the same.
The enlightenment of such a moment is always fleeting.
While taking a single step forward is possible, surpassing steps consecutively is impossible.
Yet, Wade was accomplishing this impossible feat right in front of their eyes.
A sticky feeling suddenly emerged in the swordsman’s chest as he confirmed this fact once again.
Kwaaak—
Strength surged into the hand holding the sword.
And his expression turned coldly impassive.
Without uttering a word anymore.
Thud!
The swordsman lightly struck his position.
And the next moment.
He was already in front of Wade.
“I acknowledge your talent. However….”
Even with such peculiar growth, there was an insurmountable gap between him and Wade.
With just a few steps forward, the result remained unchanged.
Ski—
The swordsman’s sword, filled with fierce intent, gleamed.
Meanwhile, Wade.
“…….”
Suddenly, he was closely observing the swordsman’s movements that appeared before him, following his sword with his eyes until the end.
This was a stark contrast to his previous reactions, which had barely responded after appearing before him.
However, despite the evident growth, the swordsman paid little attention.
He was quite fast for someone lacking in magical and physical strength.
He had anticipated a reaction of that sort.
So.
Reacting is meaningless.
Whoosh!
Aimed at Wade’s body, the sword of the blacksmith swung as it was.
There’s no time to dodge.
Wade can only react to a certain extent, but he falls behind the blacksmith even in speed.
Even if he manages to dodge once, he is bound to be hit by the subsequent attacks along that path.
Wade knows this well, and in the end, he had no choice but to face the blacksmith’s sword with his own.
Watching this, the blacksmith’s eyes gleamed.
It went as he had planned.
However.
Clang!
The blacksmith’s sword did not cut Wade’s sword.
Because of the faint sword aura emanating from Wade’s sword.
It was extremely faint, but it was undoubtedly a sword aura.
“…Did he have some energy left.”
Looking at that faint concept of a sword, the blacksmith understood that Wade still had some energy left, and also grasped his intention.
With his magic and mental strength, Wade was in a situation where he was pushed to his limits.
He might not last long using the sword aura, but in a fight of this level, he couldn’t afford not to use it.
Therefore, Wade minimized the sword aura to the slightest extent possible.
To protect his sword.
Of course, as faint as it was, it couldn’t compare to a fully unleashed sword aura.
It would be difficult for the sword to last long in that state.
However, at least it could prevent it from breaking in one breath.
Looking at that faint sword aura, the blacksmith furrowed his brow even more.
“Has he really mastered the concept of a sword aura to this extent.”
In reality, the idea of minimizing the sword aura is not extraordinary.
But actually doing it is another matter.
The sword aura is a destructive force.
Simply because it is a force created based on the will of the wielder, it is rough and difficult to control.
Yet the boy in front of him was pulling out and maintaining such a sword aura like a wisp of smoke.
It was truly a mastery of the control of energy to a divine level.
However.
“He may be skillful, but it’s meaningless.”
Thud! Clang!
The blacksmith’s sword began to relentlessly strike Wade’s sword.
Even if he managed to avoid the sword breaking by faintly surrounding it with the sword aura, there were limits.
It was impossible to absorb all the impacts just with that.
Moreover, with a faint sword aura, it was a clear fact that it wouldn’t last long.
That’s why the blacksmith aimed only at Wade’s sword.
But.
Thud!
Despite the repeated attacks.
Clang!
Even after his sword clashed with Wade’s sword several times.
Wade’s sword showed no sign of breaking.
The swordsman immediately understood the reason.
‘…Deflection.’
Just before their swords clashed, Wade subtly moved his wrist to deflect the impact from the swordsman’s sword.
Wade had judged that his sword wouldn’t hold up in a direct clash.
Hence, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that he was employing deflection with extraordinary skill.
To minimize the impact on his sword.
To prevent the sword from shattering.
Of course, the swordsman had no intention of allowing that.
Swish─
The swordsman’s sword, meeting Wade’s sword, moved like a snake.
And just like that, it swiftly bypassed Wade’s sword and plunged into his embrace.
“…!”
Seeing this scene, Wade panicked and hurriedly moved his body.
Clang!
But he couldn’t avoid getting injured.
“You’re quite nimble.”
The swordsman.
Perhaps the greatest swordsman on the continent.
He wasn’t just a strong and fast warrior.
He had reached the pinnacle of skill.
Even if Wade’s talent was exceptional, he couldn’t match him in skill.
From that moment on, the swordsman’s offensive completely changed.
If it had been a fierce storm before, this time it was a subtle swordsmanship reminiscent of a stealthy snake.
Wade tried to adapt to this change in his own way, but.
Clang!
His injuries only continued to increase.
This won’t do.
Was that the conclusion he reached?
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Thud!
Wade suddenly lifted his foot from its position.
It was just a step back, but a warrior at a superhuman level could cover a tremendous distance with just one step.
Wade’s figure swiftly retreated.
“Where to.”
Of course, the swordsman wasn’t going to stand idly by.
He immediately pursued Wade and thrust his sword.
And at the same time, he stabbed with a snake-like, sharp sword once again.
Wade, in a daze, tried to dodge the sword strikes by moving his feet clumsily and waving his weapon.
Clang!
His efforts were in vain as the wounds only continued to increase.
The clash between the two warriors continued, both gradually heading towards the summit of the mountain.
And after a while, finally, their steps came to a halt.
On the jagged cliff.
“…….”
Wade, covered in wounds and blood, gazed at the swordsman, and the swordsman looked back at Wade, unscathed and in perfect condition.
At a glance, the advantage was clear.
Throughout the prolonged battle, Wade had not managed to land a single blow on the swordsman.
“Now, let’s put an end to this.”
The swordsman declared.
“You cannot defeat me.”
Hum─
The swordsman’s sword began to cry out.
And as time passed, the cry grew louder.
It wasn’t just magic; determination, willpower, and mastery were all imbued in it.
“…….”
Watching this spectacle, Wade began to muster all his strength.
Hum─
Wade’s sword also let out a cry.
However, the cry was smaller and weaker compared to the swordsman’s.
Watching this unfold, the swordsman said his farewell calmly as he swung his sword.
Wade, too, swung his sword with all his might.
Eventually, the two warriors’ blades clashed.
────!
And the outcome was decided.
Clang!
Wade’s sword shattered into pieces.
Clang!
A long gash was carved into his body, blood spraying out like an explosion, marking the end.
“…….”
Wade, visibly bearing a fatal wound, seemed to have lost the strength to stand, swaying without finding his balance.
Finally, he fell off the dark cliff.
Quietly observing this scene, the swordsman sheathed his sword.
“It’s over.”
In one breath, Wade couldn’t help but worry a bit about not being able to avoid the attack completely, but the outcome remains unchanged.
Although a river flows beneath the cliff, the height here is pitch-black in itself.
From such a height, even a superhuman wouldn’t survive a fall without any precautions.
Yet, at the moment Wade was already falling, miraculously alive.
It seemed impossible to withstand such impact.
Even if, by some stroke of luck, he survived, he wouldn’t have the strength to escape the river by himself, only to drown and meet his end.
Coincidences piled upon coincidences, truly a stroke of luck.
Even if he managed to make it out of the river somehow, there was no hope.
Bounty hunters and assassins, already lurking nearby, targeting Wade’s life.
His death was already sealed.
With a cold gaze, Gomgong briefly scanned the surrounding commotion before starting to descend the mountain with slow steps.
In those steps, there was no hesitation.
***
Amidst the excruciating pain that engulfed his entire body, Wade struggled to cling to his fading consciousness.
He knew well that letting go now would be the end.
Though he managed to absorb some of the impact by scraping together the remaining mana and willpower just before colliding with the water, he barely escaped instant death, yet couldn’t fully dissipate the shock.
Even without knowing the details, the intense pain racing through his body hinted at a grave situation.
…No, Wade himself knew.
That he was dying.
Hence, he exerted all his remaining strength to maintain his sanity, but to no avail, as his consciousness dimmed gradually.
Powerless to fight the current, he simply surrendered to its fierce flow, as the icy water gradually stole his body heat away.
Amidst the raging current, Wade’s body collided with the cliff.
“…!”
In the pain that felt like his body was being twisted again, Wade nearly lost consciousness.
Though he managed to avoid passing out through superhuman endurance, Wade’s suffering was far from over.
As if hoping for Wade to lose consciousness, the rough current repeatedly slammed Wade’s body against the cliff.
Each time he gritted his teeth and endured, but Wade felt the limits approaching.
After enduring this process several times, perhaps due to luck, Wade’s body barely escaped the current, reaching the riverbank, but by then, Wade had long reached his limits.
Unable to even rise to his feet, in a state where he couldn’t even twitch a finger, Wade lay dying quietly on the riverbank.
It was then.
The sound of a faint footstep echoed.
Gradually, Wade realized that the surroundings were darkening.
And that someone’s shadow was looming over him.
He tried to lift his gaze to confirm the owner of the shadow, but Wade didn’t have the strength to even raise his head.
Unable to ascertain who the owner of the shadow was, he finally lost consciousness.