Chapter 143 – Flamboyantly (3)

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Harkon’s voice lingers in my ears.

-“……Because on a battlefield crossing life and death, Sword Aura becomes even denser, and takes on its unique color.”

It seems I really did stand at the crossroads of life and death.

That saying which I barely understood until now.

Seeing how I comprehend it at once, that is.

In the slowed down time, I looked at my sword.

Sss

The stage above Sword Aura, Sword Force.

A bladed weapon that turned into a dense ink color like pitch-black.

Silver spirit wrapping around that pitch-black sword body.

Did he say the user’s unique color.

……Did it embody my silver hair from my dark history or what.

Anyway.

It makes it look like my, Lee Ho-yeol’s Sword Force to anyone’s eyes.

However, what’s more important than that is that it’s Sword Force, not Sword Aura.

This must also be thanks to Granfel’s talent.

Just like grasping the realm of magic at once. I could also naturally realize how different Sword Aura and Sword Force were.

And how difficult a realm Sword Force is to reach.

You know, you can just tell by looking at the current situation, right?

It meant that even with Granfel’s talent, it was a realm that could only be reached after falling into a near-death state.

In my heart, I wanted to leisurely feel this tremendous growth but.

[Status abnormality, ‘Bleeding’ occurs.]

[Warning: Vitality is too low.]

[Warning: Vitality is too low.]…….

The messages flashing since earlier were just so distracting.

Sshk

The Sword Force slashing demons too.

Thwack

The shooting crossbow bolts too.

They are slow unlike before.

I feel that my physical body has truly reached its limit.

Having no choice but to insist on always.

This is impossible, even with Granfel’s pride.

However, just as I guessed before entering the Arcana continent.

Stab

Swoosh

I didn’t stop hunting for a single moment.

If my movements got slow, let them be slow.

If I have any energy left, to hunt even one more demon.

I was intimidating my screaming physical body.

It’s absurd.

There’s no absurdity like this, Granfel.

Really, it’s befitting of the dark history.

Death or whatever.

Like a ghost from the stormy period of puberty that feared nothing. However, I am thankful for that.

Because if it wasn’t the me from those days, this was a battlefield to a level that I absolutely couldn’t handle.

Pajijijijik!

Along with a noise.

Magic power scattering into the air.

The magic power dragon that reached its limit oxidizes.

[Evil Earth Dragon’s Fang] returning to the inventory.

Now it’s only me left on the ground.

The gazes of tens, hundreds of thousands of demons focused solely on me.

[Lv.900: Wandering Giant Hellhound]

[Lv.950: Evangelist of Despair]

[Lv.1,000: Overlord of the Western Demon Realm, Raxioros]…….

Every single one of them is bullshit…….

No, they are distant levels that I can’t even dare to approach.

However, what makes me fear more than the numbers is that not a single High-ranking Demon King revealed itself among these countless demons.

Well, just to catch one me.

It means there’s no need for the high-ups to step forward.

I muttered.

“Your attitude of welcoming a guest of honor is insufficient.”

Even while seemingly about to collapse at any moment, words still come out well.

However, is my limit visible to them as well?

Someone’s voice could be heard.

“Indeed, befitting the last survivor of the renowned Akshan! I, the Overlord of the West Raxioros, acknowledge you. You were foolishly brave until the end. It’s a waste to treat you like those cowardly humans!”

Overlord of the Western Demon Realm, Raxioros.

The guy riding on a giant beast-type demon chattered away.

“Good. Even in death, I shall grant you the opportunity to serve this body. Anyone is fine! Take over that Demon Hunter’s physical body! Possess it! If you do, I shall grant you the honor to participate in the Demon King struggle on equal footing with me, Raxioros!”

Are they even having a struggle over the seat of a Demon King?

Demons sure have a nice life.

While we are living day by day not knowing what monster or demon will barge in from a rift.

On top of that, what?

Possess me?

‘I really have a lot to say, but I…….’

Do not mix unnecessary conversations with prey.

Instead of words, I moved my finger.

Click

Raxioros, that guy raised his palm and blocked the bolt.

I didn’t even expect it to work.

As expected, he seems to find it ticklish.

The guy looked at his pierced palm and spat out a snickering laugh.

“Hahaha!”

The guy’s pupils dyed black.

“Is this your final struggle? The last survivor of Akshan!”

Even a boomer pun……?

You also do all sorts of things.

But that’s enough.

Clench

I let both my hands holding the sword and crossbow hang loose.

“Have you finally realized? Demon Hunter! It’s over! Everything!”

Gulp

I can hear the demons swallowing their saliva.

Kekekeke

Laughs mixed half with twisted joy and half with mockery can be heard.

“Arrogant. Arrogant unlike a human. Did you think you were something just because you hunted a Demon King and a Great Evil? To think you’d come here alone! It’s beyond arrogant, it’s foolish!”

At that declaration, the Demonic Eyes in the night sky twitched.

From full moons to crescent moons.

The Demonic Eyes filling the night sky seemingly smiled brightly with their eyes.

Is it because I dropped into the Arcana continent.

Suddenly, Akshan comes to mind.

‘Did the Demon Hunters of Akshan feel like this too.’

In order to carry through their pride.

They fought against demons until the very, very end, but.

What returned would have been only the mockery of demons.

“How is it? Have you felt the urge to wail now? Let us see, just like the Demon Hunters who died before you. Try wailing once too. Try contorting that arrogant face of yours!”

Raxioros, just like that guy’s words.

At the threshold of death, the iron-wall-like mental strength might have crumbled.

However, I know.

“Shut your mouth.”

Yusra.

Frost.

Tepheran.

Akshan.

Because I had experience.

Even if I didn’t know, I couldn’t help but know now.

That human pride is something that continues endlessly.

The extinction of Akshan?

As I’ve said multiple times, it’s something that happened during my hiatus.

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to see it as a matter unrelated to me.

However, now that I know of Akshan’s pride, I cannot stay still.

Whether they danced to the demon’s tricks or whatever.

Ultimately, abandoned even by their allies.

I mean I cannot turn a blind eye to them forever.

Right.

This finale is.

My mourning towards Akshan.

Srrk

I slowly lifted my head.

The giant ship faintly visible behind the clouds.

My backing, the Iron Castle.

Though I was alone on the ground.

I also have something floating up in that sky like you guys.

Luminescence.

The gun barrel of the Iron Castle shone differently than before.

A message popped up in my blurry vision.

[Flying Machinery Castle, Iron Castle: Magic Power Ray Ejection Cannon Loading Complete]

If I have no choice but to die anyway.

Not just recovering the cost.

Flamboyantly.

Shouldn’t I die valuably too?

It was so.

This too is a part of the thorough preparations.

I disappear along with the Arcana continent and millions of demons.

Jiiiiing!

The peak of dwarven technology, the Iron Castle.

It was an attack spewed out with the Iron Castle’s full power.

In other words, it means that ray cannon possesses stronger destructive power than any magic or skill I have seen so far.

The condensation of giant magic power.

Because of that, the clouds clear and the hull’s appearance is revealed.

Roll roll

Putting the eye-smiles they were forming to shame.

The focuses of the Demonic Eyes urgently roll.

They seem to have grasped the situation belatedly but.

Regretfully, it’s too late.

“……!!!”

Just like telepathy.

They seemed to be receiving information from the Demonic Eyes.

Raxioros, that guy’s face mercilessly contorts.

“……You are out of your mind, Demon Hunter! It is merely a final struggle! Nothing will change even if you throw away your life. Even if you defeat millions of demons in this place, tens of millions, no, hundreds of millions of demons will be newly born!”

You are not consistent.

Seeing your tongue getting longer, the momentum from earlier can’t be seen at all.

I don’t have unnecessary conversations, but I must also say what needs to be said.

I opened my mouth.

“In that case, I will simply hunt the hundreds of millions of demons as well.”

“……What?”

He seems unable to understand.

It’s understandable.

Wondering how I’ll hunt hundreds of millions of demons when I’m on the verge of dying, and in a situation where we’re about to be swept away together in a magic power bombardment, he definitely wouldn’t be able to understand.

But don’t be mistaken on your own.

Who said someone is dying?

[The Last Adventurer: You do not die in the Arcana continent. Upon death, you immediately return to reality and cannot access the Arcana continent for a certain period of time. – Cooldown: 24 hours]

The Arcana continent.

Once I find a method to enter again.

I’ll appear in front of you guys as much as I can.

Really, until I kill hundreds of millions of demons……!

Because I have a personality that can’t live without keeping the words I spit out.

However, today is up to here.

I continued my words.

“This is nothing more than a beginning.”

“……?”

“I am a Demon Hunter.”

“……!”

“I am exactly your natural enemy and terror.”

I finished words that I couldn’t casually spit out.

And then firmly shut my mouth.

Right, silence is exactly my attitude when facing a hunt.

It means it’s a signal flare.

[Flying Machinery Castle, Iron Castle: Firing Magic Power Ray Ejection Cannon]

Shooooosh!

Soon, a magic power ray of fearsome might covered my vision.

Amidst the desperate screams of the demons, messages floated up.

An enormously countless amount of messages.

[Contribution towards killing …… has been acknowledged.]

[Contribution towards killing …… has been acknowledged.]…….

[Level has increased.]

[Level has increased.]…….

[You have died.]

[Death penalty is applied.]

[Acquired experience points will decrease.]…….

[Your achievement echoes across the Arcana continent.]

[The lives of the Arcana continent speak of your sacrifice.]

[You acquired the title, ‘Sublime’.]

[The effect of the title, ‘The Last Adventurer’ activates.]

[Immediately returning to reality.]

[Cooldown: 23 hours 59 minutes.]

*

Iron Castle.

“……Damn it!!”

The dwarven leader, Chainwalker Hardrock spewed out his resentment.

“Was there truly only this method!”

Everything flowed as expected.

The survivor of Akshan.

The demons swarmed to kill the Last Demon Hunter, and to sweep away those demons, the Iron Castle used its hidden weapon.

When he heard the plan through the spirit, Hiel, he couldn’t help but be doubtful. It’s the maximum output of the Iron Castle.

Even if Ho-yeol was proficient in magic, it meant it was impossible to block it without taking damage.

-“Nevertheless, trust me. Sir Ho-yeol instructed me to convey that.”

However, what is an oath?

It is something one simply has no choice but to follow.

Moreover, the oath with Akshan could never be defied.

Even while worrying, they had no choice but to follow his plan.

But is this really the preordained sequence?

The dwarves, including Chainwalker, witnessed the entire situation.

“……That’s not an amount one can handle alone!”

“Chainwalker! It is right to join him even now!”

“We cannot lose the survivor of Akshan like this!”

Reaching the end, they captured Ho-yeol dropping his sword and crossbow.

Even though anyone could tell it was a cornered situation.

Is there really a method?

Doubts ceaselessly arose, but Chainwalker had to make a decision.

“One betrayal is enough. We merely trust Akshan.”

Click

Fire.

A magic power ray cannon that swallowed millions of demons.

Using the aftershock of the explosion as propulsion, the Iron Castle moved.

Naturally, the retreat was also part of the plan Ho-yeol established.

Chainwalker ground his teeth.

“……Do we even have the right to receive your concern?”

Only brief while falling into thought.

“!”

Hiel.

His thoughts reached the spirit.

Hiel was Ho-yeol’s contracted spirit.

Because she was practically proof that Ho-yeol was alive.

And he witnessed.

Why is it.

Hiel, who was emitting a ‘sublime’ light beyond elegance.

“Hiel, Sir Ho-yeol is……?”

To Chainwalker’s question, Hiel answered.

“There is nothing to worry about. Because he is safe. As always.”

With a voice more benevolent than ever.

.

.

.

……Putting my choice of the rift closest to the Mage Tower to shame.

‘What’s this.’

The condition of my physical body was perfectly fine.

So to explain it briefly…….

Back when Arcana was merely a game.

About the feeling of waking up after lying in the VR capsule.

Exactly that level of fatigue.

‘From night till dawn.’

I fought and brawled without rest.

When I checked the time, only two hours had truly passed.

I wanted to immediately return to the Mage Tower if going by my inner feelings.

Because checking if Marcelo is fine first was the procedure.

But I remembered striking all sorts of poses at the Round Table conference.

Isn’t returning in merely two hours after making such a fuss a bit embarrassing……? In that sense, I looked around the rift.

Also to examine the messages that popped up. Returning slowly while doing this and that is…….

“!”

However, I ended up checking it out.

It was my jacket, shirt, and slacks torn to shreds.

An injury doesn’t remain, but a bloodstain does.

My bare skin is clearly showing, this is.

It’s embarrassing to me too.

There’s no way Granfel could tolerate an attire like these rags.

Immediately manifesting a portal.

Two hour outing or whatever.

First of all, I have to change my clothes.

I changed clothes with motions full of moderation.

‘I should either change and go back out or something.’

However, putting my resolve to shame.

Knock knock

An urgent knocking sound could be heard.

……Will a sore break out anywhere if you pretend not to be here?

As if waiting, I answered.

“Wait.”

First of all, buttoning up.

“You may enter.”

A door opening immediately at my permission.

The one who opened the door and entered was Velliere.

To me, who was wearing Duke Swarlin’s treasured item, Velliere spoke.

“I did not know you would return so quickly.”

I didn’t know either.

“Marcelo. No, Chief Marcelo has woken up……!”

I knew he would, but.

To hear he woke up makes me relieved.

“……?”

Velliere’s gaze, who had delivered the news, soon headed to the rags neatly hung on the chair. It fixed on the clothing that was torn to shreds and soaked in blood. I didn’t even have time to open my mouth to say anything.

“……Chief Lee Ho-yeol? Those clothes are?”

Velliere asked with a trembling voice.

“What exactly……? What kind of thing did you suffer in the Arcana continent?”

……This damn personality.

I cannot quietly listen if it’s incorrect.

I tidied my clothing and spoke shamelessly.

“I did not suffer.”

“……?”

“I have returned after hunting millions of demons.”

“……Yes?!”

Why, what, even if we died together, it’s not wrong, right?