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Just as Donatan had said, much of the credit went to Hetherson. The Liquid Gold, which naturally absorbed mana, and the magic he taught allowed me to recreate it.

So, to illustrate how remarkable a Mana Blade is… yes, it’s like that great weapon from a famous movie—Star War’s lightsaber.

‘But so what? I don’t have Aura, which is the equivalent of the Force.’

– What is this Force you speak of?

‘It’s a thing. Never mind.’

Even though it was just an imitation, its power was comparable to the real thing. It could slice through steel beams.

***

The dull gray ground appeared to be solidified slime. As I observed the surroundings, I kept my eyes on Berme. While our gazes locked, the mage crawled on all fours, grabbing onto Berme’s pants. The mage’s complexion was pale, struggling to breathe.

“Air… I can’t… b

Berme looked down at him coldly.

“It seems the slime has entered your lungs.”

His voice was devoid of any compassion. Berme’s bloodstained sword came down on the mage’s neck.

Crunch!

It was a brutal scene, but I inwardly rejoiced. With the mage’s death, the Curse of Explosion would be lifted, leaving Berme as the only enemy.

I nudged Professor Gomon, who was lying next to me.

“Professor, please wake up.”

There was no response.

“…Professor?”

Even after calling him again, he remained silent, so I glanced over at him. Gomon had his eyes closed, looking peaceful as if he were in a deep sleep. A second later, I frowned as I heard his snoring.

“Snore.”

What a waste of an antidote. I withdrew my disdainful gaze and checked on the others. Everyone was stuck, their lower bodies trapped in the hardened slime, making them useless. That was true for the Knights, but it shouldn’t be a problem for the Mages since they only needed to wave their staffs.

…But…

“Ah, we’re saved…”

Led by Ricks, everyone sighed in relief. Only Leana from the Knights and Belman looked at me with suspicion. As I glanced at Belman, pleading for help, he asked Ricks. Ȑ�

“You seem awfully relaxed all of a sudden. Are you confident we’ll win?”

“Ah, you might not know this because you’re from Adelle House, but Hersel is a man who defeated the senior Emeric with just a finger. He even shattered a sword enveloped in Aura.”

“With just a finger? That’s absurd…”

“Even Professor Gomon said so, didn’t he? He told us to leave the rest to Hersel. He must have had that much confidence.”

No, you demon. Belman, don’t listen to that devil’s words…

“Indeed, that’s true. If Professor Gomon guarantees it, then it must be so.”

He’s wrong. Seeing him adjust his glasses with arms folded, it seemed he had no intention of helping me. Meanwhile, Berme shook the blood off his sword and turned his gaze toward us.

“As expected… I knew you were stronger than the professors since you came out of that trap unscathed.”

I swallowed hard. The Berme I remembered from our first encounter had been incredibly relaxed. But now, seeing him take a proper stance, it was clear he intended to go all out from the start.

Am I really supposed to face him alone? This is dangerous. I need to think of a new strategy.

I decided to burn the “Noble Blood’s Ember” to escape this crisis.

“Lay down your sword. Our only goal was to lift the Curse of Explosion. Now that the mage is dead, there’s no point in continuing this fight.”

As I spoke, trying to set the tone, Berme remained silent, listening.

The next step was to appeal to his pride.

“Isn’t that right? The Viper of Roaming Band, Berme. I’ve heard about you. I know you don’t care about your comrades’ deaths.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying you have no reason to fight. You don’t have a sense of vengeance, do you?”

I spoke as I scanned Berme’s entire body, pretending to be calm. His outfit was torn and dirty with dust.

“And honestly, I don’t want to fight you in your current state. Judging by your appearance, it seems you’ve fought with the professors and look a bit tired. But if you still insist on fighting…”

I trailed off my words and stared intently into his eyes.

“Come back when you’re fully prepared. So that you won’t have any regrets, even if you die—when you’re in your best condition.”

Perhaps my bluff had worked. Berme slowly began to lower his sword.

As expected, the “Embers of Noble Blood” were an excellent defensive technique.

But then someone had to ruin this promising situation…

“Yeah, Hersel’s right. If you want to live, why don’t you run away as fast as you can?”

Good grief.

Limberton, even you?

In my heart, I removed the praise sticker I had mentally awarded Limberton. I couldn’t believe he, too, had been corrupted by that ponytailed Satan…

“He rarely shows mercy, so you should apologize quietly and take this chance. Hersel can be very persistent when he’s angry.”

Everyone nodded at Limberton’s words. Leana even added an unnecessary comment.

“If you knew his past, you’d think this situation is a miracle. He used to reveal his savage nature even with the slightest provocation…”

Belman chimed in as well.

“That’s right, Berme. Hersel is so infamous in the Empire that there’s hardly anyone who doesn’t know his name.”

Just as I was about to stop them, my throat tightened as I overheard Ricks and Belman whispering.

“We’ve pricked his pride enough. He won’t run away now.”

“Smart move, Ricks. You’re right. It’s better to eliminate the Viper of Roaming Band here. He could become a threat in the future.”

So, it was Ricks, that devil, who devised this plan? I realized that if I didn’t purify these demons and their followers soon, I would meet my end. I needed a substantial amount of holy water—enough to completely cleanse all of them.

“Ha ha ha…”

Berme laughed, a cold sweat trickling down my forehead. I cautiously observed his expression, feeling my heart race with anxiety.

“The more I listen, the more amusing this gets. Did you really think I would back down? I just needed a moment to catch my breath. Now, shall we begin?”

It seemed he never intended to back down from the start. So did their trolling have no effect? No, that wasn’t the case.

Their antics had prompted Berme to pull out a glass vial filled with pills!

In this dire situation, Donatan had the nerve to make an irritating comment.

– As I’ve said repeatedly, the fate of a con man is never good.

I didn’t even have the energy to respond.

Berme was already swallowing the monsterization potion that should have been his last resort. Moreover, it was a potion that granted him the strength of an Ogre…

Gulp.

Berme’s veins began to bulge, his muscles swelling and then compressing back to their original size. Steam puffed out between his now-sharpened fangs.

“Hah.”

Berme stabbed himself in the stomach with his sword.

The strength of an Ogre is immense. Not only that, but they possess such regenerative power that they can survive unless their neck or heart is severed.

Pluck.

As he pulled out his blood-soaked sword, the wound on his abdomen rapidly healed.

“It’s been a long time since my sword has been so drenched in blood.”

This is bad.

I was now up against someone who had killed countless Pathfinders and was doped up on top of that. The only thing I could rely on now was the Mana Blade that I had intended to use when fighting alongside Donatan and Professor Gomon.

I drew my sword, fully aware of the vast gap between us.

With things having reached this point, I had no choice but to fight.

Shing—

I activated the magic formula I had prepared, turning my sword white. Berme, grinning, also ignited his Aura Blade.

Boom!

As he leaped into the air, the ground beneath his feet rumbled.

As I prepared myself, Donatan spoke.

– Do you remember the day you first met me, Hersel?

‘This isn’t the time for idle chatter. Focus…’

– Then just listen quietly.

I didn’t have time to be distracted by anything else. Berme was now descending with his sword raised for a vertical slash.

– Back then, you were so weak that you couldn’t even properly hold a single sword. Your arms were thin, and you couldn’t even lift a short sword.

Clang!

I blocked his attack with my body, causing his arm to lift up into the air from the recoil.

I didn’t miss the opportunity and thrust my Mana Blade toward his heart.

– But now it’s different. Your body has grown strong enough to wield a longsword with one hand.

Thud!

Unfortunately, Berme twisted his body, so the blade only pierced his lung.

– Now you can do it. One of the sword techniques of the Sword Saint.

The single opportunity ended in failure. I could only sense my impending death as the follow-up strike came at me.

Zap!

I felt electricity course through my entire arm.

Before I knew it, my sword was in one hand, and its tip was pointed at Berme’s throat.

Surprised, Berme quickly retreated.

“Hmph!”

It was a natural reaction, given that the Mana Blade was burning right near his vital spot.

-Do you see your arm, Hersel?

Only then did Donatan’s words start to make sense. As I looked at the arm I extended with the sword, an image of a spear formed in my mind. The difference in reach between Berme and me was significant, with mine being much greater.

– This is why I never gave up on swordsmanship, even though you can’t use Aura. Your long arms and legs are ideal for a swordsman.

His remark suddenly reminded me of my lineage.

The strongest swordsman, Aol Ben Tenest. My skeletal structure was an exact match to his.

– Hersel, let me confess. I’ve been training you all along, just like you. Every night, I’ve been conditioning your body, enhancing its flexibility. I broke the contract, so I have no excuses, but know this: I will never let you give up wielding a sword.

A smile spread across my face.

‘You finally admit it.’

My cryptic remark prompted Donatan to respond in a surprised tone.

– You knew?

Of course, I had studied magic thoroughly. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the phenomenon of my body strengthening on its own as a side effect of magic formulas was impossible. I just kept quiet because it was beneficial.

‘Ignorance is foolish.’

More importantly, I was in the middle of a battle. Since earlier, Berme had been waiting for the right moment to strike.

Each time he tried to advance, I pressed him back with the tip of my sword, surprising even myself.

‘Is this what you called the Sword Saint’s technique?’

– That’s right.

Berme was incredibly fast, using quick steps to dodge here and there. Despite not using Aura, I was able to keep up with him due to a simple principle.

While I merely swung my arm, Berme had to move meters at a time.

Tap tap tap!

To give an analogy, it’s easy to shine a flashlight on a person. But avoiding the light from that flashlight by moving around is extremely difficult. The difference in the distance that needs to be covered is enormous.

‘What’s the name of this technique?’

– Endless Shadow. You’ve already demonstrated the Mana Blade and blocked his strike with your body. The conditions have been met since he now perceives you as a strong opponent. He won’t be able to attack recklessly. This is a highly advanced defensive technique perfected through psychological warfare.

Endless Shadow. The name might be a bit ambiguous, but it was fitting.

Even when Berme tried to close in on a gap, the tip of my sword followed him like a shadow, aiming at his throat.

But isn’t this just like an aimbot? A cheat that auto-targets heads in FPS games…

So, the Sword Saint was a cheater.

***

Each time Berme tried to close in, his pupils shook in response to the pressing sword tip. Even when he used quick steps to dodge, trying to shake off the sword aimed at his throat, the result was the same.

No matter what he did, Hersel was always one step ahead, moving into the direction he intended to go as if he had read his mind.

‘He’s reading all my moves.’

In reality, all Berme had to do was knock Hersel sword aside and charge in.

But there was a reason why he hesitated.

‘I can’t gauge his full strength…’

So far, Berme had only confirmed Hersel’s incomprehensible level of indestructibility. He hadn’t yet shown his ability to enhance his strength or speed.

He didn’t know why, but it didn’t matter. It was safe to assume that Hersel’s mastery of Aura manipulation was on par with his indestructibility. There’s no way he would be exceptional at only one thing.

Because of this uncertainty, he hesitated to break through his defense and rush in. Once he committed to an attack, Hersel would have an equal opportunity to strike back.

If his judgment was even slightly off, his neck could be severed in the blink of an eye. And running away wasn’t an option.

—He rarely shows mercy, so you should apologize quietly and take this chance. Hersel can be very persistent when he’s angry.

According to the short guy, Hersel’s nature wouldn’t allow him to let him go easily. Even if Berme tried to retreat, he’d catch up quickly.

Caught in this dilemma, Berme decided he had no choice but to attack boldly.

‘I have to finish this before the potion’s effects wear off.’

Berme squeezed out all the Aura in his body. Then, he stabbed his stomach again, soaking his sword in thick blood.

Crunch!

He was preparing for a final decisive blow.

‘I have the upper hand.’

He wielded monstrous strength combined with all his Aura. Moreover, his sword was coated in deadly poison. If he could land even a minor wound, he would win.

No matter how sturdy Hersel’s indestructibility was, it had its limits. With such overwhelming power, Berme believed it would be more than enough to inflict a fatal injury.

‘He’s only aiming for my neck or heart. On the other hand, I just need to scratch his hand to secure victory.’

Berme’s muscles began to swell. The outpouring of dark energy and Aura created a sharp gust of wind, making Belman swallow nervously.

“This… this is dangerous…”

Ricks asked anxiously.

“Why? Hersel took his last strike without a scratch.”

“Why do you think knights wear armor?”

“What?”

“Because even indestructibility has its limits. If that monster strength and Aura-infused strike land, even Hersel could suffer a minor wound. That’s why it’s dangerous.”

Belman pointed to the mage’s corpse with its severed neck.

The blood that should have been red had turned black, bubbling, and his skin had decayed, turning pale.

“He deliberately stabbed himself to coat his sword with blood, so the blood itself must be poisonous.”

“It looks like some sort of poisoning… but when did he apply the poison?”

“When he cut down the mage. The blood from his previous fight with the professors must have lingered on his sword. Anyway, even a small amount of that blood could be deadly. It’s certain that even a minor cut would be fatal.”

As soon as Belman finished speaking, Berme charged at Hersel. His speed was too fast to follow with the naked eye, but the force with which he kicked the ground caused a deafening noise that echoed through the area.

Boom boom boom!

As Berme rapidly closed the distance, Hersel swung his sword.

Thud!

His sword pierced through Berme’s shoulder, but at the same time, Berme swung his sword diagonally.

His arm twisted at an unnatural angle, making it look like he was wielding a whip.

Swish—

His sword came crashing down on Hersel’s neck.

Clang!

The impact was so powerful that it made the onlookers’ hair flutter. Given the force, he should have been decapitated. Belman winced, anticipating the worst.

Crunch.

But when he heard the sound of bones breaking, he widened his eyes in shock.

Berme’s once-mighty arms were now broken and dangling limply below his elbows. In contrast, Hersel stood there, unharmed, staring indifferently at Berme.

“It’s over, Berme.”

Hersel swung the Mana Blade embedded in Berme’s shoulder.

Shk!

As the sound of cutting subsided, Berme’s head dropped to the ground.

Thud!

His head rolled and finally stopped in front of Belman, leaving a trail of thick blood. Everyone held their breath as they looked away from the severed head. Hersel was shaking the blood off his sword before sheathing it.

Clink.

The metallic sound that shattered the silence caused the eyes of the onlookers to tremble.

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