Chapter 48 : Chapter 48

Chapter 48 - Battle for Dominance

[The Magic Sword, Nameless, has requested a Battle for Dominance.]

This was what I saw as soon as I entered Eclipse.

The second thing I saw was the sky.

My vision naturally took in the sky and even saw the sun floating above it.

A round darkness within a round light source.

The radiance that somehow stretched its hands out from beyond the darkness was all the light that existed in this land.

My gaze was stolen by it for a moment.

The system immediately displayed a new window.

[You have entered the demonic realm, Eclipse.]

[The power of Demonic energy grows stronger.]

[You cannot refuse the Battle for Dominance.]

Srrk─

My eyes closed on their own.

It was forced, as if someone had grabbed my eyelids and pulled them down.

My body tilted to one side like a half-felled tree.

Thud─!

An arm thrust itself under my body as it was about to hit the floor.

Even just by leaning on it, I could feel its considerable thickness and hardness.

Was I relieved by that?

Following the control over my eyes, my consciousness was also sucked away somewhere.

The path was so rough it felt like I could even know the route.

From the brain within the purple-black hair to the forearm.

It was where the Magic Sword, Nameless, was.

.

.

.

I opened my eyes.

My mind was clear, as if I had woken up after a pleasant nap.

That was because my consciousness itself had been moved into someone else's mental world.

Without a body, I couldn't get tired either.

I raised the virtual body created by my mind.

The background was the Pantheon, the partially collapsed mansion of the Fifth Son.

“I created an environment familiar to you.”

A somewhat familiar voice. A familiar tone. A familiar way of speaking.

I turned my eyes toward the voice.

The Youngest Son with his hands behind his back was looking at the just-awakened Youngest Son.

The only difference was the expression.

Unlike the Youngest Son who always wore a light, relaxed smile.

That Youngest Son maintained a face as hard as a bronze statue.

As if made of plaster, he moved only his lips to speak.

“The reason I called you here is for the Battle for Dominance.”

“You have no business ethics.”

I dusted off the dirt that had gotten on me from getting up off the floor.

“For a novice to start a match without the master's permission.”

“The situation has changed now. Because you set foot on that land, my limits have expanded.”

“Congratulations are in order.”

“Thank you.”

The jeering and the retorts.

The two were the same person.

The same went for their power.

Ziiiiing─

Kwwaaaaang─!!

A clash occurred in mid-air.

Neither of them had lifted a finger.

They had only lit up both their eyes with a bright yellow.

“It seems our thoughts are quite similar.”

The Magic Sword, Nameless, smiled for the first time.

But the essence of that smile was somehow different from the Youngest Son's.

Not relaxation, but the pleasure of free will felt for the first time in its life.

The pleasure of a constrained being, moving my body as I please.

“If I completely take over your body, I'll be able to feel this sensation for longer.”

“If you completely take it over, that is.”

“Wait. Your name will soon be mine.”

“I'll just give you a new name. After this fight is over.”

“Don't be ridiculous.”

Fwooooosh─!!

Two demons appeared.

Their entire bodies were clad in blood-red flames, and sharp horns rose up.

Along with three pairs of bat-like membranous wings.

Their skin turned red and swelled up like armor, becoming thicker and at the same time, more solid.

The only difference was.

Sreureung─!

The Nameless Magic Sword raised the Magic Sword.

[You resemble me even in your cunning.]

[I'll take that as a compliment.]

Kuuuuuuung─!

The two demons clashed.

.

.

.

The demonic realm, Eclipse.

Demons, no different from breathing curses and sinister energy, flew about regardless of ground or sky.

They circled the lone human in the center like a flock of vultures.

They were ready to thrust their beaks and sharp claws at any moment.

The reason they couldn't approach, however.

“......”

It was because the man, with his eyes closed and only his lips moving, was ferocious.

The aura he emanated, of course.

The Bone Sword stuck in the ground spread magic power like a tuning fork.

It spread in all directions, without regard to direction.

The index finger of the raised left hand, and the right hand that wrapped around it.

The Mudra of Wisdom Fist.

He wasn't even holding a sword, yet none of the demons here dared to charge.

That empty hand looked more dangerous than a sharp blade.

“To see the pinnacle of the sword as a sorcerer, one must let go of the sword.”

One of those murmurs.

“A sorcerer who does not delve into the world of sorcery is trash. But even trash has things only trash can do.”

Two statements that followed the murmur.

The hand seal was still not released, as tight as if tied with a rope.

It looked as if he had no intention of letting go, as if holding a sword hilt between both hands.

His closed eyes slowly opened.

“......”

Slightly cloudy, grayish-blue eyes turned to one place.

They turned to a single demon.

Slice─!!

The demon's body was split diagonally.

The monster, which had a large single eye on its chest, was bisected and trickled vitreous fluid.

“It's been a while since I used it, so the blade is a bit dull.”

Even though he wasn't even holding a razor blade.

He clicked his tongue a couple of times and drew up even more magic power.

He heated it up, preheating it so it could be used at any moment.

What came out like that was the curse of a piping hot blade.

A curse that materialized the killing intent contained in its sharp edge.

Though he personally called it 「Limitless Sword」.

“The martial artists of the south, upon seeing this, called it the Mind Sword, and were so astonished.”

The only person who could answer was still lying soundly on the ground.

“In the end, I will cut you, Young Master. I might take the neck I couldn't take then, so please wake up quickly.”

Giving a warning that was not a warning.

Around the grayish-blue pupils, the root-like bloodshot veins grew fiercer.

.

.

.

The two Young Masters spewed out everything they had.

From Blood Demonization to the Undead Private Soldiers they possessed.

The armorization of the Undead Private Soldiers.

The Unique Skills they had absorbed.

The strange thing was that only the Six Paths did not manifest here in the mental world.

To be precise, it was correct that it could not be manifested.

Bone marrow was essential for the Six Paths, and bone marrow is the substance that constitutes the center of the bones.

But where was the body here?

Let alone bones, the only things that existed were the mental bodies in the mental world.

Kwwaaaaaaaaang─!!

Two fists collided.

They were Blood Demonized fists.

But there was a difference between the two fists.

Whether one was holding a sword or not.

The Magic Sword became a second means of attack, aiming sharply for the neck.

Swish─

The tip of the blade grazed the skin.

A small, red line was created.

“The first effective hit. That one is mine.”

The Youngest Son, who wiped the tip of the blade with his hand, smiled once more.

“Yes. It's truly sharp.”

The self-regeneration possessed by the blood nobles did not activate here.

It was for the same reason as the bone marrow.

Then, suddenly.

“......”

A lukewarm sensation arose from my fingertips.

Just nothing.

An empty hand in an empty space.

But for some reason, it felt like it was touching liquid.

And this feeling was very familiar as a kinsman.

“It's blood...”

I muttered lowly.

Unlike my voice, which sank as if it would spread across the ground, my heart pounded wildly.

“Something you don't have. It seems I have it now too.”

“...What?”

“You don't need to know now. It seems you'll be feeling it plenty from now on.”

I activated a sorcery.

As always, it was a Skeleton Soldier.

However, it did not have a heart as it always did.

All I could do now was to transfer the blood that touched the main body's hand to this place.

[Blood of Mesher Attica has been confirmed.]

[Blood supply is 15% complete.]

[Transformation into Mesher Attica is also 15% complete.]

[The skill will also exert only 15% of its power.]

[Acquiring Unique Skill 「Limitless Sword」.]

The family's war hero and forgotten hero.

I had obtained the blood of Mesher Attica.

I didn't know what it was, but it seemed a very intense battle was taking place outside.

There was no time to waste here.

And it seemed the incident was still ongoing.

[Blood supply confirmed at 18%.]

...

[Blood supply confirmed at 23%.]

The amount of his blood I possessed was gradually increasing.

“Unlike you, I'm a busy man. I have to get going.”

“Then strike me down.”

“I was just about to.”

The Skeleton Armor wrapped around my arm, creating a gauntlet.

I slightly bent the index finger that had felt the blood.

Chwaaaak─!

One of the Blood Demon's wings fell.

Like a leaf falling in autumn.

It slowly descended to the ground.

'Originally, it's a slash I can control with just my gaze. But as the blood is insufficient, several conditions have been added.'

For example, I had to move my body at least a little.

The point was that a hand gesture had become necessary.

The completed technique originally seals both hands, but this one moves.

It looked like an evolution, but in terms of power, it was definitely not.

“A pity. I was aiming for the neck, not the wing.”

“......”

The speed, or rather the stealth of the technique before its speed.

The powerlessness after the technique manifested. The destructive power that followed.

Compared to the original, everything was lacking.

Nevertheless, it was usable.

Because even that lack was superior compared to the opponent.

“It's a technique you can't understand in the slightest right now, is it?”

“...Don't get cocky.”

He raised the Magic Sword.

That blade strangely went higher, then settled right next to his own neck.

“Are you aiming for the next opportunity? How wise.”

“I told you not to get cocky. This was just the first attempt. Don't think you can be free from me forever.”

Slice─

A cutting sound, refined to the point of indifference.

The Youngest Son's head fell.

***

“...This is quite taxing.”

I didn't want to admit it, but since there was no one to hear, I confessed coolly.

“I've gotten old.”

The gray beard that I usually paid no mind to.

It was proof of aging, but it came to mind anew.

Nevertheless, there was something that hadn't changed, whether I was young or old.

“Even if one arm falls off and one leg is gone. Even if I get another 10 years older here.”

Veins popped on the hand seal, which had been flawless.

“I am not a man who will die by the likes of you.”

A stream of blood flowed once more from his eye.

It flowed down his chin and touched the Youngest Son, drop by drop.

Of course, it was something he couldn't be concerned with right now.

In this cursed land, it was a relief if the number of enemies didn't increase, let alone decrease.

“If I make this place my main camp, will I be able to handle those demons?”

I didn't know for sure, but in theory, that was the case.

And the Youngest Son might have wanted that.

The fact that the very person who wanted it was lying there like that─

“...Young Master.”

“The stray dogs that have settled in the house grounds are barking quite loudly.”

The Youngest Son, getting up without any sign of dizziness.

Even though it didn't seem like the situation would improve, for some reason, a smile formed on my face.

“Right now, we are the stray dogs. They are the homeowners.”

So, such nonsensical words came out.

The opponent responded with even more nonsensical words.

“The deed to the land is with me. Therefore, I am the landowner, and they are the trespassers. Am I right?”

“The Young Master is right.”

“Then continue to answer. What punishment is sentenced to those who have invaded the land of a kinsman?”

The Executioner Knight (former) said without hesitation.

“Immediate summary execution for all.”

“Well said.”

Fwoooosh─!!

I raised the Magic Sword.

The demons that had flinched before the hand seal a moment ago, flinched once more.

The sudden feeling of a kindred spirit's aura.

It was familiar, yet different.

Even if the roots are the same, the twigs above are bound to be distant.

“Say hello to Enad here.”

The gatekeeper stared blankly.

He seemed uninterested.

But from now on, it would be different.

[You have won the Battle for Dominance against the Magic Sword ‘Enad’.]

[The unique skills of the Magic Sword Enad are unlocked.]

I melted the blood-bearing Skeleton Soldier directly into the sword.

[Activating Unique Skill 「Curse Bearing」.]

This was similar to the ability of the Chairman of the Physicians’ Council.

The difference was that it only bore curses, and bore them as they were, without modification.

[Curse 「Limitless Sword」 has been confirmed.]

[While active, the curse will trigger on all of Enad's sword strikes.]

“I collapsed due to a personal matter, but even there, I saw your battle, gatekeeper. It was impressive.”

“It doesn't matter. You can't imitate it just by watching.”

“Right. I'm sure of that too. So if you become interested later, I'll give you a chance to teach me.”

The tip of Enad's sword drew a line in the air.

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