Chapter 281

6.

There had been countless battles up until now.

He had managed them well with the memories and experiences of ghosts.

But this time, it was a bit different.

A battle with none other than a Transcendent, a fragment of one of the Nine Heroes.

As someone who had already tasted a fragment of the Transcendent called Apophis, Seonghyun couldn't help but be nervous.

Just dealing with a piece of a dead Transcendent had been overwhelming.

And now he had to face the will of a living Transcendent.

But he couldn't just not do it.

He had to obtain the Magic Bow.

Even if he died, he could be resurrected, but.

‘The loss would be great if I can't get it here.’

He had already come too far to turn back.

He had no choice but to press forward.

While he was devising a strategy with his vassals.

A system message suddenly appeared.

[We apologize for sending this message to the user 『Seonghyun』.]

The system message started with that.

No, rather than a system message, it was more like a note from the developers, a familiar feeling.

‘Could it be?’

It was a system message that felt like a note he had received before, and a sense of foreboding washed over him.

However, the content that followed was entirely different from the last time.

[We have determined that among the knights currently participating in the tournament, there is one who harbors the will of the Sword Saint, as user 『Seonghyun』 has also noticed. We offer our apologies for our failure to prevent this beforehand.]

"Oh?"

This time, Seonghyun's expression brightened at once at this positive function of the system.

The vassals, who had been planning their strategy, all waited quietly at the sight of Seonghyun.

Meanwhile, as he read the note, Seonghyun thought for a moment.

So are they planning to remove the Sword Saint?

‘That's a bit of a shame.’

Fighting the Sword Saint would be a considerable burden.

But to think that he wouldn't be able to fight him.

That was also a bit disappointing.

If he fought, just how far could he last?

He was quite curious about that.

But wouldn't this prevent him from finding out?

That's why he felt a little disappointed.

‘Should I just read the rest?’

[However, making the Sword Saint's will disappear at this point, after the story has already progressed, would mean eliminating a choice for user 『Seonghyun』.]

[We at E-World have always been wary of eliminating such freedom and free will, which is why we have sent this note.]

‘Oh?’

A note with quite a sentimental tone.

He continued reading.

[If you wish for the Sword Saint's will to disappear, we will do as user 『Seonghyun』 desires.]

[However, if you choose to face the challenge and accept the disadvantage, that is to say, if you decide to confront the will of the Sword Saint, we at E-World will also support user 『Seonghyun』’s will and choice.]

“……Wow.”

Honestly, he was a little touched.

He had thought they might resent him.

But instead, they were going to support his choice.

It made him wonder if these were truly the developers.

And when the compensation plan was revealed next.

Seonghyun couldn't help but be even more moved.

[If user 『Seonghyun』 wishes to battle the Sword Saint, we will provide a duplicate of the Magic Bow, the prize for winning this tournament.]

[Furthermore, in the event of a defeat against the Sword Saint, we will also duplicate and preserve the Magic-infused weapons that would be taken.]

[Not only that, but to show our support for user 『Seonghyun』’s challenge, regardless of your choice, after the tournament ends, we will provide an additional reward by unlocking the Almighty-rank skill 『Galactic Sword Dance』 embedded within the Legendary item you currently possess, 『Hero Hindel’s Sword』.]

[Whichever choice you make, we wish for user 『Seonghyun』’s victory.]

“……They’ll give me… all this?”

After reading the entire note, a wave of emotion washed over him.

To think they would give him a reward no matter what he chose.

And they would even restore the Magic-infused weapons he would lose upon defeat.

To be so considerate and detailed.

He couldn't help but be moved.

Then again, the appearance of the Sword Saint warranted it.

After all, the Transcendents were beings close to cheats.

Reading the message made him feel a surge of strength.

To think they would support any choice he made.

“Let’s give it more power.”

Seonghyun thought, steeling his resolve.

He then gathered his vassals and discussed it with them.

How they should approach the battle.

As they talked, Helena and all the vassals nodded with determined expressions.

Anticipating a tremendous battle.

Everyone had a rather tense look on their faces, but.

Only Seonghyun’s expression was relaxed.

There was nothing to lose.

Therefore.

‘I will give it my all.’

[You have chosen to battle the Sword Saint.]

[Additional rewards and compensation upon defeat will all be provided after the match.]

[We support your choice.]

There was even a cheer.

Feeling even more energized, Seonghyun nodded.

And a voice came from afar.

[The long-awaited final match!!! Will now begin!!!]

At the usual fuss from the announcer spirit, Seonghyun rose from his seat.

Towards the faintly visible stadium up above.

Seonghyun headed.

Along with his vassals.

7.

The long-awaited final match.

The moment everyone was anticipating was about to unfold.

First, Seonghyun entered the stadium.

The sight of Seonghyun appearing with his countless vassals was truly a spectacle.

Helena and Fiora were at Seonghyun's sides.

Right behind them were Serphina, Leonik, Balthar, Drakhanos, and Silvanor.

And at the very rear, Barpur, along with Karisha and Anemor soaring through the sky, were traversing the area.

[Ah!!! Player Seonghyun brings out all his vassals, assuming a battle stance from the very beginning!!!]

The announcer spirit made a fuss at Seonghyun's entrance.

But it wasn't just the announcer spirit.

-No way, he's coming out like that already?

-Isn't that basically his full force!??!

-He's split them up before, but isn't this the first time he's brought them all out at once???

-Yeah; that's right. Looks like he's serious?

-Doesn't that also mean Gamu is in that league?

-Yeah yeah yeah; I told you he was incredible, right?

Everyone couldn't help but be surprised at the sight of even the Demon King assuming a battle stance.

When had Seonghyun ever fought this seriously?

That's why they were even more surprised.

Even as everyone was marveling.

Gamu, who was ascending to face him in the stadium, confidently stepped onto the field with a face full of mockery, as if completely unfazed.

The other knights also ascended, but their presence was negligible.

Gamu spoke as if to mock Seonghyun.

“It seems you’ve realized who I am.”

Seonghyun nodded at the arrogant mumble.

The Sword Saint, the backbone of the Rieskan Kingdom that wields magic.

There were many things he wanted to ask.

But there was no way he would be told.

Seonghyun didn't bother with words.

He only summoned his violet flames and darkness to prepare for battle.

At Seonghyun's attitude, the vassals began to move one by one.

The swordsman Drakhanos took the lead, followed by Leonik, Balthar, and Silvanor, with the martial artists Barpur and Fiora positioning themselves behind them.

Helena and Serphina stood with Seonghyun.

From the sky, Karisha and Anemor took their positions, surrounding the area.

Even in the face of what was essentially a tightening encirclement, Gamu, no, the Sword Saint, drew his sword as if it posed no threat at all.

[Player Gamu draws his sword!!! Despite such a force, he steps forward alone, as if to face them all by himself!!!]

The sight of Gamu stepping forward alone, heedless of Seonghyun's full force, seemed reckless.

However…

As he arrogantly drew his sword, a pressure that could crush the audience spread out.

At the pressure that only those on the stadium could feel, Seonghyun smiled faintly behind his mask, as if amused.

It seemed a gamer's fighting spirit was igniting.

On the other hand, perhaps Gamu's solitary stance against Seonghyun seemed reckless.

The announcer spirit shouted.

[The match hasn't even started yet, but the Featherwing Knights, aside from Player Gamu, are ready to leave the stadium at any moment!!!]

The viewers were just as surprised by the sight.

-Alone against the Demon King's legion?

-But the Demon King looks pretty tense too;;;

-The other vassals' expressions are all stiff too;;;

-Wow, what's really going to happen?

As the viewers watched the match intently, each with their own tension.

The announcer spirit finally shouted.

[Let the match begin!!!]

At the shout, the vassals moved in an instant.

They were so fast.

If the Metube video hadn't been put in slow motion for a moment, no one would have been able to see it.

The moment the slow motion was applied, it wasn't the vassals who had shown themselves so far that appeared behind Gamu, who harbored the will of the Sword Saint.

The two figures who appeared like assassins were vassals who had been out for a long time.

Sibren, in the form of a snake beastman, and Noirtain, in the form of a spider beastman, appeared behind the Sword Saint like assassins and launched a surprise attack.

Ssssk!

Shashat!

[Ah!? What, what is that!?!? Two other vassals suddenly appearing as if from thin air!!! They're assassinating Player Gamu!!!]

At the appearance of Sibren and Noirtain after a long time, a few viewers acted like they knew them.

-Lmao, aren't those the ones he used in the last war and then didn't bring out?

-They're finally out now lol

-I thought he got rid of them!!!

-No way, a surprise attack!!! I didn't even know they were there!!!

As the viewers chattered.

The Sword Saint lifted his sword and swung it lightly, as if finding it pathetic. Then, the figures of Sibren and Noirtain, who were rushing in for a surprise attack, were thrown off balance and sent flying backward as if in an explosion.

Poooooong——!!!

Kwagagaaang——!!!

The two were sent flying by the fierce blow, and in their place, Drakhanos moved first, gripping and drawing a blood-red sword.

The sword energy that soared as it was drawn was redder and thicker than any blood, and hotter than any heat.

However, seeing such a sword strike, the Sword Saint clicked his tongue, equally displeased.

“The very thought that you could harm me with a mere sword strike like this is shallow.”

Saying so, he lightly parried Drakhanos's sword strike with a sword that wasn't even imbued with sword energy.

Was it because he was a Sword Saint, whose sword had reached the stars?

He had parried Drakhanos's sword strike, which had always been effective until now, so very lightly.

Just when it seemed he didn't even feel the repulsive force.

The Sword Saint's expression crumpled as his stance wavered slightly.

To think his stance was slightly pushed back by a mere sword strike like that.

As if his pride was greatly wounded, he gripped his sword properly.

Then, he showed a proper sword strike to Leonik, Balthar, and Silvanor, who were rushing in next.

Sreuuuung—!

A sharp edge was unleashed, shooting towards the three.

But despite the sudden movement, it was a sword strike close to perfection.

Would it be like this if one were to embroider the sun on a sword?

A mysterious, sun-colored sword strike was fired, and its heat could be felt.

A sword strike of intense heat and brilliant sunlight that made the sword energy Drakhanos fired seem like child's play.

The eyes of all three who were about to launch an attack wavered.

To think that a sword energy unleashed after suddenly taking a stance was that powerful?

They tried to block that sword strike with their belatedly launched attacks.

But they were pushed back by the sword strike as if swallowed, and sent flying far away.

Kwaaaaaaaang———!!!

At that moment.

In a time that was stretched long and sliced as if finely minced.

Particles of light gathered, and a teal-colored lightning coalesced in the sky, scattered into pieces, and then gathered again in the air as a vast bolt of lightning fell upon the Sword Saint's head.

A vast waterfall of lightning pouring down like a cascade.

However, as he raised his sword towards the waterfall.

—————!!!

The sword strike soon split the waterfall and rose, and the vast waterfall of lightning was swallowed up as the sun appeared fully in the sky.

And standing under that sunlight, the Sword Saint murmured.

"This is the sword."