EP.476 Best Efforts, Trust, Power (1)
*
In the wind-blown sands, two swords clashed. The moment they met, the pressure of the wind cleared the sandstorm. Amidst the flying grains of sand, a thunderous sound echoed.
KA-AAAAAAANG!
One clash.
The moment the swords collided, Barta’s body and Lac’s body simultaneously tensed. A fleeting moment of surprise. A brief moment of rigidity. Even if it was just a fraction of a second, the two knights shared the same impression.
The weight in the swords is different.
It’s a different dimension compared to the past when they clashed swords before, and the weight felt in this moment of impact was on another level. The resonance that traveled through the fingers gripping the hilt was intense. Much more than before.
…In a way, it’s to be expected.
Barta, the King of Beasts, faced the Death’s Blade. After centuries of waiting, the rematch had matured, and Barta had grown. He reclaimed the strength of his former self.
Lac von Grace swung his sword amidst countless battles. He faced forgotten ancient gods during the apostate hunt and witnessed a human’s final struggle, wishing to become a ghost.
Both knights had gathered experiences and gained enlightenment. They had advanced further than before, both standing at the brink of their limits. With the single clash of swords, they understood each other’s realms.
CLANG, KA-AAAAANG!
Doubt and rigidity were mere instants.
The two swords, which had bounced off each other, traced the same trajectory and collided again. This time, it was Lac who was pushed back, but he did not forcefully push forward like before. He accepted the push.
SWISH.
Lac’s foot slid gracefully. He accepted the shortcomings of his body. By accepting this inadequacy, Lac found another answer. Smoothly, like the sword saint Kalt’s sword.
KA-KA-KA-KA-KA-KA!
As his sword flowed, it struck Barta’s blade. Three clashes in an instant. With those three quick strikes, Lac and Barta both stepped back a few paces. Stepping back didn’t signify retreat. A brief moment of respite did not imply taking a breath.
SLASH.
Barta’s sword swung, scattering afterimages.
The sword energy unleashed along the blade swept the area. Sword energy that devoured everything in its path. In the past, Lac would have had to risk his life to block this strike.
But it was different now, as if to prove it.
With a THUD, Lac stomped his foot down. He swung his sword towards the incoming sword energy with his eyes wide open. The moment he swung his sword, a snowstorm swept through. Lac’s mana, the very sword energy he manifested.
The saber-like sword energy, like a wild beast, was intertwined with the blizzard. The clash of sword energies created a thunderous sound. Then, POW!
The sword energies countered each other.
Though Lac’s forearm bled, it wasn’t a severe wound. It was trivial enough not to hinder the battle. Lac wiped away the splattered blood and sheathed his sword.
“This isn’t it.”
Lac narrowed his eyes.
“I know this is just the beginning. Barta, the King of Beasts.”
Lac understood.
That the knight before him wasn’t merely wielding such a level of power. The knight before was holding back. Like testing how far he had progressed.
“Bring it on with all your strength.”
Lac grunted as he stomped the ground.
The raging snowstorm intensified. White steam rose from his heated body. His crimson eyes turned even redder.
Those eyes.
That intense gaze.
The King of Beasts, meeting that gaze, unwittingly smiled. Yes, this is it. This is what I wanted to see. Smiling, the King of Beasts slowly opened his mouth. A human voice slipped through his parted lips.
“Indeed.”
The swirling sandstorm had long since cleared.
Even if vast deserts lay beyond, even if fierce sandstorms blew, this space was severed from all of that. The pressure created by the clash of swords had stripped everything away.
“Indeed, my choice was not wrong.”
Barta chuckled.
He plunged the sword he had hoisted into the ground with a THUNK. Slowly raising his left hand, Barta pointed at the young man before him.
“Ganikalt van Galatrick. I had a rematch with him. However, I felt no fervor like before in our clash.”
Pointing at Lac, Barta spoke.
“He remains a proud knight. Still a knight positioned far beyond my reach. But…”
Barta winced.
“I no longer felt that brilliance from him.”
The brilliance Barta longed for.
An incomprehensible radiant light. That light could no longer be felt from that human. Unlike the past, the sword that had turned into a calamity no longer emitted its sheen.
“He is still horrifyingly strong. Wielding an incredibly beautiful sword, but… that is not what I desired. What I longed for was not a rematch with such a monster.”
Barta pointed to his own chest with the hand he had raised. He indicated the many scars left on his body. Scars from the time when a certain knight clawed at him centuries ago. Tracing those indelible marks, he said.
“What I yearned for was a rematch with a human, Ganikalt van Galatrick. A brilliant rematch with the ‘human’ who sought to prove something with his life.”
The human who lost his brilliance.
The knight who had become a calamity.
In this rematch with such a monster, Barta realized his heart was not beating. He had been a good mentor, but no longer a worthy rival.
A true rematch could never materialize. Forever.
“Thus…”
Barta glared at Lac.
He looked at the young man before him.
“It’s you. Only you. Lac von Grace.”
You, who awakened pride within me in my second life, are the only one who can make me realize my will, my reason, my purpose…
“Only you can be my worthy opponent.”
And you, who have chased after me to this extent, can become my rival. The heart that had not stirred during the rematch with the Death’s Blade was now beating fiercely.
“Therefore, please show me.”
Barta gripped his sword tightly again.
Lifting his sword with his left hand, Barta exhaled deeply. A white breath escaped through his teeth.
CLICK, CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH.
The space around the lifted sword creaked. Lac sensed it. It’s coming. Everything that calamity has. The colossal wall he has to overcome is approaching.
GRIP.
Lac, clutching his sword, steadied his stance. The calloused palm firmly grasped the hilt. Veins popped on Lac’s forearm. Bloodshot eyes narrowed.
“…”
Silence blanketed the carriage heading towards the northernmost tip of the continent. Everyone was observing Natida’s demeanor. They couldn’t help but, for they all knew. Barta, the King of Beasts, was a terrifying powerhouse.
The ancient calamity, Barta, the King of Beasts.
Everyone knew he was a powerhouse on par with the past Ganikalt, a knight who had transcended the superhuman realm. There were even rumors about him matching the Death’s Blade Ganikalt in their rematch.
“…Do you think Lac will be alright?”
Chloe finally spoke up.
It was a question shared by all present. Lac had set out alone to confront the King of Beasts. And Raniel respected Lac’s decision.
Though not openly, they all shared the same thoughts about Lac’s determination.
“It’s reckless.”
It’s reckless. It’s a difficult task.
No one disputed Chloe’s mutterings. They somewhat agreed, so when Chloe was about to continue talking, expressing her feelings…
“Well.”
Belnoa, who had remained silent, coldly interrupted Chloe’s words.
“I don’t think it’s that reckless.”
“…What do you mean, Belnoa?”
“That’s just because you don’t know him. From my perspective, it’s not impossible.”
Belnoa knew.
From their school days, battling each other for top ranks, Belnoa knew how strong Lac was now.
“Lac is way stronger than you think. Last time, I was uncertain, but… after the apostate hunt, I’m convinced. Ah, the difference has become too vast.”
Belnoa said with a bitter smile.
“The guy who used to run beside me is now far away. He seems unaware of that fact, but he’s different. He’s in a completely different realm.”
Belnoa realized this during the apostate hunt.
Seeing Lac sweeping away forgotten gods and advancing forward, Belnoa instinctively recognized that Lac was at a much farther distance than he had thought.
“So, I’m not worried.”
“Belnoa…”
“Thank you for your words, but Ms. Chloe.”
Chloe turned her head.
There, Natida was calmly closing her eyes. She slowly opened them, her saintly green gaze slowly inspecting Chloe.
“No need to gauge my feelings. I just wish for that person’s safety, nothing more.”
Natida smiled.
“That person swore to return alive. He swore to return victorious. I believe him. He’s someone who doesn’t break promises.”
Trust.
“What we should worry about is the stage we need to stand on, isn’t it? We also have formidable unknown enemies approaching.”
Natida gazed out the window.
The moving carriage gradually slowed down. This meant they were getting closer to their destination.
CRUNCH, the carriage stopped.
“Let’s give our best in our respective stages. Didn’t the Hero Rania say that too?”
Natida slowly got to her feet.
Pointing to the open carriage door, Natida smiled.
“Let’s go to our stage.”
Outside the carriage lay the endless expanse of the wilderness.
A tower stood tall there. A half-collapsed tower. The toppled tower leaned against the ground, having become two halves.
The edge of the tower.
The hunting team had arrived at the Madman’s Dwelling.
CRUNCH, CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH.
With his vibrating sword raised, Barta stared at his rival. He had thought of him as weak, yet now he gazed at the young man who had followed him to this moment. Surely, back then in the canyon, he could have crushed him easily…
‘But not now.’
The momentum is different.
The stance is different.
The atmosphere is different.
As Barta regained his past memories and was being perfected, that young man was also being honed through life-and-death battles. He was tempering himself and eliminating impurities while shining brilliantly.
“Ah…”
Barta rejoiced.
In joy, he gripped his sword. Just as the young man said. There was no need for tentative moves. There was no need to swing his sword in a testing manner. This was an opponent he had to face with all his strength. It was a tribute to the resolve of that human.
THUD.
Barta stomped the ground.
His unstable body, further battered from the rematch with the Death’s Blade, quivered under the pressure, yet Barta’s sword had become sharper than before. The trembling tip of the sword suddenly steadied.
SWISH.
Barta’s sword scattered afterimages.
As the sword vanished, a line was drawn. The line twisted the space, beginning to distort. What erupted from that twisted space was enormous sword energy.
It was the same sword energy that had toppled Lac with a single strike before.
The sword energy surged towards Lac, perfected and sharper than ever. Not giving Lac a chance to respond calmly, Barta lunged towards him at the same speed the sword energy approached. It was what it meant to exert full power.
With each step he took, the ground cracked. The path carved by the sword energy was trampled again under Barta’s feet.
SHRIIIP!
The sword energy tore through the air.
The soldier, charging at the space torn by the sword energy.
Right before the sword energy reached Lac, Barta slammed his foot to the ground. He halted the acceleration of his already fast body in an instant, channeling all the rebound into his sword.
FASTKILL!
It was truly a fitting technique for its name.
The moment the fast-flying sword energy reached the opponent, the knight, approaching at the same speed, swung his sword. The weight of the sword was added once more atop the sword energy.
This was a technique possible only for Barta, who possessed a monstrous body surpassing that of a human, and it was a technique he had repeatedly executed since ancient times. Most knights could not withstand this single strike and would fall.
Even the past Ganikalt had to step back several paces against this strike.
‘Show me.’
Barta swung his sword with joy.
‘Show me everything you possess.’
Show me your strike that can resist my utmost effort, my full power.
