Madness Sword Hella (2)

‘Why… am I fighting right now?’

As he swung his sword at Aldred, he became lost in thought.

His memory was fragmented like a puzzle with missing pieces, making everything in his head a jumbled mess.

‘I clearly brought back the sword and…’

He had returned to the mansion and, with a satisfied expression, tried wielding the sword.

Although I did have a nagging feeling, it was undoubtedly an extraordinary sword.

With this alone, reaching the long-dreamed status of Swordmaster seemed easy.

But…

‘It’s not enough.’

The second Swordmaster of the Talua Kingdom.

That title was something truly glorious.

But to me, that alone wasn’t enough.

‘I need strength that lets me surpass Aldred…!’

Aldred Ribina.

Unless Logan could overcome him—one of the Seven Heroes of the continent—no matter how strong he became, Logan would always be second place.

At that moment, once again, a voice echoed from the sword.

“Break the seal.”

Gulp.

Logan couldn’t help but swallow dryly.

Something sealed away must surely be dangerous.

But if he could break that seal and acquire even the hidden power…

‘No one will be able to look down on me again.’

His memory ended there.

At some point, Logan was relentlessly slashing at Aldred, pressing the attack.

‘Well, it doesn’t really matter.’

There were still doubts, but it didn’t matter to him anymore.

He was on the verge of fulfilling his greatest wish.

Logan didn’t feel even a hint of losing. In fact, the more he swung his sword, the stronger he felt.

His latent magic power grew the longer he fought, and his body never grew tired.

“Aldred! This time, I will defeat you!”

Logan howled fiercely and charged at Aldred.

Ironically, in that moment, there was not a trace of the noble Swordmaster he had so desperately desired to become.

* * *

The ground trembled and overturned.

Every time their swords clashed, gales erupted and the earth cracked.

KA-BOOM!

With just a single leap from Count Logan, the shockwave alone reduced the surrounding buildings to rubble.

But Count Ribina casually struck him down, slamming him into the ground with his sword.

Sky-Dominating Lone Sword.

The technique was every bit as domineering as its name.

There was nothing lacking for it to be called the signature swordsmanship of Talua.

‘As expected from one of the Seven Heroes.’

Aldred Ribina, the Crimson Lion, ranked sixth among the continent’s Seven Heroes.

He truly lived up to his name. Every swing of his sword resounded with a booming force.

KA-KRA-KRA-BOOM!

The scarlet light of his aura crashed down on Count Logan, pressing with relentless power.

Each time, the earth split and rocks and soil exploded in every direction.

It was as if an earthquake shook the land.

If I hadn’t witnessed the fight between Damian and Grancesia, I might not have been able to accept this spectacle as real.

‘But…’

Logan Deoric, wielding the Madness Sword Hella, was also unnatural in his own right.

Although Logan’s entire body was slashed, leaving gruesome wounds etched into his flesh, astonishingly, they healed almost instantly.

He looked nothing like a regular human.

“Spare me!”

That wasn’t all that was shocking.

Relying on overwhelming regeneration, Logan withstood Count Ribina’s attacks and slowly pressed forward.

Then, a commotion broke out among those taking refuge in the rear.

Suddenly, several of them began gasping for breath and shriveled up, as if their bodies were drying out.

As if mummified.

‘Just as Jade warned…’

The territory where humans can exist.

Jade had said so.

Judging by the state of things now, it was clear Logan’s presence was affecting those nearby.

‘Is that the power of the Calamity of Madness?’

I hurried to where the knights had formed their ranks and, catching my breath, checked the profile for the Madness Sword Hella that Logan was holding.

==

〈Madness Sword Hella〉

Fourth calamity, Madness Calamity.

Long ago, dwarves created this demonic sword to surpass the Seven Swords Under Heaven.

It had been sealed for centuries in a ruin in the Kezmen Mountains and was awakened as the Calamity of Madness when discovered by Zervisia.

After passing through the hands of many owners, it ultimately reached the Talua Kingdom.

It absorbs the vitality of all living things within a certain range, granting its wielder near-immortal regeneration and physical abilities that surpass all limits.

The more vitality it absorbs, the greater the power it bestows.

==

Perhaps it was because I induced a confrontation between Fabian—who held the Peerlees Sword Deltode—and Logan with Hella.

The ability of Madness Sword Hella was quite similar to Deltode.

The difference was that Hella granted regeneration rather than stamina, and to do so, it absorbed the vitality of nearby life.

‘He certainly… doesn’t look tired, considering his wounds.’

Even with the Madness Sword Hella, Logan couldn’t match Count Ribina.

Count Ribina maintained a clear upper hand, completely overwhelming Logan.

Strangely, however, Count Ribina looked visibly exhausted.

Of course, it was a difficult fight, but this was different—it was unmistakable.

He must also have been affected by the sword, his vitality drained by Hella’s power.

[Against living beings, it’s truly an invincible ability.]

‘Indeed.’

It was simply astonishing that Count Ribina continued to fight against such power.

But it couldn’t last much longer.

No, as time dragged on, the situation would only grow worse.

Before Hella could absorb more life and the disaster spiraled out of control, the fight had to be settled quickly.

“Count Vanhart?!”

I leaped over the knights’ defensive formation and ran straight toward the clash between Logan and Count Ribina.

The knights, noticing me, shouted in surprise, but I had no time to answer.

‘What an unpleasant sensation.’

The moment I passed beyond the knights’ lines, a wave of unpleasantness swept over me.

Just before Hella’s power could affect my body, I hurried to unleash Genova.

As the blade of Genova tinged reddish-gold, my new form shot forward at a speed incomparably greater than before.

“You…!”

Realizing I was approaching, Logan turned his gaze toward me.

Count Ribina did not miss the opening and swung his sword at Logan’s neck.

He didn’t waste even a single glance or breath.

Only the enemy before him mattered; he put every ounce of strength into that attack.

“Ghh! Aldred…!”

It couldn’t be blocked.

In an instant, Count Ribina’s sword plunged toward Logan’s neck.

“What is this…!”

Immediately, Count Ribina’s eyes were filled with shock. His attack bounced off, unable to pierce Logan’s skin.

Having absorbed much of the Seven Heroes’ power, Hella bestowed upon Logan defenses even a Swordmaster’s strike could not penetrate.

“Urgh!”

While Count Ribina hesitated in confusion, Logan kicked him square in the chest.

WHAM!

With a metallic clang, Count Ribina was sent flying and crashed into a toppled building.

“It’s over!”

Logan dashed at the fallen count, bringing his sword down in a vertical slash.

But I was faster. My sword knocked his aside.

CLANG!

“…!”

Logan’s eyes, darkened to pitch black, slid wide in surprise at how easily I deflected his attack.

“Clay, Clay Vanhart! You always get in my way!”

“You’re always making a mess of things.”

I grinned fiercely, staring down Logan as he approached.

His body was already transcending humanity.

He’d once been similar in height to me, but now he’d grown well over two meters, and still growing.

His muscles and bones were mutating as he transformed into a true monster.

“A brat like you dares think you can stop me?”

With his monstrous frame, he launched into the Deoric family’s swordsmanship.

He had always been excellent, far beyond Baian’s skill.

Now, with the power of Madness Sword Hella added, he had reached a level completely beyond the realm of humans.

But I assumed my stance calmly.

“Sorry, but I know the Silver Star Sword better than you do.”

It was truly unfair, but it couldn’t be helped.

KA-KA-KA-KA-KANG!

Genova and Hella clashed over and over, sparks flying.

Dozens of exchanges filled the air in a single instant.

‘As expected, it’s incredible.’

Deltode’s ability was simple, but its effect wasn’t inferior to the other Seven Swords Under Heaven.

No, for me, there was probably no better compatibility.

Through Setting Addition, I had learned many skills, but my lacking physique meant I couldn’t fully wield them.

But Deltode made up that deficiency in an instant.

The moment Deltode’s power activated, the swordsmanship I’d only understood in theory was perfectly reproduced.

“I, I even surpassed Aldred…! So how can someone like you block my sword…!”

“Because I know.”

“What?”

“When it comes to the Silver Star Sword, I know everything. Even things you don’t.”

My opponent was a monster who had overwhelmed even the Crimson Lion of the Seven Heroes.

Against a foe like that alone, I’d be completely outmatched.

But as long as he kept using the Silver Star Sword…

KA-KA-KA-BOOM!

The back-and-forth went on dozens more times.

But not once did Logan’s sword reach me. I could see through his every move.

After fending him off completely, I leapt back to open some distance.

“If it’s you… you should know what this stance means, right?”

I planted Genova into Agatram and lowered my posture.

Channeling my magic power through Genova, my aura shimmered silver.

“…!”

Silver-tinted magic.

And a silver ring around my eyes.

Realizing what this meant, Logan’s eyes trembled.

“H-how do you know that…!”

Hidden Star Sword, Second Half, First Technique—New Star.

A brilliant flash exploded from my blade as a silver star shot forth.

————-= Clacky’s Corner ————-=

Refresher, I use Hidden/Silver Star Sword interchangeably depending on who’s using it…

【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】

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