Chapter 147: [147] Posessed Sword

“I have to say, you have outdid yourself this time, Cassie.” Eliron said coldly as he stared at the door. “Is that what I think it is?”

Cassie raised her hands, feigning innocence. “It depends, what do you think it is?”

Yennefer suddenly grasped at thin air, her new staff appearing in her hands. “I sense a demon beyond that door.”

Both Artie and Ash’s expressions tightened.

All of them had experienced what it felt like being in the presence of a pseudo demon, but the entity behind that door?

It was the real deal.

Yen looked at Cassie and frowned. “Are you some sort of devil worshiper—”

“Woah, woah, woah! Let’s not rush into conclusions!” Cassie chuckled nervously, then sighed.

“No need to get so tense.” She snapped her fingers once more, and this time, the chained doors disappeared.

Vwooosh!

A gust of chilling cold wind blew past them, causing a shiver to run down Cassie’s spine.

Yennefer’s frown deepened and she took a step forward, her staff up.

The entire shop was suddenly covered in a thick black cloud that circled at their legs, hanging at knee level.

They could not see what was behind the door, as the fog in front of them was far thicker there, blanketing the place in a veil of shadows.

And then—

BOOOM!

A spiked, showy hand suddenly surged out of the darkness, flying right towards Cassie’s face.

“Smit—” Yennefer was about to command a spell when Eliron held her back.

Cassie was no fool, there was no way she would unleash a demon in their presence without taking the necessary precautions.

Swoooh!

The hand froze right in front of Cassie’s face, sending her hair blowing backwards.

Cassie sighed and arranged her hair. “You see?” She smiled, I have everything under control.

Artie shook her head. “Habouring a demon underneath your roof? A dangerous venture…”

“Not just dangerous, reckless even.” Ash added.

“This is blasphemy. Shall I exorcise the demon and its keeper?” Yen asked.

“Woah!” Cassie immediately jumped in front of her. “That is my precious merchandise—eh? Where did she go?”

Cassie stared blankly at the space in front of her, only to see a shadow on the floor.

She slowly raised her gaze, spotting Yennefer floating right over her head, mid chant.

She already half way through the fog when Eliron wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her to himself.

“Let me go, I need to wipe out that demon!”

“You’ll probably blow up the entire place with your divine magic, I need that sword remember?”

“Let me go!”

Eliron sighed and dropped her right next to Artie. “Please keep an eye on her for me. I’ll take care of the demon…”

Artie held her hand while Yen began grumbling.

“I can do that right?” Eliron asked while turning to face Cassie.

“Of course! I was going to hire an exorcist to get rid of the evil spirit, but I’m still moving in so I haven’t done it yet.”

Eliron walked up to Ash and borrowed his sword.

“Please be careful my lord, demons are horrid things.”

Eliorn nodded. “Where did you even find such a sword?”

Cassie looked in the other direction. “Trade secret… Anyways~! since you are no exorcist, according to the instructions I was given, you need only touch the hilt and take on the challenge.”

“If you win, the sword will be yours, but if you lose.”

Cassie snapped her fingers. “You’ll die.”

“Same old, same old.” Eliron muttered. It was always life or death with these demonic swords, he had read about them countless times in different Manhwa and novels.

He gripped his sword tightly and walked into the mist.

“At the end of the day, all that matters is brute, unchallenged strength.”

The mist hugged Eliron like an affectionate mother, pulling him into it.

<••>

’What the hell is this?’

That was Eliron’s first thought.

He was surrounded in fog so thick that he was afraid he would eat it if he dared open his mouth.

Swooosh!

Three demonic hands raced toward his face, trying to lash out at him, but Eliorn swiftly cut them down with ease, the hands crumbling to dust.

There was a light whooshing sound, and then an ancient stone path cleared up in front of him, the narrow road stretching onwards.

’An illusion?’

Eliron was sure that it was not possible to fit such a long path in such a small building, but regardless, he walked forward, not an ounce of fear in his heart.

His footsteps echoed through the fog, the clacking sounds reverberating in the air.

It was as though he was wearing shoes made of wood, meanwhile he was in leather boots. And worse of all, when he stared at his shadow…

Eliron saw the outline of a man in a straw hat, flowing robes and a sword strapped to his waist.

He stopped walking, and the shadow continued onwards, climbing up the path.

Eliron scratched his head. “Just when I thought things could not get any weirder…”

At the end of the long path, Eliron found a number of shadows waiting for him, each one going about their activity like he didn’t exist.

One was the shadow of a man chopping wood, one was starting a fire, the other was filling a drum with water, while another was skinning a boar?

Eliron raised his gaze, a bright smile appearing on his face.

Beyond the shadows, lay the purpose of this journey, and god was it beautifully.

It was a work of art, a black long sword with a single cutting edge carved for utmost precision.

The blade was a little broader than that of a katana, and its end was curved slightly, just before going straight down, the craftsmanship just as astute as its tip was sharp.

There were ancient markings on the blade, finishing touches of the artist’s masterpiece.

It resembled runes, but different, and as though it wasn’t perfect enough, a dragon claw circled around the hilt, just before forming the crossguard.

“Now that is what I call a sword…”

Even from where he stood, Eliron could perceive the sinister energy radiating from the blade as it floated in the air just at the end of the path.

He walked up to it, taking a good second to admire its beauty once more, right before he stretched his hands toward it.

“How hard can fighting a demon be?” Eliron scoffed.

The shadows stood still, watching him.

As he grabbed the blade.

And was plunged into the darkness.

..

A/N

The image of the sword will be in the comments 🙂

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