Star-Embracing Swordmaster — Chapter 211: Dragonslayer (1)

Chapter 211: Dragonslayer (1)

It’s⁠⁠ easy to take⁠‌ something from someone‍ else.

It’s‌ fun to laugh at other people’s‍ efforts.

Every‍⁠ time someone’s challenge⁠ shatters, I feel‌‍ unbearable joy.

Because their failures prove‌ my perfection.

“Grrr…!”‌‌

The‍⁠ ominous fragment he⁠ held in his‌‍ hand burned intensely.⁠‌

Following‍⁠ the violently flowing⁠ blood, his once-blue‌‌ eyes now glowed‍‍ a bright blue,‌‍ and his clenched‍‌ teeth grew sharper‌‍ and sharper.

As‍⁠‍ if that were‍ your true nature.‍

“Aaah!”‌

The‍‍ dragon fragment, now⁠⁠ completely absorbed and‍ shapeless, disappeared.

Vlad‌ drew his sword, trying to shake‍ off the sinister‌ energy.

“Damn it!”

Crack!⁠⁠‌

Behind him, the dragon⁠⁠ roared and below,‌ the black waves churned at the⁠ center of the‍ cliff.

In⁠⁠ that precarious place, Vlad drove his sword into the‍ middle of the‍⁠ cliff.

The⁠⁠‌ upward movement was‌ not driven by‌‍‌ the inner whisper⁠‍ but by his‍ own vow.

Buzz!‌‌‌ Buzz, buzz!

The⁠⁠ sword wept as‍‍⁠ it watched Vlad.‌

Seeing its master trying‌ to climb up,‌ trampling the threats‍ around and the⁠‌ temptations within him.⁠

The⁠ World Tree Sword,⁠⁠⁠ which was just‍‌ a child, knew‍ who it was‌ but didn’t know‌‍ what it wanted‌ to become.

Grrr!‍‍

“I‍ don’t want to‍⁠‌ live like this,‍‍‌ damn it!”

And now he knew.

What⁠‌ do I want‍‍‌ to become?

Vlad’s‍‌ fierce roar towards‍‌ the dragons awakened‌⁠ the unfinished sword,⁠‌ and each forward⁠ movement showed the‍ path to perfection.‌‌

[Yes!⁠ Look up as‌‌⁠ you swore to‌ me!]

Vlad’s‍ heart pounded as‌⁠‍ he heard Kihano’s‍ cry.

More‍ precisely, it wasn’t his heart but⁠ what Vlad had⁠‌ harbored all this⁠ time.

“Ugh!”⁠‌

Following Kihano’s cry, as he climbed the⁠ cliff, Vlad let⁠⁠ out a gasp‌ at the heat‌‌⁠ he felt from⁠‍ deep within his‌ breastplate.

The⁠⁠ pocket near the breastplate, which suddenly⁠ heated up, was where the coins‍‍ given by the⁠‍ old knights were‍ kept.

“Kihano?”

[It⁠ seems your sword‍ is awakening.]

The⁠ rusty coins that‌⁠ the old knights⁠ had given him‌ with their honor.⁠‍

Though‍‌ the rusty surface‍ seemed insignificant, inside‌⁠⁠ there was a silver glow that Vlad hadn’t noticed.⁠

The⁠ true color of‍ the coins the‍ old knights tried‍‍⁠ to give Vlad⁠‍ was a genuine⁠ silver.

[For‌ a silver knight.]‌⁠

Buzz,‌ buzz, buzz!

Just as a child⁠‌ wants to become‌‌ a knight, the‌‌‌ unfinished sword also‌ wanted to be completed.

And‍ Vlad could become‌ a knight because‍ there were stars that showed him⁠ the right way.‍

Like‍‌ the silver lights⁠ now slowly moving⁠ from Vlad’s chest.‍‍‍

The⁠⁠‌ sword in his‍ hand shone.

Though born for a star, the sword‌ wished to contain‍‌ the dragon fragment⁠‍ for its master.⁠

The⁠ true silver flowing‌ according to the‌⁠‌ sword’s will protected⁠ the young sword‌ from the dragon’s⁠‌ ferocity.

In‍⁠ that dark place⁠‍ where it was‍ impossible to distinguish‍‌‌ between sky and‌⁠ sea.

There‌‍‍ was a star shining, reborn.

The⁠ name of that‍ star, which it⁠ desired to be,‌ was the Dragon‍‍ Slayer.

***‍⁠

“…What’s‌ wrong with that?”

Barbosa,‍‌ watching the fight‍‍ of the two‌ monsters from the⁠ distant sea, expressed‍ his bewilderment as‍ he saw Leviathan⁠‌⁠ suddenly stop.

Though⁠‍ there was an⁠‍‍ unexpected attack from‍⁠ the Kraken, it‌⁠ seemed to be‍‍‍ winning just a moment ago.

“Why⁠‍ is it retreating‌‌ when it was‍ winning?”

Dragons‌ are inherently the‍⁠ closest to perfection.‌‌

That’s‌‌ why it should never back down,⁠⁠ but Leviathan was‍ now unwinding its⁠ slippery body, as⁠ if trying to‍‍ escape quickly.

“A‍⁠ cliff… It’s scary!”

And‍‌ the place Leviathan looked at with‌⁠‌ a puzzled gaze‌ was the cliff‌‍ of Lemnos Island.‍

Where‍‌ Vlad had managed⁠ to climb from‍ below.

“Wow,‍ up close it’s‌‌ even uglier.”

There⁠ was a Leviathan⁠ right in front⁠ of him, so‍‌⁠ large it was⁠‍‌ daunting to even‍ look up, but‌‌ Vlad was only smiling as he‍⁠ wiped the sweat.⁠‍

The‍⁠ largest dragon and⁠‍ the most perfect‌ dragon fragment.

Though‌ their sizes were incomparably different, Vlad,⁠‍ holding the most⁠‌ perfect fragment, had‌ no reason to⁠‍ feel inferior in‍‌‌ the world of‍⁠‍ dragons.

“Is⁠ it a bit‌‌ short?”

Thump!‌

Vlad‌ was measuring the‍ distance between the‌‍ cliff he stood⁠‍ on and Leviathan.‍⁠

When⁠ he thought the‌ distance was too⁠⁠ long to jump,‍ an ominous red‌‍‍ color began to‍ flow from the sword he held.⁠

It⁠ was a new‌‍‍ possibility that the⁠ dragon slayer sword,‌ containing the dragon fragment, offered him.‍‍‍

“…No, it’s not too‍ short.”

Adding‌ the ferocity that flowed with the‌ sword, towards a more perfect body.⁠

Vlad,‌‍ feeling euphoric for‌ being able to⁠‍ do anything, looked⁠‌ at the largest‌⁠ dragon in front of him.

“This is enough to reach it.”

The⁠⁠⁠ place where I stood was still‌ the same, but⁠⁠ the world I was in had⁠‍ changed.

Vlad⁠⁠⁠ raised his sword‌‍ when he saw‌⁠ Leviathan, now so⁠ close he could‍‌⁠ see it at‍‌‌ a glance.

“…Huff.”‍‍

Vlad‌‍‍ crouched, following the⁠ one-hit kill technique‌ taught by Kihano.⁠

Like‌ an arrow about⁠‌ to be shot.‍

This‌⁠ technique, started by‌⁠‍ a sword master,‍ emphasized a single strike from the fencing of a duelist.

“Here‍‍ I go.”

[Yes.]‍⁠

The‍ sword master’s technique‌⁠‌ deployed on a dragon’s body.

Faced‍‌‌ with a possibility‌⁠ he hadn’t even imagined, Kihano’s heart‍ also pounded heavily.‌‌

“Haa!”⁠

The⁠ ground where his‌‍ feet had struck‌ collapsed and the‍‌ figure of Vlad⁠⁠ who had been‍⁠⁠ there a moment‌ ago disappeared.

The⁠ only thing left‌‌ was a faint‍ residual image of⁠ golden light and a slight wind blowing late.

Grrr!‌

The‍ golden light starting‌ from the cliff‌‌ already reached the body, surpassing Leviathan’s‌‍ roar.

It‍‌ was a gesture‌ that showed no‍ fear of the⁠‌ waves at the‍⁠ bottom of the‌‌ cliff or the‍ monsters right in‌ front of him.

Crack!⁠

“Tch!”‍

A chilling sound, as if a bone⁠ was breaking, was‍ heard from Leviathan’s‌ body where the⁠‍‌ sword was embedded,‌⁠ but Vlad ended‌ up making a sound as if⁠⁠⁠ he was in⁠ trouble.

This‌ was because, although‍‌ he did it‌⁠ himself, the unexpected‍⁠ speed exceeded the‌ target location.

“Again!”‍‌‍

However,⁠⁠ despite being a small sword stuck,‌‍ what caught my⁠⁠ attention was a threat to existence‍ itself.

Grrr!

Leviathan,‌‌ aware of the threat of the⁠‍ Dragon slayer sword,‌‌ let out a great roar and‌‍‍ violently shook its‍‍⁠ body to get⁠ rid of Vlad.

“Sh*t!”‍‌⁠

The gigantic body, larger‍ than any mountain,‍⁠ shook the island‌‍ of Lemnos dangerously.‍

At‍ that gesture, a wave so large spread that even‍ distant ships couldn’t‌ resist.

-······!‌

The‌‍ Kraken was also‍‌ surprised by Leviathan’s‍ sudden action, but⁠‌ the old spirit⁠ knew what it‌‍ had to do.⁠‌‌

The‍‌⁠ Kraken began to‌⁠ wrap its entire‍ body around Leviathan,‌ who was trying‌⁠⁠ to dive back⁠ into the sea.‌

So‌ it couldn’t submerge⁠‌‍ again and leave‌ its body exposed‌‌‌ to Vlad.

Humans‌ and dwarves could‌‌ only stare at‍‍⁠ the sight of⁠⁠‌ the gigantic majestic‍ serpent and the‌ squid holding on‍⁠ tightly.

“…I⁠ see it.”

It was as if‍ two ropes were⁠ tangled and taut.‌‌‌

Vlad,‌ feeling Leviathan’s body‌‍ tremble under his‍‌ feet, began to look at the‌‌ enormous body wrapping‍‍ around the island,‌ not the head‍ that had already plunged into the‌ sea.

The⁠ dragon’s sharp eyes‌ now showed the‌‌ optimal path August‍ had taught him.⁠‍

Crack!⁠⁠

Vlad‌‍ drew his sheathed‌ sword, closed his‌ left eye, and began to focus⁠‌ on his own‌‌‌ world.

Towards‍⁠ a deeper place‍‌ and a wider‍ surface.

Gathering the worlds touching his, he began‍‌‌ to rebuild his‍‍‍ own world.

“Oooh…”‌‌

Rukhta,⁠‍ crying on the⁠⁠ collapsing island, let‌ out an exclamation⁠ unknowingly.

It‌ was because he saw a huge‌⁠ new tree rising‌ from the ruins‍‌ where everything was collapsing.

“Ha.”‌⁠

The‍ world that holds‌ me is Kihano’s‌ world.

What⁠ I want to‍‌ do is become‍ an honorable knight.‍

What‌‍ I have now in my hand‌ is a dragon-slaying⁠ sword.

And‍‍ the world that⁠‍ holds me is‍ the world of⁠ the spirits guarding‌⁠ the sea.

“Let’s⁠⁠‍ finish this.”

Crack!⁠

A knight, a dragon hunter, and a savior of spirits.‍ Vlad Aureo.

The‌ world he summoned‍‍ was embedded in‌ the largest dragon’s‍‍ body.

Like‍ a mountain.

Grrr!‌‌

“Huaaaa!”‌

With⁠⁠ Leviathan’s roar, Vlad‌ began to run.‍

Cutting through the largest dragon’s body.

Leviathan’s wounds, starting from⁠ a small point,⁠ began to gradually spread into a line as Vlad‍ advanced.

“Oh⁠⁠ my god.”

A golden line slowly⁠⁠⁠ dividing Leviathan’s body.‍

The‌‍ Nidavellir dwarves couldn’t‌‌ close their mouths‌‌‌ as they watched‍ that marvelous light.‌‍

Ahhh-!‍

A child born as‍ a dragon but‍‌ dreaming of the‌⁠ stars.

A sword born as‌ a star but‍⁠‌ containing a dragon⁠ fragment.

The⁠⁠⁠ light created by‍‍ the two was already creating a large circle along⁠ Leviathan’s body wrapping⁠⁠ around the island‌‌ of Lemnos.

***⁠

Woong‌‌ Woong- Wooong Woong-‌⁠

“Hmm?”

A desolate desert filled⁠⁠ with sand.

In‍ that place where‍‍ everything was silent,‌ a man who⁠ had lost all‌ color looked at‍⁠‍ his sword, crying.‌‍⁠

“…You⁠ seem to be‌ in a good⁠ mood for the⁠ first time in‌ a long while.”‌‌‍

A knight in silver‌‌‍ armor trembled in‌ his hand.

The‍‌ sword had been⁠ silent until it‌‌ cut through the‌ dragon’s skin, but⁠ for some reason,‌‍‍ it now trembled‍‌ as if reacting‌‌‍ to something.

“Is‌ something wrong?”

“No.”‌⁠

Frausen‍ responded to the‍⁠ voice of the⁠‍ woman behind him‌ and silently swung‌ his sword to shake off the‍⁠ blood.

A knight now left⁠ with nothing but‌ duty, without a gram of glory.⁠

In‌ front of him,⁠ the Death Worm,‌‌ known as the⁠ hardest dragon, was⁠ split in half,⁠⁠ soaking the dry⁠⁠ desert with its⁠ own blood.

Thump,‌⁠ thump…

Frausen’s‍ heart slowed gradually as the Death⁠ Worm’s heat cooled.⁠‌‍

Frausen⁠ silently placed his⁠⁠⁠ hand over his‌⁠ chest and closed⁠‌‌ his eyes as⁠‍ he felt the‌‌ sound grow quieter.‌

“…It⁠‌ finally stopped.”

The⁠‍ heart of another‍‍⁠ presence, not his‌ own.

It‌ was a type‍ that made my‍ withered body run,‍‌ but Frausen’s face,‌ as he felt the sound, was⁠ filled only with a faint expression⁠‌‍ of discomfort.

“Will‍‍ this being serve‍‍‌ as you mentioned?”⁠

“Of‍‍ course. I’ve tried‌‍⁠ it before, though‌ it was just‍‌‍ a young one.”⁠

“Then,‌ conclude it.”

Frausen‌ quietly walked away⁠‌‌ from the Death‍‍‌ Worm’s body, leaving‍‍ behind the woman whose feet could‍ not touch the‌ ground.

“Where‍ do you plan‍ to go now?”

Frausen‍ silently lifted his‍ head in response‍‍ to Ramashthu’s question.‌⁠‍

After‍ looking west for‍‍⁠ a moment, he‍‍ soon turned and‍‍ began looking in‌⁠ the opposite direction.‍

“…To⁠ the center.”

The‌ center of the⁠‍‌ empire.

The‍⁠ place where the⁠ most perfect dragon‌ was killed and⁠ where now the oldest dragon resides.‌⁠

Frausen walked towards the‍ city he had‍‌⁠ built with a gaze devoid of‍ any emotion.

Thump-thump…⁠⁠‍