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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 259: Stars in the Night Sky (1)

Chapter 259: Stars in the Night Sky (1)

The‌ sky was blue,​​‌ but the ground‌‌⁠ beneath was filled‍​ with pain.

The⁠​​ bright sun suffered​‌​ alone, but the‌‍ cries of the‌⁠ knights below were‌‍‌ equally agonizing.

“Lo-Lord⁠⁠​ Rutiger…”

A world of its​​ own, with no​‌‌ regard for the‌​ beings below.

But​ now, a night​​ sky was descending​ upon those who​ suffered beneath it.​‍⁠

“Hey,⁠ look over there.”​

Rutiger‍​ urgently lifted his⁠​‍ head, following the⁠ direction pointed out⁠ by his aide.⁠‌

A strange scene, one‌​‌ he had never‍​ seen or heard‍​ of before, was‌ unfolding in the​‌​ sky.

“That⁠⁠ is…”

A dark shadow began​‍​ to spread across‌ the green meadow.‍

The​‌ shadow was cast​ by the black​​ moon, which had⁠‌ already obscured the​‌ sun.

-I‌​ want a world‍‍ without dragons.

The‌‍‌ moon of the‌‌ children, granted by‌‍‍ a young man‌ with dark eyes​ and a knight​ with golden hair.‍‌

And‍ now, a black‍ tear began to​‌ fall slowly from​ that moon, descending‍​⁠ into the blue​​ sky.

-I​​​ don’t even want‌ perfection.

There‌⁠ was a knight⁠​​ who turned his​⁠​ back for the‍ lost children.

And​⁠⁠ the tears of⁠⁠ the children who‌‍ answered the knight’s‌ call.

The‌ tears began to‌​⁠ slowly unravel the⁠‍ black canvas, causing⁠ small ripples in‌ the blue sky.​‍‌

-I​‍ hope that in‍⁠ the world I draw, no one‍ will look down‍⁠⁠ on others.

From​ the sky where⁠‌ the dragon once‌ soared, to the⁠‍ deep blue night​ sky that the‍⁠‌ boy gazed upon.⁠‌⁠

Under‌‌⁠ that sky, a dragon that had⁠⁠ lost its world​⁠ in the blink‍⁠‌ of an eye‌ was falling, letting​‍⁠ out a rough‍​‌ roar.

Roaar!​

Sarnus,⁠ now stripped of​​‌ his wings, reverted​‌ to his human‌​ form.

The‌⁠⁠ sky, which no⁠‍⁠ longer allowed dragons,⁠ had fully turned‌ to night.

“…My​‌⁠ God.”

The‍‌‍ night sky seemed⁠ as if someone​‌​ had painted it.​⁠

The‌ knights couldn’t hide‍ their expressions of​ awe as they‌​ gazed at the​‍‍ darkness that looked‌ both beautiful and​ comforting, like a black silk cloth‌ unfurling.

“No⁠‌ way…”

A strange spectacle, neither⁠‌‍ a mystery nor​ a divine force⁠⁠⁠ could create.

However,⁠⁠‌ the knights who⁠​‌ had their own⁠​ worlds knew of‍ only one being‍ capable of producing​⁠ the current situation.⁠‍​

“Master…‌⁠ of the Sword?”​⁠

A being who could‍‌ bring their own‌⁠ world into reality.​ Master of the⁠‍​ Sword.

When‍⁠ the knights naturally‍‍​ turned around, Vlad‍⁠ stood there.

Vlad​ raised his sword⁠​‍ to the sky‍ as if he⁠‌​ were offering a prayer.

[…Magnificent.]​‍

The​​ current battlefield, drawn‍ with the last​‍ piece that could‌‌‌ become anything.

The‌⁠‍ tip of the⁠‍ sword, representing the‍‌ battlefield, was filled‍‌ with a haze‌‍⁠ of red dust​⁠​ that still rose‌‍‍ like a mist.‌

[This‍ is enough to‍ call him a Master of the‍⁠⁠ Sword.]

The‌‍‌ crescent moon and‍⁠‍ the falling dragon.​​​

And‍ the Master of​⁠ the Sword, who‌‌ had drawn his⁠ own night sky.⁠​

The‍​ night sky of⁠‍ today, created by⁠‌ the Master of​ the Sword of​​‌ this era, was‍​ a world that‌‍⁠ allowed no being‌​ to gaze upon‍‍⁠ other worlds.

***‌

Aaaah-!​‍​

After⁠ falling into a world without dragons,‍‍ Sarnus no longer⁠‍⁠ had wings.

“Are‌ you blocking my​‍ path again? Kihano⁠ Frausén!”

However,‍‌‌ even without wings,‍‍ Sarnus still held​‍⁠ the title of⁠‍ Dragulia.

Duke‍⁠‍ of Dragon’s Blood⁠ Dragulia.

The⁠‌ last Dragulia, who⁠‍‌ had proven his⁠​ worth by surviving‌ the longest, roared‌⁠​ his fury at⁠ Vlad standing before‌⁠‌ him.

“…It‌ won’t end like​ this. Not this‍ time!”

What⁠ I saw with​​ my eyes was‍ my son, but‍‌‌ what I felt‌⁠ in my soul​ was that knight.‌​‍

Once‌ more, the being‍​​ who came closest‌ to perfection in⁠‌ this era drew⁠ his sword toward​ the Master of‌‌ the Sword.

“Enough!”​​‍

“Bayezid!‌‍⁠ All of you,‍​ before me!”

Although​​​ he was struck‍⁠ down by the‍‌​ world drawn by‍ the Master of​​‍ the Sword, Sarnus​‍‌ still remained the​‍⁠ greatest force of‌⁠ this era.

No​‌ matter how many​⁠⁠ elites were gathered,⁠⁠⁠ no knight here⁠‌ could handle his‍⁠ once-perfect world.

“Insignificant​ beings!”

Having⁠‌ lost perfection, each⁠ step he took​ was as heavy‍ as a mountain,​​​ and every swing‍ of his sword​​⁠ was filled with⁠‌​ blood-red fury.

As⁠⁠‌ he advanced toward‍‌‍ Vlad, a path‌ formed behind him,‌‍ paved with someone’s‌ blood.

“You‌‌ keep getting in‌​ my way until‌​ the very end!”​⁠

Sarnus’s​‍ world grew larger⁠‍​ the more you⁠‍​ looked up.

Born‍ a noble dragon,‍ he was prepared‌​‍ to accept all​‍ the respect and‍​ fear of the‌ world and had‍‌⁠ no intention of‌‍ forgiving the knights‍‌‌ who dared challenge‌ him.

[Bow⁠‍ down! Scum!]

The‍‌ dragon of this​⁠‌ era, with the⁠‌‍ right to rule,‌ commanded the knights⁠​ with a sword‌⁠ that flashed like‌‌ lightning.

Bow⁠ your heads and​⁠‌ look at me.‍​⁠

Craaaack-!​‍

“What‌ the hell!”

The​​‍ dragon’s command, laden‌ with authority, fear,‍ and his inherent‍ grandeur, began weighing‍⁠ down on the⁠‍‍ knights, as though⁠ the very laws​‍ of the world⁠‌ were pressing them‌⁠ into the earth.⁠‍

“…It’s‍⁠​ too heavy!”

It‌ felt as if‍‌ the world itself⁠‍ was crushing them.⁠⁠‍

“Sh*t!”⁠

The​​⁠ weight of the‍ dragon’s words was⁠ so violent that‍‌ even the ground‌ beneath them seemed⁠ to give way.⁠​​

Though‍ the knights tried‍‌‌ to deploy their⁠ own worlds to​ resist, Sarnus’s world,⁠⁠ built up over‌‌‍ centuries, crushed them‌​ with its vastness.⁠‍

“Pathetic,⁠‌‍ you’re fighting just‌ like before.”

Only⁠​ then did Sarnus’s​ face slowly straighten​​ as he watched‍ the knights of‍‍‍ this era lower‍ their heads.

The‍‌​ higher my world​ rises, the more⁠⁠ these knights bow⁠ their heads.

I,‍‌⁠ who grew stronger‌‍‌ by forcing my​‍⁠ enemies into submission,​‌⁠ was a being‌⁠‌ born to rule.‌‍‍

“Do‍​ not bow!”

However,‌​‍ this world, where‌‍​ the knights stood‌⁠ now, was one‌‍ where no one‌‌ could look down⁠​‍ on another.

“Raise​​​ your swords! Remember‌​ why we are‌⁠‍ here!”

At⁠⁠ that moment, someone‌ was running toward⁠​‌ the knights, who‌ had been crushed⁠⁠​ by the enormous‌ world.

A man glowing with‍ a golden aura,​ running like lightning.⁠​

At​‌‌ the end of⁠ the golden horizon​ created by this‌ man was Sarnus‍‍ Dragulia, the last‌‍​ dragon of this‌ era.

“Vlad!‍ Curse you!”

Boooom!⁠

It‍‍⁠ was a terrifying‍⁠ speed, like lightning‍ striking the ground.‍⁠

The⁠⁠ golden world rushing​ forward began to‍​‌ howl fiercely, biting‍‌ into the bloody⁠⁠ aura of Sarnus.⁠‍​

“You‍ were born as‍‌ a dragon and⁠‌ destroyed perfection!”

“I⁠‌‌ wouldn’t want it,​‍​ even if you⁠‍ gave it to‍‍‍ me!”

Two‌​‌ worlds shone beneath‍ the night sky.‌

Finally,‍⁠‌ father and son​ met each other’s​⁠‌ gaze through their‌ blue eyes.

Craaaaack-!‌

Through‌ their clashing swords,‌​​ their blue eyes⁠ locked.

Seeing‌ clearly where it⁠​ came from, uncontrollable‍​⁠ rage began to‍ stir in Vlad’s​ heart.

“…So‍‍​ you planted the‍​‍ seed only to​ devour me later.”⁠‍

Despite​‍ inheriting the blood⁠​ of the noble​‍⁠ dragon, Vlad had⁠ grown up in⁠‍ the darkest alleys.‌

But‍⁠ the secret of‍ his birth was⁠ far more terrifying‌‌‌ and disgusting than⁠‌ he had ever⁠‌ imagined as a child.

“I‌⁠ don’t think there’s‍‌​ anyone else in‍​ the world who‍‌ would bring a child into being‌​‍ for such a reason.”

It​​⁠ wasn’t for love,‌ nor for a fleeting moment of⁠​‍ pleasure—it was for‌‍‍ a cold, calculated⁠⁠ purpose that I was born.

Vlad‌ smiled coldly as‍​ he stared at‌‍ the roots of⁠ his existence that‌ had never truly‌ been there from​‍ the moment of‍​​ his birth.

“Still,‍⁠ thank you for​​ giving me life,​ father.”

“What?”​‍‌

Despite‌‌⁠ everything, I’m grateful‌‌ to have been​‍ born into this⁠ world.

Otherwise,‌⁠‍ I wouldn’t have⁠ been able to​‍​ see the light‌⁠ of the stars⁠⁠ shining as they‌​​ do now.

“…!”‍‌

Sarnus⁠‍ froze for a moment at Vlad’s​‌‌ unexpected words.

But‌‍ those words, filled​⁠ with sincerity, were​‍​ another trick by⁠​⁠ Vlad, who held‍⁠ the sword.

[I’ve‌⁠ tricked him!]

The​‌ secret to a killing blow lies‌​ in the unexpected.⁠‍

And‌​‍ sometimes, the unexpected⁠‌ comes not from‍ the tip of​⁠ a sword but‍⁠ from the tip⁠‌ of the tongue.‍‌‌

“Damn‌⁠ it!”

For‍ a brief moment,⁠ the flow of⁠⁠​ air stopped.

It⁠ all began at​ the tip of‌⁠⁠ Vlad’s sword, firmly‌​ positioned.

“Fuuu…”‌‍‍

The‍⁠ possibility of seizing​‍⁠ the initiative through‍‌⁠ an unexpected move.⁠⁠

The⁠ blue eyes of‍ Vlad, fixed on‌ the space he​ had created, suddenly‍‌ gleamed with flashes‍‍ of light.

“Tuck‌​‍ your elbows in.”‍

This‌​​ strike will be‌ decisive.

Vlad’s⁠ sword began to⁠ tremble as the​ certainty of a conclusion flowed from‍ the will of⁠‌ the world.

“Haaaa!”‌‌

The‌​ pressure emanating from‌ his sword started​ slicing through the⁠‍ still air.

Hearing‍​ the wind’s tearing‍‌ scream, Sarnus, without‍‍ realizing it, hurriedly​​ shut his left​‌ eye.

Craaaack-!‍​​

A fierce gust swept⁠​ through the air,⁠‍​ sending pieces of​‌ armor flying in‍ all directions.

But‍⁠ Vlad’s face was⁠⁠ filled with frustration.​‌

“…Sh*t!”​

The‌​⁠ sword had been​‍⁠ launched, and it⁠​ had struck Sarnus.⁠

Sarnus’s‍‌ armor had shattered,​ proving the strike‌ had landed.

However,​‌​ unlike Vlad, Sarnus,​​ born with pure⁠‍ blood, was covered⁠​ in golden scales⁠ that suddenly sprouted‌‌ from his chest.⁠​‍

“Damn⁠‌ you!”

Sarnus’s⁠‍‌ anger rose as‌‌‌ he saw Vlad’s‍ sword pierce through⁠⁠ his world.

“Even‍ that cursed swordsmanship!”‌​‌

But⁠ his fury wasn’t‌​​ just directed at‌⁠ Vlad’s strength.

[Don’t​‍​ let him recover!​​​ You can’t give​⁠​ up the advantage!]​​

From‍ Vlad’s eyes, so⁠‌‌ close, Sarnus could‍ see the figure‍‌‌ of Kihano, the‌ knight he could⁠⁠ never forget, even⁠ in his dreams,‍‍ pushing him forward​ with force.

“Kihano…​ Damn bastard!”

There⁠⁠‌ had been a noble knight who⁠‌ had split himself‍ to prevent the⁠⁠⁠ resurrection of the⁠‍‌ most perfect dragon.⁠‍‍

Using‍ his divided soul‌ to traverse eras,‍​ he had finally‍ succeeded in erasing‌‍ the possibility of‌⁠ the perfect dragon⁠ from the world,​‍ as he had‌ desired.

[Well​‌ done! You’re doing‍ great!]

And​​ not with a sharp sword, but⁠⁠ with faith and⁠‌​ care for the‌⁠ child.

A world where the‍ perfect dragon no‍‍⁠ longer existed.

The⁠⁠ Master of the‌ Sword from the‍ previous era, who⁠​‍ had succeeded in​ depicting that world,‍ smiled as he​​​ watched the dragon​​ roar.

Bang!​ Boom! Bang!

“Aaaah!”​‌

A ferocity that never‍‍​ ceased once it​‍ gained momentum.

Noticing‍‍​ that Vlad shared⁠ his relentless spirit,⁠‍‍ Sarnus swung his​⁠​ sword with all⁠‌ his might, buying⁠ himself a brief⁠ respite.

[It’s​ coming! Be ready!]​

“…!”‌

The‌ ongoing battle was‌‍​ clearly fierce.

But⁠‍ for Sarnus, who‌ had regained his⁠‍​ composure, it was⁠⁠​ enough time to‍ take a deep​‍ breath once more.⁠

“You⁠ destroyed everything, Kihano!”‌⁠‍

Kihano⁠‌ and Frausen, divided.‍⁠

Among⁠‍ them, the one⁠ who inflicted the​‌ deepest wound on​‌ Sarnus wasn’t Emperor‍‍ Frausen, but the​‍​ honorable knight Kihano.​⁠

A fierce breath toward​​ him began to‌​‍ form in Sarnus’s‍⁠​ lungs.

[Disappear!]‌⁠​

A word, a single‍‍ utterance, could kill‍ someone in one‍‌ swift motion.

Sarnus’s‍ breath, filled with⁠‌ the dragon’s power,‍‍ shot out red‌ beneath the deep‍​ blue night sky.‍​

Booom-!‌​

Though‍⁠‍ he looked human,⁠‍​ what Sarnus exhaled⁠​‌ was unmistakably the​‌‌ breath of a dragon.

Vlad‌​⁠ paused for a moment, seeing the⁠‍ breath rapidly approach,‌ but the decision‍ he made in⁠‌ that brief instant‍‍ wasn’t to evade—it​ was to defend.​​

“Ugh!”⁠‌‍

The‌‌ direct red breath⁠​​ of Sarnus clashed‍‌ with Vlad’s sword.​‍​

The​ force was strong⁠​‌ enough to consume​ him entirely if​‌ not diverted by​‍ his own strength.⁠

[Avoid​‍‍ it! You can’t‌ hold out much‍ longer!]

As‍​​ Kihano’s words proved‍ true, Vlad’s sword​​⁠ began to glow​​‍ red-hot.

However,⁠‌​ Vlad continued to⁠ fight to stop​​‌ Sarnus until the‌​​ very end.

“No!”‌‌‍

There‌ stood Vlad, being⁠‍ pushed forward, holding‍‍​ his breath as​‌⁠ though in hell.⁠​

“There​⁠‌ are still knights‍ behind me!”

Behind‌​ Vlad, many knights​⁠⁠ were still bound​‍ by the chains⁠​‌ of Sarnus.

The‌ knights, overwhelmed by⁠ the vast world,‌ shouted for Vlad‍‍ to retreat, but​ the man before⁠⁠‌ them only clenched⁠‌​ his teeth harder.‌‌

“Then…⁠‌​ create your own‍​‌ world!”

Now,⁠​⁠ I am a Master of the‍‍⁠ Sword of this‍‍‌ era, trying to‌⁠​ embrace not only​‌‍ myself but others.​

The‍​ Masters of the‌⁠​ Sword from previous‌⁠ eras shouted loudly‌ at him.

[You‌ can do anything,​ even if you’re‍‍ not a dragon!‍ Because you’re a knight who already‌ has his own‌​‌ world!]

A knight standing where​‌‍ he should, beneath‍⁠⁠ the tears shed‍‍ by young potentials.​‌

However,‍‌ as the pressure​‌‌ mounted, the deep⁠⁠⁠ blue night sky⁠​ began to light⁠ up with a gray star, as‍⁠ if telling him‌⁠ to look there.‍

[Draw!⁠⁠⁠ The world you‌ embraced!]

“Agh!”⁠​⁠

What​⁠ Vlad held in⁠ his hands wasn’t⁠‌ just a sword—it‍‌ was a brush.‍‍‍

A truth that anyone​ who fights in​⁠⁠ this world, not‌ with a sword,‌​‍ must now realize.‌​​

When‍ Vlad grasped that⁠‍​ truth, a star‌⁠⁠ in the night‌​‌ sky began to‍‍ shine above his‍‌​ head.

“…I’ve⁠ never seen a wall as strong‍ as yours.”

What​ I want now‌⁠ is a world​‌‍ where I can⁠ stop the dragon’s​‍ breath.

And‍‌⁠ that world already‌ shone like a star in Vlad’s‌ soul.

“So​‌ just this once…⁠ Lend me your⁠ strength!”

This‌​‍ is a conversation⁠‍ with the sword,‍​​ and a spell⁠‌​ that brings my‍‌‌ world into reality.‍​‍

Following‍‌ the spell Vlad‍‍ shouted with all‌ his might, a world emerged from‌ the green meadows.‍‌

Thump!‌⁠

An‍ enormous castle gleaming‍ in the starlight.‌‍​

A scene the boy,⁠ awed by its​‍‌ greatness, had filled​‌ his world with,‍‍ now recreated beneath​​‍ the night sky.‌

“…What?”‌‌

A spectacle that made‍​ both the knights,​⁠‌ who had lowered⁠ their heads, and​ the dragon, who⁠ sighed, lift their‌ heads.

Suddenly,‌‍‌ the fortress rose,⁠​ showcasing its grandeur​‌ and steel walls.​‌

“Bastopol?”⁠‌

Boom!​ Crack!

Long⁠‌​ ago, it was‌​ said that the‍‌ walls of Bastopol,​‍ alongside the Master‍‌‍ of Swords from‍ a previous era,‍ were what stopped‌‌​ the breath of‍ the most perfect‍‍​ dragon.

And‌‌ now, the walls‌‍‍ Vlad had recreated‍ within his own‌ world stood tall⁠ and firm, blocking​​ the breath exhaled​​ by Sarnus.

“…Haaah!⁠​⁠ Haaah!”

The‌⁠⁠ vast night sky‌​ and the stars​⁠⁠ adorning it belonged‍‍ to the world​​‍ I had drawn‍‌ myself.

Vlad⁠ lifted his head,⁠‍⁠ and he could​‍ see the many​‍ stars watching him​‌‍ from above.

“I‍ am not a dragon.”

One‌‍ of those stars​ shone directly above⁠⁠ Vlad’s head.

The‌‍ starlight it cast‍‍⁠ was a bright,⁠ multicolored light that‍ seemed to pass​ through stained glass.‌⁠

The⁠ light was the‌‌ same as the​ one the boy​‍​ saw when he​‍ received his name​⁠‍ for the first‍‍ time.

“I‍‍ am Vlad of​​ Soara.”

That‌ was the name‍⁠ given to me⁠⁠‌ by a devout‌​​ priest when I was born for⁠‍‌ the first time​ in my life.⁠‍

Seeing⁠ that light again,‍‌‌ Vlad reaffirmed his⁠​⁠ potential and slowly⁠‍⁠ extended his sword,​‌⁠ drawing the next⁠​ scene.

“…I‍‌ vouch for the⁠​⁠ honor of this‌​‍ knight.”

A small, ancient mansion.‌⁠

However,‌ there stood a knight who always‌​⁠ opened the door‌ for Vlad.

He‌ quietly walked up‌⁠ to the battlefield,​⁠ holding the shield‌‌ that had been⁠‍ broken before.

“Then,​‍⁠ lend me your⁠⁠ shield.”

Despite​ being born in‌​ an unworthy place,‍​‌ this young knight⁠ now walked toward⁠ a brilliant destiny.⁠⁠‌

And‍ in the dueling‌ arena of Deirmar​​ that Vlad had‌‌⁠ drawn, stood Pablo​ of Arnstein, with​‍ the same appearance‍‌ as before, ready‍ to face Sarnus.‌⁠‌

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