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Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 260: Stars in the Night Sky (2)

Chapter 260: Stars in the Night Sky (2)

This‍‍‌ is an illusion.‍‌

Because⁠​​ the Bastopol wall‌⁠‌ that I see​ now, I destroyed‌​⁠ with my own⁠​‍ hands just a few days ago.‌

However,‍⁠ the glow of‍​ the wall visible‍⁠ now is much‍ brighter than reality.‍

“…Sword‌‍‍ Master.”

Someone’s⁠‍ world painted over⁠‌ reality.

This⁠⁠ world, drawn by​​‌ a person firmly‌​ aware of their‌‌‍ existence, becomes as​​‌ real as you​ believe in it.‍

And‌ there’s only one‍ being who can⁠​‌ draw such a world. The only⁠ Master of the⁠⁠ Sword, known as⁠​⁠ the pinnacle of​‌‍ swords.

“Give⁠​ me a shield.”‍⁠

There,‌​ in the dueling⁠‌ arena, stood the​ knight who blocked‌ my claws.

His‍ name was Pablo⁠‌​ of Arnstein, a man who chose‌ duty over honor⁠​ for the sake‌​ of a young​ man.

“So⁠ I can protect​⁠​ your potential.”

Possibility‌ is something beautiful,​‌ and young beings⁠‌​ who can express​ it in their​ own world are‍‌​ precious.

Thus,​​ the light of⁠​‍ a single star​‍ in the night‌⁠ sky began to‌‌ persist from the⁠ knight’s shield, protecting⁠‍​ that moment.

“Face⁠⁠ me, Sarnus.”

“…..Damn‍ insects!”

A being that normally⁠​ you wouldn’t even‍​‍ dare look at.​‌​

But‍ in Vlad’s world,‌⁠‍ he was equal‍‌ to him. Raising‍⁠‍ his shield, Sarnus,​ unable to bear​‌ it any longer,‌⁠ began to charge⁠‍ forward.

Boom!⁠ Crash!

A tremendous impact.

Pablo​ began to be⁠‍‌ pushed back by⁠ the force, which⁠ would have shattered‌ his limbs if​‍‍ he had taken‌‌ it in real⁠​ life.

“Ugh!”⁠‍

What‍​ he had just‌‍‍ felt was the‍ world of Sarnus,⁠​‌ a being closer‌⁠ to perfection than‍⁠ any other.

However,‌⁠ the weight of​ Pablo carrying the​⁠ duty he had​⁠‌ sworn to was‌ just a little‌‌ heavier than Sarnus’s‌⁠⁠ world.

“…You‍ have the right.”⁠

The‍‍ same blonde hair⁠​⁠ and the same​‌‌ blue eyes.

And⁠⁠‍ Pablo, standing on​‌‍ the same battlefield‍ as before, saw​ Sarnus charging toward‌‍⁠ him and thought​‍ of the boy‍‌ from that day.⁠​​

“This​⁠ battlefield is honorable‍​‍ enough.”

Bang!‍​​ Crash! Boom! Boom!⁠

The‌​⁠ shield that Pablo⁠ held shattered with​ a single blow‌ from Sarnus’s sword.‌‌⁠

However,‌⁠​ the shield he‌‍‍ held was not‌​‌ a reality, but​ a world created​⁠ by willpower.

If‌‍​ his will to‌ hold the shield⁠ didn’t break, that⁠‌⁠ star in the​‌ night sky would‍​ forever belong to​ Pablo.

“…So‍‌ that you can‍⁠⁠ say your name!”‍

Amidst‍ the fragments of⁠ the broken shield,‌ Pablo pushed forward‌ with his shoulder.‌‍

The⁠‍ knight, who normally‍⁠ focused on defense,‍⁠⁠ created a single‌‌‌ moment by throwing⁠ away his shield.‌

“Ugh!”​⁠

Sarnus’s‌​ eyes widened as⁠⁠‍ he saw Pablo‍⁠‌ charging toward him.‌

The‍‌​ cunning of a knight, enough to‍ surprise even the⁠‍⁠ oldest dragon.

However,‍‍ Sarnus’s astonishment wasn’t⁠ because of Pablo,​⁠ but the man​⁠‌ charging from behind.‌⁠

“Huuaap!”‍‍​

The​‍ name of the⁠ knight charging behind‍ Pablo, like a wall, was Vlad‌​ of Soara.

His‌‍ aura, which Pablo⁠⁠ had been concealing‍‌ until now, brushed​​​ Sarnus’s shoulder like⁠⁠‌ lightning.

“…!”‍​‌

Golden⁠⁠ scales that couldn’t⁠ manifest due to‍ the unexpected nature‍‌ of the attack.‌

Thus,‌​‍ a single stream⁠‌ of red blood​⁠‍ rose from the⁠ wound carved into‍‌⁠ the deep blue⁠⁠‍ night sky.

“Vlad!‍​ Damn you!”

A greedy dragon that‌ craved the blood‍ of others but‌‌ refused to give‌⁠ up his own.⁠⁠‌

Enraged‍‍ by the thread‌​ of blood, Sarnus⁠ turned his head,⁠‌‌ but Vlad had​‍​ already disappeared.

“…What​​‌ is that?”

What​ he saw instead​⁠‍ was a young​‍‍ World Tree rising‌‍​ toward the sky.​‌​

Sarnus,‍‍ now standing in‍ the elven forest‌ instead of the​ dueling arena of⁠‍‍ Deirmar, saw an‌ elf with navy-blue​‍ hair in front‍ of him, aiming‍​​ a weapon at‌ him.

“Our⁠⁠ vitality began with‍​ the tears of⁠‍‌ our ancestors.”

Baradis,‌ with a shining‌​‌ five-pointed star in‍ his left eye.‍

“So⁠​ it’s time to⁠ receive some of‍⁠ it back.”

The​​‌ elves had to⁠​‍ abandon their burning‍⁠ forest after losing‌ their mother World⁠‌ Tree.

Their‍​ rage, which had‍‌‍ accumulated over generations,⁠‌⁠ began to form​ at the tips⁠‌‍ of the arrows​⁠ held by the⁠ elves of this​‍‍ era.

“Just⁠ a little.”

Fwoosh!‌

By⁠‌‍ the time you‌​ heard it, it⁠ had already been​‌​ shot, and by‌​​ the time you‌‍⁠ saw it, it‍ was already in‍​ front of you.‍

Baradis’s‍‌‌ arrow, as fast​ as the elves’‍‍ resentment, was filled‍‍ with spirits and‍‌ headed straight for⁠​⁠ the oldest dragon.⁠‌

“Ugh!”​‌

Crack!‍ Snap!

Just⁠ like the dragon’s‍ breath he had‍‌ exhaled.

All‍‌ red, blue, and‌ dark green, it‌​‌ shone as it​​​ began to gnaw‌ at Sarnus’s sword.​

“Vlad-!”‍‌⁠

However,‍⁠‍ even in this​​ feast of bright​ colors, Sarnus could‌⁠ clearly recognize the‌‍ one color that⁠ was rushing toward​‍ him.

It‌ was the blonde‌⁠⁠ hair of the‍ knight, shining just‌ like his own.​​⁠

“Haaah!”‌​

Baradis’s⁠ arrow was fired⁠​ like an arrow​‍ but suddenly took⁠ the shape of⁠ a sword.

The⁠‌‍ person it was⁠​ aimed at was​‌‍ Vlad, the guardian⁠ of the World‌ Tree.

“Damn⁠ trickery…!”

A knight of the‌‌‍ World Tree who​​​ stopped the most⁠‌⁠ cunning dragon and‍‌ drove away the⁠⁠⁠ evil beings.

The‍ starlight of the‍​⁠ spirits who remembered⁠⁠ him was already‍⁠ forming at the‍ tip of Vlad’s‌⁠ sword.

“Does‍ this seem like‌⁠ just a trick?”‌​

Clang!⁠‍ Clang!

Both‍⁠ swords clashed violently,⁠​‌ and Sarnus began‌‌‌ to be pushed⁠ back.

Sarnus,‌⁠​ a pure-blood dragon‍‌ who would never⁠​ be defeated in​‍‍ terms of physical‌​ strength, now had​ many spirits at‌​ Vlad’s side, lending‌​⁠ their small hands‍ to him.

“You⁠⁠‍ underestimated yourself, which‍‍ is why you​​ fell before this​ unfailing sword.”

Swordsmanship⁠⁠ that anticipates possibilities‌ with unexpected moves​ and controls the‍⁠‍ battlefield with a vision that’s always‌ a step ahead.‍

The‌‍‍ swordsmanship created by​⁠‌ the honorable duelist⁠​ was now being​⁠ perfectly executed in‌​‍ Vlad’s world.

“It’s​ now!”

“What?”‍‍‍

Ting!⁠‌​

The‍​⁠ spirits holding Sarnus,‌‍ and Vlad, who‍​​ was stopping him‌ with his sword,‍⁠‌ heard a sharp​​​ sound from behind‌‌‍ them.

“Finally,‍​⁠ it’s my turn.”‍​

A sound as if‌‌⁠ someone had snapped​‌‍ their fingers.

With⁠ that sound, what⁠⁠ was once a forest transformed into‌⁠ a green meadow.​‍

“As⁠​‍ expected, you are‍ the best dragon‍‌ slayer, Vlad.”

The⁠ star that now‌‌ shone was a volcano erupting.

Rutiger’s⁠ sword, capable of‌ piercing even the⁠ toughest dragon, was⁠‍ suddenly unleashing a massive bolt of‍​⁠ rage from the‌​ depths of his‍⁠⁠ own world.

Rumble!‌

The‍‍ ground trembled more​​ violently as he‍‌ raised his sword.​

And​‍⁠ seeing the red⁠ lava surging forth,⁠‍ Sarnus’s eyes widened‌ in shock.

“My​⁠ name is Rutiger​ of Bayezid.”

Where​‌⁠ once lay the‌ tracks of dragons⁠⁠⁠ that ravaged the⁠‍⁠ North.

And‌​‍ at the end‍‍​ of those tracks,​⁠ a multitude of‌‍⁠ northerners met their​‌ death.

“Rutiger‌‌ Bayezid, claiming the‍ blood of the‍‌​ North!”

A world where only​‍‍ knights who can‍ deeply reflect upon‍ themselves can leave⁠ their mark.

Red‍ lava, seeming capable​‍⁠ of devouring even​​ a dragon, surged⁠⁠ from the tip⁠‌ of Rutiger’s sword.⁠‍​

“Sh*t!”⁠‍⁠

Sarnus,⁠‍​ with wings he‌ couldn’t spread and‍⁠ feet that felt‍⁠ bound.

Before​‌ he realized it,​‍​ Rutiger’s blazing, fiery‌​ world was falling​​‍ upon him like‍ an inferno.

Crash!⁠

The⁠ golden dragon was​ engulfed by the​‌⁠ cascading lava, and‍⁠⁠ the once-perfect golden​‍ scales began to​⁠‍ crack.

Rutiger’s‌ world, sharper than⁠ any sword and‌ hotter than any​‌ flame, slowly began⁠ to carve fissures​‌ into Sarnus’s flawless‍ gold.

“Aaaah!”‍‌

Was​⁠ it from the⁠ heat that I can finally feel?​⁠​

Sarnus,⁠⁠‌ who had recklessly‌‍​ pushed Vlad ahead⁠ of him, had​⁠⁠ now entered another​​ world.

“And‍‍ now where am​⁠ I?”

There‌​⁠ was no World‍‍ Tree, no volcano⁠‌ in this new‍ place.

The‍⁠ world Vlad had⁠​⁠ drawn this time​‍ was a snowy‌‌​ northern field, covered⁠ in pure white‍ snow.

“The​‍ place where the‌ fastest dragon was‍ killed.”

The​ fastest dragon. The‌ snowfield that killed​⁠ Lindworm.

“A‌ fitting place for‍​​ your end, don’t​ you think?”

“Vlad!‌‌‌ You bastard!”

Sarnus​⁠‍ gritted his teeth⁠ as he watched‌​ Vlad standing alone​⁠ in the snowfield.‍

“You’re‌ the one responsible‍‌ for all of⁠‌‍ this!”

Pablo⁠​​ of Arnstein, Rutiger⁠‍ of Bayezid, and‌​​ even Baradis of‍‍ Ausurin.

They‍​ were all exceptional​ knights, but none‌‍‌ strong enough to‌⁠ face Sarnus.

“I’ll‍⁠ put an end​‌ to this cursed‍⁠ world right now!”‍⁠

Yet​⁠ they were knights⁠‍ shaped like stars,‌ shining as brightly⁠ as they wished​‍⁠ in Vlad’s world.⁠‍‌

And‌‌ in the night⁠​‍ sky above the‌‌ white snowy plain,⁠‌⁠ another star shone.‍

“I’ll⁠⁠ kill you!”

A fierce snowstorm began‍‍⁠ to howl behind​⁠⁠ Sarnus as he‍‌⁠ charged toward Vlad.​⁠​

A perfect advance, even⁠‍ faster than the‍​ swiftest dragon, Lindworm.​

[…If‌‌‍ you wait and‍ watch, it’ll be​ too late!]

Strong,‍ fast, sharp, and​ immense.

The⁠​ traits that were‍ divided among the⁠‍ fallen remnants originally​ belonged to the‍‌ most perfect dragon.​‌

[Anticipate‌ to counterattack!]

“…!”‌‍‌

The‍‍ dragon charging at⁠ Vlad now was‌​ Sarnus, the closest‌ to perfection in​ this era.

“Die!”​‍

Filled​ with fury, Sarnus’s⁠‍‌ world roared fiercely‍ toward Vlad.

Boom!‌‍⁠

“Raaaah!”‌

Fast,​ precise, at an‌​ impossible speed to‌​​ dodge.

Vlad⁠ barely managed to​​ predict the attack,​ but blocking it‍​ didn’t mean he⁠‍‍ could strike back.⁠⁠

“Born⁠‍ a dragon and⁠⁠ became a Swordmaster!”⁠‍

Once‌ you gain the‌​⁠ upper hand, never‌ let it go.‌‌​

That‍‍ should be the‌⁠‌ predator’s attitude toward​‌‌ its prey.

Bang!​ Bang! Bang!

Sarnus’s‌⁠ overwhelming fury attacked‍‌‍ Vlad relentlessly, pushing⁠​ him back.

The‍ bloody aura pouring‌⁠ from Sarnus’s sword​⁠‍ began to envelop​​ and overheat the​​‌ starlit blade Vlad⁠ wielded.

“I‍ raised you among‍‌ the scum just‍ to see what‌​‌ would happen, and‌‍ you dare try‌‍ to catch me!”​

More​‌ painful than a sharp sword and⁠​​ colder than the‍ northern wind were‌‍ the words Sarnus‌⁠‌ spat out at‍ that moment.

“Who​⁠ do you think‌⁠‌ you are to‍​ stand in the‌‌​ way of my⁠ perfection?!”

The​‌ start of my‌​‍ existence was mere‍ curiosity.

The​​ purpose of my‌ life was to‍‌ be devoured by⁠‍⁠ another.

Thus,​⁠​ a child was​ born, and his‌⁠ father shouted at‌⁠‌ him to die​ quickly.

“I‍‌ should never have‌​‍ sired you!”

“Argh…!”‌

“You’re‍ a failure!”

Sarnus’s‍​ sword reached Vlad’s⁠​ neck, who had‌‌⁠ already been driven‍⁠ against a wall‌‌ of pure white​ ice.

Vlad​‌⁠ was cornered with‌​ nowhere left to​‌ escape.

The‌⁠ sword Sarnus held​ toward him seemed​ to say that‌​​ both giving life‍⁠ and taking it⁠‌ were his rights.⁠⁠

“…Who‍‌ do you think​⁠​ you are?”

A child born in‍⁠ a place where‍​​ no one could‌ see him.

Vlad,‌⁠ raised in a mire where you‌​ would sink if​ you stayed still,‌ perhaps truly was‌​ a failure.

“You⁠‌ call me a failure.”

Crunch-!‍

However,⁠⁠​ the boy standing‌‍⁠ in the alley‌⁠ was always looking​​⁠ up at the‌ stars.

That‍​⁠ star is the‍⁠‌ only guide for‌‍⁠ me, someone who‍ is lost.

And‌​ the girl who‌‍ also gazed at‌⁠⁠ those stars was‍⁠⁠ the only support‍ that held him⁠​‍ up.

“You⁠‌ have no idea‌‍‍ who I am!”‍

A red thread began‍⁠ to unravel from‌⁠‌ Vlad’s left hand,⁠ which he stretched‍ out with all‌​⁠ his strength.

The​ thread, which resembled​ a woman’s hair,‌​ began to merge‌‌ into a single‍⁠ form with the‌ starlight shining from​ above.

“I‌‌​ promised I would‌⁠⁠ definitely return!”

A ray of starlight‍⁠ illuminated the field⁠​‌ of pure white‌⁠ snow.

That‌‍‌ light was created‍‍ from an old‍⁠⁠ man’s dream, purchased‌‍‌ with a young​ girl’s tears, and‍ wielded as an‍⁠ unadorned sword by​ a boy’s will.⁠⁠‌

“I‌‌ will kill you⁠ here, and return​‍​ to Soara!”

In‍ his right hand,⁠ he held a sword of stars,‌​⁠ and in his⁠​⁠ left, an unadorned⁠ sword.

Vlad’s​ world, wielding both‍ swords, grazed Sarnus’s‌⁠⁠ eyes, causing a pale blue tear​​‍ to flow like⁠ a stream.

“Aaaah!”​

Sarnus’s⁠​ scream echoed as​‌ the unadorned sword⁠ slashed him.

The‌⁠⁠ place where the⁠​​ scream originated was‍⁠​ from Sarnus’s world,‌ where he lost‌ one of his‍‍ eyes.

“Damn‌‍ you! I’ll kill‍ you! I’ll kill⁠‍⁠ you!”

Boom!‍‍

Watching‌ Sarnus in his‌‍ frenzy, Vlad swiftly⁠ swung his sword​​‌ bathed in starlight.‍

The​ path of the‌‍‌ sword created a long line in⁠ the white snow,‌‌‌ drawing the outline​⁠ of another world.​‍

“If‍‍‍ you want to‌ kill me, come⁠ here!”

The‌ ancient dragon slowly⁠‌ crossed the line​‍‍ in response to​⁠​ Vlad’s taunt.

But‌​ he didn’t realize,‍‌ blinded by his⁠⁠ burning rage.

Roaaar!​

With⁠‍⁠ every step he‍⁠ took toward Vlad,⁠ he sank deeper⁠ and deeper into⁠ a world far⁠‍‍ more profound.

He‍⁠ was advancing into⁠ the deepest part‍​ of Vlad’s world,‌ the place where‌‌‌ the starlight shone‍‌​ the brightest.

“Come‌⁠⁠ here if you‍ dare!”

This‌ was a world‌​ where the meaning‍‍‌ of existence could⁠ change with a single line.

A place where two‍‍ lives, that could​ never be mixed,‌ were divided by​⁠‌ a border that​⁠ ran across the​⁠‍ city.

“Come⁠ here and see​ who I really⁠⁠ am!”

This⁠⁠ place was the‌‌​ smile of a rose.

A brothel filled with‍‌‍ red.

And‌‍ it was the‌ home of a boy who had⁠ promised to return.​

The‍ starlight of Soara,⁠‍ shining under Vlad’s‌‍ night sky, was‌‍‌ now guiding the‍​ ancient dragon.

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