Chapter 261: Star-Embracing Swordmaster
RUjCrossing the avenue that runs through the city, filled with brilliant lights, Sarnus arrived at a dark alley after passing a modest blacksmith’s shop where a star rested.n5th
kgRWjo“…..This place is exactly what I’d expect from a cesspool.”1w3C5
DkThP8Ahead of him stood a four-story building in the shadowy alley.7qj2znE
AQljIt was the “Beacon of the Rose,” a brothel established by the Knight of Prostitutes and the Rose of Soara.pCE
VP7kA deep sneer lingered on Sarnus’s lips as he saw the imposing structure of the rose, seemingly waiting for him with its smile.TcBTO
3S3dM“Growing up in a place like this, you’ve probably forgotten that you’re a dragon.”PySCKY
fAYBWhat might have been a safe and welcoming refuge for a child was nothing but a miserable brothel to Sarnus.BJMkN
bWNsbCBut blinded by rage, he failed to notice the many anguished stares that followed his path.4RbZEg
rKg5NqsThe fact that countless children watched him anxiously as he walked by.6z2
GVXOUA child exhausted from hunger.0Vz2
TCluA child caught stealing and beaten.7WOU4yV
nsiNAnd even the child crying relentlessly, unable to bury his dead mother in the frozen ground.aBmE4
JzbI“That destroyed potential. I, my son, will reclaim it.”3ZCK
tVyygksSo many tears shed because he hadn’t been where he should have been.wCpf
YXVrMYet, as Sarnus entered this place, he still refused to accept the child’s sorrow, seeking only what he desired.v1nF
evkJYSCreeeek-rboF4
g8jBA dragon of this era who only wants his son, who carries his blood, to become what he wants.jWp
6wzXmSqThe smile of the rose began to open its arms toward the dragon.mKTBJe
cNX31Eg“Vlad…”EEETsl
pciYah“Come forward.”C0An
fKwpmVRThis is the smile of the rose, and the home of the boy.ApaoHdt
lhZZL0A place that welcomed Vlad in place of his father, who wasn’t there when he should have been.ypz
CKg“Let’s end this now.”SIt5
uARIeqThe city alleys glowed brightly in the night.pd0Cw
u6TwY5rWith Vlad’s eyes raised, the light from the window began to burn intensely.VpwKrM
5NC7“My name is Vlad of Soara.”OQ5E
xoIqaWBeyond the stairs, Sarnus ascended slowly while Vlad unsheathed his sword.0XXS
K7gGlowing like a star even without any decoration, it was unmistakably Vlad’s sword.MkDw
7QeqIBehind Vlad, who had drawn his sword, numerous candles watched him, illuminating his colors.oM3
KeSH“Now, state your name.”ESfP4
tSncZtX“You damned fool…”s9x0kT
1t3XdWAThis is my deepest world.vt7Zms
2fKkle4Before you enter, you must prove your existence to me.LSg
AuctG“You dare face me without even knowing the honor of being born of my blood.”cWUx6t
c06The final confrontation between dragon and human, duke and knight, father and son.Dmz
NlWbAt Vlad’s words to leave everything else behind and speak only with swords, the last thread of reason that Sarnus clung to snapped.IbXGAJY
nAEg“You dare challenge Sarnus Dragulia!”Zp0gjn
xdVfyIGraaah!EopCqWq
p9uWith a thunderous roar, the ancient dragon charged at Vlad.smk84aq
83wAn aura of blood, built from the fangs of a dragon.pAl1h
vL4GSarnus’s eyes, no longer human, glared at him.3t1WK
9mlW[This is the final showdown of this journey, Vlad.]BrS7J
lh9OxjGBoth Vlad and Kihano, who watched those eyes, knew.eBZRz
zN2JPvCThey both understood that this was the last act of their long journey.i3EX
joTS[Show him everything you have, without regret.]YZjjt
lR58fSeize the initiative with brilliance, and end the duel without remorse.IzKGO
5uXpsThe duel began, with both names exchanged under the gaze of many stars.XFWF5
sAF6OWBoooom!5oDS
MQHh“Agh!”B53OxhC
o9aThe roar shook the entire building.y3TZ
5yZGJEven though it was his own world, Vlad couldn’t help but be displaced by the sheer force of the shockwave.xV60is
BicxVlad, having taken the full brunt of the sound, was being relentlessly pushed back.bVvyV8
IPP“Try saying that again!”2SXL
Sl4vETSarnus let out a harsh growl when he saw Vlad stagger from the force, but the dialogue of the sword wasn’t dictated solely by power.V2Ord
qyu[Counterattack!]tkmb8
5AZSarnus’s sword came forward again, but it was caught in Vlad’s focused gaze.wLjhQ
MRpeVlad’s eyes were sharper than ever.kIi
YxMClang-!BBoj4G
tPmj“…!”kVMN
w8ISarnus’s sword, struck with incredible force, recoiled in an instant.HlW
G7lA magical technique that alters the balance at a pinpoint moment.WneU1N
L7YIDWqVlad’s eyes gleamed coldly as he applied this skill, not just against any knight, but at the pinnacle of the era.0kgcu7
3owuG1wCreak!x6Ug
iI4Sarnus struggled to hold onto his sword.fiSOHE
k7jqRBut Vlad was no longer there; his figure had vanished without a trace.4yKeLyb
QsYE“…Damn it.”YqjSOPa
xXfx9xpFrom a point to a line.TEEti
2e3Vlad, who had been still, suddenly became a golden line, slicing the ground and the wall, moving in every direction.iC7U77v
4RydTHaaah!L0O
CvmHis movements were impossible to predict, a deadly style of attack based purely on speed.21Q5TS
RgZSA motion that could only be performed in one stroke, for the essence of the sword was rooted in speed.CcidxD
aQpU4The sight overlapped with the image of the Sword Master Sarnus had seen long ago.tAzBdtk
oHFAhFnCrack-!UN7Y5
70D“Ugh!”ZW5F
3U41vNEUnpredictable movements to gain the advantage.xXlwl
KMmkVlad faithfully followed the instructions and appeared like lightning, striking Sarnus’s side.pyHPL1s
hMVuHz“Tch!”zLmr8t
YLnB“…Bastard!”fHVa
5mjKBut the instincts of a dragon were sharp, and though he didn’t see it, he anticipated the attack.1wx
c0MPnXPVlad’s movements, which might have been predictable but unseen, were suddenly blocked by the blood-red aura, reducing them back to mere points.Axmod
pTLWx“How dare you deceive me with Kihano’s swordsmanship!”dUvPpJ
CpmDeThe swordsmanship of Dragulia, which pursues perfection, seeks a weight that cannot be easily shaken.a68P1C
wGj1syAnd now, Sarnus’s heavy sword was coming down on Vlad, who had just revealed himself.yIzF
Y3W8G“You carry my blood, and yet you dare!”kC8
QndjOxlWith the weight of an enormous mountain.7So8paM
qMqM3Thus, Sarnus’s world, trying to crush Vlad, began to loom overhead.IzxcJ
Cl5p9Bang! Bang! Boom!gUwh0BJ
E6VM“Ugh!”lSQT
lBz38FWith each sword strike, Vlad’s entire body shook violently.2Jf4w
S6vGIt wasn’t sharp, but the weight was unbearable.2LJd4PP
vlhJF9Watching Vlad sway back and forth with every swing was proof of its power.UwKat28
QqXOql[You need to get out of there! Don’t let him gain momentum!]7hq
9Df“Grrr!”qW4jKb
NkoVlad knew it, but it was difficult to escape from Sarnus’s siege.VJRorS
dKskZRealizing he was losing control, Vlad gritted his teeth.yQr1F
Njrar7“Haaah!”jhUi
pxedYuSarnus’s world continued to press down on him.6evYkR
X4UxbThe only way to avoid being crushed by that world was to push forward.ixyRL7
ykYte“Damn it!”9ochkZq
B1Eu9Vlad charged toward the immense force that seemed to erase everything with just a glance.97Sw
z4bIt was certainly a reckless action, but it was necessary to shift the course of the duel with a powerful force.S1HV
jXhBCrack!Iei6H
GbRh4“Ugh!”0ywd
N8iCThe dwarven armor was shattered by Sarnus’s sword, which dug deep into Vlad’s shoulder.K3kfuK
dntxWaoThe excruciating pain, which not even the armor enchantment learned from Justia could mitigate.s6MMAG
bBl6However, the current pain and loss were clearly necessary to bring Vlad one step closer to Sarnus.72jb
CM9HpZI“Aaaah!”KbMJEl
BjFgi9dThe distance was now close enough for their eyes to meet.u2JuH2F
xWM1dAs Sarnus glared at him like that, Vlad’s blow exploded within his blue eyes.u23K
iOGjYCrack!QQyf
GOJjHX“Aaagh!”RGye
qU2Sarnus’s breastplate exploded, and the dragon’s bright golden scales flew.NVfilT
ZIHBthFIt was a fragment created from a dragon scale that had deeply cracked in Rutiger’s world.7MfniPE
frA3X“I am not your son!”u8G
QkbyleSlash!Cvz6
mrqkL“Nor a failure!”v3AfZ
cA3lotSlash!PelV
svdLuThe sharp, glimmering sword strikes from Vlad continued to slash at Sarnus.cLv
P1Jf“I am none of the names you’ve given me!”RJn
FnqgEach step forward was firm, and every sword strike was fierce.bzcI
WbRThe speed was almost unbelievable, coming from someone already wounded.7Hs3
Yn01mThis current attack, which felt like lightning, had reached a far-off state that could only be imagined, not achieved in reality.OeAFg
eCmDbc“Ugh!”EQeB
01i5vaThis world that Vlad created was one made possible by the belief that he could do it.mWk
CsJWNo matter how talented he was, the child born in the mud needed his precious imagination to become a knight.9bpE
DnHezE“Arrgh!”cjuU7I
B6XSwGSarnus, who quickly distanced himself from Vlad’s attack, barely managed to reset his stance.xdSjZ
6RWLBut even that brief moment was something Vlad had chosen to grant him.C5g0Zhs
S4UTlLRumble-!FPmLNSq
zm9The ground shook.rHrk7Hz
OZSr4FNo, the world that Vlad had created was trembling.D9UKPxb
mPn0“You’ve killed too many people.”RyU
EStHVlad’s breath came out as white mist, not because the place was cold, but because his breath was burning hot.CIvNpF6
d6pes“All for an ideal of perfection you can’t even attain.”JZW
rNeEvZHis heart was aflame, and all that anger and conviction was directed at Sarnus.o0beUXf
uZFVlad’s body, fully tense, was like a drawn bow, ready to release.LQEfrG
EgJLh“Come on! Dare to face me!”B1zc
JKfktA swordsmanship that kills with a single blow, seizing opportunities with unpredictable movements.TPx
e2Mqqr2But now, Vlad was trying to slice through Sarnus at a speed that surpassed even those expectations.hPX7aJn
CSTPc[Go ahead. Walk the path you’ve chosen.]L4hq
h2cS1sThis wasn’t something learned from another. It was a path uniquely his own, one that he had mastered.SWA3m
hzzRrVlad was trying to show Kihano the way only he could see.HcdNgnM
PCFBR“…I demand just compensation from you, Sarnus.”9zej64
BOt1fSomeday, I too hope to shine like the stars in the sky.jIa2zrm
8dtaJJlThe dream of the boy, once as bright as a star, now watched the nightmare of an era that stood in his way.dvtGFrI
qs8“Now it’s your turn to give up!”IXIQ5
YKLXbKBoom!mYZILop
o3U2vEA powerful wind blew behind Vlad, who was running like a flash of light.jIDs
WuhEIt was the final gift from the rose’s smile for the bird leaving the nest.UX0
qGdCyy“There is no place for dragons in my era!”nRiYT
95xbM“Graaargh!”EOIGMn
Qx3JGvA bolt of light, an electric charge spreading—a firm and fierce strike that maybe only I could unleash after ten years.jgy
orl9sL“I’ve decided to do it this way!”oMK
iFS“Graahhh!”8F8
GgTwioVlad’s blow, carrying the pains of the past, the duties of the present, and the possibilities of the future, began to slowly pierce through the heart of Sarnus.PJ9
CFOfv“Vlad, you bastard!”nLN
vsPx7V2“So die already!”kpiH
PCzdDAgainst the perfect fragments that the ancient dragon held.XGAa
j2MtHowever, to destroy those fragments, Vlad’s strength alone was not enough.KSGWAI
W73JN[Don’t stop now!]bAxcJ
eXPP“…!!”xJ3Rx
jKmYAt that moment, another hand appeared, pushing on Vlad’s hilt.mPq
y9Ao2i[You’re almost there!]jqDkLZ4
8SZJkA brilliant knight with chestnut hair.rhn4l
grUSAoZIt wasn’t the faded Frausen, but the honorable gladiator Kihano, who, without Vlad noticing, stood beside him, pushing the sword with him.jobG
XWYP“Kihano! You damn bastards!”w6Guj
IWcoX9lA blow delivered by both the sword master of the previous era and the sword master of the current era.6ui3
fHjFyNAt the end of this strike, transcending eras, the dragon’s desire for perfection began to crumble bit by bit.aEY1Z5M
pYV7sqB[Even a single piece, let alone three, is too much to handle.]z6O0RJM
qEcteFinally, locking eyes with Kihano, Vlad’s deep blue eyes began to tremble.YBn
nD26209It was like the feeling of finally meeting the person you’d longed for.8bL3
04MCrack! Crack!cjVoRHw
n4DbxwA piece of the dragon started to break apart, slowly, along with Sarnus’s scream.GaYL
AlnBut Vlad was more surprised by the black lightning crawling up his left arm than by the sensation of the fragment shattering.Wu11
y6qn“Kihano?”Tror
hDFThe mysterious power of the Ruga tribe, which had severed the most perfect dragon.4ePgy
R4qThat mystery was about to be activated again by the Sword Master who appeared in this era.WZr3
MA0laeH[These things are easier for someone who has done it before.]h0V
NjIaI don’t want to sever your bright soul just to break these perfect pieces.HaT6h
gan06Because the pieces tormenting you now are something our generation couldn’t destroy.QroM7
MySe[You’ve done well.]DfySBM
XA7M“Kihano-!”3CAy
g86For the unfulfilled duty, to stop the tragedy that couldn’t be avoided.QLy6z
C5GOaThe Sword Master who returned delivered the final strike before the cry of perfection.KrP
cG2QXYwCrack!OJVpPl
osPPThe star shattered.LKto
hUrqoThe star that had shone with crimson perfection.1fX
17UWo“No!”yEP
HwtThe only star that found me when I was nothing.YI40r
NfsmO4fKihano, who called me a knight, though I was born a dragon.5wHK
ZGpUINow, with a smile on his face, he was leaving me behind.3dl
uNX6fx***ZBs70bw
PnVARumble!Zv6xh4
D6y29YDWith a roar, the sky of reality began to tear apart.yPwAQ
gPAykQRToday’s sun started to slowly appear behind the night sky, which was gradually fading along with the setting black moon.Y4w96
ff0A ray of sunlight broke through under the night sky, slowly clearing.p58d
HSOLlAnd the first beam of light that filtered through the brightening sky fell on the back of Vlad, who sat, exhausted.jTD8iL
tLCmL“…You did well.”TrHIW
MHnDUIn front of Vlad, Sarnus lay dying, with his heart pierced.jmYd87
Jn0However, his eyes were no longer the original blue but shone with a clear chestnut color, reminiscent of someone else.CdMNj71
ZsWl“Kihano.”YEgtqxl
w2Jy2GgKihano had taken over the body of Sarnus, who was already dead.0Uk2CM
ATsISPzBut the pale tone of his face indicated that there was little time left.UziQcu
h938xEf“I’m proud of you. You really did well.”ZC6rVA5
l9bfdrRKihano, with the demeanor of a father, spoke the words that Vlad had always longed to hear.jNl9io
NiYJ“Finding you was a stroke of luck. You were born a dragon, but you walked your own path, Vlad.”O98UtU
OhbkH7And the words that came from him now were words that Vlad had probably never heard in his entire life.MSJ0O
OvZFm7“…What will I do if everyone leaves? If I’m the only one left?”oT6lh
2tvdA boy crying in front of his father, whom he was meeting for the first time in his life.VmJaw
bwCKihano smiled peacefully as he looked at the boy.cNWtBtq
JmRgHO“Goodbyes are both an end and a promise.”g5X
ZgDpQjiThe color of both of their hair, under the sunlight, was so similar that anyone would have recognized it.6fi
CkE8g“So come here and see.”UCtBIL
n2kiThe light in Kihano’s eyes was slowly fading.UHga
c8yPBut with a smile, he used his last strength to open his arms to Vlad.F3Na
cG0z“Still, I’m glad I could embrace you in the end.”HMn
BQzX0QThough they had been in the same world until now, they hadn’t been able to share each other’s warmth.DuSw8oD
6oT2However, Kihano and Vlad, who could now embrace, embraced.rKuF1IS
P14“Thank you, Kihano.”XGn47l
FoQpl“…Yes. This is how we say goodbye.”TmDq
awlnJHHere ends our journey, which began on a winter’s day.Jve
5rVAnd the ending we found is without regret.zE4ygEg
6fj2HOIThe sun began to shine in the night sky over the two people who embraced each other.AMvzK
PboXThe child who embraced a star.XnY0
8d6CThe star that embraced the child.gOUSKNq
R1iiDFyThat’s why both are Sword Masters who embrace the stars.euAZLn
5YcPtkVTheir farewell, witnessed by the vast night sky, shone like a star for all to see.Xq65Rv
u49p– End of the main story of Star-Embracing Swordmaster –QJY
CvrIOAuthor’s note:EMT7Irx
LdIenThe main story has come to an end.bYBJG
vcEyJAfter a short break, I will return with a side story.U2O
L0bvjTo all of you who have accompanied Vlad’s journey from winter to spring, I sincerely thank you.vMuF5S
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