The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 286: Decisive Battle (2)

Chapter 286: Decisive Battle (2)

My‍ head was pounding.‌

Was⁠ it from seeing‍⁠⁠ so much blood?‍⁠⁠ I felt nauseous.⁠⁠

‘Maybe‍‌ if I get a bit of‌‍ fresh air, it’ll‍⁠ pass.’

I half-opened my eyes.⁠ A dark blue⁠ liquid covered the‍‌‍ ground, leaving no‍ place to step.‍‍ It was the‍⁠⁠ blood of centaurs,‍ of demons.

I turned my gaze from the mountain of corpses and‍‌‍ lifted my head⁠‌‍ toward the sky.‌

Wispy‍ clouds floated overhead.‍ Between them, the⁠‍ sky peeked through.⁠‌‌

Blue.‍ But different from‍ Earth’s. The sky⁠⁠ was clear and⁠‌ clean. The ground,‍‌ by contrast, was‍ sticky and damp.‌⁠‌

Whoosh.⁠

A gentle breeze brushed my nape, cooling‌ the drops of sweat mixed with‌‍ blood. As I stared silently at the sky, the⁠ sounds around me‍‌⁠ grew clearer and‌‌ clearer.

I let out a short exhale. My‌‍ brief break was⁠‍ over.

I lowered my gaze‍‍ again. Around me,‍‌⁠ the centaurs’ bodies‌‌‌ formed a wall‍ of flesh.

It‍ wasn’t intentional, but⁠ thanks to it,⁠‍ the demons were‍ having a hard‌‌ time getting close.⁠

Frustrated,‍ they ended up‍‍‍ incinerating the horse‌‍ corpses with fire magic. The smell‌ of charred meat‍ hit my nose.‌‌

Fwoosh.‍‍‌

The‍ bodies burst into⁠ flame instantly. The‍ overflowing blood turned⁠‍⁠ into a blue‍ vapor and evaporated‌⁠ with a hiss.‍

My⁠ skin stung, and⁠ the stench became⁠‌‍ overwhelming. I covered⁠‍⁠ my mouth with⁠⁠ my fist and⁠‌ coughed.

Cough,⁠ cough.

It⁠ felt like bruises⁠‌ were forming inside⁠‍⁠ my lungs. In⁠ this world without cigarettes, I still⁠‌ had pink lungs,‍ but those bastards‍⁠ were drying out⁠ my throat and‌ chest.

“Goddamn⁠ bastards. Don’t they‌ know secondhand smoke‌⁠ is bad too?”‍

I huffed and spat‍‌ on the ground.‌ Bluish saliva splattered⁠‌‍ on the floor.‍ Seemed I’d swallowed‍⁠ blood without realizing.‌⁠

“No‍⁠ wonder it tasted⁠⁠ metallic.”

I gave a bitter⁠‌ smile and flicked the sashimi blade.‌⁠‍ The edge, once‍⁠ slick with blood‍‌ and fat, gleamed‍ cleanly in an instant.

Crrrch.‍

A rough sound accompanied‌ the blade’s vibration. Some kind of‍‍‌ residue had lodged‌ between its chipped teeth. I frowned‍‌ slightly.

“The⁠ blade’s a bit‍⁠ damaged.”

Still,‌ not bad. After‌ all, I had just butchered about‌ a hundred in‌‍‍ less than thirty‍⁠ seconds.

The‌‌ demons’ magical defenses‌‌‍ were tougher than⁠ expected, so the‌ Fear technique didn’t‌⁠ work. I had‌ to cut through them all by‌‍ hand.

“There‌ was no other⁠ way…”

This battlefield is full of filth. At⁠‍ the very least,‍⁠ I had to‌ keep a positive⁠ mindset.

But⁠ my five senses—sight,‌ touch, taste, smell,‌‍ hearing—disagreed. Each protested‌‍ individually.

That attempt at optimism‌‍ quickly turned into‌‍ annoyance. My body‍‌ and mind were⁠⁠ on different pages.⁠‌

So‍ I talked to⁠‌‌ myself.

‘Guys,‌⁠ calm down.’

If‍ they kept acting⁠‌ up, I’d have‍‌ to get violent!⁠‌ I already had‌⁠ the sashimi in‌ hand. It was⁠‌ the perfect size.⁠

“Guess I’ve finally lost⁠ it?”

I laughed bitterly, talking to myself in⁠‌ the middle of‌ this war zone.⁠‍

This‌ world’s crazy. You⁠ can’t live in‍ it without going‍‌‌ a little mad.‍ I just adapted.‍ It’s not like‌ I was born‍ insane.

That’s when the demons⁠ finally breached the wall of flesh.‌

They advanced. Their eyes⁠⁠ gleamed like starving‍⁠ beasts, but they‌ carefully measured the‍ distance. A mix‌‍ of savagery and‍ caution.

But‌‌ they were unstable.‍‍ You could tell⁠‍ just by looking⁠‍ at the crooked‌‍⁠ circle they tried‌‍ to form around me.

They‌‍⁠ wanted to surround‌⁠ me, but it was sloppy.

Look at that. Uneven⁠ edges, messy spacing. Nothing like the⁠ clean formations of⁠‍‍ the heroes.

“They⁠⁠ should take notes.”

I rotated my wrist.‌ Thanks to the⁠ [Blessing of Insensitivity‍⁠‌ to Pain], the‍‍ pain was tolerable. Dammit, it hurt,‌ but I could‌‌ handle it. That‍‍ was a win.⁠‍

I gripped the hilt‌‍⁠ lightly. The demons‍ stepped back slightly⁠ and assumed defensive‌⁠ stances, thumb and‍⁠ middle finger pressed⁠‍ together.

“Wait‌⁠ for the signal.‍‍⁠ Attack all at‌ once.”

Dozens‍‍ of pointy-eared bastards⁠ encircled me. The‌⁠ moment one moved,⁠⁠‍ spells from every‍ element would rain⁠ down.

The formation was messy,⁠‍ but had no glaring blind spots.⁠ To escape, I couldn’t dodge—I had‍ to carve a way out.

Meanwhile,‍ the sun hid‍‌‌ halfway behind the floating clouds. Half‍ of the pointed‍‌ ears were cloaked‍⁠ in shadow, just‌‌ like me.

The‌‍ area was pure⁠⁠ chaos. The cries‌ of heroes fighting⁠ tooth and nail echoed loudly.

The⁠⁠ heroes’ weapons were⁠ their instruments. With metallic tones, they‌ played out their‍‍⁠ despair.

I jumped in place.‌⁠‍ Silent. Only dust‍‌ rose with each bounce.

And⁠‍ then it happened.⁠⁠‌

Everyone⁠ froze. They turned‌ to me. A sudden silence blanketed the field.

Everyone,⁠‌ demons included, felt‌‌ something off.

When‍‍ my feet hit⁠⁠⁠ the ground the⁠⁠⁠ third time—or just before—a blue spark⁠‍⁠ crackled between my soles and the‌‌ earth.

In‌ an instant.

My‌ position swapped with‍‍‌ the closest pointy-ear. We ended up back to back.⁠ Yellow sparks flickered⁠ behind my heels.‍

“Ugh,‍ ughhh…”

The‌ pointy-ear now facing‍‍⁠ away from me,⁠‌‌ and the ones⁠‍ flanking him, spasmed‌ as they blinked.‌‌‌

At‌ the same time,‌‍ they scratched their‍ necks with their⁠ right hands and‌‍‌ grabbed their bellies‍‌ or groins with‌ their left. From‍‌‍ their gaping mouths‌⁠ came groans like‍⁠ pigs being slaughtered.⁠‍‍

“Kuh…‌‌ urrgh… ggggeurghh…”

The⁠ hands on their necks were drenched‌ in blood. Crisscrossing‌ slashes wrapped around their bodies like‌‍ ropes.

I flicked the sashimi blade in a horizontal motion. Drops‍‌ of blood slid‌ off the edge.‍‍⁠

When‌‍⁠ the first drops hit the ground…‍‍‍

Three‌ pointed ears fell‌⁠ simultaneously.

The⁠ rest was predictable.⁠‌‍

Their‌ dismembered bodies rolled‌ like slabs of‍‍⁠ meat.

And‍ in that moment⁠‌ when time seemed⁠⁠ to freeze, a faint shudder passed‌ through everything.

The‍‌⁠ blood on the sashimi glowed bluish.‌

The‌ heroes bloomed with‌⁠ scarlet joy like roses. The demons’⁠ faces turned deathly‍‌⁠ pale.

“Th-this…⁠‌‌ can’t be…”

The‌ puffy clouds fully⁠ swallowed the sun.⁠‍ From white they turned charcoal gray,‍⁠ as if stained.

The‌‌ shadows from those⁠ clouds shielded the‌ heroes. But to⁠⁠⁠ the demons, they⁠ pressed down like‍‍ a slab of‍ stone.

The dark clouds tangled,‍‍‍ tearing at each other.

The‌ sky’s roar shook‍ the land. Lightning⁠‌⁠ ripped through the‍⁠‌ air, leaving glowing‌ scars.

As⁠ if someone’s will‍ had been etched‌‌ into the laws⁠‍‍ of nature.

CRACK–BOOM!⁠

A violent wind whipped⁠ across the battlefield.‌‍
With each flash,⁠ demons vanished like torches snuffed out⁠‍ in a cave.⁠

They‍‌‌ fled, stumbling.

But‌‌‌ light is the‌ fastest thing in existence. No matter‌ how quick you‌‌ are, you can’t‌‍‌ outrun it. That’s⁠⁠‌ a universal law.‍ It applies to‌‌ all.

There’s‌‌ a saying, “like a bolt from the blue.” But‍ it’s just a phrase. A dry‌ sky can’t spark‍ a flame.

To‌ summon lightning, there must first be⁠‍ shadow.

Light‍ and darkness are‌ two sides of‍ the same coin. Though they seem‌‍‌ parallel, they are‌‍ not. Light is⁠‌ born of darkness,⁠ and shadow is⁠‌ light’s reflection. This‌ truth aligns with my life.

The⁠‌ sword, to me,⁠ is the goal⁠ the light.

In⁠‍ both my past‍‍ and present life,⁠ it’s been the⁠ light guiding me⁠‍ through the dark.‍

And⁠ it was the⁠⁠ abyss that led‌⁠ me to wield‍‌ it. A home⁠‌ like a sewer,⁠ a life of‌ oppression, a destiny‌‍‍ clouded with storms.‍

Thanks‌‌ to that darkness,‌⁠ I never let‌‍‍ go of the‌⁠ sword. I couldn’t.⁠‌

Whether‍ by choice or fate, my life‌‍ has always straddled‍ light and shadow.‍

A man always standing‌ between two worlds—that’s⁠ who I am.‍

That’s⁠ why they call⁠ me Kang Geom-Ma,‌‌ the Demon of⁠⁠ the Sword.

***⁠

Ruler of the Demon‍⁠ Realm.

Master‍⁠ of you all.‌⁠ Absolute Sovereign of⁠‌ Gehenna.

The‍‌ Emperor of Thunder,‍ Lycan, has arrived.⁠‍

Bow‌⁠‌ down and tremble⁠ before the true‌⁠‌ Demon.

***⁠

Kuarne⁠ rose from his‌‌ position.
Slowly, he straightened‌⁠ his body and⁠ floated into the‌ air.

“You’ve⁠‌ fulfilled two of⁠‌‌ the three requirements.”‍

Kuarne’s⁠⁠ eyes turned cold.⁠⁠‍ He turned around.‌‍⁠ Leon and Herya‍‍ were walking through⁠‌ the air.

Thanks‍ to Kuarne’s magic,⁠ which had created‍⁠ an air barrier⁠ in the atmosphere,‌⁠‍ they could stay⁠ aloft. That’s why⁠‌ they were safe⁠‍‍ from the lightning.‍

“Herya.”⁠⁠‌

“Yes,⁠ lord.”

“We⁠⁠⁠ still need more‍‌ blood.”

Kuarne’s‌⁠ tone was soft‌ and respectful. Depending‌‍ on his mood,‌‍⁠ he switched between‌ formal and informal‌ speech. Using the‍⁠ formal tone meant he was in⁠ an exceptionally good‍ mood.

“Go⁠ down and stir the demons. Understand?‍ We need more‍ ‘offerings.’”

“Yes.”‌‌

Herya⁠‌ nodded, giving special‍ attention to those‍‍ last words.

‘More⁠‍⁠ offerings.’

That‌ implied no distinction between allies and enemies. To Kuarne,⁠‍‌ demons were just⁠‌ pawns to be sacrificed for his⁠ grand plan.

She⁠ erased all emotion‌‍ from her face⁠‌⁠ and descended immediately, dodging the lightning bolts erupting all‍‌ around her as‍ best as she‍ could.

‘Ugh.’⁠

She‍ couldn’t avoid all⁠⁠ of them; her⁠ skin was scorched.‍ Despite the pain,‍‍‍ she managed to⁠ blend into the⁠ demon ranks.

“Nephew, it’s time for‌⁠ you to act⁠ as well.”

“Nephew,‌⁠ it’s about time⁠‌‍ you acted too.”⁠

Kuarne‌‍ smiled faintly.

“Before‍⁠‌ that, let me‌⁠‌ ask you something,‌⁠ Kuarne. Why did⁠ you decide to⁠‍ invade the human‍ world now? Our⁠ agreement was set⁠‍‌ for two years‌⁠ from now.”

“Originally,‌‍‍ we planned to‍ execute the grand‌‍ plan in two‌ years. We were‌‍ going to allow⁠ some bloodshed within‌⁠ the Demon Realm.⁠⁠ But things took‌‍ a little turn.”⁠

Kuarne⁠‌ shrugged with a mocking expression.

“What‍ else could we do? If we⁠⁠‌ missed the exact moment, everything would’ve‍ been for nothing. And if that⁠‌ happened, I wouldn’t‍ be the only⁠ one losing out,‌‌ would I? Your‌‍‍ plans would be‍⁠‍ ruined too.”

“……”‌

“I’m⁠⁠ not doing this‌ just for myself.‍⁠ Our goals align.‌ Leon, you want revenge on the‍‌ false gods, but‍ you can’t. Because⁠ you’re a hero.”⁠⁠

“……”‌‍

“Hate⁠ me if you‌‍‍ want, nephew. Blame‌ me all you⁠⁠ like. I’m the⁠ one who betrayed‍⁠⁠ Metatron—your father and⁠ my kin. But‌⁠ you know the‍ truth. It was‍ only a matter‌ of time before they found him.”‍

Leon‌ clenched his lips‍ tightly. Metatron’s downfall‍ had been Kuarne’s⁠ doing.

“The⁠‌ gods were close‌⁠ to resurrection and‍⁠ wanted to know‌ what their servants‌‌ were doing. If‌⁠ they’d gotten involved,⁠⁠ they would’ve found‌ out easily. If⁠⁠‌ they’d found Metatron‌ themselves, he’d have‌ been executed on⁠ the spot. But‍ thanks to me‌ turning him in,‌⁠‌ he’s at least⁠ still alive—though tortured‌‍ by them.”

And⁠ it was true.⁠⁠‌ That’s why Leon‍‍ had decided to⁠‍ cooperate with Kuarne.‌

“My⁠ point is, sooner‌‍‍ or later, they⁠ would’ve found out.‌‌⁠ Turning a blind⁠ eye solves nothing.‍‌ You have to‌ attack the root‍⁠‍ of the problem. Metatron knew that.‍‌‌ That’s why he‌ asked help from⁠‌ his own brother—the‌ one who wanted⁠ to kill him—to‍‍ protect his son.”‍

To‌‍ reach the root‍⁠‍ of it all,⁠‍‍ Leon had no‌‌⁠ choice but to‌‌ rely on this‍‍⁠ damn bastard.

“So‍ go and perform‍ your miracle, hero.‌‍ Your mission isn’t⁠‌ just to save‌‌⁠ humanity. It’s to‍‍⁠ save the entire‍‍ world. Don’t look‍‍ at it on‌⁠ a micro level—look⁠ at the big‌‍‍ picture. The universe‌ is too vast⁠‍ for such a narrow view.”

Leon⁠ slowly lowered his‍‍ gaze after hearing⁠ that long speech.‌‍‌
At the edge‍⁠ of his vision‍ stood the black-haired‌ boy.

“The‌ one who will⁠ kill the gods…”‍⁠‍

He‌ murmured in a hoarse voice. His‍ ocean-deep blue eyes‌⁠⁠ radiated murderous intent.‍

“…The‍‌ Demon King.”

And⁠⁠⁠ his body launched⁠⁠ forcefully toward the⁠‌ surface.