Chapter 352: Ragnarok (4)
38UGenerally, a giant is said to be a person of great stature.6L9sOB
Co4But.io7u
7PREKBwooooooo!iTyd4
l5C3d7ASometimes, a “giant” also refers to a historical figure or hero who defined an era.dlsRZ
AgEmNot for their visible size, but because the spirit within them is colossal.bYZPbjS
uQTT3MSwoosh!qsEpUKh
7nhCrThe banner had an imposing presence.RVy5
SlZrpqAt the tip of the tightly held lance, an energy gathered that seemed intent on piercing the heavens.VQYGO
4B3nASon of the Swordmaster, father of the Swordmaiden.GEKsD
1sYROrion von Nibelung looked up at the sky for a moment.BGwhK
oHLThe sky was clear.0SA
EQcOH7How long had it been since he last felt the Grace of the Sun God? A blend of joy and sorrow made his nose burn.o9SJSNV
KI3xThough war loomed before his eyes, Orion’s heart was full. Orion and the summoned were heroes who had once ruled their era.NLpHIDj
5gvWXvIVeteran soldiers who preferred combat boots to soft slippers, and war songs to lullabies.MJqV
5SuLgYzAs Orion felt that elation, he saw an old man with completely white hair.lQqIq
PrTqo1His wide eyes were astonishing—because never, not once in his life, had he shown such an expression.HmM
nleB“…Father.”Ipyj
gOyXCkA chuckle escaped along with his whisper.5LY
Zgu4It was strange to see the ever-strict Swordmaster so surprised.WquG
qJXRDa“I wanted to be recognized by you.”JGr
tbbIt was time to speak honestly.NJ4wrBY
Hrb“I always thought that stern yet gentle image of yours was the comfort of the strong toward the weak. I might have even had a bit of an inferiority complex toward you.”rAjirj6
T77zdnShing.Viuqa
r7b“I’ve thought about it for decades. And now I know.” He drew his sword.Y36
WEb1“Father, you simply loved me sincerely.”AB8tqxV
AXEzOrion von Nibelung raised his sword.4YzS9mR
GzAhrjA beam of sunlight filtered through the clouds, descending along the blade.iXu7
ltNHd2“I’m sorry. My arrogance caused you pain.”MBU
SR5XiFrom afar, the warriors’ banners began to tilt to the side, like pages of a book being closed.tgdehq
vlpRThe precision of their formation sent chills. The carefully aligned battle energy fortified the battlefield.ujn3P
V0NFwoosh.Nqc
Dr3Ry53Once the vanguard had deployed all banners, Orion lowered his gaze from the sky.Y0ECP1
FkPNWTThen, he looked sternly at the enemy.AEwPLN
9BfyhFo“Thank you, Heavenly Sword.”cyOy
tZtA golden light flashed in his eyes.imwqN
Oeu4“For giving me this chance to apologize.”vzdddw
w0gThe tips of the banners were sharp.uLz1Y
8kuUaMVAll the warriors pointed them—at those insectoid demons baring teeth like rabid sharks.RjUWA
FEk“All of you!”ugC
mWWThese were warriors who spoke not with words, but with spears and swords.PmfWD
hSiF8“Arms forward!”UHUWvK
NqM4RpKwooooom—vPY
bVmpWith each step of the giant, the earth trembled. Charge after charge.4Pd
PvMu0BSBoth armies surged forward with fury toward the enemy.QE3
z6tY4qBOOOOOM—!52n8dS
exGNhbWaves of light and darkness interwove.QO6bO
cEkEwLDMichelan alone waved his banner among the others, lifting the heroes’ morale.9DzGuOI
7hObtE“May the blessing of the gods be with us!”dqv
qD8XEpisode: Gigantomachia8XLR
nlJ“…What’s happening?”70LA
2aVwi1W“And you’re still surprised at eighty, old man.”tM3
C7wEyhMedia said it with a satisfied smile.3iIVjcg
jwiHowever they had come to this point, what mattered now was that they had another chance.U0bs
aPT“Waaah—aaaaaah—!”utgZ
t6aqgA victorious cry pierced the sea of demons.p73Xl8K
xlLC4pThe swords, spears, and banners impaled them one after another.b3TJ
pKcTAnd they weren’t even mounted. Still, their speed was astonishing.5MZ
Ei4O6ubThe heroes’ long-suppressed thirst for battle had transformed into omnipotence.0D5
QEvGWho could stop a veteran with sky-high morale?MkZc
EDW5NHThe insectoid demons also charged with the ferocity of evil gods, but were swept away by overwhelming force.SwfJNOZ
Y6KkiPpFrom above, it looked like a golden wave devouring a bright green swamp.lvZ
kD7hEkThe war on the plain was literally dazzling—it stirred the heart of anyone who saw it.84C
YLwGPThe army of the dead held nothing back. Their majesty surpassed even that of their descendants.JjxMyC7
PpEjnWith a single blade of steel, these warriors had etched more than one line into history.BaML2aR
quGv3ZWarriors who entrusted their backs to comrades.OogbI
AJx6With all their strength, they carved a path through the blood-soaked carnage.ft6r
Zk4hEThe sound of clashing metal was oddly comforting.vtCvF
nBZoSXNSlash!7MhQeG
kVEvOrion von Nibelung charged forward, sword in hand.t9BK
AUdEvery demon touched by his blade was cleaved in two, dying instantly.EhoBORM
g3ROfOHe wiped the blood from his face and quickly repositioned.RctuzNM
hvk“The King of the Dead is watching us!”ssB0
iFGeHThe warriors roared in jubilation, following their commander.E3jGG
tb7O7rAll their pent-up resentment exploded in their strikes. Bursts, shockwaves, cracks—blood boiled.uSZ
9svJaA1If anything like an invincible army existed, it was them.ubE
PkcrbNThump, thump.zHm79I
b1EThe Swordmaster placed a hand over his chest.DulkI8
aHNMedia smiled so broadly it made the corners of her eyes tremble.PFt3P
F2sBUZ“We can’t shame ourselves before our ancestors, can we?”QIE3
Y2n70The Swordmaster smiled too.Qc8F
FfrWKP2“That’s right.”krWy5wq
R3jwN1“Let’s go.”1JzZd5O
0oUMeain of Total Force unfolded her crossed arms.M64uUf
8CuKnZl“Siegfried, Media.”5ex
yhX“Yes.”ibJ4
Qq5hTUy“Mhm.”Kb0
ntYksUgThe Swordmaster and Media narrowed their eyes.RTMMy
2cGThey sharpened their aura.h4PiZPf
aMwQGbFThey honed themselves.5sY7
UT5PlThey separated their presence from the world.AQG
GVfIn a state of absolute concentration, they traced the threads of mana.ZwtF3MZ
ocurThey reversed the anomalies of the world. An idea possible only due to vast experience.afkH
vRBfCrackle, crackle, crackle.tL3GBOK
Id16gUTime slowed. The moment the Hero of the Seven Stars locked her gaze, the world resumed its normal flow.Erb0ST
PXP0OAwakening of the BlessingQiGIPl
SGQEjptThe awakening consumed life.3XS
xhitThat’s why Meain Poison had always sternly warned them.VHA3
SO2kclAll the Seven Stars were at the edge of that limit. But now, the situation had changed.nIa
s7nksMana had flooded the human realm—just like when Balor Joaquin once built a “special pavilion” to shield his disciples.bpF87F
01AAzMThat mana, normally toxic to humans, now prevented the Seven’s blessings from being devoured by corruption.wsmL35
N6f5HUHff—!QdgAD
9tpdaRCMedia felt a chill down her spine. The omnipotence almost numbed her brain.v3sX2
W2VOfThe sword she carried was aimed directly at the giant’s eye.JGfG
yBjBut just before it struck, Media flipped like a gymnast.Ty4G
bLAzWYAnd leapt.BfY4IMj
TodBOOM!0993wbr
BKO2LWShe stabbed. The giant grabbed his eye.T3H
T30As she landed, Media sprinted up his arm and instantly reached his brow.F7SXl60
SM0hdm“Stay still.”4zVHC
M4kRyCrash!AFyYUP
WTkgHThe blow landed hard. The giant’s head jerked backward.4ci
FPuII9On the back of his neck, another woman delivered a powerful kick with a leg arched to her waist.OiB
w7Gx8Booom!y9G
pXjFUoBThe giant’s head swayed like a rubber ball on a string.45wZpQ
TJazOuXAs they watched the two women in action, the Swordmaster and Changseong didn’t stand idle.TMsjnnM
7UQqIBehind the Swordmaster, ten swords spread in concentric circles—his ultimate multi-sword technique.YqA
RH0WsaUImmediately afterward, the circles expanded, targeting the giant’s eyes, neck, center of the face, chest, back of the knees, and inner elbows.DWvp7Zm
bH0xQWThe Swordmaster also jammed his sword into a rock fissure and advanced zigzag through the gaps.cDH
mnUYqClang-clang-clang!ZFrjvx
4dVThe blade cut cleanly, not even dulling against the stone.9HaH
XBi“Grandpa!”d732
YEpu87“Abel.”nFH
XuKmt3JFor a brief moment, he locked eyes with his granddaughter, who had climbed onto the giant’s body.Gki
EH1They nodded, as if they had rehearsed the move countless times, and immediately sliced off a rocky protrusion.GQEj
FkuZAs they did, green crystals began to sprout from various parts of the golem’s body.nnBjsz
ycXeiyNo one needed to say it aloud—it was obvious those crystals were its vital points.prYU
SuEtSXmThe Swordmaster and Abel lunged at them with purpose, guided by the sinister sound of air being cleaved by their blades.K4bn
ZojP5V6“Shail!”VTqt5
DUdmit“Yes, sir.”p6n
iiqCcNqShail circled the golem’s feet, weaving silver Karon threads into his spear.zz4UYJ
NcbmG1Ryozo’s bow was also connected to those same threads.xjwyaMS
7OyH7RuLike Gulliver tied down by Lilliputians, they wrapped the golem’s entire body with the strands, restricting its movements.BZPo2o
feUThe giant, more and more immobilized, began to collapse.b1PX
Tt3“Bwahahaha! You look great, Nibelung!”VFW
K3GibChangseong shouted from solid ground. That was where his duty lay.jQc
0KKHRichard of Mura charged forward like a raging buffalo.IZhlHe
XVH3EtbAny demon in his path who crashed against his armor went flying like a rag doll.CSUKx
MXKzUpon arrival, he quickly drew his spear, Gáe Bolg.6WEk
nk6WgyAnd hurled it.TGcc9
hNwHowever, he was too far from the golem. Even if it hit, it wouldn’t have enough power to shatter the chest crystal.ttzuHap
fAiHfT9“Niece!”KEb3JPS
4AuR“Yes!”oRp4FUY
l56cRachel advanced, crushing demon heads and shoulders beneath her feet.WZrXYdf
4QdW0EOne of the ancestors cupped his hands into a stirrup, boosting her into the air.NR3P
trRAxHer pink pupils glinted between the strands of her two-toned hair as she floated upward.38cKNOI
nqpxGjMidair, she caught Gáe Bulg, twisted her waist forcefully, and threw it with all her strength.s3fI
sJ827iCrack!kX9
3z7lInThe golem’s chest caved in—but didn’t break. The finishing blow was still needed.7rVk3p8
D0tAWhoosh!F8h9
U3MndBFA gust swept the battlefield. Only tattered wings floated in the air.x81rap
fNRbSdThe warrior Leon van Reinhard appeared like lightning.LzO
uX3He drove his foot into the crystal.V2IHbP
y50OLThe green light flickered dangerously. He struck again—and again.s5t
jjqNvASlash! Slash!vyHFJ
uJGbyHis fingers trembled from the shockwaves of impact.nVJFh5k
7GXspdgTiiiiiing.MYW
Oy9xWA sharp, gleaming sound filled the air. The crystal shattered. Leon’s eyes briefly glazed as the ground quaked.M4DME8b
HkQIKIt was the shockwave of the colossus falling to its knees, then collapsing beneath him.Vm89
Ed8At***khA
6deWu=You bastard!=2RQTK
R0YThe enemy’s roars were always pleasant to hear.hYHt
hjjG1bFThey weren’t so different from victory cries.0SVnfD
LO8Especially if it was a scream at the end—this feeling was hard to describe.lpNcf
ugemt=Coherence…! How much coherence must you destroy to be satisfied? You’re one of those blinded by the small, unable to see the great. Ah, oh suppression, what path are you walking?=a5x
V3aM686“You’re the one who keeps calling me apostle of destruction.”Q6T
HeTI charged at him. Our swords clashed and I slashed as if drawing a cross.JFfL1RD
rFmgA wind-blade in the shape of an X surged toward the old knight.i94nI
Lz3AC11Ragnarok held no weapon—but deflected the blow diagonally.4ja2nrJ
YWeHe wasn’t ordinary. But that’s all he was.97xRe30
zX9hP6“My sword merely fulfilled its duty. Don’t you think it’s hypocritical to blame me for that? You were the one who, with conquest and plague, turned this world into a complete mess.”lcpI7R
mJs=I was simply exercising suppressive power rightfully=NMLaq5e
Tj2wM“Then mine is self-defense, bastard.”spR
h95I lunged again. An immeasurable surge of energy built up with every swing.NH3u
t91I didn’t care if there would be no reconciliation. My stamina was finite, but my will to fight was endless.7IBGKh
NT2Even if my muscles tore like threads, my resolve fastened like buttons.thb
KhcIljAmid a great turbulence, my allies were the anchor keeping me from being swept away.W6PxpG
9reUpcOEliminate all that is unnecessary.jEGyIXm
cd1y7NSLet only two actions remain.rBgpM
GcALSCut. Cut.rHNl
ZJhz4ZParallel thought is simple, but its destructive power is immense. Even Ragnarok, who defended relentlessly, began to falter.TI9AT
jMKyaHA coward who shoots from afar doesn’t have the guts to face a blade head-on.WpNjjG
f3reXbAI cornered him. The landscape of the world collapsed. We intertwined and fell in a dive.o9eybjP
0Z6hThe madness of war burned closer than the sun’s heat.5zQ
3Ijn=Curse you!=U16ZtGz
dejWd6I was alone. In a way, I still am.qvEAts8
uQqyl=How can you fight alongside those vermin…?=0phUc96
HjKxxDcOnly Yu Sein could hear the torment my body endured, forged into a sword.KjqCLV
c1zRAnd even then, only a fraction.MfGSs
ncK6=Suppression Apostle…!=1FfMH
IizkXMqThe remnants of sashimi were a pair. On them, one by one, touches of light began to land.IU712
x9k7hI don’t move forward alone. When I begin to drift toward the wrong path, those around me become my rudder.VJct1tW
USBhyThat’s why—nRFPp
qdObhThe path of my sword was straight.1g8xlQ
lWrSThey supported my mind, which wavered like a tightrope walker, and held it steady.BAJv
T0yI didn’t hesitate to draw my sword, no matter the beast before me.hMRE
SfyUUAThey were like me—and I, like them.4FQuqZ
AZe3tU6Into Murasame, I infused a bolt like a full beam.1dK0oea
WiekCsAThe color of the soul had changed, and so had its light.GCB
2nRpyoGA deep blue radiance.xekitHG
ucLThe color of the universe’s flesh soaked into my hands and into the two sashimi blades I wielded.LJoH
fHLFQThud.F61ZW
OOAO2yVThe skull trembled and slipped. It fell from the sky to the earth.jHEVHtk
wfgFrom afar, Yu Sein, watching the scene, murmured.TP6
fD0“…Three against one.”ElvBU
yEfThe living.n0G
U9OfEySThe dead.edgH6OQ
RXo0LZAnd the gods.H804
TID0The Apocalypse was decreed by them.a8r3
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