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The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master Chapter 353: Ragnarok (5)

Chapter 353: Ragnarok (5)

Knight⁠‌⁠ Ragnarok.

The⁠⁠‌ place where his​ head fell sank‌​‌ as if struck⁠​ by a giant‍‍​ hammer.

───────!​‍‍

Boom!⁠​

A deafening explosion rang‌ out. Humans, undead,⁠​‌ and demons alike‌​‍ looked up in⁠​ shock.

They⁠‍ reacted as though​⁠ a meteorite had⁠‍‍ crashed into the​‍‍ earth.

After‌‍ a prolonged stalemate,⁠‍ the expressions of​ the insectoid demons‌ began to dim,⁠‍ while the faces⁠‍ of the living‌‌​ and undead slowly​‌ regained their color.​

Rumble.‍

Coincidentally,​‍‍ the colossal 50-meter-tall‍‌​ golem also collapsed.⁠‌​ The ground trembled.‌‌⁠ Sand and debris‍‌ rose up to​​‍ the ankles.

At⁠‌ a glance, everything‍‌ suggested the battle⁠ was over. But‍ the insectoid demons‍‍​ didn’t retreat. The​ atmosphere remained charged‌‌​ with tension.

Still,​ the enemy commander‍ had fallen.

Since‍ ancient times, when​​‍ a general falls,‍⁠⁠ surrender follows.

Whether​⁠⁠ that logic applied​ to insectoid demons‌ was unknown, but⁠⁠⁠ the signs of‌⁠ defeat were unmistakable​​ among them.

“…Finally…”‌

And‍‍‌ then someone uttered⁠‍ those words—the ones‌‌ that must never⁠‌​ be spoken.

“…Have⁠⁠ we… won?”

We‌ won’t reveal their‍‍ identity—for their own​ safety.

Rustle.​

An⁠​ arm emerged from​⁠‍ the dust. It​‍ stretched like taffy,⁠‍ with multiple joints⁠⁠‌ like a giraffe’s‌‍ legs.

Slide.​​‍

Another‌‌‍ arm appeared. Equally⁠⁠ long and thin,‍‍‌ but white this‌ time.

Whoosh!‌⁠

Both⁠⁠​ arms, colored differently,‍⁠ swept through the‍ air on a massive scale. The⁠‍​ dust was completely‍‍⁠ blown away.

=Haa…=‌⁠⁠

An⁠⁠‍ elongated skull raised‍‌⁠ its head. The⁠‍​ burning gaze from‌ its empty eye‌‍ sockets pierced through‌ the heroes.

=My‍ power… has been‍‌‌ depleted…=

Ragnarok‌⁠ knelt as if‍ collapsing. His shadow‌‌‌ spread over the​​​ battlefield again and​‍ again.

He‌ wasn’t as large‍‍⁠ as the golem,​​ but his presence‌ far surpassed it.‍‌⁠

Bubbles​ swirled around his​​⁠ body. His limbs​⁠‍ were made of​ a semi-transparent liquid.⁠

=…Children⁠ of the earth…=‍​‍

From​‍ the jaw of​ his skull-shaped helmet,​ a greenish toxic‍​‌ vapor escaped. Ragnarok‍‍‍ wasn’t speaking to‌‌‍ the humans, but‌‌​ to the demons.‍⁠

=It​ is time to​‌​ return to the‌⁠ Father=

He​​ opened his chest‌ and extended his‍ arms.

The‌​ demons tilted their⁠‍​ heads in confusion,‌​‍ and then.

“Kyeeeeeeek!”‌

“Kueh,​ eeeeh, eeeek!”

Screaming​‌ inhumanly, they were​⁠ sucked into the‌ interior of Ragnarok’s⁠ body.

One‍ reached out an​‌ arm as if⁠ pleading, only to‍​ be consumed by​​ the green liquid.‌

There‍‌ was no consent.‌ The demons suffered.‌‌⁠

It​‌ was less a father’s embrace and‌ more like hell‌​ itself.

Zzzzzchh.‍‍‌

Claw⁠‌ marks were carved​‍ into the earth⁠ as they were⁠⁠‌ dragged in, disappearing‌⁠ beneath Ragnarok’s feet.⁠

=Hmph=​

In​ an instant, he​‌ absorbed them all.⁠‍‍

His‌​ size remained the​‌⁠ same. But—

“Th-those…‌‍‍ inside his body…!”⁠‍‍

Michelan‍ pointed with a trembling finger.

Inside‌⁠ Ragnarok’s form, the‍‌‍ demons intertwined, forming⁠‍​ bones, muscles, tissues.​⁠⁠

As‍​ his skeletal structure‍​‌ grew denser, the‌ demons shriveled, reduced‍​‌ to specks drifting⁠​ within him, like⁠ cells.

Crunch,⁠‌​ crack.

A giant with grotesquely​‌ long limbs emerged.⁠ Ragnarok moved his‌‍⁠ fingers like spider‍​⁠ legs—unnervingly.

=…Guess⁠⁠ I’ll move like​‍ this for now…=​

Ragnarok‌ turned his head,​ shrouded in darkness.‍​⁠

=Pay​​‍ the price for​‍ defying natural order.=⁠​⁠

Before⁠‌​ he could finish⁠‍⁠ his sentence—

Fwooooosh!⁠‍⁠

A rain of blades⁠‍ fell.

Countless.‍‌‍

Thin​ and sharp like⁠⁠⁠ a storm of⁠​‌ needles.

【Mental‍​⁠ Sword Domination: Thousand‌ Li Reach】

Ragnarok⁠​‌ swung his green⁠​⁠ arm like a whip, deflecting the​ blades before their‌ sound could even​​​ arrive.

“Everyone…!‍‌ Plant your weapons‌ in the ground‌‌​ and hold your‌‌ ground!”

In⁠ the middle of⁠⁠ the tempest, Orion‍‌ von Nibelung shouted.⁠‌​ If they stood‍‌⁠ still, they’d be‍ swept away.

Thud,⁠​ thud, thud!

The‌‌​ undead, in unison,​‌‌ stabbed their weapon‍⁠​ tips into the⁠ earth. Michelan was​‍ among them.

“Aaaaaah!⁠​​ A human! No,​⁠‌ an undead! No,‌​⁠ a dead…! Aaah,⁠ just save me!!​‌ Ah! But I’m‍ already dead?! Hahahaha!”⁠‍⁠

But​‌ since he wasn’t​ a real fighter,‌ he ended up‌‌ flying away with‌​ a banner.

=That‍​ a physical attack‌‍‍ like this worked…‍​‌ This is a humiliation for an‍ Apostle of Suppression…=‌‍

The​‍ skull’s teeth clattered.​‍

=This‍⁠‍ world… must receive⁠​ its final punctuation!​⁠ Why do you⁠‍⁠ resist, Apostle of⁠​⁠ Destruction?=

Boom!‌⁠ Rumbleeeee!

A bolt of lightning‌‌ struck Ragnarok precisely.‌​⁠ Moments later, the‍‌⁠ light took human‍⁠ form.

A figure with black​​ hair.

“If​‌‍ anyone should destroy…”⁠

The‌⁠ tips of his‍‌ hair began to‌ turn white.

Kang⁠ Geom-Ma pressed Ragnarok‌​ with his two‍‍ sashimi knives, murmuring⁠⁠‍ under his breath.‌‌⁠

“…It’s‍⁠​ you. You and⁠ that thing backing‍ you.”

=Do⁠​ you not know‍‍‌ your fate…? How​⁠​ tragic… how pitiful…​ If not for‌​​ the constraints of‌‍ plausibility, I would⁠ have told you…=⁠

“Too​‌⁠ long for a few last words.”⁠⁠‍

Whoosh!‍

He‍ spun Murasame in​‌ reverse and swung.‌‌‍ The blade stung‌‌⁠ the green arm​⁠‍ like a bee’s​‍⁠ sting.

Slash!⁠⁠​

The⁠⁠⁠ arm was cleanly‍‍‍ severed. Even though‌‍‌ it was made⁠ from an entire‌⁠ demon army. Thick,‌ lava-like blood burst‌ from the cut.​​​

Drip,‍⁠​ drip, drip.

Wherever​ it fell, the​‍⁠ earth melted.

That’s⁠ why the heroes‍‌‌ couldn’t approach.

Even⁠⁠ the undead knew‍‌ that clumsy interference​⁠ would only hinder‍​⁠ their king—and they’d​‍ be erased without​ a trace.

They⁠​​ weren’t afraid of‍⁠ dying. They were⁠‌ already dead. But⁠ they feared becoming‌​ a burden to‌‍ the Heavenly Sword.‌‍

They​⁠​ might become a stone in the‌‍ path of humanity’s​‌ hope.

Besides,‌⁠ a battle between‌⁠ transcendent beings completely‌‌ excluded the common⁠ folk.

Both⁠‌ combatants fought on‍ a divine plane.‌⁠

Crack-crack-crack!‍⁠‍

Two‌ new arms sprouted‍ from the stump.‍​​

At‌ the same time,‌ Ragnarok launched one​​ of his white‍​‍ arms to the​ side.

The‍‍‍ white arm extended‌​​ at lightning speed.‍ In an instant,⁠​​ it reached the⁠ collapsed golem’s chest.​‍‍

Swish!​

Kang‌⁠ Geom-Ma twisted his⁠​ torso to the‌‌‌ side. The sharp​ edge only grazed⁠‌ his chest.

“……!!”‍‍

By‍​‍ the time he‌ realized it, the⁠ monstrous fingers had‍⁠​ already snatched up‌‍ Gáe Bolg.

Kang​‌‍ Geom-Ma raised his‌​ blade to cut‍ them.

But‌‍‍ it was just⁠ a feint. The‍​‍ arm retracted swiftly,⁠ leaving only a trail.

As⁠ Ragnarok came into⁠ range, he pointed⁠‍ the spear skyward​‍​ and slashed it‍‍⁠ fiercely.

Gwooooooooh.⁠‍

The​‍ sky opened as‌⁠​ if its eyelids​ were lifted. A dark hole, an‍ abyss.

A blackness so oppressive‌ it squeezed the⁠‌‌ chest just by‍​‍ looking at it,‌‍​ began devouring the⁠‍ sky.

Everyone​⁠​ looked up, their‍ gazes lost—if only‌‌‍ for a moment.⁠‍

And​​​ within that black‌​⁠ hole, “something” opened‌⁠ its eyes. A colossal eye that‌ pushed away clouds⁠​ and filled the‌⁠‍ entire sky.

Thud.‍‌ Thud.

The‌​⁠ warriors who had⁠⁠⁠ been fighting with‌ all their might‌ just seconds ago‍ collapsed.

Fear,⁠‍‍ helplessness, self-loathing.

All‍ sorts of negative​⁠ emotions swirled on​‍⁠ their skin like‌‍⁠ black smoke.

=Disgusting…=​‌

Ragnarok​‌‌ screamed in desperation‌ as he defended‌‍​ himself from Kang‌ Geom-Ma’s attacks.

=Don’t​ be enraged by⁠ the distortion of​‍ suppression! One of​‍ your apostles made‌⁠​ an even greater‍⁠‌ mistake by breaking‍ a more important‍⁠ plausibility!=

The‌ eye listened in‍‌​ silence.

=So​ please… grant me⁠⁠‌ your power…!=

Kang‌ Geom-Ma’s sashimi blade⁠‌ cut those words⁠​ off at the‍ root.

“How‌​ touching. The villain‌‌‌ begging for time​​ to transform.”

Dozens​​‌ of sashimi blades​⁠⁠ rained down on‍‍ Ragnarok once again.​‌ Seizing the opening,⁠ Kang Geom-Ma soared‍​ like a dragon​​​ of light.

“You’re​​ the one who​ started all this‌​ mess, aren’t you?”‍​

「……」​⁠

The​ eye looked melancholic.‍

“Not‍‌⁠ just today. Everything​⁠‌ that’s happened to​‍⁠ me up to⁠‍⁠ now.”

「……」⁠​

“The​ god of the‍‌ sword. My father,‌ Lyan. All were​‍ manipulated by you—”​‌‍

“Watch​ out!”

Then,⁠ Ryozo’s voice broke‌‌‍ in sharply.

Even⁠​⁠ in chaos, she‌‍⁠ remained the most⁠ grounded.

“Below!”‌​

She‍⁠​ shouted it for‍ Kang Geom-Ma.

“Look‍ down!”

Just‌‍​ like in the‌⁠​ tragedy of Joaquin.‍‍

“…Below.”⁠

Thanks‌ to Ryozo’s warning,‍ Kang Geom-Ma finally​‌ looked down.

His⁠​‍ ankle was gripped​‍ by Ragnarok’s transparent⁠⁠ arm.

=No‌‍​ one can approach​​ the King! He⁠ who was to‍⁠ be deified has‍​‍ rebelled! That goes​​ against the logic​‍‍ of suppression…!=

Crunch!‍

A sword tip burst​‍​ through the back‌ of the skull.‍‌‌

Ragnarok‍‍‌ whipped his gaze‌‍​ around.

“Before⁠ our king…”

Orion,⁠​‌ sword extended, shouted‌ with force.

“How​ dare you—!!”

The​⁠ sword pierced through‍⁠‌ the skull. Blood⁠ burst out.

And‌ almost instantly, Orion’s‍‍ body disintegrated into⁠‌‍ the air.

At⁠​ the same time,⁠​ the black smoke⁠‍‍ the living had‌‍​ been exhaling ceased.‍⁠‌

They​ shook their heads,‌​⁠ trying to recollect‌ the scattered fragments‌ of their souls.⁠‍‍

“Dad!”‌

Abel‌​‍ tried to run⁠‌ toward him, but‍​⁠ the Swordmaster stopped⁠‌ her.

On‍​⁠ the verge of​ tears, her expression‌ collapsed, but he⁠⁠‍ only shook his‍ head.

“…Yes…”‌‍

She​‍⁠ couldn’t say anything‌‍⁠ more.

Though‌‍ his eyes were​ cold, the grandfather⁠‌⁠ looked more sorrowful‍ than ever.

As‍ if that scene​ were a signal,‍ the dead and​⁠​ the entire army​‌ hurled themselves at​​‍ Ragnarok all at​⁠‌ once.

They⁠‍​ threw down their​ weapons and covered‌ him with their​‌ bodies.

Insect-like‌ limbs protruded from‍ the pile.

The‌‍ hand gripping Kang⁠ Geom-Ma’s feet quickly⁠​‍ lost strength.

Ragnarok⁠⁠ roared in rage,​ struggling.

Ruuumble…!​

The‌‌ mound of corpses​​ quaked like an‌​ earthquake.

But​​⁠ that army, clinging‍​ to one another—just‍​ for a brief⁠‍ moment—

Touched‌‍​ the divine realm.⁠⁠

“Heave-ho,‍​⁠ heave-ho.”

Michelan,‍ using bodies as‍‌ steps, clumsily climbed.‌ Finally, he managed‌⁠ to plant a flag at the​⁠ summit.

“Heavenly​‍​ Sword.”

Two​ characters written with​‌⁠ sincerity fluttered in‍‌ the wind.

“Lord‍⁠‍ Heavenly Sword! It​‌‍ has been an​‌⁠ honor to stand‌​⁠ by your side.​‌‌ Never before, nor‌ ever again, have⁠​ I felt something⁠‌ so overwhelming.”

Michelan‌⁠ shouted at the⁠‍⁠ top of his‍‌ lungs.

He​ stomped the hill⁠ with his feet‌ as he spoke.⁠⁠

“That⁠⁠ “Suppression” he talks‌ about is just⁠⁠‌ the final punctuation⁠⁠⁠ of a story!⁠​‌ That means your‌‌​ story doesn’t have​‍⁠ to end!”

=From‌ where…!=

The‍ shattered skull emerged‌‍ forcefully from the​⁠‌ crowd. Crunch! It​⁠ bit deeply into⁠‍⁠ Michelan’s collarbone.

“Guh…‌‍ Aahh… Lord Heavenly⁠ Sword…!”

Biting‍ his lower lip​​​ in pain, Michelan‍​‍ raised his voice​​ one last time.⁠⁠

“It’s‍ time to finish‍​⁠ this!”

“…Michelan…”​

“The⁠‍‍ sacrifice for the⁠ future is the‌​ duty of those‍‌​ who came before!‌‍‍ Please, let us​ fulfill our role!”​⁠‍

“….”‍

A long silence.

Kang‍​‍ Geom-Ma finally had‌ to nod.

Slide.⁠

He⁠​ sealed his entire⁠ body.

Kang⁠ Geom-Ma raised Murasame.‍‌

Fine‌‍‍ cords wrapped around​⁠ him like wild⁠‌ thistles, coiling over⁠​‌ his body.

Like‌‍​ a mummy, he‍‍⁠ had to suppress​⁠ his existence for⁠​‍ a moment to‍​‌ unleash a power​ that exceeded the‍‌​ limits of the​ world.

His⁠ hair, now entirely‌ white, billowed down⁠ to his waist.​‌‌

Everyone’s‍‌‍ mouths fell open‌ in awe at​‍ the sight of‍ Kang Geom-Ma with​‍⁠ such long hair.⁠

“Hea…ven…ly…‍ Sword…”

Even‌⁠ his wife, Ryozo,‍‌​ and his other⁠ wife, Abel, had‍​‍ never seen him⁠⁠ like this.

Ryozo’s​‌ lower lip trembled⁠‍‌ violently.

‘Wh-why…?​ No way… Is⁠⁠ she… afraid of‌ her own husband…?’‍

No.​‌ More than that…⁠​

Only⁠ a fragment of‍‌‍ his eyes could⁠ be seen through​‍‌ the bandages.

The‍‍​ space around him​ distorted; dark columns​⁠ spiraled around Kang​‍‍ Geom-Ma.

“I​⁠ am the wheel​​ of order… and‌ also the sword‌ that cuts through‌ order.”

Chakra.‌⁠

The​ wheel of fate.⁠‍ To draw out​ that innate power,⁠​ he had to​‌ recite his true‌⁠‍ name.

“My⁠‍‌ true name is…”‍‍​

In‌​​ that moment of​‌ hesitation, Michelan smiled‍⁠ at him with‌‌ his eyes, as​‌‌ if to say‍​‍ everything would be⁠‌ alright.

“The‍​⁠ world will understand.”‍‍‌

Kang‌​⁠ Geom-Ma closed his⁠ eyes tightly.

“…..”​⁠‍

As⁠ if uncorking a lid, he swung‌ his sashimi blade‍ in a devastating⁠‍ fall.

【True⁠⁠‍ Decapitation – New​ Fortress】

A red line passed‍ through Michelan’s eyes,​‍ which reflected the‍‌ eye in the⁠⁠ sky.

That​‌ line extended beyond⁠ the horizon.

One,‌⁠ two, ten, a hundred, a thousand‍‍ countless branches of⁠​‍ that red line​​ spread.

He​‍‌ erased the existence​⁠ called “Heavenly Sword”⁠ and summoned the‍ demon god into‌⁠⁠ the world.

With‌⁠⁠ it, absolute Zen‍ was dragged into⁠‌ reality—an inversion of⁠‍ the heavens.

=Apostle⁠⁠​ of Destruction…!=

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■‍

The​‍ Rider of Conquest‌ and Plague: Ragnarok.‍​⁠

“Cut⁠⁠‌ it.”

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■​​

Ra/g/na/ro/k.​‌

He‌⁠​ was destroyed along‍ with the golden‍‌ tower built by‍​ the symphonies.

▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨▨‌​

At‌‌ the molecular level.‍

Ra/g/na/ro/k⁠

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■‌‌

The‍​​ eye that had‍‌‍ filled the sky​ also closed at​​‌ some point.




That‍‍ was the moment‍‍ when the concepts​ of “conquest” and‌​​ “plague” were erased⁠‌ from the universe.⁠​

“That​⁠ is……”

And‍‍‌ at the same‍⁠⁠ time, it was‌‌‌ the moment the⁠ world understood.

That‍ long-forgotten fear, buried‌​⁠ under layers of‌‌ dust but no‍​‍ less terrifying for‍ it.

Because‌ he had shown​​ it with his‍‍ own body.

“…The‌ Demon King.”

A being of pure‍‌ evil that could​‍‌ destroy the world‍​ on his own.​‍

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