The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 397: The Origin of Kang Geom-Ma (1)

Chapter 397: The Origin of Kang Geom-Ma (1)

Chaerina,⁠ who had been‍ staring blankly out⁠⁠ the window, suddenly‍ stood up.

Immediately,‌‍‍ all the gazes‌ in the classroom‌‌⁠ turned to her.‍ But Chaerina didn’t⁠ care and pressed‌‌‍ her forehead against‌‌ the glass.

“It⁠ has begun.”

A flush burned on⁠ her cheeks.

Her‍‍ breath struck the⁠‍ cold glass and‍ condensed into frost.⁠

You⁠ can do it.‌

You⁠ can overcome it.‍⁠

Ignoring the stares stabbing⁠⁠ her back, Chaerina‌⁠⁠ fixed her eyes⁠ on the setting⁠⁠‌ sun.

The‌ horizon was dyed‌‍ a blue much⁠ deeper than usual.‍‌⁠

***‍⁠

Rumble!‍

The air trembled.

The Yggdrasil, which seemed‌‍ to have exhausted‍⁠ all its vitality, shook its leaves‌ violently, as if trying to cover⁠⁠ the entire island⁠‌⁠ of Avalon with⁠ a golden tide.‍⁠‌

One‍⁠ last glow.

Just‍‌ as the sun⁠‌ shines brightest right‌ before it sets,‍‍ Yggdrasil, in its‌‌ final moment, displayed⁠ all its magnificence.⁠‍

The‌ sight was so overwhelming that everyone‍⁠ tilted their heads‍ back until their‍ necks ached.

For⁠‌ a moment, they‍‌⁠ completely forgot the‌ gravity of the‌‌ situation.

“Ah…”‍⁠

Suddenly,‌ Abel felt an⁠‌ overwhelming sense of⁠ déjà vu.

Ten‌ years earlier.

When,‌‍ as students, they‍ had come on⁠ an excursion to‍ the island of‌‍ Avalon, something very‌‌‍ similar had occurred.⁠‍

Then, Abel awoke from‍‌ her trance and‍⁠ snapped her head‍‌ toward him. Toward⁠⁠ Kang Geom-Ma.

Goooooooh!

A freezing air swirled.‌‌ It was as⁠ if her arms‌⁠ were submerged in‌⁠⁠ icy, electric water.‌

The‌⁠ current was emanating⁠ from Kang Geom-Ma‌‌ himself.

“Ge,⁠ Geom-Ma…”

It‌ wasn’t as usual.‍‍

His⁠⁠‌ black hair had‍ turned completely white.‌‌‍ Abel regained clarity instantly.

She⁠ had spent nearly‌‍ ten years at‍⁠ his side, and‍ she knew all‍ too well what⁠⁠ that transformation meant.‍‌

Abel‌⁠ was about to⁠⁠ approach, when—

“Don’t⁠ do it!”

Rachel‌ grabbed her hand‌ urgently.

“Let‍ me go.”

Though‍ Abel struggled, Rachel‍⁠ didn’t yield.

“Abel,‌⁠ if you go‌‍⁠ near him now…”‌

Rachel’s‍‌ unique ability wasn’t‌⁠ a blessing, but‍ it allowed her⁠‌‌ to glimpse the⁠ deepest secrets of people.

Kang⁠ Geom-Ma.

She‌ swallowed.

He⁠‍ had always been‍‌‌ wrapped in a black haze.

A man marked by‌‌ unnamable secrets, and⁠ that fog had‍‍‌ only grown denser‌‌ over the years.‍‌

To‌ the world, he⁠‍‍ seemed the happiest‌⁠‌ of men.

But⁠‍ inside, that stake⁠ driven deep was‍ sinking further and⁠‌ further, tearing him‍ apart.

Now,‌ however, it was‌⁠⁠ different.

The‌ smoke no longer‌‍ wrapped him. Because⁠ he himself had‍ become pure darkness.⁠⁠

To⁠ Rachel’s eyes, Kang‍‌ Geom-Ma was now⁠ a silhouette made‌‍ of absolute shadow,‍ with two burning‍ eyes in the‌‌ void.

His‍‍‌ very presence twisted space and time‍⁠ around him. That was far beyond⁠ anything a human—even‌‌ a demigod—could emit.⁠‌

A god.

Or perhaps a calamity.‌‌

Before she could articulate those words, the‍‍ heavens began to‍⁠ tremble.

The‍‍ sky cracked apart‌ like the boiling‍ skin of a giant.

Rumble,‌ rumble!

A shadow spread. A black sphere covered‍ the sun. In‍‌ an instant, the‌ island was plunged⁠ into an eclipse.‌

The‌ dark sun, surrounded‌⁠ by a red‌ halo, gazed down‌ on the villains⁠ from above.

“D-damn⁠ it…!”

The‍ villain leaders writhed‌‍ in terror.

One‍⁠ of them abruptly⁠⁠ turned his gaze‍⁠ to Ryozo.

It’s‌‌ him! Capture the⁠ Heavenly Archer!

They wanted to take‍‌ Ryozo as a hostage. Against Kang⁠ Geom-Ma in direct⁠ combat, they had‍‌ no way out.‍⁠

Not‍⁠ twelve, not a thousand, not ten‌‌ thousand could handle⁠⁠ him.

“Quick!”‍

It⁠‍ was a desperate⁠‍‍ attempt. But the‍ anomaly didn’t stop‍⁠‍ there.

Kaboom!‌

A thunderclap roared across‌‌ the ground.

A lightning bolt suddenly⁠ descended on the‍ villain who had‌⁠ lunged toward Ryozo.⁠

Rumble!‌‍

“Gyaaaaaaaaaaahhh!”‌⁠

Lightning‍⁠‍ after lightning.

Zap! Zap! Rumble!

Lightning‍ after lightning.

Zap!‌ Zap! Booom!

They⁠ fell in perfect‍⁠ barrages, striking only‌ the villains, as‍⁠ if divine judgment itself was crashing‍⁠ down upon them.‌‌

And‍⁠⁠ yet, the villains‍ did not die.‌‌ Even if they⁠‌ were resilient, that‍⁠‍ discharge should have‌ reduced them to‍⁠ ashes.

“…Annihilation.”⁠‍

Valerion‌ growled with a trembling voice. He‌ fought against the‌‌ storm, beating his‌ wings with all‌‍‌ his might.

“Is‍ he cutting even⁠‍ death itself?”

So‌‌ it was.

[The‌⁠ Blessing of Strength:‍ Divine Manifestation!]

[The‍‍ Blessing of Strength:⁠⁠ Divine Manifestation!]

[The‌‍ Blessing of Strength:‌ Divine Manifestation!]

[The⁠⁠ Blessing of Strength:⁠ Divine Manifestation!]

[The⁠⁠ Blessing of Strength:⁠‌ Divine Manifestation!]

The Blessing of Strength.

A power that allowed‍ one to rewind‌⁠ the timeline just‌ a few moments.‌ Kang Geom-Ma had‍ unleashed it in‍‍ its entirety.

An‍‍‍ ability already fraudulent‍⁠ on its own,‍⁠ now imbued with‍⁠ divinity.

It‌ was like hearing‍⁠ the invisible gears‌⁠ of the universe⁠‌ splinter.

We‍‍ can’t leave him‌‌ like this.

Kang Geom-Ma, having lost‍⁠ his reason, was⁠ destroying the world.⁠‌‍

He had forgotten his‍ humanity and surrendered‍‌ solely to his‌ instinct.

Few⁠⁠ knew it, but‍ he had always‍⁠ been insane.

The‌‍ air grew heavier‍‌ and heavier, as‌⁠ if one were sinking into the‍ depths of the‍‍ ocean.

If⁠ even Dragon Lord‌ Valerion could barely⁠ endure it, the others had no‍ chance at all.‌

“Lord⁠ Heavenly Sword! Stop…!”⁠‍

It⁠‍ was Valerion’s plea.⁠

It‌‍‌ was already too late. Kang Geom-Ma⁠⁠⁠ charged at the‌‌‍ villains wielding his‌⁠ sashimi.

He ran while swinging⁠ his sword, and‌‍‍ the shockwaves of‍‌ his slashes intertwined⁠ with the golden‍⁠‍ threads emanating from⁠‍ Yggdrasil.

Slash!‍‍

The‌ sound was like‌ leather tearing apart.⁠‌ Rough, brutal.

The⁠ enemy’s body wasn’t⁠⁠ cleanly cut, but‍ ripped to shreds‌⁠ with cruelty.

His‌‌ broad-bladed sword was‍‌ the signal of the opening act.⁠⁠

With Murasame he decapitated‍ one in a single stroke, and⁠ with his EX-rank‍‌ sashimi he split‍‍‌ another at his⁠ flank in two.‍‌

Kang Geom-Ma kicked the‍ torn bodies in⁠⁠‌ different directions.

To‌ one who screamed‌‌‌ and tried to‍‌‍ flee, he drove‌‌ the sword into‍‍ the back of‍ his neck, the‌ blade bursting out‍ of the mouth⁠ with a nauseating⁠‌ snap.

“Keugh…”‍

The‌ faceless villain collapsed.‍

With⁠⁠⁠ Murasame he sliced‌ open his torso, leaving an irregular cut like beast‌ bites.

Covered‍⁠ in the blood⁠ of his enemies,‌‌‍ he didn’t bother⁠ wiping his face.⁠‌

He simply teleported and⁠ began another massacre.‍‌

Splash!⁠

Jets‌ of blood drenched⁠ him.

He‌‌ skewered with the‍ sashimi, shattered bones,‌‌⁠ kicked remains, brushed‌‌ aside entrails with‍‌ his arm and‌ pressed forward.

The‌‌ villains shrieked hysterically,‍ overcome with panic⁠ attacks, while he‍ cut through them⁠‌ without pause.

Some‌ tried to resist.‍ Useless.

When‌‌ one of them‌‍ snapped his fingers‌⁠⁠ to cast a spell, points of‍ light flickered between‌ the clouds.

In⁠‍ an instant, a flock of magical‌‍ sashimis shredded him⁠ into particles.

“Mo…‌ monster…!”

One with a rabbit mask tried to‍ turn away, but‍‌ tripped and fell‍⁠⁠ like a crushed⁠ frog. The very⁠ earth vibrated as‍‍⁠ if it had‍‍⁠ swollen veins, a body throbbing with‌ blood.

His⁠ eyes inevitably turned‌ to Yggdrasil. She⁠‌ opened her mouth‍⁠ in horror.

“It’s…‌⁠‍ horrifying…”

The‌ trunk of the‌⁠ tree was visibly‍⁠ blackening. Why? What⁠ was happening?

But‌⁠ her thought was⁠‌‌ cut short. Kang‌ Geom-Ma stomped her‍‍⁠ face into the⁠ ground. With the‌⁠⁠ black sun at‍⁠ his back, he‌‌ was no longer‍ human. He was‍‍‍ a monster.

A disaster.

A calamity.

“F-forgive me, please, mercy…”‍

Her‍‌ shoulder sank, and‍⁠‌ along with the‍ mask a line⁠‍ of blood was carved.

The‌‌‌ skull split, spilling‌‌ its contents in⁠‍ a torrent.

He‌ killed her in a single blow‍‍ and immediately hurled‌ himself at the‌‍ next, wreathed in lightning.

BOOOM!‌⁠

Explosions‌ like bombs shook the atmosphere one‌ after another. The‍ glare lit up the entire land,⁠‌ and the villains’‌ eyes seemed to‍‌ sink as if‌‌ hacked apart with an axe. The‍ sky roared with‍⁠ a crimson whirlwind.⁠‍

But‌‌ something was strange.‍‌

It‍‌⁠ didn’t matter how‍⁠ many he killed,‌‍ the screams didn’t‌ stop.

In‌‍ the middle of‌‍⁠ the tide of deaths, how could⁠ they still be‌ alive?

[The⁠‍ Blessing of Strength,⁠ divinity, manifests.]

[The⁠‌ Power of the⁠‌ King of the‍⁠ Underworld, divinity, manifests.]

[The‌ Blessing of the⁠⁠ God of the‌‍ Sword, divinity, manifests.]‍⁠

Kang‌⁠‍ Geom-Ma didn’t stop⁠ cutting. He burned⁠⁠ with lightning, unleashed‍⁠‌ Igeo-geom slashes, fought‌ hand-to-hand without hesitation.‍

[You‌ cut death. The⁠‍ target has revived.]⁠

[You‌‍‌ cut death. The⁠ target has revived.]‍

[You⁠ cut death. The‍‍ target has revived.]‌

Each‍⁠ slash only made‍ the villains resurrect.‍ Until finally, their⁠‌ pleas changed. They‍ no longer begged⁠‍ “Save me!”, but instead—

“Please…‍‌‍ kill me!”

“I‌ beg you… no‌‍‍ more…!”

Valerion, watching him with‍⁠‌ a grave face,‌‍ met Metatron’s eyes.‌ Both nodded.

“We⁠ must intervene.”

“I⁠⁠ agree.”

If they left him⁠‌ like this, this‌ timeline would collapse.‍

The‌‌ destruction would soon‌ go beyond the‌‍‍ island of Avalon and sweep across‍ the entire world.⁠

Already Yggdrasil, the world⁠⁠ tree, was rotting⁠ alive.

“Father.”⁠⁠

Clang.

Leon⁠ van Reinhardt unsheathed his sword, stepping‌‌‌ between Metatron and Valerion.

“I’ll‌⁠⁠ help too.”

“He’s⁠ your friend.”

Surprisingly,‍⁠ Metatron did not‍‍ object. They were⁠‌ in a situation⁠‍ where even small⁠⁠‌ hands were valuable.⁠⁠ Besides, his son’s⁠⁠‍ sword was a relic made to⁠‌‌ shine in moments‍ like this.

Metatron‌ asked him again.

“Even⁠ so, can you‍‍ raise your sword⁠‍ against him?”

“He‍ is my friend.‌⁠ And remember that‍‍ when he saved⁠‌ Geom-Ma, he did‌‍ it with a kind of physical‍‍ therapy. When he‌‍ regains his senses,‌‍ he’ll understand.”

“…Fine.”

Metatron⁠⁠‌ thought for a few seconds, then⁠ nodded.

“Then‌ I entrust it‍ to you.”

“I’ll‌ go too.”

With‍‌ the sound of⁠ her spear slicing⁠ the air, Rachel‌ approached. Metatron thought,‌⁠⁠ What an incredible‍ human being.

“To‌ withstand Kang Geom-Ma’s⁠⁠ pressure with pure‌⁠ determination alone…”

The⁠⁠⁠ air around her⁠ split like paper‌ under a blade.⁠‌

“It⁠‍ seems I can see it… barely.”‍

“…See⁠‍ what?”

Rachel,‍⁠ with a serious‍ face, allowed the faintest smile.

“His‍‌ weak point.”

“…”⁠‌

“Eh,‍‌ don’t misunderstand me.⁠‌ Don’t discriminate.”

There‌⁠ was no time⁠‍ for doubt.

No⁠ room for calculation.‍

KRRRAAAAAANG!‌

The⁠ lightning roared ever‌⁠‍ more violently, spreading⁠ like roots across⁠ the sky. Spaces⁠ opened, and through‍ the cracks shone‌‌ a red glow‌ from another dimension.‍⁠

Metatron‌‍ wasted no time.

“Alright.”‌

He‍⁠‍ turned his gaze‍ toward Abel. She‌‌ did not hesitate.‍⁠ With cold eyes,⁠ her hand was‍ already on the‍‌ hilt of her⁠‍ sword.

Chiing.‍

Notung.⁠

The⁠⁠ legendary sword of‌ Nibelung, that never‍⁠ retreats.

“I’ll say only one thing.”

Abel‌‍ spoke, her weapon‍‍ gleaming with solemnity.⁠‌

“Now, as before and⁠⁠ as always, we⁠ face the strongest⁠ enemy. Even if⁠ our purpose is‍‌ to contain him…‍⁠ there will be‍‌ blood.”

Her‍‍ front teeth sank⁠⁠ into her beautiful⁠‍‌ lips.

“No‌‌ matter how much⁠‌⁠ you worry… please, do not hate‍ Kang Geom-Ma. I don’t say this‌‍‍ because he is my husband. Right‌ now he is⁠ fighting, not against⁠‍ a villain, but‌ against himself.”

She‌‌ bowed her head⁠⁠⁠ deeply forward.

Abel,⁠ with her body⁠‌⁠ bent at a right angle, begged‍ with all her‌⁠ voice to everyone.‍‌⁠

“Please…‍ save Kang Geom-Ma‍ and Ryozo.”

“Don’t‌ say as if‌ it were something⁠‌‍ extraordinary what is⁠‍ obvious, Abel. That‌‍ only makes one‍ feel bad.”

Abel‍ raised her head.⁠

Speedweapon,‌‌ biting down hard⁠‍‍ on the mouthpiece⁠‌ of his recorder,‌‌‍ said.

“I’ll⁠‍ take care of the buffs and⁠⁠⁠ energy recovery, so‍ you all go‌ rescue them.”

At⁠⁠ that radiant smile,‌⁠ everyone let out a brief laugh.‍‍ In the midst⁠‌‌ of despair, maintaining⁠ that expression, heroes,‍‌‍ angels, and demons‌‌‍ advanced.

“Let’s‍ go.”

To⁠ save the Demon‌⁠ King.