The Academy’s Sashimi Sword Master — Chapter 410: The Savior (1)

Chapter 410: The Savior (1)

Truth‍‌ be told, I didn’t fully understand‌‍ Yu Sein’s explanation.⁠⁠

We‍ were in the⁠‌ middle of a fight, and she didn’t have time⁠ to calmly explain‌‌‍ all the details either.

But‍‍ at least I understood one thing.‍

I looked up. In‍ front of me‌⁠ towered a terrible⁠‌‍ demon, as if‍⁠ taken straight out‍⁠ of Indian mythology.‌‌

There‍ are many possible adjectives, but one‍‌ is enough—it was‍‌ horrifying.

=……!=‌‌‍

Even‌‌⁠ it seemed startled‍ when our eyes⁠⁠ met.

From‌ that alone, I knew that Kali⁠‌ Yuga, the end‍‌ of times, was not an “immortal.”⁠⁠

‘Maybe‌ its intention was‍⁠ to turn this⁠ world into one‍‍ ruled by Blessing of the Apocalypse‌ M 2nd…’

It⁠⁠‌ could be that⁠⁠ this was part‌ of the process‍ to be reborn‌ as an immortal.‌‌

After⁠‌ all, I had⁠ cut down Ragnarok‌ with my sword.

And in the mind‌ of its comrade,‌⁠ Kali Yuga, the‌‍‍ fear of death‌‌‍ had probably been‌‍⁠ engraved for the‌ first time.

That’s why it hid‌⁠ in the form‌ of a mobile‍‍ game, waiting for⁠ the right moment.⁠⁠⁠

But‌ people did not‌⁠‌ surrender themselves to‌‌ the game as‍⁠ much as it‍‌ believed.

The⁠⁠ craze for Blessing‌ of the Apocalypse‍ M 2nd was‍ just that—enthusiasm for⁠⁠ a game. Cases‍⁠ like Yu Sein,‍ completely trapped, were rare.

Because⁠⁠ for the people,‍⁠ there already existed,⁠

“Does⁠‌ that thing have‍ lots of eyes?‍ Would be a good target for a bow.”

Their‍‍ hero.

“Should⁠ we start by‌‌ turning it into⁠‍ a hedgehog of‌ arrows?”

The⁠ Heavenly Archer, Ryozo.⁠‌

“Ok. Abel, you go‌‍ and stab it⁠ with Kang Geom-Ma.”‍

The‌⁠⁠ Lady of the⁠‍ Sword, Abel.

“…Haah.‌ You really shouldn’t‍ be joking, but if it helps‍⁠ you relax a little…”

The⁠ Hero, Leon.

“Nyahaha!‌‍ A hero’s gotta‌ have lunch in⁠‌‌ life and dinner‌‍‌ in hell. Oh,‌‍‍ my heart’s pounding!⁠‌ Is this arrhythmia⁠‌⁠ or what?!”

The‍⁠ flower, Rachel.

“Hey.⁠ Don’t talk like‍ that in front‌ of your elders.‌⁠‌ Kids, the master⁠ will go first,‌ you just follow‌‍⁠ without straining yourselves‌‍ too much.”

The‍‍ Sage, Media.

“All‍⁠ of you.”

And‍‍ me, Kang Geom-Ma.‌⁠

I felt something strange‍ in my chest.⁠‌‍ An indescribable feeling.⁠

Come‍‍ to think of⁠‍⁠ it, these people‌ were the ones‍ who accompanied my‌ past life, which‌ had been nothing⁠‌ but a heap‍ of boredom.

Now⁠ we fought together,‍ cheering each other⁠ on.

My‌ nose twitched. And⁠ amid it all,‌ I saw the‍⁠ pale face of‍‌ Kali Yuga. My⁠ muscles tensed sharply.⁠‍

‘That‌‌ bastard…’

It‌‌ had tried to‍ spread cancer into‍⁠ the world of‍ the people I love. I don’t‌⁠ want to act‌ with the youthful arrogance of shouting,‍⁠ “I won’t forgive⁠‍ you!”

Even‌ if we’ve always been a half-crazy⁠ bunch with our‍‌‌ heads in the‍‍ clouds.

“Let’s‌ go.”

I stepped forward.

‘Ryozo,⁠‌ you said that…’⁠⁠‍

I was your pride.‍

And⁠ I believe it‌ too. Ten years‍⁠ ago, with my‌⁠ know-it-all attitude, I stubbornly denied it.‍‌

But‍⁠ now I can’t‍ help but admit‌⁠ it.

I feel proud. Because‌ I am with‍ you, now and always.

***⁠

Seoul.‌

On‍⁠ the Olympic Expressway.‍‌

Bang!⁠‍

The‍‍ blare of a car horn tore‌‌ through the air.‌

Citizen‍ A lifted his⁠‌‍ head, half-asleep.

“…Huh?”‍‍

Where‍ was that sound coming from? He‌⁠ realized his forehead⁠⁠ was pressed against‌⁠ the steering wheel.‌‍

“Seems‍‌‌ I blacked out‌‌ all of a sudden, argh…”

He‌⁠‍ grabbed his head‌ at the sharp‍ pain. Stumbling, he‌⁠ got out of⁠‌ the car.

“What…?”‍

He‍ wasn’t the only one with a headache. The cars‌ were completely stopped⁠⁠ on the expressway.⁠‌⁠

A traffic jam scene‍⁠ that only made‌‌‍ the headache worse.‌

Other‌ drivers were also‍⁠ getting out of⁠‍ their cars, probably‍‍⁠ trying to figure‍ out the cause‌ of the jam.⁠‌

But⁠‌‍ the reason was‍‍ obvious to anyone who opened their‌ eyes.

Atop‌ Jamsil Tower, one‍‍‍ of Seoul’s iconic landmarks, a gigantic‍ eye was glaring⁠ ferociously at humans.

Only‍‌ then did the‌ citizens suddenly remember‌‍ what had happened before they lost‍ consciousness.

“Right! The red lightning!”

The⁠ eye had fired⁠ red lightning bolts everywhere.

Those who were struck⁠⁠ began casting sinister‌⁠ spells, unleashing chaos⁠ across the Olympic‌‍ Expressway.

Most of the civilians⁠ driving there had⁠ collapsed unconscious from‍ fear and shock.⁠ Citizen A was one of them.‍⁠

“W-we⁠‌‍ have to evacuate…”‌⁠⁠

They’ll⁠‍ come back. Those‌‍ villains who call⁠‍ themselves mages and‍ spread magic are‌‍ still around.

The‌ giant eye is‍ still up there!‍‍‌

They⁠ must flee no⁠ matter what. Even⁠⁠ if it means⁠‌ jumping off the‍‌ bridge.

“Don’t⁠‌ worry.”

At that moment. Someone‍ placed a hand‌‍‍ on his shoulder.⁠

The⁠‌⁠ startled citizen spun‌⁠ around abruptly.

It‍‍ was a hero,⁠ a man in heavy armor and‍ wielding a blade⁠⁠‌ instead of firearms.‌‌ At a glance, it was obvious‌ he was a hero.

But‍ something about him‍⁠ felt strange.

‘His‍ armor… isn’t it kind of old-fashioned?’‍

At‌ first glance, it⁠ seemed quite old,‌⁠ but it gleamed from being so well maintained. The‍‍ detail wasn’t its⁠‌ condition, but the‌ style of the⁠ armor.

Wait‌⁠ a second.

Black‌‍ hair?

The‌‍ citizen rubbed his‌⁠ eyes and looked‍ again. It was‌‍ ink-black hair.

“…Sir‌ Heavenly Sword?”

“Tsk.‍‌⁠ Now when you⁠‍‍ mention black-haired heroes,⁠ everyone thinks of‍‍⁠ him first. In‌‍ my day, black‍⁠‌ hair was my trademark.”

The‌ man muttered bitterly.‍‍

The‌⁠ citizen’s eyes shifted‌‍‍ behind the man.⁠

At‌‌ the end of‌ the expressway, where‌ earlier the mages⁠‍‌ had been rampaging, now they lay‌‍ piled up like‍ mountains.

It⁠‌ was obvious it‌⁠ was the work‌ of the black-haired⁠ man.

Barely⁠ five minutes had‌ passed since the‌‍ citizen had blacked‌ out.

And‍ in that time,⁠ had he defeated⁠ so many?

“Ugh…”‍‌

A dull noise.

Gwoooouuung…!‌⁠⁠

The‍ cables supporting the⁠⁠ expressway began to⁠⁠ emit a shriek.‍‌ The eye atop‍‌ Seoul Tower frowned.‍‍

And‌ it released an‌ overwhelming energy that⁠‌ seemed to engulf‍⁠ the entire city.‌

“Looks like the main⁠‌ base is already⁠ warming up.”

The‌⁠ black-haired man smiled faintly.

With the sound of⁠⁠⁠ his armor, he‌⁠ began walking toward the Tower.

At that moment, a presence fell from‍ the sky like‌⁠ a thunderbolt, landing⁠ with an impact that crushed a dump truck.

A gigantic shadow had‌‍ leapt down from‍‍‍ above.

“Are‌ you alright?! You weren’t hurt?”

“Haah!”⁠⁠

It‍⁠ was the Sword‍ Master!

It‌‍ was his first time seeing him⁠‍‍ in person. Everyone⁠ else also began⁠ cheering amid the‍ despair.

The citizen nodded vigorously,‌‍ moved.

“Yes,‍‍ thanks to that knight who took‌ care of the strange mages…”

“That‍ knight?”

The⁠⁠ Sword Master looked‌ toward where the‌ citizen was pointing.⁠ A man was‌‌‌ standing on the‌‌‌ bridge railing, gazing‍ toward Seoul Tower.‌⁠‌

He‌‍⁠ was a hero.⁠⁠

The‌⁠ Sword Master sighed‍ in relief and‍‌‌ approached him.

“Thank⁠‌ you. I don’t‌‍ know which faction‌ you belong to,⁠‍‌ but…”

He⁠ couldn’t finish the⁠‍ sentence.

The‌‍ man turned his head and looked‌⁠ at him. The‌⁠ Sword Master’s heart skipped a beat.‌

“Oh,⁠ so you’re that‍‍ one.”

The‍ man smiled, showing‍‌‍ his teeth.

“How‍ many years has it been? Decades? In a dream‌ I saw a boy wielding a sword like Aaron,‌ so I gave‍‌ him some advice.⁠‍ Maybe it was⁠‍ an interference between‍ timelines, something that‌‍ happens once every‌⁠ three thousand years.”⁠‌

Aaron.⁠‌

This⁠ man had mentioned‌‌ the name of‍‍ the legendary Founding⁠ Swordsman of the‍‌ Nibelung family as‍ if it were⁠ nothing.

And‍⁠ on top of that, he treated‍ the Sword Master‍‌ as if he‍ were his younger⁠⁠ brother, patting him‍‌ on the shoulder.

“Time⁠‍⁠ flies. Unlike Aaron,‍ who was always⁠‍‍ lagging behind, you‌ were a responsible‍ boy. You’ve aged‌‍ well.”

“…You…”‍

Is‍⁠‌ he…? Is he⁠‍ who I think‍ he is?

The⁠⁠ man nodded as‌⁠ if he could⁠ read his thoughts.‌‌‌

“Lycan told me the‍‌ basics. They said‍ you took good care of Geom-Ma,‍‌‌ making sure he⁠‌ didn’t stray.”

“Kang‍‌ Geom-Ma…? Don’t tell‍⁠ me…”

“He‌ is my last disciple. And my‌ son.”

“……!”‍

“The⁠‌ timelines are a bit tangled, aren’t‌ they? Better to⁠‍ accept it that way. Lately the‍‌ world’s been all‌ stirred up.”

The‌ man raised the⁠‍ sword hanging at‌⁠ his side.

The‍‌ Sword Master thought—even‍ if it was⁠ just a stance—it‍ was of overwhelming⁠‌ beauty.

Even after awakening his‍ Blessing, he had‍ never stopped training.‍

And‌‍ yet, before this‌‌ man—the founder of‍‍ all heroes—he was‍⁠⁠ nothing.

“With‍‍⁠ all due respect…⁠⁠‌ before, your arm…”‍‍‍

“I⁠⁠‍ didn’t have one,‌ right? How do⁠‍ I explain… Let’s just say that⁠⁠‌ thanks to rejuvenation,‍⁠ the lost arm‍ came back too.”⁠‌‌

“I‍‍ see…”

“And‌‌ you? What happened⁠ to your arm? Though for a hero, the rare‌‍‍ thing would be‌‍ having all their‍⁠ limbs intact. But‍ in the short time I saw‌ you, you didn’t‌⁠ seem like the⁠ type to sacrifice⁠⁠ it just like that.”

The‍ Master stroked his‍ empty sleeve, long‌‌ used to the⁠ absence.

He‍⁠ smiled with nostalgia.‌

“…I‍⁠‍ offered it to‍ the new era.”‍

“Well,‌ you definitely are a descendant of‍⁠ Aaron. In daily life you’re a clown, but when you get serious,⁠ you’re all airs.”⁠

“I-I‍‌‍ am not…!”

“Bah.”⁠‍

The‌‌ man smiled at⁠⁠‍ him, wrapping his‍ fingers around his‍⁠ sword’s hilt.

“What⁠ do you say?‍ Will you come‌⁠ with me?”

“…It‍ would be an honor, if you‌ permit it.”

The‌ Sword Master straightened⁠⁠ his mind and‌‌ replied.

The man smiled and⁠ set one foot‌ on the railing.‌‍

“Honor‍⁠‍ to fight? Come on now. But⁠⁠ I have a hunch that giant eye is probably‌ only in Seoul.⁠‍ Let’s destroy it,‍ and then we’ll‌‍ fly to Hawaii,‍⁠ where Kang Geom-Ma‍‌⁠ is.”

“Understood.”‌

“Excuse‌‍ me…”

“Hmm?”‍‍

A young man approached‍⁠ the two of‌⁠ them, trembling, holding‍⁠ his phone. He⁠‍ was recording the⁠‌ two giants.

The⁠ boy spoke with‍‍ difficulty.

“Not⁠ the Sword Master…⁠‌ the one who⁠ looks like Heavenly Sword… Really, I-I’m⁠‌ only asking just‍ in case…”

Glup.‌‌

“Are⁠ you… who I think you are?”‍

The‍‌ Sword Master looked‍⁠‌ alternately at the‍ boy and the⁠⁠‌ man.

“Take⁠‌⁠ lots of photos⁠⁠ with that and‌‌ share them with‍ the world.”

The‍⁠‌ man patted the‍‌‍ young man’s head⁠ with his only⁠‌ hand.

“Tell⁠ them the founding‍‍ hero, Balor Joaquin,‌‌ has returned across‍ time.”

***‍‌

Thanks‌‌ to the swift‍‍⁠ intervention of Kang‍ Geom-Ma and his‍ group, Kali Yuga’s‍‍ original plan—to devastate⁠‌ humanity’s minds—ended in⁠‍ failure.

That‌‍‍ alone was enough‌‍ to make Kali‍ Yuga feel sick‌ to its stomach.⁠⁠

But⁠ to make matters‍ worse, it had⁠ now been dragged⁠‍ into reality.

And⁠ worst of all—it‌ hadn’t even manifested‌⁠ seventy percent of⁠ the true body’s⁠⁠ strength it had‍ planned.

If it were a true “End of⁠‌ the World,” that‍ alone would be‍‍ enough to drag‍ the entire planet⁠ into ruin.

Such‌‍⁠ was the overwhelming power of the⁠ Apostles of Suppression,⁠⁠ who transcended even⁠ species themselves.

=Dammit.⁠‌ That woman from‌ hell…=

Kali⁠ Yuga gnashed its‌ teeth.

Right now it was fending off an‍ incessant offensive.

=You’re⁠‌‍ trying to forcibly‍‍ twist the structure‍ of karma, huh?=‍

It⁠‍ was no doubt⁠ a mistake on‍⁠‌ Kali Yuga’s part‌‍ to have defied the real intent‍⁠ of Suppression.

Unlike⁠‌ the rigid Ragnarok,‍ Kali Yuga had⁠ secretly schemed a conspiracy.

Its‌ intention was to‍‌‍ devour this world‌‌ and be reborn‍‍‌ as the ruler‍ of the next⁠‍ timeline.

Thus,‍‌‌ it would finally‍ rid itself of‌ that miserable role‌ as Suppression’s lackey.‌⁠

But all its plans‍⁠‌ had crumbled.

The⁠‌‌ last Apostle chosen‌‍ by Suppression.

Because‌‍ of the whim⁠‌‍ of the woman‍‌‌ from hell, the⁠ link between reality⁠⁠‍ and Blessing of‌‌ the End M had been severed.‍

The⁠‍ illusion of Chaerina.‌‌

It‌ was she who‌⁠ pushed away the‌‌ plague spread by Kali Yuga to⁠‌ the farthest reaches.‍‌

That‌⁠ illusion was an‌⁠ authority granted exclusively‌‌ by Suppression to the woman from‍‍ hell.

Compared‌‌‍ to that, Kali‌‍ Yuga’s plan was‌‍⁠ nothing more than⁠⁠‌ a cheap trick.

=I’ll exterminate them… and⁠‍ then I’ll kill‍ the mind of that damned woman⁠ from hell! I’ll‌‌ turn her entire⁠‌ life into a real hell.=

The‍‌‌ eyes embedded in⁠ its skin spun⁠ endlessly. They were‍‌ to track the‍‍⁠ movements of the‌ heroes attacking from‍ all sides.

Fwossshh!‍

An‌ arrow shot from‌‍ the flank pierced‍ one of its‌‍ eyes. It dodged‍ several, but a few struck dead⁠‌ on.

When⁠ it tried to‌‍ catch them to‌⁠‍ crush them, a swordsman and a lancer attacked from‍⁠ the opposite side.‍

Even‌ with dozens of‍ eyes it couldn’t keep up. Everything‍ was chaos. Those‍ humans were experts‌ at hit-and-run tactics.⁠‌

That‍‌ such insignificant insects⁠⁠‍ could land effective‌ strikes against an‍‍ Apostle of Suppression?‌‌ Unthinkable. But at⁠ the center of‌ it all was‌ Kang Geom-Ma.

“Geom-Ma!‍ That blue one’s‍‌ about to do something!”

Rachel‍ shouted, and Ryozo‍‍ added her opinion.‌‌

“Haa—We‌⁠ need to push‌⁠‌ it back from‌ the front for‍⁠ a moment.”

“I’ll‍ buy you 10‌ seconds. Reset yourselves‍‌‌ in the meantime.”‍‍

=You‌ insolent worms! You⁠ dare mock me‌‍ to my face?=‌⁠⁠

“What⁠ a noisy bastard.”‌‍‍

Kang‍ Geom-Ma dismissed him⁠⁠ coldly.

“Hiding yourself as a cheap little mobile‌‌⁠ game, and now⁠ you talk about‍ insolence, mockery—why don’t‍‍ you say the‍‍⁠ truth? You’re afraid.”‌

=You‍ arrogant…!=

“That’s‍‌ a flag.”

=……!?=⁠

“Everyone‌‌‍ who’s said that⁠‍‌ line in front⁠‌ of me is⁠ already dead.”

And with that, Kang‍ Geom-Ma launched himself‍⁠ at it. Kali‍‌ Yuga twisted its⁠ body to avoid‌⁠ a direct clash.‍

The‌‌ scenery changed abruptly. First Hawaii, then‍‌ deserts, jungles, eternal‍‌ snows, oceans—a sequence‍ of scenes.

Kali‍ Yuga observed its‌‌ state with its⁠⁠ third eye from⁠‌ a cosmic perspective.‌

Looking⁠ at Earth from⁠ space, it understood‍‌ everything. The blue‍ planet was encircled⁠‌ by a ring,⁠ like a hula⁠‍⁠ hoop.

Kang‌⁠ Geom-Ma had grabbed‍ its head and⁠‌‌ was spinning it at the speed⁠ of light around‍ the globe. Accelerating‍‍‍ more and more.‌ The friction was‌‍ so great that Kali Yuga’s skin‍⁠ was peeling off‍ completely.

Then,‍ Kali Yuga stretched⁠‍ out its arms‍ and managed to push Kang Geom-Ma‍‍ away. At that⁠‌ moment, the two‍ were flying over‌‍ the sea.

Kang‌ Geom-Ma propelled himself‍‍ through the air‌⁠⁠ like a bolt⁠‌ of light.

Kali Yuga sharpened its vision to the‌‌ utmost. Veins burst⁠‍‍ from its eyes.⁠ With retinas covered⁠ in blood, it‌ managed to glimpse‍ Kang Geom-Ma’s movement.‌‍‌

In‍‌ all its hands‌ it wielded circular⁠ swords—chakrams. And counterattacked.‌

The⁠ sashimi and the‍⁠‌ chakrams collided. A single clash and‌‌ already it was‌‌ devastating. The crossing‌‌ of weapons unleashed typhoons.

Thunderous⁠ booms resounded between⁠ them. The weather‍⁠ shifted, tsunamis rose,⁠‌‌ the sea sank‌‍ revealing the ocean⁠ floor.

It‌‍ was literally a battle of gods.

Surprisingly,⁠⁠ amid that fierce‍‍‍ fight, an image‍ began to form‍‍ in Kali Yuga’s‍ mind.

Kang⁠ Geom-Ma was simply‍ strong. Not just‍‍ in power, but‍‍ in spirit. His‍‌ only weakness was‌‍ his fragile humanity,‍ but even that‌‍‌ had been covered⁠ by his companions.⁠⁠

=…I⁠‌ acknowledge it. You‍⁠‌ are the one‌‍ at the end‌‍‍ of the road.=⁠‌

Kali‍⁠ Yuga’s eyes widened.‍

=But‍‍ even so, you‌ are still inferior‍ to us.=

The‌ sashimi gleamed. Three‌ of Kali Yuga’s⁠ arms were severed⁠ in a single⁠‌‍ stroke.

Grinding⁠ its teeth, Kali‍‍ Yuga hurled the‍⁠ severed arms at‌⁠ Kang Geom-Ma.

He⁠⁠ dodged two with‌ the slightest tilt‌ of his head.⁠

Annoyed‍‍‍ at how easily‌ the attack was avoided, Kali Yuga‌ threw all its⁠⁠ chakrams.

Kang‍⁠ Geom-Ma spun like⁠ a swallow and⁠‌‌ deflected them all.‍‌ But just then,‌ one of the‌‍ severed arms lunged‌ into plain sight.‌‍‌

By⁠‌ reflex, Kang Geom-Ma swung his sashimi.‌ He was going⁠‍‌ to reduce that⁠ arm to minced‌ meat.

Thud.⁠‍

A fragment flew off‌ and grazed his⁠ cheek. Kang Geom-Ma‍ responded with a deadly thrust.

Kali⁠‌‌ Yuga barely managed⁠‍‍ to deflect the⁠ blow.

However.‌‌ From space, an‍⁠ observing gaze was⁠⁠ horrified.

The‌⁠ cloud covering the‍ Earth and the⁠ ocean had been‌‍⁠ sliced in a fan. Kali Yuga,⁠ trembling, looked back⁠⁠‌ at the enemy.⁠‌

Kang‌⁠ Geom-Ma stood still.⁠⁠‌ Completely motionless.

=You‌⁠⁠ are lost in‍‍ a dream=

It⁠⁠‍ was Kali Yuga’s‌ special ability.

The⁠‍⁠ Golden Age of⁠ Gandhara. A technique⁠ that made the‍ target fall into⁠‌ endless pleasure until‌ they were neutralized.⁠

=Originally…‍‌‌ I planned to use this ability⁠ to turn everyone into my vassals. But I acknowledge‌‍ it. You are beyond what I imagined=

A cosmic-level pleasure was injected into Kang⁠ Geom-Ma. He would⁠‍ be trapped forever‍ in that golden‌‌⁠ garden. Never, under⁠ any circumstance, would‍⁠ he escape.

And‍ just when Kali⁠⁠ Yuga thought it⁠ was over, it⁠‍ abandoned the idea.⁠‌

It⁠ didn’t want to approach Kang Geom-Ma‌‌‍ any closer.

=You⁠‍ damned hell-bitch, I’ll‍ start with you=‌

Dragging‌ its exhausted body,‌ it launched itself toward the sky.‌

Kang‌ Geom-Ma, with dim‍ eyes, sank slowly‍ into the ocean’s‍⁠⁠ depths.

As if tentacles from the darkness were⁠‌ pulling him down,⁠‍ his body descended‌‌⁠ little by little‌‍‌ into the abyss.‌‍