Chapter 64: The Calamity (3)

My mind went completely blank.

The memories of the battle against Agor were fragmented, like pieces of shattered glass.

I remembered taking hold of the sashimi knife and unleashing a fierce attack, but beyond that, the overwhelming pain pierced my brain and extinguished my consciousness.

‘Am I dead…?’

I felt dizzy and, with great effort, managed to cling to the faint thread of my consciousness. Within the darkness of my mind, I tried to reconnect with the forgotten sensations of my body. Then I felt the dry wind brushing against my cheek.

I was still alive. I knew it instinctively.

Was this what it felt like to have died and come back to life? But now wasn’t the time to rejoice. I focused on regaining my senses and clarity. Then, I could feel the blood flowing through my veins, spreading to every corner of my body.

First, my sense of touch returned, then taste, smell, and finally, hearing. The heat of the scorching wind burned my skin, dry and rough air coated my tongue, and the stench of burnt flesh wafted into my nose.

However, my eyes still weren’t focusing properly. What I saw was a grayish haze covering everything.

Instinctively, I flexed my fingers. I felt the familiar touch of the knife’s handle in my hand.

I let out a small sigh of relief, but a question arose. Why, even after the Blessing of Pain Insensitivity had ended, did I not feel any pain? Not only was there no pain, but my mind felt incredibly clear, as if it had been completely cleansed.

‘…’

I felt a sense of déjà vu.

Similar to the time when my wooden sword broke during the duel with Chloe, yet different. This time, my mind was sharper, and there were no unsettling whispers within me.

While I was lost in thought, the scene before me began to clear up. The blurry view slowly sharpened into defined shapes.

“Cough, cough.”

A harsh coughing sound reached my ears, making me look up. What I saw was the back of the Sword Master.

However, the left side of his torso was gone. His left arm had completely disappeared up to the top of his shoulder, and flames burned near where his armpit had been. The air was filled with a sickening stench, like burnt flesh.

“…Sword Emperor.”

“Cough, cough. It seems you’ve regained consciousness.”

He turned his head slightly toward me, offering a strained smile despite his face being clearly twisted in pain. Fresh blood dripped from his chin and the corners of his lips.

My eyes filled with worry as I looked at his missing arm, but he spoke in a calm, though slow, tone.

“Take a moment to steady yourself while your body recovers. The situation here is far from promising.”

“But your arm…”

The Sword Master shrugged his one remaining shoulder and responded lightly.

“I’ll be fine. I don’t need two hands to hold a sword. Worry more about yourself and recover quickly. The desperation of this situation won’t change just because I have both arms.”

Even under these circumstances, he tried to reassure me with a wider smile. Then, he turned his gaze forward, focusing on the enemy.

Agor tilted his head slightly, observing the two of us with curiosity before speaking.

“This is strange. Old man, tell me. How did a mere human cut through my magic?”

The Sword Master, breathing heavily, did not respond. He gripped his sword tightly with his right hand, adjusting his stance.

Agor sighed with annoyance, shaking his head.

“How irritating. It seems this body and I don’t mesh well. Watching myself struggle against a brat and an old man on the brink of death.”

Frowning, Agor clicked his tongue with an expression of irritation. A flame gathered around his arm, wrapping it like a burning glove.

Instantly, the moisture in the air evaporated into steam, disappearing with a hissing sound.

Agor’s malicious aura intensified, taking on a physical form that seemed to envelop him completely. The Sword Master’s shoulders rose slightly with a tense movement.

“Old man, I don’t know what trick you used…”

Before finishing the sentence, Agor stepped forward.

Boooom!

With an explosive roar, he closed the distance in an instant and swung his flame-wrapped arm toward the Sword Master.

The impact created a violent gust of air, tearing at the skin.

I wanted to move to help, but the backlash of the Blessing of the Sword God left me unable to move a single finger.

“—Die.”

The roaring flames aimed for the Sword Master’s neck. But with his eyes wide open, he raised his sword and cut.

Sliiice—

A sharp, precise sound filled the air. His movements were so clean they resembled a dance.

The technique had stripped away all unnecessary motion, reaching a level so high it could even cut the uncuttable.

In the next instant, one of Agor’s arms fell to the ground, burning with such intensity that the terrain beneath melted like lava.

Agor blinked, stunned for a brief moment, but quickly, a murderous fury twisted his face.

“How dare you, you damned insect!”

As Agor moved his index finger and thumb, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of fire spears appeared behind him and shot forward immediately.

Fwoosh!

A rain of flames rushed toward the Sword Master.

Tap!

The sound of light footsteps echoed. The Sword Master, concealed within the smoke, unleashed a strike with his sword wrapped in pure blue aura. The energy of the aura, sharp as a whip, aimed directly at Agor’s vital points.

The attack contained the skill, talent, and experience of an entire life dedicated to the sword. Each movement of the Sword Master, along with the trajectory of his blade, was projected in my mind as if I could visualize it.

The sword, carrying the weight of his entire existence, finally reached Agor’s neck.

Slash!

“I’ve been cut.”

However, at the same time, an unsettling sound, as if something were tearing, filled the air.

Crack!

“Ah… damn it!”

One of the countless fire spears sprouting from the ground pierced the Sword Master’s stomach. Crack—the sound of burning flesh resonated through the area.

The Sword Master quickly backed away, kicking the ground to gain some distance, while spewing a torrent of blood from his mouth.

He looked down at his body to assess the severity of his state, but when his eyes focused, his pupils began to tremble violently.

A round hole pierced his abdominal cavity. The explosive power of the fire spear had destroyed his body with such force that there wasn’t even a trace of blood or flesh left.

“Keuk, keugh.”

The Sword Master opened his lips several times, struggling to articulate words, before a painful groan escaped his throat. Finally, his knees hit the ground, and the light in his eyes began to fade slowly.

“Haha.”

Agor let out a mocking laugh as he slowly approached him. The arm that had previously been severed was now completely regenerated, with no trace of a wound.

The difference between humans and demons wasn’t just the strength they wielded. Agor had cast mental-type magic in that instant, altering the Sword Master’s visual perception.

“Damn it.”

I bit my lower lip hard. My teeth pierced the flesh, and blood began to flow. My body was paralyzed, unable to move.

Agor cast a sidelong glance at me, as if my state was of no interest, before turning his attention back to the Sword Master.

“Old man, for a human, you’ve been impressive. But the impossible is impossible. No matter how much an insect tries, it will always remain an insect.”

The Sword Master, with heavy, drawn-out breaths, looked directly at Agor. Then, with a faint smile, he replied.

“You’re afraid.”

“…What?”

Agor’s brow furrowed slightly, and a look of discomfort crossed his face. The Sword Master, with his last breaths, continued speaking.

“I don’t know exactly why you crossed from the Demon Realm to this place. But I can see it clearly… Fear is rooted in your eyes.”

“Ha, this is ridiculous. Do you think I feel threatened just because I decided to play with you a little? Insect, you only got lucky cutting off my arm once. It doesn’t mean we’re on the same level.”

“Ha, ha.”

The Sword Master let out a low laugh, which made Agor’s face twist with irritation.

The old man raised his head slightly, looking straight into Agor’s eyes. His golden irises shone with intensity.

“Old man… those eyes. Don’t tell me… Are you a descendant of Aaron?”

Agor narrowed his eyes, tilting his head as he asked in a cold tone. But the Sword Master just let out a dry laugh and continued speaking.

“It’s funny.”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“It’s amusing that a creature who has lived for over a thousand years calls me old. Compared to you, even an old woman among my peers would seem like a young celestial maiden.”

The Sword Master breathed heavily, a lock of his white hair stuck to his cheek.

Yet he did not collapse. Instead, he planted his sword in the ground for support and slowly stood up.

“It’s true that demons are much stronger than humans. So unfairly strong that it’s despairing. In my younger years, I cursed this world for that. After all, facing an insurmountable wall no matter how hard you try is bleak. But… now that I’ve reached this age, I finally understand something.”

Gripping the hilt of his sword with his right hand, the Sword Master straightened his back. Then, he looked directly at me and gave a faint smile. A strange sensation coursed through my body, making my hair stand on end for no apparent reason.

“Agor, you know it as well as I do. Humans have the ability to evolve and progress over time. That is why demons fear us more than anything, and also why they try to invade the human world whenever they can.”

The Sword Master pulled his sword from the ground and pointed it at Agor.

Agor’s face paled slightly, but he soon let out a dry laugh, shaking his head in disbelief.

“Ha, this is ridiculous. An old man about to die leaving such grand words as if they were a testament. In the end, they all say the same thing. You humans are so cliché. Just like 700 years ago.”

Saying this, Agor took a step toward me. Seeing this, a look of concern quickly spread across the Sword Master’s face.

“Your opponent is me!”

“What are you saying? You’re a walking corpse. I don’t have time to amuse myself with you. If I’m going to stay in this world, I’d rather play with someone younger.”

Agor responded with a carefree tone, mocking me with interest.

“You turn your back on your enemy? That boy is just a student!”

“Descendant of Aaron, are you really trying to impose your human standards on me? I thought you were a little smarter, but it seems you’re just another senile old man.”

The Sword Master cried out in desperation and charged toward Agor with his sword raised.

But before he could reach him, Agor was already in front of me. He whispered a spell, casting mental magic that completely immobilized my body.

“No, it can’t be! Kang Geom-Ma, run now!”

With one arm severed and a hole in his abdomen, the Sword Master’s movements were noticeably slower.

Agor glanced at him coldly before leaning down toward my ear.

“I disagree with what that old man said, but looking at you, I suppose humans *are* evolving creatures. Your body seems useful, so I’ll take it, darling.”

“…”

Agor’s sinister whisper and the Sword Master’s desperate shout blended into a deafening chaos.

Agor reached out his hand, gently stroking my head before suddenly kissing my forehead.

“Consider this my final gift.”

With that, he placed his hand on my head and unleashed a wave of magic that began to invade my mind.

“Hehehe, this body will be used to fulfill the desire of my people. Don’t worry, we’ll meet again in hell, Kang Geom-Ma.”

At that moment, all the chaotic noise suddenly ceased.

Flash!

[An unauthorized intrusion from the outside has been detected.]

An instant later, a white light flooded my mind as if a blank sheet had been unfurled before my eyes.

Beep!

[An unauthorized intrusion has been detected. Initiating the defense program.]

The mechanical voice of a woman echoed repeatedly in my head, accompanied by a sharp warning tone.

[Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred! Error occurred!]

[※※An unexpected error has occurred.※※]

[The program cannot execute because the user’s level is too low.]

[The program cannot execute because the world’s level is too low.]

[Location – Code: Yggdrasil. Temporal level synchronization can be achieved using the catalyst.]

[The program is using suppressive force to adjust and synchronize the world’s level.]

Beep—

[Conditions for 【? ? ?】 have been met.]

My mind felt muddled, as if everything were blurring.

An overwhelming fatigue washed over me, threatening to erase any shred of consciousness I had left.

[All of the user’s blessings will be forcibly elevated and manifested.]

[The Blessing of Pain Insensitivity (Divine) and the Blessing of Regeneration (Divine) will manifest simultaneously.]

[The Blessing of Transition (Divine) will use both to stabilize the tears and suffering of the timeline.]

[Due to the load on the timeline, manifestation time will be limited to 60 seconds.]

Whoosh—

A torrent of sensations flooded my body. An overwhelming sense of euphoria consumed me, so intense it seemed impossible to endure.

And then, something snapped.

[The Blessing of the God of the Sword has been temporarily deactivated.]

* * *

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《Let the heavens bow.》