Ending Maker

EPISODE 334 – SWORD HORIZON (2)

The dominoes are collapsing.

It continues to fall down one by one.

***

“Evade!”

Elune instinctively realized.

Everyone would die if she could not stop that sword demon.

The only one who could stop that sword demon here right now was she herself.

She reflexively shouted and drew her sword. She created a golden aura blade against the white aura blade that came rushing to swallow the Red Gate.

I must break it.

I must crush that aura blade with the leaves of the evening primrose in full bloom.Swooooosh!

She jumped off the wall and fired it at the same time. When she swung her sword in the air and spread her aura, her aura blade that was like petals spread in all directions.

Babababababang!

It crashed, broke, and shattered.

The aura blade struck the Red Gate as it could not be completely blocked, and the collision of the aura blade and the magic barrier protecting the Red Gate caused a huge shockwave.

Bang!

A second shockwave exploded.

As soon as Elune landed on the ground, she hurriedly swung her sword to block the attack of First Sword.

It was a dazzlingly fast attack, which was expected from someone who was called the Sword Saint of Light in the past.

“Ugh!”

Elune swallowed a groan and desperately twisted the trajectory of the sword.

But First Sword did not allow it. When Elune twisted the trajectory of his sword with her long and thin sword, he immediately fixed its position and rained down attacks as quick as light again.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

His attacks were in extremely straight lines.

His attacks were so fast and powerful that it was like flashes of light.

Elune struggled to block First Sword’s attacks. Or to be exact, she was trying to get away from it.

Her swordsmanship were smooth and elegant.

Her sword was light and sharp rather than heavy and strong.

A smile spread across First Sword’s face.

He launched an even stronger offensive as if testing her sword, overpowering her light swordsmanship with his strength.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Whenever the white aura blade and golden aura blade collided, immense shockwaves spread in all directions.

Its power was so strong that the ground and the walls shook.

The earth was dug by the aura blades, and the people around them could only watch and not dare to intervene.

Elune liked the sword.

She liked wielding a sword more.

So she felt happy when she fought Jude.

She enjoyed the supreme pleasure of exchanging attacks with Valencia’s swordsmanship.

She felt like she was moving towards the horizon.

It seemed like the distant horizon was getting a little closer.

But her battle with First Sword was different.

‘It’s dark.’

She could not see ahead.

Every time she crossed swords with First Sword, her sight blurred. Rather, she felt like the road to the horizon was being blocked.

Sword demon.

Sword monster.

Elune’s feelings were not wrong.

The current First Sword became a top-ranking demonic human by uniting with a demon of Asmodeus, the overlord of lust, so he was different from the past.

He was a true sword demon.

A monster that devoured the path to the horizon.

“Haaa!”

She was currently just being eaten.

Elune shouted loudly and forced herself. She took a step and intensified her attacks. She did her best to instantly deflect the sword of First Sword.

Claclaclang!

As the speed was fast, the backlash was also great. The sword of First Sword was sent upwards in an instant, and the aura blades that crossed between the two also flew sideways and swept the surrounding area.

Elune clenched her teeth amidst the vibration and loud noises. She endured the pain that felt like her arm was going to snap, and poured out a splendid sword attack.

Evening Primrose Dance.

A ray of light to drive away the darkness that covered the road to the horizon.

It was beautiful.

It was a gorgeous and elegant sword dance.

But it did not work.

The sword of First Sword that flew off had suddenly fallen like lightning and broke the rhythm of the sword dance. Elune’s sword shook and the hand holding her sword was wounded as blood gushed out. Her knee was bent and her stance collapsed.

“Weak.”

First Sword’s eyes that had been filled with ecstasy had now turned cold.

Grand Sword Master Elune.

The elves’ strongest swordsman.

She was definitely strong.

She possessed swordsmanship worthy of a Grand Sword Master.

But she was weak.

Her swordsmanship was truly like a sword dance.

A dance.

A sword wielded for her own satisfaction.

A bright and pure sword that she swung as she enjoyed moving towards the horizon, different from the sword that swung to slash, harm, and kill others.

So it was weak.

Her sword did not have the ferocity of the Sword Saint of Wind’s sword.

It also did not have a heart of steel like the one Absolute Knight Galahad showed.

“I’ll eat you.”

And I’ll show you.

What a real sword is.

What a sword should be in the end.

Clang!

The sword of First Sword changed.

It was still a swift attack like light, but the essential part changed.

”Aaaah!”

Elune fought back desperately as she gripped her sword with her wounded hand.

But every time their swords crossed, Elune felt pain as if her entire body was being destroyed. When they crossed swords for the fourth time, she vomited up black blood.

The white aura emitted by First Sword bit Elune’s aura like a ferocious wolf. It crushed, smashed, and broke her, pushing her back mercilessly.

It was no longer a fight.

It was a one-sided fight.

Elune’s sword flew away. With her bloody palms drooping down, she knelt in her spot.

Her pained face was full of blood and tears.

“Elune-nim!”

“Save Elune-nim!”

The knights on the wall shouted. More than 10 elven knights jumped off the wall and rushed towards First Sword.

“NOOOOO!”

Elune reflexively screamed.

First Sword looked down at Elune and swung his sword.

A dozen elven knights attacked First Sword from all directions.

And light.

A white aura blade.

Slash!

There were no screams.

Not even a cry was heard.

A dozen elven knights lost their lives at the same time.

They could not even stand for a single moment in front of the fierce sword strike of light. They realized that they had been attacked only after their bodies were split in half, and died afterwards.

Red blood covered the area. It poured like rain and fell on Elune and the surroundings.

“Aaah… aaah…”

Elune burst into tears as blood and flesh covered her head. She tried to somehow get up and stop the sword demon.

But her arm did not move. She could not stand up as her legs were shaking.

“They’re coming again.”

First Sword said with a frown as he found it a little bothersome.

The knights jumped off the wall as the gate opened at the same time. The wizards also tried to launch a wave of attacks by chanting spells.

So First Sword swung his sword.

He was one step ahead of them, before the knights’ feet touched the ground, before the elves leaped out of the gate, and before the spells were completed and launched.

The Sword Saint of Light.

The owner of a sword that was faster than anyone else.

Slaaaash-!

His white aura blade covered the place.

The elven knights who jumped off the wall were split into two and fell to the ground. The spells the wizards were casting were instantly cut off. Because First Sword’s aura blade cut through the flow of magic itself.

The knights who had opened the gate and were about to rush out all fell and collapsed. Blood gushed out of their bodies that had split into dozens of pieces, turning the area around the gate red.

Spuuuurt-!

Blood poured out.

Flesh scattered.

Elune gasped and cried. She wanted to shout and tell them to give up on her and run away.

But First Sword did not allow it. Even though he had already lost interest, he had no intention of letting Elune go.

“Because there’s still a bit left.”

There was still a bit left to eat.

Moreover, her wailing presence was very effective.

The elves unconsciously knew that no matter how many soldiers there were at the Red Gate, they could not stop First Sword.

But they were not clearly aware of it.

The pitiful Grand Sword Master wailing in front of the fortress gate, and the death of the elves made a mess in their heads.

First Sword swung the whip around his waist and wrapped it around Elune’s neck. He was going to drag her around the Red Gate like a dog.

He would hunt the elves who could not give up on Elune.

He would turn the Red Gate into hell.

“Rhun Froud!”

At that very moment, a sharp cry caught the attention of First Sword.

First Sword turned his gaze to the familiar voice, and smiled without realizing it.

“Lucas.”

The child he watched the most in the Sälen Kingdom before Jude and Cordelia appeared.

A child whom he thought would someday be a food for him on his way to the horizon.

He was staring straight at First Sword. Despite witnessing the horrifying sword, he stood in a steady position and looked this way instead of trembling in fear.

First Sword became interested.

He did not care if Lucas was weaker than Elune. He thought he could be a step closer to the horizon with Lucas’ sword.

So First Sword smiled.

He noticed the sword cutting his whip, but let it slide.

A sharp whip sword cut his whip and freed Elune. At that moment, a swung chain wrapped around Elune’s body.

“EUAAAAA!”

It was Kajsa.

She pulled the chain to retrieve Elune, and Scarlet who had cut off the whip then hurried to leave her spot.

But it was impossible.

First Sword had seen her when she cut off his whip.

“You must be delicious.”

First Sword said as he looked at Scarlet.

He could tell as a swordsman.

Among those who were here now, the child in front of him was the best if only in terms of talent.

So First Sword swung his sword. Weakly at first.

But even that was too much for Scarlet.

“Gaaak!”

Scarlet made a gamble. She threw her body in line to the sword strike wielded by First Sword. It was to minimize the impact and leave her spot at the same time.

But it was wrong.

Such a shallow move did not work for First Sword. Due to the slightly changed sword strike, Scarlet crashed into the ground instead of being thrown away.

“Scarlet!”

Kajsa screamed and rushed forward. A blue light gleamed from her eyes as she awakened the blood of the divine creature.

Her power and speed were terrifying.

But First Sword was not interested in her.

She was a beast and not a swordswoman.

She was not helpful at all on his way to the horizon.

“AAAAAH!”

Kajsa’s right arm was ripped apart with her chain.

Scarlet screamed but First Sword was quite surprised as he had not expected it.

Because he originally intended to cut off her body.

“EUAAAA!”

Kajsa kicked the ground again. She grew out her claws in her remaining left hand and recklessly sprinted towards First Sword.

“NOOOO!”

Scarlet desperately swung her sword. The move was aimed at preventing the sword attack by inserting her whip sword into the path of First Sword’s sword.

But it was a stupid idea.

The sword of First Sword cut her whip sword. Such a desperately wielded sword attack was worthless in front of the sword of First Sword.

Her whip sword was broken.

The white aura blade engulfed Kajsa.

Bang!

A roar broke the aura blade.

A pure white sword split the white aura blade.

Holy King’s Cross Sword.

The sword of Lucas Hræsvelgr.

“Oh.”

First Sword admired it a bit.

He swallowed his saliva again at the sight of Lucas who had grown to an extent that was incomparable to the time when he last saw Lucas at the Banquet of Swords.

“Lucas.”

Lucas did not turn away at the call of Kajsa. He simply showed his back as he faced First Sword.

He only focused on the sword of First Sword without losing his composure.

Elune was disastrously defeated.

Kajsa and Scarlet were in shock at being defeated by the sword attack of First Sword.

He took a breath.

He consciously regulated his breathing.

He had to protect Scarlet.

He had to protect Kajsa.

First Sword saw him. Kajsa and Scarlet also unconsciously gulped.

And the sword attack of light.

One could call it ignorance. Only a handful of people in the entire continent could block the pouring sword attacks without any preparatory actions.

But a clang resounded.

Lucas’ sword blocked the sword of First Sword.

Although his sword shook violently and he just barely blocked it, he still managed to do it.

“Ha.”

First Sword laughed.

Lucas spoke as he faced such a First Sword.

“Scarlet, Kajsa, and Elune.”

It was clear what he meant.

Therefore, Scarlet and Kajsa hesitated for a moment but soon moved. Scarlet retreated after taking Kajsa whose arm was cut off.

“We’ll return.”

Lucas did not respond to Scarlet’s small voice. He only focused on First Sword.

“Lucas.”

First Sword wielded his sword.

Lucas blocked it even though it was dangerous this time.

His posture shook, but he did not fall.

First Sword increased the speed of his sword attacks. Lucas focused even more.

The metallic sounds rang out.

The sound of the terrifying aura blade tearing up the air seemed to give anyone goosebumps.

But Scarlet and Kajsa did not look back. Instead of uselessly slowing down, they helped the Elune who had become a mess.

Lucas could not be an opponent of First Sword.

There was a huge gap between the two.

But Scarlet somehow seemed to know.

He was a man who never gave up.

A person she could deeply feel that fact even when she met him as an enemy or a lover.

Kajsa knew it too.

She did not know if the past or present was more difficult, but knew one fact at least.

Lucas did not back down.

Even when he felt a gap in skill or when he bumped into a huge wall, he never stopped. Instead of sitting down in frustration, he continued to move forward with a step, even if it was a very small and insignificant step.

So Lucas could do it.

He would do it again this time.

A vague belief.

No, it was not. Their numerous memories proved it.

They felt dizzy.

Scarlet and Kajsa saw each other.

The two of them were sometimes enemies, and sometimes even best friends.

A roar broke out at that moment.

A pure white radiance filled the place.

***

First Sword’s sword was too fast.

That was why he gave up chasing it with his eyes. At some point, he relied on his senses to block it.

His hands and feet trembled.

His hands were injured as blood flowed out.

Every time he blocked it, the aura of his entire body seemed to run wild and burst.

Biltwein the Hero.

The hero, Biltwein.

He was always a cool and strong man.

A person like the light who always took the lead and led everyone.

He was not like Lucas.

Lucas could not be someone like Biltwein.

At first, he thought that he could.

He always imagined himself leading everyone and becoming a hero like Biltwein.

People around him praised him as the best talent in the north, and in fact, it was not a lie. Among his peers, there was no one who could match the sword of Lucas.

But it was just an illusion.

Jude Bayer.

One day, the boy appeared in front of him.

He was much weaker than Lucas at first.

But he grew stronger and stronger.

No, he was already a leader even in those days when he was weaker than Lucas.

He was a hero who brilliantly shined.

Landius accepted Jude as his disciple.

No matter how much Lucas begged, Landius did not accept his request. But Landius immediately declared that he would make Jude as his disciple as soon as he saw Jude.

Kamael also saw Jude.

While they were staying in the Hræsvelgr’s residence, Jude traveled north. He went to the wild lands and saved countless people by defeating demon followers. In the end, he was chosen by the Golden Dragon King and played a big role in closing the Hell Gate.

And he grew stronger.

He went beyond Lucas that a proper fight between them became impossible.

Their stories kept coming.

Fantasy couple.

Winner of the Banquet of Swords.

A national hero who protected the royal family from the Lord Protector.

He was getting farther and farther away.

He won the competition by showing off his overwhelming skills, and headed to the south afterwards and played an amazing role again.

He saved numerous people and became a dragon slayer by defeating an Ancient Dragon.

He was an existence that Lucas could not keep up with.

A person who was truly like Biltwein.

It would be a lie if Lucas was not envious.

It was also true that there were times when his heart was filled with envy.

But he did not seriously hate Jude.

Instead of feeling resentment, he raised his sword.

He swung his sword to get even a little closer to Jude who still called Lucas his best rival.

Jude became one of the Ten Great Swordmasters.

He congratulated Jude. He swung his sword harder.

Jude became a Sword Saint.

He admired and set Jude as his target. Instead of sitting down in frustration, he strengthened his will even more.

It was difficult.

Several times a day, he was distressed from his sense of inferiority.

Every time he saw Jude, he had to feel the fact that he was not Biltwein, and that he could not be someone like Biltwein.

But he still swung his sword.

He continued on the very dark and gloomy road.

First Sword attacked with his sword.

This time, Lucas could not even sense it properly.

Lucas looked straight ahead.

The road was still dark.

But he saw a man standing in front of the road he was going.

The man turned to Lucas.

The man had an awkward smile.

“But Lucas, you were the only one.”

Not Maximilian, Leon, or anyone else.

Only you could do it.

Only you could catch up to Jude.

In the past and now, Jude had strode forward.

When I came to his senses, Jude was already moving further away.

But I kept moving forward.

Slowly but steadily, I kept moving forward instead of stopping or getting frustrated.

“I couldn’t keep it.”

I couldn’t protect Jude and Cordelia.

I couldn’t be with the two until the very end.

I couldn’t stop Cordelia’s death, and I couldn’t stand on the final battlefield with Jude.

But not you.

You can do it.

So I’ll lend you my strength.

Or rather, I’m not lending it.

Because this is your power in the first place.

Because you have reached the end when you kept moving forward.

Because you never gave up, so this power is now in your hands.

The man smiled and stepped aside.

Then Lucas saw the light.

A horizon lied beyond the dark and gloomy road.

The straight road ahead touched that horizon.

“Lucas.”

Lucas Hræsvelgr.

“You can do it.”

You can be Biltwein.

You can be the hero of Scarlet, Kajsa, Jude and Cordelia.

The other Lucas smiled.

A bright smile spread on the face of the other Lucas who was the last comrade of the other Jude who reached the sword horizon.“UOOOOOOO!”

The light was blinding.

But Lucas’ sword blocked the sword of First Sword that he could not see.

No, he crushed it. He broke the sword.

First Sword opened his eyes wide.

Lucas fixed the position of his sword and recited.

“Holy King’s Cross Sword.”

The sword of the Holy King that destroyed evil.

An indomitable will that never bent down.

A radiant white cross shone brightly at Lucas’ fingertips.