『𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡』 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
“I’m surprised. I didn’t think it would actually get destroyed.”
ㅤ
Even after his enigmatic metal of absolute defense was shattered, his armor known as Mountain Golem destroyed, and even being thrown into the air, Asgard showed no change in expression, simply uttering those words in a flat voice.
He claims to be surprised, but whether he really is remains questionable.
That’s how much I don’t sense even a hint of surprise or panic from him.
Does he think losing the Mountain Golem is trivial. . . . . .or perhaps, does this guy not have emotions at all?
ㅤ
But that doesn’t matter right now.
What’s important is that this situation is the greatest chance for us.
Whether he has a trump card that allows him to remain composed or not, it’s an opportunity too good to miss, with one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Earth suspended in the air.
ㅤ
━━We finish this here.
ㅤ
Asgard can move through the ground as well.
If we don’t finish him off while he’s in the air, there’s a high chance he’ll escape, even if we corner him.
Therefore, this is the final phase.
We have to make this the final phase.
Attack with the resolve that if we’re outlasted, we lose!
ㅤ
“『Moonlight Blade』!”
“『Dark Moon』!”
ㅤ
It seems like Stella had a similar thought, as she and I commence our attack on Asgard with renewed determination.
A slash of light and a slash of dark flames.
Due to the differences in distance and blade speed, the slash of light strikes first.
ㅤ
“『Metal Shield』.”
ㅤ
In response to that, Asgard manipulated the mysterious metal wreckage floating in space, pulling it towards itself and shaping it into a shield to deflect the onslaught of light.
However, no matter how much it had been able to repel Stella’s attacks up until now, this time it was only able to hastily draw in a small fragment.
While it could have formed a thick barrier just moments ago, there was no way such a thin shield could withstand the hero’s assault.
ㅤ
The metal shield shattered after blocking just one of Stella’s attacks.
A slash of dark flames followed and struck Asgard, who had lost his shield.
Asgard blocked it with his rock-like right arm.
ㅤ
“. . . . . .”
ㅤ
There’s no change in his expression.
However, my attack certainly did damage him.
The rock-like right arm he used to guard is slightly damaged and distorted.
Proof that it’s been subjected to the destructive power of darkness and the heat of flames.
It’s the first damage inflicted since he barricaded himself within the Mountain Golem.
However, during our initial clash, he easily regenerated his severed arm.
Unless we deal damage with the Holy Sword that has the power to inhibit healing, it probably won’t be a significant blow.
ㅤ
Even so, the fact that we were able to inflict damage is significant.
Because this is unmistakably proof that our attacks are beginning to threaten his life!
ㅤ
“Raaah! 『Flying Sword』!”
“『Water Blade』!”
“『Sacred Barrier』!”
ㅤ
Next, Blade, who was a step behind due to the recoil from his previous attack, launches a flying slash at Asgard, while Auntie Elle snipes him from a distance with a blade of condensed water, and Rin encloses the surrounding airspace with a dome-shaped barrier so he can’t easily descend.
Asgard didn’t block any of them.
Blade’s slash shattered his right arm to pieces, Auntie Elle’s water blade gouged his side, and Rin’s barrier was completed without issue.
ㅤ
However, it’s not like he just accepted those attacks without thinking.
By not defending, it means he can allocate those resources to his attack.
ㅤ
“『Metal Spear』.”
ㅤ
Asgard effortlessly transformed the drifting enigmatic metal nearby into spears, launching one at each of us.
“Ha!”
“Whoa?!”
“Nuh. . . . . .!”
“Eh?!”
ㅤ
The launch speed was fast.
Even though everyone was at a considerable distance, it also meant that they were too far for me to protect.
Aside from Stella, the other three were slightly vulnerable due to the aftermath of their previous attacks and magic.
Still, Blade skillfully deflected the spear, and thanks to Auntie Elle and Rin’s earlier barrier that bought a bit of time, as well as their greater distance, they successfully dodged it.
Rin was temporarily buried by the shockwave when the spear hit the ground, but there’s no need to worry since she crawled out and immediately repaired the broken barrier.
And for me,
ㅤ
“Fifth Strike──『Calamity Return』!”
“Oh.”
ㅤ
I was the only one who managed to counterattack Asgard in no time.
While tilting my body to the right in mid-air, I guided the incoming enigmatic metal spear off its course with my sword, causing it to curve inward behind me.
The spear followed the motion of the hooked sword, the sword followed the motion of my spinning body, and in that fleeting moment of rotation, I made a slight adjustment to further change the spear’s trajectory.
Ultimately, the spear was deflected behind me to the direction I desired, digging into Asgard himself.
ㅤ
I hadn’t been able to use Calamity Return until now because Asgard had been using large-scale attacks, but this reversal of fortune allowed me to unleash it as a surprise move.
Asgard couldn’t react appropriately.
Although his left arm served as a makeshift shield and prevented a fatal injury, it was completely shattered from the shoulder down.
Now’s the chance!
ㅤ
“Yaaaah! 『Holy Sword』!”
ㅤ
Seizing that opportunity, Stella landed a solid counterattack.
A torrent of light surged towards him, and Asgard used his regenerated arms as a makeshift shield.
But even a hastily created shield couldn’t fully block such a magical sword, however weak it might have been cast.
ㅤ
Asgard’s arms crumbled and his body received some damage.
It’s a wound inflicted by the Holy Sword, which has healing prevention effects.
He won’t be able to regenerate so easily.
We’ve got his arms!
ㅤ
“『Dust Tornado』.”
ㅤ
Still, Asgard’s expression remained unchanged.
Coldly, dispassionately. . . . . .No, inorganically, he unleashed his next move.
This was a spell that created a massive sandstorm by pulverizing most of the floating mountain golem’s remains and spinning them haphazardly.
It’s a sandstorm created from an entire mountain.
This was a catastrophe beyond the word itself.
But we’re not intimidated by that now!
“『Rapid Current・Dance』!”
ㅤ
Wearing Sword Saint Shizuka’s cloak as a shield, I pirouetted through the sandstorm like a drifting leaf, drawing closer to Asgard.
Before my vision was obstructed by the sandstorm, I saw that the others were also calmly executing countermeasures.
Stella blew away part of the sandstorm with light magic, Blade sliced through it with sword strikes while leaping off the mountain golem’s remains, Auntie Elle unleashed precise magical sniping from a distance, and Rin quickly repaired the broken barrier due to the sandstorm.
In particular, the magic from Stella and Auntie Elle was incredible, even as we rushed through the sandstorm.
They were aiming and shooting with incredible precision.
ㅤ
Probably, Stella is keeping visibility by constantly blowing away the sandstorm with her magic, and Auntie Elle is sniping based on where Stella’s magic is headed.
I may not be one to talk, but it’s almost superhuman.
But thanks to their noticeable magic, I have no trouble finding landmarks either.
ㅤ
As I move through the sandstorm using their magic as a guide, the sandstorm suddenly stops.
Unnervingly, abruptly so.
And then, its presence leaps into my newly clear field of view.
ㅤ
It’s armor made of some mysterious metal.
ㅤ
It stands about two and a half meters tall.
It has a somewhat feminine streamlined form and carries a distorted blade that looks like a sword.
Furthermore, it has six otherworldly arms growing from its back, each with multiple ball joints like insect legs, with blades directly attached to the tips.
Probably cobbled together with all the mysterious metal that could be gathered.
The sandstorm was probably a distraction and a way to buy time to create it.
ㅤ
“『Metal Knight』.”
ㅤ
Asgard’s voice rings out.
From within the helmet of the mysterious metal armor.
ㅤ
“The most intriguing thing I’ve ever seen in my life, a mere imitation. My final trump card. I will kill you all with this.”
ㅤ
Asgard, wearing the mysterious metal armor, starts to move.
He quickly creates a rock platform as a foothold and charges at Blade who had come close, at a tremendous speed.
ㅤ
“So I’m the first target, huh. . . . . .Don’t underestimate me!”
ㅤ
In response, Blade also leaps off his rock platform, meeting Asgard’s swinging sword with all his might using his great sword.
ㅤ
“『Destructive Sword』!”
ㅤ
The sound and impact of the collision reverberate.
Asgard has the edge in strength and speed.
But he lacks any semblance of technique.
He’s just a failed puppet, mimicking a swordsman halfway.
Moreover, even his advantages in power and speed don’t match up to Dragburn.
As a result, Blade’s great sword swings while parrying Asgard’s blade, and crashes into him.
ㅤ
“Damn, he’s tough. . . . . . “
ㅤ
Blade mutters under his breath.
Despite clearly winning the exchange, his attacks seem to have had no effect.
Not a scratch on him.
This is it.
This armor, thanks to the mysterious metal, has defensive capabilities that far exceed those of Dragburn.
Even if it’s been hastily assembled, the thickness is still more than enough.
ㅤ
“Huh?!”
ㅤ
Asgard forcefully swings his sword from close range, knocking Blade away.
He tries to follow up with an attack, but we won’t let him have his way.
Before he can move, Stella and I target him from behind.
“『Moonlight Blade』!”
“『Dark Moon』!”
ㅤ
Once again, a simultaneous attack of light and darkness.
In response, he swings the six arms growing from his back, countering with six slashes.
Even though he’s not a swordsman, he unleashed slashes as if it’s the most natural thing. . . . . .!
My attack is completely nullified, and Stella’s is reduced in power and stopped by the mysterious metal’s hardness.
ㅤ
“『Great Freeze』!”
ㅤ
However, because he had to counter our attacks, he was unable to defend against Auntie Elle’s magical sniping that came almost at the same time.
What exploded was ice magic that froze a large number of rock spears growing from the ground.
The magic isn’t aimed to deal damage, but to immobilize him.
He could probably easily shatter the ice with his strength, but if he’s halted even for a moment, that’s more than enough.
ㅤ
“『Earth Barrier』!”
ㅤ
In that brief moment, Rin, who had finally gained some breathing room after enduring the sandstorm, creates countless new barriers like boards inside the already existing dome-shaped barrier.
This is the same foothold barrier that was used earlier to protect Blade while aiming for the Mountain Golem’s chest.
And the ones who benefit the most from this barrier are not me, who can somewhat move in the air thanks to my wind leg armor, nor Stella and Asgard who can create their own footholds.
ㅤ
“Whoaaaaaa!!!”
ㅤ
The only footing Blade had was the large floating remains of the Mountain Golem.
Blade twists his body in mid-air after being repelled, steps firmly on the barrier that appeared behind him, and charges at Asgard once again.
At the same time, Stella and I also utilize Rin’s barrier, cutting down the effort needed to move through the air ourselves, accelerating faster than before.
We attack Asgard from three directions.
ㅤ
“『Seven Star Sword』.”
ㅤ
Asgard counters this with his Seven-Sword Style.
He rotates his body, catching what must have felt like the most threatening attack from Stella with the sword in front of him. Blade’s attack is negated by a slash from the three arms on his right side.
He repels me with slashes from the three arms on his left side.
ㅤ
However, as always, I use the force from being repelled to spin.
It’s the standard pattern for First Strike—Flowing Blade.
This time, I add more speed to it by releasing flames from the blade and turn it into a different technique, slamming it into Asgard’s helmet-protected head!
ㅤ
“Sixth Strike Deformation—Heaven Shaker・Flame!”
ㅤ
A cracking sound rings out, as if something broke.
There’s no damage to the mysterious metal armor.
Nor did our weapons break.
The sound of destruction came from inside the armor.
ㅤ
Originally, Heaven Shaker was a non-lethal technique that induced unconsciousness by sending a shock to the opponent’s brain.
But that was only because Heaven Shaker was too weak to be used in any other way.
To describe the technique more accurately, it’s a degraded version of Sky Rebellion, unleashed solely with my own power instead of utilizing the opponent’s.
Yes, its essence is the same as that of the internal destruction death blow.
ㅤ
So, it’s only natural that after intense battles against formidable foes, training with the perfect sparring partners in the Hero’s Party, improving my skills, fully integrating it with Flowing Blade, and adding the acceleration power of my new Kurotenmaru, Heaven Shaker has evolved into a technique with destructive power close to Sky Rebellion.
ㅤ
The evolved Heaven Shaker directly destroyed Asgard’s head beneath the helmet.
ㅤ
“Ouch.”
ㅤ
Even so, there’s no pain or haste in his voice, but I can tell by the feel that the damage I’ve dealt is far from superficial.
Given that it’s compounded with the damage dealt by the Holy Sword, it won’t regenerate easily.
ㅤ
However, Asgard’s movements aren’t slowed down.
ㅤ
Is it a tribe that can endure even if his head is damaged, or is he extraordinarily tough?
Without showing any signs of damage, Asgard continued to battle with us, to the point where one might mistake him for invincible, like a doll that had forgotten how to stop.
He clashed swords with the world’s top three swordsmen, even with the best support from the Great Sage and the Saint, he couldn’t be defeated.
Despite being placed in a field as disadvantageous as the sky, which would be his weakest point, and continuing a seemingly hopeless 5-to-1 battle against the strongest humans, he did not fall.
ㅤ
A true monster.
ㅤ
Ah, I admit it, Asgard.
You are a dominant force truly deserving of the title of the Four Heavenly Kings, unlike some random vampire.
But you know!
ㅤ
“Sorry, but I have no intention of losing!”
ㅤ
With that shout, my Heaven Shaker strikes Asgard once again.
The Sixth Strike is a technique I devised for enemies that can’t be cut.
Even if slashing attacks don’t work, the technique is highly effective against the now-compressed Asgard, as it delivers a physical impact.
ㅤ
After my attack, Asgard swings his arm to shake me off.
He guards his main body with his other arm to avoid further counters.
I also refrain from attacking recklessly, distancing myself smoothly using Rapid Current.
ㅤ
“Take this!”
“Come on!”
ㅤ
However, the moment I stepped away, Stella and Blade rushed forward and launched their attacks.
I somehow managed to defend against that, but then Auntie Elle’s magic followed, and after that, it was Rin’s barrier and the restraints from the Sacred Chain.
In this way, one after another, we kept on attacking.
Even if someone got stopped, someone else continued the assault, and in the meantime, the one who was halted would regroup.
So, the attacks never ceased.
We didn’t relinquish control.
Against such formidable monsters, we didn’t let the advantage slip away.
As heroes 『party』, we finally had our gears working in harmony, and we were turning the tables on this overwhelmingly powerful foe.
ㅤ
Finally, a significant crack appears in the mysterious metal armor protecting him.
ㅤ
Until now, any exterior damage was instantly repaired.
But not this time.
It could be a trap, but most likely, this is a clear vulnerability due to his weakened state.
Naturally, we have no choice but to exploit this opening.
ㅤ
“『Holy Sword』!”
“『Dark Moon』!”
“『Great Flying Sword』!”
“『Shockwave』!”
ㅤ
Our combined assault explodes on Asgard.
Rin is on standby for any emergencies, so we can recover even if it’s a trap.
Asgard blocks our coordinated attack with all his arms.
His arms crumple, his torso shatters, and his helmet cracks as he is sent flying.
ㅤ
What we glimpse through the gaps in the broken armor is. . . . . .the battered body of Asgard, astonishingly still able to move.
His head is half-gone, and no other visible part remains intact.
ㅤ
Still, Asgard moves.
He takes advantage of the distance created by being blown away to raise his sword high.
All the mysterious metal converges into that sword.
He’s planning to abandon his shattered armor and focus all that power into his attack!
ㅤ
The mysterious metal arms, shrunken to the size of a child’s, get absorbed into the sword.
Instead of channeling into the sword, he swings the only two remaining arms that Stella had damaged. A full-force strike from Asgard is unleashed.
ㅤ
ㅤ
“『Earth Demon’s Blade』.”
ㅤ
ㅤ
The attack I feared the most: a mysterious metal projectile combined with his expertise in earth magic for one devastating strike.
A massive rock formation shaped like a slash, its front coated in the mysterious metal for both hardness and mass, is rapidly closing in to crush us.
ㅤ
hE designed it like this as a countermeasure against me, huh.
With a size like this, I can’t simply divert it using Distortion, and even if I shatter the fragile rock parts with Sky Rebellion, the coated mysterious metal parts won’t stop.
I could have anticipated the activation and moved to a safe position using Rapid Current, but that would leave my comrades unprotected.
Stella and Blade have the mobility to dodge it themselves, but annoyingly, if the attack goes straight, it will directly hit Auntie Elle and Rin.
Dodging is not an option.
ㅤ
“Fine. Let’s have a head-on battle.”
ㅤ
If I can’t dodge it, the only option is to face it head-on.
This is a desperate attack carrying so much risk; it’s undoubtedly Asgard’s ultimate final technique.
If we can handle this, we win; if we can’t, Asgard wins.
That makes things simple, doesn’t it.
“”『Holy Shield Barrier』!””
ㅤ
First, Rin and Auntie Elle’s barrier magic stands in front of the attack.
Of course, this isn’t an attack that can be defended against with instant-casting barrier magic, but it did reduce the momentum somewhat.
ㅤ
“『Holy Sword』!”
ㅤ
Next, Stella’s light magic immediately follows up.
The torrent of light tries to push back the rocks.
But this too is insufficiently powered due to being instant-casting magic.
It won’t completely push it back.
Yet, the momentum was further reduced, and the rock mass itself took some damage.
ㅤ
“『Sky Rebellion・Flame』!”
ㅤ
Now it’s my turn.
I accelerate to the limit with the Storm Leg Armor and Kurotenmaru’s flames, and slam a decisive sword technique that causes internal destruction into the rock mass.
The impact I deliver collides with the rock’s forward energy and penetrates to shatter the rock’s weakest point.
But as I said before, this won’t break the crucial mysterious metal parts.
At most, it shatters the rock and slightly reduces its momentum.
ㅤ
That’s enough.
If we’ve reduced the momentum this much and weakened the rock mass, the attack from the last person will be more than enough to get through.
ㅤ
“Ahhhhhh!!!”
ㅤ
And then, the last member of the Hero’s Party leaps out before the oncoming attack.
『Sword Saint』 Blade・Valkyrias.
The man called the successor to the legendary Sword Saint takes a familiar stance to meet the all-out attack of the Four Heavenly Kings.
The stance of the supreme sword technique that I once thought was beautiful.
ㅤ
“Huh.”
ㅤ
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile.
That’s right.
You can use that technique now.
The talent was always there.
The missing effort was accumulated through defeat and hardship, honed to a point.
And now, having overcome the fatal turbulence of his mind, he finally has the skills to match that technique.
ㅤ
Go, Blade.
You are now the best swordsman.
ㅤ
ㅤ
“『Tenkyokuken』!”
ㅤ
ㅤ
Blade’s ultimate sword technique.
The supreme slash, containing not a single waste or disturbance, that Ruberto-san once showed me during our duel, cleanly bisects Asgard’s final attack.
The sword strike turns into a shockwave that continues straight on, even pinning Asgard himself.
Already a dying figure and having used even the mysterious metal armor for the attack, there’s no way for him to defend against this. Asgard is shattered into pieces as he falls from the sky.
ㅤ
“Ah, it’s my loss, huh.”
ㅤ
In that state, Asgard speaks.
Only a small part of his head and torso barely retains their shape.
Even those parts are rapidly cracking, and he would crumble to pieces in a few seconds even if we did nothing.
Realizing his own death. . . . . .yet still, there’s no trace of emotion in Asgard’s voice.
I can’t feel any emotions.
ㅤ
“Maybe the reason I lost is the difference in the will to live? My life has no significance, no meaning, no attachment. So is that why I lost? Ah, but. . . . . .”
ㅤ
However, in the last moments,
In just the final words,
ㅤ
“I was a bit interested in the new world the Demon King spoke of, you know.”
ㅤ
It felt like I caught a fleeting glimpse of the faint, yet certain heart of an unsettlingly powerful enemy I could never fully understand.
With those final words, the 『Earth』 of the Four Heavenly Kings of Asgard were utterly shattered.
And so, the curtain fell on this brief yet intense night of battle, concluding with our victory.
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