𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠
Cave of the Dead, Deepest Part.
Here, it opens into a somewhat spacious circular plaza.
Devoid of any obstructions, it resembles a small gladiatorial arena.
Standing at its center was a monster, one that could be called the lord of this labyrinth.
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If you had to describe that creature in one word, it would be bones.
A monster made solely of bones, a skeleton.
Like a weathered zombie whose flesh and skin have completely rotted away—a sort of degraded version of a used-up zombie.
However, the skeleton before me emitted an overwhelming aura, far from being a downgraded zombie.
In its right hand, it held a tattered black sword, glaring at me with an unyielding stance.
Judging by its long black hair and female black kimono, it was likely a formidable female swordsman in its previous life.
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Even now, reduced to bones, it still possesses overwhelming power.
During my last labyrinth raid, this thing severed my left arm, forcing me to retreat.
Even before that, I’ve been effortlessly defeated at least a dozen times.
If dreams are included, then even more so.
Lately, I’ve been stuck in a loop of raiding the labyrinth, challenging this skeleton, losing, retreating, and getting healed by Rin, only to challenge it again.
Yet, I still haven’t defeated it.
It’s that strong.
Stronger than any demon or hero around.
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I have a hunch. . . . . .this thing was a 『Sword Saint』 in its former life.
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Otherwise, it’s inexplicable how it’s stronger than a hero despite being just bones.
Generally, zombies are weaker than they were in life.
Though they gain a certain level of immortality, their rotting flesh diminishes their strength, defense, and intelligence, and they can’t grow stronger, merely acting on their past instincts.
So, if it’s a skeleton that has lost even its rotten flesh, it should be even weaker.
Yet, despite this, it’s stronger than a hero with divine protection.
So, naturally, I assume it must have been a Holy Warrior class in life.
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I wonder why someone like a Sword Saint would die in such a desolate labyrinth.
There are no visible damages on its bones or clothes. . . . . .Perhaps it was defeated by internal injuries?
Or maybe it starved to death, or ate some poisonous mushrooms.
No, it’s disrespectful to think that way about a likely great hero from ancient times.
Let’s just assume it was internal injuries.
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One thing that has been bothering me for a while now is how the kimono remains perfectly intact despite it being just bones.
The chest area, which would normally be disheveled if it were a woman, is not.
Which means, she was flat-chested in life. . . . . .
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“Huh?!”
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The moment I thought such an impolite thought, as if sensing my rudeness, an attack ignoring the distance flew at me from the Sword Saint Skeleton.
A flying slash enveloped in darkness.
Something I could never learn in a lifetime in my dreams, but those with martial divine protection can easily perform long-range attacks with melee weapons.
Launching flying slashes seems to be a basic skill for them.
The mechanism of this attack is probably the same.
However, the dark power added to the slash isn’t from the Sword Saint Skeleton but from the black sword it’s holding.
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That is exactly why I visited this labyrinth.
In my dreams, I become the ultimate assassin, the one who would be a lifelong companion, and in the end, the one who would defeat the Demon King.
━━『Kurotenmaru』.
A magic sword infused with the power of darkness, an attribute of destruction.
It may not compare to the Holy Sword, but in terms of sheer destructive force, it can confidently claim to be among the world’s best.
It’s an essential equipment to compensate for my feeble attack power.
Obtaining that is my ultimate goal this time.
To achieve that, I must defeat the current owner, the Sword Saint Skeleton.
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This is one of the unavoidable trials for me to become the strongest killer and stand beside Stella.
If I can’t even beat the fallen Sword Saint, then defeating the current Sword Saint is a pipe dream.
I’m weak now.
Still weak.
I haven’t even become someone who can kill the strong, something that the me in my dreams aims to be at the end of this journey. I’m just weak.
The fact that I keep losing to this guy proves it.
However, it’s not like I gained nothing from the battles I lost.
Unlike this corpse, I’m growing with every fight.
After all, I’m battling a swordsman who far surpasses the old Stella.
There’s a lot to gain.
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With the strength I’ve honed, I’ll defeat this guy this time.
After all, this is someone I’ve surpassed in my dreams.
How uncool would it be to keep getting stuck against such an opponent?
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To counter the incoming dark slash, I swing Onryomaru in my hand.
Two years ago, when I fought the Demon Mantis, I had no means to counter long-range attacks.
Things are different now.
I’ve acquired it.
The second finishing move that was incomplete back then.
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“Second Strike━━.”
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My new technique intercepts the dark slash.
The enemy’s move is formidable.
After all, it’s a strike from a decayed Sword Saint, executed with one of the world’s most destructive weapons.
Even the pseudo-magic sword Onryomaru would easily snap if directly clashed with.
But, none of that matters.
Second Strike, and the third slash promise absolute defense instead of leading to a counterattack.
For the one who has mastered these two moves, ━━ there’s no attack that can’t be blocked.
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“『Distortion』!”
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The swung Second Strike 『Distortion』 distorts the trajectory of the dark slash, diverting and neutralizing it diagonally backward.
Moreover, the burden on Onryomaru is almost nil, nearly a perfect parry.
I can’t say I’ve fully mastered this technique yet, but at least I can perfectly handle an attack I’ve seen many times.
However, I can’t afford to be happy about it.
My current enemy is not someone who can be defeated just by perfectly blocking the first attack.
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Sword Saint Skeleton rushes in.
Despite the considerable speed, the form is impeccable with no body sway.
In that flawless form, it first thrusts as if testing the waters.
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“『Flowing Blade』!”
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I parry that with a backspin, diverting the thrust’s power into rotation and aim for the Sword Saint Skeleton’s wrist with Flowing Blade.
However, the Sword Saint Skeleton fluidly alters the thrust’s trajectory, pulling it back with elbow and wrist, effortlessly deflecting my attack.
Not yet.
While sliding my blade that made contact with the dark sword, I lower my hips and transform the remaining momentum into a second strike aimed at Sword Saint Skeleton’s feet.
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“First Strike Deformation━━『Stream Flow』!”
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A variation of the technique『Flowing Wheel』 that once wounded the old knight.
Just like Flowing Wheel, it’s a double Flowing Blade strike designed to forcibly break through the opponent’s defense.
However,
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“!”
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The Sword Saint Skeleton dodges this too.
Escaping the trajectory of the slashing attack with a gliding step, it counters by bringing the dark sword down on me.
The speed of the blade is fast.
Much faster than the Demon Mantis or the old knight in his holding-back mode.
Even so, I can follow it with my eyes now!
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“Haaah!”
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Anticipating the Sword Saint Skeleton’s movements, I used the momentum from my consecutive attacks, Flowing Blade and Torrent, converting it into thrust with Rapid Current. I forced myself one step forward to dodge the impending slash aimed at the ground.
My back was slightly grazed, but it was insignificant compared to a direct hit.
However, the Sword Saint Skeleton ruthlessly counterattacks.
By flawlessly linking the end of one swing to the start of another, she tries to finish me off with a perfect double strike.
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As expected.
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“『Flowing Blade』!”
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Having dodged the first attack, I realign my body to the missed blade, stabilizing my posture.
It’s hardly a perfect stance given the split-second timeframe, but as long as there’s even a slight opening, I can release my Flowing Blade from any posture.
And so, my full-force counterattack lands. . . . . .striking Sword Saint Skeleton’s ankle.
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“Yes!”
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However, I didn’t manage to sever the ankle.
Like the black blade, the kimono enveloping the Sword Saint Skeleton is a respectable Magic Item, having absorbed the same labyrinthine magic for an equal amount of time.
The effect: extraordinary durability.
My all-out attack merely left a slight cut.
But that’s good enough.
Durable or not, it’s still just clothing, not armor.
It can defend against a cut, but not the impact.
I felt the feedback of a significant crack in the bones hidden beneath the kimono.
Without the muscles the Sword Saint had in life, these decaying bones couldn’t withstand it.
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And let’s not forget, the opponent is a skeleton.
A ceased life, a corpse.
Corpses don’t recover.
That damage is permanent.
In other words, I’ve permanently robbed her of her mobility.
A significant achievement.
Now the scales have tipped greatly in my favor.
I’ll press this advantage and. . . . . .
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Just as I thought that, the Sword Saint Skeleton leaps back on her remaining foot.
Without flinching from pain, without falling into panic, a dead-like calm decision.
But I won’t let her escape.
I pursue the retreating Sword Saint Skeleton.
Even with her foot almost shattered, there’s no way I can’t catch up.
I’ll block all long-distance attacks with distortion.
It’s fine, I have the advantage.
I strongly feel the tide of the battle turning in my favor.
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“!”
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However, a shadow falls over that premonition of victory.
The Sword Saint Skeleton adopts a strange posture.
Like starting a dance, an elegant posture that seems ill-suited for combat.
A posture I’ve never seen before.
Unknown.
That is the most terrifying thing in a fight.
Reason urges caution, and intuition rings alarm bells.
That’s bad news.
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Shortly thereafter, I learn that my foreboding was not misplaced.
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“Wha?!”
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The Sword Saint Skeleton unleashes a dark slash.
Faster, stronger, and sharper than the first attack, and it comes in rapid succession.
Like a black storm.
It’s similar to the tactic used by the Demon Mantis, but incomparable in terms of precision, power, speed, and rapid-fire capability.
Somehow, while continuing to avoid hits with Distortion, I can’t completely prevent them, and my wounds continue to increase.
They’re still at a level where they just hurt and don’t impede my actions, but it looks like a fatal blow could come anytime now.
Most importantly, I’m on the defensive and can’t counterattack.
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“Damn it?!”
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Amidst that dark storm, the Sword Saint Skeleton was dancing.
No, it’s more accurate to say she was performing a dance, rather than simply dancing.
A graceful and elegant dance with her sword.
Although it didn’t seem like she was fighting, what emanated from her movements, which could only be described as choreography, was a deadly flurry of sword strikes.
Moreover, precisely because it was a dance, a movement of some sort of completion, it was incomparably accurate to ordinary swordsmanship, without a single break.
A sword technique both beautiful and merciless.
A combination of dance and swordsmanship. . . . . .No, a technique that elevated dance to swordsmanship.
A never-before-seen technique.
Hence, prediction is quite difficult.
At that moment, I was convinced.
This dance-like swordsmanship was the Sword Saint Skeleton’s true fighting style for long-distance combat.
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As a Sword Saint, standing at the pinnacle of swordsmanship, it was an unusually unorthodox style, almost like that of a wizard.
But, it makes surprising sense.
She can unleash attacks of magical high power and wide range far faster and more continuously than a real wizard, who needs to chant each time they cast a spell.
If done correctly, she might even be on par with the Holy Warrior『Sage』, who’s called the strongest wizard.
Quite a troublesome thing.
The reason she had never used this until now was probably that this wasn’t a technique designed for one-on-one fights.
It looked more like a technique to use against a horde of monsters.
If he were on the battlefield against the advancing Demon King’s Army, she would undoubtedly be reliable.
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However, that’s exactly why the key to overcoming it lies there.
If it’s a technique meant for large crowds, there must be a gap that one could exploit.
If it’s a dance, then I just need to memorize the movements, read the rhythm and patterns, and find that gap.
The path to victory is visible.
Now, all that’s left is to charge forward.
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