Ch 242
‘This actually works.’
Lisir was feeling a strange sensation difficult to describe in words.
Nevertheless, if I were to define that sensation-
Irresponsible pleasure.
No.
Irresponsible Dark Magic Swordsmanship.
That would be about right, I think.
Dark Magic Swordsmanship, which can be called a power that completely denies reason, has enormous side effects in handling it.
Starting with immediate overload, and including rapid depletion of health points and mental strength.
Even Lisir, who has repeatedly trained and adapted through repeated training, was not completely free from those side effects.
Right now, if the time invested in training every day is two hours-
Of that, the time that could be invested in Dark Magic Swordsmanship was less than five minutes.
Even slightly exceeding the ‘line’ often accumulated damage and fatigue enough to disrupt daily life.
In that respect.
Lisir’s current state gave him a considerable sense of transgression.
In addition to that, a sense of liberation that could be called omnipotence!
‘I’m feeling this energetic?’
The ‘line’ was crossed long ago.
He was using ‘Dark Magic Swordsmanship’ with an intensity unimaginable during normal practice.
Yet, his physical condition is this good. This relaxed.
It felt like he could use Dark Magic Swordsmanship several more times.
Lisir was certain.
‘The Dark Sword… is sharing the burden I should bear entirely-‘
First of all, confusion came first.
‘How is this possible?’
This was not some kind of external impact.
It was not the kind of damage that could be mitigated by blocking with armor or a shield.
Side effects from overusing strength.
In short, a natural bodily reaction!
The only way to deal with it was to increase the threshold for side effects through training, or to recover from the damage as an after-treatment.
In reality.
Until now, Lisir’s efforts to increase the capacity of Dark Magic Swordsmanship had been mostly limited to that area.
Training by overworking his body.
Resting well after training.
-I’m going to experience overload from now on, is there a way to experience overload wisely?
If you were to ask that question around, only awkward gazes would return.
But, to directly reduce the burden of overload like this?
It was something he hadn’t dared to imagine.
‘Maybe… it’s natural? In other words, this is common in the Dark Sword Industry.’
Lisir recalled his situation once more.
‘I am now… handing myself over to the Dark Sword… the so-called Dark Sword of Dark Swords…’
Then.
Lisir reviewed the memories the Dark Sword had shown him.
Swordsmen who had been dominated by the Dark Sword and had fallen to mere beasts.
They used the power of their Dark Swords, and as a price, they entered the path of ruin.
On the other hand, the Dark Sword?
The dark-colored sword was perfectly preserved without a single scratch.
As Dangaleon said-
The Dark Sword is a tool, but it does not consume itself.
Those who wield the Dark Sword, will instead be wielded by the Dark Sword-
What the Dark Sword consumes is always the user’s power and existence.
In short-
‘In this state, I can use Dark Magic Swordsmanship without any price? While consuming the power of the ‘user’, that is?’
Lisir smiled meaningfully.
He immediately began to retract his previous judgments.
This Dark Sword is of no use to my Dark Magic Swordsmanship?
‘No.’
Therefore, this Dark Sword is a useless abomination?
‘No!? ‘
At this moment!
Lisir felt the threads of fate connecting his Dark Magic Swordsmanship and the Dark Sword.
‘That’s right. It’s not for nothing that the names are similar.’
We.
Maybe we suit each other well.
-Cough…!!! Cough…!!! Kyaahahahahak!!!
The Magic Swordsman roared.
He expressed his overflowing ecstasy.
A sandstorm raged around the Magic Swordsman.
The rising black flames swirled with the convection current.
The Magic Swordsman ran wildly within the vortex of flames.
It was the result of the extreme vision called ‘Dark Magic Swordsmanship’ being unfolded without a target.
“Wh-what is that…?”
“Is he… happy?”
The Broken Glass party, who were watching the scene from a distance, muttered in disgust.
-Beast… stop it immediately…!!! If you challenge me any further… I will thoroughly trample your insignificant existence…!!!
At that time.
The voice of the Dark Sword echoed from within the helmet.
Lisir once again felt his position as a ‘sword’.
He was currently being held in someone’s hand, and that hand was violently exerting force to compel his actions.
However, that force was far from enough to compel his actions.
Far from compelling, it was even insufficient to stop his actions.
Lisir suddenly realized.
The feelings of the Dark Sword that destroys people’s fates with cursed power!
I wondered if I should feel this, but having been in the position of the person involved, I could clearly understand.
‘Stop? Why should I stop?’
Even in the position of holding the tool, he is dominated by the power of the tool and cannot do anything.
Yet, he still believes that he is superior.
From the tool’s point of view, that appearance was truly ridiculous and pathetic.
Even a polite request would be insufficient, let alone an order?
Acting like the master?
Oh, let’s go all the way.
Usually, when using Dark Magic Swordsmanship, Lisir strictly set and adhered to its limits to prevent self-destruction.
It was a kind of safety mechanism that limited the output of Dark Magic Swordsmanship.
Now.
Lisir destroyed that safety mechanism.
‘Head of the Family, I finally understand. This is irresponsible pleasure…!’
Because the opportunity to check the limits of Dark Magic Swordsmanship without any responsibility was given right before his eyes!
“Everyone, retreat!”
Caroer shouted, sensing the strange and powerful flow of magical power.
Broken Glass Shon’s party was also no ordinary group, as they had already retreated before Caroer spoke.
“What on earth…”
Everyone present stared blankly at the scene unfolding before them.
Whiiiiiiiiiing!!!
The sandstorm became fierce enough to obscure the sun.
The black flames rising along with the sandstorm became pillars of fire reaching the sky.
Sorcerous power in the form of a swarm of insects hovered around the pillars of fire.
The chaotic and disorderly vortex of power showed its might for a while, then began to condense towards a single point.
-Cough…! Cough…!!! Cough!!!
The Magic Swordsman in dark armor raised his sword.
The vortex of power was converging towards that sword.
The Magic Swordsman’s hand holding the sword.
The vortex of power fluctuated according to its slight tremor.
Now.
What the Magic Swordsman held in his hand was a sword, but it was magic.
“Dark Sword… Dark Magic Swordsmanship…”
Someone muttered.
Was that awe directed towards Dark Magic Swordsmanship-
Or towards ‘Dark Magic Swordsmanship’.
Currently, no one knew.
“Everyone, calm down…!”
Amidst everyone being overwhelmed by the sight, Broken Glass Shon shouted.
“The nature of that power is undoubtedly unfathomable, but… considering only the magnitude of that power━”
Broken Glass’s eyes were half-open at a slant.
Her insight, praised as a prophet by some, shone even at this moment.
She saw through the size of the magical power that made up the power, without being overwhelmed by the dazzling majesty of ‘Dark Magic Swordsmanship’.
In this place, there was the Archmage, the Sword Master, and the Hero, who were part of Shon’s party.
And also the Guardian, Caroer.
Shon’s conclusion was that if they all combined their strength, they could restrain the Magic Swordsman.
That is, considering only the magnitude of the power.
“…”
However.
Shon’s words could not easily continue.
Magic. Swordsmanship. Sorcery. Black Magic.
In short, power.
Anyone who understands power could not help but be fascinated by the chaotic vortex of power.
The Magic Swordsmen transcended the rules of power that included all of them.
An existence that completely broke the rules.
In short, an unfathomable existence.
Sword Master, Archmage, Hero-
No matter how deep their experience, they were not confident in predicting and dealing with the Magic Swordsman’s next action.
“That’s the Night of the Sword…”
Someone muttered blankly.
As such-
They believed without a doubt that the unfathomable sight before them was the doing of the ‘Night’.
“Guardian!!! Is this really alright!?”
The red-haired Archmage shouted towards Caroer.
The reason they could maintain at least a minimum of composure was entirely due to the Magic Swordsman’s state.
It was merely running wild without a specific target or enemy.
It may seem like he is recklessly wasting his power-
“In reality, it’s unlikely to be such a welcome reason…”
“Surely, there must be some reason for this rampage.”
“Perhaps━ that man might be resisting the power of the Dark Sword.”
Someone’s opinion caused considerable unrest among them.
This was because the opinion had considerable persuasiveness and implied a surprising fact.
“Resisting that unbelievable power…? What kind of mental strength does he have?”
They could only believe that the vortex of unfathomable power was the power of the Dark Sword.
For them, the sight of the man resisting the Dark Sword evoked an awe-inspiring sense of awe.
They began to recall the figure trapped in dark armor.
Some recalled the elderly Archmage-
Some recalled the veteran Great Warrior-
And some recalled the High Priest with unwavering will.
-Aa, aaaaa━ aaaaaaaaa…!!! Aaaaaaaaa!!!!!
Their tense gazes focused on one spot.
Finally.
The vortex of power subsided.
The Magic Swordsman began to shout, kneeling on the ground.
-No more…!!!
A precarious voice was uttered.
They did not know.
That it was the death throes of the Dark Sword that had reached its limit.
The Dark Sword, which had suffered extreme pain and fatigue as a result of recklessly wielding the unfathomable power of Dark Magic Swordsmanship.
Having finally collapsed, it lost itself and lost consciousness.
Thud.
The dark-colored sword fell to the ground.
The dark-colored armor fell limply along with it.
There was no longer a Magic Swordsman there.
“Elf…? No, human!?”
“Good heavens, it was such a youngster?”
A young man who defied everyone’s expectations revealed himself before them.
“Lisir! Are you alright!”
Amidst everyone’s stunned silence, Caroer hurriedly approached him.
“I’m fine.”
Cough!
He coughed, covering his mouth.
A handful of blood was stained on his hand that he removed.
“…!”
Lisir showed shock as he looked at his blood-soaked hand.
“Good heavens, you don’t look fine at all!?”
Shon’s party finally came to their senses and approached him.
“I-it can’t be…”
A man muttering in bewilderment.
“Wh-what happened! Please explain to me in detail the ideal you are feeling right now!”
Shon focused all her attention, preparing for the worst situation that might be spoken from his mouth.
“My body can be… this intact…?”
“?”
They blinked their eyes and checked the man’s condition again.
Trickle, trickle.
Blood was flowing freely from every opening on his face.
“After causing such a commotion, it ended with only this much overload…?”
“…”
What kind of overload is this level of overload?
Shon’s party, who had been about to roll up their sleeves and help the man, froze in place.
✦✦✦
As the man took out a handkerchief from his pocket and skillfully wiped the blood from his face, the atmosphere of the place finally settled down.
“Are you really alright…?”
“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for your concern.”
Shon’s party was still worried about his condition, but there was something more important to prioritize right now.
Thump!
Thump!
They looked at the dark-colored sword with disgusted faces.
Dark Sword.
It was recovering its power, pulsating like a living being.
The ominous and terrifying energy rising gradually could be felt even through the skin.
They were gripped by the anxiety that if they didn’t deal with the Dark Sword immediately, the recent nightmare would be repeated.
“That Dark Sword…”
The Dark Sword’s rampage.
Having witnessed that tremendous sight just moments ago, no one dared to approach the Dark Sword rashly.
As they stood there, quietly glancing at the Dark Sword-
“Uh, there-!”
The man, watching their nunchi, cautiously raised his hand.
Everyone present showed a welcoming expression.
He was the man who resisted the Dark Sword with amazing willpower.
Everyone focused their attention on him, wondering if a surprising ingenious plan might be spoken from his mouth.
“This! Since I found it, I have priority ownership. Right?”
That was why Lisir was watching their nunchi.
Lisir saw them repeatedly looking at the Dark Sword and thought they coveted it.
It couldn’t be helped-
Having just experienced the outstanding efficacy（?） of the Dark Sword.
“…Ownership?”
While everyone was worried about the disposal method, worrying about ownership.
They became dumbfounded by the severe cognitive dissonance.
✦✦✦
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