[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 86

    The northeastern city, where the portal to the Demon Realm had opened, was completely devastated by the relentless surge of monsters.

    At the center of the destruction, a towering figure clad in black armor spoke in a low voice.

    "Humans are truly useless, even as mere pawns."

    Whooosh—

    In response, dark energy gathered before him, and a black skeleton materialized.

    Even when he was reduced to dust by Kaylen and Violet, he had maintained a grin. But now, in front of the demon legion commander, he trembled in fear.

    "[Great one... I am deeply sorry.]"

    "You should be grateful that I indulged my fleeting curiosity. Otherwise, I would have simply left you to disappear."

    "[Yes... I am truly grateful.]"

    The black skeleton nodded repeatedly.

    His opponent was someone who meant what he said.

    He could feel that his life had been spared merely on a whim.

    "The kingdom should already be under our control. Why did you fail?"

    "[An unexpected paladin appeared, far stronger than anticipated.]"

    "Pathetic... You''ve lived for centuries as Black Skull, yet you couldn''t handle a single paladin? It seems you’re not even worth keeping alive."

    Swoosh.

    As the demon legion commander extended his hand, an overwhelming force of absorption was felt.

    He was attempting to strip away the skeleton''s magic.

    ''This can''t be...!''

    The demon legion commander always followed through on his words.

    In a desperate attempt to regain his favor, Black Skull quickly blurted out,

    "[T-That paladin was different! He was a Sword Master!]"

    "A paladin, a Sword Master? Now you''re mocking me. Paladins can never achieve the rank of Sword Master."

    A threatening red glow flickered across the demon legion commander''s black armor.

    To think that this wretch, who had been defeated by a mere paladin, dared to report that his opponent was a Sword Master.

    "[I-It’s true! He wielded not only the aura of light but also the aura of darkness. He blocked the moonlight, preventing our regeneration. All of my kin, except for myself, perished without receiving the moon’s blessing...]"

    "Hmm?"

    He used both light and dark aura?

    At those words, the demon legion commander retracted his hand.

    A paladin could never wield the power of darkness.

    Crossing his arms, the commander spoke.

    "Transfer your memories to me."

    "[Y-Yes!]"

    Swirl.

    Dark energy seeped from Black Skull’s head and flowed into the commander.

    As the demon commander absorbed the magic and examined the memories, he nodded.

    A knight who wielded both light and dark mana flawlessly.

    Though clad in white armor and emanating a holy presence like a paladin...

    The darkness he controlled was as precise and refined as his light.

    For such an existence to appear in the barren lands of the middle realm...

    The demon legion commander’s eyes gleamed.

    "Indeed. He is a Sword Master... and a rare one at that."

    "[Exactly.]"

    "If his aura control is this precise, he’s comparable to the Sword Masters from a thousand years ago. Among the specialties of Colony Zone E, he would be considered a top-tier product."

    The demon legion commander spoke as if he were appraising Sword Master Kaylen.

    To the demons, the middle realm was nothing more than a colony, and humans were mere beasts they allowed to exist.

    Among these beasts, a Sword Master was the rarest species...

    And even rarer was one who could wield both the powers of light and darkness simultaneously. The demon commander couldn''t hide his delight at such a discovery.

    "Offering him as tribute will surely yield great rewards..."

    "[T-That valuable, my lord?]"

    "Indeed. An Aura Master’s worth is whatever the highest bidder will pay. With this level of rarity... Haha. You''ve finally brought me some useful information. This is the most valuable thing you''ve ever done."

    "[Thank you!]"

    The demon legion commander pondered.

    How could he acquire this rare specimen?

    If he acted personally, he could subdue him immediately, but if the Sword Master belonged to the Sanctuary, the situation would become complicated.

    ''If I move recklessly, he might escape.''

    Sanctuary—the refuge created by the lackeys of the Celestial God.

    To the demon commander, it was nothing more than a nest of pesky rats.

    However, since its location was still unknown, tracking someone who fled there would be difficult.

    Until now, the demon realm''s invasions had always followed a fixed pattern.

    They would summon massive monster portals, unleashing berserk creatures.

    Once those were dealt with, the demon legion commander would invade with mana eaters.

    Nations had managed to fend off the attacks by following these patterns—or, if they lacked the strength, they would retreat.

    ''If the demon legion commander isn''t following the usual routine, we won''t be able to stop them.''

    She drew a dagger from her waist and aimed it at the drake.

    "O fragment of Astellah."

    Astellah—

    In this continent, that name referred to only one thing.

    The Holy Sword.

    A supreme divine artifact that had slain countless demon kings and crushed evil.

    The woman, known as the Saintess, now held a dagger in her hand—calling it a fragment of that sacred blade.

    "Grant us the sword of the heavens,

    I humbly beseech thee."

    Flash.

    A golden light spread from above the drake.

    Cracks of light formed in the sky, and from within them, a sword began to emerge.

    A pure white blade, condensed from the mana of light.

    It was massive—so immense that it seemed capable of crushing the drake beneath it.

    It was, quite literally, the Sword of the Heavens.

    One of the divine powers of the Holy Sword Astellah, unexpectedly wielded by the Saintess.

    "With that sword..."

    "We can stop it!"

    The sight of the heavenly sword brought relief to those who beheld it.

    As the sword descended toward the drake, the Meisters loosened their tense stances, and the Holy Knights who followed the Saintess gazed at her with reverence.

    Surely, that enormous sword would pierce through the drake.

    Just as everyone expected—

    Crackle. Sizzle.

    A blinding white sword shot up from the drake’s back.

    A sword of light, rising to meet the descending heavenly blade.

    Although it was much smaller in comparison, the moment the two swords clashed, the heavenly sword''s descent came to a complete halt.

    "No way..."

    "Is that...?"

    "There''s something on the drake''s back..."

    Something?

    The Saintess, startled, focused her gaze on the drake''s back.

    From the ground, it was impossible to see who or what was there,

    —but she possessed many divine abilities.

    "Eyes of the Firmament."

    A power that allowed her to share her vision with the heavens.

    Using it, she was finally able to see the figure standing atop the drake.

    A knight clad in pure white armor.

    "You’ve prepared quite the grand welcome."

    While holding back the sword, the knight directed the drake to land swiftly.

    "And now..."

    Whoosh!

    The knight raised his sword, forcing the heavenly blade to retreat skyward.

    Before long, the celestial sword lost its power and vanished completely.

    The Saintess stared blankly at the sight before her.

    "A-Astellah''s power... is gone..."

    Even though she had only summoned a fragment of the Holy Sword''s power,

    —it was not something that could be blocked by a mere sword.

    Yet, that knight had deflected it with a single blade?

    A thought crept into her mind—

    The ultimate state that all swordsmen aspire to reach,

    —an unparalleled realm that no one had achieved in centuries, a state that had become legend.

    ''Could it be...?''

    "My name is Stein."

    Sching.

    The white knight slid his sword back into its sheath and slowly approached the Saintess.

    "I am the head of the Meier Sword Clan."

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]