Chapter 454
Chapter 455 – It’s a Relief.
Drip… drip.
Blood trickles down from one hand of the woman.
The sword strike that grazed her shoulder was rougher than expected. As a result, a deep wound was left on her left arm.
The pain was surging up to her throat, but the woman merely moved her injured arm a few times with a blank expression.
“…”
It hurt a lot, but this was bearable.
That was the woman’s conclusion.
She gripped the sword once more.
Luckily, it was her left arm that was hurt. Since she was right-handed, it wasn’t a huge problem.
Rumble.
From the dark clouds bound in the sky, a fierce roar erupted.
The clouds were swirling with a tingling thunder energy that made one shiver just from looking at it.
Just as the woman was about to unleash her thunder roar and swing her sword—
“… Are you planning to continue?”
Someone spoke to the woman facing her directly.
The speaker was the successor of the Sword Sovereign, known as the So Sword Sect, and a woman hailed as the hope of the Righteous Faction.
The Demon Sword Queen, with a nonchalant expression, surveyed the So Sword Sect.
“I don’t quite understand.”
Rumble-!!
As if pushing away the Demon Sword Queen’s thunder energy, the energy erupting from the tips of the So Sword Sect’s feet began to fill all directions.
“Why did you suddenly make this choice?”
“…”
The Demon Sword Queen did not answer the So Sword Sect’s question.
She simply gripped her sword tighter and began to calmly swing it.
Swoosh-!
Boom-!
Lightning erupted from the tip of the sword the Demon Sword Queen had swung lightly. A torrent of thunder energy, seemingly thousands in number, shot toward the So Sword Sect.
Though it was thin and delicate energy, each strand carried immense power.
“… Huh.”
Seeing this, the So Sword Sect squinted his eyes, tired, and tightened his grip on the sword he held with both hands.
Zing-!
As a subtle vibration spread, golden energy gathered behind the So Sword Sect, transforming into the shapes of swords.
The swords floating in the void swiftly aimed their tips at the oncoming thunder energy.
Bam-!
The energy exploded as it shot toward the direction of the thunder.
With thousands of strands of thunder energy and a few swords, anyone could easily guess the outcome just from looking.
But the swords of the So Sword Sect gleamed slightly amidst the flood of thunder energy.
Swoosh-!
It began to erase the thunder energy, moving at a nonsensical speed.
The speed was so fast that one couldn’t even see how the swords were moving.
And then.
Swoosh-!
As the energies clashed in the air, the So Sword Sect reached out directly to the Demon Sword Queen with his sword.
The looming presence of the So Sword Sect unleashed a twin sword technique, and in response, the Demon Sword Queen also swung her sword.
Clang-! Clang-!
Each movement was imbued with its own delicacy and precision.
Every time the swords clashed, it’s as if a shockwave burst forth, scattering the destructive energy around them.
The sight resembled petals swirling in the wind.
However, despite the beautiful display, the energy contained within was ruthless beyond measure.
Amidst the continuous storm of powerful energy,
Pfft-!
“…!”
Blood splattered from the left shoulder of the Demon Sword Queen.
At the same time, her brows furrowed deeply.
It seemed a wound had opened up.
The Demon Sword Queen tightened her grip on the sword she held and swung it wide.
Crash-!
The thunder energy gathered on the blade grew exponentially in size, carving an arc and obliterating everything around her in its wake.
While her movements had become significantly slower, she succeeded in temporarily pushing the So Sword Sect back.
Thud-!
The So Sword Sect, leaping back from the Demon Sword Queen’s attack, retrieved the swords hovering in the air and began to circulate them around herself.
“…”
The thunder energy she was battling against was irrelevant now.
The energy had vanished completely.
Seizing the moment of calm, the So Sword Sect gazed ahead.
Huff-huff.
The Demon Sword Queen was dripping blood and gasping for breath.
She looked visibly exhausted.
“…”
Seeing this, the So Sword Sect couldn’t help but bite her lip.
The Demon Sword Queen was not the type to tire easily from a fight.
While her opponent might not be as great as the “Mage” or the Heavenly Demon, she wielded her abilities with exquisite and delicate precision.
It didn’t make sense for someone like her to be that drained from just one battle.
The reason the Demon Sword Queen was in such a state was simply this.
‘She had fought enough to end up like that.’
It was truly a simple reason.
A gust of wind brushed past the So Sword Sect’s nose.
It was thick with the scent of blood, but this wasn’t just the smell of the Demon Sword Queen’s blood.
Littered behind the exhausted Demon Sword Queen were the bodies of her slain martial artists.
Upon noticing this, the So Sword Sect squinted her eyes.
“… Did the Mage allow you to act this way?”
At the So Sword Sect’s words, one of the Demon Sword Queen’s eyebrows quirked.
“I thought the deal was done. Can I assume this is the will of the Mage… or should I say, the Demonic Sect?”
The Demon Sword Queen’s assault had come just two hours prior.
It had been right when she was about to return to Hanam, but then this incident occurred.
‘The Heavenly Lord had set up a barrier before leaving.’
When the Heavenly Lord left, the Demon Sword Queen had nonchalantly cut through the barrier and launched her surprise attack.
Unfortunately, at that moment, the Heavenly Lord happened to be absent, and the So Sword Sect herself was also in a ‘dormant’ state.
Of course, even with a gap in their representative warriors, the current strength of the Alliance was far from weak.
At the very least, they had peak-level fighters, and many were even at the threshold of transformation, so their strength was anything but underwhelming.
‘Those people…’
The Demon Sword Queen not only withstood those fighters but also managed to slay over half of them.
As the So Sword Sect pondered the Demon Sword Queen’s ability, beyond her expectations, the Demon Sword Queen finally broke her silence.
“… Where is he…?”
“What did you say…?”
“That person… where is he…?”
Although the subject of her question was unclear, the So Sword Sect could guess who she was looking for.
The moment she realized this, the So Sword Sect clenched her teeth.
“You mean Baekjellyeob… Are you saying you came here looking for him?”
“…”
The world-renowned Demon Sword Queen had come to look for a lowly martial artist from the Black Flame Sect, and thus the So Sword Sect spoke wearily.
“… The infamous villain of the world, you, suddenly shows so much affection for your own people. When did that happen…?”
“Different.”
The So Sword Sect tried to continue, bewildered, but the Demon Sword Queen cut her off.
“His name is not that.”
“…!”
At the adamant declaration, the So Sword Sect’s eyes widened in shock; it wasn’t just that.
“… You know that too….”
With the Demon Sword Queen’s next words, the So Sword Sect trembled slightly.
“Why… are you pretending not to know…?”
The Demon Sword Queen appeared unable to comprehend such a reaction.
In that fleeting moment, the So Sword Sect, who had been wavering and unstable, quickly regained her composure and gripped her sword once more.
“That’s not something I understand…. Regardless of the reason, your choice now is mistaken.”
A lair of enemies.
The Demon Sword Queen had entered there all alone.
The Demon Sword Queen was not the Heavenly Demon.
Thus, no matter how strong she was, she certainly had her limits.
Even just moments ago, when the So Sword Sect had tried to strike the Demon Sword Queen when she attempted to keep her distance using her thunder energy,
The So Sword Sect could have cut her down with a single blow.
There was indeed that much of an opening.
Yet she did not choose that option.
Why?
“…”
The reason was something the So Sword Sect herself did not understand well. She had inexplicably hesitated.
Because of that, the Demon Sword Queen was still standing, but such miracles wouldn’t happen again.
Ssssss.
The So Sword Sect circulated her swords around her, drawing energy up.
“… Are you not planning to use the Thunder Fang?”
She asked, eyeing the Demon Sword Queen.
Right now, she wasn’t using the Thunder Fang.
She must have received it beforehand in the trade, yet the Demon Sword Queen was wielding a regular sword.
Was there any reason to hold back even in a life-or-death situation?
The So Sword Sect, who had a faint inkling of how terrifying the Demon Sword Queen would be with the Thunder Fang, couldn’t fathom it.
To the So Sword Sect’s question, the Demon Sword Queen remained silent, merely gripping her sword.
‘Why?’
This only deepened her confusion.
It was a fight with no chance of winning.
If there was any possibility of reinforcements, it didn’t feel that way.
If the Heavenly Lord returned just like that, there would be no hope left.
And yet,
‘Why?’
Still, that woman stood her ground without retreating.
The So Sword Sect did not know.
She couldn’t understand anything.
‘… Calm down.’
Clearing her tangled thoughts, she tried to soothe her energy.
As Blood Qi flowed and her emotions settled, bizarrely, her heart remained complicated.
‘This is good.’
She repeated this to herself, trying to convince herself.
If she could deal with the Demon Sword Queen here, it would be beneficial going forward.
As she thought this, gripping her sword tightly, the So Sword Sect’s mind suddenly pictured someone who might break down if the Demon Sword Queen died just like that.
That brief thought halted her momentarily, but soon the So Sword Sect draped herself in Sword Intent and moved forward.
Creeeak-!
Once more, the thunder energy surged within the Demon Sword Queen’s body.
However, compared to the thunder energy she had unleashed before, it looked infinitely weaker.
In contrast, the ten swords of the So Sword Sect maintained their distinct and potent energy.
With these two forces about to clash, the outcome was all too clear.
A golden flash burst forth with sharp energy, soaring through the air. Multiple swords also drew diagonal lines in the void, shooting toward the Demon Sword Queen.
The vast energy was enough to make one shrink back merely by looking. It seemed intent on leaving nothing for her to escape.
Even witnessing such energy, the Demon Sword Queen readied herself to wield her sword.
She might die here.
That thought flitted through her mind, but still, she would not retreat.
If someone had seen this reckless display, they would surely have been furious beyond measure, saying she was not worth her weight after all.
But the Demon Sword Queen could not help it.
In weighing rationality and emotion,
Even her very life, her heart belonged to him.
It did not matter where he was or where he came from.
The thunder energy concentrated at a single point.
The So Sword Sect’s swords were also closing in rapidly.
Looking at the size and the energy being condensed, she realized she was in no condition to counter it.
‘…’
If she were to use the Thunder Fang in her possession—it could make a difference.
But she did not choose to do that.
There was only one reason.
She had not received permission to use it.
[…!…!]
A furious voice of an elder rang in her ears repeatedly.
But the Demon Sword Queen paid no mind.
Crack-!
The So Sword Sect’s energy crashed forward fiercely.
And the Demon Sword Queen began to infuse thunder energy into her blade.
As both Sword Intents were about to clash shortly,
A thought suddenly crossed the Demon Sword Queen’s mind.
If she were to meet her demise at that woman’s hands here—
What kind of expression would he make?
Would he say something harsh like she was useless after refusing to listen?
Or would he maintain that usual nonchalant attitude and let it pass without a care?
During such a time, she must subtly wish for just a little luxury.
‘It would be nice if he mourned for me just a bit.’
The Demon Sword Queen whispered this inner desire softly.
Crack-!
Finally, the thunder energy of the Demon Sword Queen crashed against the So Sword Sect’s energy, creating a resonating shockwave.
“…!”
At the moment of contact, the Demon Sword Queen felt it.
She couldn’t win against this energy with her exhausted body.
She would collapse in no time.
Even in that moment, the Demon Sword Queen gazed at the woman beyond the energy.
From the So Sword Sect’s face, drawing energy, the Demon Sword Queen sensed an unbidden hesitation.
If such hesitation hadn’t been present, this battle would never have occurred at all.
“…”
As she looked at the So Sword Sect, a subtle expression of emotion flickered in the Demon Sword Queen’s eyes.
Was it resentment or pity that arose within her?
The Demon Sword Queen could not affirm either of those feelings.
Bam-!
Her toes slipped against the force of energy.
Thud-!
The clash of Sword Intents shattered, scattering into the air.
The wounds on her body gradually opened wider.
The Demon Sword Queen was beginning to sense the end drawing near.
In that moment.
-Right now.
Suddenly, a frantic voice echoed in her ears.
It was the voice of a young boy, not yet ripened.
Though not a voice she was particularly familiar with, for some reason, she—
-Draw your sword!
She had no choice but to heed that voice, as if entranced.
Just as her thunder energy was about to be overwhelmed by the So Sword Sect’s force,
The Demon Sword Queen reached into her pocket and pulled something out.
Rumble! Boom-!
At that moment, a massive bolt of lightning shot into the sky, engulfing everything.
