Chapter 661 – The Difference Between Conqueror and Power

000

A quiet plain and a small hill above it.

Because it was a bit far from the beaten path, people’s feet rarely touched it. This hill is visited only by those who occasionally bring money bags from the store.

Knowingly or unknowingly, it was called ‘the hill where gold coins are buried’, and there were rumors that the Dark Dragon Company was hiding a large amount of gold coins on this hill.

Some people suspected that the Amryong Sanghoe was using this remote hill to evade taxes, but most people believed that the Amryong Sanghoe denied the rumors.

Above all, the palace, which did not move even after hearing such rumors, guaranteed their trust.

However, since there are as many thoughts as there are people, there are also fools who do not trust such merchants or royal palaces and set out to find treasure with their own hands.

Even if you climb a hill with a shovel and dig as hard as you can, what comes out is dirt, stones, and something made of metal.

It may have been a safe, but even when I looked for it, I couldn’t find anything like an entrance and there was no way to break through the metal.

I soon give up and go back because of the ‘Gyaaaaa’ scream that I hear occasionally.

And then they spread the rumor once again.

There are no treasures or gold coins hidden in the hill, but the ghost of a young girl who died young lives there.

It is said that the Amryong Sanghoe is burying money on that hill in order to calm and appease the vengeful spirit.

People ignore those who say such nonsense, but thanks to this, the number of people visiting the hill has decreased, something the company was thankful for.

Even though the company did not know that the scream was actually the sound of an elf who had suffered mental damage from being unable to withstand the bullying of the men and women who were secretly watching her with her camera.

Anyway.

History repeats itself, and such idiots will continue to come after that, but I was fortunate that there were no such idiots today.

Because─

Thump… Thump… When you think of how many times it sounded as if something had happened under the ground, like an earthquake.

Quang! And, with an intense explosion that shook the heavens and earth, the bottom of the hill burst open, and something huge, in the shape of a human, burst through the ground.

Haha!!＂

And just like that, a high-pitched, booming laugh.

Looking at the fact that it was flowing out from the mouth of something that protruded from the basement of the hill, the thing that was sticking out was, of course, a person.

It was an impossible leap.

And, soaring into the sky as if chasing after him, was another swordsman.

Surrendering yourself to the rush of magical power, you swing the black magic sword with momentum, and the giant floating in the sky blocks the sword with an axe.

＂You are quick to judge the situation, Captain! It’s a natural tactic to weaken a vampire by dragging it out into the daylight!”

“If you’re a vampire, you should turn to ash the moment you step out into the sunlight, you damned bastard…!”

Originally, Berlin would have slowly burned down from the point where it was exposed to sunlight, turning into ashes.

However, by absorbing the blood of a giant, he was able to cover areas exposed to sunlight with a hard, rock-like shell, protecting his true skin inside.

Moreover, since he is wearing a more solid black armor, sunlight cannot reach his real skin.

Immediately after the battle began, Cleon probably decided that it was dangerous to deal with Berlin’s axe swinging in a narrow space.

He immediately poured magic into the ceiling, creating a hole, and at the same time, magical energy wrapped around his body and threw him into the ceiling.

It was a pity for Kanon, but fighting while protecting her while she was unconscious was a huge handicap in fighting Beirlin.

That’s because the ax he uses – ‘Parash’ – creates a huge slash that seems to embody the power of tearing down a mountain and the force of covering the world every time it is swung.

“Then, this time it’s my turn!”

Seeing him talking excitedly as if he couldn’t bear it any longer, Cleon uses magic to paralyze his body against his armor to block his actions.

Puzzle! He thought that black lightning had struck, but Baylin opened her mouth as if such magic did not work on her.

＂It’s no use! Such a talent! What do you think you can do with this body and armor!”

＂Ugh!＂

In the end, his ax can be swung even through the interference of Cleon’s magic.

If you think that a dark red energy is on his axe, the energy spreads out around him randomly, like when you put a paint brush in a bucket of water.

If you think that the entire energy, which has grown to a certain extent, turns into a slash with a cutting power similar to that of the ax wielded by Berlin – no, even greater than that – then evasion would be impossible for a being skilled in transfer magic, except for a wizard.

Looking at the mass of energy that had turned into a giant’s grip, Cleon had to protect himself with Galatea and at the same time deploy a magical barrier to block it.

Haha!!＂

When Berlin’s roar rings out and his ax swings.

A strong impact struck Cleon from the front, and even before his flight magic was released, he was pushed by the slashing wave and fell straight to the ground without resistance.

And again, a loud sound rang out, and his body crashed into the ground.

Enduring the pain that shook his entire body, Cleon somehow tried to get up.

[How does that guy move after receiving magic…?! It doesn’t mean that magic doesn’t work, right?]

When an incredulous voice comes from Galatea, whom Cleon had pinned to the ground to support his body, Cleon shakes his head.

[The magic clearly worked. His body must have been paralyzed-]

What was lacking was not magical firepower.

Although his armor was certainly strong, it was not the type of magic that completely blocked magic.

What would make such a thing possible would be full-body armor made of a rare metal with the highest level of magic resistance, such as mithril.

He manipulated the blood flow through his paralyzed body and forced his body to move.

If you ask how that is possible, the only answer is because he is a vampire.

Of course, abnormal blood flow is fatal to the human body, but the reason he had no problems was largely due to being of that race.

An immortal monster that is impervious to human common sense.

That is the original appearance of a vampire.

＂You didn’t just throw it away!?!＂

And, as if not giving Cleon time to regroup, Berlin falls to the ground swinging his ax once again.

A powerful blow that carried all the weight of that massive body, unlike the check just before, contained such a dangerous power that it could bury everything in one blow.

Cleon looks up at him and takes a small, deep breath.

In his memory, there was only one thing that prevented Berlin’s attack with all its might.

There was only Pandora, a magical sword with overwhelming power wielded by Cain.

Even Lesia was unable to bring out 100% of the power of the Holy Sword Kaladbolg when fighting against Berlin, so she avoided direct confrontation and attacked when there was an opening.

[Go Galatea.]

[─I guess imitating that guy doesn’t feel very good.]

The next moment, as a large amount of dark magic poured into Galatea’s sword, Berlin’s eyes changed.

Then, he opens his mouth wide and laughs again, as if he had been waiting for it.

Cleon grimaced as if he was displeased, and instead of concentrating the magic power contained in the sword in one place, he spread the magic power as much as possible to form a shape.

Just like Berlin did just a moment ago.

And in the next moment, when both men’s weapons are swung towards each other at the same time, a huge grip appears from Berlin’s axe.

And then, a black beast came out from Cleon’s magic sword and clashed as if devouring each other’s magic power.

As the same level of magical energy is canceled out, it loses its power and becomes powerless, scattering in all directions.

And what was left was, in a way, a unity that was suitable for the ‘original warriors’ battle’, consisting of only pure muscle strength and the strength of the weapons.

Kaang! With a sound, Berlin’s ax crashed into Galatea.

Cleon was able to block the powerful force coming from Berlin’s large body and the blow with all his weight, barely supporting the sword with both arms.

＂Ugh…!!＂

＂What are you saying, boss? Of course, you knew how to do it! Yes, the magical beast that destroys everything is the force of destruction I long for!”

To Cleon, who felt like his arm was going to give out just from enduring his blows, Berlin was smiling and talking as if he was happy.

[Not yet!? Those kids are so slow!]

[Wait… It will be soon…]

When he hears Galatea’s complaining voice in his head, Cleon calms her down while reminding himself that his role is to wait until the other three finish preparing.

However, for his sake, he must do his best without sparing the cards in his hands.

Therefore, even though Cleon has not recovered all the magic he consumed a little while ago, he once again draws black magic from his magic organ and covers his entire body with it.

As the magic power gathered in the form of black armor enveloped his body, the eyes behind the black helmet gave off a white glow.

The change in the structure of the power struggle, which had not been pushed back even an inch, occurred at the same time that Cleon wrapped himself in that black magical armor.

Berlin, who was watching with interest as Cleon’s appearance changed, hears the ax screaming with a ‘kkkk sound’ and slowly realizes that the blade is being pushed towards him.

“Okay. I’ll be disappointed if you don’t fight me with all my might…!”

On the contrary, he seemed to like the fact that Cleon was doing everything he could, and burst into laughter that he couldn’t hide.

At the same time, Cleon’s sword, Kang! If you completely remove his shaft while making a sound.

Both arms holding the ax are lifted, and Berlin’s abdomen becomes empty.

And toward that place, Cleon threw a roundhouse kick, sending him flying beyond the forest on the hill.

The armor covering the abdomen cracks, and considerable damage is done to Berlin’s body.

If it were an ordinary person, his internal organs might have ruptured, but Beirlin held on with extraordinary tenacity and struck the ground with his ax to prevent his body from flipping backwards.

However, Cleon’s attacks continued without a break.

Magic in the shape of a black spear flew toward Berlin from afar.

Knowing full well that if it pierces the body, manipulating the blood flow alone will not be enough to move the body, Berlin swings an ax to kick it away.

At the same time, when Cleon’s sword, which rushed in like a cannonball, swung towards the empty side, Berlin was more than willing to defend it.

He brought down the ax he had raised and aimed for Cleon’s shoulder.

Kwazijic! A sound was heard from both sides.

The two men’s weapons went straight to where each other was aiming, breaking the armor and causing damage to the body inside.

Both weapons must have had each other’s blood on them.

However, it would not be possible to say which side suffered greater damage.

＂Haha…!＂

It was Baylin who laughed, but his body staggered when he saw that his side had been torn apart.

At the same time, Cleon also stepped back as he saw the blood flowing from his shoulder.

The one with shallow wounds is Cleon, who evaded the attack right before the attack and used magic to reduce the damage.

I consider myself lucky that the ax’s blade did not touch my shoulder bone, and drink a potion to save my magic power.

However, once Beirlin’s severed side was quickly regenerated using the vampire’s regenerative power, both men’s wounds were restored to their original state.

And between the two, there was a moment of silence.

The situation is restored to its original state except for both parties consuming magical power.

Of course, in Beirlin’s case, some of the armor covering his body was damaged.

That wasn’t a problem at all.

That’s why he grabbed the ax again and struck down his weapon with a loud sound, as if he was going to crush Cleon with that force.

“Okay. You have to feel the blood spurting and the flesh being torn apart, this is a real battle!”

What followed was a battle that could only be described as a melee.

If Cleon’s sword tilts his sword and pulls his body back a little, as if cutting down Beylin’s ax blade.

Thanks to the weight of the ax he swung, the center of his body was tilted forward.

Cleon, who let go of the attack, stepped on the back of the ax blade to prevent her from lifting the ax, and then stabbed Baylin in the shoulder with the magic sword.

Blood gushes out from Berlin’s body, and Cleon uses his sword to cut off that part.

But Beirlin let go of his axe, grabbed Cleon by the neck, and lifted him up.

Even as he looked down at Veirin, who was trying to strangle him with the armor around his neck with a strong grip, Cleon did not let go of the Galatea he was holding in his hand.

When the magic armor protecting Cleon was about to break, making a crackling sound, sparks flew out from Cleon’s body.

Then, Cleon’s body disappeared before Berlin’s eyes, and the next moment, Cleon appeared behind Berlin.

‘Transition? No, it wasn’t a movement of magical power…’

Cleon, who escaped from Berlin’s grasp due to the effect of ‘Distortion’, which consumes a large amount of magical power, grabs Galatea and stabs Berlin in the back from behind.

Kwasik!

Veirlin coughs blood from her mouth as she sees her blade sticking out of her own stomach, but laughs as if even that is funny.

The next moment, when he thought his body had scattered and turned into a black fog, countless blades came out from the black fog that seemed to surround Cleon and attacked Cleon.

His body transformed into fog, and his entire body was a weapon that could not be held.

＂Flame Burst!＂

The next moment, when the flame magic of the chantless chant was activated from Cleon’s mouth, a shock wave of high heat erupted in all directions around him.

Grumble! The flames spread out, igniting the surrounding bushes and trees and starting to burn them.

Berlin, which had become lighter by becoming fog, was greatly dispersed by the effect and fell from Cleon’s body, but it soon regrouped a short distance away and returned to its original form.

＂Your talent has improved, Captain! In the past, you didn’t borrow anyone’s strength and cut down everything with just that damn strong sword! It only looks weak… In the end, power is something you have to wield yourself!”

Cleon takes his sword back and takes a stance while looking at Berlin, who denies that borrowing the power of others is not Cleon’s power.

“There is a limit to one person’s power.”

Beirlin snorted at Cleon’s words, spreading his hands and mocking Cleon.

“Where have all the girls who were with the captain gone? He couldn’t keep up with our fight, so he ran away! Even the weak scumbags in the kingdom did the same. Even if he falls, his colleagues will do something. That’s just the cry of the weak and useless.”

“… I don’t plan on falling down, though.”

However, with the continuous consumption of magical power exceeding the recovery rate, maintaining the black armor covering his body was gradually becoming difficult.

＂Bluff… When the magic power runs out, the loser is the captain. You will regret it when the time comes. About not returning as the Demon Sword Emperor Cain.”

Cleon thinks he needs to use a magic potion to restore his magic, and reaches for the belt where he hung his potion.

But there is no potion that should be there, and when you look up and see Berlin.

Suddenly, he was holding a potion bottle in his hand that seemed to be his.

Probably, it was stolen from his belt when it was fogged.

Then, Baylin dropped it on the ground and stomped on it with his feet.

“It’s annoying when you keep recovering during battle.”

＂Ha…＂

Cleon burst out laughing as if he was dumbfounded by his words.

He uses potions himself, but he is recovering with his racial characteristics.

“How much is left? 30%? 20%? Well, either way is fine. In the end, a captain who is not the Demon Sword Emperor can only do so much. It wasn’t even worth jumping over.”

＂…＂

Cleon listened to his words and slowly lowered his sword.

Then, looking at him who seems to have suddenly stopped fighting, Berlin twitches his eyebrows.

＂What are you doing?＂

“I’m sorry, but this is the end. I mean hanging out with you.”

When Cleon’s words rang like that, the next moment.

A wall of black magic appeared surrounding the hill where Cleon and Berlin stood.

＂Hmm!?＂

When it appeared as if rising from the ground and finally covered the ceiling, it became like a barrier had spread inside, completely blocking the outside and inside.

＂This is… ＂

＂The reason I poured out so much magic power. It was just a diversionary operation to prevent you from noticing the unfolding of this barrier.”

＂What?＂

After listening to Cleon, he heard that this black wall was a barrier, so he picked up an ax and tried to swing it at the wall.

However, the surface of the barrier, which was thought to be just a black wall, slowly began to glow like a crack, and soon, intense light burst out with a dizzying pattern like the stained-glass of a cathedral, surrounding Berlin.

＂Keuuuuu! What the hell is this light…!”

Berlin, kneeling and enduring pain.

The sacred light, more intense than the sunlight that could not harm him originally, was slowly burning his body.

＂Ah~ah~. Originally, I didn’t want to use it in a place like this…”

Then, the person who walked in from outside the barrier was Illenu, holding a scroll in her hand that was slowly turning into ash and disappearing.

“I’ll charge you for this.”

A requiem barrier that destroys malicious beings, such as vampires, that play with the human soul.

What she was holding in her hand was a scroll containing ancient sacred magic, a kind of trump card that she had kept hidden.

According to her, she had previously purchased it at a high price from a guardian of secret knowledge who lives hidden in the forests of the high mountains of the continent.

She always kept it hidden in her arms to use when she encountered a vampire that she couldn’t do anything about with her own powers.

This was what she conveyed in her head during the confrontation between Cleon and Veirlin.

Aine and Draine leave the battlefield with Kanon and control people so that they do not come near.

Illenu continued to chant the scroll with a very long preparation time during the battle between Cleon and Berlin.

Cleon then speaks while looking at Berlin suffering from the light.

“Clearly. Right now, I’m probably weaker than the Demon Sword Emperor Cain. Compared to you, my physical abilities will be as clear as the difference between a human and a vampire.”

Cleon never thought of himself as strong.

Even if he thought he needed more strength to protect his comrades.

“My colleagues ran away? “That’s of no use?”

Cleon returned exactly what Veirlin had said earlier and pointed his sword at him.

＂The most useless thing in the world… Is a guy who runs rampant, believing only in his own strength. The Demon Sword Emperor and guys like you.”

＂…!＂

Beirlin became very angry at Cleon’s words, and with that anger endured the pain of her light, picked up the ax that had fallen next to her, and rushed towards Cleon.

Ilenu looked a little surprised at what happened so quickly, but Cleon grabbed the magic sword Galatea.

The moment I encountered him, I swung my sword.

The light containing two bloody blows swung in front of each other.

‘Kwasik’

The sound was heard from the blade of the ax that Berlin was holding.

It could not reach Cleon’s body, whose black armor had been removed, and was torn apart.

At the same time, Berlin’s body – the upper and lower parts are separated from the waist, the upper body falls to the ground, and the lower body loses strength and collapses on the spot.

In contrast, Cleon swung his sword once, as if shaking off Galatea’s blood, without any wounds on his body.

I was looking at Berlin that had fallen to the ground.

＂Damn… Damn…!＂

Cursing words coming out of Berlin’s mouth.

From the moment he came to Cleon alone, regardless of whether he had power or not.

The winner and loser were decided from the beginning.