Chapter 956 – Most Valuable Guarantee

000

Lesia competed with the Demon Sword Emperor three times.

At first, Lesia knew nothing and was still in a weak state when she had just obtained the holy sword.

I heard that she suffered a crushing defeat that is difficult to express in words.

No, it would be embarrassing to even call it a defeat.

There wasn’t even a match, so there was no winner or loser, there were just those who ran away and those who remained.

At the time, the hero party consisted of only two people, Lesia and Esca, and Lesia had not yet demonstrated her skills as a legendary warrior, so people said that it was inevitable.

However, Esca secretly told Cleon that Lesia had been sick for several days because of her resentment at her own helplessness that she could not do anything even though the person who had ordered her hometown to be burned was in front of her.

As to how he was able to survive even in such a situation, it was said that it was thanks to the sacrifice of the unknown adventurers who were with him for a while.

In any case, the result left a deep scar on Resia’s heart that she could never forget, and from then on, she continued her journey by constantly training herself to come up with a way to defeat the Demon Sword Emperor.

The second match is after Lesia’s entire party has gathered.

At that time, a party made up of only unprecedentedly great and powerful heroes called Resia, Esca, Talchek, and Sophia fought against the Demon Sword Emperor, and the battle ended in a draw.

That’s because the party knew from the beginning that they couldn’t defeat the Demon Sword Emperor with their current strength, and their goal was to bide their time in order to save the people from the city attacked by the empire.

While her empire’s assassins were targeting her, Lesia had been hiding her identity at Sofia’s suggestion, but this time, her imperial army was trying to draw her out by launching an indiscriminate attack on the city where she was likely to be. It was an attempt.

In the end, despite the dissuasion of her colleagues, Resia revealed her identity and summoned the imperial army to her side, while trying to buy time for the residents of her city to flee her refuge.

However, even Sage Sophia could not have predicted that the Demon Sword Emperor would appear there in person.

It is said that the demon sword emperor Cain, who came directly to the battlefield wielding the black demon sword Pandora, was literally a living death itself.

His only interest was killing Lesia, but each time he swung his sword, the powerful magical blades caused massive destruction, collapsing buildings and castle walls.

In the end, after an attack that left about 70% of the city in ruins, the hero party, which was almost dead, was able to escape thanks to Sophia’s strategy that took advantage of the emperor’s opportunity.

It was close to a rout, but as a result, they were able to prevent the imperial troops from murdering the city’s residents, and in the process, Lesia left a shallow wound on Cain and felt part of the possibility of victory over the Demon Sword Emperor, who seemed invincible. .

And after that, the final duel with the Demon Sword Emperor in the Battle of Storm of Annihilation, which is considered the highlight of Hero Resia’s heroic story.

While other party members buy time, Lesia and Cain engage in a 1:1 duel without everyone else’s intervention, and ultimately Lesia wins.

And, at the same time as the long war with the empire ended, the evil relationship between Hero Resia and Cain also ended.

The reason Cain was defeated there was because between the second and third duels, Lesia had grown beyond Cain’s imagination.

What exists between the second duel and the final battle is the story of when the hero party visited Fairy Village.

The part where Lesia’s growth curve, which was already steep, changed to almost vertical.

And, right before our eyes, the person who contributed to Lesia’s growth was none other than Melusine.

＇Read the opponent’s movements through magical power. It’s a very simple thing, but if you train it further, you can even slightly read the future.’

– This is what Melusine said.

And, even though Lesia did not reach the same level as Meluzin, she was able to acquire abilities that were close to hers to some extent.

If so, she thinks that even as Cleon, she must learn that ability.

At the same time-

“Great. Let’s shift gears to the next level.”

＂Sleep…!＂

Go go!

She disappeared from the spot where Melusin was standing just moments ago, leaving no afterimage of her.

At first glance, it may seem close to ‘transfer’, but she did not use such magic, but simply kicked the ground and moved at a speed that even Cleon’s eyes could not keep up with.

Movement using frozen scaffolding was still bothering Cleon.

Moreover, in order to prevent the ice from surrounding her like before, Cleon was also unable to stand still.

If she does not continue to move at a speed similar to hers as much as possible, even the fire magic that is effective in impeding her movement will be sealed due to the magic area created by the ice sheet that spread out like before.

＂1, 2, 3, 4. 1, 2, 3, 4.＂

And, the number that follows with a steady beat echoing from her mouth.

The speed is a very leisurely 4/4 beat compared to the fleeting moments of a duel between masters.

So, if it was a friendly lesson where you swing the sword at that speed, it wasn’t like that. Cleon felt like he was going crazy, wondering how many times the sound of swords coming together and falling would be heard in between the rhythm that came out of his mouth. .

Truly, an extremely fast sword.

In general, there is a strong perception that a quick sword is light, but its speed is shocking.

Even though Cleon’s arms and shoulders were screaming from earlier, she somehow managed to focus on blocking her sword by turning her body as well, each time she turned to her side.

She chased Cleon at high speed, and it was a wonder why her arms could move as fast as her legs.

However, in the process, Cleon was also learning a little something.

As she used magic poetry as she said and raised her concentration to the extreme, little by little, her movements began to appear.

If you were to ask whether body vision had developed in such a short period of time, it wasn’t so-

As I said, I started to read the other person’s intentions by reading the fluctuations of magic power caused by emotions.

Is this really the feeling?

However, this did not mean that it was a leisurely class where she could learn and put to use right away in her actual battles, so when Melusine thought that Cleon had gotten used to her speed, she immediately upped her gear and put more pressure on Cleon.

[Cleon! Are you going to just suffer like this!?]

[There may be a need to counterattack…]

And then, towards Cleon, who was only able to resist through defense, Galatea and Caliban also voiced their voices as if they were reaching their limits.

Since they are not ordinary swords, they are unlikely to break or lose their blades, but that is only when the magic power is intact.

There was a limit even to the two who had deflected the frozen sword hundreds of times, maybe thousands of times.

[I know…! But you should learn what you can learn…!]

Even as Cleon responded to the two, he had to be thinking about ways to subdue her in his head.

Otherwise, Galatea and Caliburn might go on strike one day.

“You’re not this tired, right? Your speed doesn’t seem to have increased after dropping that special sheath.”

＂… Of course.＂

Seeing Cleon’s expression, Melusine spoke to him as if provoking her, and Cleon silenced her for a moment after hearing that, then nodded as if it was natural.

Meanwhile, the sword was being swung so fast that it hurt her ears, but she wasn’t even breathing.

If she were to ask who would be stronger, her or her Tal Check, she would not be mistaken in honestly feeling that it would be difficult to determine the superiority.

How can I subdue her, who is fast and heavy and can even read her movements to a certain extent?

＂…＂

After Cleon thought that far, an idea flashed through her head, hitting her brain like a lightning bolt.

And, in order to make her idea come true, Cleon decides to distance himself from her.

Of course, he also calculated that it would be more efficient to push the opponent away than to move.

If she could read the future-

＂Galatea, please do me a favor.＂

[Are you really planning on doing this…? Ha…]

To Cleon’s request, Galatea responded as if she was dumbfounded, and Cleon threw the sword he was holding into the sky.

Caliburn spins around and rises into the air.

Melusine also became wary after seeing Cleon’s quirky behavior, but soon tried to attack Cleon again, as if he didn’t think it had any intention or meaning.

But the next moment, Cleon threw even the remaining Galatea into the sky.

＂!＂

Even if you were Melusine, you couldn’t help but be embarrassed when you saw that.

However, Cleon’s body becomes defenseless.

Although it is protected by magic, the body’s defense by magic will not last long, and if Cleon continues to be cut down like this, Cleon will definitely fall.

Before Cleon can pull out the third sword from his waist, he cuts him down!

“… That’s it!”

With that in mind, Melusine’s sword swung, and it was just before it touched Cleon.

Melusine had to hurriedly retreat due to the powerful flow of magical energy felt in the sky.

What fell was a rain of countless arrows.

Suddenly where? If you think and look up at the sky-

There, a blonde girl with shining wings was holding a black bow and aiming it at the ground.

[Meteor shower in the sky…!]

Melusine predicts through magical power.

What this means is that she cannot react with foresight to attacks that occur outside of her field of vision.

So, Cleon sent Caliburn and Galatea out of her sight and attacked her from a direction she could not foresee.

Thanks to this, Melusin’s judgment was momentarily delayed, and she had to retreat behind her to avoid the rain of arrows.

＂… Then-!＂

However, we cannot just leave like this.

Melusine flew her frozen sword towards Caliburn and Galatea in the sky.

＂Oh, it’s dangerous~＂

Caliburn saw this and immediately returned to her original form, the Holy Sword. While free-falling with Galatea, she was struck by the frozen sword and flew far away, falling to the ground.

Moreover, after sticking to the ground, the ground was frozen, and it was impossible to move.

[Now, wait! If I get stuck here like this…]

[Cleon has to fight without us~]

[What are you talking about so carelessly!? It’s a big deal!]

Such a voice reaches here, but Cleon temporarily disconnects from the two swords even after hearing it.

This is because from now on, no thoughts or voices should be left within oneself.

Cleon took advantage of Meluzin’s retreat and took a stance with a slash in his hand.

Slash probably felt it too, but even though she was now in Cleon’s hand, she didn’t say anything.

The posture wasn’t much different from Cleon’s so far – but something felt different.

＂…＂

Melusin also changed her expression when she saw Cleon like that.

The pattern in her eyes shines brightly, reading the magic flowing through Cleon’s body – but Cleon’s will is not visible in her eyes.

“… Indeed. You also reach the same conclusion as ‘Lesia’.”

So saying, she did not lunge straight at Cleon, but stepped behind her, and placed her hands on the ground.

Then, except for the exact location where Cleon was standing, all the ground froze and turned into ice.

Now, there was no need to surround him and continue to attack him with swords.

All that’s left is one collision.

In one of her most powerful strikes, Melusine slid across the ice and began spinning around Cleon.

The more she slips, the faster she speeds.

Fast, even faster.

Now, when only an afterimage of her appearance remains, Melusine turns towards Cleon without any warning, and she rushes straight towards him.

This is her five intentions.

Melusine’s strike becomes the strongest spear that pierces any enemy and finishes off the enemy with one blow.

And Cleon, who confronted him, also did not miss her movements until the end, but-

His mind was clearer and more empty than ever before.

The countermeasure to her foresight that Cleon came up with was not that difficult.

If you can let the fluctuations of your emotions read your thoughts – all you have to do is feel nothing, think nothing, and just be a sword.

One sword, one sword, one sword, one sword, one star.

I was finally able to understand the meaning of the word Talcheck was talking about.

He, too, had noticed that Resia could read her own movements through the fluctuations of her magic power, and he had found a way to hide the flow by suppressing her own emotions during her true sword battle. 〉

Really, I still didn’t know how many steps ahead the teacher was.

I gave up even that thought.

Cleon turned her body toward the direction Melusin was running in and swung her sword at the right time.

Moment.

The very moment when a blue flash and a red flash collide.

Quad Deuk! The thing that breaks while making a sound is-

That is, the frozen sword in Melusine’s hand and the armor covering her shoulders.

And, at the same time, Cleon’s cheek and side are scratched by the flying fragments, but they do not result in fatal wounds.

Melusine moves backwards as she passes by Cleon, takes a deep breath for a moment, and then looks back at Cleon.

And, he was talking to Cleon while looking at the broken sword and shoulder armor.

＂… It’s my defeat. That was a great response. Demonic swordsman.”

＂…＂

If Cleon had not stopped his sword just before that, Melusine’s shoulder would have been cut off and her arm would have been lying on the ground.

When he looked back at Melusine, she was talking to Cleon with a small smile.

“Also. You, too, can become a swordsman like Lesia.”

To Cleon, she gave her utmost praise, and his final ordeal by her finally came to an end.