I Pull Out Excalibur

46 – Demon Knight Bernhagen (4)

The pure white sword energy wrapped around the longsword.

It is a sword energy that is too mighty to be called the level of a sword expert. It is as if it is holding a blade made entirely of light, rather than being enveloped in light.

Incomprehensible output of sword energy.

However, it does not have any special form or nature.

Of course, that’s expected. Nagine is still just a sword expert and has not reached the level of a seeker. The current Nagine has only pushed the output of the sword energy beyond its limit. Only in a way that only he can do.

…Nagine’s mana cultivation method is special.

The mana accumulated in the body is extremely small, and half of the cultivated mana is used to strengthen the body and enhance the flow of mana. This is because there is no need to store mana in the body.

Certainly, Na-jin could immediately use the external mana she absorbed. By drawing in the mana floating in the air, Na-jin could weave it into a sword right away.

The sensation of manipulating mana is different for Na-jin, who deals only with the mana accumulated within her body, compared to others who must handle only the mana stored within them.

‘Because of that.’

Na-jin knows.

‘There are no limits to mana itself.’

External, wandering mana.

A raw flow circulating through the world.

Na-jin, manipulating it, is like standing in the middle of a vast ocean, holding a single cup. She knew that there might not be much seawater she could scoop up with the small vessel yet, but if she expanded the container, she could pour as much water as she wanted.

Here’s the thing.

Just before leaving the underground city, in the decisive battle with Ivan, Na-jin unconsciously recalled something. It was a special technique she had discovered, a unique technique that only Na-jin could perform, an approach to victory that a desire-driven Na-jin had found.

Not pouring water with the vessel.

Jumping towards the sea.

Even if there was a risk of floundering and drowning in the sea, she threw herself into it to seize victory at that very moment. That was the gamble Na-jin had discovered. At this moment, Na-jin threw the same gamble as she did back then.

“You, that…”

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Merlin was perplexed by Na-jin’s mana manipulation.

The path engraved in Na-jin’s body. The mana flow, the mana circuit, began to creak. An overwhelming amount of mana that couldn’t be contained surged into Na-jin’s body.

Mana operation beyond the limit.

The circuit creaks, breaks, and wears out. Mana that couldn’t be completely contained begins to leak. The leaked raw mana rampages, clawing through Na-jin’s body.

Absorbing an unbearable amount of mana.

Stepping beyond the permitted limit.

Instead of destroying the body and circuit, it is an imprudent technique that, without thinking about the consequences, gains overwhelming output. No matter how resilient Excalibur’s recovery is…

“Cough. Cough…”

The pain of the body tearing apart due to the rampaging mana is something only Na-jin must endure. Na-jin coughed up a bit of blood. Her face twisted in pain from the internal agony.

But the hand holding the sword became even stronger.

With bloodshot eyes, Na-jin glared at Bernhagen. The desire for victory reflected in the sunset-colored pupils. Na-jin bit down on it and struck the ground.

“…”

Merlin fell silent.

The technique Na-jin created out of the desire for victory. Coincidentally, it was also something Arthur had used long ago. It was a technique Na-jin never revealed to anyone, and it was not recorded anywhere as a technique.

Having fought against numerous powerful foes, Arthur longed for it.

“The strike that would sink its teeth into the strong, the blow that would shatter the limits imposed upon oneself. Always challenging those stronger, staking life for victory… Arthur’s method forged in the throes of pursuit for victory, even in the bleakest of circumstances.

Even as the mana within surged, tearing the body apart.

Even as circuits sputtered and convulsed.

There was no retreat, only pressing forward, spilling blood, rushing toward the foe, aiming for that neck.

In Merlin’s eyes, Arthur’s image overlapped with that of Najin. No one had taught Najin such methods; it was a single-minded obsession with triumph.

“Truly,” Merlin burst into laughter. “He’s crazier than I thought.”

Najin pounded the ground, charging towards Bernheigen. A flash of blinding white cut through the air.

2.

Bernheigen’s pupils quivered.

A man almost at death’s door suddenly resurrected, not only revived but seemingly stronger, the speed escalating, the blade enwrapped in light surged more aggressively. As if hiding its strength until now.

Kaaang!

The clash of swords pushed Bernheigen back. Despite his sword’s weight and strength, he was overpowered by the force behind Najin’s strike. The tremendous momentum from the blade’s surge pushed Bernheigen’s greatsword aside.

“What’s this…!”

Bernheigen’s eyes widened.

His grip on the sword trembled. Najin’s successive strikes followed. Bernheigen, attempting to shield his neck as before, flinched, realizing he couldn’t withstand this barehanded.

No, it’s impossible to withstand this unarmed.

Finally reacting, Bernheigen twisted his body. Najin’s blade aimed for his throat grazed past Bernheigen’s collarbone. In that instant, Bernheigen confirmed his decision to evade was correct.

Squelch.

The shoulder took a deep gash. If it had been his neck, it would have been nearly halved. Amidst the burning agony of the wound, Bernheigen locked eyes with Najin.

Eyes flickering with dusk’s glow, veins etched in red.

Incredibly ominous pupils. Bernheigen sensed it. The entire situation had shifted. The power behind that blade could rend even his demonized body. He couldn’t rely on his physical defenses anymore.

“What in the world are you?”

Beyond a sword expert.

It was inconceivable that a sword expert could wield such power. Such movements were beyond reason.

“What… in the world.”

Sweat ran down Bernhagen’s spine.

With each clash of swords, as Najin’s sword traced an eerie path and aimed straight for the throat whenever it lunged at him, Bernhagen had to grit his teeth and endure it.

Until now, he had been in a dominant position, toying with Najin.

Now, he had to parry the sword on equal footing.

If he failed, he would die. The stakes were now meaningless. The determinant of victory was skill and instantaneous judgment. Each swing of Najin’s sword was forcing Bernhagen into a struggle between life and death.

Death, blood, and flesh.

Blood splattered. Shredded flesh scattered. Now, it wasn’t just Najin shedding blood. Blood began to spurt from Bernhagen’s body as well.

—

The pursuit party of the demon knight Bernhagen.

At the forefront of the pursuing party, Argo, a knight of the Atanga Order, held the reins of his horse.

The last location where the signal had been caught. As Argo stood there, surveying his surroundings, the sound of swords clashing, “clang, clang,” echoed in his ears. After signaling to the knights following him, he moved toward the source of the sound.

Cutting through the bushes, passing through dense trees, what appeared was an open space artificially created in the middle of the forest.

Torn-out trees scattered haphazardly in the open space. Probably a clearing made by cutting and pulling out trees obstructing sword fights. At a glance, it resembled a dueling ground created in the middle of the forest.

Kaaang!

In that dueling ground, two swordsmen clashed swords. One was Bernhagen, the demon knight pursued by the Atanga Order, and the other was a young man who seemed to be an adventurer.

“Didn’t someone mention an adventurer taking a commission in Cambria?”

It seemed likely that the young man was that adventurer.

Expressing gratitude to the young man who had excellently fulfilled the commission, Argo drew his sword. To ease the young man’s burden and to subdue the demon knight.

As he was about to take a step forward, Argo frowned. He felt discomfort.

Bernhagen’s movements, the aura from Bernhagen’s drawn sword, and the dense magic. The level of Bernhagen, reflected in Argo’s eyes, was much higher than what was known. Was the measurement of strength incorrect? It was surprising, but that part wasn’t the issue.

“Just in case, I moved.”

Argo was a master in the Sword Seeker’s realm.

Moreover, behind him stood proud comrades of the Atanga Order. Even if unexpected variables occurred, he could handle them adequately.

So, Bernhagen’s unexpectedly formidable strength wasn’t the problem, but something else caught Argo’s attention.

It was the movement of the young man clashing swords with Bernhagen. Swinging the sword with a shining white aura, the young man deftly parried Bernhagen’s sword, which was stained black. The output of that aura surprised even Argo, who was in the realm of Sword Seeker.

Shaaa!

Untainted by any impurities, the pure white aura of the sword repeatedly repelled Bernhagen’s darkened sword. Sometimes gently, sometimes boldly. The young man’s steps were light and precise.

Stabbing with the sword without missing any gaps.

Smooth transitions between stances.

Based on the Sword Sect’s swordsmanship, the young man showcased a peculiar technique, blending various sword arts. The most astonishing thing was the young man’s instantaneous judgment, apparent to the observer.

‘Bold.’

Not just simply pushing away.

Boldly digging in, inflicting wounds, never missing an opportunity to rip apart any vulnerability of the opponent. Like a wild beast.

That’s how the youth is facing off against Bernheigen.

Engaged in a duel at an equal position with a presumed demon knight of Sword Cicada level. If he were a skilled fighter, there would be no way for him not to know his own limits, but it was the first time Argo had seen his face. Argo swallowed a breath, looking at the youth’s eyes.

Because of the youth’s pupils.

The eyes that are solely focused on Bernheigen are burning intensely. A fierce longing for victory. A chilling gaze that seems to suck you in.

“······.”

The moment Argo saw those pupils, he wordlessly lowered his sword. He reached out his arm and sent a signal to the Atanga Knights to halt.

With the will to deny the opponent.

While harboring a strong desire for victory.

A clash, giving it their all, with all their strength.

It is something that must not be interfered with or hindered by others. Argo watched the duel between Nagine and Bernheigen, prepared to intervene at any time. No, it wasn’t just watching. It was something stolen. His gaze.

The young man is swinging a raw sword.

An unrefined, incomplete raw swordsmanship and blade. However, it steals the gaze precisely because of that. There was an intensity that could only be felt in the unrefined rawness.

Kaa, gagagagagagak!

The blades clashed and sparks erupted. Blood splattered from where the blade grazed and, hitting the splattered light from the sword, it spluttered and evaporated.

Splattering blood.

The sound of the blades colliding.

Tangled footsteps.

The perfectly balanced scale gradually begins to tilt towards Nagine’s side. Unlike Bernheigen, who is merely making stationary movements, Nagine is growing even within the battle.

Quach!

Bernheigen’s great sword tore through the ground. At the moment the dull impact shook the ground, Nagine’s feet were already off the ground. Nagine leaped lightly, twirling his body, and as he landed, he swung his longsword towards Bernheigen’s sword.

Kaaang!

Striking the great sword that was embedded in the ground with his longsword, he drove it even deeper. Then, Nagine swung his longsword along the slanted face of the great sword. With a scratching sound, the swinging sword aims for Bernheigen’s neck.

“···Guh!”

In a hurry, Bernheigen let go of the great sword and reached out his hand to grab Nagine’s sword···.

Sergeok.

But Nagine’s blade is already at a level where resistance is futile. The moment Bernheigen’s palm touches the blade as he reaches out, it is cut off. From the little finger to the index finger. Nagine’s blade, cutting through flesh and bone, emerged without any decrease in speed.

As Nagine’s blade, evaporating splattering blood, advances, it is about to touch Bernheigen’s neck.

Bernhagen sensed his own defeat. He felt the inevitable death approaching. And so, he pulled out the move he had hidden until the very end.

“—————————!”

Bernhagen screamed.

His pupils inverted, and in an instant, a black smoke surged from Bernhagen’s body. The smoke that burst out in that fleeting moment swallowed both Nagine and Bernhagen.

Even the knights of the Atanga Order, who were watching the scene, couldn’t react to what happened in that moment.

3.

The move that Bernhagen had concealed until the end.

It was a move that he had saved in preparation for a battle against the knights of the Atanga Order. Because he could only use it once.

The power obtained through a contract with a demon.

The power that he borrowed for this one and only opportunity.

Bernhagen used it to kill Nagine. Because he was certain that if he didn’t use it, he would die. Bernhagen’s face contorted with anger.

“It was not meant for scum like you.”

An artifact managed by the Schauhauscher family for generations.

Although it was known to the public as an artifact imbued with a low-ranking demon, Bernhagen knew that the demon imbued in it was not just any ordinary existence.

Hundreds of years ago, in ancient times.

The entity imbued in the artifact was an ancient demon that was active during that time. After stealing the sacred texts of the Schauhauscher family and discovering this fact, Bernhagen plundered the artifact and made a contract with the demon imbued within.

Darkness and fear. The demon symbolizing the blind.

The ancient demon, Arcand.

Its power manifested through Bernhagen’s hands. The surging black mist transformed into a dome-shaped barrier in an instant, trapping Nagine and Bernhagen within.

The original Arcand would have been able to engulf an entire small territory, but the scope that Bernhagen could unleash was limited to this. However, even this alone was enough, Bernhagen knew.

The range of the barrier was limited to this.

But the nature of the barrier was the same.

“Complete isolation from the outside. The creation of a completely sealed space where not even starlight can reach…”

And the amplification of magic. In an instant, Bernhagen’s wounds all healed. The flesh swelled, and the severed fingers that had turned black were regenerated. He was filled with power throughout his body, and his physical abilities were unmatched compared to just moments ago.

The greatsword he raised shimmered with a black blade.

Within this space, Bernhagen had an overwhelming advantage. Even if his opponent was the knights of the Atanga Order, he was confident that he wouldn’t be at a disadvantage. No, Bernhagen was certain that they wouldn’t even be able to be his opponents.

A sense of omnipotence enveloped his body.

The overwhelming power felt.

Bernhagen turned up the corners of his mouth and looked at Nagine. The shining black blade of Nagine was also obscured by the darkness brought by the barrier and was fading away. That blade would never ignite again. This barrier would strengthen Bernhagen and weaken his opponent at the same time.

“It ends here. Fool.”

Bernhagen looked at Najin, his mouth twisted in a sneer. In the darkness created by the devil, the light forged by a mere human seemed insignificant. Najin’s appearance, extinguishing the pale radiance as if it could vanish at any moment, was pitiful beyond measure.

Bernhagen was confident of his victory.

As he pondered how to crush Najin, considering the wretched fate he would inflict upon the arrogant man, Bernhagen took steps towards Najin.

“······.”

Bernhagen locked eyes with Najin.

There was no fear in those pupils, no tremor. Unparalleled tranquility radiated from his eyes. Bernhagen felt a sense of discomfort in those eyes.

······Were they always this color?

Najin’s eyes, which were undoubtedly a sunset hue just moments ago, now shimmered with a platinum sheen.

Like the stars in the night sky.

– Finally, I’ve written it.

Merlin’s voice echoed in Najin’s ears.

The voice was filled with laughter.