I Pull Out Excalibur

47 – Demon Knight Bernhagen (5)

Demon Knight Bernhagen.

The family he belonged to was Schauzer. The artifact containing a demon, known to be plundered by Bernhagen, was also something the Schauzer family had managed for centuries.

The information in the commission.

From the moment Merlin verified that information.

Merlin saw through everything about the demon Bernhagen had contracted, what kind of entity it was, and what concepts it governed. There was no room for ignorance. The Schauzer family existed even in the era when Merlin was active.

– A higher-level demon.

– Governs concepts of darkness, fear, blindness.

– The true name is Arkand.

An ancient demon that existed hundreds of years ago when Merlin and Arthur were active. Smiling as he recalled information about that demon, Merlin thought about Arkand.

Arkand is a powerful demon.

There is no denying that fact.

Even if it was sealed and weakened over hundreds of years, the power Arkand possessed was nothing to scoff at. From the moment he used his powers, Najin could never defeat Bernhagen. If he dared to challenge, he would only meet a gruesome death.

Inside the barrier, Bernhagen possessed a power that overwhelmed even the upper-middle ranks of Sword Seeker. In contrast, Najin’s body weakened, and mana output decreased.

A barrier that weakens the opponent and strengthens oneself.

Within that barrier, Najin could never defeat Bernhagen.

It was an absolute gap, a rule.

Yet, Merlin did not stop Najin, letting him choose to confront Bernhagen head-on, and the reason for that was······

-The power of Arcane is a complete detachment from the outside world.

This is due to the nature of Arcane’s abilities.

-No one can peer into it, creating a space of one’s own is the essence of Arcane’s power.

A space completely severed from the outside.

A sealed space untouched by starlight, sunlight, or anything else. Within that space, knights wielding swords, invoking the blessings of the stars, lose their light, and wizards wielding magic with the support of the abyss become utterly powerless.

That is why Arcane gained its notorious reputation.

But for Najin, that barrier meant something entirely different. Being cut off from the outside. The gaze of the external world not reaching. Isolation in that space. That’s what it meant for Najin…

-Without eyes to see.

-But demons to face.

It meant no longer needing to conceal his power.

-Tell the ancient demon.

Merlin smiled.

Najin slowly lowered his sword.

-That your nemesis has returned.

With a clank, Najin sheathed the longsword. Then, Najin extended his hand towards the sky.

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-After a thousand years, your nemesis, the existence that will only bring you eternal death, has returned.

The hand raised towards the sky.

The constellation engraved on his wrist shone.

…I say it again.

Within the barrier, Najin cannot defeat Bernhagen. It’s an absolute gap, a rule of the barrier.

But Najin possesses it.

The existence that surpasses all rules. The colossal variable that will overturn every gap. The brilliant light that will not be overshadowed by the darkness created by demons.

Snap.

Najin clenched the raised hand.

Twelve constellations emerged in the empty space.

Immediately after, starlight overflowed from the darkness.

2.

The demonic knight, Bernhagen, witnessed it.

The sight of Najin suddenly sheathing his sword. Yielding to the approaching enemy? No, judging by the look in his eyes, he didn’t seem to have given up.

Those eyes still thirsted for victory.

The obsession for victory was evident in his eyes. Platinum-colored eyes that didn’t lose their shine even in the darkness. It was the moment when Bernhagen felt a sense of discomfort upon seeing Najin’s eyes change from sunset red to platinum.

Najin reached his hand towards the sky.

In the moment when the thirteen stars engraved on his wrist shone, starlight overflowed from the darkness.

Hwack!

Not even the darkness that swallows light could cover the starlight created by Najin. At this moment, what he held was a light that could not be hidden by anything.

Even in the depths beneath the land untouched by starlight.

Even in the battlefield where demons ran rampant.

Even in Kamran, the land where the stars fall.

It was a symbol of heroism, illuminating the path for humanity… and also the symbol of victory: the spear of light, Excalibur.

Snap.

In the moment when Najin clenched his hand reaching towards the sky, the overflowing starlight turned into a spear. A spear that shone alone, consuming the surrounding darkness. Bernhagen couldn’t help but recognize it.

The Sword of Stars, Excalibur.

The holy sword that had been forgotten for hundreds of years was brought into reality by the hands of a young boy.

Bernhagen’s eyes trembled.

The light produced by the Sword of Stars burned all the darkness. The boundary that emerged in order to devour the stars rising from the darkness couldn’t hide the light created by Excalibur.

It was a light that even the witches of Kamran couldn’t cover.

It was a light that even the dragons in the abyss couldn’t swallow.

No mere demon could hide the light of Excalibur. Bernhagen’s gaze shook as if going mad.

“Ex… calibur…?”

It was unbelievable even after seeing it.

Why was that sacred sword in his hands? Wasn’t it said that only one of the three swordmasters could draw Excalibur?

An imitation, a fake, a falsehood.

It was impossible to even consider such a possibility. Even with relics sanctified by the church, it was impossible to burn the darkness created by demons in such a way. Cold sweat ran down Bernhagen’s spine. His fingers holding the sword trembled.

It was a primal fear.

Not Bernhagen’s fear, but the fear felt by the demon that embodied his physical being. The ancient demon Arcand felt fear. It was the fear engraved in the entire race of demons towards their archenemy.

The Sword of Stars, Excalibur.

That sacred sword shattered the minds of demons. It consumed their souls. It enabled the killing of immortal beings, the demons, and created a contradiction.

“As long as I am alive.”

“You will have nowhere to step in this land.”

Arcand remembered Arthur, who wielded that single sword, surpassing hundreds, thousands of demons, while holding it above all laws.

“Fear this light.”

“Remember, this is not your land.”

After hundreds of years, Asura reappeared in the present world. Arcande, trembling in fear, tries to escape, but there is nowhere to go. Arcande sealed in the artifact can only escape through the contractor named Bernhagen.

Arcande feels fear.

The immortal demon feels the fear of death.

In this contradictory situation, Bernhagen faced Najin. The black blade that had wrapped around Bernhagen’s sword against the shining star sword disappeared. The overwhelming sense of omnipotence also withered.

Chiiiiing…

Najin weakened in his physical body, and the darkness that bound his mana also disappeared into the starlight. In the dissipating darkness, Najin exhaled a long breath. Since summoning Excalibur, the blessing of the holy sword had been strengthened.

The wounds suffered in Bernhagen’s battle began to heal instantaneously.

The injuries were gone, and fresh skin emerged. The reversed stomach that had been the price for using mana beyond its limits was completely restored. It was truly a miraculous recovery. Najin quietly marveled at the blessing, far beyond that of the underground city.

-Perhaps it’s because you have become stronger than before.

Merlin smiled.

Najin, who had arrived in Cambria, had grown. His body had grown, and his soul had matured. Excalibur was the proof of his growth.

-We don’t need to prolong it any longer.

-We don’t know how much this barrier can hold back the light of Excalibur.

So, Merlin said.

-Do you know what I’m trying to say?

I know.

Najin regulated his breath and adjusted his stance.

‘Finish it in one strike, isn’t that right?’

-Exactly.

To defeat a being who made a contract with an ancient demon, and even control its abilities, with a single strike. It was an impossible task even for the Sword Seeker. However, Najin simply adjusted his stance as time passed.

Phasusshh!

Excalibur’s blade wrapped around itself.

Platinum particles rose above the amplified pure white blade several times over. What was completed was a platinum-colored blade. A blade that only Arthur in history could handle.

“You… What in the world…”

Bernhagen staggered backward.

As Najin stood before the terrified Bernhagen, he exhaled. The only powerful strike he could unleash was what he had in mind right now.

There was only one technique that came to mind.

“Bernhagen.”

Najin raised the sword, bending his knees. The reason he reluctantly opened his mouth was that now Najin knew the meaning of the technique he was about to unfold.

“You’ve forsaken honor. You’ve lost pride.”

The swordsmanship of Atanga.

The sword shown by the knight Iban, who chased the stars.

“Therefore, you’ve tarnished the name of a knight.”

A sword meant to punish those who have lost honor and pride.

Facing Berenheigen, who stood at the opposite pole of the knight Najin envisioned in his mind.

“I am Najin, a knight of Atanga, the offspring of Iban.”

Yet to become a knight.

Without honor.

Najin had learned what pride was.

“I will strike you down.”

That was enough.

With reasons and justifications to swing Atanga’s sword.

A declaration to strike you down.

Najin, holding the Star Sword, assumed the posture of Atanga and recited Atanga’s verses. It was the precept proclaimed by Arthur, who was called the King of Knights and the oldest precept.

Slay the demon.

Punish those who tarnish the name of a knight.

The precept declared by Arthur echoed through the centuries, spoken again through the lips of his successors. Before that proclamation, Berenheigen realized. There was no escape.

There was nowhere to retreat.

Berenheigen eventually made his choice. With a roar, he rushed towards Najin. The reinforced demonic body was still robust. With each step, the ground shook, and darkness surged.

Thud!

Berenheigen swung the greatsword down, striking the ground. His proudest and symbolic technique. The most powerful blow he could deliver. Berenheigen showcased the sword that even a giant troll couldn’t withstand.

A pressure followed the swinging sword.

The darkness-enveloped sword accelerated.

Truly the strongest blow Berenheigen could display. Najin had no intention of deflecting, avoiding, or blocking the blow midway.

He broke everything head-on.

Because it was Atanga’s sword and Iban’s sword.

The moment Berenheigen’s greatsword reached its maximum speed, Najin’s sword moved. Berenheigen couldn’t comprehend the movement. With the gleam of stars, Najin’s sword advanced.

Swish.

The resounding echo was a silent severance.

Bernhagen’s greatsword, which had been wielded by the forceful hand of Bernhagen, cut through the air with a creaking sound. Na Jin effortlessly sliced through the greatsword that had reached its maximum speed. Not stopping there, Na Jin’s blade plunged into the side of Bernhagen.

The Holy Sword (星劍) cleaves through darkness.

The Holy Sword (聖劍) vanquishes demons.

The black blade that had embedded itself in Bernhagen’s left side sliced through his right flank as it rose. There was no resistance in that strike; the demonic resilience was meaningless before Excalibur.

A perfect sword technique that overwhelms and shatters the opponent’s skill head-on—truly the flawless swordsmanship of the Ahtangga. Na Jin bifurcated the demon in a single strike.

Along the path where Excalibur had cut through, starlight erupted. The burst of light consumed the demon’s soul and mind, annihilating its existence. The ancient demon, Arcande, which had inhabited Bernhagen’s physical form, turned to ashes in Na Jin’s hand.

Thunk.

Bernhagen’s upper body tilted along the severed edge. He met his demise without even uttering a scream. Thunk—a sound echoed as Bernhagen’s lifeless body fell to the ground. Beyond that, Na Jin observed.

The sword marks (劍痕) etched long into the ground.

Not content with splitting the greatsword and severing Bernhagen, Na Jin carved a long mark into the ground with the black sword he wielded.

Gazing at those marks, Na Jin sharpened his blade.

The death of Bernhagen, who wielded authority, made the barrier hazy, and darkness began to dissipate. With a hint of regret, Na Jin sheathed Excalibur. The transformed Excalibur, now turned into starlight, flowed into the constellation engraved on his wrist.

“Hoo…”

As Na Jin regulated his breathing, savoring the exhilaration of battle.

“Intrude…! Intrude!”

A clamorous voice came from outside the barrier. The barrier, fading away with Bernhagen’s death, shattered with a sound. Thus, someone stepped into the interior of the barrier from the outside.

Knights clad in armor.

Engraved on their armor were the symbols of Ahtangga. To rescue the courageous young man who had fought the demonic knight, they had leaped into the demonic barrier barehanded.

“Protect the youth! Form a line, pressure Bernhagen… Pressur—?”

The instructions from Ahtangga’s knight, Argo, didn’t reach the end. They discovered the split body of Bernhagen and the unharmed figure of Na Jin standing far away.

Swoosh.

Soon, the barrier completely collapsed, and sunlight poured in. Under the glaring sunlight, an awkward silence prevailed.