The Sword Saint bit down hard on his ankles as he dug in like a madman.
It definitely seemed manageable.
The moment the seal of the sword was broken, an overwhelming magic surged forth, allowing the Sword Saint to handle a part of it.
‘Just until a little while ago.’
The “Verd’s Sealed Sword” that the Sword Saint possessed was an extraordinary weapon that even he—who had a talent for swords—could hardly manage.
Just holding it caused confusion in the mind, and using a portion of its power felt like one’s soul was being gnawed at.
Since obtaining the weapon with great difficulty a year ago, the Sword Saint had focused solely on growth to wield this maddening weapon.
A year was no short time, so he achieved some results, but still couldn’t manage half of the weapon’s power.
No, not even 30% could he control.
Thus, the Sword Saint received an order to return from the Empire and directly sought Duke Huangyeol, rejecting the offers of Spirit Lord and Magic Lord.
On his way to the Magic Lord according to Duke Huangyeol’s plan, the Sword Saint was presented with one proposal from her.
‘Don’t you want to use all that power?’
He was tempted. But he declined.
Certainly, the Magic Lord would demand something commensurate in return, and given the pinnacle of magic, there might be magical constraints mixed in.
She smiled seductively.
‘No way. Would I do such a thing?’
‘Completely.’
‘Ha! Did you underestimate me? Fine.’
Zzaaaaang…
“…!”
“Do you think you’ll die?”
‘This time, I’ll do it for free. But you’ll have to show results.’
Just as the Sword Saint was about to become one with the land, a purple magic circle appeared behind him, amplifying the magic coiling around the sword.
Wobble! The hammer that had been pressing heavily shook, and amidst that, blazing purple eyes flickered.
‘My magic is ‘quite’ expensive.’
Kwahhhaaaang!!!
The hammer was repelled by the exceedingly condensed sword.
Now free, the Sword Saint gazed at the monster in his hand.
‘Liberated Sword Verd.’
Filled with rage for having been pinned to the ground, Verd, radiating a deep malice, moved according to the Sword Saint’s will.
The destination was…
“You’re the one who will die.”
Fwoooosh!
It was Lily’s left arm.
■
Lily’s left arm was sliced clean off, particles of blood scattering.
Looking quite flustered, Lily’s eyes widened a bit, but to the Sword Saint, it appeared somewhat different.
‘…Disgust?’
Rather than showing anger or surprise, an instinctual feeling of revulsion was evident on Lily’s face.
“Ugh.”
Whatever the case, an opportunity was an opportunity.
An opportunity is an opportunity.
The Sword Saint scattered the Magic towards the unbalanced Lily and immediately swung his sword.
The sword strikes felt as slow as before, but they were undeniably different.
One swing turned into dozens, all directed at Lily.
Lily, having lost her left arm, muttered something as a pure white glow enveloped her.
Soon, the hammer was also wrapped in the glow…
KWAAM!!!
And crashed down into the ground.
“What…”
Before he could finish, dozens of sword strikes were obliterated by the shockwave.
The sword strikes lost their shape and vanished, and the Magic that filled the space was completely eradicated by the distant light.
Before they knew it, Lily had gripped the hammer with her ‘left arm’ and nonchalantly stared at the Sword Saint.
“That magic circle.”
“…?”
“Did the Magic Lord grant you that power?”
Lily asked, still holding the hammer, and the Sword Saint fell silent.
There was no reason to tell her…
‘What kind of ability is that?’
An unknown light that annihilated even his Magic.
It was certainly similar to Duke Huangyeol, but it felt somewhat different.
Of course, the power was definitely superior to Duke Huangyeol’s, but there was something fundamentally different about it.
As if the ‘rank’ was different…
KOOOW!
“If you don’t want to talk…”
The incredibly heavy hammer prepared to slam down again.
“I guess I’ll have to ask directly.”
“…Your confidence is sky-high. It won’t be easy to reach.”
At the Sword Saint’s words, Lily flew up and prepared to swing her hammer down again.
The Sword Saint raised his sword as if exasperated.
‘Doesn’t he realize it won’t work?’
He acknowledged that raw power, but using the full strength of the Liberation Sword, the Sword Saint had become strong enough to share the same level as the Three Lords.
Unless he had some special technique, such a simple downward strike would never succeed.
She didn’t seem like someone who would lack that understanding.
‘What a disappointment…’
“Dull Technique, Wind Dragon.”
The hammer, imbued with the power of wind, sent the sword flying before smashing into the Sword Saint.
■
[?]
[?]
[Death?]
[?????????????????]
[What’s that?]
[Huh?]
“Uh…?”
The entire commentary scene froze.
The commentary team was frozen, and the chat window was flooded with question marks and confusion.
A fierce battle.
The clash of the strongest brought joy to the spectators, and every time their techniques were countered, the tension escalated.
Tension levels skyrocketed every time it could.
Especially when the Sword Saint severed Lily’s left arm, the intensity surged, drawing millions of viewers’ attention.
Everyone was on the edge of their seats, wondering how this battle would end.
“… D-did he die?”
And that ending came so suddenly.
As the Sword Saint was completely shattered by Lily’s ‘one blow.’
Caster Kim Yong-woo calmly gripped the microphone.
“W-what a moment, with Lily’s strike retiring the Sword Saint! Incredible, Lily!”
[Lily wins!]
[Lily! Lily! Lily! Lily! Lily!]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Sword Saint cut!]
[Who said the Sword Saint would win?]
[Yep~ ah, that’s so funny lol]
[Sword Saint is super weak, oh lol]
[Why did the Sword Saint get wrecked?]
[Lily is now ranked one in Deoen! Lily is now ranked one in Deoen! Lily is now ranked one in Deoen! Lily is now ranked one in Deoen!]
[Sword Saint’s level;;]
[Thought he was tough, but got wrecked lol]
[Let’s keep it civil here ;;]
[Don’t say anything about the Sword Saint, okay?]
[Look at Aisha’s shocked face lol]
[Yeah, the casual remarks were a bit much lol]
[This is the real Lily, oh lol]
“It certainly seems that Lily’s one hit has tremendous destructive power. The Sword Saint also demonstrated strong prowess by cutting off Lily’s left arm, but… the left arm has been restored, right?”
“That’s one of Lily’s healing abilities. Wow… seeing it like this, she truly is an invincible player.”
With overwhelming strength, skilled in weapon techniques like a spear, and able to recover from wounds.
She can even use magic to deal with unpredictable situations.
For anyone facing her, it’s utterly maddening.
In the end, they have to kill her in one hit because recovering like Lily is impossible.
[How do we even catch the real Lily lol]
[No answer in sight]
[Lily is a god…]
[It’s a bit over the top lol]
[Lily always gives that vibe like something insane is about to happen. If only she were truly invincible, we could at least say something lol]
[ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[For real lol]
[Is the Empire toppling now?]
[Are they going to invade the Empire?]
[But does that leave Aisha mute?]
“…So, the invasion of the Empire’s Angel Guild has been delayed for now. Considering the situation, while Lily managed to hold back the Empire, it seems insufficient to stop the nationwide forces.”
“That’s right! What do you think, Aisha?”
“Hey! What do you think, Aisha the Narrator?”
“……”
“Aisha the Narrator?”
“…What the… Yes?!”
Startled, Aisha jumped up from her seat.
Still wearing a shocked expression, she paused for a moment to assess the situation and then plopped back down in her chair.
[Wow, that’s a big shock…]
[LOL!]
[This is hilarious, haha!]
“What, what did you say?”
“The Sword Saint was captured, causing the Empire’s advance to temporarily halt. How do you see things progressing from here?”
“Umm…”
Aisha closed her mouth, which had been hanging open at Kim Yong-woo’s question.
The result was still hard to believe.
She didn’t understand how the Sword Saint had lost, but she tried to remain as calm as possible and answered,
“Ah… I think the Empire has a bit of an advantage.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. The Sword Saint… uh. The Sword Saint… a little bit.”
Cough!
“…Though they’ve been pushed back, we still have Lord Leo, and looking at the entire continent, the situation hasn’t changed.”
Despite Aisha’s hesitant comments, the chat window exploded with laughter, but she wasn’t wrong.
The Empire had conquered 30% of the continent’s castles in less than an hour and was currently capturing castles at a rapid pace.
Moreover, they were firmly blocking the users who had resurrected using the Empire’s forces.
If things continued this way, the Empire’s conquest of the continent was almost a sure thing.
“Even for Lady Lily, it’s impossible unless she attacks the Empire…”
“Ah! Just as I said that, Lily has moved somewhere!”
This place…
“Huh?”
[?]
[???]
[Is that the Empire?]
Lily was already gazing at the grand castle entrance, adorned with a golden sun flag.
She instantly transformed her hammer into a spear, striking a throwing pose…
Boom!
[■Angel -Lily Elbrite-▶□ImperiumⅠ -Sword Saint-]
[We have captured the Idra Castle!]
The core has been smashed.
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