I don’t like any of this.
“Giant Sword Technique, Second Form. Similar.”
The Architect murmurs the skill name.
Similar.
True to its name, the white magic slashing flows grandly like a river of flowing sand.
“Run… Junior…”
I hear Hoshino Kasumi’s weak voice.
WooOOooOOoO!!
I grip Durandal, trembling violently like never before.
It’s a pain, but…
“I’m not running away, Senpai.”
I don’t want to run.
If I’m going to die anyway, I should show that even worms squirm when stepped on.
Moreover, Kasumi is a valuable asset; I can’t leave her behind.
I take a step forward.
This time, instead of being wrapped up by Kasumi, I’m wrapping her up.
“Both of you, it’s goodbye.”
With a farewell, the white slash of ‘Similar’ rushes right at us.
I still can’t see any fancy lights appearing just before death.
Thump, thump.
I overexert the Magic Core and Black Stone.
A surge of magic wraps around my entire body.
[Indestructible Vajra]
[Synchronization]
I use both abilities at once.
I keep drawing up the magic.
WooOOooOOoO!!
The blade continues to shiver.
I focus my concentration.
No need for any other thoughts. I erase all distractions. In front of me,
Hoshino Kasumi’s breath and the Architect’s figure fade away.
In my sight, there’s only the pure white slash unleashed by the Architect.
I feel no sound or sensation.
Maybe it’s an illusion, but it feels like time around me has slowed down immensely.
It feels like only the white slash and I remain in this world.
I grit my teeth.
There’s no retreat.
I brace myself for death. I grip the hilt with both hands.
Once.
“Just one time, how about…”
[Is once going to be enough?]
At that moment.
A familiar voice whispers in my ear.
“Black Prince?”
[Looks like you can finally hear my voice. It takes a near-death experience for people to change. Use the True Name Liberation. Rookie, no, partner. That’s the only way you can win.]
“But I don’t know how to use the True Name Liberation yet…”
[No. You already do. Through your intense focus, you have achieved integration with the artifact. So use it. The True Name Liberation.]
Upon hearing the Black Prince’s words, I realized.
His words are right.
From the moment I heightened my focus in the face of a death threat and stepped into the realm of integration.
From the moment I raised my concentration and stepped into the realm of unification, the method of liberation of the true name was already engraved in my mind.
Seemingly entranced, I injected magic power into Durandal.
As I unified with it, Durandal felt like an extension of my limbs, trembling as it accepted the magic power.
Whoosh.
With a sound of steam escaping, the blade transformed into a completely black color, devoid of any light.
Black flames erupted on the black sword.
Fwoosh.
My entire body was engulfed in a black aura, igniting in flames.
[Durandal]
[True Name Liberation]
[The Void Demonic Sword that Burns Darkness]
The true name was liberated.
I could feel all my stats skyrocketing to an unbelievable level.
If there was a Status Window, it would display digits at least double or more for all stats.
A smile crept onto my lips.
This is enough. I can win.
You’re done for now.
So cowardly, huh?
A look of boredom crossed the Architect’s face as he executed the second style of the Great Darkness Sword Technique.
“To think I have to personally deal with this underwhelming pup…”
It would be unthinkable if it weren’t for the Master’s orders.
His brows furrow.
Even if considered the weakest among the 13 apostles, he’s still an S-rank villain.
Even if I can’t use True Name Liberation or gifts because of Labyrinthos, the gap between him and this amateur, who hasn’t even reached S-rank, is wider than the gap between heaven and earth.
Isn’t it evidence that he incapacitated one amateur with a single strike?
I see the black-haired amateur, Kim Deok-Sung, stepping forward to shield Kasumi.
“Such a fool.”
The Architect scoffed.
He couldn’t stop it at his level.
Even if he managed to defend once, he would surely die on the next strike.
“This task was so easy it could make one yawn. I can’t understand why the Master is wary of that amateur.”
Given Master Messiah’s personality, who would rather break a bridge than just check it, there must be a significant intent behind it.
Then.
[Durandal]
[True Name Liberation]
[The Void Demonic Sword that Burns Darkness]
Black flames surged from within a pure white slash.
The Architect’s eyes wavered.
He swallowed hard.
As an S-rank, he knew.
“W-what… true name liberation…?”
It was nonsense.
How does that amateur, merely a C-rank in compatibility, manage True Name Liberation?
Kim Deok-Sung, enveloped in a black aura, slowly wielded the black sword, Durandal.
[Black Radiance Sword Technique]
[Second Style]
[Dark Counter]
The moment the second style of the Black Radiance Sword Technique was unleashed, black magic surged like a swarm, splitting the white slash.
Boom!
A deafening blast shook the air.
As the Great Darkness Sword Technique was countered, a shockwave swept through Labyrinthos.
“…”
Kim Deok-Sung, his whole body wrapped in a black aura, stared at the Architect impassively.
Fwoosh.
He aimed the flaming black demonic sword at the Architect.
“Hey, bald old man. You need to confess that you’re finished from now on.”
“What? Bald?”
The Architect’s eyebrows furrowed.
His shiny bald head turned red with shame and anger.
“I don’t mind being called an old man, but bald… I can’t tolerate that.”
His smooth baldness was the Architect’s complex.
He hated being ridiculed for his baldness.
He hated being the butt of jokes.
Kim Deok-Sung snorted.
“What’s a baldy to talk about hairstyles, huh?”
“Ugh….”
Cold sweat trickled down the Architect’s forehead.
If the opponent enters the True Name Liberation state, he too must counter with his own True Name Liberation.
But if he uses True Name Liberation, Labyrinthos will be released.
If Labyrinthos is released, the plan to pin down the enemy’s ankles will fall apart.
That would mean certain defeat.
He couldn’t win.
He had to run, but falling for such childish provocation?
Just hearing the word ‘bald’ made him lose his rationality.
A blunder.
With the fragment of reason that the Architect barely retrieved, he suppressed his boiling rage like lava and muttered.
“When we meet next, you’ll pay for that insult. So, let’s end our meeting here…”
Just as the Architect regained his composure and was about to tuck his tail and run.
Kim Deok-Sung’s body shot forward, leaving a black afterimage behind.
[Black Sword Technique]
[Third Form]
[Black Spot Stab]
Whoosh.
The black blade aimed at the Architect’s solar plexus with an incredible speed and ferocity.
The Architect, in a panic, swung his swordstick.
“Great Mountain Sword Technique, Third Form: Rock Barrier!”
A thunderous skill name burst from his lips.
*
The moment the Architect swung his sword in front of him.
Ggrrrr!
A white stone barrier rose from the ground.
Do they seriously need to shout out their skill names, or do they get thorns in their mouths?
[What a cute little tantrum. By the way, partner. Even if they’re the villain, teasing you about being bald was a bit too much. That’s not how a decent person behaves. What a devil! Serious personality issues.]
Not how a decent person behaves, huh?
Opponents’ weaknesses are there to be exploited.
[Anyway, partner. You can’t be my partner and not break through a defense like this, right? Otherwise, it’s partner disqualification!]
The Black Prince’s voice echoed in his head.
It seemed like the Black Prince was desperate to speak after being quiet for so long, now chattering incessantly.
‘Got it, now can you shut up? My head’s starting to hurt.’
[It’s common sense for a spirit to give advice to its partner, you know? You should be able to handle at least that much. Partner. That’s the only way you’ll qualify as my partner, the Black Prince Raul, right?]
‘Since when did I say I was your partner?’
Partner, huh?
That was a word that gave him chills, something you’d only hear in a shounen manga.
Black Prince, you never called Olivia that in the original, did you?
[Kid. I don’t like it either, but since you finally entered the realm of unity and awakened me, I call you “partner.” Do you prefer “kid”?]
‘Forget it.’
I’d better keep quiet.
It would’ve been better not to use True Name Liberation at all.
Suppressing his bubbling anger, he aimed Durandal’s blade at the stone barrier.
Bam!
The mixture of black and white magic sparked and shockwaves spread out.
The white stone barrier crumbled, revealing the Architect’s flustered expression.
[Now’s your chance, partner! Use ‘that technique’!]
Raul’s voice echoed in his head.
Talk about a backseat driver, get back in line!
He seized Durandal.
With True Name Liberation of Durandal, which greatly amplifies the user’s abilities, he could easily deal with that guy.
If it’s the true release of Durandal, I can easily take that guy down.
[Synchronization]
Activate overlapping abilities.
Zing.
A headache spreads.
Thump, thump.
The Magic Core and Black Stone resonate, supplying magic power throughout my body.
A black line is drawn across my vision, now tinged red.
[Black Light Sword Technique]
[Secret Technique]
[Black Flash]
As I use the secret technique, time feels drastically slowed down.
A phenomenon of time acceleration.
I can see the Architect flailing around in slow motion.
[Aim for the neck. Partner.]
The Black Prince’s advice still echoes in my head.
I wield Durandal, engulfed in black flames.
A strike that weaves through the air like a black spiderweb.
Dizzying lines mark the Architect’s body.
“Cough!”
The Architect coughs up blood.
Splash.
His head separates from his body, blood gushing forth.
I can see the Architect’s eyes wide open in disbelief.
He’s dead.
“Haah.”
I steady my trembling hands.
My heart is pounding.
First murder.
I can see the splattered bloodstains like a splotch.
It would be a lie to say I wasn’t shaken.
But if I hadn’t killed that guy, both me and Hoshino Kasumi would have been in deep trouble, so I had no choice.
[Focus. Partner.]
The Black Prince’s words bring me back to my senses.
[It’s not over yet.]
He’s right.
The fight isn’t over.
With the Architect who was maintaining Labyrinthos dead, this space will be released soon.
‘I need to take advantage of that moment to hit the other villains from behind.’
The other villains probably don’t know yet that I took down the Architect.
Once Labyrinthos is released, they’ll surely be thrown into confusion.
That brief moment.
I must strike at their backs during that fleeting gap.
[Wow. Partner. You really are a coward—especially with that bald guy earlier.]
‘Shut up.’
I have to do whatever it takes to win.
Besides, thanks to the true release, my magic is rapidly depleting in real-time.
At this rate, I’ll faint before the fight even ends.
I frown, enduring the dizziness from the lack of magic.
‘Anyway, I can’t fight long, so I have to do this.’
[It’s because you haven’t reached complete unification yet. Right now, your true release is only half-baked. If you wanted better, you should have poured more time into training.]
‘Half-baked?’
That’s definitely true.
I didn’t expect to achieve true release here at all.
But half-baked, huh?
[Yes. Half-baked. Your current state is similar to a forced true release. When you experienced the forced true release before, your body remembered that sensation, and when faced with the threat of death, your survival instinct reacted with extreme focus, triggering the forced awakening.]
[And this Black Prince, unlike the typical, was moved by your kind desire to protect a lady named Kasumi, answering your call.]
[Without any one of these three: forced true release experience, the threat of death with a survival instinct, or your kind heart, this true release wouldn’t exist. In short, it’s a crazy stroke of luck and timing for you. Got it?]
Who’s protecting whom?
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