Novel Will Be Taken Down on 17 May or Earlier Chapter 143 - In a grand way (3)

Harkon’s voice rang around my ears.

 

– “…On the battlefield between life and death, the sword aura becomes thicker and takes on its own color.”

 

I guessed I was really at the crossroads of life and death.

 

I didn’t understand those words before.

 

But once I saw it, I realized it right away.

 

I looked at the sword as time slowed down.

 

Sss–

 

The advanced level of sword aura, sword force.

 

The blade had turned a dark black color like jet black.

 

Silver haze surrounded that jet-black sword body.

 

Did this mean the color was specific to the user?

 

…Was it embodying my silver hair in my dark history?

 

Anyway.

 

Anyone would be able to tell that it was my, Lee Hoyeol’s, sword force.

 

However, what was more important than the sword force was the sword aura.

 

This was also thanks to Grandfel’s talent.

 

Like how I had grasped the state of magic at once. I was able to naturally realize how different sword force was from sword aura.

 

It also showed how difficult it was to reach the ranks of the sword force.

 

Well, you could tell just by looking at the current situation, right?

 

Even with Grandfel’s talent, it was a field that could only be reached by dying.

 

I wanted to feel this tremendous growth in a leisurely way.

 

[Status abnormality, ‘Bleeding’ occurs.]

 

[Caution: Your vitality is too low.]

 

[Caution: Your vitality is too low.]…

 

The shiny message from earlier must have been so chaotic.

 

Sk–

 

The sword force cut down the demons.

 

Woosh–

 

The crossbow bolts shot out.

 

It all became slower than ever before.

 

I really felt that my body had reached its limit.

 

I had no choice but to hold out as always.

 

Even with the pride of Granfel, this was too much.

 

But as I had guessed before entering the Arcana Continent.

 

Hit–

 

Swaaa–

 

I never stopped hunting even for a moment.

 

If the movement had slowed down.

 

If I had any energy left, I would hunt down at least one more demon.

 

I yelled at my screaming body.

 

This is unreasonable.

 

You’re being unreasonable, Grandfel.

 

Really, it was typical of my dark history.

 

Death or whatever.

 

It was like a ghost from the stormy pubescent days when I had nothing to be afraid of. But I was grateful for that.

 

If it weren’t for me back then, I wouldn’t be able to handle this battlefield.

 

Crackle–!

 

With that noise.

 

Mana scattered in the air.

 

The dragon of mana that had reached its limit oxidized.

 

[Evil Earth Dragon’s Fang] returned to my inventory.

 

I was the only one on the ground now.

 

The eyes of dozens and millions of demons were focused only on me.

 

[Lv.900: Wandering Giant Helldog]

 

[Lv.950: Evangelist of Despair]

 

[Lv.1,000: Loser of the Western Demon World, Laxioros]…

 

Damn all of them…

 

No, these levels were so far away that they went out of my reach.

 

However, what scared me more than my embarrassment was that among these numerous demons, not a single high-ranking demon king showed up.

 

Well, just to catch one person.

 

I supposed there was no need for high-ranking demons to step forward.

 

I recited.

 

“You have a poor attitude in welcoming distinguished guests.”

 

Even when I looked like I was about to collapse at any moment, I could speak properly.

 

But did they see I was at my limits?

 

I heard someone’s voice.

 

“As expected, you are the last survivor of Akshan! I, Laxioros, Loser of the West, acknowledge you. You are foolishly brave until the end. It would be a waste to treat you like a cowardly human!”

 

The Loser of the Western Demon World, Laxioros.

 

The guy on top of the giant beast-type demon spoke.

 

“Great. I will grant you the opportunity to serve this body even after death. Anyone is welcome! Take possession of that demon hunter’s body! Possess him! Then, I will grant you the honor of participating in the battle to conquer the demon king on an equal footing with Laxioros!”

 

It seemed they were fighting for the demon king’s seat?

 

The demons were living a good life.

 

While we lived day by day, not knowing what monsters or demons would come from the rupture.

 

And what?

 

You’re going to possess me?

 

‘I have a lot to say, but I…’

 

Don’t engage in unnecessary conversation with prey.

 

Instead of speaking, I moved my fingers.

 

Clang–

 

Laxioros raised his palm and blocked the bolt.

 

I hadn’t expected it to work.

 

He seemed ticked by it.

 

He looked at his pierced palm and let out a chuckle.

 

“Hahaha!”

 

His pupils turned black.

 

“Is this your last resort? Akshan’s last survivor!”

 

He even made a wordplay…?

 

You do all sorts of things, too.

 

But it was over.

 

Sneak–

 

I stretched out both my hands holding the sword and crossbow.

 

“Have you finally realized it? Demon hunter! It’s over! All of it!”

 

Gulp–

 

I could hear the sound of demons swallowing their saliva.

 

Sneer–

 

I heard laughter, half in joy and half in mockery.

 

“How arrogant. You are inhumanly arrogant. Did you think you could achieve anything by hunting down demon kings and great evil? I never thought you would come here alone! It’s beyond arrogant, it’s foolish!”

 

The evil eyes of the night sky flinched at that declaration.

 

From full moon to new moon.

 

The evil eyes that filled the night sky smiled.

 

Perhaps because I fell on the Arcana continent.

 

Suddenly, I thought Akshan.

 

‘Did Akshan’s demon hunters feel like this, too?’

 

In order to carry out their pride.

 

They fought against the demons until the very end.

 

But the only thing that came back was the mockery of the demons.

 

“How is it? Are you ready to cry now? Like the demon hunters who fell first. You should cry out like that too. I want you to distort that arrogant face!”

 

Like Laxioros said.

 

At the threshold of death, my once impregnable mental strength might collapse.

 

But I knew.

 

“Shut up.”

 

Yusra.

 

Frost.

 

Thefern.

 

Akshan.

 

Because I had experience.

 

Even if I didn’t know, I would have no choice but to know by now.

 

That human pride was endless.

 

Akshan’s annihilation?

 

As I had said several times, it happened during my hiatus period.

 

It was safe to say that it had nothing to do with me.

 

But now that I knew Akshan’s pride, I couldn’t stand still.

 

Demon’s trick or whatever.

 

In the end, they were abandoned even by their allies.

 

In other words, I couldn’t turn a blind eye forever.

 

Alright.

 

This finale.

 

This was my condolences for Akshan.

 

Swoosh–

 

I lifted my head slowly.

 

Through my hazy vision, behind the clouds.

 

There was my backup, Iron Castle.

 

I was the only one on the ground.

 

But I also had something floating in the sky just like them.

 

Luminescence.

 

The gun barrel of the Iron Castle sparkled differently than before.

 

A message appeared in my blurry vision.

 

[Flying Machine, Iron Castle: Magic ray launcher fully loaded]

 

If I had no choice but to die anyway.

 

Of course, I would make it worth it.

 

In a grand way.

 

Besides, shouldn’t I die in a worthy way?

 

Indeed.

 

This was also part of the preparation.

 

I would disappear from the Arcana Continent, along with millions of demons.

 

Thump–!

 

The pinnacle of dwarven technology, the Iron Castle.

 

Iron Castle unleashed an attack with all its might.

 

That launcher was more powerful than any magic or skill I had ever seen.

 

A huge condensation of mana.

 

It cleared the clouds and revealed the appearance of the gas.

 

Slide–

 

Despite the eye smile I was making.

 

The focus of the evil eyes shifted urgently.

 

They seemed to have belatedly realized the situation.

 

Unfortunately, it was too late.

 

“…!!!”

 

Like telepathy.

 

It seemed he was receiving information from the evil eyes.

 

Laxioros’s face was distorted mercilessly.

 

“…You are out of your mind, demon hunter! It’s just a struggle! Even if you throw your life away, nothing will change. Even if you defeat millions of demons here, tens of millions, or even hundreds of millions, of new demons will be born!”

 

He wasn’t being consistent.

 

His dragging words didn’t show any of the momentum it had before.

 

I didn’t engage in unnecessary conversation, but I still needed to say what I needed to say.

 

I opened my mouth.

 

“Then all I have to do is hunt hundreds of millions of demons.”

 

“…What?”

 

He didn’t seem to understand.

 

I could see why.

 

How could I hunt hundreds of millions of demons when we were all dying? Since we were all caught up in the mana bomb, there was no way they could understand it.

 

But don’t be mistaken.

 

Who says I am going to die?

 

[Last Adventurer: You will not die on the Arcana continent. Upon death, you return to reality immediately and cannot access the Arcana continent for a certain period of time. – Cooldown: 24 hours]

 

The Arcana Continent.

 

Once I found a way to get back in.

 

I would come back as much as I wanted.

 

Really, until I got rid of hundreds of millions of demons…!

 

Because I was the type of person who couldn’t live without keeping someone’s word.

 

But that was all for today.

 

I continued speaking.

 

“This is only the beginning.”

 

“…?”

 

“I am a demon hunter.”

 

“…!”

 

“I am your natural enemy and fear.”

 

I calmly finished what I couldn’t say.

 

Then I closed my mouth firmly.

 

Yes, silence was my attitude when hunting.

 

That meant it was a signal.

 

[Flying Machine Castle, Iron Castle: Firing the magic ray launcher]

 

Swoosh–!

 

Soon, a formidable mana ray covered my field of vision.

 

A message emerged from the demons’ desperate screams.

 

There were countless messages.

 

[…contribution to the disposal is recognized.]

 

[…contribution to the disposal is recognized.]….

 

[Your level has gone up.]

 

[Your level has gone up.]….

 

[You are dead.]

 

[Death penalty will be applied.]

 

[Your experience point decreases.]…

 

[Your achievements resonate throughout the Arcana Continent.]

 

[The lives in the Arcana Continent talk about your sacrifice.]

 

[You have obtained the title, ‘Noble’.]

 

[The effect of ‘The Last Adventurer’ will be activated]

 

[Immediately returns to reality.]

 

[Cool time: 23 hours and 59 minutes]

 

*

 

Iron Castle.

 

“…Damn it!”

 

Leader of the dwarves, Chainwalker Hardrock, vented his anger.

 

“Seriously, this is the only way!”

 

Everything went as expected.

 

Akshan’s survivors.

 

Demons rushed in to kill the last demon hunter, and the Iron Castle’s secret weapon was used to wipe out those demons.

 

When he heard about the plan through the spirit, Haiel, he couldn’t help but feel skeptical. This was the maximum output of the Iron Castle.

 

This meant that no matter how great Hoyeol was in magic, it would be impossible for him to block it without taking damage.

 

– “Nevertheless, trust me. Hoyeol-nim told me to tell you that.”

 

But what was an oath?

 

It was something that they could only obey.

 

Moreover, the oath with Akshan could never be broken.

 

He had no choice but to follow his plan despite his concerns.

 

But was this really a planned procedure?

 

Chainwalker and other dwarves witnessed the whole situation.

 

“…That’s not an amount he can handle alone!”

 

“Chainwalker! We should join him now!”

 

“We can’t lose Akshan’s survivor like this!”

 

At the end, they caught sight of Hoyeol reaching out his sword and crossbow.

 

Anyone could see that he was being cornered.

 

Was there really a way?

 

Although he constantly had doubts, Chainwalker had no choice but to make a decision.

 

“One betrayal is enough. We just have to trust Akshan.”

 

Crack

 

Launch.

 

The mana ray cannon engulfed millions of demons.

 

Using the aftermath of the explosion as a driving force, the Iron Castle moved.

 

Unsurprisingly, their retreat was also part of the plan that Hoyeol had made.

 

Chainwalker gritted his teeth.

 

“…Do you think we deserve to be worried about you?”

 

He got lost in thought for a moment.

 

“!”

 

Haiel.

 

His thoughts reached the spirit.

 

Haiel was Hoyeol’s contract spirit.

 

She was like the proof that Hoyeol was alive.

 

And he witnessed it.

 

For some reason.

 

Haiel went beyond elegance and radiated a ‘noble’ light.

 

“Haiel, Sir Hoyeol…?”

 

Haiel answered Chainwalker’s question.

 

“There’s nothing to worry about. He’s safe. As usual.”

 

In a voice more gracious than ever before.

 

.

 

.

 

.

 

…Picking the rupture closest to the Mage Tower was useless.

 

‘What?’

 

My body was in perfect condition.

 

So to sum it up in one line….

 

Back in the days when Arcana was just a game.

 

I woke up after lying down in the VR capsule.

 

I felt similar fatigue to that.

 

‘From night to dawn.’

 

I was constantly beating and fighting.

 

When I checked the time, only two hours had passed.

 

I wanted to go back to the Mage Tower right away.

 

The procedure was to check if Marcelo was fine.

 

But then I remembered all the forms I had at the roundtable meeting.

 

After making that much commotion, wouldn’t it be a little embarrassing to return in just two hours…? I looked around at the rupture.

 

As expected, considering the messages that appeared. It was better to take my time to come back….

 

“!”

 

But I checked.

 

My jacket, shirt, and slacks were torn to shreds.

 

There were no wounds left, but the bloodstains remained.

 

My skin was clearly visible.

 

I was embarrassed too.

 

There was no way that Grandfel could tolerate such rag-tag clothing.

 

I immediately manifested a portal.

 

Two hours and it was already a mess.

 

First, I had to change my clothes first.

 

I returned with a movement full of restraint.

 

‘I should change and then go out again.’

 

But in spite of my determination.

 

Knock knock–

 

There was an urgent knock.

 

…If I just pretended it didn’t exist, would it leave?

 

I replied as if I had been waiting.

 

“Wait.”

 

First, let’s button up.

 

“You may come in.”

 

At my permission, the door opened.

 

It was Belliere who opened the door and came in.

 

Wearing Duke Swallin’s cherished item, Belliere said to me.

 

“I didn’t expect you to come back so soon.”

 

I hadn’t expected it either.

 

“Marcelo. No, Chief Marcelo woke up…!”

 

I knew that.

 

Still, I was relieved to hear that he was awake.

 

“…?”

 

Having delivered the news, Belliere soon turned to the rags neatly hung on the chair. Shredded, blood-stained clothing. I didn’t even have the chance to open my mouth.

 

“…Chief Lee Hoyeol? What are those clothes?”

 

Belliere asked with a trembling voice.

 

“How…? What happened to you on the Arcana cCntinent?”

 

…This guy’s personality.

 

If I heard something wrong, I couldn’t just sit back and listen.

 

I said shamelessly while adjusting my clothes.

 

“I didn’t get hit.”

 

“…?”

 

“I hunted millions of demons.”

 

“…What?!”

 

Well, we died together, but I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?