sinovels Chapter 195
Chapter 195
Chapter 195
“You expected that?”
“Well, it is a fragment that fell from the body of an ancient god. It wouldn’t be that easy to destroy, would it?”
Bedir’s words snapped me back to my senses.
The battle wasn’t over yet, so I couldn’t afford to lose focus.
“Besides, if there were even the slightest risk that the helmet could be destroyed, someone as meticulous as Lord Bedir wouldn’t have moved far from it. Rather than attacking recklessly, you would’ve fought defensively—to protect that helmet. That last attack was merely a test.”
“Hm, you seem to know me well. Indeed, you’re right. If my fragment had been defenseless against a human’s attack, I would have chosen to guard that helmet instead.”
Bedir nodded, then smiled faintly.
“So, what now? Just as you predicted, my helmet cannot be scratched by an attack from a mere human like you. In this situation, what can you possibly do?”
“Well… I still have plenty of options.”
I smiled as I drew once again upon the Power of Peregrie.
In truth, I had been summoning dark clouds above for the past few minutes.
And once everything was ready, I brought down a powerful bolt of lightning onto Bedir’s helmet.
Ku-kwakwaaaang!
The lightning struck the helmet squarely, and this time, Bedir’s expression actually showed surprise.
He hadn’t expected this attack.
When the dust and smoke raised by the lightning cleared, the helmet came into view again…
“…Seems lightning does work.”
“Yes, it appears it does.”
A faint crack had formed on the helmet.
But considering the strength of the lightning I had just summoned, the damage was almost negligible.
“That lightning’s power… yes, Peregrie. The spirit who evolved into a beast of storm from a mere Spirit of Wind. I remember that creature from long ago.”
Bedir examined his helmet and nodded slightly.
“If that beast’s inherited power is what you wield, then yes, it can affect my fragment. But since it’s being used by a human, it seems you can’t inflict much damage.”
“If Peregrie had struck the lightning himself, would the result have been different?”
“Perhaps it would have left a small crack. Though even that wouldn’t have been of much consequence.”
Bedir approached the massive helmet and studied it more closely.
Then, with a brief chuckle, he said,
“There is some slight damage. But as I said, this level of harm is meaningless. You’d need to strike me with lightning like that dozens of times before it could cause any serious effect.”
“That’s unfortunate. I can’t exactly fire off that kind of lightning at will.”
Well, I had somewhat anticipated this.
The lightning attack had been worth a try—nothing to lose anyway.
‘Then what’s left… is that one method.’
I looked down at my right arm again.
There was only one blue line left.
This was the only thing I could rely on now.
‘A fragment of a god. That helmet is a part of Bedir’s true body. And the only item I possess that can wound a god’s flesh… there’s just one.’
Just one.
And even then, it only said so in its description.
I wasn’t sure if it would actually hurt a god.
After all, I’d never fought a god before in the game.
‘Still, I have no other choice. I’ll have to trust this method.’
I turned my eyes toward Bedir.
He still wore that same relaxed expression.
He was confident of his victory—completely off guard.
If I could take advantage of that carelessness, then maybe…
“Huh?”
Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently.
The earth around me split open.
“Urgh?”
From the fissures, lava spewed upward.
“Ha ha ha ha! It feels so refreshing to use this kind of power again in your world!”
“You can even change the terrain?”
“Indeed. Though for now, this is the limit.”
Bedir looked almost disappointed as he gazed at his enormous helmet.
Now that I looked closely, nearly one-fifth of the helmet had been absorbed.
“When I completely absorb it… I could probably turn a small mountain into a volcano. But for now, altering the ground a bit is all I can manage.”
“Well… that’s quite a bit of alteration.”
I glanced around.
The cracks weren’t particularly deep.
But an enormous flow of lava surged through them.
The terrain change wasn’t the real issue—having lava surrounding me was.
My opponent was the God of Lava.
The more lava that flowed nearby, the worse the fight became for me.
“Now then, Gideon Kyrgram—or should I call you Gideon Mainac?”
“Whichever you prefer.”
“Then I’ll call you the Swordsman of Water. Listen well, Swordsman. I grow stronger every passing moment. And let me warn you—once I absorb more than half of that fragment… neither you, nor any human, will be able to touch this body.”
“…Didn’t know that.”
Just as I couldn’t damage the helmet, once Bedir absorbed more than half, he too would become untouchable.
That only meant one thing—I had no reason to hesitate.
I had to strike before that happened.
“Then we don’t have much time. Let’s end this quickly.”
With those words, I charged at Bedir.
I used every technique I knew, pressing him relentlessly.
Hawkbat, Isrinbloom, Balmuth sword styles—
And whenever necessary, even the defensive Mainac Family Swordsmanship.
Bedir blocked every one of my attacks.
Cheng—! Cheng—!
Che-che-che-cheng—!
At the same time, the evil god’s eyes gleamed with genuine admiration.
“To think I would see the swordsmanship of the Empire’s Four Ducal Houses—all in a single human. Fascinating. You are truly entertaining.”
“……”
I didn’t respond, focusing solely on the battle.
When Bedir showed a moment of carelessness, I used Luke’s Swordsmanship to slash toward his neck.
But Bedir didn’t block it.
He could have, easily—but he didn’t.
“…What?”
“This feeling… of growing stronger with every moment—it’s truly delightful.”
Bedir looked down at my sword, which had barely pierced the skin of his neck.
Even though I had swung with all my strength, my blade had only grazed him.
“The more I absorb the fragment, the stronger I become. The same goes for this body I’ve claimed.”
“Guhk—!”
Bedir threw a punch at me.
Thud!
I blocked with my sword, but the impact sent me flying backward.
‘What kind of power…?’
After rolling several times across the ground, I forced myself up and focused on Bedir again.
I was cloaked in aura—but Bedir wasn’t.
And yet, he had just sent me flying with a single punch, even through my aura.
That kind of force… wasn’t something a human body could produce.
“You’d better hurry if you plan to resist, Swordsman of Water. I’m still growing stronger with every passing moment. The longer this drags on, the greater your chances of dying.”
“I know. And… that was a good hit just now.”
“Hm? Ah.”
“You punched me into just the right spot.”
Thanks to Bedir’s blow, I had landed right in front of the burning helmet.
I had planned to separate him from it—but instead, Bedir had helpfully thrown me toward the helmet.
‘Now’s my chance.’
Without hesitation, I reached out my right hand.
From my game character’s inventory, I pulled out my final item.
‘Mustiltain.’
A black dagger appeared in my grasp.
It looked ancient—one of the few weapons said, in its lore, to be capable of wounding a god.
I’d once gotten it as a random quest reward in the game.
I never thought I’d actually find a use for it—until now.
“Wait! That’s Muspel’s… Why do you have—!”
“You don’t need to know.”
With that, I brought the dagger down upon the helmet.
The black blade struck the surface—
Cheng—!
“…Huh?”
It bounced off effortlessly.
Just before impact, a red magic circle appeared and blocked the attack.
“What the…?”
I struck again, but the same red circle appeared, deflecting my blow.
I swung several more times, yet the result didn’t change.
“You didn’t expect that, did you? Though, to be fair, I didn’t expect your last attack either.”
“Urgh—?!”
Before I realized it, Bedir was already in front of me.
He swung his fist again, and I barely managed to block.
Boom!
Even so, I was sent flying once more.
“Urgh…”
“A dagger of Muspel… To think you’d pull out such a god-slaying weapon—that truly surprised me.”
“Guhk!”
Bedir kicked me hard.
I blocked with my sword, but the impact still rattled through me.
Then, Bedir unleashed a barrage of attacks.
I could see every one of them and block most, but each strike carried tremendous weight and speed.
The damage piled up.
His power and speed had long since exceeded human limits.
“To think you possessed such a relic… You never cease to amaze me.”
Bedir kicked the Mustiltain out of my hand, sending it flying.
I reached toward it, but he didn’t give me the chance.
He grabbed me by the nape of my neck and slammed me into the ground.
Thud!
“Urgh… haah… haah…”
“Still wearing that curious look, are you? Wondering why your attack didn’t work? Want me to tell you?”
“I thought about it… while getting beaten by you, Lord Bedir.”
The red magic circle surrounding the helmet…
As I recalled its pattern, the answer became clear.
“That’s… the Isrinbloom Family’s magic, isn’t it?”
“You know your stuff. I heard a magician from the Isrinbloom Family created a spell long ago—a spell of absolute protection. A magic that perfectly shields a chosen object from all external harm.”
“Unless it’s undone with another spell, it blocks nearly every attack. Of course, the strength depends on the caster’s ability.”
I spat out blood and rose to my feet again.
Yes—I had seen that magic before.
Recently, at the Isrinbloom Mansion.
It was the same spell cast over Rage’s vault.
“To undo that spell properly… one must have the blood of the Isrinbloom Family.”
“Correct. But you… don’t have their blood.”
Bedir chuckled as he looked at me.
“That dagger of Muspel was an excellent plan. Had it struck, my helmet would have been destroyed instantly. But that god-slaying dagger harms gods alone. It cannot destroy magic.”
“……”
“Rage… that useless fool did at least leave something worthwhile behind. When he cast this protection to guard my fragment, I thought him needlessly cautious—but it seems it paid off.”
I stared at Bedir in silence, then suddenly swung my sword toward his chest.
Kang!
The blade struck his torso and bounced off.
It was like striking solid rock.
“Seems the absorption from the fragment has progressed well. Hahaha. There’s no human left who can stop me. With the power I’ve gained, even your reinforcements won’t be able to halt my advance.”
“…Haaah…”
I exhaled deeply, trying to summon the Power of Peregrie once more.
But Bedir threw another punch.
I blocked it—but was still forced backward.
Boom!
“You still haven’t given up? Don’t you understand? You have no means of victory left.”
“……”
“I didn’t want to use this method—descending personally into this world. It could awaken the other sleeping gods. But this… is because of you. Had you not stood in my way, this wouldn’t have happened. But since you did… you’ll die here.”
Bedir raised his rapier again.
I, battered and broken, barely managed to lift Mistcatcher in return.
Bedir sneered at the sight.
“Still refusing to yield, I see. But face reality—there’s no way out for you. There’s no member of the Isrinbloom Family here to undo that magic. Even if there were, why would they come to help y—”
“There is.”
“…Hm?”
A new voice cut in nearby.
Both Bedir and I turned toward it in shock.
The sound had come from beside the massive helmet.
And there stood a black-haired woman, her right arm wrapped in bandages.