I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

70 – 070. Ismael Subjugation Battle (8)

*Chhzzzt──!*

With a mana-infused sword, I slice through the demon beasts. Just like before, they were at a level that I, a 7th circle mage, could easily handle.

*Kuu-ung!*

However, the sheer overwhelming numbers were the problem. Those things, densely surrounding the entire city, were ramming their bodies into the barrier!

“Everyone! Take shelter in the church!”

The priests, rushing out from the church, were urgently evacuating the territory’s people. The city outskirts quickly became deserted.

“Kieeeeek!”

*Shhk!*

Having taken out a few more demon beasts, I looked up at the sky.

A gloomy green barrier. A black sun. And…

Even *that* thing, shouldn’t be here.

[ Devour them. All of them. ]

Whether it was male or female. An utterly indiscernible voice echoed throughout the city.

‘That thing… they’re saying that’s the weakest of the demonkin?’

The tension, jaw-dropping, jolted my entire body awake. My hands and back were already clammy. Clearly, the magnitude of power emanating from that thing was beyond my level.

‘…Unbelievable.’

It wasn’t easy to gauge the strength of a foe much more powerful than oneself.

Just recalling the first time I met the Sword Demon. He had just looked like an ordinary old man, and if I hadn’t lost my memories, I wouldn’t have known he was a Transcendent.

But…

Looking at that thing, I could feel the power. The gap was clear as day. There was no way I could face it head-on and win.

[ Ismael of Devouring ].

Memories of my time as a player of ＜Silver Ring＞ felt like nothing. A guy with low base combat power, choosing to come here himself as the final bastion within the barrier!

*Shhhwiiish…!*

“Hmm, there are too many of them!”

The Sword Demon, unleashing his swordsmanship with the utmost intensity, spoke with a hint of frustration.

He was right. The hordes of beasts we had encountered on our way to the city had already numbered in the thousands. But compared to now, that was nothing.

‘Is this a… a gateway to hell that’s opened here?!’

*Whoosh!*

I gritted my teeth as I swung my sword.

The number of enemies defied logic. Ismael, who had charged out of the encampment… no, the nest, and those unbelievable numbers of beasts. Everything was beyond my expectations.

*Thwack!*

“Guhaaargh!”

“T-The barrier is breaking—!!”

“Damn it…!”

The barrier erected by the priests of the Aldehain Order was impressive. But even a barrier ultimately buckled before overwhelming power. The defensive line towards the gate had been pierced, and several territorial soldiers had already fallen.

*Screeeeak—!*

“All territorial soldiers, gather around me!”

It was just then.

The firmly closed city gate swung wide open. A moment later, an old man and several priests assisting him appeared.

“Bishop Dubong.”

I could only groan as I cut down another demonic beast.

Bishop, along with a dozen or so priests including Dubong, had joined the front lines. Knowing what this meant, I gritted my teeth once more.

‘If they die… everyone in the city is in danger.’

The barriers that the priests create are mediated by a sorcerer’s ‘divine power.’ Naturally, if they were to fall in battle, the entire city would be at risk.

But I couldn’t fault the priests for risking their lives. They, too, must believe that the same outcome would occur if they simply remained within the city.

“hhhup!”

Flash! Flash!

The divine magic unleashed by the priests was the power of ‘blessing.’

The injuries of the frontline territorial soldiers healed in an instant. Following that, spears and blades of light were launched at the demonic beasts.

Crack! Thud!

“Keeeek!”

“Ugh, so many incarnations of evil…!”

The priests’ attacks were clearly effective. But, again, their numbers were the problem.

“Bishop! Are there no warriors in the city?!”

Geum Harin, who was still slicing down demonic beasts, shouted urgently. She was also covered in the blood of the demonic beasts.

“That’s right. As is usually the case, the power of a border city is concentrated in the garrison…!”

And that garrison had already fallen into Ismael’s hands.

Flash! Flash!

Dubong’s divine magic once again displayed overwhelming power, splitting a demonic beast in half.

But.

“How amusing. So, you are the master of divinity.”

A voice that gave no indication whether it was male or female echoed from the sky.

Swish!

His efforts were diverted in an unexpected direction. Ismael, who had been floating in the sky above the battlefield, had personally descended to the ground!

“Y-you are….”

Dubong’s expression, which had been firm throughout the battle, froze.

And.

[Die.]

Ismael’s voice, laced with some kind of energy, reverberated across the battlefield.

“Kkuhhh…!!”

* * *

**thud!**

Right then, something shocking unfolded. The moment Dubong heard his voice, he crumpled to the ground, spewing out red, arterial blood.

“Son of a b*tch!”

*Swish!*

After cutting down a few of the demonic beasts, I threw myself back.

“Halt.”

“What’s this now?”

*Swoosh!*

A chilling gaze pierced through my entire being.

‘……Damn it.’

＜Ismael of Gluttony＞.

The b*stard was a beauty with blue hair and blue eyes.

Why did I use the word ‘beauty’?

… Because I couldn’t tell. Whether it was a woman or a man. That grotesquely strange face raked over me.

“My mistake. You were the owner of the ＜Divinity＞ after all.”

A flat, sickening voice echoed across the battlefield.

‘Was I the target?’

A subtle tension instantly jolted through my entire body again.

“If you’re talking about blessing, then I’m the master of that Divinity.”

“Oh-ho. So you’re not afraid of me?”

Ismael’s voice dripped with leisure. It was as if it held a confirmation that everyone here combined couldn’t bring them down.

“I am afraid.”

“……What?”

“I’m terrifyingly afraid. The gap in power is so great, it’s numbing my mind.”

“Hah!”

The thing scanned me with an intrigued expression.

“That’s a lot of guts. And it’s fascinating. How could so many ‘blessings’ be wrapped around a human body? My instincts weren’t wrong after all.”

*Sssshhh!*

The corners of its mouth stretched, unnervingly so. The wide smile made it seem extremely pleased.

‘It can see right through my blessing?’

It was unfair. Among humans, the ability to see through ‘blessings’ was a power of immense value, but to him, it seemed trivial.

“But, it’s not ripe yet.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“I’m saying the time isn’t right to harvest ＜Divinity＞. Tsk, to think the prophecy would be wrong.”

Ssssh.

The guy, stroking his chin, slowly raised his right hand. And that palm was facing me.

‘……Attack!’

A sense almost like instinct warned me.

Dangerous. But, I couldn’t pull back. The priests were right behind me, the city. The refugees were the reason.

Fwooosh──!

What shot out from his palm was an unidentifiable green aura. That aura shot towards me like a beam of light!

Claaang!

“Kgh!”

Barely deflecting the attack, I clenched my teeth at the tingling pain I felt in my grip.

“Surprisingly strong. Even though it’s not time, to possess such skill.”

Ishmael let out an exclamation of admiration at my response.

And then.

“Hmm, is that so. I see. I shall withdraw for now. I will return in fifteen days. By then, I hope the fruit will be ripe.”

Ssshhhk!

The corners of his mouth stretched to his ears, as if they would tear. And then, he turned and vanished into the darkness.

Swish!

The sight unfolding before my eyes was so unbelievable that I couldn’t comprehend it myself.

“……Damn it.”

A sticky unpleasantness, and disgust, the feeling of them coiling around my whole body made my face screw up on its own.

‘I thought I was progressing smoothly.’

I thought I could easily eliminate Ishmael, one of the weakest of the ＜Silvering＞ demons, through defense.

But.

Surprisingly, that was my illusion, my miscalculation.

Flutter!

Looking at my right hand, I could see that the fear, which was close to instinct, hadn’t subsided. My head, my body. It was screaming, contrary to my will.

“Hey, you!”

“Are you alright?!”

Only then did Geomma and Geum Harin rush towards me.

They must have seen it too. The demon, Ismail of Gluttony.

“The moment that thing appeared, my whole body froze. Are you really okay?!”

“It was the same for me. A fear that felt primal… swallowed my very reason.”

Even the two, from the Eastern Continent, part of the demonic forces, the Heavenly Demon Cult, spoke with fearful expressions.

“……I’m fine. For now.”

I gritted my teeth, scanning my surroundings.

Ismail said he’d be back in a fortnight and withdrew.

“Kreeeeak!”

“……”

I couldn’t rest. There wasn’t time to be shocked. Even now, the demonic beasts surrounding the city were absurdly numerous.

Shwip! Swish!

I silently started eliminating the demonic beasts again.

We only had a fortnight left.

We needed to come up with a viable solution within that time.

* * *

Clearing the demonic beasts around the city took a whole two days.

“We’re slowly, but surely, seeing the end of it.”

“That’s a relief. Now, I can start working with peace of mind.”

Should we even call this relief?

I silently nodded at Geomma’s voice, finishing off the last remaining demonic beasts.

Swish!

I’d killed tens of thousands of demonic beasts. Even so, I didn’t feel any better.

It was because the time when our real enemy, Ismail, would return was approaching.

‘Damn it all.’

It felt like walking through a maze in darkness with not a single ray of light. In the face of an overwhelming power that I couldn’t possibly resist, for the first time, I felt myself becoming pathetic.

But then, that was when it happened.

‘Grip.’

“……What?”

“You alright? What’s wrong?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

The reason I was startled was the voice.

The voice that had rung in my head before Ishmael attacked the city, I was hearing it again now, two days later.

‘Grasp it.’

The voice was as still as a tranquil lake.

‘Goddamn it.’

I shook my head. There was a chance this was even part of Ishmael’s trickery.

‘Grasp it…!’

The voice demanded, insistently.

‘Grasp what? Surely it doesn’t want me to grab that holy sword or whatever, does it?’

I repeated inwardly. Hoping my meaning would reach the owner of that goddamn voice.

‘You can’t grasp it.’

A jolt!

Just now… what?

The voice mumbled, as if something were off. At the same time, goosebumps rose all over my body. It was because that voice felt like it was piercing through everything that was me.

And then.

“F-Frey. Look above your head!”

“……My head?”

A startled Geum Harin yelled at me. But calling me Frey, huh. Seems like he’s gotten a little comfortable with me too… I thought, tilting my head back.

*Swish.*

“Huh?”

It was… ‘black mist.’

Why was this?

I knew. That black mist wasn’t a normal natural phenomenon. It was because it was only unfolding within a very narrow space above my head.

And.

I saw it for a brief moment. Something shining within the mist.

“Guhhhck!!”

Reflexively, a mouthful of blood gushed from my mouth.

*Thud!*

Consciousness vanished at the same instant.