I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

71 – 071. The Ismael Subjugation War (9)

It was darkness.

That’s all I could think. Pitch-black darkness. After that sudden, bizarre phenomenon, all I faced was a deep, dense world of inky black.

“What the hell is this now?”

I muttered, my voice hollow with bewildered panic.

After subjugating the demonic beasts that attacked the border city, how could I not be startled by this sudden, unexpected event?

“……”

I walked for a long while.

The world of darkness seemed endless. It was a void, devoid of any living creatures, any objects.

And then.

‘Cold.’

What was truly absurd was that a bone-chilling cold soon engulfed my entire body.

‘After reaching the 7th Level, shouldn’t I be immune to both cold and heat?’

I knew the 7th Level, the pinnacle of mastery, in detail. So I’d thought that, with the influence of the pure mana filling my body, I’d be immune to most climate changes…

*Clack clack clack clack!*

This cold was a problem that even I, having undergone a complete transformation, couldn’t escape.

*Clack clack clack clack!*

My jaw was involuntarily chattering. My body was shrinking, and my pace gradually slowed.

‘Cold. Insanely so. Or, am I already insane?’

I shook my head, recalling the black mist.

No, that couldn’t be. My memories were still vivid. The voice I heard after subjugating the beasts, and then the sudden appearance of the black mist.

‘…This is a space created by someone.’

Lost in thought as I walked through the darkness, I soon reached a conclusion.

That’s right. This is a space created by someone. A realm summoned by something with an insurmountable power.

If so.

‘Who? Among beings that are not gods, who could possess such a bizarre ability?’

My head throbbed.

Along with those thoughts, I walked and walked again.

This darkness was a truly strange place.

It’s something I realized only now, but it was filled with nothing but bone-chilling cold. I didn’t experience hunger, thirst, or even bodily functions.

So…

‘A consideration of sorts, perhaps.’

It might not be true. But if the owner of this space had a volatile personality, wouldn’t I have collapsed from exhaustion a long time ago?

I move forward again. Time flowed like a river.

I couldn’t tell direction or location. Because of that, I couldn’t know how much time had truly passed.

‘Roughly, ten days must have gone by.’

It felt like an eternity had passed. I’ve already been in this darkness for what feels like an immense amount of time!

An endless darkness. And me walking within it. I couldn’t understand this bizarre phenomenon, but I instinctively knew that this darkness also had an end.

* * *

“Goddamn it.”

In a shabby room in a border city, Geum Harin’s brow furrowed in frustration.

Frey had collapsed.

The devil had declared he would return, and yet, time more precious than gold was just slipping away.

“Sword Demon, are you truly sure there isn’t a problem?”

“Heh heh! The priests’ examination says there isn’t.”

“I can’t believe it. His breathing and pulse have vanished, yet he’s fine…!”

Geum Harin bit her lip, gazing at Frey who slept with a peaceful expression.

It’s already been two weeks since the unknown mist had lulled Frey into a slumber.

So, in other words…

“The demon spawn will be back tomorrow.”

Geum Harin clenched her fist, her face stained with despair.

For fifteen days, Geum Harin had desperately focused on swordsmanship. For the blurry wall of the 7th Rank. She had given her all, even forsaking sleep and meals.

But.

Would the wall of the 7th Rank so easily yield?

Geum Harin still hadn’t crossed that wall. The Sword Demon’s compassionate advice continued, but the result was the same.

“Heh heh. It seems the Little Clan Leader has grown quite fond of this child.”

“……”

Geum Harin glared at him, her expression laced with irritation.

The lot of us within this green barrier were in a crisis, our lives to be cut short tomorrow. Yet that b*stard, the Great Protector of the Demonic Cult, was still cracking jokes in this situation.

“Yeah. I guess that could be true.”

Kim Ha-rin, head turned away, mumbled weakly.

Before coming to this Western Continent, Kim Ha-rin had believed herself to be a being chosen by the heavens.

A radiant appearance, as if crafted by a god.

Martial prowess stronger than her peers, even those a decade older.

And finally, the status of being the Heavenly Demon’s eldest daughter and the next Cult Leader.

Yet.

The brilliant Young Mistress of the Demonic Cult had fallen into an abyss of despair.

It had all happened facing Frey, the very goal of this Western Continent journey.

He was strong. Unbelievably so for someone of the same age. Her attacks hadn’t even grazed Frey’s clothing.

“And on top of that.”

Kim Ha-rin spoke, recalling her duel with Frey in the near past.

“That man, he mastered the Heavenly Demon’s Sovereign Step.”

“……Heh heh.”

The Sword Demon simply smiled, a subtle glint in his eye at Kim Ha-rin’s gaze.

“……”

She didn’t pry into the specifics of the situation.

The Heavenly Demon had commanded her to be joined with him. Picking at the details now would be meaningless, she knew that well.

However.

“All of it is meaningless now, I guess.”

The situation she was in had made her heart indifferent.

Some said even an iron-willed person would turn into a child when facing death. But she was different. Her detachment to death had the knack of numbing her to the crisis that was soon to come.

*Swoosh!*

“……I’m going out.”

“Where do you think you’re going, Young Mistress?”

“Training.”

Kim Ha-rin replied tersely and left the room.

* * *

Cold! It’s terribly cold!

The Earth’s poles are like a cute little thing compared to this. The cold of this darkness, digging into my bones, my brain, was slowly paralyzing my reason.

“Goddamn it…!!”

I roared roughly, putting more power into my legs.

For a long, long time, I realized a new fact once again.

In this darkness, ‘mana’ can’t be used. It felt like some being with great power had sealed the ability itself.

Of course, there was a silver lining.

*Sssshh…*

An unknown energy adds vitality to my body. I knew very well what this energy meant.

[Trait – Overlord]

“Am I… dying?”

The trait, [Overlord], activated when my vitality drops to an extreme low.

This trait had only been activated twice before now.

The first time, when I took down hundreds of orcs alone.

The second time, when I was slaying a Blood Lion.

Both were times in extremely dangerous battles, when my life hung by a thread.

But why?

This time was different. Just walking in the darkness, this darkness was putting me in a life-or-death situation.

And then, at that moment.

‘Welcome.’

“……?!!”

For a moment, I doubted my eyes.

I was definitely walking through the darkness.

But what kind of trick was this, in front of my eyes, I could see someone of unknown identity sitting on a chair.

The owner of the voice had no discernable ‘form’. Like they were existing and not existing at the same time. Their form, shrouded in mystery, was blocked by a hazy fog.

A chill ran down my spine for no reason.

I knew it instinctively. That this being, they had brought me to this unknown space.

“Who… are you?”

I threw the cautious question at him.

‘Who am I, you ask?’

He chuckled, then burst into laughter. His shoulders even shook, like this conversation was genuinely amusing to him.

: : : I am ■■ ■■■ ■■ ■■■ all : : :

“……Ugh!”

*FWoooShhh──!!!*

My eyes, pupils. They opened so wide, they felt like they’d tear.

A name, it’s just a name. The moment I heard his name, I was bleeding from all seven orifices.

*Th-th-th-th-th.*

My whole body was seized by chills. The resistance against the cold in the darkness weakened. That being’s name… it was starting to steal my consciousness.

But.

*Whoosh!*

‘The vessel isn’t complete yet, is it.’

Something incredible unfolded.

As he waved his hand, the phenomenon that had been destroying my reason was wiped clean as if it never was.

“Y-you are… ‘God’…!?”

I managed to speak, coughing.

‘Ho ho, your intuition is rather keen. To remain this composed even after hearing the true name of a God. Indeed, are you the one Aldehain has chosen?’

*Ssssk.*

Why was it?

I realized that he, obscured by a hazy mist, was smiling brightly.

“Cough! Cough! What is the reason… why did you summon me to this space?”

‘Why, you ask?’

*Whoosh!*

He gestured again. Then, an astonishing sight unfolded.

From his misty fingertips, a scene like a video began to play!

“This is…?”

Familiar faces appeared.

Geum Ha-rin and Geom-ma. They were desperately resisting, slashing and slashing at the pouring demonic forces.

However.

That resistance didn’t last long. The master who commanded the demonic forces, ＜Devourer＞ Ishmael, slowly descended from the green-tinged sky.

The following events were gruesome.

Ishmael reached out his hand. Then, Geum Ha-rin spat out blood and collapsed on the ground.

Rank 8, a martial artist reaching the cusp of transcendence… even a swordmaster of extreme demonic cultivation, a master of *Hwa-Kyung*, couldn’t withstand his power.

The swordmaster, who had been wielding his blade, soon collapsed, spitting blood.

[ ───. ]

Ismael, watching the two, moved his lips. His face, filled with fury, seemed to declare death to the swordmaster, Geum Harin, and everyone in the city.

‘That’s the situation out there. You were destined to die in that place.’

*Snap!*

He flicked his fingers and spoke.

At the same moment, the fog showing the situation outside vanished without a trace. It was a sight impossible to believe, even while seeing it.

‘Wait in this darkness for the situation to end. That is the grace I can bestow.’

“…What?”

My staggering body regained strength.

And I murmured blankly. Right now, I couldn’t comprehend the words of the unidentified god.

‘I told you to seek refuge here. Anyway, you’ll only die if you go to that battlefield.’

*Clench*…!

My fist clenched tight. My breath hitched. Right now, his disgusting words made my breathing ragged.

‘Ismael is from the past, an entity with the most powerful force among angels. His blue hair and eyes prove the strength he possesses.’

“…I don’t need it.”

My head bowed, I spat out the words, chewing on my resentment.

The god didn’t answer. He simply watched me quietly.

“I said I don’t need your grace. I’m going out there.”

‘Are you serious? Even if your death is foreordained?’

“…Yes.”

*Swish*.

I raised my head and glared at the murky fog.

Reason, purpose, thoughts, plans.

I couldn’t understand any of it. But one thing was certain. I was not a man who would hide in this damn darkness.

‘Aren’t those two strangers to you? Why would you go this far?’

“…Because.”

‘What?’

“They are, one of my precious bonds.”

A tingling sensation shot through my fingertips. The phenomenon traveled past my hands, through my torso, head, and legs. In an instant, it jolted my entire body awake.

Ah, yes. This was the power of ‘Mana.’

Before I knew it, the blessing I possessed was shining brighter than ever before.

‘Is that so?’

The god gazed at me with an expression of interest. Or rather, it wasn’t even certain if he was looking at me. He was still shrouded in a hazy mist.

‘Good.’

Kugugugu…!

Sssshhh, the mist surged greatly, as if the god were laughing once more.

‘Now, the wheel of your fate has been twisted. It will have an extremely powerful effect on the mortals around you as well.’

“…What, what does that mean?”

‘Grasp the sword. Resist fate. Against the life and death you would shatter.’

Sssshhh───!!

“…!!!”

Space contracts. I felt as though this world, made of darkness, was being compressed.

: : : The end of the stars shall be the slaying of gods : : :

Consciousness fades.

My body floats.

I realized, I had gained a new power.

Chwarararack!

[ The target’s ‘Unique Trait’ is being written. ]

[ Frey ■ ■■■■■■ ]

[ Unique Trait ＜?■■?＞ ]

[ Writing Progress 31% ]