Chapter 304: The Sword Festival (2)

“...What?”

“Did I hear that right?”

“What an arrogant bastard.”

“Huh? All of us at once? This guy’s got some nerve.”

The chiefs standing on the hill scoffed in disbelief at Karyl’s words.

“You’d better be careful. He’s someone even the Digons of the south acknowledged,” Alshar, the chief of the Cold Wind tribe, warned as he drew his chakram.

Unlike the others, Alshar had been watching Karyl carefully from the start. It made sense, given that the Cold Wind tribe had deep connections with the Black-Eyed tribe.

“That’s right. And I’ve already brought the Lurein Principality under my control as well.”

“...!!”

Alshar swiftly turned around at the voice behind him, but before he could even raise his chakram, he was struck by a powerful punch to the face, leaving him reeling in confusion.

Karyl then grabbed him by the face and slammed him into the ground with a force that cracked the earth.

“Just as you said, it’s best to be careful. Otherwise, this is what happens.”

“Ghh... Mmmpf...!”

Alshar struggled to pry Karyl’s hand off his face, but the pressure was immense, making it feel as though he were being crushed by a massive pillar. All he could do was thrash helplessly.

“You...!!”

Seeing this, the other chiefs hastily drew their weapons.

Fwoooosh―!!

In that moment, Karyl drew Agnel from his waist and swung it, unleashing a blast of violet flames from the Arcane Mana in the blade. He then ducked and twisted the Freezing Talon’s blade behind his wrist, dragging it along the ground.

Crunch...! Crackle, crackle...!

As the Freezing Talon scraped the ground, jagged ice spikes erupted in its wake.

“Ugh?!”

“Get back!”

The chiefs, who had intended to rescue Alshar, were forced to retreat in the face of Karyl’s flames and ice.

“Six against one, so I suppose it’s fair to use this power now. Feel free to go all out as well.”

“How dare you...!”

The chief of the Iron tribe brought his massive hammer crashing down.

BOOOOM—!!

The ground quaked violently from the impact, and the ice spikes that had sprouted from the Freezing Talon shattered, shards flying in all directions.

Behind him, the chief of the Feline tribe leaped into the air, crossing the claws attached to her hands as she aimed for Karyl’s neck.

“Haaaah!!”

Quick and agile, she twisted in mid-air several times, slashing with her claws. However, Karyl managed to evade her attacks, grabbing her arm as it grazed his chest and twisting it forcefully.

“Gah!?”

As he flipped her into the air, Karyl followed up with a powerful, Arcane Mana-charged strike from the flat of the Freezing Talon, slamming her into the ground.

THUD!

The impact was so tremendous that the Feline chief bounced back up from the ground. Karyl didn’t waste the opportunity—he spun and kicked her in the side, sending her flying with a burst of air.

BANG—!!

The Feline chief skidded across the ground, eventually caught by the eldest of the Thunder tribe’s three leaders, while the other two hurled their small hammers at Karyl.

Crackle—!!

The heads of the hammers, charged with electricity, glowed and rumbled like thunder as they flew toward Karyl.

“Hup!”

Karyl slashed with his Freezing Talon—the blade of which could slice even through steel—at the hammer of the second chief of the Thunder tribe, but to his surprise, the blade failed to cleave through the hammer’s head, instead bouncing off.

As Karyl staggered from the impact, the hammer of the third Thunder warrior, along with the massive maul wielded by the Iron tribe’s chief, came crashing down toward him.

Just before losing his balance, Karyl kicked up the second member’s fallen hammer with his foot, sending it spinning into the air. With a deafening clang, the spinning hammer collided with the third warrior’s hammer, knocking it back.

Woooom...!!

Karyl’s dragon mana erupted from the blades of the Freezing Talon and Agnel. As he closed in on the third Thunder warrior, who was stumbling backward, Karyl slashed with the two weapons in an X-shaped pattern.

The hammer was cleaved in two instantly, and the strike carried through, cutting through the Thunder warrior’s wrist as well.

“Aaargh...!!”

With his hand gone, the warrior writhed in pain on the ground, and his two comrades lunged at Karyl.

Crack, crack...!!

Rumble, rumble...!

Meanwhile, the Iron tribe’s chief twisted the shaft of his maul, revealing a chain that connected the head of the weapon to the handle. He swung it like a flail, the head tearing through the air with a menacing sound, spiraling toward Karyl like a serpent.

“...”

Karyl placed his hand on the ground.

“Rock Blaster.”

Two magic circles formed beneath his palm. Another two appeared, then another two—six circles in total.

It was a 6th Class spell.

The ground shook as large, snow-laden boulders rose from the earth and hurtled toward the Iron chief.

Boom...! Crash...!!

The flail, which had been speeding toward Karyl with terrifying force, lost momentum as it smashed into the swarm of rocks.

Thud!

Karyl leaped into the air, using the falling flail’s head as a stepping stone to propel himself toward the chief.

“Not so fast!”

The two remaining Thunder warriors anticipated this, stepping in front of the Iron tribe chief to block Karyl’s path, their hammers poised to strike.

The Third Stance: Long Weeping Posture

Karyl skillfully deflected all four incoming hammers with fluid motions, positioning himself for the next move.

Colorless Air Sword - The Fifth Stance

With impeccable timing, Karyl struck the first Thunder warrior’s wrist with the pommel of the Freezing Talon before tossing Agnel into the air. Extending his now free hand, a viscous, dark liquid oozed from his wrist, solidifying into a long, razor-sharp blade. It resembled the weapon once wielded by Duaat, the Dark Spirit King embodying one of the Two Great Powers.

With a swift slash, Karyl’s black blade passed through the first Thunder warrior’s hammer and cut into his shoulder.

“Aaagh!!”

But the assault didn’t stop there.

“Burn Flare.”

The wound inflicted by the black blade ignited with intense heat, engulfing the Thunder warrior in a fiery explosion.

“Brother!!” the second Thunder warrior cried out, watching in horror as his brother collapsed while clutching his face in agony.

[Magic has certainly become familiar to you. Now that you’ve reached the 6th Class, your control over mana has improved dramatically.]

“Aaagh!! Ghraaaaa...!!”

[Not only that, but you’re also capable of keeping the flames from going out. You’re not just channeling mana into your sword; you’re at a level where you could be called a sorcerer in your own right.]

Allen Javius nodded in satisfaction, disregarding the man burning alive.

[Of course, you’ve only just crossed the threshold of a novice. Don’t be content with this level of mana control.]

The second Thunder warrior, staring at the spectral figure of Allen with a mix of awe and fear, found himself frozen in place, unable to attack or flee.

In the meantime, the other tribe leaders lay defeated on the ground.

[I think you should draw a little more mana...]

Allen was getting excited, while Karyl merely smirked and waved his hand dismissively.

The second Thunder warrior glanced over at Hwarin with trembling eyes, and she shrugged as if she had expected this outcome all along.

“Hwarin.”

Karyl turned to face her.

“Even among the tribe leaders, your presence is on a different level. I don’t believe these are the ones meant to conclude the Sword Festival... Honestly, tell me the truth. What is the actual final stage of the festival? I’m sure it won’t end just with the petty scheming of the elders.”

At that, Hwarin’s lips twisted into a bitter smile.

“I’ve already acknowledged you. The fact that you carry Karliak’s blood is enough reason for you to lead the tribes.”

“I’m not here to claim the tribes through sympathy or inheritance. I seek complete submission—not through brute force, but through reverence that you all can genuinely accept.”

Karyl pointed his sword at her.

“They mentioned something called the Will of the Lycan. The look in the eyes of the last leaders wasn’t one of defeat but of expectation, as if they were waiting for you to do something.”

Hwarin sighed and pulled out the necklace she wore around her neck.

Wooosh...

A mysterious green glow stirred within, pulsing and fading like a wisp of wind.

[Is that... Could that be Samad’s power within it?] Ramine, recognizing the necklace, murmured in a trembling voice.

The Wild Wind Samad—the Wind Spirit King’s name stirred Karyl, making him scrutinize the necklace with fresh curiosity.

[No, it’s different. You Spirit Kings wouldn’t understand this power.]

[...What?]

Karyl raised an eyebrow at Mael’s words.

[That’s it. Remember when I first met you in the box of seals? I mentioned something surprising then. I never expected to encounter another Master Key here.]

...Master Key?

Karyl’s gaze remained fixed on Hwarin’s necklace as he spoke to Mael in his mind.

[Do you recall? The term “Master Key” refers to the Blader weapons. From the Ein Trigger, which houses Ramine, to the dual blades wielded by that woman from the south, there are fourteen weapons, each with a different form, but the fifteenth is special.]

Karyl nodded in understanding.

You mentioned that the fifteenth was not a single object but a title—one that could ascend to the rank capable of challenging the Unchanging Two Gods. And isn’t that you?

[Correct, but as I also said before, the fifteenth is not just one thing. The first fourteen are ordinary weapons, but the fifteenth simply represents a title. We possess self-awareness and compete among ourselves, with only one eventually claiming that position alongside the user. They are known as candidates for the Unchanging Two Gods.]

So Hwarin’s necklace is also a weapon with awareness known as a Master Key?

[Indeed.]

How is it that she possesses one of Blader’s weapons?

[If you have one, why shouldn’t they? And remember, they are descendants of the Godslayers.]

Mael’s tone was almost mocking.

“You’re right. Defeating me would certainly be a more effective way to secure the tribes’ loyalty than fighting a hundred of them.”

“Then why waste time when there was a simpler path?” Karyl asked.

“This power comes with a cost, even for me. Besides, I don’t really want to kill you,” Hwarin said with a smile.

Crunch—!

Hwarin tore off the necklace from around her neck and crushed it.

[Ha... Haha. It seems she has learned to use the Lycan’s power differently than you have,] Mael said with a slight grin, watching the scene unfold.

Karyl gripped his Freezing Talon tighter, seemingly unaffected by the Blue Serpent’s chilling remark.

“...I see.”

As Hwarin crushed the necklace, her already muscular body grew even larger, her facial features sharpening as fangs protruded from her elongated jaw.

“Grrr...”

[This is Divine Beast transformation. That woman is merging with the full power of the Master Key. It’s something only a monstrous physical being could achieve... Not even the previous holder of the Lycan’s power became such a monster.]

Even without Mael’s explanation, Karyl could sense that the woman before him was no longer a mere warrior, but a true beast.

So could you do something like that as well?

Karyl asked.

[Of course. Why? Do you want me to devour you? The power you’d gain would be immense.]

Don’t even think about it. That’s never going to happen. Just lend me your strength

, Karyl replied sternly.

[Fair enough... You can count on me.]

Mael wrapped himself around the blade of the Freezing Talon and then vanished.

[He’s still as annoying as ever, that Mael... Taking over as if he’s the master. That’s why the Master Key is known as a devourer of the godslayer’s body,] the Queen of TIdes muttered irritably.

Despite Ethereal’s complaints, Mael’s power had undeniably enhanced the Freezing Talon’s frost aura and sharpened its blade even further. Unlike spirits born in the cracks between worlds, the Master Key weapons were directly created by the gods themselves.

[A battle between Master Keys... It brings back memories of Blader’s Age, the era before the Mythical Age when beings fought for the god’s throne.] Mael’s voice was filled with excitement.

Shut up and focus

, Karyl commanded as he drew his blade, ready to bring the Sword Festival to its conclusion.