Sword Pilgrim

Claaaang–!!

Craaaaaaack!

Lightning struck.

A pulse of blue electricity spread in all directions through the Black Forest.

"Aaaaaaah!"

Boom! Boooom! Crack!!

"Crazy…!"

A man stood tall with the azure explosion at his back.

Callius – to them was a horrifying sight.

Orcal's worms were charred by the lightning.

Druma's bindings were shattered.

Ryburn's poison couldn’t even reach him.

The power of the thunderbolt that spread in all directions with every impact was beyond their imagination.

Besides, his sword art –

"What the hell is this…"

The scattered petals were charged with lightning.

Silver Flower Wave Sword – Raging Flower Wave.

Each of its petals was a thunderbolt.

A mass of blue lightning that devastated without discrimination.

And the problem wasn’t just above ground, either.

"Kaaaaaagh!"

Lightning didn't just fall from the sky.

It pierced upwards from under their feet, without any way to stop it.

Leaving them helpless.

Boooom–!!

"Druma!"

Druma's sword shattered and fell, its wayward fragments shattering a few trees in their path.

He could no longer move, and it was unknown whether he was merely unconscious or dead. Orcal and Ryburn's complexions became pale, but Callius, still calm, hadn’t yet broken a sweat.

‘As expected of the Thunderbolt Sword.'

Among the elemental-type swords, it ranked among the top ten in destructive power.

What it produced was the power of pure lightning.

Very compatible with the Silver Flower Wave Sword art.

Raging Flower Wave didn’t need mentioning, of course.

Even the White Haze, when the sword energy was changed to lightning, had its power amplified and its sharpness doubled.

Besides, pure electrical energy had other advantages.

No matter how well-trained a knight might be, they had no choice but to get burns and numb muscles at a touch.

‘It's just like when I’d been facing Ames.'

The destructive force reminded him of the time when he’d been helpless against Lutheon and his Exploding Spear – Ames.

But now he was in a position to wield such violence instead of being subjected to it.

"One down."

The captain of the sixth squad, Druma, had retired from the field.

The Zodiac Sword – Guillotine was a good sword if used properly, applying the power of the earth to create a wall of soil and crush the opponent inside, but it’d faced a bad match-up this time.

Guillotine was shattered by Callius’ sword, and Druma had lost consciousness.

"Not dead, huh?"

The Zodiac Sword – Guillotine, after being broken, had turned into white smoke and disappeared.

Now that the sword’s carcass had been released, there was no point worrying about Druma any further.

Once the rosario becomes a scabbard, the sword’s soul unifies with the paladin, and since the sword was destroyed, Druma’s soul had also inevitably been damaged.

He had to have suffered serious internal injuries, so he’d die anyway if left alone.

He’d taken the full brunt of the lightning, after all.

"There's a reason why I took out the Thunderbolt Sword in the first place."

The nature of the lightning was the reason.

Because lightning shows exceptional effect in matches versus multiple opponents.

It can quickly and easily subdue opponents, and it has good synergy with the Silver Flower Wave Sword art.

So, for the past three years, Callius had been trying to steal the Thunderbolt Sword from Bernard.

Really.

Once he used it in a fight, he could feel it.

‘With this, I can match him blow for blow.'

Lutheon.

Callius could now fight evenly with that damned bastard.

The only sad part was that the sword contained demonic energy, so he couldn't take it out carelessly.

"Haaaaaaa!!"

The sword blocked Orcal’s escape route.

At the same time, it ejected another thunderbolt.

"Fuck off!!"

Merely that.

But even just that caused blood to ooze from Orcal's eyes and mouth.

His eyeballs were bloodshot, blood vessels ruptured, skin burnt; the smell of cooked flesh rising from his body tickled Callius’ nose.

The ability of this sword was that overwhelming.

"Ryburn!!"

Orcal, who was about to faint, cried out to his colleague.

But Callius hadn’t lost track of his enemy.

He blocked Orcal's sword with the weapon in his main hand, while his off hand reached into the air and drew out the Predator Sword to block the other's strike.

Clang–!

Sparks flew.

The scabbard of the Predator Sword shot out, and a blood-red blade was revealed.

Slash!

Ryburn's arm flew through the air.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

Snikt.

At the same time, the Thunderbolt Sword pierced Orcal's belly.

Lightning surged, and Orcal fainted with a gasp.

‘It's easy.'

All the inquisitor-captains were paladin level.

Even among paladins, there were three strata, and they could be said to be second-class.

It was safe to say that Callius had gotten strong enough to slaughter a second-class paladin of the Order.

‘Lutheon should be at the very peak of first-class.'

He had to have risen to that level by now.

With Storm Sword – Callis in his hand, Callius could even deal with a Master for a while, but there was nothing to be done about it.

Callis had a restriction that it must not leave the North.

"… You. Do you think you'll be able to keep the sword, knowing it'll make the Church your enemy?"

Ryburn’s voice, full of condemnation, was sharp as a knife.

But Callius only laughed out loud in response.

"What are you saying? Didn’t you guys already try to kill me even though you didn’t have a shred of proof?"

“…”

Ryburn bit his lips.

In fact, he’d had no intention of killing Callius at the start. However, during his absence, Druma had received an order from his superiors.

He couldn't figure out exactly what was going on.

But the milk had already been spilled.

The course of events was irreversible.

"Even though things turned out like this, I don't have any ill feelings. No, well, there's a little. I've been annoyed since Torrett."

Ah well. Ryburn was probably only following orders, anyway.

"Any last words?"

“May your path be filled with the wrath of God.”

"Thank you for that."

Snikt.

Callius pierced Ryburn’s heart with the Predator Sword.

As Ryburn fell, Callius inspected the state of his sword.

「Predator Sword – Loas」

Grade – Spirit Sword

Infused Soul – A mixed soul

Unique Ability – Predation

Noble Predation – 4

Noble Predation's count had increased.

It’d counted both Ryburn and his sword.

Looks like Akasha’s broken.

Seeing that the count rose only by eating souls at the level of the captains or higher, Callius wondered what advantage Noble Predation would eventually bring.

"I might have to fill in a hundred for a transformation. Or perhaps even a thousand."

The sword might turn into a vision sword or have some other changes at that point.

It wouldn’t be that difficult to feed it from time to time.

He had time.

‘By the way. It must be thanks to that strange seed inside my elixir field.'

The purity of his divine power –

As well as the amount, had increased significantly.

「Callius von Jervain」

「Occupation」– Pilgrim

「Spirit」– Level 3

「Divine Power」– 11332/16531

「Talent」–【Bard's Blessing】【Instinctive Intuition】

「Characteristics」– [Verse of Grace] [Nobility's Duty] [Scapegrace of the Count Family] [Death Verse Composition] [Prodigal Son of Order] [Gluttony] [Tricolour Eye] [Pheromone]

[Ability]

Strength – 81 (30)

Agility – 55 (30)

Skill – 16

Health – 53 (30)

Faith – 83

Although his spirit's level didn’t rise –

The amount had indeed increased.

In fact, this had been happening from the moment that seed had settled in Callius’ elixir field.

After achieving three peaks of his Six Peak Flowers technique, the amount of divine power had continued to show a gradual growth.

Although the rate had been negligible, it’d made using the Thunderbolt Sword less burdensome.

Despite it making his life easier, he was a little reluctant because he still didn't know what the seed was.

‘A defeated God.'

What was it defeated in?

There were some niggling doubts.

He could only make guesses.

“Shall we just finish it?”

Callius shook his head and raised the Predator Sword.

Ryburn's body had changed to a handful of sand as the Predator Sword had absorbed his flesh and spirit, but not Orcal, who’d been stabbed by the Thunderbolt Sword.

He’d fainted, but he was still alive.

There’d no repercussion for killing him at this point.

Everyone already knew that the heretic inquisitors had come to hunt the thunder wolf dragon. No one would be able to say anything if they were hunted by their prey instead.

He had enough swords for now, so it was better to let the Predator Sword eat him.

"M-, master!"

Just as the blade was about to chop down –

Along with Bruns' cry –

"Die!!"

Druma, who Callius had thought dead, sprang an ambush with Orcal’s spirit sword.

Callius began to block it with the Predator Sword, but then he narrowed his eyes for an instant and hurriedly retreated.

"Are you running away?! Fight! You apostate…"

Crunch. Druma lost his head before he could even finish speaking.

"Ah."

Looking back on it, he’d made a mistake.

He should’ve tried to keep Druma alive, if only to find out who was trying to kill him.

Behind the headless corpse, a huge beast that'd been chewing the head spat it out as if finding it tasteless.

– Krrr.

It was the thunder wolf dragon.

It looked quite enraged.

It wasn’t because its territory had been invaded. It was looking very intently at the Thunderbolt Sword in his hand.

"Did you come for this?"

It growled, displaying rows of sharp teeth.

Perhaps it’d come here feeling the power of lightning that was from the same source as its own.

It didn’t seem to like the Thunderbolt Sword very much, though.

"This might be from your parents."

When Callius waved the sword around like a joke, the beast dug at the ground with its front paws as if it would charge right in at any moment.

Callius put away the Predator Sword.

And he rushed to pull out the Tyrant Sword that was stuck in the ground.

The beast charged at that same instant.

Sparks scattered as it arrived like a peal of thunder.

But this time, Callius was faster.

Crack–!

As soon as he'd grabbed the sword, he'd activated the gravitational field. Unused to the change, the beast couldn’t help but stumble. Its movement was sealed for an instant.

Blue lightning flashed from its body.

And thunderbolts crashed down.

Crrrrrracklllllle!!

However, the Thunderbolt Sword in Callius' hand replied with a resounding roar.

– Kuaaa!!

Clang–!

Avoiding the enemy’s body slam by a hair, he cut horizontally.

However, there was only a dull sound as the sword struck.

It’d bounced off against the hard scales.

There were no scratches.

Boom! Boom!

Sent flying through the air, Callius could only come to a halt after knocking down several trees.

The thunder wolf dragon raised its head, its horns flashing blue. As it howled, a huge thunderbolt struck the area.

Crrrrraaaaaaash!!

However, this was already expected.

"Ugh…!"

The Thunderbolt Sword clashed against the enemy's lightning bolt.

And unified with it.

The lightning instead enveloped the sword like a wreath.

The secret of the Silver Flower Wave Sword art resided in the Thunderbolt Sword. First Martial Skill – Raging Flower Wave.

A sword skill that shatters the opponent's sword art and unifies it with itself, making it look like flower petals fluttering in all directions that crash upon the enemy like waves upon a shore.

And just like that –

What Callius did, was simple.

The Thunderbolt Sword smashed against the enemy’s lightning attack.

The scattered electricity gathered around it like a wreath.

And all that power then flowed into a strike.

Instead of looking like petals –

It was just lightning.

Fragments of lightning flew through the air.

This, was a Raging Flower Wave.

A Raging Flower Wave made entirely out of lightning. A flower made of thunder that bloomed from the tip of Callius’ sword.

But the thunder wolf dragon managed to avoid even that.

For such a huge body, it was an amazing performance.

But that didn't matter.

I kind of expected it.

That this bastard would avoid it.

But the more it dodged, the more traces of the lightning were carved on the ground.

From those traces seeped out the White Haze, and lightning struck again, upward.

Silver Flower Wave Sword: Second Martial Skill – White Haze.

Bewildered, the thunder wolf dragon was hit by its own lightning.

But even so, its dragon scales and horns managed to nullify the power.

Although it was confused, there was no actual damage.

But it was time.

All the buds of the three peaks bloomed in Callius’ elixir field.

A huge torrent of divine power circulated through the veins and filled his whole body.

And all that divine power concentrated into a sword.

Tyrant Sword – Karaktu.

Between the flowers of lighting, between Raging Flower Wave and White Haze –

A third technique now unfolded, a mystery that bridged the gap between the two.

Silver Flower Wave Sword: Third Martial Skill – Other Shore Flower.

As both skills gathered around the blade –

A compressed sword was created.

Intangible qi, gathering to form a river.

Incomplete, yes –

But the form of the compressed qi –

Was definitely the embryonic form of a sword boundary.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was there.

In the first place, this was a technique that intentionally exploded an unstable sword art to deal internal damage to the enemy.

Step.

His legs, which had gathered divined power, pierced through the curtain of lightning.

The Thunderbolt Sword scattered lightning bolts to clear the path forward.

But the thunder wolf dragon didn't stand still either.

Since it’d noticed something strange, it naturally tried to speed up and keep its distance.

Bang! Bang! Crackle! Boom! Bang!!

A void was carved out at a speed that couldn’t be followed with the naked eye.

One without any interference from the lightning.

So the beat had to come forward.

Raising its front paws, it splashed blue lightning from its claws.

But even lifting its paws itself was a mistake.

"That’s a gap."

Snikt!

– Kaaaang!

It was just a scratch. It’d managed to escape.

But it’d been cut.

And right now, that was enough.

Clang!

Immediately, the cut skin burst open, and blood splattered in the air.

It was small, pale, but something did indeed bloom within it.

In the shape of a peony flower.

‘In the fight against the warlord, I didn’t have to use either the Raging Flower Wave or the White Haze to do this.'

But this wasn’t the same as that time. As a result, the power of the technique was also vastly different.

This isn’t even half the power compared to back then, but that’s fine.

– Kuaaaaaaaaa!!

Because power wasn’t Callius’ concern right now.

“Things are going to get a little heavy for you.”

The thunder wolf dragon's face wrinkled.

Viscous blood dripped from its mouth.

It staggered quite a bit, since it was difficult to balance its body due to its broken shoulder.

It was doing everything it could to keep itself centred.

However, since the area near the injured shoulder had become heavy, its movement became awkward.

Callius did not miss the opportunity.

He cut, and cut again.

He cut indiscriminately. Cut at the neck, at the legs, and at the torso.

Its leather was so hard that he couldn’t even cut it properly, and the wounds were all shallow, but they were definitely increasing in number.

And with each cut from the Tyrant Sword –

Its body became different from before.

It became so heavy that it couldn't even move easily.

This time, it was the Thunderbolt Sword.

It pierced where a wound had ruptured.

And no matter how resistant to lightning it might have been on the outside, its innards were still vulnerable.

“You have to die here.”

The shimmering light of a thunderbolt cast a shadow across Callius' face. The thunder wolf dragon's mouth opened wide into a roar. Lightning struck again.

But it was of no use.

Callius' sword was faster.

B-b-bang!!

At the same time –

As Callius squeezed out all of his divine power and drove a lightning bolt into its body –

Bang! Baang! Booom! Booooooooom!

The world was covered in a boundless thunderstorm.

Editor's Notes:

None for this chapter.