Chapter 193: Nine-Tailed Fox Invasion (1)

I decided to test the waters.“How many fakes does your master have to make to be satisfied?”

“Haha.”

Kusley casually revealed his identity.

“Don’t worry, I’m the real one.”

“All the fakes say that!”

The blond man is behind you.

Monologue Insertion!

The moment Kusley turned around, Cecil jumped in.

But surprisingly, Kusley blocked Cecil’s surprise attack while still turned around.

“That’s an interesting blood art, but.”

“Ugh!”

“Cecil!”

Cecil dodged the Sword Saint’s slash, but was knocked back by the impact.

“There are many ways to grasp an opponent’s attack without having to see it with your eyes.”

“….”

This is bad.

“What’s your purpose? Your master is fighting up there.”

“First, I’m going to clean this place up.”

“Are you really Kusley?”

You’re going to massacre civilians?

I’m not exactly a righteous person either, but this is truly disgusting.

“Yes, didn’t I tell you I’m the real one? I’ve grown, unlike my weak self.”

“What happened?”

“I simply decided to follow Lady Kyoka.”

“Kyoka?”

“「Thousand-Year-Old Nine-tailed Fox」, 「First Number」, she’s called by various names.”

“Ah, that fucking bitch?”

Once again, an immense pressure weighed down on me.

The flow of mana… is swirling!

“Die.”

The energy gathered in the sword flies towards me!

“Ugh!”

I borrowed Elizabeth’s power to break free from the paralysis and threw myself out of the way.

Should I call it paralysis?

Anyway, I’m no longer caught up in that mysterious pressure.

“…….”

“What the, you…”

Don’t underestimate Five Grains Mode Geum Taeyang.

Even with physical abilities that exceed that of an ordinary person by dozens of times, I’m being pushed back….

I can only hope he’s a pure swordsman, not a blood art user.

Kusley drew another sword.

Damn it….

It seems like I’ve made him serious, is this okay?

I saw Cecil staggering to her feet.

Fortunately, it seems she avoided a fatal blow, but….

‘It’s nerve-wracking when there’s such a huge difference in power.’

I also drew Dawn Moon.

However, not for attacking….

I cut my arm to draw blood and strengthen my blood art.

Proof of Existence!

It’s impossible to fight head-on against the Sword Saint, I have no choice but to fight in my own way.

Kusley lowered his stance and charged.

“Let’s end this here.”

“Get away from my brother!”

Cecil leaped at an incredible speed and countered Kusley’s charge.

Kusley reflexively held out his sword, but Cecil’s spinning back kick landed first…!

Even then, Kusley absorbed the impact with his shoulder and immediately launched a counterattack.

“Ugh!”

“Just hold on a little longer, Cecil…!”

blood art strengthens in three stages.

First, Avatar Manifestation. Second, Proof of Existence through bleeding. Lastly, the Blood Clan’s privilege, Aura Manifestation.

Unfortunately, I can’t do the last stage.

I have no choice but to try whatever I can…! It’s called the Secret Friend Operation!

Geum Taeyang and Kusley are secret friends who share a friendship!

“Huh! Taeyang, why are you here…!”

“Kusley!”

“Run away quickly, it’s dangerous here!”

“Ugh!”

Geum Taeyang dropkick!

I landed a dropkick on Kusley’s chest as he approached unguarded!

Cecil also follows up with a kick to his side!

“Cough!”

Monologue has been returned!

Switching positions with Cecil, we pummel Kusley from both sides, increasing the density of our attacks!

“Ugh! Kgh! What is this blood art…!”

We beat him up, so the friend monologue won’t work anymore, then…!

Geum Taeyang is Kusley’s master!

“Gasp! Master!”

“Ugh!”

Geum Taeyang flying knee kick!

“Cough!”

Followed by a roundhouse kick!

I mercilessly pummel Kusley, who has become a sandbag!

Monologue has been returned!

“Kgh!”

Kusley swung his sword!

Unable to dodge in time, I was deeply cut and collapsed.

The bleeding intensifies.

“Ugh!”

“Brother!”

You bastard!

How many of my Five Grains Mode kicks did you endure?

It must have been far more fatal than being stabbed with a sword.

But I also got up unscathed after being hit by the Sword Saint’s sword, so this has surpassed the standards of a normal battle.

‘I have to buy some time somehow.’

I can’t win.

I know that too.

How long has it been since I’ve faced a battle with such a desperate mindset?

It’s not like I’ve never fought for my life in the past.

Bleeding makes a blood art user stronger.

In that sense, the slashes that can’t completely kill me only make me stronger!

I tried saying it like a famous quote, and it fits quite well, doesn’t it?

“I don’t particularly enjoy bullying the weak.”

“If you look at the number of hits, I have a clear advantage, don’t I?”

“If there’s a rabbit that attacks a lion, the lion might be surprised.”

Is there no way?

The Nine-tailed Fox is copying and spreading Kusley, can’t I do that too?

I have a cheat ability too!

“Ugh….”

Suddenly, my legs give out.

I thought it was because I had lost too much blood, but it wasn’t.

The part where Kusley attacked me was rotting.

It was the same for Cecil. The scratches were gradually turning black and rotting.

“Cursed Sword, Nenanka.”

Kusley stuck the black sword into the ground and said.

“Those who touch this sword will rot and die. You’ve held out for a long time.”

I somehow managed to get up with my rotting legs.

I can’t collapse here, I have to use my blood art with a more flexible interpretation…!

“To think you’re getting up even after receiving Nenanka’s curse….”

“A woman with boobs as big as watermelons is waiting for me.”

I’ve never tried it before, but should I?

The sword’s curse is nullified.

I’m forcing it through!

Monologue Insertion on an object…!

That act of desperation opened a path.

Cecil and my wounds began to heal.

“The curse is lifted!”

“What?”

Cecil jumped up and landed a kick on Kusley’s chin.

Perhaps because he didn’t expect it this time, Kusley seemed to have taken damage.

“Ugh! What is this….”

We narrowly escaped death….

I see, I can perform a more forceful Monologue Insertion on objects.

To the extent that I can change the properties of the object.

I can even completely nullify the effect of an object.

Then….

Kusley’s sword scatters like dust.

I recklessly charged at Kusley.

“Hmph!”

Kusley swings his sword!

But the moment the sword touched my body, it crumbled into dust.

I tried to lift one of Kusley’s legs to break his balance, but Kusley nimbly moved, dodging and drawing a new sword to attack me.

Destroyed!

I break that sword too.

“To think you’re destroying even the holy sword…!”

Kusley seemed to have suddenly realized something.

“I see, you’re the Second Number Evelyn spoke of.”

“Pant… Pant….”

I’ve lost too much blood….

My body is also in pain after recklessly using my blood art.

Avatar Manifestation was almost at its limit.

The only reason I can even engage in close combat with the Sword Saint is because of Elizabeth.

Because my physical abilities have increased by 9 to 10 times from their original state….

But what will happen to me when Avatar Manifestation reaches its limit?

“That’s good. Because I can defeat Lady Kyoka’s enemy here.”

“You like that woman that much? Enough to abandon Ariella?”

“She’s a dignified and beautiful woman, but she simply wasn’t my match.”

“You chose the wrong woman to be with!”

“Brother, leave it to me now!”

Cecil’s body is imbued with wind blood art.

That’s right.

Since I destroyed all the swords Kusley was holding, it has become a fistfight.

Here, Cecil displays her overwhelming form.

She even has the record of pushing Master back for much longer than I did.

“Ha!”

Cecil let out a deep breath and cornered Kusley with a rapid barrage of attacks.

Kusley, who initially parried the first few blows, was now cornered.

Because of the height difference, Cecil’s fists effectively struck Kusley’s stomach.

Even Kusley can’t ignore the accumulated damage to his internal organs.

Geum Taeyang dropkick also dealt a lot of damage!

“I’ll need a new sword.”

However, it was my mistake to think he was cornered.

As if reaching into another dimension, Kusley drew a new sword and subdued Cecilia with a single strike.

That attack was on a different level from anything I’ve seen before.

The ground cracked, and the atmosphere vibrated.

A tremendous roar swallowed everything.

“Cecil!”

Thanks to her quick reflexes, Cecil once again avoided a fatal blow, but she was almost at her limit now.

Damn it, how did the sword I just destroyed….

“I have multiple copies of the cursed sword.”

“….”

No wonder the copies all had swords….

He was mass-producing them.

This is turning into a war of attrition….

This isn’t good.

Seina once said that my blood art isn’t very good in battles where you exchange ultimate moves, and I’m realizing that weakness firsthand.

My blood art isn’t suited for direct attacks….

It’s quite effective if the opponent is a woman and I have to overpower her.

It’s SSS-rank at creating momentary openings.

But in a battle where we clash head-on… there’s a limit to what I can cover.

“Sigh.”

“It was impressive, Second Number. Nullifying the curse of the cursed sword, destroying all the holy swords.”

“….”

“If your opponent wasn’t Lady Kyoka, it would have been a good match.”

“The Kusley I know is a pretty cool guy, but you’re fucking annoying.”

“Now, die.”

Just as I was about to give up, Master descended like lightning.

Sword Empress enters the stage!

“Noona!”

“You’ve worked hard holding on. Take a rest.”

“How did you know about the situation here?”

“Ariella loudly informed me.”

Ariel, you were watching!

Kusley’s eyes narrowed.

“Who are you? You’re unfamiliar.”

“Seeing as you need a reintroduction, it seems there’s no need to show you mercy.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Sword Saint I know is dead. You’re the Sword Saint’s ghost, I’ll bury you here.”

“I am the true Sword Saint.”

Gayeon stood upright with her sword.

“Whatever, I’ll pierce you with my sword.”

The two clashed.

As if words were unnecessary, it was a collision of immense power against power.

That alone pushed Cecil and me back. A gust of wind enveloped the two, and a destructive metallic sound echoed repeatedly.

Sword against sword.

A battle between those who reached the pinnacle with their swords in different worlds.

The Sword Saint was also sharpened to an incomparable degree compared to when he was fighting us earlier.

Roughly eight swords.

The Sword Saint cornered Gayeon, wielding numerous swords in the air as if controlling them with telekinesis.

“Do you think you can inflict a fatal wound on me with such tricks!”

The Sword Empress’s sword vibrates!

Gayeon, who shot down all the flying swords with just her sword pressure, pushed her blade to Kusley’s neck.

It’s as if the wind is carrying their forms!

Parrying, pushing, a storm-like exchange continued for 30 seconds without a moment to breathe.

“It’s magnificent, but your numbers are limited!”

“Hmph!”

Kusley’s counterattack!

Against Gayeon’s rough and swift movements, he takes the initiative with slow but heavy attacks.

However, Gayeon didn’t back down either, parrying the attacks by a hair’s breadth and swinging her sword.

The dense exchange between the two resonated through the atmosphere.

The corpse rain was also a variable. Since they were fighting while dodging Kusley-rain, they had to be wary of what was above them as well.

Their positions changed constantly, and who had the advantage shifted every second.

“Ugh….”

I managed to get up thanks to the Blood Clan’s healing ability, but Cecil still seemed to need recovery.

“Are you okay, Cecil?”

“Brother, behind you…!”

It’s Evelyn.

Although the distance was quite far, Evelyn appeared with the Breakers.

Damn it, at a time like this.

Of course, they’re attacking because it’s a time like this, but it feels cruel.

I straightened my shoulders and bluffed.

“For someone who offered to save me, it’s hurtful that you’re trying to kill me right away.”

“This is the last zone, Sir Taeyang.”

“What?”

“Unfortunately, only a limited number of people can survive Dawn’s Day. We’ve cleaned up 60% of the district.”

“Damn it.”

What’s going to happen to the Devil District?

Even though it’s called the Devil District, the vast majority of people living here were ordinary people.

The gate level was just high! It was a place where people lived…!

“…With Sir Kusley fighting so hard, we can’t just stand by and watch.”

“You’re going to join the fight? I can’t just watch either.”

“No, unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do, Sir Taeyang. As I warned you….”

What?

Evelyn received a strange stick from one of the robed figures.

A human… spine?

……Is that?

“Aura Release.”

Evelyn inserted the spine, which stood straight like a sword, into the ground. Sёarᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Then, an immense pressure weighed down on me, as if gravity had doubled.

“Ugh!”

Aura….

It’s blood art!

No, Aura is a technique that only the Blood Clan can use… but…!

If we can’t escape this gravitational field, we might all die!

“….”

Evelyn’s expression darkened as she was about to insert the next spine.

“Sir Geum Taeyang…….”

“Groan….”

“Didn’t I tell you to join our side….”

This is bad.

I don’t know if it’s just us being affected by the gravitational field, but Gayeon’s movements have become noticeably slower.

Kusley forcefully pushes Gayeon back!

Damn it, I have to do something!

“This is the end.”

The second dried spine is dangerous.

I don’t know what it is, but my intuition is telling me so.

If you stick it in the ground, it will be destroyed!

By inserting the monologue “If you stick it in the ground, it will be destroyed,” I prevented the second spine from activating.

Evelyn seemed flustered as she watched the spine crumble.

“This is….”

The gravitational field is getting stronger.

If Kusley defeats Gayeon Noona, it’s all over.

I have to destroy the first spine too…!

“Hmph!”

Cecil got up.

“Cecil…!?”

Cecil knew exactly what she had to do right now.

Evelyn’s side didn’t expect Cecil, who was suppressed by the gravitational field, to move.

Taking advantage of their momentary lapse, Cecil’s low kick shattered the dried spine.

The gravitational field is gone!

“Don’t interfere with my Master!”

“Well done, Cecil…!”

“Ugh, this…!”

Evelyn knocked Cecil unconscious!

With her fist!

I completely lost it there.

Don’t touch my cute slave!

Even though my body can’t keep up, I forcefully manifest Elizabeth and spit out even more blood.

“Evelyn. Get out of my sight now, before I come for you!”

“I’m sorry, but I hope you don’t think you’ve caught up with us just because of that.”

Evelyn received another spine.

“Even the bones of precious blood art users can be produced by the dozens or hundreds in Lady Kyoka’s hands.”

“Damn it…!”

Are those mass-produced too?

Is she really crazy!

I wish my cheat ability could do that much too.

No, fuck it. I can do it! The nature of my blood is 「Plunder」!

If I can change the properties of an object with a monologue, I should be able to steal them too…!

Elizabeth, let’s go!

“This is truly goodbye, Sir Geum Taeyang….”

The moment Evelyn inserts the spine!

That ability becomes Geum Taeyang’s power.

Slurp.

That ability you stick in like a totem and use comfortably, let me try it too.

“Aura Release.”

“Eh…?”

Evelyn stared at me with a blank expression.

Nothing happens even when she insert the spine.

Instead, when I stretched out my hand and designated a target, Evelyn and the Breakers all fell to their knees.

Gravitational field ON.

Archmage Geum Taeyang is here!

“Ugh…. Kgh…. The Second Number’s power…! Even after being so battered….”

“Blood art users get stronger the more battered they are, you know? Didn’t you even know that?”

My Proof of Existence is burning!

It’s true that I’m in a state where I might die soon, but I used the principle of monologue returning to steal the blood art embedded in the object.

That spine is probably an item obtained by killing a blood art user from the Blood Clan. It must be something the Nine-tailed Fox made into a totem with her magic.

Then, instead of painstakingly destroying something that already has a stockpile, I just need to render it meaningless.

With me using the gravitational aura, the battle between Gayeon and Kusley also changed.

Kusley, who was racking up effective hits while Gayeon was under the influence of the gravitational field, was now on the defensive and getting beaten up.

Good, this is fair!

“Taeyang, hold on a little longer! More reinforcements will come!”

Hold on my ass.

It’s over here.

Evelyn slammed her forehead against the ground and roared in frustration.

“Ugh…. This can’t be, this can’t be happening!”

I just killed all the Breakers except Evelyn.

They seem to be out of their minds with the corpse rain falling.

Or maybe they’re intoxicated by the insane power of the gravitational aura.

Good, getting drunk is fine too.

I killed the rest of the enemies like bugs, except for Evelyn.