The sky above Master Swordsman City transformed as thousands of frenzied Demonic Beasts descended like deadly black meteors. A thick aura of slaughter filled the air, making every breath feel like swallowing poison.
"Yahoo!! We're finally fighting together after so long!"
Konno Yūki's spirited cry shattered the suffocating silence. The violet-haired girl with sparkling violet eyes raised her Obsidian Sword high, as if challenging all of hell to come for her. The transparent wings on her back trembled with mesmerizing magical aura.
The savage Demonic Beasts with glowing red eyes were immediately drawn like moths to flame. They charged with ear-splitting roars, followed by A-class Hunters whose eyes had already lost all traces of humanity.
But then—
FLASH!
A white silhouette streaked by like lightning splitting the night. In the blink of an eye, dozens of those terrifying creatures had been cleanly severed without a chance to make a sound.
"Too slow," Flashy Flash muttered as he swung his katana—Instakill—with movements so swift that the naked eye couldn't follow. The super-speed ninja from the One Punch Man world stood in perfect posture, his blonde hair dramatically flowing in the wind created by his own velocity.
Among all the four-star (✯✯✯✯) templates that had joined the Yozakura Family, only one could match this monster's speed.
"ROOOAAAARRRR!"
The remaining Demonic Beasts flew into uncontrollable rage. They moved like a tsunami of darkness, ready to destroy anything that stood in their path.
But when a tall figure with a cold aura took a single step forward—
The world changed.
A terrifying storm was born from nothingness. Wind spun with enough force to tear apart dimensions themselves. Leaves, stones, even fragments of reality began getting sucked into the vortex of incomprehensible power.
Kurogane Ouma.
The black-haired man with eagle-sharp eyes raised Ryūzume—a Device in the form of a white Nodachi over one meter long that gleamed with mystical light.
He was a four-star (✯✯✯✯) template from the fiction Rakudai Kishi no Cavalry. That was a world where special beings called Blazers existed—humans capable of manifesting their souls as weapons!
And Kurogane Ouma was one of the strongest Blazers with Rank-A!
WOOOSH!
Immeasurable magical energy flowed through his body.
He lifted Ryūzume with both hands, and the entire atmosphere seemed to respond to his call.
"<
All the magical energy in Kurogane Ouma's body exploded outward, creating a massive tornado that sucked everything within a 50-meter vertical radius. Even the clouds in the sky began to distort and get pulled into the spiral of terrifying power.
But this was just the beginning.
"<
The true form of Kusanagi—a technique that even its creator couldn't fully control. Kurogane Ouma compressed the entire massive tornado, transforming it into a thin blade of light that emanated an aura capable of reversing space and time itself.
The Demonic Beasts that had been raging now began to retreat with eyes filled with primal terror. Their survival instincts screamed that death was staring them in the face.
But Kurogane Ouma wasn't finished.
"<
The ultimate Noble Art created to overcome fear of the strongest opponent—now unleashed against an army of countless monsters!
KABOOOOOOOOM!!!
The slash that was released wasn't like an ordinary sword attack. This was a man-made natural disaster. The entire Master Swordsman City shook violently, as if struck by a magnitude 9 earthquake. Shockwaves spread in a straight line, ruthlessly pulverizing everything within hundreds of kilometers!
Even the Sword King, with decades of battle experience, was left wide-eyed witnessing such an incomprehensible scale of destruction. His hands trembled—whether from awe or fear!
"Impossible... Is that human power?"
The tremendous tremor made the earth cry out in agony. Massive cracks appeared on the ground's surface, as if the planet itself would split in two.
"ROOOAAAAARRRRR!!!"
Two Darkness Dragons that had survived roared with a mixture of fear and rage. As creatures equivalent to SS Rank, their egos couldn't accept being intimidated by a mere human. They immediately flew at maximum speed, intending to finish off Kurogane Ouma before the man could launch a second attack.
But then—
WOOOOSHHHH!
Two silhouettes soared through the air at speeds exceeding normal physics!
Xiang Yu—the mechanical centaur with a half-warhorse body—had thrown Tomioka Giyū and Aoi Sui with full force while roaring like a lion!
In mid-air, an amazing transformation occurred.
Blue tattoos resembling flowing water appeared on Tomioka Giyū's face—the Kisatsu Aza (Demon Slayer Mark) possessed only by the highest-level demon hunters. His usually calm eyes now blazed with burning determination.
Meanwhile, Aoi Sui's body began to be enveloped by a thin cyan aura that moved like mystical mist. The young swordsman exuded killing intent that made the air around him vibrate.
"<
"<
Two high-level sword techniques were unleashed simultaneously!
Tomioka Giyū moved with the fluidity of flowing water, each swing of his katana creating visual illusions of dancing water dragons. Meanwhile, Aoi Sui launched a series of beautiful yet deadly slashes, each movement of his body like peony petals falling in the wind.
SLASHHHHHHH!
Both wings of the Darkness Dragon—which should have had durability equivalent to diamond armor—were cleanly severed without meaningful resistance!
"ROAAAARRRRR!!!"
A pitiful roar of pain echoed across the entire sky. Thick purple blood spurted like a waterfall, raining down on the ground below with corrosive liquid that made the stone surface hiss and melt.
Having lost their balance in the air, Tomioka Giyū and Aoi Sui began to fall. But they had already completed their task—creating an opening for the final attack.
And the one to end this battle would be—
WOSSSH!!
Konno Yūki flew at speeds surpassing the sound barrier, creating a sonic boom that shattered windows throughout the city! The Obsidian Sword in her hand transformed to a glittering purple color like stars in the night sky!
As a Fairy, she wasn't bound by the laws of gravity or the physical limitations of ordinary humans. Every movement of her body was filled with mesmerizing supernatural grace.
"<
The special Original Sword Skill created by the girl—now shining with light capable of illuminating the deepest darkness!
Konno Yūki moved like purple lightning dancing in the sky. Five consecutive thrusts in a diagonal line from upper right to lower left, followed by five more thrusts from upper left to lower right, forming a perfect X pattern with stunning precision!
Each thrust left a trail of purple light that lingered in the air for several seconds, creating a sight that was both beautiful and terrifying!
Even from miles away, people could see the star-shaped light pattern piercing through the Darkness Dragon's entire body like a cosmic laser!
Konno Yūki tilted her body, gathering all her remaining strength for the final thrust—right at the intersection point of the previous ten thrusts.
"HAAAHHHHH!!"
That final thrust didn't just pierce the Darkness Dragon, but also created a perfect hole that penetrated the atmosphere, as if the girl had just fired a laser into outer space!
The Darkness Dragon's body gleamed from every piercing hole, then—
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!
The resulting explosion created a giant purple light mushroom cloud visible from other continents. Its shockwave made distant mountains tremble, and purple auroras danced in the dark sky!
But there was still one more Darkness Dragon remaining.
"Fufu~ Leaving an enemy like this to a girl like me... They're really quite rude, aren't they~"
That soft yet seductive voice emerged from the lips of a beautiful and enchanting girl.
Kirihime Yoruka. She was a template from the fiction Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut. That was a fiction where humans in that world fought using something called 'Drag-Ride'—mechanical armor that mimicked legendary dragons. Drag-Rides were summoned by drawing the accompanying sword while chanting an incantation.
But Kirihime Yoruka's Drag-Ride wasn't an ordinary Drag-Ride but the strongest type called Divine Drag-Ride. Divine Drag-Rides possessed two unique attributes called Divine Attire—Unique Abilities—and Special Armament—two unique weapons.
And the name of Kirihime Yoruka's Divine Drag-Ride was Yato no Kami—a three-meter mecha with a design resembling a combination of samurai armor and a blue-black mechanical dragon.
"<
A massive magic circle with complex runes appeared behind Yato no Kami. The already impressive mecha suddenly underwent a radical transformation!
Additional blades jutted from every corner of the armor, and its four legs reconfigured to resemble a legendary warhorse. A blood-red aura enveloped the entire mecha body, creating a visual effect that made anyone who saw it feel both terrified and fascinated.
To fight a Darkness Dragon equivalent to SS Rank, Kirihime Yoruka wouldn't hold back!
"It's been a long time since I used my full power... I hope my body can still handle the burden."
With two katanas in both hands, Kirihime Yoruka began to move.
"<
What happened next surpassed normal human understanding.
No one could see Kirihime Yoruka's movements. All that was visible were flashes of red light moving in patterns that seemed random but actually followed high-level mathematical calculations.
The Darkness Dragon that had been flying at full speed suddenly stopped in mid-air. Its body was still intact, but...
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
Hundreds of slash lines appeared simultaneously across the monster's entire body!
End Action—the secret art that created a series of consecutive attacks in an almost immeasurable duration. When combined with Yato no Kami's power, each attack had the strength to split mountains.
KABOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!
The resulting explosion was even more devastating than Konno Yūki's previous attack. Several distant mountains were immediately split in two, creating storms and aftershock earthquakes that would be felt for hours.
The magic circle in the sky that had been continuously dropping Demonic Beasts was also destroyed in that explosion, severing the connection between their dimension and this world.
But as a consequence...
"Really... Direct combat isn't exactly my specialty..."
Kirihime Yoruka laughed with a voice that sounded like silver bells, though her body had begun falling from the sky after her Yato no Kami reached its operational time limit.
Forcing a Divine Drag-Ride beyond its normal capacity did provide extraordinary power, but ordinary human bodies weren't designed to withstand such massive energy loads.
Fortunately—
Gigantic roots growing at supernatural speed immediately extended from the ground, forming a gentle yet strong rescue net.
"You've fought hard, Yoruka... Sleep peacefully."
Yozakura Tsubomi smiled tenderly while using her power to save the girl.
A few Demonic Beasts still wandering around tried to take advantage of the situation to attack, but—
BOOOOM!
Ji Xuanyuan—the woman known as Yellow Empress—raised her hand with an authoritative gesture. Thousands of elemental swords appeared in the air like a meteor shower, each burning with differently colored elements.
WHOOOOSSSSHHHHH!!!
Within seconds, all the remaining Demonic Beasts had turned to ash scattered by the wind.
On the other side of the battlefield, Kurome began raising her katana with extremely slow movements.
The black-haired girl with seemingly indifferent eyes was a template from the world of Akame ga Kill—a fiction that knew only one rule: kill or be killed. The Teigu she possessed, Shisha Kōgun - Yatsufusa, had an ability that made anyone shudder with dread.
Undead Manipulation.
The katana in her hand began gleaming with terrifying dark lightning. Every Demonic Beast that had died within a one-kilometer radius began twitching, as if something was trying to awaken them from death.
Dark lightning struck from the tip of Kurome's katana to each corpse, and gradually...
Red eyes began glowing in the darkness.
What rose weren't eight corpses like Yatsufusa's normal limit, but more than a hundred dead Demonic Beasts!
When a three-star (✯✯✯) template was upgraded to four stars (✯✯✯✯), ability limitations increased exponentially.
"Attack."
One word spoken in a monotone voice, but carrying absolute power over death itself.
Thus began the strangest battle that had ever existed—Demonic Beasts fighting against already-dead Demonic Beasts, in a symphony of darkness that made anyone witnessing it feel like they were watching the apocalypse.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!
In the midst of all that chaos, Chen Ye stood observing with mixed feelings of amazement, pride, and slight horror at the power possessed by the Yozakura Family.
But he knew this wasn't the time to marvel in admiration. There was a mission that had to be completed.
He took a deep breath, feeling the Flame of Abyss in his body burn hotter than before, then looked toward Restia Ashdoll who was also gazing at him with a seductive smile.
"For a swordsman, you don't have a decent sword..." The strongest Darkness Spirit said playfully. "Well... Just for today, I'll be your 'Sword' ~"
Restia Ashdoll, a template from the shared fiction Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance. As the name suggests, Seirei (Spirit)—humans in that world fought alongside Spirits.
And Restia Ashdoll wasn't an ordinary Spirit. She was the only strongest and special Darkness Spirit capable of taking perfect human form—where most Spirits could only take animal forms.
But aside from all that, every Spirit in that world definitely had a second form called 'Elemental Waffe,' which was their respective weapon forms.
And as the strongest Darkness Spirit, there was no doubt that Restia Ashdoll also had her 'Elemental Waffe' form.
Restia Ashdoll's body began filling with magical energy that was very dark yet beautiful, like a black aurora dancing in the night. Then, in a stunning transformation, her body changed into a sword that emanated an aura capable of conquering the world.
Vorpal Sword—a black sword with red decorations on its edges and purple lines along the center of its blade.
Seeing the supernatural beauty of the Vorpal Sword floating before him, Chen Ye's heart beat with an abnormal rhythm.
Who would have thought there was a Spirit capable of transforming herself into a perfect weapon?
But despite his amazement, Chen Ye had no more doubts. He gripped the handle of the Vorpal Sword, and instantly—
BOOOOOMMMMM!!!
The power explosion from his body was even more intense than before. A thick dark aura spread like ink spilled in clear water, while the Flame of Abyss—hellfire burning with blackish-red color—danced around his body.
The combination of both powers made Chen Ye almost resemble a Demon Lord descending directly from hell's deepest dimension.
His eyes gleamed with light that was no longer entirely human.
Without further hesitation, Chen Ye immediately charged forward at a speed that made the ground beneath his feet crack and burn!
Thanks to Kurogane Ouma's annihilation attack earlier, very few Demonic Beasts remained to block his path to the main target. This was a golden opportunity that couldn't be missed.
BOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!
Every swing of the Vorpal Sword created explosions of black fire combined with pure darkness elements. Demonic Beasts that should have had high resistance to darkness elements were cut like butter hit by a hot knife!
"HISSSSSSSSSSSS!!!"
Dozens of disgusting snake-shaped Demonic Beasts began merging, their body cells melting and fusing in a horrifying process. They formed a giant chimera creature with hundreds of snake heads that hissed with ear-splitting sounds.
The ground surface shook violently due to the monster's formation process. Chen Ye, who was running at full speed, almost lost his balance, but suddenly—
Someone pulled him up!
"?!" Chen Ye was stunned, then heard a calm yet determined girl's voice.
"Hold on tight. We're going to break through directly."
Tsukuyomi Tsukasa now stood perfectly atop Xiang Yu who was running at maximum speed. The mechanical centaur moved like an ancient war chariot racing across the battlefield.
What surprised Chen Ye was Tsukuyomi Tsukasa's position. The girl wasn't sitting to maintain balance, but standing upright while holding her katana with both hands, as if gravity and vibrations had no effect on her at all.
When the giant snake chimera attacked with hundreds of heads moving like deadly whips, each as large as a mature oak tree, Tsukuyomi Tsukasa remained calm.
Her razor-sharp eyes analyzed the enemy's attack patterns in fractions of a second.
Then she raised her katana, and—
Time seemed to stop.
No wind. No sound. Even Chen Ye's heartbeat seemed to cease.
SLAAAAAASSSSSHHHHHHH!!!
One slash that came from the body of a seemingly frail girl, but possessed power that surpassed all logic and common sense of normal humans.
The flash of that sword light simultaneously shredded all the giant snake heads, creating a shockwave that made the air vibrate and the ground beneath them crack in perfect geometric patterns.
Chen Ye stared wide-eyed, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
Previously, Tsukuyomi Tsukasa was indeed strong, but not this strong! That attack was equivalent to S+ Rank ability—almost touching SS Rank level!
What had happened to the girl?
Unfortunately, although that attack was quite frightening, Tsukuyomi Tsukasa's slash wasn't enough to kill the snake chimera. But it was enough to distract the monster and make it focus on attacking the girl it considered the greatest threat.
"I leave the rest to you," Tsukuyomi Tsukasa whispered.
Then, with movements as graceful as a ballet dancer leaping from the stage, she immediately jumped from Xiang Yu's back—facing the giant chimera directly in aerial combat!
Chen Ye was shocked to see the girl jump alone to face a monster dozens of times larger. Without realizing it, he almost shouted to stop her.
But then he bit his lip and clenched his fists with burning determination.
Trust. This was about trust in family members.
If Tsukuyomi Tsukasa had given him this golden opportunity, then Chen Ye must not waste it!
With determination thundering in his chest, his hands gripped tightly onto Xiang Yu's body as it shot like a meteor toward the battlefield.
Xiang Yu—one of Lux's four-star (✯✯✯✯) templates. He was a Servant in the Type-Moon universe, specifically from a game called Fate/Grand Order.
Like Servants in general, Xiang Yu should have depended on [mana] flow to maintain his existence in this world. However, his bond with Lux had become the catalyst that freed him from that dependency.
Indeed, Xiang Yu didn't have area attacks that destroyed on a massive scale like Kurogane Ouma. However, what elevated him to ✯✯✯✯ rank wasn't destruction—but combat expertise honed by thousands of bloody battles.
Xiang Yu, the war general whose name was carved in golden ink in Chinese history. His character wasn't fiction—he truly existed in history, both in Lux's original world and in Fate's twisted timeline. According to conventional history, the general should have long since become dust.
However, in the cosmic event known as Lostbelt in the Fate/Grand Order narrative—Xiang Yu's fate was rewritten.
Instead of dying, he lived with a stunning bionic body: a perfect fusion of human flesh and future technology, creating a mechanical centaur figure that combined strength with digital sophistication.
His never-extinguished battle spirit qualified him as a Berserker-class Servant—mad warriors who traded sanity for absolute power. And now... Lux had obtained this extraordinary template.
Perhaps Xiang Yu couldn't match the monsters that surpassed common sense in Fate/Grand Order stories, but in this world, his power was enough to make him respected.
Especially in mass battles against hordes of enemies—no one could match a general who had led countless soldiers across seas of blood.
The six terrifyingly gleaming swords in each of his hands danced in deadly harmony, each swing accompanied by green flames that burned the air itself. Every movement was a symphony of destruction, every slash was a song of death.
Enemies might come like tsunami waves, but before the War General, they were merely dust ready to be swept away by the wind.
All attacks raining down on him could be easily read and predicted thanks to a skill called Future Prediction—the ability to see the flow of battle several seconds ahead, as if time slowed down specifically for him.
The sight of Xiang Yu breaking through without caring about the gaping wounds on his bionic body was truly amazing yet terrifying. Even Chen Ye, who had witnessed various miracles, felt his hair stand on end seeing this brutal power.
But finally, Xiang Yu's steps were forced to halt when a disgusting mass of giant snakes blocked his path. The slimy flesh mass writhed in ways that made stomachs queasy, as if life itself was nature's mistake.
Chen Ye watched this scene with glittering eyes. Unconsciously, words slipped from his lips: "I will—"
"No." For the first time since the battle began, Xiang Yu's voice echoed clearly. That voice contained the wisdom of an old man who had passed through thousands of battlefields, warm yet firm like steel forged by fire. "I will open the path for you, son. After that, you must finish it with your own hands."
Chen Ye was about to protest, but Xiang Yu had no intention of listening to arguments. The mechanical centaur's body began radiating extremely hot aura, the green flames throughout his body blazed even more fiercely until the air around him rippled from the extreme temperature.
"<
BOOOOOOM.....!!!
Noble Phantasm—in the universe of Fate/Grand Order, this represents the ultimate manifestation of a Servant's power. Not merely an attack, but rather the crystallization of legend, history, and the hero's soul that has been immortalized in myth.
And Xiang Yu's Noble Phantasm is the perfect representation of his dual fame: as a brilliant military strategist and as a merciless killing machine on the battlefield.
Now the Berserker-class Servant roared with a voice that shook the earth, charging forward like an apocalyptic storm that intensified the green flames covering his entire body. Each step left burning trails on the ground, every movement creating waves of heat that cracked the stones.
BOOOOOOOM...!!
The green fire storm instantly melted everything in its path, creating a long, straight corridor like a laser beam. Even the disgusting mass of serpents that had seemed invincible was now burning while emitting piercing, hissing screams—sounds that made anyone who heard them shudder to their bones.
Seeing the path that had opened, Chen Ye wasted not a single second. His feet kicked off the ground with full force.
WOOOSH...!!
Finally, the terrifying figure of the Demon Dragon Lord absorbing the 'Root' became clearly visible. The creature appeared larger than Chen Ye had imagined, with black-purple scales that gleamed like liquid metal and golden eyes that blazed like hellfire.
Chen Ye prepared to unleash his strongest attack without hesitation, but—
BLAAAAAAARR.....!!
That terrifying breath of fire shot toward him at astounding speed. The heat it generated was so extreme that the air around it distorted and space itself seemed to vibrate chaotically. Chen Ye was forced to perform an acrobatic evasive maneuver.
The young man looked up at the sky with disbelieving eyes. Above, dozens of Darkness Dragons floated with giant wings flapping, blocking out the light and creating dark shadows that spread across the entire battle area.
Though they were only equivalent to S-Rank—weaker than the two previous Darkness Dragons—their number reaching dozens was enough to overwhelm him.
"[It seems you underestimate me, human]" The Demon Dragon Lord spoke in a tone that made bones tremble. "[Indeed, I cannot move from this place, but don't misunderstand—that doesn't mean I can't use my power to destroy you]"
Those contemptuous words made Chen Ye's blood boil, but the young man didn't let emotion overtake him.
All fifteen Darkness Dragons roared in unison with deafening voices, then attacked Chen Ye from all directions like a perfectly organized military formation.
Feeling the crushing pressure from all sides, Chen Ye unconsciously almost used most of his power at once, but—
"<
"<
At the most critical moment, a series of sword slashes so fast that the naked eye couldn't follow them encircled the battle area. The movements were so elegant yet deadly, as if the night wind had transformed into sharp blades.
Seven of the Darkness Dragons were cut to pieces in the blink of an eye, their bodies falling to the ground with thunderous sounds that shook the earth.
Chen Ye opened his eyes wide, surprised to see Inaba Tsukuyo and Kokushibo suddenly appear at his side like guardian angels. Both swordsmen stood in perfect posture, their swords still gleaming with dragon blood.
"We'll both protect you, so..." said Inaba Tsukuyo.
"...Focus on your goal," continued Kokushibo with an indifferent tone.
"In that case—" Chen Ye gripped the Vorpal Sword with both hands, and all the [mana] flowing through his body immediately gathered on the blade of pure darkness sword. The dark energy swirled around the sword like a small tornado that grew larger and larger.
"[You think I'll let you do that peacefully?]" The Demon Dragon Lord spoke in a cold voice.
"Hah! As if we'd let that happen!" Inaba Tsukuyo snorted with genuine disgust.
As for Kokushibo, he had already entered full power mode without much talk. The dark aura radiating from his body made the air around him feel heavy and oppressive.
All the Demonic Beasts scattered throughout the battle area suddenly turned direction and rushed toward Chen Ye. Even those who were originally targeting Yozakura Tsubomi immediately abandoned their targets and joined this mass assault.
It was clear they felt the emergency call from the Demon Dragon Lord—a command to destroy the greatest threat by any means necessary.
Seeing the Demonic Beasts whose numbers could fill the sky like dark clouds moving with savage intent, anyone with claustrophobia or monster phobia would surely faint instantly. The sight was truly like a nightmare come to life.
But Chen Ye felt no fear. His heart was instead filled with warmth, for he realized that this time he wasn't fighting alone.
This time, he had sincere and strong friends willing to risk their lives to protect him.
Yes... That's right... This time was different from previous battles where he only relied on the Sword King.
Now he had kind-hearted people who not only wanted to train and help him but also fight alongside him.
"Noble and eternal black sword of darkness..."
Chen Ye seemed to begin chanting with a voice trembling with emotion, and simultaneously, [mana] continued to gather on the Vorpal Sword with increasing intensity. The sword blade began to vibrate and emit a strange hissing sound.
True... Without all of them—without Yozakura Tsubomi providing moral support—he might never have been able to reach this point.
Therefore, he must not disappoint them.
"Sword capable of destroying the strongest dragon scales and piercing invincible defenses, annihilate all enemies blocking my path—"
The Demonic Beasts that recklessly approached Chen Ye were slaughtered completely by the duo of swordsmen serving as his shield. Inaba Tsukuyo moved with the grace of a deadly dancer, while Kokushibo slashed with amazing precision. However, seeing the seemingly countless number of enemies, both were forced to unleash their strongest techniques.
"<
"<
Three simultaneous slashes from Inaba Tsukuyo—two horizontal cuts slicing through air at the speed of sound, and one vertical cut that severed gravity itself—destroyed everything in their path with terrifying precision. Nothing could withstand that attack.
Meanwhile, Kokushibo even activated his Kekkijutsu (Blood Demon Art), making each of his slashes reach the maximum level of lethality that exceeded the limits of ordinary human capability. The demon blood flowing through his body transformed into pure energy that strengthened every movement.
Dozens of curved slashes extending in all directions with whirlpools of crescent-shaped blades spinning around him created an impenetrable zone of death. Each energy blade moved with its own will, as if possessing a soul and purpose to destroy.
The combined devastating attack from both master swordsmen even managed to tear apart the remaining Darkness Dragons until nothing remained but scattered flesh and blood everywhere.
However, as a consequence of using those forbidden techniques, Inaba Tsukuyo's body reached its limit—her muscles cramped and fresh blood flowed from the corner of her lips. As for Kokushibo, though he still appeared steadfast, he no longer had the strength to hold back the wave of truly countless Demonic Beasts.
But it didn't matter. Chen Ye was ready.
At this moment, Chen Ye felt something amazing—as if the entire universe supported his struggle. The wind blew in rhythm with his heartbeat, the ground beneath his feet vibrated at the same frequency as his [mana] flow, and even the sky seemed to open itself to bestow blessings.
The young man took the final step with conviction thundering in his chest, then called out the name of the Darkness Spirit's strongest attack—a technique that had been waiting for this moment to be unleashed:
"—Bring me victory and destroy all that blocks my path, <
WOOOOSSHH.....!!!
A ray of darkness capable of vaporizing all matter in this world shot forth at a speed beyond human comprehension. The unfortunate Demonic Beasts seemed to become premium fuel upon contact with that attack, making the terrifying beam multiply many times in intensity and destructiveness.
The dark energy absorbed everything it passed through—not just destroying, but truly erasing from existence!
KABOOOOOOOOOOM...!!!!
And what an amazing sight was created. Though the scale might not be as far-reaching and terrifying as the legendary Kurogane Ouma's, this was the type of attack guaranteed to kill even SSS-Rank creatures—an amazing achievement for someone still young like Chen Ye.
The towering mountains that rose majestically and vast forests that had grown for thousands of years outside Master Swordsman City were annihilated in an instant by that dark energy. Nothing remained except perfect emptiness—a statement of the power that had just been released into the world...
***
"Oh? It seems they've finished their part." Cecilus Segmunt spoke casually, his eyes watching the tremendous energy surge that continuously pierced through the mountains in the distance. A thin smirk carved itself on his lips. "In that case, I should finish my part too."
Around him, a horrifying scene stretched far and wide. Corpses of Demonic Beasts scattered like a carpet of flesh, mixed with the bodies of Black Mamba Hunters who had lost their lives. Fresh blood soaked his clothes, creating a terrifying contrast with his calm expression that was almost... bored.
But before him still stood a figure no less terrifying—Dean, the SSS-ranked leader of Black Mamba. Unlike Cecilus who appeared as if he'd just been on a leisurely stroll, Dean was breathing heavily. Sweat mixed with blood drenched his face, and in his eyes flickered a glint of desperation that grew stronger.
Initially, Dean intended to attack Yozakura Tsubomi directly—their mission's primary target. But his intention was crushed instantly when Cecilus Segmunt appeared like lightning, his speed surpassing the limits of human reason!
Deliberately, Cecilus lured Dean and several of his subordinates to fight far from Master Swordsman City. After all, as fellow SSS-Rank fighters, their battle had the potential to level the entire city.
Unfortunately, Dean's arrogance became his fatal weakness. In the previous first battle, he underestimated Cecilus's abilities, thinking the young man was only capable of that much. But in reality...
This bastard was hiding his true power!
The evidence of destruction they caused stretched within a 20-kilometer radius—nothing remained except ruins and total devastation. Even more shocking, Cecilus had only used an ordinary katana throughout the fight! Both katanas tucked at his waist hadn't even been touched!
"You..." Dean forced his lips to move, his voice hoarse and full of hatred. "Who exactly are you?"
It wasn't that Dean didn't know Cecilus Segmunt. On the contrary, he knew the young man's reputation perfectly. What confused him was... why someone this strong had never appeared on the radar of major organizations like the World Organization?
"You're curious?" Cecilus grinned widely, his eyes sparkling with almost insane excitement. "Standing before you now is the main character of this world. So... accept your defeat gracefully."
"BULLSHIT! DIE!!"
Dean roared like a wild beast, and for the first time in this battle, the true power of an SSS-Rank Hunter was unleashed without restraint!
"Hahaha! This is what I've been waiting for! Come on, show me how far your limits go!" Cecilus shouted with blazing enthusiasm.
BOOOOOOM...!!!
Slashes of light filled with pitch darkness bombarded Cecilus's position, creating a gaping giant crater. But that deadly attack didn't touch its target—Cecilus was already gracefully in the sky!
"Oh? Interesting, very interesting! So that's your full power?!" His voice echoed from above. "You should have shown that from the beginning, not played around like before!"
"AARRRRGGG...!!!"
Dean screamed with suffocating madness. Black horns jutted out from his forehead, while four wings of darkness grew on his back, making him resemble a Demon risen from hell. His glowing red eyes had lost all remnants of human sanity.
In that decisive second, Dean's gaze, which had lost all reason, met Cecilus's eyes burning with battle spirit, then—
Both shot forward at speeds that transcended physics!
BOOOOOOOM.....!!!
Brilliant blue slashes and terrifying purple slashes clashed, creating shock waves that shook the very foundations of the world!
The glowing blue silhouette and the frightening purple silhouette exchanged attacks at speeds impossible for the naked eye to follow. They teleported from point to point while launching sword swings that even SS-Rank Hunters couldn't survive for a minute!
SLASS...!! BOOOOOOOM....!!
"HAHAHA! Strong! Very strong! You far exceed my expectations!" Cecilus's voice, beginning to sound insane, echoed throughout the battlefield. The young man moved at full speed while swinging his katana, launching attacks that split heaven and earth!
Attacks capable of annihilating large villages in an instant now became mere basic movements for both—a sight terrifying enough to make anyone witnessing it lose their sanity!
From the perspective of distant observers, they would only see blue and purple lights clashing in a hypnotic dance of death. But each time these two forces collided, destructive waves and suffocating pressure spread, capable of causing natural disasters!
"DIIIEEE!!!"
Dean's scream full of hatred was followed by the formation of a pitch-black [mana] sphere the size of a meteor. Without hesitation, he hurled it toward the earth's surface, right where Cecilus stood.
Facing an attack that absorbed life and contained deadly curses—an attack capable of annihilating entire kingdoms—even other SSS-Rank Hunters would think twice about receiving it directly!
With Cecilus's speed, avoiding that attack wouldn't be impossible. However...
Why should he avoid it?
He was the strongest! The world revolved around him!
With the expression of someone who had lost all reason and a terrifying grin, Cecilus raised his katana high. The sword began absorbing all the [mana] around it like a black hole!
This was one of Cecilus Segmunt's most devastating destructive techniques. Its name was—
"<
Cecilus's katana blade glowed with blinding intensity. When he slashed it diagonally, the entire world seemed illuminated by light brighter than the sun!
From the sky, the terrifying ball of darkness dove down to eliminate all life on earth, while the sacred light slash shot upward as if to purify all evil in the heavens!
And both met exactly in the middle...
BOOOOOOOOOOM...!!!!
An explosion surpassing the power of nuclear bombs leveled the entire area within a radius of tens of kilometers. The radiating heat waves could incinerate anything with just a touch, while the earth's surface instantly melted into a boiling sea of lava!
BOOOOOOOOM....!!
The lava eruption echoed deafeningly. Solid ground was swallowed into liquid hell, but atop a floating boulder—though slowly sinking due to the torturous heat—Cecilus Segmunt still stood on one leg, perfectly balanced without showing signs of difficulty.
The young man raised an eyebrow seeing his katana had shattered into pieces, then looked up at the sky where Dean's figure slowly descended to land at his level.
"You lost." Dean looked at him with hatred-filled eyes. "You have no weapon left."
Cecilus blinked briefly, then suddenly exploded in laughter. "What? Don't you see the two katanas at my waist?"
"You haven't used them all this time, which means using them has certain requirements. In other words..." Dean looked at him coldly. "You don't meet the requirements."
"Pfft, puahahaha!!" Cecilus laughed while covering his face with his hand. "What kind of joke is this! I didn't expect you'd draw such a stupid conclusion! Fine, if you insist..." A terrifying grin spread across his face.
With calm movements, Cecilus drew both katanas from his waist, holding one in each hand.
At that moment, Dean's heart seemed to stop beating. His pupils contracted drastically as he felt tremendous killing intent overflowing!
This didn't come from Cecilus... but from the katanas themselves!
The katana with a blood-red blade in Cecilus's right hand was wrapped in a crimson aura flowing like blood, while his left hand held a katana that appeared ordinary but was enveloped in a searing white-hot aura. Their similarity lay in the cruel aura they radiated—as if the swords had their own will to kill!
"Let me explain something to you." Cecilus's voice suddenly turned cold, contrasting with his cheerful laughter before. "Indeed, both katanas have strict requirements and not just anyone can become their owner. But for me..." His eyes looked at Dean with a gaze that could freeze blood. "These katanas are just collections that will help me achieve my dream. They are accessories on my journey. And the reason I didn't use both from the beginning is very simple..."
A brief pause, creating suffocating silence.
"You're not worthy."
BOOOOOOOM...!!!
"I WON'T EVEN LEAVE YOUR BODY'S ASHES, ARROGANT BRAT!!"
"Hahaha!! What? Are you angry?! Show me your anger!"
Cecilus laughed joyfully in response to Dean's overflowing rage. Dean's figure shot forward like a bullet, intending to finish Cecilus with everything he had!
His speed was so amazing it created a straight line that pushed all the surrounding lava aside! He created a giant sword of darkness, ready to slash Cecilus in two, but at that moment—
"Useless."
SLASH!! BOOOOOOM...!!
A terrifying red slash cut through everything in its path. Dean's expression turned horrified when he found that slash easily eliminated his darkness sword as if it were made of paper!
'WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?!'
Dean immediately flew high to gain distance, but Cecilus didn't let him and immediately pursued at an even more astounding speed!
"Why? Are you scared?! Hey, tell me, are you scared?! HAHAHA!!!"
"FUUCKK...!!!"
Dean created dozens of darkness creatures that immediately swarmed toward Cecilus, but in the blink of an eye, they all vanished without a trace!
"I already told you, all of that is useless." Cecilus looked at him with a truly terrifying expression. "Murasame and Masayume... Unless you have a weapon destined to save the world and receive direct blessings from the 'World' like a certain 'Sword Saint,' you're only destined to lose."
Cecilus Segmunt... who exactly was he? Besides the fact that he was a five-star template (✯✯✯✯✯), he was one of the strongest swordsmen who might rank in the top five—or even top three—in the Re:Zero world.
He was nearly invincible. Since birth, it was as if the world was destined to revolve around him. How could it not? He was fundamentally a true genius. At a young age, he had already surpassed most veteran knights in his homeland.
His power became even more undeniable when he successfully obtained Murasame and Masayume as his signature weapons.
It should be known that in the Re:Zero world, there existed ten strongest swords with extraordinary abilities called the Ten Enchanted Swords.
And Cecilus Segmunt possessed two of them.
Jaken Murasame (Fiend Sword Murasame). Cecilus's katana with extraordinary sharpness, even its sheath was specially made due to its terrifying ability. Jaken Murasame had the ability to cut "points" that existed in everything—whether living beings, inanimate objects, natural phenomena, or even abstract concepts. This allowed it to cut things without physical form, including curses and contracts. This was why every one of Dean's attacks vanished instantly—because Cecilus only needed to cut the 'point' of existence from those phenomena.
Then... Muken Masayume (Dream Sword Masayume). A katana that had the ability to grant its wielder's dreams, or provide power to manifest their desires, in exchange for "consuming" that motivation. However, 'granting dreams' here didn't mean the user became omnipotent. What it meant was the user would be given the power to 'cut anything.' Almost similar to Jaken Murasame, only a slightly different version because only owners who had unlimited dreams/motivation could use this katana to its full potential—like Cecilus Segmunt who was motivated to become 'THE STRONGEST.'
But powerful abilities surely had a price. Both Jaken Murasame and Muken Masayume had the same weakness—both required sacrifice and blood from their users. If they didn't provide enough "food," the owner's soul would slowly be eaten away by these two cursed katanas.
However... this didn't apply to Cecilus Segmunt. He could completely ignore the side effects of both katanas, showing that he truly was a 'monster' in the truest sense.
This was precisely why Cecilus Segmunt could be said to be nearly invincible in the Re:Zero world. His speed was also number one, earning him the title 'The Blue Lightning of Vollachia.'
He could only be surpassed by existences truly loved and blessed by the World—like Reinhard van Astrea—or figures who had literally reached the absolute pinnacle of swordsmanship, namely Reid Astrea, the first Sword Saint...
"So now you understand, right? If I wanted to, killing you would be very easy for me. Easier than stepping on an ant."
"..."
This... this made no sense! Cutting everything including concepts?! Wasn't that the same as weapons that only existed in myths!
Impossible... such things couldn't possibly—
"—EXIST IN THIS WORLD!!!"
Dean screamed with total madness. The world seemed to shake with distorted gravity until the lava around them was lifted, losing gravity's influence!
"I WILL KILL YOU!!! I WILL DEFINITELY KILL YOU EVEN IF MY LIFE IS LOST!!!"
"HAHAHA!! Then unleash all the hidden power you possess!"
"ARRRGGGHHH!!"
Dean's body was filled with chaotic [mana] and pure madness. Apparently, he had truly let his instincts take over with determination to die together!
But Cecilus was only full of blazing anticipation. He gripped Jaken Murasame and Muken Masayume more tightly.
As if responding, both legendary katanas emitted extremely powerful auras, causing the clash of Cecilus and Dean's [mana] to collide—pressure that could even be felt within a 50-kilometer radius!
The air became very heavy and stifling. Lightning struck uncontrollably due to abnormal [mana] distortion.
Then, in suffocating silence—
SLAAAAASSSSHHH.....!!
KABOOOOOOOOOM....!!
The entire earth's surface was met with a disaster many times exceeding the destruction of humanity's strongest nuclear weapons!
Lava, stone, land... nothing remained when two attacks capable of easily killing SSS-Rank Hunters met in an apocalyptic explosion!
Clumps of [mana] formed like dangerous radiation—a mixture of extremely concentrated dark elements—shot far into the sky and penetrated the earth's depths!
Dark whirlpools created devastating deadly waves, blowing away everything in their path. Even the ocean of lava seemed to vanish, swallowed by emptiness.
But in the midst of chaos capable of annihilating thousands of humans, the figure of Cecilus Segmunt could be seen. Only this time, his body was truly wounded with clothes partially burned.
Looking toward Dean, whose body was no longer recognizable—more resembling a dying lump of flesh—Cecilus said in a casual tone, "You were strong, unfortunately... you met me."
"..." Dean didn't answer. Not because he didn't want to, but because he was no longer capable.
Suddenly he mumbled with a voice that could no longer be called human...
"Dam... ned... mons... ter. But..." Dean, whose entire face had disappeared, forced himself to smile. "...we... win."
"..." Cecilus blinked, then chuckled. "What do you mean? You're already—"
BOOOOOOOOOM.....!!
"Oh?" Cecilus was slightly surprised, then looked up at the sky that had entirely changed to a terrifying purple color.
Super terrifying pressure struck the entire area. Its power was so tremendous that the barrier hiding Master Swordsman City—whose coverage equaled an entire country—immediately cracked and shattered into pieces!
As a result, this energy pressure caused satellites in outer space to issue emergency warnings and was immediately detected by the World Organization!!
Even several kingdoms and cities within hundreds of kilometers could feel this terrifying pressure, causing mass panic everywhere!
"Hahaha..." Cecilus unconsciously laughed, then his expression became indifferent.
He used Jaken Murasame to completely end Dean's life, then looked toward Master Swordsman City which was very, very far from his position. That terrifying pressure earlier came from the same direction...
But that wasn't a problem for Cecilus Segmunt. He lifted his foot, then—
Vanished in a blinding blue flash.
WOOOOOSHHH....!!