STM 80

A lion made of flames roared, breathed fire, and jumped into the air as if it would fly. When Montaine Shula revealed the power of the divine beast first, the people applauded and exclaimed in awe.

Zav, who had been nervously watching her, clenched his fist and opened it again when his turn came. His power had weakened, but this time, he wanted to push himself and show something greater than Shula.

Ha.

He took a deep breath and stretched his hand forward. It was something he had done countless times since childhood. He gathered the power flowing inside his body into his hand and released it. It was easier than breathing now. Then he tried to draw up the power inside his body.

Huh? Why can’t he feel his strength?

A chill ran down Zav’s spine. He felt nothing, like a dried-up riverbed.

He barely calmed himself, thinking he shouldn’t look flustered, but the result didn’t change even when he tried again. The power inside his body had vanished. Then another feeling swallowed his panic and took control of his body.

The power, the power of the divine beast disappeared?!

Everyone who saw Zav that day gave the same testimony. They all said Zav’s eyes were full of fear.

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I could have returned to the lake entrance before the time I promised Tairok, but I had to stop midway. Before the entrance came into view, a noisy clamor blocked my way.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

“Attack from behind!”

The sound of clashing swords mixed with soldiers’ screams. Even from a distance, more than ten people surrounded Tairok. Including the soldiers fallen near him, there were more than twenty.

Shit, didn’t he say there weren’t many?

But instead of feeling angry at his lie, I felt sorry. For some reason, I knew Tairok lied to give me a chance to find the key because he trusted me.

Of course, Tairok’s swordsmanship was astonishing. Even without using the power of a Swordmaster, he fought the soldiers with only the skills ingrained in his body, and his ability surpassed them like a wolf leaping into a sheep pen. But I couldn’t just applaud and watch him.

“Shoot the arrows!”

One of the soldiers shouted toward the watchtower. When I raised my head, two soldiers were already up there. Ah, that’s unfair. He was only fighting one person.

Well, that one person was practically wiping out everyone else though.

‘Mo, check the cover nearby.’

Right after I gave the command, I started running.

“Club.”

I called its name once, and the world’s strongest weapon appeared in my hand. I quickly picked up a few stones along the way and stuffed them in my pocket.

By then, Mo had read the plan and found the best cover. A large rock about my waist height stood not far from the watchtower. But before I could act, a soldier on the watchtower shot an arrow at Tairok.

Whoosh

I quickly turned my head as the sound cut through the air.

Ah, thank goodness. It missed.

It seemed the soldier aimed to avoid hitting his own side, so his accuracy dropped. The soldiers fighting Tairok realized the situation and tried to retreat.

Tairok caught up, but the soldier on the watchtower shot again faster, now unhindered.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Arrows flew in succession, and Tairok swung his sword to block them. But the soldiers on the watchtower had already increased to three.

I hurriedly hid behind the rock and tossed a stone into the air. Then I called Mo before swinging the club.

‘Mo!’

[Measurement complete.]

At the same time, a dotted arc stretched in a long curve toward the watchtower. The predicted line changed depending on how much strength I used, so I only needed to find the right curve that hit the target and swing.

It was a function I had used countless times in battles against monsters. Naturally, the stone hit its mark.

“Ugh!”

One of the archers screamed as he grabbed his head and collapsed. I didn’t pause and threw two more stones in a row. I missed one because the soldier quickly dodged, but another soldier stepped back while clutching his bleeding nose.

“Who’s there?”

“Over there!”

The soldiers fighting Tairok noticed me and ran toward me. But someone arrived before them.

Thud!

Tairok landed before him with a ground-shaking sound after soaring through the air. Wait, did he just fly?

[It isn’t a remarkable level of leap or flight.]

Why did Mo always intervene only to show off? It was annoying, but I soon forgot it when I saw Tairok’s swordsmanship. Tairok swung his massive sword horizontally toward the soldiers.

It looked like a futile swing that didn’t even touch them, but right after, dozens of streaks of lightning spread in all directions from the path of his blade. And each bolt struck a soldier as if it had its own will.

“Ugh! Run…!”

“Argh!”

“O, O Lord… Swordmas… Ugh!”

Screams rang out everywhere and quickly died away. But then another sound replaced them. It wasn’t loud, but it was clearer to my ears than the soldiers’ cries.

“Ha, ha…”

His broad back heaved every time he drew a rough breath. It wasn’t just that. Tairok supported his body with the sword he had planted on the ground, and his hand trembled slightly.

Ah, his power hasn’t returned. I almost asked if he was alright, but Mo’s warning made me swallow my words.

[There’s still a soldier on the watchtower.]

I reflexively swung the club.

Crack!

The stone flew in an arc with a sound like a baseball hit for a home run. It hit the jaw of the soldier who had stuck his head out over the watchtower. He flipped back like a cartoon character and disappeared from sight.

Your skill’s still there, Captain Kim.

I was pleased, then felt someone was watching me. Tairok was staring at me while his chest rose and fell with heavy breaths.

Wait, did I stand out too much? I grew nervous, and Tairok looked down.

“That club, where can I get one?”

His eyes burned with envy as if he wanted the perfect weapon for himself.

“If you do a favor for a spirit that can’t communicate properly, you can get one.”

After I explained what the club really was, I carefully asked.

“Are you alright?”

It was only natural to ask, because Tairok’s face was pale, and sweat soaked his hair to his forehead. He must have pushed himself hard to fight earlier.

He couldn’t hold out any longer, and his knee finally gave way. I almost reached out but stopped myself just in time.

He completely didn’t collapse. He was kneeling on one knee, and leaned on his sword for support. Then he finally answered my question.

“No problem.”

He spoke in his usual contrarian way, but I didn’t feel annoyed. I understood. I had never shown weakness to my comrades either. So instead of comforting him, I gave him news as a gift.

“I found the key.”

A light lit up in his eyes that had lost their strength.

“Really?”

Yes. I nodded and took something out of my pocket to show him. A blue crystal. But its shape was exactly the same as when I had clenched it in my fist. It looked like a key made precisely for me.

Now no one else would ever be able to use this key. But I remembered what the divine beast had said.

‘If you take the key, my contract with Borhumi will end. You must find the new contractor yourself.’

“Don’t you need Borhumi’s divine power?”

If you take it, maybe you can use the full power of the divine beast. Before I could finish, he answered.

“No.”

He said with clenched teeth, then took a deep breath.

“I don’t need the power of that damn snake anymore.”

He rejected the divine beast’s power, the thing every person on Tubain would have wished for, as if he were throwing away trash. I recalled how Solongo had disliked him yet still respected his ability.

I felt the same way now. Regardless of my feelings toward him, his determination to refuse the divine beast’s power was admirable. But it wasn’t time to admire him.

“Zav must have realized by now that his power’s gone, so he’s probably in panic. He’ll come to check the divine beast first.”

And to check the divine beast, he’ll have to call Dorgo and undo the shield that sealed it.

That was exactly what Tairok and I wanted. But to catch that moment, we had to get back to the underground of Borhumi castle.

Running wouldn’t be enough, and I wasn’t sure Tairok could even walk properly in his state. But I couldn’t say my concern aloud. Tairok smiled.

“We can arrive before them.”

How? The question came to mind, and at that moment, the air rippled like a swirling storm. A black portal opened, and someone jumped out.

A man who looked like a mage holding a wand shouted when he saw Tairok.

“Ah, Grand Duke!”