Report
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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Chapter 39: The Assassin of the Pale Cord (2)
A spear suddenly shot up, aiming for Hamel's abdomen.
Hamel sprang up like a spring, escaping the spear's trajectory.
Just as Hamel, spinning in mid-air, was about to land,
Tap, tap, tap!
The Fox lightly tapped the ground with his spear shaft.
Once again, several spears sprouted up like sturdy stakes.
Hamel swung his sword, cutting the spear shafts into chunks, and landed on the ground with a roll.
"...Haa..."
Hamel straightened up, taking a deep breath in and out.
With his ragged breathing, hot air escaped his mouth like steam.
His head felt heavy.
His body wasn't moving as he wanted, and his thoughts were slow.
He was barely holding onto consciousness, but it was dangerous.
He was moving half by instinct.
It felt like it would be easier to throw away his sword and fight with his bare hands.
The reason was clear.
'Insanity.'
The dragon's energy was consuming Hamel's ego.
He had expected side effects, but he had hit his limit faster than anticipated.
Perhaps it was because he had used his powers consecutively after consuming the dragon blood in the salt mine.
But there was no helping it.
"My-my what monstrous movements."
A man with a sly grin spoke in front of him.
The Laughing Fox of Maron.
He was much stronger than expected.
The forest was now littered with the remains of spears created by him.
Crack!
Hamel broke off one of the spears that had sprouted up beside him and held it in his hand.
'Just a little more...'
Hamel gritted his teeth and threw the spear with all his might.
Bang!
The spear, piercing the air, slammed into the ground.
But only innocent stones and soil were broken and overturned.
The Fox was no longer there.
His strange movements were as smooth as desert sand and as elusive as a mirage.
"Haha! You're not thinking of fighting me from a distance, are you?"
The Fox laughed and tapped the ground with his spear shaft again.
Tap, tap, tap, tap!
Spears sprouted up like bamboo shoots around Hamel.
Hamel's pupils moved rapidly, grasping the trajectory of each spear in sequence.
Shing!
He dodged most of them, but one spear, sprouting irregularly, grazed Hamel's skin.
Red blood spread over his torn clothes.
As if growing accustomed to Hamel's movements, the number and accuracy of the spears grazing him increased.
'The Fox's ability is spear creation. The trigger is tapping the ground with his spear shaft.'
An ability user.
Unlike priests who served gods and manifested unique powers, these were people who wielded abilities inherent in their bloodline, passed down through their families.
The Ishtaka clan, renowned in the western part of the Empire, was a prime example, and judging from the way the Fox had mentioned "clan" earlier, he seemed to be from the Ishtaka clan.
'This is tricky.'
The Fox's ability was to make spears sprout from the ground, but he didn't rely solely on that.
His evasive movements were as smooth as sand, and his thrusting spear was as deadly as a scorpion's tail.
He even wielded aura, the exclusive domain of knights, making it difficult to gain an advantage even in close combat.
And if Hamel created distance, he would be showered with spears without exception...
'This is the Pale Cord.'
Their notoriety was not an exaggeration in the slightest.
Hamel ran his hand through his hair and glared at his opponent.
The Azure Flame didn't work on him, a human, and the Shadow Binding was pierced by spears before it could even reach him.
He needed another method.
But it was becoming increasingly difficult to control his consciousness, let alone come up with a solution.
"...Ugh."
Thinking was becoming a chore.
Hamel, simply following his instincts and chasing after his opponent, kicked off the ground.
In an instant, he closed in on the Fox and swung his sword.
Clang!
Sparks flew, and the Fox's body was lightly lifted.
But the Fox, deflecting the impact, just smirked as if he was enjoying the fight.
Hamel's face contorted further at the sight, and he swung his sword repeatedly.
Each strike carried enough force to pulverize even a giant boulder.
Indeed, the rocks that were struck by the Fox's deflected sword turned to dust, and trees were cut down like straws.
"It's like hunting a beast, not a human."
But the Fox himself was unharmed.
He simply chuckled with his narrow eyes.
"If even one of those hits landed properly, I would die, but this is too monotonous, isn't it? Have you really become a beast, even in your mind?"
At his taunts, sparks flew from Hamel's eyes.
His eyes, which had been glowing coldly, flared with a raging blue light.
The headache worsened, and uncontrollable rage surged within him.
How dare he.
He couldn't stand the fact that a mere human was giving him such a hard time.
Humans were nothing more than fleas.
If he unleashed his true power, he could tear the Fox's skin to shreds, rip open his stomach, and pull out his intestines right now.
Unconsciously, Hamel reached for his waist.
His hand grasped the flask.
The way to draw out his power was simple.
To drink more, more dragon blood.
Then he could shed this stifling shell.
He could crush the grinning human in front of him in an instant.
So what was he hesitating for?
Pop!
Hamel opened the lid of the flask.
"Hmm?"
The Fox's eyes widened as he finally stopped and examined Hamel.
Soon, a bewildered expression formed on his face.
The Fox faltered and stepped back.
He had a vague idea of what Hamel was trying to do.
But it was already too late.
Hamel was bringing the flask to his mouth.
'Ah, yes.'
That expression.
Everything in the world should fear him.
Hamel tilted the flask, feeling a thrilling sense of pleasure.
Just as the viscous liquid was about to touch his lips,
Tingle!
A familiar pattern appeared on the back of his hand.
Riteil, the Man-faced Lion.
The mark of a special-grade demon.
At the same time, Hamel's hand stopped abruptly.
'What am I trying to do...?'
In his hazy, fogged consciousness, Hamel faintly regained his senses.
He saw the flask in his hand.
The red liquid inside sloshed enticingly.
He wanted to pour it into his mouth right away, it looked so fragrant and sweet, like a ripe fruit.
But Hamel instinctively knew what the consequences would be.
The onset of madness.
And the loss of his ego.
'The reason I fight is...'
For revenge.
To protect people.
But if he were consumed by the dragon's power, Hamel would rampage indiscriminately, losing the meaning of everything he had fought for.
That... couldn't happen.
Crunch!
Hamel bit down on the inside of his cheek with all his might.
The burning pain sent a jolt through his head.
Blood trickled down from the corner of his clenched mouth.
Finally, the fog in his head began to clear.
The rage subsided, and the headache disappeared.
Hamel turned his head and spat out the bitten flesh from his cheek.
The Fox, watching this, finally relaxed his stiff expression and let out an awkward laugh.
"Y-you surprised me. Why are you trying to scare me like that?"
"...Don't worry. I won't drink this."
He mustn't confuse the means with the end.
Even if it meant dying here, he would not use the dragon's power any further.
Seeing Hamel like this, the Fox tilted his head curiously.
"Oh? It seems like you've regained some of your senses."
"Yes."
Hamel nodded lightly and adjusted his grip on the sword.
The energy of the dragon blood still lingered in his body, but his mind was clear.
"Now, let's begin again."
Just as Hamel steeled his resolve and held out his sword,
[Congratulations on overcoming madness, priest of Ehurshica.]
A familiar voice echoed in his head.
***
Hamel easily recognized the voice.
Tarkasi, the god of the Blue Mane Tribe.
The master of the forest, whose neck he had severed with his own hands.
'But you're dead...?'
As Hamel questioned inwardly, the voice answered as if it had heard him.
[It is impossible for a human to kill me.]
Death.
It was the natural order, the principle that all living beings must eventually accept.
The power to transcend this natural order was the reason they were called gods and worshipped.
[Of course, now that my physical body is like this, I might as well be dead for a while.]
Tarkasi muttered bitterly.
Nevertheless, Hamel felt relieved and let out a sigh.
The important thing was that he was alive.
As long as he was alive, he could start over.
'I see. That's a relief.'
Tarka chuckled, amused by something.
[Chuckle. You cut off my head yourself, and that's your reaction?]
Hamel was at a loss for words.
'That was...'
[I know. You did it for me. You're quite the playful priest.]
"..."
As Hamel was momentarily dumbfounded, Tarkasi, muttering with satisfaction, finally brought up the main topic.
[We don't have much time, so let me quickly fulfill my promise to you.]
Promise?
Hamel was puzzled for a moment, then recalled his deal with Tarkasi.
'If you help me solve the problem of the forest, I'll teach you how to handle the power, as promised.'
Although he had failed to save Tarkasi, he had removed all the stakes from the forest.
In return, he was to receive the knowledge of how to handle the dragon's power.
'Now?'
They were in the middle of a dangerous battle where a moment's lapse in concentration could lead to death.
As Hamel hesitated, unable to answer easily,
A mystical voice resonated in the air.
[Come.]
[Oh accumulated memories.]
Hum!
The atmosphere trembled, and the ground beneath his feet shook.
Unknown memories and knowledge were absorbed into his body.
[Continue the progression and reach the end.]
Unforgettable information flooded his mind.
The results of the practices accumulated through blood and death by those who praised the dragon,
Feared the dragon,
And yearned for the dragon.
They eventually became like the very beings they so desperately yearned for.
Hamel felt dizzy.
The sheer volume of knowledge made him feel faint.
It was a power he surely wouldn't have been able to handle back when he was consumed by madness.
But now it was different.
'I think I understand. No, it's familiar.'
Hamel felt like he could use the power and words that had just been instilled in his mind.
And very skillfully, too.
At that moment, the Fox, who had been watching Hamel with a bored expression, twirled his spear and pointed it at him.
"We'll be here until dawn at this rate. If you're not coming, shall I go to you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Fox charged towards Hamel.
The sharp spear cut through the air and flew towards him.
Just as the spear was about to pierce Hamel's forehead,
Thud!
A blue hand caught the spear blade with ease.
"What is that...?"
The Fox muttered, his body trembling as he strained against the spear.
Reflected in his bewildered eyes was Hamel's arm, covered in blue scales.
Unlike before, Hamel's hand, with claws resembling those of a bird of prey, was lightly gripping the spear blade imbued with aura.
Slide!
As Hamel tightened his grip, the spear tip slid down.
An overwhelming difference in strength.
It was like playing with a five-year-old child.
Flinch!
The Fox shuddered and looked straight ahead.
As his spear-holding hand lowered, he saw Hamel's blue eyes.
The moment their eyes met, the Fox involuntarily let go of the spear.
He had never seen it before, but he could feel it.
Those chilling, vertically slit eyes were undoubtedly the eyes of a top predator that once ruled the world.
"...This is driving me crazy."
The Fox could only mutter in a trembling voice.
"...Were you hiding your power until now?"
"No."
Hamel said calmly.
Then, he tossed the spear in his hand backward and slowly walked forward.
The spear, thrown without force, clattered to the ground.
Despite this, the Fox didn't move.
No, he couldn't move a finger.
An oppressive pressure, making it hard to even breathe, weighed down on him.
"I wasn't hiding it. I wasn’t simply doing my best."
Hamel slowly reached out his hand towards the Fox.
An overwhelming difference in power that couldn't be resisted.
Realizing this, the Fox gritted his teeth and quickly lowered his body.
At this gesture, almost like a surrender, Hamel momentarily stopped his hand.
"If I get out of here alive... I'll have to squeeze another million marks out of the lord!"
The Fox quickly tapped the ground with his palm.
Then spears sprouted up all around Hamel.
He had thought the condition for activating the Fox's ability was tapping the ground with the spear shaft.
But it turned out that the act of striking the ground itself was the trigger.
Dozens of spears surged towards Hamel, who had approached within arm's reach.
Thump!
But Hamel simply stamped his foot lightly and muttered something.
It was the name of a dragon and a forgotten dragon language.
[Katiko Daeorycia]
With a crunching sound, the Fox's body was lifted into the air.
"...?"
What was happening?
His body helplessly floating in the air, the Fox looked around to assess the situation.
The ground was overturned.
The undulating ground exploded, churning up soil and stones and spewing dust in all directions.
The dozens of spears the Fox had created lost their power like toothpicks blown by the wind and floated into the air.
"Haha..."
Only laughter escaped him.
Hamel, who had caused the earthquake by stamping his foot, was nowhere to be seen, but the Fox knew.
He twisted his neck in mid-air and looked back.
Blue eyes, piercing through the dust and emitting light, were right behind him.
As Hamel threw his fist, the air tore, and the dust scattered.
Seeing this, the Fox let out a self-deprecating chuckle and muttered,
"As expected, the price was messed up from the beginning..."
Crack!
His muttering was cut short.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
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