Hard Carried by My Sword-Chapter 98

The pillar of light vanished in an instant, just like when it appeared. Before Leon could say anything more to the Goddess, he was already back in the cave.

El-Cid greeted him.

—Oh, not bad. Looks like that wench really went all out.

“What? What’re you talking abou—”

Leon blinked in confusion, then immediately sensed the power overflowing around his body. And it wasn’t just Holy Power.

When he clenched both fists, the strength in his grip had multiplied several times over, and the Aura gushing from his veins blazed with golden light. His Aura circulation was far faster and smoother. He could feel all the impurities in his body had been purged.

The Stigma of the Purifier!

It seemed the stigmata had incinerated every impurity as a result of being engraved. It was no exaggeration to call this a full rebirth.

Compared to before receiving the stigmas, his combat power had likely increased by three or even four times. It was such a dramatic transformation that Leon kept clenching and unclenching his fists to make sure it was real.

If I tried the Grand Chariot in this state... It would unleash a ridiculous amount of power.

He could probably reproduce the destructive force he used during the bloody giant extermination.

—Alright, enjoying yourself is fine, but mind taking a look at me too?

“Huh? Ah!”

Only then did Leon draw his Holy Sword, checking with his own eyes how it had changed now that the seals were all gone.

With the golden eyes that came with the Stigma of the Observer, he could now perceive the waves of power and spatial distortions that ordinary people couldn’t see. Just from the energy radiating around the sword, it was obvious that its current state was leagues beyond what it had been.

“So, this is the power of a Hero.”

When he gripped the hilt tightly, lightning forged of holy power burst from the blade. With its original power restored, the Holy Sword El-Cid discharged that force like thunder just by being swung.

Leon the Hero. It was a true reincarnation of the Hero’s legacy—one who now carried on Rodrick’s bloodline of might.

***

Dawn had broken before he knew it. When Leon stepped outside the cave, he saw the rising sun in the distance.

To his senses, the time spent facing the Goddess had only been a few dozen minutes, but in the material world, half a day had passed.

It felt like he’d dreamt the whole thing while standing. However, the stigmas engraved on his body and the golden light in his eyes confirmed it had all been real.

Everything feels unfamiliar now...

The whole world had changed overnight. No—it wasn’t the world that had changed. It was him. He could now see what he couldn’t before, hear what he couldn’t hear, and do what he couldn’t do.

The stigmata were a blessing the Goddess herself bestowed upon her faithful, allowing them to manifest a fragment of her divine power. Leon had received four of them at once. It would be stranger if nothing had changed.

El-Cid muttered, —Hmm. This is a pleasant surprise. I figured you’d get two at most, maybe three if she was feeling generous. But four? Looks like even that idiot put some thought into it.

“How many do Heroes usually get?” Leon asked.

—Average is about two. Three’s pretty rare.

By that measure, Leon had definitely been given special treatment.

—Guardian is a common stigma, but the effect is solid. Purifier’s flame is incredibly useful, too. It can physically burn away poison and curses. And the fact that it can be used on others gives it extra value.

“What about the other two?”

—Prayer and Observer, huh... Both of those are uncommon. You’ll be able to maximize them with your psychokinesis and your Vision, but they’d be useless for most people.

Leon perked up, curious.

“Actually, that reminds me of something. How many stigmas did you get? I’ve read Rodrick’s chronicles a few times, but I don’t remember seeing anything about that.”

—Hm? I didn’t get any.

“What? Why not?”

—Why would I need some fancy tattoo when I never took a scratch from anyone—not even from the Demon King? I didn’t need any of that idiot’s power, to begin with. It’d just be extra baggage.

“Fair point...”

Come to think of it, he wasn’t wrong. What use would stigmas be to someone who could literally obliterate mountains and cleave seas?

Accepting the smug answer with a nod, Leon kept walking. Before long, he passed the crossroads dividing the dimensional fissure and the waterfall.

In the distance, the Titan village came into view. Standing some distance from the village gate was a single giant, his presence impossible to miss.

“Kasim?” Leon called out as he stepped forward to greet Kasim—but then, he froze. A chill crawled down the back of his neck. Something was coming.

With a loud boom! A shockwave blasted the ground where Leon had just been standing. It was from a punch faster than sound.

The earth was gouged open, and a thick cloud of dust rose to obscure his vision. Through the haze, Leon could still see the rippling waves of power.

And that first blow was just the opening shot. Kasim began throwing punches in earnest.

Shockwave after shockwave tore through the dust, ripping up the earth as they chased Leon’s every move. Each strike hit like naval artillery. And if they were that strong from a distance, getting hit point-blank would be devastating.

But if I just try to keep my distance, I can’t win.

Titan stamina was virtually limitless. They could fight for three days and nights without rest or run nonstop for a full day without being out of breath. They were a warrior race born to dominate their ecosystem.

Kasim was the strongest among them—second to none. No way Leon could outlast him.

So, Leon stepped forward, straight into the storm of shockwaves. Without a bit of hesitation, he hurled his body into the maelstrom of force pounding down every second.

I can actually see it.

It was different from yesterday. Now, with these golden eyes, he could see the flow of invisible shockwaves and how the energy dispersed.

One step right. Two steps left. Half a step back—then a three-step charge. He used the impact from the shock on his left to cut diagonally across.

The compressed shock he couldn’t avoid, he cleaved through it like a sword slashing a wall. Then—

“Hup!”

Leon stepped into Kasim’s reach and exhaled hard. Seeing, however, was not the same as doing.

That rapid movement, pushing past his limit of perception, was draining his stamina at a terrifying pace. Sweat poured from every muscle in his body.

He still could not rest. A fist lashed out silently, grazing his cheek. It sliced through the air and his skin with surgical sharpness.

The flashy shockwaves were just for show. This—moving with no sound, no wasted motion as if air resistance itself parted for him—was Kasim’s true strength.

Blood streamed from Leon’s cheek, painting half his face red. And now, the real battle began in a space dozens of times more dangerous than before.

A punch he barely deflected twisted his body painfully. His spine creaked like it might snap.

It was way too sharp. Even the slightest contact carried over half the force. Strong cutting the soft—such was the principle of Kasim’s martial arts.

This is another level entirely. I can’t redirect the impact.

At best, Leon could narrowly deflect or dodge. Any one of strong, fast, sharp made a martial artist a master, and Kasim had all three blended into one.

At Leon’s current level, it was simply impossible to counter such blows. A direct hit would take him out instantly. So, he poured strength into his blade, letting it skim across the grain of Kasim’s punches like swimming against a waterfall, doing so once, twice, three times.

“Guh...!”

Leon barely deflected a punch and raised his sword. With each exchange, he was gaining knowledge. If Kasim continued attacking with the same force, a window would open. He could turn the tide within thirteen moves—

“This is as far as you go.”

It was in that exact moment. The punch Leon dodged by a hair reversed course. Kasim switched from sheer force to a flowing soft technique, grabbing Leon by the nape of the neck.

Though unknown to Leon, this technique was a martial art called Jujutsu. The unfamiliar technique robbed Leon of his balance.

Leon spun twice midair before being slammed into the ground. Before he could even get up, a fist loomed inches from his face, completely sealing off any chance of a counterattack.

It was a total defeat. Leon let go of his sword hilt and gave a wry chuckle.

“I lost, Kasim,” he said with a conceding tone.

“Mhm. You’ve still got about thirty years of training left, brother,” Kasim said as he released his fist, pulled Leon to his feet, and gave him a firm pat on the back. “But you’re a completely different person from yesterday. Speed, strength—both are incomparable.”

“I received more blessings than I am worthy of.”

“If she granted them to you, then she had her reasons—reasons we might not understand. Don’t call it undeserved. From what I’ve seen, you’ve more than proven you’re worthy.” With a serious tone, Kasim offered his encouragement, “Once again, congratulations on becoming a Hero.”

“Thank you.”

It might have been a formality, but the emotion behind it hadn’t faded. Leon rubbed the side of his head sheepishly. That’s when Kasim, as if something had just occurred to him, raised his voice.

“Come to think of it, there’s actually one more good news waiting for you.”

“What is it?”

Kasim only grinned without answering. And so, until they arrived at the village, Leon had no idea what this “good news” was supposed to be.

And then, the moment they entered the village, someone greeted him.

“Ah, Leon!”

“Karen?”

Leon smiled instinctively, then widened his eyes in shock at the sight of her. She had changed.

It was a subtle shift, something even Rodrick’s Vision couldn’t describe outright. However, with the help of the Observer’s Stigma, his eyes caught the difference.

Her aura, once nearly colorless, had become even more transparent—not hidden, but rather dissolved and blended into the flow of energy around her. That wasn’t all. Her walk, her balance, the raw calluses on her palms—everything showed just how intense her training had been the past few weeks.

“You’ve gotten stronger,” Leon remarked.

Leon could tell better than anyone. He knew not to cheapen her effort and pain with sympathy. There was something she had longed to hear more than concern—something Leon had never received himself but could now say to someone else.

“You’re amazing. I’m not surprised at all, Karen.”

Karen’s eyes went wide, then bloomed into a radiant smile like a flower in full bloom as she replied, “Mm! And you’ve gotten way stronger too, Mr. Hero!”

“Still couldn’t beat Kasim, though.”

Leon glanced sheepishly at the giant. Karen sidled up and poked him in the ribs.

“Come on, how could you beat the Giant King at your age? I get that you’re the hero, but isn’t that too greedy?”

“Y-you think so?”

“Do I! Still, big dreams suit a man.”

At that word, both Leon and Kasim simultaneously thought of someone’s name.

They shared the same bitter smile—an unspoken bond of shared frustration.

“Dreams, huh...”

“Ahem.”

However, neither noticed the faint blush creeping up Karen’s face. She could kill a man without blinking, but when it came to love, she was still hopeless. Thanks to that, their relationship wasn’t likely to change anytime soon. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

“Still, I’m a little frustrated,” Karen said as she puffed her cheeks, her blush fading. “I wanted to see you again as a Master, but I got stuck right before the final step. It feels like I’m this close, like I could do it any moment...”

And it wasn’t Leon who reacted—it was Kasim.

“Hm? Interesting. If what you’re saying is true, you might be experiencing the ‘wall.’”

“The wall?”

Karen’s ears perked up at the Titan King’s words. Becoming a Master wasn’t something that could be forced. Some trained for decades without reaching it, while others broke through overnight.

It wasn’t about talent or effort alone. One needed a catalyst to shatter the wall and break through into the next realm.

“That applies to you as well, Leon,” Kasim said.

“Huh?”

Leon blinked as Kasim abruptly turned his attention to him.

“I noticed it while we fought earlier—your body and mind are out of sync. You received a blessing, yes. But restoring balance is your job. It’ll take at least six more months of training.”

“Six months...”

“That’s too long for someone like you, who needs to start moving. So I’ve got a fitting mission for both of you. Interested?”

Leon and Karen glanced at each other and nodded without saying a word. No words needed. Their eyes said it all.

We can take on anything.

“Good. You’ve got the spirit.” Satisfied, Kasim explained, “It’s not complicated. A monster has been rampaging in the mountains the past few days. I want you to exterminate it.”

“Just one?” Leon asked.

“That’s right.”

The deep regions of the Titan Mountains were always chaotic due to clashing food chains, but a single monster causing a commotion? That was almost unheard of—nearly impossible.

A-rank monsters and above traveled in packs. A lone monster would normally be hunted immediately. If there was an exception to that, it could only mean that...

“It must be strong. Very strong,” Leon muttered.

Only a monster so powerful that even lower beasts couldn’t suppress it could pull something like that off. Kasim didn’t deny it. He added a name.

“You know this one.”

“Huh? I do?”

“Of course, you do. You gouged out one of its eyes, remember? No wonder it’s furious. They say it’s been slaughtering both humans and monsters indiscriminately, slipping between the inner and outer zones.”

And just like that, Leon finally realized which monster it was.

“The drake...!”

An S+ rank monster. They had survived their first encounter with it by exploiting its arrogance, but if the drake hadn’t retreated, they likely would’ve lost.

Even fighting alongside two Titans, Leon and Karen hadn’t stood a chance. Now, with one eye lost and a grudge festering, the drake was hunting Leon down.

—So, what’ll you do?

Even if Leon refused, it wouldn’t matter. If the drake kept acting up, a Chief Warrior Titan could easily crush him.

The drake’s tracking range was wide, but not wide enough to cover the entire mountain range. They could just slip away and avoid the fight.

There was no need for a confrontation. No reason, either. No one’s life depended on it.

However, as expected, at this point, Leon didn’t back down. He gripped his sword.

“I’ll do it.”

To fulfill his role as a Hero and to give his companion a chance to grow.

A true Hero wouldn’t retreat, not even against a dragon. It didn’t make sense to be afraid of an S+ rank monster. He had far greater challenges ahead.

“Karen, what about you?”

When he turned to her, Karen answered not with words, but with a confident shrug. She was with him. No question.

Kasim watched the exchange with a pleased smile and said, “Then it’s decided.”

The rematch between the one-eyed drake and the Hero’s party was now officially underway.