The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years-Chapter 188

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 188

Benedict, known as the First Elf, had been deceiving himself until now.

No matter how much Kaylen possessed the infinite mana of Infinity, his foundation was still human.

Benedict believed it would be possible to escape from his grasp.

But—

Kuh...

The net of the sky surrounding the underground cavern appeared empty at a glance,

yet even the air could not escape from within.

In this situation, it was inevitable that the Holy Emperor would soon be drawn into the sword.

However, Benedict, the Holy Emperor, only grew more aggressive.

– You wretch...! If it has come to this, I will kill you with my own hands!

"Oh? Do you even have the strength for that?"

– Foolish human. I am the First Elf, merged with the Spirit King. Do you think I lack the strength to kill the likes of you? Until now, I merely followed the will of the Celestial Demon!

A raging storm surged towards Kaylen.

It was not just wind but carried the sharpness of blades.

The corpses caught in the storm were instantly shredded—

Ziiing.

—torn apart into a bloody mist, leaving no trace behind.

– Now that the High Elves have fallen, there is no need to follow the will of the Celestial Demon... I will kill you for trampling upon my deepest wish!

Benedict had intended to lead the High Elves and establish a new paradise within the Sanctuary.

But when the High Elves he sought to resurrect rejected his will, nothing held him back anymore.

The will of the Celestial Demon?

What use was that now?

His lifelong dream had been shattered before his eyes.

Benedict was now determined to kill Kaylen.

‘That bastard has already deployed the Five Swords, so his main body’s defense must be weak!’

It would be difficult to immediately deploy the Six Sword Path for defense after using the Five Swords.

Even if he did, its power wouldn’t be as strong.

‘Especially if he keeps overusing the Six Sword Path, his sword might shift into the Infinity form.’

Benedict was already aware that Kaylen’s Six Sword Path could transform into the Infinity form.

With this calculation in mind, he launched his full assault on Kaylen.

“Ka-Kaylen...”

Theresia’s voice trembled as she watched the corpses being torn apart.

“Don’t worry about me. Please focus on fighting. I can protect myself.”

Perhaps fearing that Benedict’s storm would catch Kaylen off-guard,

Theresia tried to step back and use Divine Shield.

“It’s fine. This is nothing.”

Instead, Kaylen pulled Theresia closer to him.

“Ah...”

“And if you’re going to use the shield, it’s better to stay close.”

“Y-Yes! Di-Divine Shield!”

Flushing red, Theresia cast Divine Shield while in Kaylen’s embrace.

Perhaps because of her holy power as a saint, a sturdy shield of light formed.

But it still seemed unlikely to withstand the raging storm.

“Theresia. Just block the fragments.”

Six Sword Path – Three Swords.

Bottomless Pit.

The form of the Wind Sword rose above Kaylen’s head.

The sword soon transformed into a black vortex.

Three Swords: Bottomless Pit, absorbing everything into itself.

For Kaylen, who was about to complete the Wind Sword, Benedict’s assault was almost welcome.

– Bottomless Pit...!

The moment it appeared, Benedict faltered.

During the Demon King Subjugation, Three Swords: Bottomless Pit had been Ernstein’s symbol.

It absorbed all demonic power and converted it into one's own strength—Benedict knew all too well how dangerous it was.

If he were to be drawn into it, perhaps, just as Kaylen had said, he would become part of the Wind Sword.

‘Still, he shouldn’t be able to maintain both Six Sword Paths for long. Its power will weaken.’

With that belief, Benedict regained his momentum, transforming into a storm and flying towards Kaylen.

But—

As he neared Kaylen,

‘No...!’

He sensed that something was wrong.

Wheeeeiiing.

The slowly rotating black vortex suddenly accelerated.

The net of the sky that enclosed the space tightened rapidly.

Even though Kaylen was using both Six Sword Paths simultaneously, instead of weakening, his strength only grew stronger.

The wind that formed Benedict's body was being completely sucked into the Bottomless Pit.

“Holy Emperor. I don’t know what gave you such confidence...”

R𝑒ad latest chapt𝒆rs at freewebnovёl.ƈom Only.

– Kugh...

“But it seems you lack the power to kill me.”

Benedict could not believe the situation.

‘Kaylen's strength... it’s many times greater than I expected!’

Perhaps if it had been right after Kaylen first became a Grand Sword Master, it would have been different.

Now that the Six Swords were transforming, his power should have been weaker than during the days of Ernstein.

Yet, he was displaying even greater strength than back then.

– Why... why isn't the form of his sword changing...?

“Who knows.”

Kaylen tilted his head slightly.

Even though using the Six Sword Path twice simultaneously should have destabilized the sword without the Divine Sword, within the Sanctuary, he faced no restrictions.

‘Without those constraints, I’m stronger than before.’

Even with just the Six Sword Path infused with the Divine Sword,

the Light Sword and Earth Sword, and though the Wind and Flame Swords were incomplete, they still served their roles.

In fact, the strength he could exert now surpassed that of the days under Emperor Ernstein.

– Kuh... how can this be...!

Despair filled Benedict’s heart as he was helplessly drawn in by Kaylen’s power, far beyond his calculations.

He thought this would be his end, swallowed in vain.

But then—

“I’ll answer that for you.”

A third presence, one that hadn’t existed in this space until now, revealed itself.

– W-Who... No...

Benedict’s voice, soaked in despair, suddenly brightened.

– It’s the Celestial Demon, isn't it...!

Kaylen turned his gaze to the Celestial Demon, who had appeared without warning.

He was twice the size of Kaylen and bore an appearance akin to an angel.

With two radiant white wings, his entire body brimmed with the mana of light.

But that was only from the neck down.

Above his head—

Long, black hair that trailed to the ground,

and a face completely veiled like a mask,

from which an overwhelming amount of dark mana emanated.

An absolute being who wielded both light and darkness.

Though the world called him the White Demon King, in truth, he was a celestial being who had absorbed demonic power—

the Celestial Demon.

– O God… have you descended here to save your humble servant?

Holy Emperor Benedict spoke with a voice filled with awe.

But—

“What are you saying? Why would I bother saving a lowly servant?”

The Celestial Demon dismissed his words and gestured toward Kaylen.

“Absorb him. I won’t interfere.”

– G-God…?

The Celestial Demon did not respond to Benedict’s voice.

‘What is he thinking?’

Kaylen couldn’t discern his intentions.

‘For now, I’ll complete the Wind Sword.’

Not missing the opportunity, he began absorbing Benedict, who had become wind.

– G-God… how…

If the Celestial Demon hadn’t descended, perhaps Benedict would have accepted his fate.

But with the brief hope that his descent brought now extinguished, despair consumed Benedict as he was drawn into the Wind Sword.

– God…

That was his last word.

Benedict vanished, completely absorbed, completing the Wind Sword.

The end of the first elf came with betrayal, abandoned by the very god he served, achieving nothing in the end.

“Is it over?”

“…Yes.”

Even as he secured the Wind Sword, Kaylen kept his guard up, eyes fixed on the Celestial Demon.

An absolute god where light and darkness coexisted.

The power radiating from him was so overwhelming that Kaylen felt as if surrender was inevitable.

‘But… could I actually face him?’

Surprisingly, Kaylen thought it might be possible.

The vast difference in power remained unchanged, but— for some reason, he felt he could fight if it came to that.

‘Infinity inside me is stirring too.’

The mana within him wasn’t just responding—it was pushing him forward, urging him to challenge the Celestial Demon.

Infinity within him had clearly identified the Celestial Demon as an ‘enemy.’

Suppressing his surging mana, Kaylen asked calmly,

“What are you thinking?”

“First, let’s change the place.”

Clap.

With a single clap of his hands, the surrounding space transformed entirely.

It was the same place where Kaylen and Theresia had first met within the Sanctuary— the heart of the Great Cathedral.

"Kaylen. You've completed much of the Six Sword Path."

"You have done far better than expected until now."

The Celestial Demon praised Kaylen as soon as they changed locations.

Feeling an uneasy sense, Kaylen responded,

"What exactly did you expect from me?"

"How many times do you think you have awakened over the past thousand years?"

"Seventy times."

The darkness veiling the Celestial Demon's face wavered, and before Kaylen, an illusion unfolded.

— Ernstine has been resurrected seventy times.

In the thousand years since the fall of the Meier Empire, Ernstine hadn't only awakened within Kaylen's body.

Though the Meier Empire had perished, its bloodline persisted through the various kingdoms built upon its ruins.

— The one who destroyed Meier was also a descendant of its imperial line. Their offspring still carried the Infinite Mana, Infinity.

Among these descendants, those who awakened a strong Infinity within themselves—

all came to realize Ernstine's memories.

— And they all attempted, like you, to recreate the Six Sword Path…

Swish.

In the darkness of the illusion, a golden star—

Infinity—emerged.

— But all of them failed and were absorbed into Infinity.

Within the illusion, countless Ernstines turned into stars.

Some were young boys, others were middle-aged women.

Seventy descendants of all kinds, regardless of age or gender, failed to forge the Six Sword Path and were ultimately consumed by Infinity.

But in the illusion’s final scene—

a plump young man—

only Kaylen remained unabsorbed.

"You alone are the one Ernstine who succeeded. So how could I not be pleased?"

"…Whether I mastered the Six Sword Path or was consumed by Infinity, what does it matter to you, Celestial Demon?"

"Of course, it matters."

The illusion faded, and the darkness stirred as the Celestial Demon spoke in a solemn tone.

"Your existence can suppress the Dragon of Destruction."

"Are you referring to the Dragon God, Meier?"

"Yes, Kaylen."

Reaching out with a hand of light, the Celestial Demon spoke gently,

"Submit to me and follow. If you do, I will make you a Sword God."

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]