Chapter 135

Crown Prince Sells Medicine

Thud-!

Reacting instinctively, Raciel blocked the attack, feeling it bounce off him. He endured the shock as if the world itself had struck him.

“……Ugh!”

He was out of breath.

He had no choice but to be.

He had successfully blocked the Swordmaster’s attack. The cold shield from the Perennial Snow absorbed most of the shock, but his elbow still felt like it was about to fall off. His shoulder joint seemed like it was about to disintegrate into powder.

Along with dizziness, his vitality also plummeted. But it didn’t matter.

Ding-dong!

[You have successfully defended against the Swordmaster’s attack once again.]

[This unique experience promotes the rapid growth of Asrahan Core Technique.]

[The level of Asrahan Core Technique has increased.]

Each time he successfully defended, his heart thumped wildly. Was it because he was exerting an explosive amount of effort? Was it because he was gasping for air?

No.

Each time his heart beat, a message sounded. It was the drumbeat of a blood fight and the bell toll of growth. A deep resonance announcing the evolution of his Core Technique.

[Skill Name: Asrahan Core Technique]

[Stage: Single Circle Lv.8]

[Mana Amplification Rate: 230%]

[Skill Exclusive Options: ① Circle Slot / ② Impenetrable / ③ HP Conversion]

[HP needed for the next level-up: 3,000]

[Current HP: 6,000]

Thump! Thump!

His heart throbbed as if announcing growth. Cheers from his internal organs.

[Your internal organs sponsor you 1,000 HP in support of your struggle!]

[Current HP: 7,000]

Real-time HP sponsorship came in with the growth of Asrahan Core Technique. The amount was overwhelming.

‘Thank you! Thank you again!’

Raciel safely protected his body as he landed. He sacrificed his buttocks, the plump part of his body, as a cushion and rolled backward. He responded generously to the lavish support of his internal organs.

At the same time, the applause from his internal organs echoed in his ears, giving him strength. He boldly invested more HP.

‘HP Conversion!’

Ding-dong!

He expended 1,200 HP.

The vitality that had just dropped while blocking the attack was fully restored. His vision cleared in an instant. His mind cleared. Strength returned to his legs. Vitality returned to the arm holding the Perennial Snow.

Squeeze!

He gripped the handle, stood up, lifted his head, and saw Javillon charging towards him. The outpouring of murderous intent sent shivers down his spine, but his rising confidence overwhelmed those shivers.

He shouted at the same time, veins bulging on his neck and red blood cells throbbing within those veins.

“Come at me!”

He roared hoarsely.

Javillon responded by raising his sword, and Raciel raised the Perennial Snow in return. He rotated the mana circle vigorously.

Screeeeech-!

The Asrahan Core Technique, which had been rapidly growing, now infused mana into the Perennial Snow at a significantly higher output level. The cold shield, which responded only to refined mana, responded in kind.

With a cold shield 1.2 times wider than before.

With unmatched thickness.

Fwoosh!

“……!”

Javillon’s eyes widened.

The imminent clash followed immediately!

Creak!

“……Ugh!”

It was manageable. He wasn’t blown away this time. Strength remained in his legs. Had Javillon noticed his growth? For a moment, his eyes wavered.

Raciel didn’t miss that.

“How about it! Isn’t it time to let go of that obsession?”

He quickly remarked.

Before Javillon’s consecutive attacks could continue. Using the gap in between. Intending to distract him.

Certainly, Javillon was not easily fooled. Despite the shouts, he silently swung his sword and advanced.

Whoosh!

“……!”

It was still a tremendous blow. Though his shield had gotten stronger, every time he blocked it, it felt like his soul left his body for 0.1 seconds before returning.

Even worse, his attacks were becoming more diverse. Perhaps realizing that he had no ability to counter, he openly launched a barrage of attacks with dozens of different patterns.

‘This won’t work.’

No matter how agilely he responded with Asrahan Core Technique, or even predicted his moves by scanning his meridians, a limit was approaching.

He was a Swordmaster. Merely enduring Javillon’s attacks with defense was suicidal. And so he thought,

‘If I have a limit to enduring with just defense… I have to simplify his torrent of attacks!’

With that determination, Raciel did not cease his provoking shouts. The more fierce Javillon’s sword became, the fiercer his taunts grew.

“So why have you been living with such lies? Huh?”

Crash-!

“Ugh! I mean the day you lost your father as a child! The stabbing you supposedly committed!”

“……”

Smash-!

“Right, that! Wasn’t it just a simple mistake?”

“……!”

Boom-!

“……Ugh!”

That was a close one. His shield almost broke. Raciel quickly used HP conversion to replenish his vitality. He looked up. Javillon, who had been attacking like a storm, had dropped his sword. He was quietly staring at him.

His gaze wavered.

Their eyes met.

Once more, he deeply questioned.

“The truth is, it was just a simple mistake. You might have resented your father for having to give up on your dream in art, but you never intended to kill him, right?”

“……What are you talking about?”

“Revealing the truth.”

“……”

Javillon closed his mouth. His gaze wavered even more. Raciel silently smiled a knowing smile. He recalled Javillon’s past from the novel “Devil Sword Emperor,” his regrets, and the burden of lies he had placed upon himself to ease the guilt of accidentally killing his father.

He remembered that.

And said,

“You never intended to kill your father. You were just inexperienced with the first sword you ever held. Moreover, you didn’t even realize your own talent. You didn’t know how sharp your clumsy thrust would be. Neither did you, nor did your father.”

“……”

“The timing was just unfortunate, right? Your father, who was trying to demonstrate how to block a clumsy thrust from his son, was accidentally stabbed in the chest. And too deeply at that.”

“……How do you know that?”

Javillon’s voice trembled.

He must have been horrified.

Must have gotten goosebumps.

Because it must have been his own secret.

But Raciel didn’t stop.

Because he had to hold Javillon here. To give Demian time to recover. Only Demian could deliver a decisive blow to Javillon. It was the only chance to capture Javillon today. And also…

‘Because it’s also a way to prevent Demian from awakening.’

Only he had to endure Javillon’s attacks. He had to take on the greatest risk. He had to do that to prevent Demian from facing a life-threatening crisis and awakening his essence.

‘It’s a bit regrettable.’

Even if he was an enemy, it wasn’t easy to bring up Javillon’s traumatic childhood accident, trauma, and wounds. But if he didn’t, he would die. And worse, Demian might awaken, and the world would descend into chaos.

Raciel made up his mind.

Opened his mouth.

“I found out through some means. You yourself framed that mistake as if it was intentional. To ease your own guilt, you used it as a means to create a fearsome image around yourself.”

“……Stop it.”

“You didn’t have to go that far. There was no need even to blame yourself. Because it wasn’t intentional. Because it was just an accident. The same goes for now. It’s not too late for you.”

“Enough!”

“……!”

Clang-!

A powerful sword strike came flying. He barely managed to block it. But behind the raised Perennial Snow, Raciel smirked cunningly.

‘It’s finished.’

He could feel Javillon becoming more excited. His sword strikes became more powerful, but also more predictable.

So it’s done.

‘Now, Demian, all you have to do is get back up. Hurry up, will you?’

He was responsible for defense, and Demian was in charge of counterattacking. That was the only winning formula for today. Raciel cast his eyes in hope for that.

Where his gaze landed.

There, Demian was struggling to his feet.

♣

It hurts.

He never knew it would hurt this much.

Demian, who had been lying down, barely raised his head and belatedly realized the situation he was in.

‘Did I…?’

Did he faint for a moment?

Then he remembered. Just before losing consciousness, he had tried to escape with the Crown Prince. He was rushing toward Princess Adeline and the Royal Guard Cavalry.

Did he feel an eerie energy coming from behind at that moment?

‘Javillon.’

He heard his footsteps. He came rushing in quickly. He was targeting the Crown Prince. So, he reacted first. He immediately turned around to block him. He didn’t even have a chance to deflect the blow. In the end, he lost consciousness as the price for blocking a single sword strike.

And only now had he barely opened his eyes.

Truly pitiful.

“Ha.”

A laugh escaped.

As heavy as the laugh that flowed out, a feeling of powerlessness swept over him. He barely managed to lift his gaze. Then he saw it. In the far distance. The Crown Prince was there. Javillon was there too.

“……”

Javillon, who kept attacking the Crown Prince relentlessly. The Crown Prince, who barely managed to block his ferocious attacks and hold on. It was strange. It was odd. The Crown Prince, who kept fending off the Swordmaster’s attacks. It was a sight he had never imagined.

At the same time, it was an extremely ominous and precarious sight. To others, it might have looked like the Crown Prince’s miraculous defense was succeeding one after another, but it wasn’t so for Demian.

‘Javillon, his aura is… trying to come back to life, little by little.’

He felt it.

For some unknown reason, the aura from Javillon’s sword had disappeared. But now, a faint luminescence was gradually starting to emerge within it. Despite being far away, the unique, tingling aura was ominously closing in.

It was still faint.

You could barely feel a trace of it.

But very slowly, gradually, yet surely, it was taking form. If left like this, the aura would be fully revived in just 1 to 2 minutes.

Then it would be the end for the Crown Prince.

No matter how strong the Perennial Snow is. No matter how miraculous the Crown Prince’s defense may be. Because from the beginning, the aura of a Swordmaster is impossible to defend against. Only by facing it with the same aura can you block it.

Therefore,

‘I… have to move.’

Demian steadied his trembling knees and stood up. He had to help the Crown Prince quickly. He couldn’t just stand idle like this.

A newfound resolve filled his chest.

Just as many questions also arose.

‘How?’

How would he help the Crown Prince? How would he confront that Swordmaster? Of course, he knew the answer.

‘Should I do that?’

He took a deep breath. Since experiencing the feeling of helplessness when dealing with the Minotaur in Cremo, he hadn’t been idly wasting time. He had spent time honing his skills in secret. He had also acquired a new insight: a new mana manipulation technique that could exert overwhelming power.

“……”

But it’s dangerous. To be honest, he hesitated. However, now is not the time for hesitation. If he fails, he won’t be able to protect the Crown Prince. Everything would come to an end as it is.

So… let’s do it.

Snap!

Demian’s molars clenched tightly.

With a resolution that ground down his bones, with a determination that set his Manaheart ablaze, Demian’s eyes widened. At the same time, the mana flowing throughout his body slowly, yet surely, started to flow in the opposite, more violent direction than what was normal.

Krrrrrrr…!

A technique that Raciel never wanted and always sought to suppress, the forbidden “Reversal Core Technique,” the strongest and most ominous skill in the Devil Sword Emperor novel, erupted from within Demian Cayenne’s chest.

(To be Continued)

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