Episode 95
The Death Knight, known as the “Black Sword” of Sachsen and wielder of the hero’s “Peacemaker,” charged forward. Two ideologies reflected in a single blade, aiming for the pinnacle of the continent’s Seven Swords.
Master Baro wasn’t using his full strength against Dale, likely testing Dale’s capabilities and potential. The fact that he hadn’t revealed his “Avatar” was proof enough.
But that didn’t mean Dale could afford to be careless.
The Killing Sword.
As his name suggested, and as the blood-red aura on his blade indicated… it was a sword meant solely for killing, with no regard for the knightly code, ruthlessly efficient.
Clang!
The blood-red aura blade clashed with Sachsen’s black sword.
Whoosh!
Before the clash even registered, a dozen throwing knives fanned out from his hand.
Each knife carried a precise, deadly aura. In response, Dale hastily formed a shield with his “Shadow Cloak.” Not to deflect, but to absorb.
“Damn, that’s some artifact you’ve got there, rich kid.”
The Death Knight, wielding the hero’s sword, lunged at Master Baro.
“Controlling the Death Knight’s sword at this level?”
Master Baro couldn’t hide his astonishment as he clashed with the Death Knight. The “Hero’s Proxy” was holding his own against one of the continent’s Seven Swords, displaying a near-equal sword dance.
“Well, this kid’s no ordinary brat.”
”…”
His demeanor might have been that of a third-rate thug, but his swordsmanship was on another level. Dale didn’t respond, his shadow cloak billowing as he supported the Death Knight from the rear.
Following the wild flapping of the shadow cloak, shadow bullets were fired.
The shadow bullets scattered, and Master Baro’s figure vanished once more.
”…!”
Was it divine speed? No, it wasn’t a matter of being too fast to follow.
A chill ran down Dale’s spine.
Immediately, the “Shadow Lurkers” within the shadow cloak unleashed their spiked tendrils, targeting the assassin poised to strike from behind.
Slash!
The evolved “Shadow Lurker’s” tendrils were far more formidable than before. The tendrils lashed out, and Dale quickly turned around.
Master Baro stood there.
Unfazed by the spiked hell rising beneath him, he didn’t even flinch. The tendrils rushing toward him were twisted and shredded as if caught in a blender.
‘To cut through the Shadow Lurker’s tendrils…’
For someone of Master Baro’s caliber, slicing through shadows was no difficult feat. But what he had just demonstrated wasn’t swordsmanship. The surrounding area twisted, as if some unknown magic had shredded the tendrils.
The Killing Sword Master Baro had never crossed blades with Dale in his past life.
After all, no one who had faced the hero’s sword and survived was left to tell the tale.
Yet, Dale had some knowledge of his name and abilities.
A knight who has reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship can project an ideology that possesses power indistinguishable from magic.
It wasn’t just about avatars.
“Phase manipulation…”
In this world, there are no spells like teleportation that allow for instant travel over great distances.
However, by temporarily manipulating the phase of the coordinate system, one can close distances or use it as a weapon to twist an opponent’s body.
The power of distortion.
This was the secret that allowed him to rise from one of the continent’s Seven Swords to its greatest assassin. Yet, it was only a fraction of the Killing Sword’s abilities.
“Ho.”
Master Baro tilted his head in surprise.
“You knew about my abilities?”
“I sensed it from your movements,” Dale replied.
“You’re one creepy little kid.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“If we keep fighting at full strength, this place won’t survive.”
Master Baro said.
“Frankly, I don’t care about your so-called prophecy.”
”…”
“But at least I know the rumors about the eldest son of Sachsen aren’t lies.”
With those words, the blood-red aura around Master Baro’s sword vanished.
If the fight escalated further, he had considered using the “Peacemaker’s power,” but fortunately, the worst-case scenario was avoided.
“If the name of the Sachsen Duke and the ‘Black Prince’ isn’t just for show…”
Master Baro sheathed his sword and turned to the bird-masked assassins following him.
“To have reached this level at such a young age, your talent hasn’t even fully blossomed yet.”
To the assassins of the Shadow Court.
“Then there’s no need to overthink it.”
He calmly assessed Dale’s caliber and continued speaking.
“What are you doing, not bowing your heads to your new boss?”
”…!”
At Master Baro’s words, the bird-masked assassins collectively held their breath.
“The one who will extinguish the last flame of this world and bring forth the empire of shadows.”
The shadow-clad saintess spoke up.
“Black Apostle and Shadow Lord.”
Before Dale, the entire Shadow Court knelt in unison.
“Please, bring down the empire of fire and light and lead us to your empire.”
Dale nodded silently before them.
“Your faith will be rewarded.”
As they said, bringing down the empire of fire and light. Using what could be used, that was all.
Not as a puppet of the gods, but by Dale’s own will.
Whether Dale believed in the gods or not was irrelevant. He was prepared to become their god if necessary, even if it was a hollow deity.
To meet their expectations and earn their loyalty in return.
The Shadow Court.
The successor of the “Shadow Church,” which had long hidden in the shadows to escape the White Tower. As long as they moved according to Dale’s will, there was only one thing to do.
“Soon, the Black Market will open, and the vote to decide the next City Master will begin.”
The enforcers of Guild City, and the continent’s foremost assassin organization.
“I need the Shadow Court’s power to decide the next City Master with my own hands.”
The Black Apostle and Shadow Lord spoke to his new followers.
In the city of the Calimala Guild, in front of the Guild Master’s hall.
When “Dale of Sachsen” appeared there, predicting their reaction wasn’t difficult.
The prime suspect in the attempted assassination of the Guild Master.
“Kneel immediately!”
The city’s guards pointed their spears at Dale, who responded.
“Do you think a few spears can stop me?”
”…!”
Faced with such blatant intimidation, the guards’ expressions faltered.
Dale was right. Behind him stood the Death Knight wielding Sachsen’s black sword. The “Shadow Cloak” fluttered in a place where not even a breeze blew. There wasn’t much the city guards could do in the face of such power.
“But there’s no need to worry.”
Dale continued, as if to reassure them.
“Fortunately, the ‘Shadow Court’ has ruled on my innocence and…”
He pulled out a document from his coat.
“This is their guarantee.”
The document bore the ruling and signature of the “Shadow Court,” recognizable to the people of Guild City.
‘Innocence.’
Their signature left no room for doubt. At least within Guild City, no one was foolish enough to impersonate the “Shadow Court.”
“I have important information to convey to the Master of the Calimala Guild regarding the current situation.”
Dale continued.
“Please, step aside.”
A moment of hesitant confusion passed among the city guards, but it didn’t last long.
When the Master of the Calimala Guild heard that the “Black Prince” had come to see him, it felt as if the sky was falling.
But he was, after all, one of the masters of the Seven Great Guilds. In this lawless land where gold justified everything, he had grown weary of having his life targeted.
Moreover, the “Shadow Court” vouched for his innocence. So, with a few trusted guards, the Master of the Calimala Guild met with Dale.
“The situation is taking a dire turn.”
Dale began.
“The Empire and the Red Tower’s agents have already made their move.”
“The Empire and the Red Tower…!”
The moment the name was mentioned, the master of the Calimala Guild swallowed hard. Could it really be that the Empire and the Red Tower were getting involved in this conflict? This was a whole different league.
“It seems they’ve already made contact with one of the Seven Great Guilds.”
”…I never imagined things would escalate to this extent.”
The Calimala Guild Master bit his lip in silence. Even in this tense moment, his mind was rapidly weighing the scales of profit and loss. The position of City Master was undeniably tempting. Human desire is like a bottomless pit, and even the master of one of the Seven Great Guilds was no exception.
Yet, the fact that the Empire and the Red Tower were directly intervening…
“Regrettably…”
The Guild Master continued.
“We may need to reconsider our alliance.”
No amount of wealth is worth more than one’s life.
And with the Empire’s agents and the Red Tower taking direct action… for a master of one of the Seven Great Guilds, to desire more would be to invite death through sheer greed.
In that regard, Ray Uris’s warning had been remarkably effective. He understood the power of fear, perhaps even more than the act of taking a life.
“Are you afraid?”
That’s why Dale spoke up.
“Of facing a guild master backed by the Empire’s agents and the Red Tower.”
“What choice do we have?”
They couldn’t simply play into Ray Uris’s hands.
“The master of the Calimala Guild will become the next City Master.”
Dale declared.
“And this is not a request or a plea.”
Just as Ray Uris had once done.
“It is a decision.”
An irresistible force.
As long as the Red Tower wielded the ‘fear’ of the Black Tower as a weapon, Dale had no reason to reject the Red Tower’s methods.
A clash of red and black.
In the face of this titanic struggle, the Calimala Guild Master’s deliberations and calculations of profit were rendered utterly meaningless.