Extra in a Romance Fantasy - Chapter 142
142 – Legend (11)
“Haah…….”
I steadied my breath and adjusted my grip on the sword.
Then, when my breathing had calmed somewhat, I lifted my head and gazed at the creature.
A monster with enormous golden eyes, glistening as it stared at this place, at me.
Although the damage I had inflicted with my sword had all been undone, the pain I had caused it had not vanished.
Because of that, at some point, its gaze had no intention of leaving me.
Perhaps it was thanks to that, or perhaps it was fortunate, that the damage caused by Arminanon had not yet been too severe.
Casualties from its lightning continued to occur, but the numbers were by no means high.
Thinking that way, I might be able to say that I was holding my own against that nonsensical monster.
However.
This battle also had to come to an end.
If things continued like this, we had no chance of victory.
Thus, I had to kill it.
‘I will strike it down in one blow…….’
A hypothesis proposed by the scholars of Alundel.
The theory that cleaving it in two would sever its lifeline.
There was no evidence, but it was worth testing.
Yet.
The problem was that it was not as easy as it sounded.
For me, who had stepped into a new realm, raising my sword’s might was not a difficult task.
And using that might to behead Arminanon was not particularly hard either.
But when the target became Arminanon itself, the story changed.
It’s a simple reason. It’s because it’s so enormous.
To slice through its body, a sword aura is essential, and to cut it down in one stroke, a corresponding size of sword aura is required.
‘…Is it possible?’
Honestly, I wasn’t sure.
Even now, as the sword aura became more natural, it still consumed a significant amount of magical power and intent.
Even if I gave it my all, I couldn’t be certain I could create a sword aura of that size.
However.
‘…I have no choice but to try.’
I must do it.
No, I cannot afford not to.
If I don’t kill this thing, everyone here will die.
And, perhaps, I won’t be able to thwart the organization’s plans.
With that thought organized in my mind, I began to infuse my magical power and intent into the sword.
Whooosh—
The sword let out a fierce cry as it absorbed a massive amount of magical power.
And then.
Swoosh—
The sword aura began to rise from the blade.
At first, it was no different from the sword aura I had conjured before.
It was only slightly larger than the blade itself.
However, as time passed, the sword aura began to grow in size.
When I blinked once, it had already reached a size that was double what it had been before, and after a few more blinks, it had doubled again.
And after some time had passed.
A sword aura of a truly colossal size enveloped my blade.
“…That’s an absurd size.”
Ethan, who had been quietly watching me from the side, murmured softly.
The expression on his face was unmistakably one of shock.
As a warrior capable of wielding sword aura himself, he would understand better than anyone else present.
He knew just how unreasonable the size of the sword aura I had conjured was.
But unfortunately, I had no time to slowly show that sword aura to Ethan.
My magic and intent were racing toward the ground in real-time.
The technique of sword enhancement is inherently inefficient, and as its size increases, the consumption grows exponentially.
Thus, my magic and intent were being consumed at a terrifying speed, like water in a bottomless bucket.
‘I can’t hold out like this for long.’
Feeling that certainty, I was about to move my body.
Crack!
Lightning struck.
And at that moment, a bad premonition flashed through my mind.
The intelligence of Armianon is by no means low.
So, it couldn’t possibly be unaware.
Of what I was doing, and how dangerous the sword enhancement settled upon my blade was.
Therefore, I immediately realized. It was trying to interfere with me.
To maintain a sword enhancement of this magnitude, I needed to concentrate all my mental faculties.
And if that concentration wavered even slightly, the sword enhancement would shatter into pieces.
Crack!
My prediction became reality as lightning fell above my head.
In that fleeting moment, I pondered.
It would be dangerous to be struck by lightning like this.
However, responding to the lightning also risked disrupting the sword enhancement.
What would be the right choice?
In that brief moment, a long and arduous contemplation swirled in my mind.
But.
To put it simply, that contemplation was meaningless.
Bang!
Suddenly, Ethan intervened and deflected the lightning with his sword.
“I may not be able to help directly, but I can at least do this.”
Ethan, who easily swatted away the lightning, looked at me and smiled.
His face was truly no different from usual, and I found myself smiling faintly, oddly out of place in the situation.
However, that smile did not last long.
I turned my gaze away, my expression settling into seriousness.
Toward the glaring eyes of Armianon, who was staring at me.
And then.
I glared back into his eyes and finally swung my sword.
The massive blade, imbued with the strength of a great sword, was swung toward the black dragon.
And then.
Swoosh!
Armianon’s body split apart.
“Got it, got it…!!”
“Finally…!!”
I could hear the voices of those cheering at the sight.
However.
“…Damn it.”
Ethan, who was beside me, cursed under his breath.
I, too, felt the urge to unleash a torrent of curses if I could.
At first glance, it seemed as if my strike had completely cleaved Armianon in two.
But.
“W-what…? Th-that…!!”
Swish—
Armianon, just as he had done until now, instantly regained his form.
‘…I didn’t cut him completely.’
My sword had nearly severed Armianon.
However, it hadn’t fully done so.
Because of that, Armianon’s life was not extinguished, and he regenerated once more, intact.
“Truly… an unbelievable monster…”
Ethan’s voice was tinged with despair.
I didn’t say anything, but I agreed with his words.
That black dragon, Armianon, was indeed a monster that deserved the title of a legendary beast, an absurd creature.
───────!!
Once again restored to his full form, Armianon looked up at the sky and howled.
The expressions of those who witnessed his overwhelming presence turned completely pale.
If it had been the old me, I would have immediately severed the creature’s neck to restore their morale, but the current me could not do that.
The sword I had just wielded against Armiannon was a strike that had taken all my strength.
Not a metaphorical expression, but a true strike delivered with all my might.
As a result, I was left with nothing but a meager amount of magical power and will.
With this, I could barely create a momentary surge of sword energy.
In other words, I no longer had the strength to stop him.
It was then that shadows loomed over everyone’s hearts.
Crackle!
Lightning erupted.
However, this lightning was different from before.
It did not discharge outward or strike a single point to harm anyone.
The destructive energy that had flashed and scattered began to gather in one place instead of showcasing its destructive power.
That place was none other than the mouth of Armiannon.
Crackle!
With a force unseen before, sparks flew as lightning began to condense from Armiannon’s mouth.
The moment we witnessed that sight, everyone present, including myself, realized.
He intended to end this fight with a single blow.
“……”
“……”
Everyone in the room stood transfixed, their faces filled with despair as they gazed at the scene.
It was something we could feel.
Through our senses, through our skin.
We understood just how absurdly powerful the destructive force of the lightning gathering in Armiannon’s mouth was.
It was a power that could not only annihilate everyone present in a single strike but could also potentially obliterate this very space itself.
The moment that lightning was unleashed, everything would come to an end.
“It’s… all over…”
As a deep despair trickled from my voice, I thought.
I must stop it.
I have to stop that.
But.
‘…How?’
I had reached my limit.
Both my magical power and will were now reduced to a mere thread.
In this state, I couldn’t exert any real strength, and even if I gathered every last bit of power I had left, I wouldn’t be able to stop Arminanon.
Yet, I couldn’t lean on anyone else either.
Ethan, the Silver Knight, Bloodfire—none of them would be able to stop Arminanon, even in peak condition.
In the end.
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t come up with a way to break through this situation.
Thus, I was on the verge of giving up hope.
“Everyone looks like the world is ending.”
A voice echoed.
A rough voice that conjured the image of a beast just by hearing it.
And then, a man appeared before me.
“You are…”
The identity of the one who appeared with a cynical tone was someone I was well aware of.
A tall man with striking white hair, possessing an undeniable presence that couldn’t be overlooked—Kahim.
“Looks like things have gone to hell.”
Even in this urgent situation where everyone might die soon, Kahim’s face appeared calm.
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His tranquil gaze swept around before finally landing on me.
“Well, I suppose I should take back what I said about you looking weak. You’re quite the absurd monster, aren’t you?”
“…”
Thinking back, I remembered the first time I had properly faced him, and those words came to mind.
At that time, I must have completely concealed my strength, so it was only natural that Kahim wouldn’t recognize me.
“Indeed, should I say that Pan has taken an interest in you…?”
Muttering to himself with a hint of intrigue, Kahim stared at me intently once more.
And then.
“Catch.”
He threw something he was holding at me.
Startled by the sudden action, I quickly reached out and caught the object.
“What is this…?”
With a puzzled expression, I looked down and immediately recognized the identity of the object.
“The Hero’s… sword…?”
Yes, it was the Hero’s sword.
The one that had been inside the stone coffin of Hero Ferdion.
“Why is this suddenly here…?”
As I raised my head to look at Kahim with a bewildered face, he replied with an expression tinged with annoyance.
“That thing kept pestering me. It wanted me to bring it to you.”
“…….”
The sword asked to be brought to me.
What kind of nonsensical thing was that? I was about to ask.
Vroom—
The sword in my hand vibrated.
Even without any magic or intent infused into it.
And in that moment.
I heard it.
The voice of the sword.
Vroom—
I’m not entirely sure, but the sword was speaking to me.
Telling me to use it.
The instant I heard that voice, I realized.
“Is this… really the Hero’s sword…?”
That this was the genuine Hero’s sword, not a fake.
It was just a gut feeling, but a deep conviction surged within me.
Vroom—
The sword spoke to me once more.
Telling me to use it.
To wield it and defeat that dragon.
“…I suppose no explanation is necessary.”
I heard Kahim’s voice, but I couldn’t quite grasp it.
—
I was solely focused on the resonance of the sword, on its voice, pouring all my nerves into it.
As if entranced, I gazed at the sword, and at last, I summoned my magic and intent.
All that remained in my body, a meager amount.
And the magic and intent that rose according to my will began to flow into the sword through my body.
Wooong─
The sword let out a gentle, pleasant hum.
And then.
Suuu─
Naturally, the sword’s aura began to bloom.
This aura was not as vast as the one I had created with all my might.
It simply appeared calm and serene.
With the aura of the young hero’s sword in hand, I lifted my head.
Crackle!
The lightning gathered in Armianon’s mouth had condensed into a single point, waiting for the moment.
The moment it would break free and destroy everything.
At last.
The legendary dragon exhaled.
Kwaaah!
Facing the breath made of lightning, as if to shatter the very world itself.
I swung the sword.
And then.
Swoosh─
The dragon split apart.