The moment I clashed with the knight, I knew it wouldn't be easy.

A grim expression settled on my face.

Swordmaster.

Her skill was astounding.

Excluding Crete, she was undoubtedly the strongest opponent I'd ever faced.

‘……It makes sense.’

Swordmasters.

Their skills are extraordinary.

Although they haven't reached the level of a demigod, they've attained a certain level of power.

Manifestation of the Inner Image.

It's the power to unleash the imagination that lies dormant within one's mind.

To reach the level of a demigod, one must be able to manifest their ‘Inner Image,’ and Swordmasters possess that ability.

However,

‘I can manifest my Inner Image too.’

In the territory of the undead, by devouring an ancient god, I achieved a new level of power.

Although I couldn't surpass the level of a demigod, I gained the ability to manifest my Inner Image.

However, it wasn't an image I inherently possessed, but rather something my body had learned on its own, making it unstable.

Originally, manifesting one's Inner Image transcended the realm of Fighting Spirit.

In a way, the Fighting Spirit is also a manifestation of the Inner Image.

However, the manifestation of the Inner Image is a more comprehensive and powerful force.

If Fighting Spirit is drawing a small weapon from the Inner Image, then…

My unique and inimitable power is the manifestation of my Inner Image.

But it was also a difficult technique to execute.

That's why, even when fighting Crete, I couldn't manifest my Inner Image and was helplessly defeated… but…

‘It might be possible against an opponent like her.’

The knight I faced was indeed skilled, but she wasn't so far beyond my reach.

So, if I could unleash my full power…

However, manifesting my Inner Image was still a gamble.

Therefore, it was a technique that could only be used to counter the knight's Inner Image, not something I could readily employ.

And so, we clashed, using only our sword auras and swordsmanship.

Suddenly, we both stopped swinging our swords.

The knight frowned and spoke.

“How dull. You only dodge."

“Evasion is also a skill.”

“Hmph, that's just a trick. Allow me to show you my true abilities.”

Woong-.

The moment she finished speaking…

A dense aura enveloped her sword.

Kuwooo-.

The endlessly expanding aura suddenly contracted, taking on a pure and refined form.

Sword Force.

A technique only those who've achieved the level of Swordmaster can wield.

It was the next stage of sword energy used by humans, a truly formidable skill.

But the knight didn't stop there.

Thump-.

An overbearing pressure that seemed to distort the surrounding space emanated from her blade.

The vibrations from her sword made me frown.

…This level of Fighting Spirit surpasses even that of Baltan or Terias.

They might have reached a similar level now, but I couldn't emit such powerful Fighting Spirit.

‘…Killing Intent, could it be possible?’

Doubt gnawed at me.

But I wouldn't know unless I tried.

Crete's teachings on Killing Intent.

Please, let it work…

Ku gugu gugu gugu-.

I grasped both the Fang of Darkness and the crimson dagger, unleashing my Killing Intent.

And then, I poured mana into them until my hands felt like they would burst.

The moment I poured every ounce of my mana into the blades…

Along with a black miasma that seemed to cut through space itself…

Bang-!

My two daggers clashed against the knight’s longsword.

An unbelievable sound resonated as our weapons collided.

“……!”

“……!”

Our gazes locked, each of us pouring strength into our weapons as we struggled for dominance.

Cold sweat trickled down my back, but I feigned composure and spoke.

“It’s not as powerful as the sound it made. How disappointing."

“You’ll see soon enough…!”

Gritting her teeth at my mocking tone, the knight broke away.

Chang-.

Chang-.

Chang-.

Our blades clashed repeatedly.

Each time our weapons met, space itself seemed to shatter and distort around us.

Our movements were too fast for the eye to follow.

Ordinary soldiers wouldn't even be able to perceive our battle.

But as time passed, I was the one being pushed back.

‘……This is…’

A sense of defeat washed over me.

I thought that using Killing Intent would allow me to counter her Sword Force, but…

Unlike me, who was using this new aspect of Killing Intent for the first time, the knight was a seasoned Swordmaster.

As time went on, I struggled to maintain the upper hand against her experience.

‘If only Gu Poison would activate like it did against Terias…’

But it was too risky to rely on Gu Poison.

This duel was being watched by humans and demons alike, even Crete.

If it was discovered that I wielded Gu Poison, I wouldn't be able to escape the consequences.

Considering the current situation, Crete wouldn't necessarily punish me, but Gu Poison had to remain my trump card.

It could become my weakness, or it could become my winning hand.

So, all that remained was…

‘Move-.’

Position Exchange.

I immediately extended the arrow, switching places with the knight.

With my daggers aimed at her throat, I swung.

Surg-.

“……!”

But with astonishing reflexes, the knight evaded my attack.

Thud-.

She rolled on the ground, swiftly retrieving her fallen sword.

But I wouldn’t miss such a small opening.

Woong-.

I unleashed my Killing Intent once more, charging toward her with my daggers.

However,

Clank-.

A sound like a lock snapping open reached my ears, and…

“……What.”

The aura emanating from the knight shifted completely.

Gooooo….

An indescribably sharp and viscous presence emanated from her.

It was as if she had transformed into a wolf, her silver hair seemingly swaying in a nonexistent breeze.

Involuntarily, I swallowed nervously.

…It’s finally beginning.

The manifestation of her Inner Image.

The knight had unveiled her true power to face me.

And then,

Crackle-!

Like a bolt of lightning, a wolf lunged, sinking its fangs into my two daggers.

The speed and sharpness were terrifying, leaving me no time to react.

I tried to create distance…

“I won’t, let you go.”

“……!”

She closed the distance in an instant, swinging her sword at me with blinding speed.

There wasn’t even time to use spatial displacement.

A lone wolf.

That was the Inner Image she had manifested.

‘This is insane.’

Despair began to set in, twisting my features.

A situation where even dodging was difficult.

How could I possibly fight against such a monster?

At this rate, I had no choice but to use my own Inner Image.

‘-Open (Eye of Arrogance,).’

The Eye of Arrogance, which temporarily enhanced my dynamic vision to its limits by forcibly opening it.

Originally, it required taking life to activate, but I could forcefully use it in exchange for my sight.

With the Eye of Arrogance activated, I observed the knight’s slowed movements, now within the realm of my perception.

Thump-.

My heart pounded in my chest.

Deep within my mind…

A single Inner Image lay dormant.

The moment I closed and opened my eyes to drag it into reality…

“……!”

The world transformed.

Fwoooosh-!

An ominous darkness erupted from my body, a raging inferno threatening to engulf the world.

However, my mana was too weak, and the darkness could only paint a small fraction of the world.

But that was enough.

“This is…!”

The knight’s eyes widened in shock.

It was inevitable.

Both she and I had been pulled into a realm of pure darkness.

And she had no choice but to accept it.

Thump-. Thump-.

My heart pounded like a drum.

The sound echoed in my ears, the only sensation in this world devoid of light and shadow.

In the midst of this all-encompassing darkness…

Stir-.

Something moved.

I sensed something moving with an unidentifiable pattern.

“What is that…?”

The knight muttered, her voice trembling with fear.

Fwaack-.

I unleashed a wave of endless darkness, along with a thick, suffocating killing intent that would make even the bravest knight tremble.

Time seemed to stand still in this oppressive atmosphere.

As the metallic scent of blood filled the air, she must have felt like she was going mad.

Finally,

I fused my Killing Intent with the darkness.

Goooo-.

Something I couldn't comprehend began to writhe, wrapping itself around the Fang of Darkness and emanating an ominous aura.

Something with glowing crimson eyes, flickering like flames amidst the encroaching darkness.

A serpent?

No, it was…

Even I couldn’t fathom the true nature of the entity that had manifested within my Inner Image.

But there was no time to hesitate.

If the knight adapted to the darkness, victory would slip from my grasp.

Kwachack-!

I swung the serpent-like entity towards the knight, and…

Clang-!

The longsword, imbued with the wolf’s aura, shattered into pieces.

“……!”

As the knight’s eyes widened in shock…

Fwoosh-.

The black space that had imprisoned us vanished.

And my dagger…

“Kyaaaak!”

Sank its teeth into the knight’s shoulder.

The serpent, formed from darkness and Killing Intent, took a large bite out of her shoulder.

Her arm was severed.

Kwachuk, kwachuk-.

Blood sprayed from the wound, splattering my face.

“……N-No!”

The knight’s face was a mask of blood and tears.

Before the opponent she had underestimated, she had been reduced to nothing more than prey.

“…….”

My gaze was cold and unforgiving.

Clang-.

Clang-.

She swung the hilt of her sword, the blade long gone, but it was a meaningless struggle.

The serpent wouldn’t abandon its wounded prey.

It would only devour it whole.

Whoosh-.

I watched her desperate struggle with frost-rimmed eyes and swung my dagger once more.

A ferocious aura clung to the blade.

This attack would be enough to finish her, or so I thought.

If someone hadn’t stopped my attack…

"……!"

It felt as if my breath had hitched.

The dark energy swirling around my dagger dispersed in an instant.

A suffocating pressure gripped my heart.

My instincts screamed a warning.

Who possessed such overwhelming power?

My heart pounded against my ribs.

Slowly, I turned towards the source of the pressure.

Standing there, looking down at me with an air of haughty indifference, was a man.

"You are…."

Bonus chapter on reaching milestones. Choose your tier by clicking the 'Support me' button!

Rate and review this novel on NU to help people find this novel.