kscans

Chapter 830 - Because You Think of Me, I Am. Because I Wish It, the World Endures. Part Five.

"—…"

Out of the corner of her eye, she watched the brilliant crimson and azure flames and flashes of light ravage the pandemonium of demons, and took a breath.

She possessed a 'power' cultivated over a great length of time, her breathing as steady in the heart of battle as it was in times of peace. The [Sword Saint], who had never once been swayed by the circumstances on a battlefield where she swung her blade, remained perfectly calm in both breath and spirit.

"《Shinden》"

Deciding she need not worry about what was behind her, she turned her gaze away and met the approaching black creature with her fingertips.

In that instant, the great serpent that had opened its maw to swallow the small human whole exploded and scattered. The cause of the monster's death, which had burst from the inside out from an immense force, was that its fangs had been lightly caressed.

Thus, she paid no mind to the black remnants that lost their form and scattered.

"What a strange creature this is…"

As she casually dealt with all of the 'fragments' that dispersed and relentlessly attacked, the [Sword Saint] narrowed her eyes, focusing on the single, massive black mass that grew larger by the second.

It was only natural that she'd use the word 'creature.' No matter how you looked at it, it was a monster that couldn't possibly be a proper living being… or even something with a will.

"'Come'—[Kaitō: Renge (Revolving Sword: Lotus Flower)]"

A soft murmur of words. It was a call, a sound of request.

And as its master spoke, as if answering an echo, the sound of a wooden mallet rang out—and in that instant, a new sword appeared, as if coming to be held in her hands of its own accord.

It was a blade of five-shaku three-sun, deviating from standard form with its long triangular shape, thick at the base and thin at the tip. For someone of her smaller stature, drawing such an unorthodox weapon would normally be exceedingly difficult, and yet,

"The Sixth Strike."

…the [Sword Saint] acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"《Ekō (Layered Light)》"

No one could perceive the details of her movement, but the greatsword that was surely drawn unleashed an invisible flash, and a roar like the scream of a world slain by the surging sword-wind echoed out.

Combined with the performance of the specially forged 'sword,' it was a completely different beast from her disciple's version. The ranged blade, which would surely cleave a boss enemy in two upon a direct hit, struck true…

"—————————, ——"

…piercing the body of the strange monster and drawing out an indescribable scream—for the thirty-odd seconds since she had arrived on the stage, it had been the same thing over and over.

Naturally, then, the [Sword Saint], who continued to wield this overwhelmingly one-sided power, had but one thought.

"I see. This is getting us nowhere."

This feels meaningless..

This wasn't an emotion born of 'boredom' or 'dissatisfaction' with the one-sided battle or an opponent who couldn't resist her… but rather, a feeling of 'unease' toward an unknown 'enemy' that seemed to be affected, yet gave no real feedback.

Ui herself was not well-versed in 'games,' and unlike her disciple or her brilliant friends, she was not skilled in strategy or deduction. Therefore, when faced with something that her 'sword,' in which she had absolute confidence, did not seem to work on, she would basically just give up on thinking.

She would stop thinking.

Meaning, she would stop wasting her thoughts.

In other words—she would pour all of her resources into her blade, muster an overwhelming 'power' that would crush the 'ineffective,' and step forward to cut down everything in her path.

When she was alone, it was a matter of course.

And now that she desired and sought the circle of her 'comrades,' the meaning changed, but the result was the same.

"…Well then, let's begin."

The [Sword Saint] smiled, ready to be the 'guide' for so many.

"Behold, the full power of Istia's Rank 1, the [Sword Saint]."

With that declaration, she took a single step.

"'Adorn this one strike.'"

A single chime of the mallet. The sword, its purpose served, vanished from her hand. Uncowed by the earth-shaking tremors of the writhing creature, she walked with leisure… and power gathered to her.

"'Accept this one sword.'"

The mallet echoed. With each step she took, she was clad in the resonance of the chiming mallet.

"'Where is this worldly lawlessness?'"

What should be in the [Sword Saint]'s hand is—at any and all times, just a single 'sword.'

"'The name I have inherited is here.'"

Then what her Anima brings forth is something befitting one who has stepped beyond the pinnacle.

"Prototype Sword…—"

Forging space itself into a blade, she manifested a hundred-shaku of lawlessness.

It had no visible form or shape; its existence was proclaimed only by an overwhelming pressure and a distortion of space. And even if one could sense its presence, only a single phrase would come to mind for all who witnessed it.

Namely—this was not something a human could wield.

To which she would surely reply—My name is the [Sword Saint].

Her crown flickered, ash turning to white. Her long hair, now shining with a pure white light that would burn all eyes, swayed as the woman who had mastered the sword and ruled the blade swung her empty hand.

And thus, the governed 'sword' obeyed its master's will.

"《Tengen (Heavenly Manifestation)》"

With a single, sweeping slash, she sent the tiny monster, so large it had to be looked up at, flying.