Episode 369 – Dark Star (3)
The mont the sword was drawn, the surrounding scenery warped.
It felt like space itself had been severed.
At Kal’s urgent warning, Natasha and Dorneth halted their attacks and quickly shifted to defense.
Kwakwakwaang—!
“Kgh!”
As Dorneth hastily raised his shield, a massive shock swept through his entire body.
What just exploded above the shield?
His face twisted as the unseen energy hamred against it, pushing him back hard.
Natasha too twisted her giant’s fist away, her instincts prickling.
There wasn’t even ti to look at Rengua—
Sssk—
“…!”
The rushing force slashed through her spirit body. In haste, she amplified her synchronization rate with the spirit, Gereflam, reinforcing her spiritual form.
Kakakakang!
Sparks flared along her radiant spiritual fists as the violent recoil pushed her backward.
It felt like facing a storm of razor winds.
Gritting her teeth, Natasha dropped her stance, letting the pressure flow past her while scanning her surroundings.
Boom! Kwang! Kwangkwang!
Not just her—Dorneth, Kal, and even Keros were all being forced back by the storm of energy.
All from a single strike?
Natasha let out a short groan and glared at the white-haired man in the distance.
He stood with his head slightly bowed, sword pointed skyward, still as stone.
Long, flowing white hair and the tattered white cloth draped over him fluttered violently.
Even from here, the oppressive force he emanated could be felt.
An overwhelming presence.
But as the party distanced themselves, that pressure strangely faded away, like it had never been.
The group straightened up, tension in their eyes, but didn’t imdiately charge in.
That first move alone had shown them just how dangerous he was.
“B-Boss!”
Azolett looked up at the Sword Demon, flustered.
He stood with his back to her, silent.
That massive release of sword energy...
She had never seen him release this much before. Karvas had always said materializing sword energy was a waste, and never used it lightly.
Was the situation that serious?
“You brought so interesting ones.”
“They… they’re Coalition fighters! From Aintrier, they chased us all the way here…”
“Azolett.”
His calm voice made her flinch and fall silent.
“Are those all of them?”
She nodded heavily.
Karvas narrowed his eyes at the enemies, then gave a slight nod.
“Seems about right.”
He straightened his posture and untied a small gourd from his waist, handing it to Azolett.
Her eyes widened.
It was his personal gourd, always carried on him. That alone told her how valuable the liquid inside was.
“Split it carefully—should be enough for two. Give so to Rengua once you’ve recovered.”
“But Boss, why…”
“We can’t afford to lose a Black Star.”
Karvas turned to face the enemy, sword lowered and stance relaxed.
Of them all, he only knew about Natasha’s abilities. The others, he had no detailed intel on.
From their reactions to his sword aura, he had gauged their strength—and they were dangerous.
Just in case, he needed insurance.
But to Azolett, his actions seed deeply ominous.
Planning for later... as if he might lose?
“...Boss, will you be alright?”
“Why? Are you scared?”
“No, it’s just… I’m afraid you might…”
“Have you ever seen lose, fighting beside ?”
“Ah…”
He smiled pleasantly as he t her eyes.
Only then did she recall what kind of man Karvas was.
A battle maniac, one who would do anything to grow stronger—the stronger the enemy, the more he smiled.
“Once you’re better, retreat. Don’t get in the way of the fight.”
“Bo—!”
Before she could finish, Karvas vanished like he’d sunk into the earth.
“He’s coming!”
Natasha shouted, and flas burst from Dorneth’s shield.
Karvas had appeared in front of him, already swinging.
Kajang! Kajazazang!
Karvas moved fast—but Dorneth’s shield was wide, and its directional rotation was quick.
In re seconds, an intense flurry of blows exchanged between them. Dorneth’s massive shield spun chaotically in the air.
Karvas withdrew and asured the distance with his sword, clicking his tongue.
“So you only block and hit back? Still, you're tough. Annoying guy.”
“Huaaah!”
With a battle cry, Dorneth charged again, just as phantom daggers closed in from all sides.
Kal’s ghost-ford daggers—erratic and unreadable in trajectory—cut through the air.
Karvas furrowed his brows as minor cuts appeared on his body.
But only for a mont.
Glancing briefly at the air, Karvas suddenly slashed in a wide arc.
The daggers lost their power and fell uselessly to the ground. Kal’s face showed disbelief.
“…He cut my phantom daggers?”
Kal’s spiritual blades had the elasticity of spider silk. They usually stretched before breaking, making them almost impossible to slice.
But Karvas had bisected them in a single, clean motion.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He dodged a surprise shield bash and sneered as he counterattacked.
Skaang—!
Sparks flew from Dorneth’s shield.
This ti, however, Dorneth staggered, groaning from the impact.
He had only blocked—yet blood started to seep from his body.
The Oath Shield was connected to Dorneth’s soul. It couldn’t be destroyed, but accumulated damage could harm the body.
And now Karvas’s strikes were doing just that.
Kang—!
“Kuh!”
Dorneth’s face twisted.
Beyond the shield, he saw Karvas raising his sword again.
Even when he threw Karvas’s stance off by wildly swinging the shield, the enemy’s blade pierced the exact sa spot every ti—no deviation.
Repeated impacts on the sa point began to burden Dorneth’s body. He had never experienced anything like it.
“Dorneth!”
A cry ca from behind. Recognizing the signal from their many battles, Dorneth rolled aside.
Through the open space, Natasha blitzed in like lightning.
Her fists tore through the air like flashes, but Karvas deflected each one with smooth, flowing movents.
Vwooom!
“You sword-wielding bastard! I’ll end you here!”
Natasha’s eyes glead with light.
Her synchronization rate with the giant Gereflam hit its max—80%.
Her entire body radiated with spiritual energy, light bursting forth from her fists.
Karvas felt the tingle in the air and grinned.
“As expected. The Giant Witch. I’ve heard you’re the strongest among the Dortas.”
“Shut up!”
Flash—
Her punch tore through space.
Karvas’s eyes flared—he gripped his sword with both hands for the first ti and swung down to et her fist.
Kakakakakakakang—!
The shockwaves rocked the entire area.
In a single breath, dozens of strikes flew between fist and blade.
Kal, watching in awe, cursed.
“Dorneth!”
Drip. Drip.
Unlike Karvas, who remained unscathed, blood began to pool beneath Natasha’s feet.
It soon beca a puddle—her body was bleeding profusely.
Dorneth charged, shield infused with power.
Natasha scread and lunged again.
Puhk!
The sword pierced her shoulder, but she ignored it and shoulder-charged Karvas.
Boom!
With a crashing sound, Karvas was flung backward—
Right where Dorneth stood, eyes bloodshot.
“Kraaaahhh!”
He slamd his shield into the ground with a beastly roar.
Kuuuuung!
For the first ti, Karvas’s face contorted.
Air compressed around the shield, then burst out in a red shockwave from Dorneth.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Karvas was within range.
The red wave swallowed him whole.
His white garnts shredded, dyed red.
Thud!
The shockwave struck his head, and blood gushed down his face.
Flash—
Face now soaked in blood, Karvas looked like a demon as he raised his sword high.
Then—
“Taat!”
He slashed through the red wave Dorneth had released.
It vanished—cleaved in half and gone.
Dorneth’s eyes went wide.
“No way!”
The energy from the Oath Shield was Divine Power. It wasn’t sothing that could simply be cut.
Yet Karvas did just that.
Azolett, watching from afar, wasn’t surprised.
Her boss’s swordsmanship was unique.
His blade could cut through aura, mana, spiritual power—even Divine Power.
Blade of Annihilation.
The ability that had made Karvas the Sword Demon.
“Kuhahahaha! Amazing. Absolutely amazing!”
Covered in blood, Karvas laughed like a madman as he rushed at Dorneth.
Natasha joined from behind, gritting her teeth.
“That bastard’s insane!”
2 vs. 1
Dorneth, the Dwarf King.
Natasha, one of Dorta’s core powers.
And yet—they were being overwheld.
Karvas’s sword moved like it was possessed.
Every swing cut through any energy in its path.
With each strike, one of the two was wounded and groaning.
They held out—but the situation was grim.
Then Kal moved.
“Die!”
His dagger wasn’t aid at Karvas—
It flew at Azolett, who was tending to Rengua behind him.
She blocked it with webbing, but Kal’s spiritual daggers were her natural counter.
“Aaagh!”
One pierced her thigh, and she let out a cry, exposing an opening.
Kal quickly backed off.
Monts later, Karvas appeared in the spot Kal had vacated.
Karvas gave a dry chuckle, seeing Kal’s quick escape.
“So there’s a clever one among them.”
He brushed the blood from his blade and returned to Azolett.
Thanks to Kal’s move, Dorneth collapsed to one knee, and Natasha panted as she backed away to recover.
Kal rejoined her.
“You okay?”
“No. I’m not.”
“At least no fatal wounds.”
“That guy—he’s the Sword Demon Karvas, isn’t he?”
Kal nodded.
“Leader of Pri Root. Said to be the only one who could kill Grand Duke Clarke.”
“Think the three of us can take him?”
“We’d lose an arm, at best.”
“You’ve only got one left. Not a good ti to joke.”
“…Just a figure of speech.”
Looking around, they saw Keros observing from afar.
He had to protect Lily, so his position was understandable.
Then, Keros flinched—and rushed toward the group, Lily on his back.
Kal’s gut twisted. He glanced toward the desert.
“This isn’t good…”
A surge of danger made his chest tighten.
Monts later, he turned sharply—feeling a cold aura behind him.
Kukukukukung—
Black smoke began to engulf the Frozen Desert, rushing toward their party like a storm.
Kal muttered a curse under his breath.
“Damn it... Dark Storm.”
The elite personal unit of the Black Star.
It seed Karvas hadn’t co alone.
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