Chapter 372: Let’s Make a Deal
The Sword Demon’s thod of utilizing energy could be summarized in one word: condensation.
The more energy he condensed, the greater its stability beca.
Energy waste was drastically reduced, and efficiency was increased. That was why, even when he used energy, it appeared deceptively mundane.
Boom! Boom-boom!
Unlike the witch before him, who recklessly charged while exploding her energy, the Sword Demon was confident he could achieve several tis the efficiency using the sa amount of energy.
However, knowing how to condense energy didn’t an anyone could do it.
He had personally summoned and taught those with high potential, but if their physical vessel was lacking or they didn’t possess the necessary talent, the condensed energy would scatter into nothing, like a lie dissolving into air.
In the end, to reach the stage where one could use condensed energy, one needed a powerful physical vessel and an innate sense of energy.
The Sword Demon was the only human who possessed both.
A technique only he could execute.
The pinnacle of that thod was the Formless Sword, created from condensed aura.
Sssk—
“Guh!”
Natasha’s fists, struck by the Formless Sword, were shredded and soaked in blood, as though the skin had been peeled away.
Even with Gereflam’s protection, the Formless Sword sliced through spiritual energy without rcy and threatened her very life.
Still, Natasha growled and charged without hesitation.
To the Sword Demon, she looked like a mad beast, completely devoid of fear.
“To charge at so desperately... no wonder the mages loathe you.”
“Shut up!”
He deflected the spiritual fists with the Formless Sword and glanced at the tattoos engraved on his upper body.
A pale white light flowed from them.
He had activated the tattoos, but it seed he still needed a bit more ti.
The condensed aura within him had more than dozens of layers. To rapidly activate such heavily condensed aura throughout his body, ti was needed.
And the tattoos’ ability was to dramatically shorten that activation ti.
Such was the weight and density of the condensed aura.
‘That’s why it’s more stable than any other energy.’
But that conviction had just been shattered.
From the mont he was exposed to Moonlight, the seemingly unbreakable wall of his aura began to crack.
The Sword Demon glared at Lily as he gripped his Formless Sword.
‘So this is why she’s called the Witch of Terror.’
He could feel his physical vessel faltering and his perception of energy dulling.
As if his entire being had dropped a level.
Now that he had experienced it, he understood.
Moonlight was a truly dangerous ability.
Sssssss—
Soon, the aura flowing from his upper-body tattoos began to subside.
At the sa ti, his body began to be dyed white.
The layers of condensed energy unraveled and began rampaging within his body.
He abandoned efficiency and chose destructive power.
It wasn’t his preferred thod, but under Moonlight’s suppression, he had no other choice.
“It’s been a long ti... since I’ve gone all out.”
Monts later, the Formless Sword flashed in midair.
Natasha flinched at its ominous presence, but it quickly turned into panic.
“Lily, get back!”
A terrifying light burst from the Formless Sword, unleashing an enormous wave of sword energy.
A sharp sound that tore through the air.
Lily glared at the Sword Demon with fierce eyes, pouring out more Moonlight. Then, a massive shield appeared in front of her.
Boom!
“Kuugh!”
Dorneth had stepped in to block the sword energy. His Oath Shield scread under the pressure as his whole body shook violently.
He coughed up blood but barely managed to stay on his feet.
Fortunately, there was no follow-up strike.
Because Natasha had persistently clung to the Sword Demon, grappling with him.
Bombarded by Moonlight, the Sword Demon couldn’t easily shake off Natasha’s relentless assault.
The fight seed evenly matched, but the real rupture ca from the outside.
“Full assault!!!”
Azolett, now recovered, led Darkstorm in a charge.
Realizing that Moonlight was focused on the Sword Demon, she committed to a total offensive.
Lily bit her lip at the sight.
The mont she withdrew Moonlight from the Sword Demon, he would break free of its suppression.
Even now, Natasha was struggling just to keep him contained.
If Moonlight was lifted, Natasha would be in serious danger.
‘Soone... help…’
She turned her gaze.
She saw a small dog, soaked in blood.
It was Keros, completely incapacitated by the Sword Demon’s attack.
Unconscious and collapsed, he looked close to death.
“I’ll try to hold the line.”
Dorneth raised his shield and stood before her. Looking at the surging tide of dark energy, his expression turned grave.
He knew: if he fell here, it would all be over.
How long could he hold out?
“Can a fight be won by just enduring?”
Just as that thought crossed Dorneth’s mind—
“Hey. Why am I always left out? This always happens.”
Soone slowly passed by Dorneth’s side.
A man drenched in deep ink, with only a mouth visible.
His eyes, nose, and ears—everything tied to senses—had vanished, giving him a monstrous appearance.
But Dorneth recognized him instantly.
“...Karl, are you alright?”
“Best condition. Protect Lily.”
“You...”
“I’ll take the front.”
Karl flashed a grin at Lily, turned his body, and moved forward slowly.
“What the hell is that...?”
“Spectral Form.”
“Spectral Form?”
Just as Gereflam had evolved under Moonlight’s blessing, the Spectral Form had completed its transformation.
Lily wanted to see what it had beco, but she didn’t get the chance.
Natasha’s urgent cry rang out.
“Dwarf!”
“Damn it, he’s coming this way.”
Breaking through Natasha’s interference, the Sword Demon bared his teeth and lunged at Lily.
Dorneth clenched his jaw and raised his shield.
Lily gathered Moonlight with sharp focus.
So did Natasha and Dorneth.
They poured every ounce of power into facing the Sword Demon.
“Hold him back, no matter what!”
“That witch sure makes it sound easy.”
Dorneth clicked his tongue and activated his Oath Shield.
Boom!
The Formless Sword sliced through the air, relentlessly aiming for Lily’s throat.
“Is this how it works...?”
As he approached Darkstorm, Karl slowly lowered his arms.
His entire body was covered in black liquid, with his severed arms replaced by fluid shapes.
As he exerted his will, the black liquid rippled and began to change.
‘Let’s do this.’
The Spectral Form now moved as one with Karl.
With his intent to attack, the liquid in both hands condensed rapidly, transforming into a whip-shaped weapon.
“Too small. Look at how many of them there are.”
As if responding to his inner thoughts, the whip grew larger and thicker.
Though he held it like a whip, it almost looked like ten elongated fingers.
Uaaaaaaaah—!
A fierce roar echoed from Darkstorm.
Dozens of bloodthirsty eyes turned on him, making his whole body tingle.
Despite his grotesque appearance, they dismissed him as just one man and charged without hesitation.
‘Fifteen of them?’
Though the Spectral Form had taken over his sensory organs, Karl now relied on the sixth sense it provided.
From the spirit’s perspective, all the enemies looked like red humanoid forms, and the energy flowing within them swirled visibly.
Darkstorm’s movents were all readable through their energy.
That applied to Azolett as well.
Her aura was so dense, her entire figure was unreadable, but when she used abilities, the flow of energy beca partially visible.
If he could read the opponent’s timing, he could counter it.
Chchchchchch—!
As Darkstorm charged in, black whips swept through the air.
Karl paid no attention to the flurry of whips—they reacted on their own, matching the enemy's energy.
At this point, Karl's role was like that of a commander.
He provided the strategy, and the Spectral Form executed it.
Even when clashing with a dozen foes, he didn’t fall behind.
“What the hell?!”
“Cut him down!”
Instead, he pushed them back.
“Guuh!”
“Watch out!”
Dozens of whip lashes struck fast and sharp.
Dodging with agility and striking through openings, Karl’s attacks sent blood flying and enemies collapsing.
He successfully broke their montum in the initial clash.
But as twice as many enemies joined, the whips began to get pushed back.
“Damn it. Numbers win out in the end.”
Even Karl’s Spectral Form had limits.
If more poured in, things would spiral quickly.
‘I need a way to end this fight...’
Leaving defense to the Spectral Form, Karl recalled his goal.
He needed a single, decisive move to end this engagent.
Boom—
“Intense, isn’t it.”
Compared to his allies' battle with the Sword Demon, Karl’s skirmish felt like a flickering firefly.
The Sword Demon was like a blazing sun.
Even to a spiritual eye, his aura was overwhelming. Fighting a monster like that continuously was pure recklessness.
Karl hadn't included the Sword Demon in his original plan.
If things continued like this, soone in their group would surely die.
“...A way to end this battle.”
As he thought frantically, Karl’s vision caught Azolett.
She was urging Darkstorm forward, pushing troops toward him from the rear.
“Maybe...”
As an idea struck him, Karl stopped focusing on defense and surged forward.
Clang-clang-clang-clang—!
He collided midair with dozens of weapons.
Then he leaped straight over Darkstorm’s heads.
‘All out!’
Karl stopped conserving energy and poured all of it into the Spectral Form.
The whip evolved, slicing in every direction.
As it carved and pierced all around, Darkstorm flinched and braced for the next barrage.
A fleeting opening.
‘Now!’
Karl dashed through the gap in their ranks.
Blades slashed his body, but he didn’t care and rushed at Azolett.
She had to be taken.
With his target in sight, Karl opened his mouth.
“Kraaaaah!”
Black whips rained down like a storm.
Darkstorm scattered to defend, and Karl charged through the chaos.
Azolett flinched and began casting defenses.
Realizing she was the target.
“Foolish!”
Azolett sneered and cast out webs with her arms.
Several webs snared Karl mid-charge, but the Spectral Form shredded them and kept going.
“Eeek!”
Azolett backpedaled and cast invisible webs in the air.
These razor-sharp traps could cut anything.
She was certain Karl would be sliced to pieces at his current speed.
But—
“...What?!”
Karl’s form twisted wildly. As if knowing exactly where every web was, he dodged all of them mid-sprint.
“Catch him! Grab that bastard!”
Azolett scread and raised a barrier.
A massive web wall rose, and she turned and fled, thinking she’d bought herself ti.
But after only a few steps—
She was slamd to the ground, clutching her throat.
She was being dragged toward Karl.
“Kuugh!”
A whip had wrapped tightly around her neck.
As she stared at the torn web wall, she was stunned.
But only for a mont.
As she felt the force crushing her throat, she realized the whips were made entirely of spiritual matter.
“...You maniac.”
To soone weak against spiritual power, it was a worst-case matchup.
As she was lifted off the ground by the neck, the whips snared her arms and legs.
She was completely restrained.
And violently bound.
“Aaaaagh!”
Azolett scread as Karl lifted her into the air.
“Nobody move.”
At Karl’s threat, Darkstorm’s movents faltered for a mont.
Karl had charged deep into their formation to seize Azolett.
Had he failed, he would’ve been surrounded—but he was certain he could catch her. He had studied her thoroughly.
Then, Darkstorm began pressing in again.
Despite her being a hostage, they didn’t seem to care much.
Did they have a manual for this situation?
Typical Pri Root scum—always brutal.
But Karl didn’t have ti for stray thoughts.
He knew that if this stalemate lasted three more seconds, he’d die.
Because a presence like the sun was closing in at blinding speed.
But Karl had his sixth sense.
The spiritual sight.
“Disgustingly fast.”
He spun Azolett around and positioned himself behind her.
“Didn’t I say stay back?”
As he used her as a shield, a glowing white blade halted just inches away.
The Sword Demon, Karvas.
He had flown here the mont Azolett was captured.
Facing him, Karl swallowed dryly.
His spiritual sight made the monster’s power viscerally real.
It was a force like a storm. A predator’s aura—anything in its path would be devoured just to survive.
What kind of expression is he making right now...?
Karl quickly swallowed his thoughts.
Took a breath.
And calmly said the words he had planned.
“Let’s make a deal.”
He saw the blazing aura around Karvas slightly calm.
It looked like he had earned a mont of dialogue.
Even if the tension around them remained razor-sharp.
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