Chapter 40

Reincarnated as the Sword Emperor in the Sword Saint Family (40)

'It’s getting noisy.'

Leonard, having returned to his residence, did not leave the spot but slowly organized what he needed to do next. His heightened senses, sharpened by his concentration, detected the presence of several times more people than usual. The Dragon Knight Corps, which had been scattered across the island, were now gathering in one place, and the turbulent energy they emitted was far from ordinary.

While he wouldn’t have to worry about being noticed inside the island, he would have to be even more cautious when leaving the base.

Rustle.

Leonard unfolded the map he had bought from the trio with a few Yawn Crystals and tried to predict the Shadow Knights' route.

The maps given by Bradley on the first day were too crude and the terrain was outdated, so he discarded them as soon as he received new ones.

His eyes narrowed as he traced the map with his finger.

'The information from the thirtieth shadow is not very helpful.'

It wasn't because the Shadow Knights' plan was too meticulous, but rather because it was too sloppy.

Blinded by the goal of kidnapping the Cardenas children, they had neglected to investigate the main stage of their mission, the Galapagos. They made the absurd mistake of planning to cross the center of the island to take the shortest route.

If a Sword Master had led the way, they might have achieved their goal.

'However, to avoid drawing attention, they chose to scatter and fight individually, then regroup at the target location.'

In the end, it was the worst move.

In the center of the island, there existed an S-rank monster that only a Sword Master could subdue, and several A-rank monsters dominated the surrounding areas, tearing apart any intruders.

Even an 8th-stage External Force Realm practitioner would find it difficult to survive an encounter with an A-rank monster, especially one that had reached the True Demon Realm.

A3-rank and above were comparable to the 10th stage of the External Force Realm.

'Even without me, more than half of them might die.'

Unlike the Cardenas knights, the Crusis Shadow Knights specialized in human combat.

While they might fare well against humanoid monsters, they would struggle against A-rank monsters of other forms.

Leonard looked down at the map with cold eyes.

'There are two main possibilities.'

The first was that the fifth shadow, the Sword Master, had recognized the dangers of the island and was searching for the Shadow Knights to gather the remaining members.

In this case, while it would be difficult to defeat them individually, Leonard could avoid the approaching Sword Master by detecting the large group.

The second was that they were still scattered and wandering around the island.

'...While the latter is better for whittling down their numbers, in the worst case, I might run into the Sword Master alone.'

There was no chance of winning, and the possibility of escaping alive was less than 20%.

Leonard's spine shivered involuntarily.

'Ah, good.'

It was when standing on the brink that a martial artist's potential exploded.

Faced with the task of evading a high-level expert and eliminating dozens of top-notch practitioners, Leonard's body and mind burned with excitement.

He took out a signal device from his dimensional pocket, hung it around his neck, and tensed his body to react at any moment.

This signal device was both a tool for tracking enemies and a device that allowed enemies to track him.

'If I find them, I’ll ambush; if they find me, I’ll use it as bait.'

No one would think that a Shadow Knight, already captured by the enemy, would reveal the method of using the signal device and die.

He could use it a few times effectively.

If a response from a supposed ally turned out to be an enemy ambush, even a well-trained expert would be a step behind. Giving Leonard a step was like giving a limb to a 10th-stage External Force Realm practitioner.

He only needed to be cautious of the one Sword Master.

"Shall I go?"

Speaking as if to encourage himself, Leonard walked into the cave, not the front door.

It was a path that even Bradley, who had provided him with the residence, did not know.

'I didn’t expect to use it so soon.'

After breaking through the External Force Realm, it was something he did for fun.

Creating underground tunnels in case of unexpected situations.

While not highly skilled in Earth Escape Technique, Leonard's physical abilities and earth elemental energy combined excellently. He could tear through rock layers that were difficult to dig with a pickaxe using just his ten fingers, and he would solidify the areas that needed pillars by compressing them with his energy.

Thanks to the tunnel he dug in just a few days, he wouldn't have to suffer from avoiding the Dragon Knight Corps.

Thud, thud.

His footsteps echoed softly in the darkness beyond the underground tunnel.

* * *

>Lion's Valley>

A region classified with four or more skulls, it was the deepest part of the island and the closest core area to the Cardenas family's base.

As soon as he stepped into the area, the air sensed by Leonard's senses changed.

The smell of blood was so strong it made his nose throb.

'As soon as I left the forest, it became as dry as a desert. Indeed, the natural environment of this island is beyond comprehension.'

Leonard looked around the cliff where a fierce sandstorm was raging.

The path to the Palace of Paladap, the wind blowing like the Taklamakan Desert, carried a hostility and murderous intent that felt endlessly hostile to humans.

If he encountered the monsters inhabiting this area, it seemed they would fight until one side was completely dead.

'And the only monster inhabiting >Lion's Valley> is the Manticore.'

The four skulls on the parchment were painted in blood, indicating its danger.

Manticore.

A notorious and powerful monster with a lion's body and the head of another creature. Its innate rank is A, and it is treated as a 6th-stage External Force Realm practitioner once it reaches the True Demon Realm.

Compared to the Ogre, the representative of A-rank monsters, it might have slightly inferior physical abilities but possesses venomous spines and magical abilities, as well as peculiar special abilities.

'According to the trio, most of the rare casualties in the Dragon Knight Corps occur in >Lion's Valley>.'

It was arguably the most dangerous among the A-rank monsters in Galapagos.

The method of determining the Manticore's strength was particularly unique, as it depended on the type of head. A goblin or kobold head would be weaker, while an orc or troll head would be stronger. Very rarely, a Manticore with a human head was considered a special variant.

"Hmm."

Leonard, walking on the cliff, stopped.

"…Finally, I can see that hideous face."

It was different from a troll or an owlbear.

A presence that felt like it crawled out of a nightmare, slowly growing in size. It treated its prey and enemies as toys.

A Manticore, emitting a red glow in the sandstorm, walked out step by step.

Its appearance was truly grotesque.

'A troll head, it must be in the True Demon Realm.'

A2-rank.

Facing its presence, Leonard carefully examined the elements that influenced its combat power.

'There are more than a few dangerous aspects.'

Its reddish skin and muscular body were large and heavy.

The smoke coming from the troll head's mouth was suspicious.

Additionally, the tip of its long, scorpion-like tail was club-like, covered with spines like a porcupine. They likely contained lethal venom.

Considering its unknown special abilities, its entire body seemed designed for slaughter.

Guhong? Guhonghong.

The Manticore's roar was truly bizarre.

The moment Leonard's eyes twitched at the strange sound,

Guhoooooook——!!

An intangible shockwave erupted.

"Ugh!?"

His body froze for a moment at the sudden roar.

Fear? No.

'Sound Technique!'

Like how a tiger's growl can freeze one's spine, the roar was a similar principle but with amplified power.

Having experienced sound techniques before, Leonard immediately reacted.

The lightning from the >Five Elements Dragon Ring> surged through his body, awakening the paralyzed muscles and regaining control. It would have recovered in 2-3 seconds, but in the presence of an A-rank monster, it was critical.

Five Elements Flow

Black Tortoise Seven Techniques

Turtle Shell Ice Heaven Wall

Simultaneously, a jet-black, sticky sword qi poured from the drawn blade, forming a wall.

Among the Five Elements Sword Qi, the Black Tortoise Qi with the highest defensive power, the Black Tortoise Seven Techniques, created a protective barrier that enveloped Leonard like a turtle shell.

Immediately after,

Clank! Clank! Clank!

The venomous spines shot out like a rain of arrows, hitting the sword barrier and bouncing off, embedding themselves in the ground around it.

The power was terrifying.

In terms of speed, strength, and sharpness, they were on par with the hidden weapons of the Four Heavenly Gates. The throwing technique was crude, but it was more a matter of the Manticore lashing its tail forcefully.

'What a cunning beast.'

Leonard, seeing the Manticore that had already retreated a few meters, smiled with a murderous intent.

The sudden roar.

The subsequent barrage of venomous spines without approaching.

It reminded him of the pursuit with the Four Heavenly Gates. The Manticore was so intelligent that it didn't seem like a mere monster, and it infuriated him to an unbelievable degree.

"I won't give you a clean death."

As his eyes, clouded with murderous intent, glowed, the Manticore, sensing an unknown threat, took a step back.

Leonard, matching the Manticore's retreat, charged forward.

Five Elements Six Spirits Technique

Red Phoenix Sun

Step of Scorching Fire

With a boom, he shattered the cliff and accelerated.

Unlike before, he continuously changed direction, leaving blurry afterimages.

An illusion that confused the eyes.

The Manticore, confused, shot venomous spines that tore through a few afterimages, and Leonard, who had approached in the gap, raised his sword.

Five Elements Flow

White Tiger First Technique

The White Tiger's sword was about thoroughly destroying and crushing.

The speed created by the Vermilion Bird Technique transformed into inertia with a sudden stop, naturally transferring to the sword.

A strike focused on enhancing destructive power.

Mountain Cleaver

The claw-like strike, tearing through sound, fell beside the Manticore's neck, severing a leg along with the skin.

Sssss!

The blood that gushed from the cut sizzled as it touched the ground.

Poison or acid.

Even its blood was a tool for killing.

If the Manticore was a creation from someone's blueprint, the designer must have had a particularly malevolent nature. Leonard, certain of this, raised his sword again.

"I intended to cut through your ribs and split your lungs, but you managed to avoid it with just a leg. Indeed, A-rank is different."

A B3-rank, True Demon Realm troll or owlbear wouldn't have reacted to this attack.

Perhaps a Lycanslopf could have.

Leonard, thinking this, infused his sword with inner energy.

Five Elements Sword Qi

Shattered Blade

The metallic Five Elements Sword Qi dyed the blade white.

And.

Five Elements Sword Qi

Shadow Blade

Another sword, pulled from his dimensional pocket, gleamed with a jet-black blade.

It was the first time Leonard used a dual sword.

To advance to the >One Unity Five Elements Sword Technique>, he needed to complete five from one to two, two to three. It didn't feel meaningful or enjoyable to use against an owlbear, but the Manticore was quite suitable.

"You will now become my practice dummy."

The road ahead was long.

So Leonard decided to hurry.