Chapter 87

Reincarnated as the Sword Emperor in the Sword Saint's Family (87)

Chill.

Looking into the cave, which was eerily similar to the entrance of a 〈Rift〉, where the inside was completely invisible, sent a shiver down his spine.

It was a place of ill omen.

Even Leonard, whose physical abilities had already begun to surpass human limits, and Galano and Niniann, who had reached the later stages of the External Force Realm, could sense the danger inherent within. Even Esther, whose control had been significantly restricted, felt an ominous presence.

"…It might really be a place where the 〈Rift〉's medium is located."

The exploration magic, which couldn't extend beyond 10 meters, immediately shattered upon reaching the cave entrance. It wasn't destroyed or nullified; there was no trace left at all.

It meant that something inside was suppressing Esther's control.

Galano and Niniann also tensed at her words.

"Entering there means we'll face the 〈Rift Guardian〉."

"It's a bit unsettling that we can't see inside the cave. Is there a possibility of a trap?"

Leonard said.

"There might be a trap. Given that this is the heart of the 〈Rift〉, it would be strange if the place where the medium is hidden was left unguarded."

However, he looked at the three of them.

"This is a chance to attempt the feat of sealing a 〈Rift〉, an honor for an adventurer. I want to go in if possible. What do you think?"

Galano groaned.

Unlike Niniann, who had little interest in his reputation as an adventurer, Galano had always admired his older brother. The legendary adventurer who led the storm and shook the entire sea.

Even Dentuso, who first entered the 〈Rift〉, did not have the achievement of successfully sealing it.

"I have little interest in the glory or achievements of an adventurer."

Niniann said in her usual low voice.

"I just want to test the archery you taught me. On a proper target, not those weaklings who always hit."

"There's no better teacher than a fight for your life."

Leonard nodded and looked at Esther.

She asked with a somewhat indifferent expression.

"Is my opinion important? There are three in favor of entering, so even if I oppose, it's a majority anyway, right?"

"Esther, have you forgotten what Fran said?"

"Oh."

Only then did Esther's stern expression soften as she pondered.

—I'll leave it to Leonard's judgment. If the others oppose, retreat regardless of the number.

Fran had said that.

Some might say it was too cautious, and others might say it was the right decision.

But Esther knew.

'If sealing the 〈Cyclops Den〉 was a reckless or low-probability gamble, he would have told us not to do it.'

Yet, Fran had left it to Leonard's judgment and said to retreat only if someone opposed.

If Leonard thought it was possible, it was as good as believing his judgment was correct. Mentioning the others' opposition was because he expected the three of them not to trust him completely, unlike her.

If their teamwork cracked while facing a strong enemy like the 〈Rift Guardian〉, it could become a fatal weakness.

"……Hmmm."

Esther closed her eyes and thought for a few minutes before opening them and looking at her teammates waiting for her answer.

"Let's go in. I'm also interested in the 〈Rift〉's medium, so let's satisfy my curiosity this time."

Her answer decided everything.

However, they didn't immediately enter the cave.

The four of them rested in a clearing a short distance from the cave, regaining as much strength and energy as possible. The spirit stones they brought for recovery crumbled into dust, and they carefully applied potions to their minor wounds.

If the 〈Rift Guardian〉 used poison or something similar, those minor wounds could lead directly to death.

"3 hours and 30 minutes have passed."

Leonard said calmly, glancing at his watch. Then he voiced a question that had just come to mind.

"If we succeed in destroying the medium, what happens to us? Should we run in the direction of the exit?"

"No, when the medium is destroyed, the 〈Rift〉 will disappear immediately. We, as foreign objects, will be expelled. We'll be ejected from the point where the 〈Rift〉's entrance was located."

Satisfied with Galano's answer, Leonard drew his sword.

"And before the battle with the 〈Rift Guardian〉, I have one more thing to teach you. I'll go through it by attribute, so pay attention."

While the content he had taught before was about the tactics of group combat, what he was teaching now was the complete opposite.

A method to overwhelm a single target when in a numerical advantage.

Leonard, who had gained some understanding of the roles of mages and archers, explained his own modified formation, a combined attack array (合击阵). It was a thoroughly efficient combat method, lacking in depth but thoroughly effective.

It took about 30 minutes for the three of them to understand and use it at a basic level.

Now, the remaining time for the party was just 1 hour.

"Shall we start?"

It was an excessively long time for a single battle.

* * *

The entrance to the cave, shrouded in a mysterious veil, was surprisingly easy to pass through. It naturally accepted them without blocking or repelling them.

The four, with Leonard in the lead, advanced without hesitation.

A few minutes later.

"……A temple?"

A bright and vast space appeared, and Esther muttered in surprise.

The others also narrowed their eyes in agreement with her mutter.

It looked very similar to the courtyard of a temple, a structure that could only be found in ruins. The carvings on the solid rock walls seemed to have been dug out with fingernails, with most of the lines rough and discolored like blood.

The gloomy and heavy light floated around, casting and destroying very grotesque shadows, as if mocking Leonard's party as it circled around them.

"An unpleasant place."

Galano spat out, speaking for everyone's feelings.

Everything visible and audible stimulated the nervous system. A C-rank adventurer or lower would likely lose their judgment due to hallucinations or auditory hallucinations in no time.

The four of them were all strong, so they could endure it without any problem.

Strangely, there was no sign of the thousands of Cyclops wandering outside. The heavy and still air felt like rotten mud sticking to their skin.

'Getting closer.'

But Leonard could tell they were getting closer to the place where the 〈Rift〉's medium was located by the roar of the 〈Five Elements Dragon Ring〉, which was raging inside him.

After a few minutes of advancing like this, Leonard's party, without a word, held their breath and stared at the monstrous creature that appeared in their field of vision.

A groan escaped Niniann's thin lips.

"That's… the 〈Rift Guardian〉."

A Cyclops Champion was lying in front of the desecrated statue, which made one feel bad just by looking at it.

Its body, reaching nearly 4 meters, was solidified like a shape that had boiled over like an active volcano. Two coral-like horns protruded from its head, covered in scales and gills.

Even though it was out of water, it seemed to breathe through its gills, as steam rose from its face, forming a black, murky cloud.

'The weapon is probably that chain and anchor. I should also assume a close-quarters fight based on physical abilities.'

Leonard thought, noticing the thick chain and anchor attached to the creature's waist.

A monster that had mutated beyond recognition as a Cyclops. It gave off a stronger presence than Conrad, who had taken elixirs. Leonard was confident that Niniann, Galano, and Esther had no means to deal a fatal blow to it.

That was as far as it went.

Leonard, scanning the creature with his senses, suddenly widened his eyes, noticing another presence.

'…Was I too complacent? No, there is something that can deceive or block my senses. Like the entrance to this cave.'

If the creature hadn't moved, Leonard wouldn't have noticed it. The hidden enemy had lost the opportunity due to its own arrogance, which could have been fatal.

His lips moved slightly, sending a telepathic message to the party.

—Don't react, just listen. There's something hiding on the ceiling behind us. It's likely at least a True Demon Realm creature, or at worst, a Soul Demon Realm creature.

The three of them paled slightly but didn't waver in their gaze or breathing. If the hidden enemy noticed their unease, they would lose the initiative gained from this realization.

Leonard continued, satisfied with their response.

—The 〈Rift Guardian〉 is already aware of our presence. It's pretending not to know and trying to draw us in to attack from both sides with the hidden enemy. We'll use this to our advantage.

The determination in the eyes of the party members, who had heard his plan, was evident.

Despite the addition of a potentially Soul Demon Realm enemy, their trust in each other was unwavering. If they hadn't started, it might have been different, but now that they were in a situation where they couldn't retreat, they were willing to stake their lives on their leader.

That was the most correct attitude as adventurers.

Thud.

One step, two steps, three steps.

They moved as if inviting the enemy hiding behind them, exposing their vulnerable backs and preparing for a one-sided attack.

Esther was the most suitable for the role of bait.

"Gather, lightning. Warn, thunder. Blow, storm…!"

The incantation echoed in a low voice, and the number of magic circles materializing around her was no less than five.

She pushed it to the limit of what a 5th-tier mage could handle.

It looked like a decisive attack aimed at the desecrated statue and the Cyclops Champion, as if she were praying to it. The other party members also leaned forward, as if preparing to charge forward from around her.

———.

At the same time, a Cyclops fell from the ceiling, shrouded in darkness. The threatening opponent couldn't bear the situation full of vulnerabilities.

Cyclops Warrior.

A C4-rank monster fell upon a single mage.

The bone knives in its hands were swung at Esther's body. If the crescent-shaped slashes from both sides intersected, she would be cut into four pieces instantly.

"—You fell for it."

If Leonard had left it at that.

The moment the Cyclops Warrior started moving, he had already turned around and formed a sword aura.

Five Elements Sword Qi (五行劍氣)

Gather (輯) and Form (成罡)

The sword aura, made of Black Tortoise Qi, enveloped the sword.

Five Symbols Stream (五象流) One Sword (一劍)

Black Tortoise Extra Technique (玄武番外式)

Imperial Dragon Sword (尾龍御劍)

It shot out as a beam of light.

The Cyclops Warrior was taken aback by the unexpected counterattack and the absurd density of power. Realizing that he couldn't take that attack, he switched from an offensive to a defensive stance.

His bones shattered and muscles tore as he forced his body to twist. But those were mere injuries that could regenerate in a few seconds.

He narrowly avoided the trajectory of the 〈Imperial Dragon Sword〉 and tumbled without even having the chance to land properly.

However.

"This is not a flying sword, but a controlled sword, you inferior being."

The 〈Imperial Dragon Sword〉, which suddenly made a sharp turn in mid-air, impaled the creature, severing its right arm and piercing through its ribs and lungs.

The wound immediately froze, blocking its regenerative ability and making it impossible to pull out the sword.

The creature's eyes, deprived of pain, shook violently.

Squish…! Squish…!

The scream was like a prayer.

For mercy, for rescue.

It was a groan that seemed to expect someone's compassion and salvation.

And then.

Kuwoooooo——!!

The 〈Rift Guardian〉, as if responding to its follower's plea, rose from in front of the statue and threw its anchor at Leonard.