Chapter 97

Reincarnated as the Sword Emperor in the Sword Clan (97)

Kwaahaaaaa—!!

A beam of light advanced, easily burning and severing the tentacles made of darkness. The attack had a property close to being a counter-attribute, and its density was comparable to the [Megadrought] that had been fired earlier. The light that broke through all the thousands of tentacles struck somewhere on the massive body of the Mind Kraken.

However.

■■■■■…?

The creature’s reaction was merely a slight flinch.

‘It’s not working. If it’s not a vital spot, a wide-range attack like [Megadrought] might be more effective.’

Leonard thought this as he retreated several hundred meters.

Right after that.

Huuuuuuu—!!

A wall suddenly appeared in his field of vision.

‘No, it’s not a wall.’

An enormous number of tentacles had extended, piercing through the spot where Leonard had been just moments ago. If he had remained there, he would have been crushed to pieces.

One step too late, and you’re crushed. Even if he had blocked it with his defensive aura, the difference in power was too overwhelming. Just as sand can’t break a rock, but a sandstorm can erode even the hardest stone.

If he used the [Micro Sun] as a shield, it might hold up once, but it would be a waste to expend it in such a manner.

Wuxiang Flow (Five Elephant Flow)

The ultimate technique that utilizes the [Micro Sun], a crystallization of aura, opens dozens of portals.

An attack style that focuses on quantity and range rather than the power and density of a single strike.

Normally, it wouldn’t work against a high-level expert.

Zhuzao Seventeen Forms (Crimson Bird Seventeen Forms)

Zhaolan Flame (Scorching Flame)

Given the vast surface area and the significant lack of mobility of the Mind Kraken, this was a meaningful approach.

Unlike before, dozens of thick beams of light, like pillars, shot down from the sky to the ground. The waves of light and heat caused the dark tentacles that blocked the attack to burn and break off helplessly.

Unlike the first attack, which didn’t even graze the main body, the Mind Kraken shuddered violently.

It was an effective hit.

“Indeed.”

Seeing this, the Great Mage Russell realized that this bizarre creature was unexpectedly similar to a familiar monster.

Slime.

While its only weak point is a hidden nucleus somewhere in its body, it dies if all the slime that makes up its body is burned or evaporated. Just like how a creature with a brain, heart, and other organs intact can die from excessive blood loss.

“[O fire of Gehenna, o mud that boils without a bottom.]”

Fire-element magic attacks are as popular as they are powerful.

Even in the 7th Tier, where users are rare, there are over a dozen magical formulas.

Among them, there was one magic that rivaled [Megadrought] in power and delivered maximum firepower over a wide area.

The flower of offensive magic classified as a mass spell.

“[Burn, erase, devour. Open your mouth, and spew the fires of purgatory from the jaws of sin.]”

Taking advantage of the momentary lapse in the Mind Kraken’s guard due to Leonard’s attack, the 7th Tier fire magic formula was constructed in the air.

Russell, who had already reached the threshold of the 8th Tier, deployed it at an unimaginable speed.

The Mind Kraken shifted its field of vision, seemingly realizing something.

At that moment.

“[Inferno (Inferno)!]”

A wave of blood-red flames erupted in front of Jack Russell.

The color alone indicated that it was no ordinary fire. Once it latched onto something, it wouldn’t extinguish until it reduced the target to ashes.

Even if doused with large amounts of water or deprived of air, the flames, which had already transcended physical laws, wouldn’t go out. It was a level of control that went beyond the framework of the world, inserting one’s own framework.

■■■■■■—!!?

The Mind Kraken’s reaction was immediate.

Feeling an unknown sense of danger from the flames pouring down from above, it tried to move its massive body, which had been rooted in place.

However.

‘With that size, evasion is still impossible.’

Its body was too massive compared to its movement speed.

Immediately after, the entire deep-sea city began to shake.

■■■■■■—!?! ■■■■—!!

Pain and loss.

The Mind Kraken’s mental waves, unfamiliar sensations, exploded. Despite not possessing physical force, the waves made the two men’s clothes flutter.

This reaction was proof that [Inferno] could threaten the creature’s existence.

‘It’s not a favorable match-up.’

Leonard couldn’t help but click his tongue.

Martial arts from the Central Plains are fundamentally designed for human opponents. Even with the improvements to Wuxiang Flow and the addition of the Cardenas-style intangible sword technique, it was still far from the level of 7th Tier magic.

To achieve the same level of wide-area firepower as [Inferno], he would have to exhaust his inner energy and scatter five sword auras like water.

“…No, if I use the [Micro Sun] as a one-time use, it might be possible once.”

It was a wasteful method, but if it was the only way to get through, it was worth considering.

Leonard thought this as he moved the sword at his feet again. The darkness surged up, as if probing the gaps in his zigzag movements through the air.

It was the Mind Kraken’s counterattack.

Chiiiiiiik…!

The dark tentacles pursued him, even as they burned from the light and heat of the [Micro Sun].

It was a scene like thousands or tens of thousands of venomous snakes targeting his back.

Even a seasoned warrior couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spine.

‘So far, the creature’s attack methods are tentacles, telekinesis, and 5th Tier interdimensional magic. For a Master-level creature, it shouldn’t end at this level.’

A Master-level creature isn’t determined by the scale of power alone.

It needs evidence that it has stepped into an extraordinary realm, like a martial artist’s aura or a Great Mage’s grand magic. The Mind Kraken, too, must possess such power.

“Hmm, the atmosphere has become dangerous.”

The Great Mage Jack Russell, who had been observing the creature from a distance of about 300 meters, had a similar perspective.

The Mind Kraken hadn’t used its full strength so far, only repelling the flames falling on its body. Whether it was conserving its strength or thought it unnecessary to use it against them.

But after being hit directly by two grand magics, the creature finally sensed danger and revealed its murderous intent towards them.

■■■■■■…! ■■■…!

Meaningless mental waves passed over the two men.

While the two men were perplexed by the creature’s immortality and the scale of its power, for the creature, they were also troublesome opponents.

Small, fast, and possessing threatening attack methods, if left unchecked, they could significantly deplete the power it had accumulated. The continued deaths of the demon squids fighting beyond were also a problem.

If this continued, the expansion plan of the [Rift] could be delayed by years or even fail entirely.

■■■■■■….

The Mind Kraken.

Its essence was, after all, a mental life form.

The demon squids were merely a servant species that worshipped it, and the entire deep-sea city could be considered its territory. If the transformation into a higher state progressed, it could elevate itself to a ‘King’. The creature decided to repel the enemies, even if it meant accepting some losses.

Woooom.

Two red orbs, like eyes, floated from the dark cephalopod shape that spanned several hundred meters.

A crimson gaze burned into the two men.

‘To see.’

For a creature with properly functioning eyes, this was not an unusual action, but in the field of cursing, the gaze was the starting point of a curse. Even without any particular power, a gaze could touch someone’s senses and destabilize their consciousness.

Creepy.

Leonard’s instincts warned him.

The situation he would face next was not something he could easily handle with his current capabilities.

Russell felt the same.

Those who had awakened to the upper realm inevitably developed a near-prophetic intuition. While it didn’t allow them to see far into the future, it did provide the ability to respond to sudden situations.

“[O light that guards eternity!]”

The 7th Tier defensive magic, [Prismatic Veil], was cast.

For Jack Russell, it was a bit of a stretch, but his intuition was convinced that this was the best method.

At the same time, the Mind Kraken moved.

Or rather, the term ‘moved’ was not accurate.

■■■■■■■■—.

Let there be darkness.

‘This is?!’

As the surroundings instantly turned pitch black, Leonard’s eyes widened in realization.

It couldn’t be helped.

Heart Image (Xin Xiang).

A realm where martial artists who have reached the Harmonious State can project their inner universe outward. The darkness created by the Mind Kraken was very similar to this Heart Image.

Surrounded by darkness on all sides, Leonard could sense the malevolence constantly seeping into his body.

“Could it be…trying to infiltrate my mind!”

A creature that had lived for an immeasurably long time and possessed a mental world that defied description as a servant of an evil deity.

If he came into contact with its Heart Image, he could be possessed or brainwashed into a slave. Recognizing this danger, a colorful glow rose from Leonard’s body.

Yi Yuan Wu Xing Shen Gong (One Origin Five Elements Divine Skill)

With the [Five Elements Dragon Ring] sensing the interdimensional power, the malevolence that had been scratching at his skin suddenly retreated.

The Five Elements, which contained the power of the world’s laws, were indeed the nemesis of interdimensional abilities. While his inner energy was being consumed to defend against the Mind Kraken’s infiltration, the exchange rate was so overwhelmingly favorable that it didn’t cause any significant burden.

‘While the worry of being possessed is reduced, the problem is that I have no way to counterattack.’

Leonard knew this.

The Heart Image Infiltration, the Mind Kraken’s trump card, had enveloped the area and pulled the two men into the boundary between the material and mental realms upon activation.

Scattering the darkness with sword auras would be futile, as it would just return. Destroying the Heart Image itself would require a power far greater than what he possessed. Wasting his strength and being mentally infiltrated would be a disaster.

‘Neither Russell and I will fall into a war of attrition. The problem is the Aquamarine members who will have to keep fighting during this time.’

The sturdiness of the defensive magic Russell used could be felt even from a distance. It was something that could block both physical phenomena and Heart Image attacks.

Moreover, while the Mind Kraken’s power was vast, it couldn’t use such alien and powerful abilities like Heart Image Infiltration indefinitely.

At most, it would last one to two hours.

“They might hold out, but….”

If Ninyan, Galano, and Marian’s achievements were more outstanding than he expected, it was possible to defend Aquamarine without any casualties.

However, if things went as Leonard predicted, a delay of one or two hours could be quite fatal.

This war of attrition couldn’t be endured passively.

‘If I cut through with a mental sword, I can escape. The problem is that there’s still no way to bring the creature down. I haven’t found the location of the medium or the vital spots, so there’s still a long way to go.’

Dozens of tactics and possibilities ran through the mind of a warrior who had experienced countless battles, formulating a way to defeat the creature.

The result came a few minutes later.

“Hmm.”

It was an absurd method, but there was no more effective way. Leonard closed his eyes tightly and then opened them, convinced of this.

It was a madman’s act, but sometimes a madman can achieve greater things than a genius.

After a few deep breaths to steel his resolve, Leonard finally withdrew the Five Elements aura that had covered his body. The [Five Elements Dragon Ring] wriggled a few times, as if resisting its master’s will, but eventually submitted to it.

And.

Swoooooo—…

The darkness and the power of Heart Image Infiltration emitted by the Mind Kraken enveloped Leonard’s entire body and entered his inner self.