1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 98: A Man and His Sword

The realization of the true wickedness at play was put to pause as the barriers around him were cut away by blades of blood swinging in every direction. He ducked down as the putrid edge passed over, witnessing the sharpened tendrils of crimson being manipulated by the many arms of the amalgamation in the distance.

[Auto-Reflex]

He leapt over the sliding blade of blood, sprinting ahead while the being puppeteered the sharpened crimson. While he was fine with taking a cautious approach before, realizing the severity and timely nature of the situation, he felt inclined to finish this quickly.

[Blade of Purging] [S-Rank Exorcism Skill]

Into his hand, transient light coalesced into a tangible form; a glistening greatsword larger than his own body, though was as weightless as a feather in his grip. As he closed the distance, the putrid limbs thrashed, forcing him to leap through their range before bringing the mystical weapon back, preparing for its swing:

["The Blade of Purging is a weapon that does not cut nor harm those viewed as "without sufficient malice." It can't be used against living beings of any kind, only spirits or those considered "unnatural" to the world order. For a being formed of the dead, the condition was met, allowing the translucent blade to swing once–"]

The phantom greatsword swept forth, slipping right through the anomaly's grotesque body as if the sword itself was nothing more than illusionary light. After the blade made its passage, the grotesque giant came to a complete halt, as if it was paralyzed by an unseen force.

Noah landed with an exhale, only looking back once the anomalous tyrant suddenly collapsed. All at once, it deteriorated from stitched-together flesh into a puddle of liquidized meat, oozing into a red mess.

[EXP: +100,00] 151,000/250,000]

["Undead Slaying" Proficiency +30] [39/999]

[New Skill(s) Acquired: "Virus Immunity+" | "Plague Extraction"]

"...That's dealt with," he exhaled, shaking off the sense of disgust.

What he was left with was a room now filled with a foul stench of death and no sight of the elusive mercenary. The situation had drastically changed with the all-too-real theory in his head, bringing his plan of action to change in response:

"Ten Souls: Open."

[Ten Souls]

["Seventh Soul: Spirit Guardian of Whispering Winds, Havensoft"]

From his will, a giant raven emerged from the unseen, bowing its head in front of the young man.

"How may I be of service, Master?" The mystical bird asked, casting its wing in front of its body.

"I need you to fly to the World Guild and report the current situation," Noah relayed. "The Followers are planning on turning all of Coudale into husks, and merging them into something extremely dangerous."

"I will do so swiftly, Master."

With a bow, the mannered bird rose, ascending into the shadows with haste as it vanished from sight. The moment the raven took its leave, he moved with his own sense of urgency, enhancing himself with swiftness as he left the boundaries of the ruins from the way he came.

Sprinting through the halls, he remembered each trap uncovered by the sleuth, avoiding them while covering chambers in a single stride.

The light at the entrance of the ruins guided him towards the exit, stepping back into the open air—

[Auto-Reflex]

The moment he stepped out of the tunnel, he automatically flipped forward, evading a sharp edge.

"Seriously?" Noah said, stopping just by the edge of the cliff.

Standing in his path along the mountainside trail, the cold-blooded mercenary wielded a blade with a furry handle, "Didja think I really tucked tail and ran?"

"Hugo…You're aware of what the cult is planning, right? I know you're paid, but—" Noah pleaded.

The man waved his finger, "Ah, I'll stop you right there. I know and I don't really care, so don't try to appeal to my humanity."

"Even if I can offer you more money than what they're paying you?" Noah countered.

It was a complete bluff, seeing as he had no insight into just what sort of compensation a mercenary of Hugo's caliber was making, let alone that he had much of his own stockpile. Still, he caught a twitch in the cold-blooded man's brow at the offer, though it was quickly brushed off.

Hugo sneered, "Gold isn't the price, partner. What the Followers are offering me this time around isn't something money can buy–no, not quite. It's power, freedom; a lawless world where a guy like me can do what he wants."

"Why don't you just join the Followers if you're such a big fan?"

"Hah! Don't liken me to those lunatics," Hugo tapped the side of his head. "I've still got my sanity, but I'm just choosing the side that's more beneficial to me, that's all."

'Didn't think I'd be able to sway him, but it was worth a shot. He's clearly just trying to stall me, but I can't waste any time…If they've already started their plan with Coudale, I don't have even minutes to spare,' the consideration was taken in mind by Noah.

Near the peak of the mountain, overlooked by the dreary clouds, the inevitability of death encroached on the two at odds. The transported man clutched the handle of his axe, while the mercenary stood like an impassable wall, flipping his fur-clad blade in his hand.

"The moment you try and get past me, I'll have to do my job properly," Hugo warned with a nonchalant grin, as if hoping for that outcome. "I'm not inclined to play around anymore, so sorry."

Both men remained unmoving, watching every minuscule movement, from the twitch of a finger to a bead of sweat sliding down one's cheek until–the wind brushed by. Hugo moved first, tossing his peculiar sword forth in a completely irrational fashion.

The reckless act caught Noah off-guard, moving forward as he swept the blade out of his way, only to find it resisting his deflection. It possessed its own strength as if wielded in the arms of a competent swordsman, somehow pushing him back.

'What–? This blade?--' He thought.

As sparks flew, shrill laughter emitted from the unmanned sword as it floated in the air, spinning itself around to reveal a grotesque mouth on the pommel, hanging a tongue out.

"Weak sauce! Weak sauce!" A high-pitched voice lacking in manners taunted, rolling out from the sword's mouth.

[Greater Identification] [A-Rank Close-Quarters Combat Skill]

["Baluud"] [Designated Level: Appx. 22] [Species: Cursed Blade]

[Weaknesses: BLAH!]

'A talking sword? He didn't have that with him before–at least, I didn't see him with it,' Noah thought.

While he was taken aback by the sharp-tongued blade, he felt the chilling presence of the mercenary behind him. In that lapse of focus for just a moment, the sturdy arms slipped under his pits, holding him in a lock.

"Meet my partner—Baluud! Ha-ha! I'm not a swordsman, so we work better this way!" Hugo announced, tightening his hold.

Noah struggled to break free, finding himself being held in place as the laughing blade flew right towards his chest. The unorthodox position he was in was difficult to escape, contested by the immovable grip that the mercenary had him in.

[Ethereal Shift]

"Oh?--" Hugo let out.

Noah ducked down, slipping right through the physical hold as the cursed blade soared in, not for his chest but Hugo's body now.

"Hold your horses, Baluud!" The mercenary held his hand out.

Mere inches from skewering the man, the laughing blade came to a halt, flipping around as the tongue at its end unraveled, "How'd you let him escape, huh!?"

"Not my fault this guy is slippery," Hugo answered. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Getting some distance, Noah returned to his physical state, immediately flicking multiple bolts of lightning towards the strange duo. Hugo slipped to the side, while the blade spun around, dodging the sailing electricity.

The energy of the cold-blooded killer and the sentient weapon matched perfectly; both smiled and laughed as if having the time of their lives.

'It wasn't a bluff–Hugo really isn't a swordswoman, is he? A man and a sword that fight as a pair, not one–what the hell? I don't have time to waste here, but they're not just going to let me be on my way,' he thought.

After slipping away momentarily with [Ethereal Shift], he was on the downward side of the path, leaving nothing in his way if he planned to flee. He waved his hand in an upward motion, erecting a wall of rigid stone to separate himself and his foes, immediately bolting down the mountainside path.

[Enhance]

He sprinted with his utmost haste, feeling his heart drum in his chest with every stride–FWOOSH.

"Ka-ha-ha!"

Right by his head, the laughing sword passed, its foul tongue dragging along mere inches away from his cheek. It zoomed by like a fighter jet, breaching the wall entirely as though it were made of paper mache.

'What the hell is this sword's problem?!' He thought.

"—Lemme cut you up! Lemme cut you up!" The accursed blade repeated, spinning around in the air.