The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years-Chapter 208

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 208

Dungeon Portal.

The very thing that had plunged the Human Realm into chaos had ceased to appear after the death of the Holy Emperor Benedict.

Given the circumstances, it was likely that the Holy Emperor had been managing the dungeon portals as a proxy for the Celestial Demon.

A dungeon portal that no longer appears in the Middle Realm exists here in the Spirit Realm…

With a glint in his eyes, Kaylen approached the portal.

“Why is there a dungeon portal in the Spirit Realm…? And it’s much larger than usual.”

“That’s right.”

At Eldir’s remark, Kaylen nodded.

The dungeon portal, hidden within the Dark Spirits, was significantly larger than a typical dungeon portal.

It was nearly the same height as the royal castle that Kaylen had once split in half.

Dark mana is leaking from the portal.

Twitch. Twitch.

At that moment—

The faintly escaping dark mana gradually gathered, forming a distinct shape.

“This is…”

“A Dark Spirit?”

The very Dark Spirits that had engulfed the Spirit Realm had been created from the portal’s dark mana.

Kaylen’s eyes shone with curiosity.

This isn’t an ordinary dungeon portal.

What lay beyond it that could generate Dark Spirits?

As he absorbed the Dark Spirits into the Dark Sword, Kaylen decided to examine the portal’s interior.

But first, I need to take care of something else.

“Lia.”

“Yes, Father.”

“Manifest the Six Demon Blades.”

“Here?”

“Yes. We don’t know what’s inside that portal, so you need to destroy your Six Demon Blades first.”

“Ah…”

At his words, Melvria hesitated, her face a mix of anticipation and concern.

Then, just like Kaylen’s Six Swords, the stars of the Six Demon Blades appeared behind her.

From them, an endless cycle of mana could be felt. However, compared to the incomplete Dragon God, the mana capacity was far lower.

If she deployed the Sword Realm like when she was the Dragon God, restricting the world's connection and dismantling Infinity, she could achieve the same result.

This time, I should try a new sword technique.

But instead of following the predetermined path, Kaylen chose a new approach.

— Blocking off the path… Such a reckless method… If I were in my complete form, this measly barrier would have been shattered.

Just as the incomplete Dragon God had said, there were limits to deploying the Sword Realm.

Severing the world from its enemies was easier said than done.

The stronger the Infinity, the more difficult it was to hold back—like a dam breaking under the weight of rising water.

The flow of mana from the outside could not be completely blocked.

Severing the world's connection and cutting down Infinity—both must be embedded into the sword at the same time.

That meant he had to simultaneously wield the two sword techniques that belonged to the Great Sword of the Six Sword Path.

This was a method that would have been unthinkable in the past.

But now, for Kaylen—who was no longer bound by the limitations of a human body—the path was clear.

“The flow of mana will be disrupted for a moment. Close your eyes and remain calm.”

“Yes.”

As Melvria closed her eyes, Kaylen drew the Holy Sword Astella from the Six Swords.

Then, as the Six Sword Path manifested, the divine swords of various attributes that Kaylen wielded gathered around the Holy Sword.

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Both those granted by the Celestial Demon and the ones he originally possessed.

The six divine swords, each imbued with a different attribute, radiated their respective auras.

“I’m going.”

The six divine swords merged into the Holy Sword.

Despite their differing attributes, the swords fused seamlessly as if they had always been one.

The aura vanished.

Even the light from the Holy Sword gradually faded.

The once-radiant Holy Sword of pure light transformed into a dull iron sword.

When the brilliant sword of light suddenly turned into an ordinary-looking iron sword, Melvria briefly worried that something had gone wrong.

“…Ah.”

Eldir, however, let out a gasp of admiration.

As a Sword Master, he could instinctively perceive that the simple iron sword Kaylen had created had reached an unfathomable level.

That is… the pinnacle of the sword.

Though its form appeared to be nothing more than an iron sword, the power within it was strong enough to overturn the entire world.

Then, as the tip of the sword wavered slightly—

Crackle—

“Huh…?”

One of the stars floating behind Melvria—

Shattered into countless fragments and disappeared.

A sword strike beyond anyone’s perception.

Even Eldir, with his keen eyes, could only catch the brief moment when the sword’s tip wavered.

“…Hmph.”

Even after completely destroying one Infinity, Kaylen looked at his sword with dissatisfaction.

The final step remains incomplete.

Srrrk—

Kaylen’s iron sword reverted to its original form.

“It… It broke!”

“It’s still not enough.”

Kaylen was not satisfied with his own achievement.

Embedding two of the Six Swords into a single blade is no easy feat.

A sword that surpasses the Six Sword Path.

The sword that Kaylen sought to wield against the Dragon God was one that transcended all known realms.

No matter how many breakthroughs he had recently achieved—

Going beyond the realm of a Grand Sword Master was no easy feat.

And there was one more problem.

“Father, what about the remaining Infinity…?”

“Lia. If you destroy the rest of your Infinity, I cannot guarantee your survival.”

At Kaylen’s words, Eldir was startled.

“W-What do you mean by that?”

“Eldir. What is the lifespan of a half-elf?”

“Well… I believe it does not exceed 300 years.”

300 years.

Compared to a human’s lifespan, it was certainly a long time.

But in contrast to elves, who lived for over a thousand years, it was relatively short.

“That’s right. Half-elves, having human blood, have a shorter lifespan than elves. But Melvria is different. The reason lies in her Infinity.”

“Ah…”

“Infinity is the limitless mana that forms the foundation of the Meier bloodline. Because of it, Melvria has remained healthy until now. But if she destroys the remaining Infinity… I cannot guarantee what will happen to her lifespan.”

For a half-elf to live for over a thousand years was an extremely rare phenomenon.

In fact, aside from Melvria, there were no other known cases.

I had hoped that by completing this sword, even such limitations could be overcome…

He wanted to extract only the Infinity—

And forge a sword that minimized the backlash.

But since Kaylen had yet to complete his new sword, fulfilling such additional conditions was impossible for now.

“Lord Kaylen. Then, shouldn’t at least one be left intact?”

Eldir, who usually addressed Kaylen as His Majesty the Emperor, now, for once, called him Father-in-law.

After everything it took to reunite…!

Even though Melvria was now a dark elf, wielding the mana of darkness—

For centuries, he had remained in despair, waiting for her.

She had finally returned to his side.

He could not bear the thought of watching her die now.

However—

“…Father.”

Unlike Eldir’s desperate plea—

Melvria was calm.

“Please cut down my Infinity.”

“Lia! What are you saying?!”

Eldir shouted as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“If Father hesitates, and I end up becoming the Dragon God’s vessel… I will die filled with regret.”

Melvria’s eyes already held firm resolve.

Rather than becoming a burden to her father, she would rather be cut down.

Kaylen saw that determination in his daughter’s eyes—

And rather than faltering, his resolve only grew stronger.

“No. I will not cut it down yet.”

“But…!”

“If I cannot even handle your Infinity, then defeat against the Dragon God is inevitable.”

If he couldn’t even resolve Melvria’s Infinity, how could he possibly win against the Dragon God?

Of course, he cared for his daughter—

But Kaylen assessed the situation with cold logic.

“Instead, until everything is over, you must stay by my side. If Kaina tries anything reckless, you will have to stop her.”

“Yes, I will.”

"I-I will go with you as well!"

As Kaylen looked at the calmly accepting Melvria and the eager Eldir, he spoke evenly.

"Then, let’s go in together."

"Yes, Father."

"Through that portal…?"

Eldir swallowed hard as he looked at the massive dungeon portal before him.

"Eldir. Are you afraid?"

"N-No! I will follow!"

At the mere question from his father-in-law, he had no choice but to obey immediately.

"Then, let's go in."

* * *

Beyond the dungeon portal—there was nothing but complete darkness.

Only the faint glow from Kaylen’s Lightblade allowed them to see anything at all.

This space was entirely consumed by darkness.

[Who goes there?]

And from within that darkness—

A sharp voice reached their ears.

That voice…

For some reason, Kaylen found it familiar.

[Are you a hero?]

Hearing the voice refer to him as a hero, Kaylen was able to identify its owner.

"You are the Overseer of the Demon Realm Observatory, aren’t you?"

[I resigned from that position long ago.]

Sssss…

With those words—

Something enormous emerged from the darkness.

"That is…"

"A snake…?"

Completely merged with the shadows, even the Holy Sword’s light had failed to reveal Ederna.

But upon recognizing Kaylen as the visitor, she lifted her concealment.

[I did not expect to see you here.]

"Neither did I, Overseer."

[Do not call me that. That title, bestowed upon me by the Celestial Demon, means nothing to me now.]

"Then what should I call you?"

In the darkness, the massive serpent writhed.

Her two eyes glowed red.

[I am Ederna, daughter of the Crimson Flame Demon King.]

"Ederna… Is that how I should address you?"

[Yes.]

At the mention of the Celestial Demon, flames flickered along the serpent’s body.

It seemed they had severed ties.

Was it because of me?

When Kaylen had requested the Celestial Demon to forge the Divine Sword—

He had done so through her.

So things fell apart after she revealed the truth.

"What happened?"

The serpent's eyes sharpened as she glared at Kaylen.

[Because of you, I learned a truth I never wanted to know… and I was nearly devoured by the Celestial Demon.]

"Is that so? My apologies. Still, you managed to escape just fine."

[…]

At Kaylen's half-hearted apology, Ederna glared at him as if she wanted to kill him.

Then, she closed her eyes.

Looking at him any longer would only make her angrier.

[How did you end up here?]

"I came through a dungeon portal in the Spirit Realm."

As he explained how he had discovered a massive dungeon portal while eliminating the Spirits of Darkness, Ederna opened her eyes again.

[A dungeon portal…? There is no such thing here.]

"Is that so? But we clearly passed through a portal—"

[Look behind you.]

Kaylen turned around.

Where the massive dungeon portal had once been—

There was now only a colossal vortex, slowly swirling in pitch-black darkness.

"What… is this?"

[This is the Source of the Demon Realm, where Demon Kings are born.]

As she gazed at the swirling darkness, Ederna spoke in a reverent voice.

[It is the Abyss Gate.]

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]