Make Dark Fantasy Great Again

Chapter 91 All Swordmasters of this era received his teachings. The great origin of the sword. "Different from the rumors." The elderly swordsman praised by the name First Sword spoke. He was now facing a swordsman. According to rumors, she was a madwoman consumed by the madness of slaughter. However, to the eyes of First Sword who had seen countless swordsmen and young ones, she appeared different. "Child. You are not some madwoman consumed by madness. Is that not so?" "..." "Those unwavering, upright eyes. Even among my disciples, I can count on my fingers those who have such eyes. All of them are children born with great qualities that will be remembered in history." Child. First Sword spoke as if lamenting. "Born with such upright and strong will, how did you enter such a path of evil?" It was a voice filled with affection as if treating his own disciple. Even to such a voice, she- Blue Lotus merely harbored a bitter sneer. As if it were a stupid question not worth answering. Hah. Hah. Rapid breathing leaked from her lips that drew sharp arcs like hooks. A drop. Blood on her sword trickled down. A drop. Blood flowed from the wounds on her body. After she took a deep breath, only after a long while did she exhale that breath again. As if savoring the thick scent of blood that permeated the surroundings. "..." A rare emotion of shock arose on the face of the weathered veteran swordsman. Before he knew it, her breathing had stabilized. On the other hand— "Huff...! Huff...!" Another Swordmaster who had been crossing swords with her until just moments ago, Second Sword, was still struggling to regulate his breathing. "Marvelous..." First Sword felt pure admiration, momentarily forgetting the fact that Blue Lotus was a killer who had committed countless murders. The control and breathing technique she displayed had reached a realm even First Sword was encountering for the first time. "How can such a monster..." Therefore, she was now in a perfectly controlled state. In this moment where blood and steel ran rampant, painting death, she was feeling a profound sense of happiness. The rapid breathing was not excitement but an expression of that fulfillment. She was not a beast dominated by instinct and wildness as known to the world. She was a monster that craved slaughter and blood through reason and intellect. "Argon. Correct your stance." At his Master’s words, the Second Sword wondered if he was about to step in. "From now on, we attack together." "...Master?" Second Sword doubted his own ears. He knew what coordinated attacks meant to Swordmasters whose pride in their own swords had reached the realm of stubbornness. Second Sword felt momentary dissatisfaction, but— "We must stop that thing here and now." Seeing his master's expression, he had no choice but to break his stubbornness. "...I understand." A coordinated attack from the greatest Swordmaster and his disciple. The killer's expression finally twisted as if troubled. "Hah..." At the same time, that breathing contained even deeper fulfillment. Even in this situation, she was feeling anticipation for the battle and slaughter that would unfold. "..." An overwhelming difference in strength. The roles of hunter and prey were already decided. But why was it? A hint of fear briefly mixed into the aura of the two hunters. That day. A fierce battle that would not be recorded in history unfolded on a nameless plain. In that battle, First Sword lost one arm. And First Sword and Second Sword lost their most cherished Ego Swords. It was because the egos contained within the Ego Swords had been devoured by the killer's ego during the battle. One killer's ego had overwhelmed four egos. First Sword described that battle where he lost so much as heavenly fortune. Because that killer would surely never be satisfied. Blue Lotus. She was a monster who could only feel happiness through battles and slaughter where blood and flesh flew. *** "Ah." A sharp sound burst out from somewhere. It had leaked from Clana's mouth as she was trying to steady her breathing disrupted by an unexpected sensation. "...!" Clana's already flushed face grew even hotter. With negative emotions clearly different from her previous happiness—shame, humiliation, anger, and the like. Eventually, a venom that encompassed all those negative emotions settled on Clana's expression. She devoted all her nerves to controlling her breathing. There was no confusion. Because breathing and control were her most powerful weapons. It wasn't for nothing that countless strong individuals had allowed Blue Lotus the first move only to fall as mere prey. It wasn't for nothing that they had scattered blood and groans, gifting joy to the killer. Nothing could disturb her breathing and control. "Ah..." ...It certainly should have been so. Nasal sounds that continued to mix into her regulated breathing. Clana's serene expression began to be tinged with confusion. At this very moment. What confused her most was not the uncontrolled breathing. It was the emotion that was the source of that breathing. 'Damn, damn, damn... What is it, what the hell...!' Clana vaguely realized. The fact that the emotion now dominating her body was happiness. And the fact that the magnitude of that happiness was comparable to the happiness she felt in the process of slaughter. 'Don't be ridiculous...' Clana denied it with all her might. Because only slaughter was what gave vivid meaning to her life. "Hah... hah..." But it wasn't as easy as saying it. How long had it been since she met death at the hands of two Swordmasters and became a specter who lost her body? During all those long years, she had never experienced direct slaughter even once. Her soul was as parched as drought-stricken wasteland. In such circumstances, the happiness that suddenly came was truly like sweet rain during a drought. Wandering in the absence of a body where her soul withered, she felt the vividness of life after a very long time. It was a fulfillment she wanted to willingly surrender to and savor. But she couldn't do so because- The situation was what it was. 'Risir...!!!' This happiness came after she demonstrated sword techniques to that bastard. Like a reward for fulfilling that bastard's demand for sword instruction. If she surrendered to this sense of reward, what difference would there be from a slave craving their master's approval? In fact, the reality that her actual situation wasn't much different from that doubled her sense of humiliation. That's why. Clana had absolutely no intention of accepting or craving this happiness. 'Worm-like bastard. No matter how long it takes, I will definitely escape from here and kill you.' Clana burned her hatred toward him to push away the happiness. Then the happiness gradually subsided. Of course. There was no way to confirm whether it was simply because the limited happiness had been exhausted, or whether her struggles had properly worked. 'Fine.' Having completely shaken off the happiness, Clana once again tried to regulate her breathing. Quiet like the silence of a moonlit night—it was her original breathing. That perfectly controlled breathing brought tranquility to Clana's mind and body. "..." But it was strange. Within that tranquility, she found herself feeling an indescribable restlessness. Should she call it anxiety? Her throat felt itchy and she couldn't keep her body still. Clana irritably rose to her feet with a frustrated heart. Her gaze unconsciously followed Risir. He was in a state of having left the Inner World to master the movements Clana had demonstrated. "Whew..." Realizing this fact, Clana felt relieved. What she had realized in the process of pouncing on that bastard. He was a complete outsider who knew nothing about martial arts. His body was trained but that was all. The movement she had demonstrated to him was a simple action that was basic to her sword, but at the same time, it was also a core movement that became the foundation of all movements. A beginner in swordsmanship would need to spend enormous time to realize the essence contained in that movement. In other words, freedom from that bastard was guaranteed for that enormous amount of time. There was also the possibility that he might use the dominance of this Inner World to give the command 'teach more in detail'—but even in that case, there would be no problem. Because that was clearly beyond her own discretion. Her sword was not systematic swordsmanship. The senses and movement techniques acquired while walking the path of slaughter. The totality of that. That was the essence of her sword, 'Clana Style.' Detailed instruction— That is, transmission based on systematic forms was practically impossible. Only transmission through sensation was possible. Repeating 'again' until it works. Her sword was an abstruse and atypical sword that even skilled swordsmen found difficult to handle. That bastard would soon realize this fact and give up on his own. "..." Clana was satisfied as she imagined Risir becoming dejected when things didn't go as he wanted. Afterward, she spent time considering various scenarios and situations related to Risir. Just thinking about that bastard's existence made her blood boil, but what could she do? That was all she could do in this quiet and empty Inner World. The only being connected to her now was that bastard. Therefore, it was inevitable. Clana came to think only of Risir alone. *** "Clana. Could you come out for a moment?" It was not long after the contact with the Inner World. Risir called for her to have Clana review his movements. Telling her to come out of the Inner World and possess the Ego Sword. Clana neither possessed the Ego Sword nor responded to Risir's words. Even if I am inevitably dominated by your control, I will never follow you of my own will— It was a silent protest. *** Clana wore a satisfied smile. That bastard's calls could no longer be heard. He must have realized it too. The fact that the only way to get what he wanted from her was to come directly into the Inner World and exercise his dominance. Clana steeled her resolve and prepared for that decisive moment that would come soon. She would definitely not just suffer according to that bastard's will like before. Then suddenly, Clana discovered herself feeling anticipation. Why? It must be anticipation for revenge. Clana convinced herself and dismissed her bewilderment. *** Had her intention worked more effectively than expected? No matter how long she waited, that bastard didn't come to the Inner World. Clana congratulated herself. Alone in the quiet and empty Inner World where no one else existed. "..." It was strange. This quietness and emptiness that she had thought nothing of suddenly felt suffocating. Clana felt an inexplicable restlessness. *** Two days had passed since Risir stayed at Ran's mansion. During that time, Risir shut himself in the garden attached to his room and devoted himself to sword training to master the movements Clana had shown him. He performed the movements in front of a mirror he had set up in the garden. Surprisingly plausible movements unfolded. As such, Risir had grasped the essence contained within the movements, contrary to Clana's expectations or hopes. He himself was surprised. That he had such talent with the sword? 'That can't be.' If that were the case, he would have shone long ago when he was at Bendel. 'Probably thanks to the power of the Ego Sword I obtained this time.' The mental image Risir absorbed from Blue Lotus was also Clana's mental image. Having accepted that entire mental image, Risir could have profound understanding of Clana Style as unfolded through that mental image. If only Clana's full cooperation were added to this, the inheritance of Clana Style would proceed at an amazing speed. "Hmm..." Nevertheless, the current Risir was wandering, unable to gain Clana's cooperation. It was because the memory of the moment he exercised dominance over Clana remained in an unpleasant form. She had called herself a killer. She had attacked him in the Inner World attempting to seize control, and had deceived Rodan who had respected him as a master. Risir thought he would feel no guilt about exploiting her as an evil person, and indeed that was the case. The revulsion he felt was from an unexpected aspect. Risir recalled. Clana's appearance of succumbing to orders regardless of her own will. The strange revulsion arising from a situation where he could manipulate another person's personality at will. 'If I had just threatened her instead, it wouldn't have been this uncomfortable—' Therefore, Risir was avoiding situations of contact with Clana in the Inner World. Of course, as much as possible. Risir once again performed the movements in front of the mirror. "Gradually..." Nothing more could be seen from those movements he had repeated and analyzed countless times. 'Is this the limit I can reach through self-study?' It was time that required additional instruction. 'While avoiding forced actions as much as possible...' Risir set his policy and closed his eyes. Soon the Inner World unfolded before his eyes, and a familiar situation developed. A charging killer. For some reason, the killer's movements were more explosive than before. As if thirsting for something. The power gap was clear. Risir couldn't do anything and was pinned under Clana. The weight pressing on his pelvis perfectly restricted his lower body movements. The pressure on his upper body thoroughly controlled his arm movements. 'This person... how would I deal with her if I met her in reality?' Risir burst into a bitter laugh while thinking such thoughts. He had just resolved to avoid forced actions as much as possible, but he immediately found himself in a situation where he couldn't escape without forced actions. Well. It was natural if you thought about it. She had a tyrannical nature to the extent of calling herself a killer, and possessed brute strength worthy of a Swordmaster taking her as a master. Moreover, she was in a state of being extremely angry about being bound to another's Inner World. To think of handling such an existence without the dominance of the Inner World—there was no arrogance greater than that. 'I have no choice.' Just as Risir was about to exercise the dominance of the Inner World. "..." Clana's serene expression looking down at Risir twisted. "Damn..." She released Risir's arms and stood up from her position. With unnatural movements, as if forced by an invisible power. "Cowardly bastard..." "?" Did I use forced actions? No, I didn't? While Risir was confused, Clana spoke. "I've said it repeatedly, but there's no instruction to give to a bastard like you. Get lost." "...!" For a moment, Risir was overwhelmed by her presence. Her appearance as if she would charge at any moment was truly that of a starving beast. If she was hungry for something, it would surely be murderous intent toward him. 'She's in a particularly bad mood today.' If he used forced actions on her now, the sense of discord from those actions would be even more emphasized. The revulsion from that would grow even greater. 'I have no choice.' Let’s wait just one more day. As Risir turned to leave the Inner World— "W-wait...!" "?" Clana desperately grabbed his sleeve. "Damn, is it this again... I have no choice..." Her muttering seemed as if she was convincing herself. Risir tilted his head at Clana's appearance as she tried to awkwardly perform movements. 'The dominance isn't working, right?'