I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

36 – 036. The Holy Grail (3)

Frey pulled himself out of the ruined temple.

It didn’t take long to discover the source of the strange noise.

[I have followed the light. Who are you?]

The speaker, whose voice was like metal scraping on metal, was a monstrous figure clad in black armor.

Nothing was visible within the wide-open visor of the helmet.

No. Rather, his blackened and burned blue soul was rejecting its fate.

‘A Death Knight…’

Frey bit his lip tight at the appearance of this unexpected uninvited guest.

Death Knights were the result of fallen knights.

Some boasted immense power, depending on their past achievements, and some were so strong that even the necromancers who summoned them were killed.

“I am Freya. I have come for the mission bestowed upon me by the Goddess.”

Freya, calming her heart, scanned the surroundings with a heavy look.

The presence of a Death Knight meant that there was a high probability of a necromancer nearby, a Lich, in other words.

As previously stated, there was a very small chance of a Death Knight escaping control after its necromancer’s demise, but that wasn’t of great importance in the current situation.

[… I see. The Champion of the Goddess, a new Grail Knight, perhaps.]

The Death Knight, whose body had crumbled to the point only his soul remained, murmured briefly.

For some reason, Freya knew. She knew the emotion that the Death Knight was currently letting out in a low voice was ‘loneliness’.

[ To be in charge of life and death… It seems you seek the ＜Grail of Life＞.]

“……!”

Why was this happening?

The Death Knight, who had suddenly appeared, had accurately seen through Freya’s objective.

The fact that he had once been a knight revered by the human realm made Freya think that perhaps he might be more impressive than she had initially thought.

[ You must have struggled to find it.]

*Chuk!*

The Death Knight, muttering softly, extended his palm.

In that sudden, bizarre movement, just as Freya began to question his intentions—

*Wooong—!*

An astonishing thing unfolded. From the end of his hand, which was held out into empty air, blue mana seemed to ripple before tearing a hole in ‘space’.

*Thud!*

What appeared from the space next shocked her even further.

“The Grail…”

A golden chalice shining brilliantly even in the darkness. The symbol of miracles that proves the existence of the gods, the Grail.

What on earth was going on? The ＜Grail of Life＞ was in the possession of this unidentified Death Knight. Naturally, his identity became a question that she couldn’t ignore.

“Who are… you?”

[ Don’t worry. There is no necromancer here, I assure you. ]

The ghost of the past let out a small laugh. A momentary, self-deprecating laugh that seemed to be tinged with deep regret and remorse.

[ What matters is not who I am, young knight, burdened with the Goddess’s mission. In order to take the Grail, you must first defeat me.]

*Swoosh.*

The Death Knight placed the Grail, like a precious treasure, on the altar of the ruined temple.

And then, he drew the sword from his back.

The mouth was a greatsword, black as armor, reflecting not a single point of light.

“……”

Frey’s eyes, which had been quietly observing his words and actions, sank deeply.

He couldn’t understand it.

The relationship between that ‘god’ in the sky and the suddenly appearing death knight. The suddenly appearing Holy Grail. None of it was in the ＜Silver Ring＞’s official route.

But.

*Srrr*-!

The answer was already decided.

Frey needed the Holy Grail. That knight of the distant past didn’t seem like he’d hand over the Grail willingly, so the outcome was obvious.

[ O warrior! Bearer of a noble mission! ]

*Chk!*

Taking a stance, the death knight stamped his foot, uttering a chilling roar.

Frey did not reject his provocation. The secrets of the Heavenly Flowing Footwork unfolded through both of his legs with fervor.

*Tadatadak!*

At the same time, the boundless, yet destructive principles of the No Shadow Sword poured out through his blade.

*Sweeaeaeak-!*

The silver sword sliced through space, hurtling towards the death knight.

It was a clearly different power and speed than before. The legacy left by the ＜God of War＞ made Frey’s attacks more precise and powerful.

*Jjeoeoeong!*

Sword and greatsword collided. The contained energy was like a great mountain, but surprisingly, the death knight easily blocked Frey’s blade.

[ Peculiar. ]

Swords clashed. It was a desperate battle to take each other’s lives. And yet, the enemy let out a tone of amusement.

[ Strong and fast, but not properly refined. It’s like a tower built without a foundation! ]

It was a sentiment remarkably similar to what Aldehain, the god of war and weaponry, had said.

*Clang!* *Claaang!*

Frey gritted his teeth and pressed his attack. It was only natural to try to unsettle your opponent’s mind during battle. To have your mind seized was a definite misstep.

*Hoo-oong!*

During the fierce exchange, the death knight’s greatsword suddenly cleaved through the space vertically.

*Tadatadak.*

Frey leisurely created distance. While it was true the greatsword had a long reach, it was possible due to its large size making its movements slow.

But.

*Kwaddeudeudeuk!*

Like a magnet drawn, the enemy’s front kick flew towards Frey, who had created some distance.

“……!”

He twisted his body frantically. But it seemed the enemy had anticipated even that.

*Puh-uh-uhk!*

“……Kuh!”

Was it because it wasn’t a normal kick, but an attack imbued with mana?

The moment the attack landed, his form lurched violently. At the same time, he felt a jarring sensation internally – it seemed the external mana had inflicted slight damage to his internal organs.

*Shu-reu-reuk.*

“Damn it.”

Wiping the blood from his mouth, Frey created a larger distance and spat out his frustration, chewing on the feeling.

The enemy, the Death Knight, didn’t possess any special sword techniques.

If he had to describe it, everything was delicate and precise. Considering he wielded a huge greatsword, it was a bizarre combination.

[ Do not waver. ]

“……!”

The Death Knight spoke with a disarmingly relaxed tone.

His greatsword did not seek to exploit Frey’s openings.

Whether it was the mercy of a former knight or the arrogance of one confident in their superiority, he couldn’t tell.

*Cheok.*

He simply stood still… waiting for Frey’s attacks to come pouring in again. As if yearning for something indescribable.

[ A battle to the death isn’t a light skirmish. You need the will to give your all and topple your enemy. Use not only your sword, but your head, hands, legs. Everything. ]

“……Damn it! I know!”

*Hoo-oo-ook!*

Frey’s form extended. The sword, launched like a flash, aimed for the enemy’s vitals.

But.

*Ting!*

The enemy lightly deflected the blade. By twisting the pommel of his greatsword, he made the attack veer off course so effortlessly.

[ Big movements create big openings. When facing an opponent this solid, the most effective method is to accumulate damage, rather than aiming for the vitals. ]

“……!”

Frey’s clenched-jaw sword traced a path in the air. The blade, defying all logic in its movements, shifted again, zeroing in on the enemy.

[ Ugh…! ]

The Death Knight, attempting a counterattack, hastily recovered his greatsword. He then swiftly parried Frey’s strike.

[ Indeed. That brilliant talent is more than enough to qualify as a Holy Grail Knight. ]

A tone tinged with surprise brushed against Frey’s ears.

The Death Knight was expressing pure admiration.

It was a talent as if bestowed by the heavens. Each moment of the battle, the quality sharpened, grew stronger, to the point that it was almost impossible to believe it was of this mortal realm.

*Clang!* *Crash!*

Swords clashed, creating a chaotic dance in the air. In the middle of the fierce exchange, a surge of sword aura erupting from Frey’s blade – that was the instant it happened.

*Whizzzz–!*

[ You insane…! ]

For the first time in the battle, the Death Knight let out a cry of astonishment.

A sword brimming with mana, unleashing a burst of sword aura in a single instant?

A tingling sensation, felt through his non-existent hand.

[ Perhaps I overstepped my bounds. ]

The Death Knight now swung his greatsword with a sense of amusement. His opponent, Frey, becoming undeniably more formidable with each passing moment, was clearly no mere illusion.

“Hah…! Hah…!”

However, Frey’s situation was somewhat different.

Heavily drenched in blood, gasping breaths forced their way from Frey’s mouth.

Without proper rest, pushed to his very limit… the consumption of mana had begun to outpace the expenditure of his physical strength.

‘Damn it.’

This was dangerous. While the back-and-forth with the Death Knight appeared relatively even, Frey could inwardly sense it.

His compatibility with this foe was not good at all.

[ The sky you seek to ascend to… is still impossibly far! ]

*Zzzzzing–!*

During their battle, the Death Knight’s greatsword unleashed a name.

A sinister aura of ‘death’ dripped with killing intent. Meeting his gaze, Frey, too, coated his blade with mana that was more intense than ever.

[ …It seems time is short. Throw everything into this! ]

*Kooom!*

The Death Knight, roaring low, moved first.

His blazing death mana twisted the air within the temple. Frey, too, extended his sword, wielding pure mana.

‘Close-quarters combat is my specialty!’

The numerous traits and the power of the relic he’d just acquired were all geared towards that.

Clang——!

Sword and greatsword. Mana against mana collided.

Simultaneously, the sound of something shattering echoed through the underworld.

* * *

Clunk.

Scrrree.

Clunk.

Each step of the Death Knight resonated with a grotesque metallic sound.

The noise, akin to fingernails scraping against a chalkboard, was certainly unpleasant. Yet, Frey silently watched as his enemy advanced.

[ Excellent. Holy Knight. You have finally… filled your vessel, if only by a little. ]

Like a broken doll, the Death Knight, after shifting his feet, approached the radiant Holy Grail.

Thud.

He… then knelt on one knee before the altar.

A Death Knight.

A being stripped of human life and turned into an ‘undead,’ displaying such an utterly bizarre sight.

[ Goddess. ]

“……?”

[ I have completed the mission you bestowed upon me. ]

Frey stared at the Death Knight, his eyes filled with shock.

He couldn’t comprehend what his words meant.

In the final moments of the fight… Frey’s sword pierced the Death Knight’s ‘soul’. He’d naturally expected it to follow the path to obliteration.

But what was this?

Why was the Death Knight, a servant of the necromancer… offering such a reverent greeting to the Holy Grail?

[ Holy Knight Albrecht… has at last finished his grand task. ]

Listening silently, the hairs on Frey’s arms stood on end.

‘Holy Knight… Albrecht?’

The reason was simple. From the lips of the Death Knight, now only a soul, had sprung a name that even Frey knew.

[ To the junior who will bear a great mission… May you be granted the greatest of honors. ]

“Wait…!”

Frey’s shout echoed long through the ruins. There was something he wanted to ask. More than one thing, actually.

Was he really the legend of the distant past, the Grail Knight Albrecht?

The knight who was a regular in old ＜Silver Ring＞ stories?

If so, then why?

Why was he, the beloved protagonist of his grandmother’s old tales,

a Death Knight in this goddamn hellhole?

*Whoosh!*

It was then.

Pure white flames erupted on the black armor.

As if a god were taking his life.

The shining honor of his past was swallowed by the white fire.

‘……’

It was a sight that sent a strange chill down his spine.

Ceres, the Goddess of Life and Death.

It was as if the Goddess Ceres was harvesting the Death Knight’s soul, to prevent her from hearing what the past Grail Knight was saying.

*Fizzzz…*

It did not take long for the intense flames to incinerate the specter.

Soon, only white ash and the golden, shining Holy Grail remained in the space.

*Swish.*

Frey, having retrieved the Grail, wordlessly looked down at it.

The symbol of a god’s power was spotless, without even a speck of dust. As if it had been cared for by someone for a long time.

“……”

*Swish*, Frey turned his body and moved with heavy steps.

He didn’t know how much time had passed since he’d descended into the hellish rift. And after encountering the past Grail Knight, his head was more tangled than ever.

But.

What he had to do now was simple. Return with the Grail. That was all he could focus on.

Because the time remaining for Frey was incredibly short.

*Thump.*

A staggering gait pulled Frey’s body towards the earth.

Stamina and mana, both at their limits. The aftermath of the fierce battle made his eyes feel like they would clamp shut.