The Return of the Limited-Time Sword Master

Chapter 113 – Noble Duty (5)

Swish!

Martin swung the holy sword Karadyl, unleashing a golden aura blade that streaked toward the manticore.

The time it took him to approach and launch the attack was less than a second—an impressive speed. But the manticore was no ordinary foe.

Bang!

With lightning reflexes, the manticore pushed off the ground, narrowly evading Martin’s strike.

Its agility was astounding, especially considering its massive size.

And it didn’t stop there.

While suspended in mid-air, the manticore exposed its back.

Swish!

In that instant, hundreds of black spikes shot toward Martin.

But he remained calm.

He’d seen how it fought through the video, so while it wasn’t direct experience, even a brief look at its battle style gave him a considerable advantage.

Especially for someone like him.

Boom!

Martin merely raised his left index finger, and an intensified gravitational force drove all the spikes into the ground.

Simultaneously, he activated Spatial Shift again, reappearing at the manticore’s left flank.

Without hesitation, he swung Karadyl.

Slash!

The blade of light sliced through the manticore’s hide and flesh, causing a torrent of blood to spill from the wound.

“Graahh!”

Howling in pain, the manticore immediately retreated to put distance between them.

At the same time, black energy burst from its entire body, rapidly healing its wounds.

Martin landed softly, pausing his attack.

‘Not only is it resilient, but it has regenerative abilities too.’

He hadn’t seen this ability in the footage. The adventurers hadn’t managed to inflict significant damage on it, so its regenerative power hadn’t been apparent.

Or perhaps it had developed this power as it ascended the floors.

Regardless, the situation had just become more complicated.

Swish!

Even as Martin kept his eyes on the manticore, he swung his sword several times, sending golden blades cascading down and tearing apart Lindtbroom’s corpse.

This was to prevent the manticore from absorbing the dragon’s strength.

Sizzle!

The blood from Lindtbroom’s body sizzled as it hit the ground, but Martin’s focus remained on the manticore.

‘These creatures really don’t give me enough time to set up Spatial Sword.’

Even now, after reaching the 8th Circle, using Spatial Sword requires some time to prepare.

Though he’d cut down the setup time significantly, it was still more than enough for the manticore to attack him.

Whum.

The space to Martin’s left and right warped as Sien and Adel appeared.

“How does it compare to the Basilisk King?” Sien asked.

“It’s definitely weaker than that creature… but it’s still a pain to deal with.”

“Good thing we came straight down. If we’d gone to the surface, it would’ve continued growing in strength, and we’d have no way to gauge its power,” Adel noted.

“Instead of worrying about what didn’t happen, maybe focus on how we’re going to take this thing down, Adel?” Sien replied.

“Not everyone can think as simply as you, Sien.”

Like Martin, both women kept their gazes locked on the manticore, trading barbs casually.

Martin simply let it go. They’d been at it since they entered the dungeon, so he was well accustomed to it by now.

“Listen up, adventurers,” Martin commanded. “Sien and I will take the front line, and you follow Adel’s orders to support us from the back. Whatever you do, don’t let that thing get near you! If it approaches, scatter immediately. And remember, its spikes are poisonous—don’t try to block them, just dodge.”

After issuing his orders, Martin turned to Sien.

“You take the lead. With your Spatial Rebound, you can deflect its spikes and land a solid hit.”

“I don’t mind, but if you’re aiming for a surprise attack, wouldn’t Adel be better? Phantasmal Form is perfect for catching it off guard.”

“You’re right. That’s why I’m saving it as a trump card—for when it’s too weakened to regenerate easily.”

“So that’s why you’re keeping me off the front line, Acting Head,” Adel remarked.

“Exactly. Lead the adventurers for now. If an opening presents itself, you’re free to attack. But hold back on Phantasmal Form until the last moment.”

“Understood,” Adel nodded.

Martin then looked to Sien.

“Alright, let’s begin.”

“Leave it to me.”

Whum.

Sien activated Spatial Shift, vanishing and reappearing at the manticore’s right flank.

She gripped her zweihander with one hand, bringing it down with tremendous force in a calculated strike.

Swish!

As if expecting it, the manticore shot spikes in her direction, but Sien was ready.

“Not happening!”

While swinging her sword with her right hand, she thrust her left forward.

The impact of her unique ability, Spatial Rebound, created a shockwave that deflected all the spikes.

But that wasn’t all.

The shockwave hit the manticore’s body, followed immediately by her zweihander, which slashed through its side.

“Damn it!” Sien clicked her tongue.

Her attack had landed, bypassing the manticore’s defenses with Spatial Severance.

But as soon as the wound appeared, it closed up again.

‘If only I could use an aura blade…’

She needed a technique to concentrate more force.

And currently, the only one among them capable of doing so was Martin.

“Everyone, attack! Target the area where it was wounded!” Adel’s command rang out.

The adventurers responded immediately, launching aura blasts and spells at the manticore.

Those with unique abilities used them to amplify their attacks.

The manticore twisted its head, opening its massive jaws.

Roooaaar!

Its roar transformed into a powerful shockwave that swept away every attack directed at it.

But it didn’t stop there.

Once again, it launched a barrage of spikes, threatening every adventurer in range.

‘I have to block this!’

Reacting instinctively, Sien swung her zweihander horizontally, channeling as much power as possible into a Spatial Rebound shockwave.

Boom!

At the collision of the manticore’s black shockwave with Sien’s silver one, she clicked her tongue again.

Even with all the mana she’d gained since reaching the 6th Circle, she was still struggling to hold her ground.

But she had to endure it.

If she failed, the spikes would rain down on the adventurers.

“Well done, Sien.”

Whum.

While the manticore’s attention was focused on Sien, Martin used Spatial Shift to appear just under its chin.

In the exact position he wanted, he slashed Karadyl upward with all his might.

Slash!

A golden arc shot upward, striking the manticore’s jaw.

Though it had a tough hide and dense muscles, they were both torn open, and blood gushed like a fountain.

Next, Martin lowered his left hand, channeling an intensified gravitational force onto the manticore’s massive body.

The weight pressed it down, creating a small crater beneath it.

“Graahh!”

With its wounded face forced into the ground, the manticore’s pain grew unbearable.

Though it screamed, it didn’t stop glaring at Martin.

Even in its madness, it had realized that Martin was the true threat among its opponents.

Flash!

Black energy surged from the manticore’s body, instantly closing all of its wounds.

With newfound strength, it pushed off the ground with all its might, swinging a massive, razor-sharp claw.

Boom!

A deep gouge split the ground where it struck.

As Martin swung the holy sword Karadyl downward, a golden aura blade traced a long arc and struck the manticore squarely on the head.

The blade of light carved deeply into the creature’s flesh, nearly severing its head from its massive body.

Whum.

But once again, black energy flared up, healing the wound almost immediately.

Martin frowned as he watched.

‘If it can endure even an attack like that, this is going to be a real nuisance.’

It became clear to him: this fight was turning into the very situation he disliked most—a prolonged battle.

While his improved physical abilities would allow him to keep fighting longer than before, the manticore, strengthened by absorbing the mana of monsters and humans, was just as relentless.

It would come down to who exhausted their strength first.

—

Two hours had passed since the fight with the manticore began.

The adventurers had drained their supply of potions, including those Martin and his team had distributed before the battle, doing everything they could to stay in the fight.

But there was a limit to their resources.

By now, every adventurer had run out of potions.

Ultimately, they stepped back to avoid interfering with Martin and his team.

“You alright, Martin?” Sien asked.

“Phew… it’s a struggle right now. Honestly, if it weren’t for you two, this would have been a lot worse.”

A strained smile crossed Martin’s face.

Just like when he fought the Basilisk King, his limbs were trembling from fatigue.

He’d used so many mana-draining techniques that even his mana circuits ached.

If it weren’t for his increased endurance and abilities, he might not have survived this far.

“We’re only doing what we’re supposed to,” Adel replied with a smile.

“Exactly,” Sien agreed.

While their attacks hadn’t been able to deal decisive blows, the damage inflicted by Spatial Severance forced the manticore to use its energy to regenerate, gradually weakening it over time.

“Adel, it’s your turn,” Martin said.

“Understood.”

Sensing that the timing was right to use Phantasmal Form, Adel responded immediately.

Sien stepped up beside her to lend support.

“I’ll get us up on its head,” Sien said.

“Got it.”

Whum.

The two vanished almost simultaneously, reappearing above the manticore’s head.

Having learned from previous attacks, the manticore immediately looked up and unleashed a volley of spikes.

“Haah!”

Sien swung her zweihander horizontally, channeling her aura into a Spatial Rebound shockwave.

Boom!

The spikes aimed at her and Adel were all deflected.

In the meantime, Adel activated Spatial Shift again, positioning herself directly on top of the manticore’s head.

The creature tried to strike her with more spikes, but they passed harmlessly through her phantasmal form.

“Grrraaahh!”

Frustrated, the manticore shook its head violently, but Adel held her position, refusing to fall.

It tried to move, but—

“Not so fast.”

Boom!

Martin intensified the gravitational force, pinning the manticore down again.

As it collapsed to the ground, Adel, unaffected thanks to Phantasmal Form, lifted her rapier and drove it downward with all her might.

Slice.

With her body in phantasmal form, the blade sank effortlessly into the creature’s skull, deeper than Spatial Severance had ever gone.

Adel returned to her solid form just in time to see the effect.

Roooaaar!

The manticore let out a bloodcurdling scream, its entire body writhing in agony.

Adel held onto the hilt, twisting the rapier once more, amplifying its pain.

Black energy tried to radiate out to heal the wound, but the healing was agonizingly slow this time.

‘It worked.’

Having done her part, Adel used Spatial Shift to retreat from the manticore.

She looked over at Martin, who was preparing for a finishing move.

‘Rings?’

She was puzzled, noticing three unfamiliar rings forming around Martin’s body.

With gravity manipulation still in effect, Martin activated Spatial Shift, relocating himself to a higher position.

Boom!

Turning mid-air, he kicked off a golden line in the void.

‘I’m going to end this.’

Though he still had some strength left, prolonging the fight would only exhaust them further.

Boom!

As the first ring shattered, Martin’s speed surged.

Moments later, the second ring burst, propelling him forward with even greater swiftness.

This was Dual Acceleration, a technique he’d mastered in the third chapter of Arelia’s Swordsmanship, Domain of Gravity.

“Graaaahhh!”

The manticore retaliated with a shower of spikes.

At that instant, the third ring exploded.

The powerful shockwave deflected every spike.

Simultaneously, Martin appeared directly in front of the manticore.

It instinctively swung a massive forepaw, but it was too late.

Slash!

Martin’s blade sliced cleanly through the manticore’s right foreleg, severing it and sending it crashing to the ground.

Blood gushed from the open wound.

But Martin’s advance didn’t falter. He finally reached the creature’s head.

With his sword already poised, he plunged it directly into the manticore’s right eye.

“Skreeee!”

The manticore thrashed wildly, but Martin paid it no mind.

He pressed on, repeatedly slashing, carving golden arcs that bit into the creature’s skull and neck.

Crunch!

With a final blow, Martin cleaved through its neck.

At last, the manticore’s head fell to the ground, and its enormous body collapsed, lifeless.

“…I’m spent,” Martin muttered, finally landing and sinking to the floor, utterly drained.

Every ounce of his strength was gone.

But he couldn’t help but smile.

‘I won.’

The relief was overwhelming.

Then, something unexpected happened.

Ssssss…

The manticore’s corpse dissolved into black smoke.

Left behind was a single black mana stone, remarkably similar to the one found within the body of the Basilisk King.

‘A core?’

Even though the manticore was a Monster Lord, it was still, at its essence, a typical monster.

So why did it produce a core like those that triggered monster waves?

Puzzled, Martin furrowed his brow.