The Sage that the Sword Saint is Obsessed With

26 – 8. Heart in a Cookie (3)

1.

Displeasure crept in.

The battle ended too anticlimactically.

Considering Evan’s hierarchy, almost every battle would feel anticlimactic, but this one, given the surprise attack by the Demon Army, ended disappointingly easily.

What was the purpose of the ambush?

To exploit a moment of negligence and inflict significant damage.

It would be effective to organize a select few elites for the assault.

However, in the recent battle, more than half of the fallen enemies were monsters, and those armed as part of the Demon Army seemed inadequately trained.

Even considering they might have dismissed some of the Demon Army forces, sending poorly trained soldiers after crossing the gate while avoiding the eyes of reconnaissance scouts?

There wasn’t even someone who looked like a commander.

“…Is it because of the mood?”

Evan murmured, gazing at the gate to the Demon Realm.

Perhaps he was reacting too sensitively.

Just looking at the reactions of his allies confirmed it.

Taking off their helmets and preparing to return, they were already contemplating a celebratory drink.

He turned his body.

It seems the preparations to return were almost complete.

At that moment.

-Kuuung!

The ground began to shake.

It trembled.

The vibrations intensified, rippling like waves.

Evan bent one knee, maintaining balance to avoid falling.

Everything reflected in his eyes shook up and down.

A powerful vibration seemed to shake the sky violently, as if the world itself were on the brink of collapse.

– Kugugugugung!

Amidst the cracks that split the dry ground, a magic power erupted, creating a dark and massive hole that seemed destined for the abyss.

“…Aha.”

Evan examined the identity of the hole, deep like a sinkhole.

Offering Soul

It was a type of summoning magic.

By sacrificing a soul, it summons a monstrous being.

The summoned monster varies depending on the number of souls offered.

The memory came from a book called [Adventure Journal], one of the hundreds Evan had read in the philosopher’s study. It was a diary written by the philosopher, Arahan, recounting the adventures of a warrior party in the demonic realm.

There, he found information related to ‘Offering Soul.’

A magic whose hierarchy cannot be determined.

It was said to be first used by a sorcerer known as the ‘Master of the Dead,’ one of the commanders of the Demon King’s army.

Summoning magic can be interrupted by destroying the magic circle during casting.

However, judging by the situation, the magic had already been activated, and the summoned creature was in place, eagerly awaiting its entrance.

– Kwaang!

A giant hand rose from below, reaching the ground.

Skin peeled or burnt, resembling exposed flesh.

Thick fingers like castle walls extended, with dozens of hands reaching out.

Some had clinging flesh, while others were mere skeletal remnants.

– Kdong!

On the opposite side, an identical hand emerged.

With both hands on the ground, the main body revealed itself.

A colossal organism surged forth.

Like clouds obscuring the sun, the colossal being eclipsed the sun.

The surroundings darkened as if night had fallen.

A form comprised of the corpses of various creatures.

Whenever it moved, a sticky, dark-red liquid dripped down.

It was a giant made of corpses.

Evan immediately prepared to use magic.

If this creature starts rampaging, the damage would be unimaginable.

How many of the people here will be able to survive and return?

Instead of pondering such thoughts, Evan amplified his mana, again and again.

Then it happened.

A silver thread drew through space, charging towards the giant.

-Thunk! Thunk! Thuuuaaack!

Like a snake with silver scales, the silver thread climbed up the giant’s body, swiftly and gracefully.

Its end was the giant’s neck.

What once traced elegant curves transformed into a sharp straight line, severing the giant’s neck.

It happened in an instant.

The giant, whose body seemed to bring about the destruction of the world, crumbled into pieces. The cleanly beheaded head slowly tilted like a rock falling from a mountain’s peak.

-Thud.

Lewen landed gracefully.

Between strands of black hair, golden eyes exuded a creepy vitality.

It was the first time seeing such an enraged expression.

I’m not sure why he’s so angry.

The giant exited as it appeared.

As expected, the collapsing giant’s body, as if time were rewinding, restored itself to its original form. It looked solid, but it seemed as if the body were made of liquid.

“Ssssip… slurp!”

Unfazed, Lewen, upon confirming the giant’s recovery, charged once again.

This time, he thrust the sword even deeper.

From years of combat experience, he knew that creatures like this usually have a core inside them.

Remove that core, and it’s over.

The challenge lies in not knowing where it is.

Usually, it’s at the center of the body, but not for this giant.

Considering the possibility that the core might be elsewhere, he initially aimed at the center when he charged the first time.

The sensation of the blade is only that of a corpse.

There is no feeling from the core.

It doesn’t matter.

Ten times, a hundred times, if you keep cutting, someday you’ll be the one cut.

However.

As if trying to prevent that, the giant’s body wobbled, and from its nape, an arm grew, launching a fist towards Leuen.

“…!”

It couldn’t be avoided.

He defended his body as much as possible with the sword.

– Kwang!!

Leuen fell to the ground as if thrown.

“Kuh…!!”

Using mana to strengthen his body as much as possible prevented it from completely stiffening.

But that doesn’t mean there was no damage.

One ankle was twisted, and the sensation of bones being fractured was felt all over.

Breathing is painful, as if a rib is broken.

“Ugh…!!”

Even so, Leuen stood up again.

This level of pain is familiar.

How much pain has he endured on the battlefield until now?

Reaching the level called Sword Saint is not only talent but also based on the experience gained in battle.

There are times when you win without any harm, but there are also many times when you barely achieve victory with severe injuries.

Leuen gritted his teeth against the pain and once again gripped the sword.

It’s not because he’s whining about the torn cookie.

He can’t withdraw here because he has a sense of duty to defend the Southern Front, even if it seems otherwise.

“Think before you charge.”

A voice that stops Leuen from charging again.

It was Evan.

“You can’t defeat that thing by charging in recklessly.”

The eyes glowed with a subtle blue radiance, filled with a mysterious power as they observed the giant.

What on earth is that?

Magic runes adorned the entire body like tattoos, not mere decorations, intricately intertwining curves and lines, obscuring its true form.

While it might be tempting to conclude the threat with a swift spell, this giant seemed anything but easy to handle.

The colossal figure began to move, tearing through the earth.

“We have to go!”

It must be stopped.

The comrades must be protected.

“Wait.”

Evan spoke with a stern voice, commanding the ground to upheave like a meteor shower, too late to prevent the giant’s attack.

Even if we manage to defeat it, the real issue lies in the shattering fragments.

Preventing the damage is impossible; at best, it can only be minimized.

Evan extended his arm, invoking a Massive Extinction spell, a shield-like magic formation emerging in the sky.

The ground beneath the magic formation crumbled away as it absorbed everything, leaving no trace upon contact—a 10th-level spatial magic erasing the landscape.

With a momentary respite, Lewen raised his hand, signaling a retreat to the comrades scattered around.

Charging at the giant altogether would be suicide; choosing an option that maximizes the chances of at least one surviving is the wiser course of action.

Confirming Lewen’s signal, voices echoed from various directions, directing a strategic withdrawal.

The members began to move backward in haste.

Certainly, they would have to run a considerable distance to escape the influence of that giant.

So, they needed to buy time until they could reach a safe place. Alternatively, they had to defeat the giant.

“Can you move?”

Evan asked Leven.

Leven nodded.

Even though he couldn’t breathe well and felt like he might collapse at any moment, he could still move. No, he had to move.

“Alright.”

-Tap

“??”

Evan lightly tapped Leven’s forehead with his finger.

Leven blinked his round eyes.

“Wha… what…?”

Even the slightest touch made his heart pound in surprise.

“Can you hear my voice?”

Evan’s voice echoed in Leven’s mind.

It felt as if someone were whispering directly into his ears.

Leven quickly nodded his head.

“I’ll tell you the sequence of the bell in your mind, so you have to cut it without any mistakes. Can you do it?”

There was no time to leisurely analyze the complex magic circle and solve it step by step.

He had to concentrate fully, analyze, and release it simultaneously.

For that, he inevitably needed Leven’s help.

“……Yes!”

Evan raised his hand to the blade of Leven’s sword, which had giant flesh attached to it. Then, he applied ‘Dispel Magic’ to the sword. With this, the sword became temporarily capable of cutting through the magic circle.

The giant moved again.

Dragging its heavy body, it took a step forward.

-Thud!!

The ground echoed loudly.

Even a brief conversation was a luxury they couldn’t afford.

“Let’s depart right away.”

Levyn, dragging a body that felt on the verge of breaking, forced himself once again towards the giant.

“Left ankle, three times.”

Evan’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Haaah… Hng!”

He took a deep breath and held it in.

Levyn moved according to Evan’s command.

He slashed the giant’s left ankle three times, turning it like carving.

“Left hip.”

From the ankle straight up to the hip.

It was a demanding command, but Levyn, despite the throbbing ankle, exerted strength and leaped high.

– Clang!

He cut the left hip.

Evan’s instructions continued to pour, and Levyn moved like a marionette, aligning his swordsmanship with the commands.

“Stop.”

Levyn grabbed and hung onto the antlers of a deer’s carcass attached to the giant’s body. In that moment, a fist passed above his head, reminiscent of what had happened a while ago.

“It’s coming from below. Dodge.”

Levyn immediately flew to the other side.

The giant’s body engulfed the spot where Levyn had just been, like a wave.

Sensing something unusual, the giant began to resist fiercely.

“Keep going.”

Evan felt his head heating up.

He had analyzed several complex magic circles until now, but this level of complexity was unprecedented. It was impossible to determine how many layers it had.

Nevertheless, Evan quickly spun his mind, analyzing the magic circle.

Blood flowed from his nose.

He wiped it away with his sleeve, analyzed further, and gave instructions to Levyn.

“We’re almost there now.”

Disabling the magic circle didn’t mean unraveling every line. Once you severed a few core ones, the rest would automatically disconnect.

The lines Evan was carefully selecting right now were all crucial.

If the analysis was wrong, everything he had done so far would be meaningless. But judging by the giant’s reaction, it didn’t seem that way.

Above all, there was confidence in oneself.

In the realm of magic analysis, there was no one who could surpass him.

It was a level acknowledged by sages as talent.

“This is the end. Charge forward.”

Leuwen stepped on the bodies that comprised the giant, ascending as he moved upward.

The giant began to resist even more fiercely.

It shook its body as if trying to shake off insects.

Countless bodies making up its form writhed, attempting to capture Leuwen.

“Haack…! Haack…!”

Breathing became nearly impossible.

As the endured pain crossed its threshold, the vision began to blur.

Swollen ankles.

With each step, he suppressed the screams.

-Quack!!

A hand firmly grasped Leuwen’s ankle.

Without hesitation, Leuwen severed the hand gripping his ankle.

“Kkueuk…!!”

Just as he continued to run, his right ankle snapped.

Losing balance, his body tilted.

Seizing the opportunity, dozens of arms and heads rushed to engulf Leuwen.

Ah… Is this a failure?

But he couldn’t afford to disappoint Evan.

However, a body thrown off balance once did not intend to move again.

“Endure. It’s the final moment.”

Evan caught Leuwen, who was teleporting through space.

Evan’s vivid voice whispered in Leuwen’s ear.

“Neck.”

Utilizing the mana wave, Evan pushed Leuwen upward.

As if riding an updraft, Leuwen’s body soared to the top of the giant’s head.

Gathering the last ounce of strength, Leuwen raised his sword high in the very last moment.

The sword deity stores its sword energy.

The silvery sword deity bathed in sunlight and ascended into a golden light.

“———!!”

With all their strength, they slit the throat, lips tightly sealed.

“*********!!!”

A requiem mixed with thousands of screams resounded.

As the giant’s body collapsed, sunlight poured onto the land that was covered in shadows.