Swordmaster's Youngest Son Novel - Chapter 840

Chapter 840

When you master the Shadow Blade, Soul Slash becomes a skill, not a sword technique.

The ability to claim the life of an opponent whose will is weaker than the caster’s.

Even if the target possesses absolute strength that surpasses the caster’s, they cannot prevent their soul from being cut.

And Temar was undoubtedly the person who came closest to mastering the Shadow Blade among mortals.

Murakan was aware of this fact from the beginning and had been conscious of Soul Slash throughout the battle.

He had witnessed firsthand how Elona Zipple, who was clearly stronger than Temar, nearly died when facing Soul Slash.

At that time, Elona Zipple screamed and fought against the power of Soul Slash.

And now, Murakan was doing the same.

[Aaaaaahh…!]

Murakan, who had shown no signs of exhaustion or retreat during the long battle, let out a cry of pain for the first time.

Every time Murakan screamed and twisted his body, something black like smoke emanated from him, and Barisada’s blade drew that smoke towards itself.

When the smoke touched the blade, Murakan felt the pain increase. Instinctively, he realized that Temar was cutting his soul with Soul Slash.

It wasn’t physical pain.

It was the things he had tried to ignore with effort, things he never wanted to remember again.

For the Murakan in the video, it was an event that happened not long ago, but for the current Murakan, they were events from a thousand years ago.

Whether then or now, those were memories he preferred to forget.

Temar was fully aware of this.

He knew that if he wanted to defeat Murakan, he had to strike directly at his soul with Soul Slash.

Breaking his heart would be a matter to deal with later.

«It seems you still have emotions inside you.»

[Shut up…!]

«What day are you facing now? The day you killed Dranax and his entire clan, the Kamalga? Or the day you ruthlessly murdered Vyollo, who came seeking revenge against you?»

Clang!

As they conversed, Temar involuntarily clenched his teeth.

Thinking about those who had perished at the hands of Murakan, uncontrollable rage surged within him.

However, he had to suppress his emotions to avoid falling into demonization.

If he were to lose control of himself again, he would become the same monster as Murakan.

Besides, now is the time for revenge.

If he let anger cloud his judgment, Temar feared that he would never be able to face his fallen comrades, knights, and the people who believed in him and trusted him.

Therefore, even though Temar had taken the lead in a single breath, he proceeded with Soul Slash cautiously.

As long as he avoided falling into demonization, he was confident that he could eventually kill Murakan, even if it took time.

As Temar had said, Murakan was facing the day he killed Dranax and Vyollo.

Dranax had begun using the name Runcandel instead of Kamalga, but the members of Kamalga still considered Dranax their leader.

His brother, Kaiten Kamalga, the new patriarch, didn’t find it awkward.

On the contrary, he was proud of his brother, and Dranax also visited the southern regions of Hufester whenever he had time to relax with his family.

Kamalga had become one of the most important allied clans of Runcandel, and all its members, like Dranax, were eager to be on the front lines of the battlefield.

Murakan enjoyed mocking Dranax and Kamalga by calling them a bunch of idiots.

Until he decided to kill both Dranax and Kamalga,

Murakan had been very close to them.

«Murakan…! How could you do this? My elder brother trusted you even more than me. If he had to choose between you and one of us, the Kamalga, he would have probably chosen you… because it was for the good of the world! And you, how could you… kill Elder Brother Dranax?»

Tears welled up in Murakan’s eyes.

But Temar’s sword continued to inflict wounds on his soul.

As the black smoke was repeatedly cut and scattered like paper, Murakan found himself buried in painful memories that became clearer even when he closed his eyes.

[Dranax… what have I done to you?]

«Dranax… yes, he must have had enough reasons to annoy you. But why did you annihilate Kamalga? You didn’t even spare the children. What… what deep grudge did you have against that idiot, Dranax? What wrong did the Kamalga children do?»

Vyollo, who had come seeking revenge, couldn’t speak for a while, choked with emotion.

«You were close. You insulted and fought each other for real sometimes, but you never truly hated each other. At least that’s what Dranax and the others believed. They thought that someday, when we’re cornered and fighting against Zipple, you would stay until the end to avenge us and honor our souls. Even if you couldn’t seek revenge, you would survive to remember us…»

[Yes, Vyollo. I will remember everything. Now, rest.]

«No, forget about us. Even if we die, we can’t forget you. We don’t want to be remembered by you. Even if we become ghosts, we will curse you, again and again. The future that Soldelet desires will eventually have a dark, cursed, and blood-soaked end.»

[Vyollo…! I had no choice; I really had no choice!]

«I don’t know what your ‘no choice’ really means, but it doesn’t justify what you’ve done. Even Zipple wouldn’t have been so cruel.»

Blood tears flowed from Temar’s eyes as he struggled to maintain the precarious balance between demonization and rationality.

«Now, is killing people just a hobby for you, Murakan? People say that wherever your wings pass, only ashes remain.

They say you have no mercy even for children.

Frey Runcandel.

Even in the midst of her internal turmoil, she did everything she could to save people.

When those who suffered begged her, she reluctantly eased their burdens, and on the battlefield, her gaze always fell on the weakest and most struggling to survive.

«No, maybe you were always that kind of being. You were perhaps frustrated, hiding that vile nature all this time. But looking at us now… it’s probably enough compensation for you. More than tormenting and trampling on those who gave you everything.»

Frey had bestowed countless mercies and love upon the world.

However, she had only loved one person as a woman, and that was Murakan.

She faced Murakan with far more ferocity than Dranax and Vyollo, who had died before her.

She didn’t end the fight in one go, but whenever she found herself in danger, she somehow managed to escape and wait for the next opportunity.

Some days, she gained enlightenment just before being killed and managed to survive.

But it didn’t last long. Eventually, Frey met her death at the hands of Murakan’s black chain.

«You’ve gone mad… because of Zipple’s manipulation of history.»

Murakan, transformed into a human, sank to the ground and cried in a hoarse voice.

The Murakan from a thousand years ago and the current Murakan were crying and suffering, which was all they could do.

Before anyone realized, Temar had cut most of the black smoke between him and Murakan.

Just a few more steps and he could pierce Murakan’s heart.

Jin and the Ten Great Knights, despite being mere observers, held their breath as if they were right beside them.

Based on what had been revealed so far, Murakan was clearly a traitor, and it was true that he had killed the Ten Great Knights.

He was responsible for the annihilation of innocent people and for spreading fear throughout Hufester.

However, despite all that…

Jin and the Ten Great Knights found themselves silently cheering for the Murakan from a thousand years ago.

They wished he wouldn’t fall like this, and they hoped he wouldn’t succumb to a long sleep after being stabbed by Temar.

They were sure there had to be some reason behind Murakan’s actions.

It may not be justifiable, as Temar had pointed out, but they couldn’t imagine Murakan doing those things without any reason.

All the Shadow Energy that was forming the subspace was now concentrated in Soul Slash.

When the darkness lifted, the landscape revealed a vast, desolate land that resembled a gray desert, devoid of any sign of life.

«Murakan, I could also glimpse your memories through the blade. Dranax, Vyollo, Frey. My comrades, my friends, whom I couldn’t even say goodbye to, whom I sent in vain. The pain of losing them will not fade, no matter how many times I strike you. The agony they suffered will never be erased.»

Thump!

Barisada pierced Murakan’s chest. Even though the transformation weakened his heart, it was still as strong as it had been in its true form.

Murakan showed no signs of pain or movement.

«Yes, I suppose so…»

«When I swing this sword, you will die. I cannot inflict more pain on you, and it’s unfair to end it like this. I have one last question… Why did you do it?»

Temar’s hand trembled as he held the sword.

The pupil of his eye, marked with dried blood tears, was empty.

«What do you mean by circumstances that were ‘beyond your control’? Was it for the sake of a future a thousand years from now? Does this horrible betrayal, massacre, have anything to do with that?»

«I know nothing about the future a thousand years from now… I have no knowledge of the truth of the world you discovered through the Witch.»

«Then why?»

«Why…?»

Murakan slowly raised his head and looked at Temar.

«Temar, do you know where we are now?»

«This is the land where you will die.»

«Temar… this place used to be called Idal. It was ruled by Padler, the land he loved more than his own life. It was his homeland, the kingdom of Idal…»

And you, Temar, turned Idal into this wasteland.

Murakan continued, grasping the blade of Barisada with both hands.

«That’s why I can’t die here… Even though I want to die, even though I’m going crazy with the desire to die. Temar, I’m sorry. Before you commit more terrible acts, before you break yourself even further, before your enemies take advantage of you, I have to stop you. Because I am your Guardian Dragon.»