Swordmaster's Youngest Son Novel - Chapter 842

Chapter 842

There had already been numerous painful choices. Among them, the one that remained was the most dreadful, and Murakan had made a decision.

Today, he would stop Temar, and together with him, be forgotten from this world, along with their loved ones.

The Shadow Energy emanating from his two pairs of wings formed a massive storm, and Murakan’s final resolve, the peak of his apogee, enveloped everything in his sight in darkness.

Temar barely suppressed his boiling fury.

He knew that once he fell into demonization, he could never defeat Murakan in that state, but in fact, he wasn’t even aware that he had already become a monster due to the consequences of the manipulation of history.

Temar’s sword, which used to be as sharp as his undistorted resolve, was tainted by the side effects of the manipulation of history, and it wasn’t as sharp, and his will wasn’t as pure as before.

«No, only you will be erased from history. As always, this time too, I will protect my family and my people. I will correct the distorted events and kill all traitors and enemies like you. I, the patriarch of Runcandel.»

Temar’s eyes glowed intensely.

Runcandel Magic Sword Final Technique

Sun Splitter.

As Shadow Energy, aura, and mana enveloped Barisada, a spiral formed.

The spiral soon soaked into the blade, turning it black and then burning brightly in pure white.

The pinnacle of the sword that a human called Temar Runcandel finally reached.

When Temar began to move his sword, the darkness created by the Manifestation of Shadows began to dissipate.

It was as if the muddy current was replaced by a clear stream, filling the space with light.

If Temar were in his full state, Murakan would never have attempted to face the Sun Splitter head-on.

It was a sword that even Murakan at his peak couldn’t withstand if he couldn’t avoid it, a single blow that would kill him.

But the Sun Splitter unleashed by Temar was only half-completed.

Instead, his Soul Slash technique that he had been using all along was far more menacing.

Murakan filled the area cleared by the Manifestation of Shadows with his Shadow Energy and charged toward Temar.

The bright sword collided with the giant of Shadow Energy.

Temar was convinced that his sword would pierce both Murakan and his Shadow Energy in one blow.

The fact that Murakan didn’t even try to avoid the blow bewildered him.

Murakan, of all people, would know better. This was the sword that Solderet had described as capable of killing even himself.

However, at the moment of collision, Temar discovered that the Sun Splitter was dispersing helplessly against Murakan’s Shadow Energy.

The aura, mana, and Shadow Energy converged in the blade were dissipating as if the thread had been cut, losing their strength.

On the other hand, the enormous black blade sprouting from Murakan’s wings remained unharmed.

If anything, it became even sharper and fiercer, engulfing Temar.

Temar tried to twist his body to evade, but Murakan’s blade was faster.

The blade cut Temar’s left arm.

Thud!

Under the darkness of the Manifestation of Shadows, Temar’s left arm fell to the ground.

The arm remained buried in the darkness and disappeared, and Temar quickly raised his mana to freeze the wound.

He couldn’t believe the outcome.

The fact that a sword that could cut even Solderet was broken by Murakan was inconceivable.

He couldn’t understand what he was missing or what mistake he had made.

In that moment of internal confusion for Temar, Murakan found the opening and took his life.

Having lived for over two thousand years, Murakan had countless memories of harming others.

He couldn’t even count the memories of killing or maiming someone.

However, they were all enemies or those who had antagonized him first.

Murakan had never harmed someone he loved.

That was what made him hesitate.

The horrible and unfamiliar feeling of taking the life of a friend made his breath quicken, and his mind clouded.

Dranax, Vyollo, and Frey.

Ever since he killed them, ever since he made the decision to kill them, a sense of guilt had been building up inside Murakan, as if it could explode at any moment and disrupt his inner peace.

[You, Temar.]

He couldn’t bear that he couldn’t protect them and that he had to be the one to take their lives.

Unconsciously, Murakan descended to search for Temar’s left arm.

The darkness, once proud and familiar, of the Manifestation of Shadows felt strange and contaminated for the first time.

Meanwhile, Temar calmed the reaction that had begun due to the release of the Sun Splitter.

«Are you going to despise me like that now, Murakan? What are you doing in the middle of the fight?»

[It’s not that.]

«Fight properly! Even if I lose all my limbs, I can still fight. Even if I lose my life today, I will be reborn and come back for you.»

Squeak!

Temar’s blow pierced one of Murakan’s wings.

Murakan didn’t even think about regenerating with his Shadow Energy; he was still thinking about Temar’s left arm.

He had resolved himself with such ferocity.

But he couldn’t bring himself to kill Temar.

The voices of the slain Ten Great Knights continued to echo in his mind.

The voice of hatred, asking if you would ruthlessly kill even the patriarch with your own hands.

Then, Barisada struck beside Murakan’s heart, piercing his abdomen and neck. Murakan couldn’t even feel pain.

He felt it would be better to die right there.

He wanted to end this nightmare.

If he could end it with death, he would give his life a thousand, even ten thousand times.

At the moment his mind was about to collapse completely.

[No… Temar!]

Murakan faced Temar, who was transforming into a purple monster.

The Spectral Transformation of the manipulation of history was progressing.

It had even accelerated demonization.

As a result, Temar’s facial features hadn’t completely disappeared like those of the previous Ten Great Knights.

His grotesquely deformed mouth was full of irregular, sharp teeth, and his pupils were dark and empty.

His sword, wielding carelessly, barely had any signs of a Genesis Knight, and now, whenever Temar closed the distance, he bit Murakan’s body like a beast.

The situation had reached such a point that Murakan’s mind finally collapsed, leaving him unable to fight properly.

He could only instinctively push Temar away and desperately deny the sight of his monstrous form.

Murakan’s heart, wounded by Soul Slash, was twisting amidst a fading reality, and occasionally, only the strange pain that spread from the heart made him aware of reality.

He confirmed the appearance of his friend, the one who had become a phantom.

They were still engaging in primitive violence, scratching and tearing at each other.

Calling it a fight would be an exaggeration, as Murakan was simply circling while Temar savagely attacked him.

Murakan was thinking.

It wasn’t the first time he had decided to kill Temar.

There was the day he went mad and killed his allies, hiding in the Black Sea Tower.

If he had gone all the way then, he believed he would have still collapsed like this in the end.

Although Orgal had helped back then, even if he hadn’t been there, Murakan would have probably stopped eventually.

The same would have been true for Sarah and Padler.

But it had to be different.

A Guardian Dragon, a being that protects the Contractor.

Protecting didn’t just refer to their life. It also meant safeguarding the moment when they were no longer themselves, when they couldn’t be brought back, and even the moment of saying goodbye.

Temar, weakened by spectral transformation and demonic transformation, couldn’t properly resist Murakan’s fight. Even with Murakan’s clumsy blows, Temar’s body was torn apart and screamed in pain.

Temar’s sharp fangs dug into Murakan’s scales but broke, and his right arm, holding Barisada, bent uncontrollably from the recoil.

Temar was crumbling.

Finally, Murakan opened both his eyes and faced him head-on. Despite his contorted body, he stared relentlessly at Temar, who was still charging at him.

[Are you so filled with hatred and injustice that you’re going mad? Me too, Temar. I can’t forgive myself, and the memories of the fierce battles we fought seem so unfair, I feel like my head’s going to explode.]

Now was the time to protect Temar.

The Shadow Energy that the Manifestation of Shadows had unleashed was instantly restored to Murakan, and the destroyed landscape of Idal was revealed.

Murakan transformed into a human and landed on the ground.

Temar approached him while limping.

Before protecting him, Murakan wanted to confirm one last thing. Just once, he wanted to hold onto hope.

Just like he and his companions cherished him more than their own lives.

Temar, even in his state of being consumed by the manipulation of history and demonic transformation, could still have remnants of the love he felt for his friends and comrades, somewhere amidst his monstrous appearance.

Murakan hesitated no longer.

He stood still like a tree, waiting for Temar to reach him with faltering steps.

Prepared for his heart to be pierced, he was willing to offer it if it meant Temar could regain his former self, even if only for a moment.

He wanted to see him as the person they knew, even if only for a few seconds, no matter how much remained in the end.

Even if the manipulation of history was so cruel, he couldn’t bear to see all those times erased.

Thud, thud.

Puh…

In the end, Temar pierced Murakan’s heart, who didn’t resist.

Ignoring the Shadow Blade stuck in his chest, he met Temar’s gaze.

«Is it over now? Even after stabbing my heart, can’t you regain your senses, even for a brief moment?»

If Temar didn’t show any sign of pain.

Now, if he had to take his last breath and fade away, it would all be over. Even with his heart pierced, he could easily kill Temar in his state of spectral transformation.

For a while, there was no answer.

But at last, Murakan could see that Temar’s grotesquely transformed body was slowly returning to its former shape.

Temar’s trembling lips barely moved as he managed to respond to Murakan.

«Murakan, just kill me… I should have prepared for the future. I should have saved my comrades, even one more person. What’s the point of my life now? Why did I do something so reckless…?»

«Ah… This bastard is finally saying something reasonable. I’m glad, eh. I’m so happy I’m crying.»

«I’ll turn back into a monster soon, Murakan. Not even Solderet will be able to stop it. So don’t make such reckless decisions again, for the sake of the Family… for the future. All this can’t just disappear like that. Someone has to stay. I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Murakan.»

Finally, Murakan could only collapse.

He could hear his broken heart pounding in his chest.

As his consciousness faded, Murakan looked at Temar’s retreating figure.

Before he lost his sanity again, before he could kill the wounded Murakan, he was doing everything he could to escape to a place where he couldn’t see Murakan.

That was the end of Murakan and Temar.