**Chapter 31**
—
Tacen swung his sword.
In response, Arthur spun his sword.
*Clang–!!*
At that moment, the greatsword and the iron blade crossed.
During the contest of strength, Arthur’s eyes widened.
‘…What kind of power is this?’
The hand gripping his sword trembled.
No—his sword itself was shaking.
If he continued the clash like this, the meteor Sword might actually break.
Having judged the situation, Arthur immediately withdrew.
‘Undine, Mr. Gnome.’
At his call, Undine unleashed a torrent of water.
*Fwoosh–!*
A fierce surge gushed forth in midair, blocking Tacen’s charge.
*Rumble–!*
Not only that, but the ground beneath his feet split apart, and Tacen’s body sank into the earth.
The Necromancer, watching this strange turn of events, muttered in shock.
“What? He can use spirits too?”
At that, his gaze narrowed.
‘And not a low-ranked one either… an intermediate? Hah. How is this even possible?’
Spatial Leap. Some bizarre bloodline.
A swordsmanship utterly absurd compared to the circle he bore.
And now, mastery over spirits.
A mercenary with such unfathomable traits—no wonder his eyes burned with deep curiosity as he watched Arthur.
Where had such a man appeared from?
A mercenary this peculiar should have made a name for himself, yet nothing came to mind.
The Necromancer was pondering this when—
Heaven and earth roared.
“Kuhahaha! You handle a sword fairly well, you brat!”
At Tacen’s bellow, Arthur angled his sword diagonally.
In that instant, a fist shot forth—straight at Arthur’s blade.
Anticipating the path, Arthur had prepared his defense in advance.
He thought he had deflected it.
Until he actually took the blow.
“…Huh?”
With a jolt, his body was hurled backward.
He tried desperately to regain balance, but it was already too late.
Arthur flew through the air and crashed into the opposite wall.
*Crash–!*
Concrete collapsed with an explosive roar.
From the rubble, coughing up a mouthful of blood, Arthur muttered,
“Wow… that really hurts.”
Then he lifted his head to see Tacen.
Now with skin almost completely green, the man had already closed the distance.
Instinctively, almost unconsciously, Arthur used Spatial Leap.
*Boom!*
The spot where he had fallen caved in, pulverized by Tacen’s greatsword.
Not a slice, but a brutal smash, as if the blade were a blunt hunk of iron.
But such ferocity left an opening.
And Arthur did not miss it.
*Stab!*
Using Spatial Leap, Arthur appeared at his nape and drove the meteor-iron Sword into Tacen’s neck.
“Hm… you won’t die from just this, right?”
“As if.”
Tacen turned his head even as he answered.
And just as Arthur tried to use Spatial Leap again—
“…?”
The sword embedded in Tacen’s neck would not budge.
Startled, Arthur pulled with strength, but it didn’t move.
‘What the—?’
He glanced downward.
There, gripping the blade tightly, were flesh and bone.
“Oh… now *that* is impressive.”
“I’ll show you something more impressive. A magic trick—your head exploding.”
With those words, Tacen swung his fist.
Arthur was about to abandon the sword and use Spatial Leap when—
*Bang–!*
A thunderous boom rang out, and Tacen’s punch halted.
Both Arthur and Tacen turned their heads—toward Jeannie.
“D-Donn-nim!! You mustn’t die!!”
“….”
“If you die, then I die too!! You absolutely have to win!!”
At her cry, Arthur let out a short laugh.
‘Jeannie… turns out you’re actually a really good person, huh?’
With that thought, he mustered all his strength and ripped out the meteor-iron Sword.
Tacen threw another punch, but Arthur had already slipped away.
Frustrated at the missed chance, Tacen shouted irritably.
“That deaf wench—didn’t you put a mark on her?”
“I only has two more revives left. That’s… inconvenient.”
“I don’t even care if you kill her, but don’t let her interfere again. One more time, and your head will be the first to blow.”
At the warning, the Necromancer only shrugged.
Then he ordered his undead.
“Obey that brute’s words, my lovely servants.”
*Screech!*
A hundred undead moved.
Watching them, Jeannie bit her lip and raised her sniper rifle.
Seeing the battle break out again, Tacen turned his head back—
And narrowed his eyes.
“…What are you doing?”
“Hm?”
“I asked what you’re doing.”
Arthur licked the blood off his sword blade and replied.
“Tasting your blood. Ugh, revolting.”
“….”
“Out of all the blood I’ve ever tasted, yours is one of the worst. Hm… but it does seem worth drinking.”
With a smirk, Arthur vanished.
Tacen gave a dry laugh and swung his greatsword.
*Clash–!*
Once more, their blades met with a harsh metallic scream.
At the same time, Tacen’s eyes widened.
“What? You were holding back your strength?”
“No. This is my full power.”
With those words, Arthur knocked aside Tacen’s greatsword.
And his following strikes were far sharper than before.
‘His strength increased. And in an instant.’
Tacen thought as he parried Arthur’s blade.
The meteor-iron Sword screamed under the force.
But its master showed no mercy.
*Crash!*
Pouring all his strength, Arthur swung for Tacen’s heart.
The sole weakness of this nearly immortal body.
Tacen hastily blocked.
“Oh? So that’s your weak point?”
Arthur twisted his sword with a grin.
The abnormally bent blade sliced through Tacen’s shoulder.
Blood gushed forth, splattering Arthur’s face.
He didn’t dodge it. He welcomed it.
Seeing that, Tacen burst into laughter.
“Drinking blood mid-battle? You’re insane.”
“I’ve heard that before. But not now.”
With those words, Arthur’s muscles surged.
*Thump!*
The blood of Bayern, mingling with the troll’s, resonated.
A flood of power and vitality burst forth, and Arthur gasped in awe.
‘Damn. What is this strength…? Just what is *troll* blood that it grants such power?’
With this much vigor, it rivaled at least a 3rd-circle swordsman’s body.
Meaning he could use physical enhancement at all times.
‘I haven’t fully absorbed the blood yet, so I don’t know if I’ll gain regeneration too… but even so. Incredible. Even compared to bloodlines I absorbed in my past life, this is among the best.’
With that thought, Arthur smiled.
Then, combining this newfound bloodline, Frakil’s power, and his circle-enhanced physique, he thrust his sword at Tacen.
*Slash!*
Blood burst from Tacen’s chest, and for the first time, his stance faltered.
Arthur’s eyes gleamed at the first perfect opening.
He immediately called out, not to waste the chance.
‘Undine! Mr. Gnome!’
The intermediate spirits appeared at his call.
A massive surge of water engulfed Tacen’s face.
“…!”
Shocked, Tacen held his breath.
But Arthur wasn’t finished.
*Crack!*
The ground beneath Tacen split wide, collapsing under him.
His body sank in, all movements instantly restricted.
Tacen’s eyes flared.
He tried to break free, but Arthur’s sword was faster.
*Swish!*
With a whistle of air, Tacen’s head flew skyward.
Arthur caught it in perfect timing and said,
“No matter how immortal you are, if I take your head, you’re dead, right?”
Tacen gave no answer.
He couldn’t.
With his head severed from his body, how could he speak?
‘So that’s it. He didn’t use sword aura. That’s why.’
Arthur smirked.
Even relying on bloodline powers, with only a 1st-circle ring, he had defeated a 5th-circle swordsman.
It was an unbelievable feat, made possible by luck and timing.
Jeannie, who had been watching, whispered in disbelief.
“…He won? Against the Butcher?”
The Necromancer’s eyes widened as well.
“Oh… he cut off that one’s head?”
Their awe sank into a tense silence.
Jeannie stared at Arthur with disbelief.
‘No matter how absurd his bloodline is… is this really possible?’
Shivers ran down her arms as she rubbed them furiously.
Only now did she recall the reckless things she had said to that monster.
‘Shit! My damn mouth! What the hell were you thinking, past me!?’
As the moment passed—
The Necromancer suddenly shouted.
“Hey. Enough playing around, finish it. Even if this is the outskirts, when morning comes we can’t linger.”
Jeannie flinched.
And so did Arthur.
Snapping his head around, Arthur’s eyes widened.
“…Huh?”
The ground shook violently.
At the same time, Gnome fainted in panic.
\[*N-No, Gnome!*]
Undine cried out as Tacen’s headless body clawed its way out of the pit.
Arthur glanced at the severed head in his hand.
Shockingly, a smile still hung on Tacen’s lips.
“You’ve got some skill, brat.”
Then something slammed into Arthur’s face.
Tacen’s fist.
“What—?”
The irresistible force knocked the head from his hand and sent him flying.
*Crash!!*
Slamming into the wall again, Arthur twitched.
His face was mangled beyond recognition, blood spraying everywhere.
A wound so grievous, one would believe he had died instantly.
Jeannie’s jaw dropped.
“…He’s dead?”
Meanwhile, Tacen reclaimed his head and smirked.
“It’s been ages since I was decapitated. No matter when it happens, it’s a chilling feeling.”
Jeannie froze in horror.
‘What the hell…? He survived even after being beheaded?’
A Necromancer reviving was one thing—but the Butcher?
Even Tacen coming back from death was almost impossible to believe.
But it was happening before her eyes.
“…Hah….”
With a sigh, Jeannie collapsed.
That hopeless scene shattered her last hope.
The Necromancer and the Butcher were no different.
Realizing the battle was settled, they withdrew their auras.
“Let’s recover President Tartan and pull out. We can’t delay any further. If we stir things up too much, city officials will press down on us.”
“Let them press. I don’t care.”
“…Will you say that to the Master too?”
Tacen flinched at that.
The Necromancer warned again.
“The damage is too great. The death toll is over fifty. The officials will definitely make a move, and that’s not the picture the Master wants.”
“You should take responsibility. You made them undead, didn’t you?”
“And you smashed their heads so I *could* make them undead, didn’t you, Tacen?”
Tacen fell silent, glaring furiously.
“One day, I’ll smash your head.”
“I’ll look forward to it. Now let’s go.”
Tacen spat on the ground and turned.
Toward Jeannie, who was shielding President Tartan.
But Jeannie could do nothing.
If even that madman couldn’t win, what chance did she have against this monster?
Unconsciously, she lowered her sniper rifle.
Then—
A familiar voice rang out in the factory.
“Excuse me?”
“…?”
“You can’t leave yet. I’m not done with you.”
Tacen turned.
So did the Necromancer, startled.
“What?”
His expression twisted in shock.
Because Arthur—who should have been dead—was standing, touching his ruined face.
*Crack–!*
Rising to his feet, Arthur felt along his neck.
His broken spine realigned, new flesh sprouting over his bloodied face.
An utterly impossible regeneration.
Tacen’s eyes widened.
‘Regeneration… equal to mine?’
Fully restored, Arthur flashed a bright smile.
“Thought I was dead, but nope. Guess it’s time to start again?”
With that, he raised his meteor-iron Sword.
Tacen burst into laughter.
“This bastard… he’s actually fun.”
“…Fun? I’m starting to be scared. Just what the hell is he?”
The Necromancer stared, dazed.
Then—something dropped from Arthur’s face.
A single eyeball.
“…?”
It rolled across the floor and stopped at the Necromancer’s feet.
Staring at it, then looking back up—
He saw Arthur scratching his head.
“Oh, it fell out.”
“….”
“Could you pick it up for me, Mr. Necromancer? I’d rather not go one-eyed.”
The Necromancer let out a disbelieving laugh.
“Whatever you are… you’re definitely insane. No sane man does this.”
—
