Academy’s Genius Swordmaster

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 248: Clash (1)

“What, you’re still alive?”

【…You!】

Naransonia’s eyes widened in shock. It was unmistakably the same human she had fought before. As she glanced back and forth between Ronan and Orsay, she stammered out her bewilderment.

【What are you doing here?!】

“Uh… It’s a long story.”

Ronan scratched the back of his head. He neither had the time nor the inclination to explain, and even if he did, she probably wouldn’t believe him. Naransonia clutched the wound on her chest.

【Grr…!】

The pain was still fresh. Thinking back to the fight sent shivers down her spine. The agony from the slash still lingered deep in her skin. Seeing steel spikes grow from her arm, Ronan frowned.

“What, you want to fight again? I’m not really in the mood.”

【Shut up! Draw your sword right now…】

Before Naransonia could finish her sentence, there was an explosion in the corner of the ceiling. The white-haired boy from earlier landed gracefully through the new hole.

“Wow… what a surprise. What’s going on here?”

Despite colliding with Orsay, he didn’t have a scratch on him. Ronan turned his head, raising an eyebrow. He had a feeling he knew what Orsay had run into.

“What?”

It was unmistakably a Lycopos. Why wasn’t he guarding the top? And it seemed like he had been fighting Naransonia.

‘What were they doing?’

Ronan’s thoughts were interrupted when the boy’s and his eyes met. The boy’s eyes, almost the same shade of crimson as Ronan’s, narrowed in recognition. After a moment of silence, the boy spoke.

“…You.”

The once nonchalant face twisted with hatred. His playful tone turned menacing. When Ronan didn’t respond, the boy continued.

“How lucky. I never thought I’d meet my little sister’s killer here.”

“Sister?”

“Yeah. Don’t tell me you don’t remember.”

Lifting his massive sword, the boy pointed it at Ronan. The confusion on Ronan’s face deepened as he recalled their earlier encounter.

After pondering for a moment, Ronan finally remembered the boy’s sister.

“Oh, that stupid girl.”

“Die!”

In an instant, the boy’s forehead veins bulged. His figure disappeared from Ronan’s sight, only to reappear right in front of him, his body still encased in that strange, shimmering barrier.

【Watch out! That barrier…!】

Naransonia shouted. She couldn’t quite understand why she was warning Ronan, but maybe she hated the boy who killed the innocent maids more than the one who defeated her.

‘It’s too late.’

But it seemed her warning came a bit too late. Naransonia grimaced. Instead of dodging, Ronan drew his sword and met the boy’s attack head-on.

The blade, stained with the hues of sunset, moved swiftly. Ronan’s strike was faster, but against that barrier, speed didn’t matter much.

The boy, sensing victory, smirked. But Ronan’s sword didn’t stop at the barrier. It smoothly sliced through, forming an arc. Ronan spoke.

“If you only rely on this, you won’t live long.”

“What?”

The boy’s eyes widened. The Protection of the Stars was shattering. The crimson blade was already at his throat. He tried to dodge, but his body wouldn’t respond.

“Damn it, my body…!”

It felt as though the sword itself was pulling him in. The boy, unable to defend or evade, tried to shout something. Swish! The blade sliced through his throat, exiting the back of his neck.

There were no last words. The boy’s head soared into the air. The sunset hue of the blade faded, revealing a sword stained with blood. Naransonia’s mouth fell open.

【…How?】

“I don’t know either.”

Thud. The boy’s body crumpled, knees hitting the floor, followed by his head, which rolled onto the bed, soaking it in blood. Ronan sheathed his sword and turned to Naransonia.

“More importantly, I just saved your life. So, let me ask you one thing.”

【What?】

“What the hell is going on at the top?”

Ronan asked. As they climbed higher, he could feel the mana intensifying. The ominous sensation was too strong to be a mere whim.

Naransonia said nothing, her mind racing. Ordinarily, she would have fought to the death without revealing anything. After all, she was a loyal servant of Azidahaka.

But the boy’s words lingered. He had said everything would be meaningless in a few hours, that the world was ending.

That didn’t align with her lord’s goals. Azidahaka’s aim was to gain power and attack Navardose with his followers.

She hadn’t surrendered to the boy for that very reason. It didn’t seem like a command from the Dragon King.

【He said… everything will end in a few hours.】

After a moment of silence, Naransonia spoke. She recounted her conversation with the boy and the unexpected attack.

【…That’s all I know. Do you have any guesses?】

“Ah, fucking hell.”

Ronan cursed under his breath. It wasn’t hard to piece together the conclusion.

The Dragon King planned to complete the ritual today. The oppressive feeling in his body, the excessive concentration of guards, and the Dragon King’s absence all made sense now.

‘We’re screwed.’

Time was running out. Ronan quickly climbed back onto Orsay’s neck, tapping the scales.

“We need to hurry. Let’s go.”

【Wait, hold on! What’s happening?!】

“No time to explain. If you want to save your king, kill all those white-clad bastards.”

【What? What are you talking about…】

Ronan didn’t wait for Naransonia to respond. She was about to say something when—Boom! Orsay’s massive body shot through the ceiling.

【Grr!】

The tremendous wind pressure knocked Naransonia back. It felt like a black wall was rising before her. The dragon’s body and wings were much larger and sturdier than when she had last seen him.

Soon, Orsay was completely out. Thud! Thud! Thud! Sounds of destruction echoed from the ceiling.

【What the…】

Naransonia clenched her fists as she staggered to her feet. The hole in the lair was at least 200 meters in diameter. Debris, bodies, and screaming people were falling through.

****

[Translator – Peptobismol]

【Grrrr—!!】

“Good, don’t stop!”

The reckless charge had resumed. Ronan’s plan was to ride Orsay and break through from the inside. Aselle’s ice armor and Shullifen’s wind supported him.

Ronan had devised the plan from Naransonia’s earlier headbutt. Clad in steel armor, she had smashed through the impenetrable Sky Tower walls.

If she could do it, there was no way their Orsay couldn’t. Luckily, the plan was working perfectly. From atop the dragon, Aselle’s screams echoed pitifully.

“Aaaah! Eeek! Aaack!”

He clung to the spikes on Orsay’s back as if his life depended on it. Beside the wailing Aselle, Ronan and Shullifen crouched low, staying close together. The spot where Orsay’s neck met his body was the only safe zone in this wild ride.

–Boom!

–Crash!

–Boom!

The thunderous explosions shook the tower at regular intervals. Each time Orsay broke through a floor, desperate screams followed. Every creature that collided with his body was torn apart, save for the Lycopos boy they encountered earlier.

“Save me!”

“What the hell… Aaagh!”

The ice that had grown into the shape of armor destroyed everything it touched. Shullifen’s wind created an upward draft around Orsay, increasing their speed.

“They’re coming up! Stop them!”

“H-how? Ugh!”

Initially, Ronan had thought to use slashes or telekinesis to weaken the ceiling, but it turned out to be an unnecessary concern. In less than a minute, Orsay had smashed through five floors, roaring thunderously.

【Out of my way, vermin!】

Nothing could stop Orsay. In his true form, he was indeed the legendary Dark Dragon of destruction.

Every flap of his four wings brought down the ceiling, changing the scenery. The Dark Dragon tearing through the tower from within was a sight that embodied the word “defiance.”

Suddenly, an immensely vast space opened up before them, echoing with the clinking of metal. The party’s eyes widened in recognition.

“This is…!”

It was a familiar place—the golden desert that spanned the entire floor. The grand space was meant for the Dragon King’s colossal form.

However, the Dragon King was nowhere to be seen. Only his vast treasure remained, swirling down through the hole Orsay had created.

“This is the throne room. We’re already here.”

“The top must be just above.”

Shullifen spoke, feeling the increasing discomfort that indicated they were close to the top. Gold coins rained down with Orsay, shimmering like a golden storm.

Above them, the Dragon King awaited. Whatever was happening, one thing was certain: they were about to engage in a fierce battle with a dragon second only to Navardose. Ronan took a deep breath and spoke.

“Let’s go.”

Orsay increased his speed without a word. The endless space finally reached its end. Boom! Boom! Boom! The ceiling shattered, revealing the night sky.

“Ah…!”

Cool air rushed into their lungs. They were far above the tower’s top, having gained too much speed.

The sky at the edge of dawn was more blue than black. Fading stars scattered their last light like final words. Then a familiar voice echoed from below.

【Welcome. You ignorant fools—】

【Who defies.】

Ronan looked down. At the top of the tower was a massive gold dragon spreading its wings. It was the Dragon King, Azidahaka. Nebula Clazier’s followers in white robes surrounded him.

“Wait a minute.”

Ronan’s eyes widened. At the Dragon King’s feet lay an extinguished magic circle.

Just hours ago, his head had been half-finished. Now, the third head, covered in white scales reminiscent of the moon, had fully formed.

【So that’s the Dark Dragon Orsay? Quite ordinary.】

The third head spoke indifferently. Aselle’s face turned pale.

“N-No, has the ritual already…!”

“Shit. Are we too late?”

Ronan twisted his lips. They had hurried as much as they could, but it seemed they were too late. However, their immediate concern was not that. Inside the three gaping mouths of the Dragon King, white suns trembled.

【Repent for rejecting my grace—】

【And disappear into the starlight.】

This was really bad. The glowing spheres, filled with unimaginable power, seemed prepared long before they arrived. The third head finished speaking.

【Farewell, trash.】

“Damn it, dodge!”

Ronan shouted. Boom! The suns collapsed, releasing three beams of light that converged in mid-air, exponentially increasing in size. It was as if a bolt of lightning had struck, and their world turned white.

‘We’re dead.’

For a moment, everyone felt certain of their death. The white light, ghastly in its purity, seemed like an eraser poised to wipe out their existence. Just as the light was about to engulf them—

‘Not yet.’

In an instant, time seemed to stretch infinitely for Ronan. His heightened senses in the face of danger made the world slow down. The howling wind fell silent. Only Ronan could move normally in this slowed-down world.

It couldn’t end here. Instinctively, he drew his sword and gripped the hilt with both hands. Crimson light, as vivid as fresh blood, spread along the blade.

He swung with all his might, determined to cut through it all. The arc of his sword expanded a hundredfold, creating a massive crescent moon.

Shing…! A black line slashed through the white world. Beyond the line, the night sky loomed as their only escape.

Sound returned to its normal pace. As time resumed, Ronan shouted.

“Orsay!”

【Don’t order me!】

Snapping back to his senses, Orsay spread his wings horizontally and darted through the gap. The narrow opening engulfed them. Aselle’s belated scream echoed.

“Aaaaah!”

“Ugh…!”

Shullifen gritted his teeth. It felt like riding a comet through the sun. The destructive white light brushed their heads and Orsay’s hind legs, disintegrating the ice armor into particles.

After what felt like an eternity, the night sky finally appeared before them. The intensity of the light had turned Adren into a scene as bright as day. Ronan growled.

“We made it. You bastards.”

【Impossible-】

【This can’t be!】

Two of the heads cried out in disbelief. White remnants of light seeped from their mouths like smoke. They seemed slightly exhausted from the intense exertion. The new head spoke calmly.

【Do not panic. We’ll fire another shot immediately.】

Unlike the previous heads, this one maintained a cool demeanor. However, their dragon wasn’t one to be underestimated. Orsay’s four wings exploded outward.

【You think I’ll let you!】

Orsay’s roar shook Adren. The fact that he owed his life to humans filled him with unbearable rage. He folded his wings and began a vertical dive.

[Translator – Peptobismol]