The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 221

Upon hearing Kaylen’s proposal, Dragon God inwardly scoffed.

‘This is an offer where I lose nothing.’

The lingering force of the Six Sword Path, which lay dormant within Dragon God’s body, was exceedingly weak.

No matter how much Kaylen claimed to have forged a sword that could sever Infinity, it was nothing more than a mere demonstration.

It would never be capable of extinguishing Dragon God’s flames.

‘If anything, watching how that sword manifests will allow me to prepare for it.’

As Kaylen said, Dragon God considered the Six Sword Path to be worthless—but that didn’t mean he had forgotten about it.

If he could see firsthand how Kaylen wielded a sword capable of breaking Infinity, he could formulate a countermeasure.

No matter how he looked at it, Kaylen’s proposal was the reckless arrogance of an overconfident fool.

[The Six Sword Path… You are but an offshoot of me. You will never surpass your origin. I will witness your sword with my own eyes and dismantle it immediately.]

“Oh? Looking forward to it, are you?”

For a brief moment, an overwhelming aura erupted from the Six Sword Path—then, it condensed into a single point.

The six blades, each imbued with a different element, merged into one, transforming into a single steel sword as their auras fused into one.

Sssrrrr—

All around them, Dragon God’s flames, which had been blazing uncontrollably, suddenly began to subside—as if recoiling from the steel sword.

‘This… this is…?’

Transcendence Realm: Star Extinction.

For the first time, Dragon God directly witnessed the completed sword. From the moment the blades merged into one, he could not suppress his unease.

‘This… this is different from the previous Six Sword Path.’

Fire, Water, Wind, Light, Darkness.

The six elemental auras.

The Six Sword Path had spawned countless variations of itself.

Rather than a mere swordsmanship style, it had functioned more like a grand spell—so much so that even the greatest archmages instinctively recoiled at its presence.

Dragon God had thoroughly analyzed every possible technique derived from that sword.

Even those he had not personally created, he had already foreseen and prepared for.

‘I had believed that what succeeded it—the Six Demon Path—was its ultimate evolution. That the Six Sword Path was nothing more than its lesser, inferior form.’

But this was different.

On the surface, it was a simple steel sword.

And yet—

This was a miracle beyond the limits of the Six Sword Path, a blade capable of severing the infinite loop and eradicating stars themselves.

A sword that even Dragon God, for all his calculations, could never have predicted—a blade that was his very nemesis.

‘…Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can hardly believe it.’

Back then, when the Water Goddess entrusted everything to him and slumbered within him—when she spoke of awakening after Infinity was shattered to try and persuade Kaylen—

He had thought she was wasting her time.

—It is astonishing that Infinity was broken… But that does not mean you, as the Water Goddess, should disgrace yourself by intervening.

He had tried to dissuade her.

Yet, when she insisted on going, only to be crushed by Kaylen, he had inwardly sneered at her folly.

‘No matter how much he claimed to have created a sword that could destroy Infinity, I had assumed it would have its limits…’

But now, seeing the steel sword Kaylen had just forged—

That assumption wavered, shaken from its very foundation.

‘…That sword itself can certainly be subdued.’

The Dragon God’s flames—

And the amount of mana contained within that steel sword—there was no comparison.

If the Dragon God’s flames held mana as vast as an ocean,

Then the aura of that steel sword was nothing more than a single drop of water.

‘But… if more aura is added to it, and if mana serves as its foundation?’

It was nothing but a dull, blunt steel sword, showing no sharpness whatsoever.

Yet, with the right aura to support it…

That sword would effortlessly shatter stars and sever the infinite loop.

The Dragon God knew this truth based on the memories of his former self, Ernstine.

‘He has fully grasped Infinity… How? How could something as lowly as the Six Sword Path create such a sword…?!’

The greatest sword he had ever forged as Ernstine was Six Sword Manifestation—

A technique that harnessed all the attributes of the Six Sword Path.

He had believed that no sword beyond that could ever be conceived.

With a trembling voice, the Dragon God asked,

[...What is the name of that sword?]

“Star Extinction.”

[A sword that annihilates stars… A fitting name indeed. Just those two words alone tell me that you have completely unraveled the nature of Infinity. That this sword itself is a star.]

“That’s right. Because Infinity existed within me, I was able to comprehend it. To sever the infinite loop in reverse and collapse the core of the stars.”

[…]

The form of the sword gradually blurred before returning to its original state—the Six Sword Path.

Even if it was merely a demonstration, Star Extinction was a sword that reached the realm of transcendence.

It was impossible to maintain it for long with such a feeble aura.

[…I don’t want to admit it.]

But—

The intent behind Kaylen’s creation of that sword had thoroughly struck the Dragon God.

[That sword… is one I cannot resist—a sword that annihilates stars.]

The Dragon God realized it.

To resist that sword, he would have to abandon Infinity.

And doing so would mean losing the power to oppose the Celestial Demon.

He had evolved in this direction precisely to overcome the Celestial Demon…

Yet now, Kaylen’s Star Extinction, which had appeared out of nowhere, had thrown everything into disarray.

[Now do you understand why I stepped forward?]

Hearing the Dragon God’s hollow voice, the Water Goddess seemed to recall how he had once berated her for lowering herself before that insignificant man.

Now, she acted as if she had been the one to wield Star Extinction herself.

[If the Celestial Demon gains free use of that sword… there will be no future for us. We must persuade him at all costs.]

[…I agree.]

In a noticeably weakened voice, the Dragon God conceded to the Water Goddess’s opinion.

[Lord Kaylen, would you consider this?]

Her tone now far more respectful after witnessing Star Extinction, the Water Goddess cautiously addressed Kaylen.

“How?”

[Once the Celestial Demon is defeated, as you have said, we will no longer interfere in the world. However… should an extraterrestrial threat arise, as it has now—]

She trailed off, her voice trembling slightly before continuing.

[W-We will seek your permission first… before deciding whether or not to intervene.]

[You… Do you even realize what you’re saying to the god of this planet?!]

[I-I have no choice… given the current situation…]

Seeking Kaylen’s permission before deciding whether to intervene against extraterrestrial invasions—

For someone who was essentially the absolute deity of this planet, it was an utterly humiliating concession.

It was no different from entrusting her future actions entirely to Kaylen.

It was only natural that the Dragon God, already unsettled by Star Extinction, was now completely stunned.

‘Heh. She’s thinking ahead.’

But upon hearing her conditions, Kaylen inwardly smirked.

‘She assumes I’ll be around forever.’

Kaylen wasn’t a divine being—his lifespan was limited.

From the perspective of the Water Goddess, who had existed alongside the history of this planet, Kaylen was just an irregularity that would eventually be swept away by the flow of time.

‘But… it’s not like she can bind me beyond my death anyway.’

Once he was gone, there would be no means to control the gods.

Whatever happened after that would be humanity’s problem to deal with.

Kaylen decided this was where he would make his judgment.

‘Compared to the Celestial Demon… the Water Goddess is still the better choice.’

At the very least, she wanted to protect this planet.

Whereas the Celestial Demon intended to destroy it and restore the moon to its original form, Theia.

Humans weren’t going to live on Theia.

It was far better for this planet to remain as it was.

“There are two conditions.”

[Please, tell me.]

“The promise you made—it only lasts as long as I’m alive. What happens after my death is for future humans to decide… But I want you to forget any personal grudges against me and leave humanity alone, even after I’m gone.”

[…So you’ve already figured that out. Very well. I will leave them be.]

The Water Goddess readily accepted Kaylen’s proposal.

After all, once this irregularity disappeared,

The human race would no longer pose any significant threat to the gods.

‘That fragile species… will destroy itself even if left alone.’

That was her conclusion.

[What is the next condition?]

“The Dragon God must disappear along with the Celestial Demon.”

[What…?]

“No matter how much you claim your past self was Ernstine… I can never forgive what you did—

You destroyed the Meier Empire and cast your own clan into ruin.

So fulfill the purpose for which you were originally created—perish alongside the Celestial Demon when the time comes.

Then, I will cooperate.”

[You wretch…! You are not even truly of the Meier clan—you are nothing more than a sword. And yet you dare to interfere with my affairs?]

“That may be true.

Then think of this as the loyalty of the Six Sword Path, serving the family it once swore to protect.

My fallen swordmaster.”

At Kaylen’s words, the Dragon God did not respond.

A long silence followed.

Conflicting emotions stormed within him.

The Six Sword Path—something he had cast aside—was now speaking of avenging the clan he had abandoned. It was laughable.

And yet—

A bitter regret washed over him as he asked himself how things had come to this.

Memories of his time as Ernstine flickered through his mind, little by little.

And finally—

The purpose of his very existence, the reason he was created, resurfaced.

‘Defeating the Celestial Demon… That is the reason for my existence…’

“Give me your answer.”

At Kaylen’s question—

The Dragon God, after a long silence, finally responded.

[…Very well. I accept your condition.]

Defeating the extraterrestrial enemy was the Dragon God’s duty.

What came after was of no concern to him.

With the negotiations with the Water Goddess concluded—

Kaylen severed the sword’s connection.

‘Now, only one enemy remains.’

The Celestial Demon.

No one else.

‘I need to forge a sword capable of destroying him.’

Creating Star Extinction, a weapon that reached the Transcendence Realm, had only been possible because he had wielded Infinity for so long.

But the Celestial Demon was a complex being—an entity that ruled both the Celestial and Demon Realms, yet whose very foundation was tied to the moon.

To devise a sword capable of utterly annihilating him—

He would need more time and preparation.

“Kaylen.”

At that moment—

Arashiel approached him, a confident expression on her face.

“What is it?”

“You were curious before, weren’t you?”

“About what? Ah… your true form…”

“Yes.”

Kaylen nodded calmly.

Arashiel’s true form.

If he could see it, he might find another clue to understanding the Celestial Demon.

“I received permission from the god.”

“Really?”

“Yes. So…”

Arashiel’s lips curled into a smirk.

More confident than ever before.

“It’s time for you to prepare yourself… to become my slave.”

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]