Chapter 25 : Fifth Inevitable (2)

“You are the hero chosen for the destiny of a <Swordsman>.”

Fifth Crossroad <Sword’s enlightened one>

-Inevitable: <???>

Since my first return, a new inevitability had appeared in the spot that had previously shown <???>.

This ability, fitting the name of the crossroad ‘Master,’ held the power to draw out the true strength hidden within a special or legendary sword.

The inevitabilities bound to each crossroad tend to align with the nature of that crossroad.

In the first crossroad, <Prodigy Swordsman>, which showed the growth of my talent, <Flexible Absorption> was bound to me.

In the crossroad marking the true beginning of a swordsman’s journey, <Battlefield Sword Demon>, <Indomitable Body> was bound.

When I reached <Master of the Sword>, the beginning of the path to wielding mana or magical energy, I gained <Magical Power at the Blade’s Edge>.

Finally, as a swordsman maturing and discovering my unique traits, <Windstorm Knight> granted me <Step of the Falling Leaf>.

All these inevitabilities were well-suited to the nature of each crossroad.

Additionally, these were abilities I had directly or indirectly used just before my return.

But.

‘This is an ability I’m seeing for the first time.’

The newly awakened inevitability, <???>.

This was an ability I had never dealt with before.

Even before my return, I had no such ability, nor had I heard of anything similar among the continent’s heroes.

Of course, heroes born with destinies like <Apprentice Hero> or <Master of the Sacred Sword> sometimes wield special swords like a ‘holy sword.’

Those heroes’ destinies naturally specialized in wielding unique weapons.

However, I’d never heard of an inevitability like <???> that could use the powers of these swords in a manner resembling ‘chance.’

‘The Tidal Wave on the Sword…’

When a crossroad and an inevitability awaken, the method to utilize it naturally appears in my mind.

The chance bound to the treasured sword <Galid>, <Tidal Wave on the Sword>, launches a horizontal slash imbued with magical power forward.

Then, from above, it summons a massive torrent of water to engulf the enemy.

Though it lacks enough lethality to sever the enemy’s breath, it can momentarily control their movements.

Given the overwhelming volume of water, the name ‘tidal wave’ seemed fitting.

‘It’ll be useful for fighting multiple enemies.’

My swordsmanship is fundamentally specialized in ‘combat against many.’

The reason is simple.

The place I was first thrown into after arriving in this other world was the battlefield, where chaotic melees made one-on-one duels rare.

A sword that could take down as many enemies as possible.

A way to minimize my own damage.

Thus was born my main swordsmanship technique, <Bellum Swordsmanship>, with its diluted version known as <Valor Swordsmanship>.

But now.

A new power had emerged to reinforce it even further.

‘Let’s go right away.’

There was no need to hesitate.

Shhk!!

I dashed forward quickly and drew Galid, slashing through the air.

My swing carried a sufficient amount of magical power within it.

This was due to my utilization of <Magical Power at the Blade’s Edge> from the moment I drew the sword.

Indeed.

This chance, <Tidal Wave on the Sword>, is unusable by anyone who isn’t a swordsman who can wield magical power.

After all, this inevitability, bound to the fifth crossroad, naturally requires such a prerequisite.

Slash, Aaagh-!!

11000-!!

A massive torrent of water poured onto the magical strike.

I could sense the high-tier monsters, the Hellhounds, struggling in disarray under the sudden waterfall.

Some attempted to maneuver quickly, avoiding the water.

I seized the opportunity and began my attack.

Whoosh!!

Clang!!

7100-!!

Hellhounds are magical beasts characterized by their metallic exterior and the use of blazing hellfire.

Thus, when my sword pierced them, a clang sounded as it struck their hide, and their fire rushed up the blade toward me.

“You’re sluggish.”

I moved fluidly, evading the flames entirely.

This was the extreme mastery of the <Piarelli Footwork>.

I then enveloped my sword in magical power and immediately pierced through the Hellhound’s hide.

When magical beasts possess such sturdy defenses, only a perfected magical sword can break through and hunt them.

And for a hero swordsman to wield magical power at that level, they must at least awaken the ‘third crossroad.’

This was why Duke Crowflin, the supreme commander, initially ordered all knights below second-tier heroes into a defensive stance.

Shh!!

11000-!!

<Tidal Wave on the Sword> was an unmistakably effective chance.

The massive torrent continued to disrupt the Hellhound’s movements.

Thanks to this, I could easily cut them down with much more ease than usual.

Truthfully, as someone who has already reached a high level of swordsmanship, I hadn’t expected these auxiliary skills to be that helpful… yet in multi-combat scenarios, they proved surprisingly useful.

The spoils of battle didn’t end there.

「Wavering Clock Hand of Chance!」

「You are the hero who has perfectly mastered the chance of <Piarelli Footwork>. This chance is bound to the destiny of a <Swordsman>.」

「<Piarelli Footwork> specializes in linking smooth movement with destructive swordsmanship. No matter how long an attack takes to prepare, concentration is uninterrupted when this footwork is in use.」

「Wavering Clock Hand of Chance!」

「You are the hero who has perfectly mastered the chance of <Bellum Swordsmanship>. This chance is bound to the destiny of a <Swordsman>.」

「<Bellum Swordsmanship> was created to kill many within the endless chaos of war. When wielding a sword, your senses remain sharp even in battles against multiple enemies.」

The <Piarelli Footwork> and <Bellum Swordsmanship> I relied on just before my return were now registered as chances.

<Valor Swordsmanship> had been registered as a chance earlier, during the hunt for Kelleil, as well as from demonstrating it several times for a new course.

However, the former techniques had been challenging to register as chances.

This was because they were techniques created specifically for real combat.

Now that I was using both techniques in earnest combat, it seemed they registered right away.

11000-!!

I had already cut down over five Hellhounds with Galid, my treasured sword.

Six.

No, with this, seven.

Despite being high-tier magical beasts, my sword hunted them mercilessly within the overwhelming tide.

“Their cries sound almost human.”

In the trance of battle, I muttered quietly.

Though Hellhounds are usually associated with the image of a hound, their cries and screams oddly resembled human sounds.

The battle was so one-sided that such idle thoughts crossed my mind.

Lis quietly observed the situation from among the nearby heroes, as the client had requested.

This request involved participating in an investigation of the designated area by the Kleppe Royal Knights, and her role was as one of the cooperative members from the Magic Tower.

Therefore, all she had to do was pretend to use magic appropriately.

Even though an unexpected situation had arisen, with high-tier Hellhounds appearing right from the beginning in the monster lair, the Kleppe Royal Knights, known as the kingdom’s top order, could certainly handle it.

All she needed to do was stand in the safest place and watch the knights hunt the monsters.

It should have been an unremarkable situation.

‘No way. He used Tidal Slash?’