Chapter 70 - Darkness and Sword King Festival [1] (2/2)

「Wha!?」

「What are you surprised about? This was originally my power. Since you’ve grown up a tiny bit, I’m also able to draw out my power little by little.」

He said that with a ferocious smile.

But what surprised me was not him using『darkness』.

(D-Density is… way too different…!)

The darkness between me and him was so different that it was stupid to even try and compare.

Density, quantity, and power – all of them were otherworldly.

As expected, the power taken from that guy last night seems to have only been a mere fraction.

「Kuh… Even I can…!」

I focused my mind and with the same strong mind as last night – I seeked the Black Sword.

However,

「Eh…?」

The Black Sword didn’t appear. Only『black mist』appeared in the palm of my hand.

「Ha! Brat, you’re still a chick. That’s because you expressed my Black Sword into a concrete form just a little while ago! Your『spiritual power』is completely empty…!」

「S-Spiritual power…? What’s that?」

When I tilted my head to the words I’m hearing for the first time,

「Something like that… just go ask Black Fist instead…!」

He jumped over here at a tremendous speed.

「Damnit…」

As I was unable to pull out the Black Sword, I drew my usual sword. But at that moment,

「…Hey, where are you looking?」

He was already standing behind me.

(F-Fast…!)

That guy, clad in darkness, was incomparably faster than he was before.

「Hey, plant your feet firmly!」

「Guh!?」

Even his physical strength was incomparable to before.

(What strength…!)

I somehow managed to defend his strong kick with my sword, but was sent flying horizontally like a ball.

「Ga, ha…」

My back crashed into a huge rock making me spew out all the air in my lungs.

The tremendous impact made my consciousness waver and my sword slipped from my right hand.

(Defense… was absolutely pointless…)

Before that overwhelming violence, the defenses that I had acquired in the past were of no use.

「Hey, here comes the finishing blow…!」

「Shit…. I’m not gonna… accept defeat… !」

The moment I thrust my hands forward, towards his looming fist,

Circular darkness unfolded forward and perfectly defended his straight right.

Towards the unbelievable scene that unfolded,

(T-This is… !)

My eyes widened.

Until now, even if I tried to defend his attacks with my sword, it was not possible to kill the overwhelming force, and defence did not serve any meaning.

But this time I completely killed all his force. My first successful perfect defence.

(I see… So『Darkness』can be used in such a way…!)

The moment when I manipulated darkness for the first time and grasped a definitive clue towards becoming stronger,

「Tch… Don’t get carried away, shitty brat…!」

A strong straight right clad in darkness pierced into my abdomen.

「Ga, ha…」

I was blown far backwards.

The blood in my body bounced in all directions, and severe pain ran.

「Ha-haha…!」

I was filled with a tremendous sense of fulfillment.

(Much, much more… I can become much stronger!)

If I can manipulate this『darkness』freely, I can become even stronger!

(If that were to happen, I’ll be able to draw even more power from him. I might be able to manifest my soul dress like everyone else!)

In this way, I obtained two great outcomes – “Manipulation of Darkness” and “Spiritual Power” – and was then drawn back to the real world.