Battle War; Magic, Sword and Dragon

The Demon King Power

"I got a report that they found another eye, Mr. Boris. I don't know why they're so eager to peek at someone else. Looks like they have plenty of free time."

"...it is proof that the peace that is currently before our eyes can be destroyed in a matter of minutes, no, even faster. To avoid that we finish off anyone who tries to damage it by using this opportunity. When this country is in an emergency, then that is when they will actively move. They're easy to guess."

Currently there is no country trying to fight against the Houou empire. Not only because they have the greatest military power in the world, but also because the inhabitants of the Houou empire love the country built on the former battlefield. That's why even though the Knights lost the war, the people will fight to fight against the invaders who try to seize their peace.

Only fools attack that greatest country.

But that doesn't mean neither side is looking for an opportunity to do so.

One of those efforts is to send eyes.

The imperial capital was visited by almost every resident from all corners of the world with various purposes. Whether it's a good goal or not.

Today the empire uses an automatic watchdog system on every entrant. This system is made to prevent unwanted things and every entrant must obey it, otherwise they will not be allowed to enter.

But that doesn't mean the system doesn't have any gaps. One of them is that the surveillance system only tracks so that migrants do not go to prohibited places. This doesn't include recording sounds or anything like that. In other words what they were talking about and what they were meeting with could not be known.

With so many such loopholes, it is no wonder that information can leak to other countries quickly.

But that doesn't mean the empire is letting all that keep happening. The formation of the Shadow Knight was one way to deal with that gap.

"I understand, but this should be Shiro's job, not a villain like us. Mr Boris, don't you agree?"

"I know you're upset that you can't fight with Mr. Kuro, but we also have an important role here. I don't want to break Mr. Kuro's trust with selfish desires. Just do what we have to do. Right now we can only pray."

"Mom.. It's a boring job. I haven't enjoyed the rain of fresh blood in a long time."

Boris ignored the grievances of one of the maids and stared at the center of the city overgrown by the crystal forest. Although it was calm, there was currently a battle underground.

He was a criminal, but also a servant. But right now he is just a man praying for the safety of someone he respects and hates.

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In thin air, flashes were seen all over the darkness. The sound of the sword intertwines the sound of music in battle.

"...You monster!"

There was no more appropriate word to describe the figure he was fighting.

A handsome young man who looked ordinary, but his speed, battle technique, defensive strength made anyone would say the same.

"Is that all you can say, Itsuki?"

They were not moving around as if time had stopped. But in reality they are the ones who move faster than the flow of time. Not only moving, but also clashing swords with the desire to kill each other. Their fight was already in a different dimension.

Itsuki managed to injure Kuro in various parts of his body, it was not a deep wound. More precisely he could not do it even though he wanted to immediately behead Kuro.

As for Kuro, despite being injured Kuro's movements were completely unaffected. Even his movements got sharper and he managed to attack the part of Itsuki's protective gap.

But Itsuki can regenerate the injured part. While Kuro does not have such abilities, but Kuro can fight better. No wonder Itsuki called him a monster.

"No, that's the first thing I thought about when I met you, Senior. And until now my opinion has never changed."

Kuro just smiled. They then clashed swords once more and kept their distance.

Itsuki cuts the pole and kicks it right towards Kuro. Kuro cut it off at the same time Itsuki lunged. Kuro survives by crossing his sword and Kuro is pushed back, but he manages to survive by strengthening his footing.

Using one sword to resist, Kuro attacked using the sword in his left hand. Kuro was unhesitatingly eyeing the protective unprotected neck gap.

Itsuki managed to dodge by tilting his head. But that was when he saw his protector cut off by a thin object.

If he doesn't escape, he'll be seriously injured. Although it can regenerate, but it is better if not injured.

The battle technique of an assassin is indeed different because it targets the vital parts of the enemy. One attack determines everything.

Of course Itsuki also used the same fighting style. After all he was Kuro's best student. That was why both of them could guess what their respective opponents thought.

What will he attack next?

What technique will he use next?

All of this can be known only by the sword.

But even though everything can be known, the two have obvious differences. Itsuki's protector made himself have doubled strength. Kuro only uses two swords. In addition Itsuki can regenerate. Just wait for the time until the winner is determined.

Both know that. Both are aware of their own limits and strengths.

"Your breath is already panting, Senior. How about we quickly end this by letting me chop off your head."

"Ha... You are indeed my best student, Itsuki."

Kuro was still smiling. He showed no fear or signs of giving up. He also had no intention of losing his head.

"All the techniques you use are exactly the same as the ones I use. I'm really glad that anyone could make it this far. But is this all you can do?"

"Of course not. I'll prove that I got through to you!"

Once again Itsuki attacked. This time he was more serious than before. He even used Dainsleif's abilities.

The power and speed have multiplied. This time he was confident that he could cut off Kuro's body parts.

"?!"

But what happened was exactly the opposite. One of Itsuki's hands was cut off and spurted fresh red blood.

"You remember, I was your teacher. And you should know that just like a student, a teacher also keeps growing. Do you think with that damned toy it can touch me."

Kuro's missing. Itsuki held on with his remaining hand. But he is struck by Kuro's increasing ability again.

(Speed and power increased?!)

In the end Itsuki was pushed to hit the wall hard. He slowly got up, but he still showed a surprised expression.

This was natural since Kuro should have already reached the limit after moving at high speed and fighting without using Dragon Gear or anything like that.

All the data of Kuro's battle in the past is already known Itsuki. Using it he devised a plan to gradually reduce Kuro's power by using labyrinths and monsters. But all of that is useless if you see the reality that is happening in front of his eyes.

(Although one's strength continues to increase with time, yet this is too abnormal. Is this the power of a man called King?)

He doesn't know if it has anything to do with what happened, but that doesn't change the fact that he has to fight.

Itsuki smiled.

(If I'm not serious, I'll die)

He knew that from the beginning. The person he referred to as the teacher was the most abnormal person he had ever met in his lifetime.

But of all that, the most he could not forget from Kuro was the great darkness Kuro had once shown him.

He still remembers going on a reconnaissance mission. Their target was just an ordinary woman living in a simple house. You could say there was nothing special about that woman.

But just a few sentences from the informant, the fact changed one hundred and eighty degrees when he knew the woman was an eye from another land. That's when he realized, appearance is not everything.

'From now on you'll often see things like this' That was the first suggestion he received when he became a Shadow Knight.

In the end, they killed the woman. Even though the woman had a little son and a husband who loved her. Many of the neighbors have good relationships.

He didn't understand why he had to kill the woman. Is it because of the eyes? Or because he's the enemy?

Then, Kuro casually replied.

'You're wrong to wish you were a hero just by helping someone. Sometimes heroes are known for killing. In the end, no matter the villain or the hero, everything would never exist if it did not harm others first.'

Then proceed with a simple explanation

'The woman was prepared for what would happen to her. Maybe he was just leaking information, but with such a simple thing a defeat in a war could happen.'

He still did not understand, but he finally realized their work as Shadow Knights was not a job called as heroes or villains.

They are just people walking in the dark.

(Why do I remember that?)

That was the beginning for Itsuki.

It was a hard road, but he wouldn't be what he is today if it weren't for that blessing.

He's sweating cold. He remembered the events in the past because he currently remembered the sensations he had never felt despite having a new body.

That memory is fear.

"Itsuki, do you remember the only warning I ever gave you?"

"Of course."

"That means you understand there's no mercy for you. Are you ready?"

Kuro drew his sword. A sword with a white aura that was the ki that Kuro controlled. But suddenly the color turned into a terrifying dark black.

"I've been preparing for a long time. But I'm not the one who's gonna die."

"Ha.. That's a funny word for a dead man."

Itsuki regenerated the severed hand. A powerful aura emanated from his body. Dainsleif was shrouded in black flames that burned anything.

Then the two once again clashed with swords to race to behead the opponent.

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The first thing she remembers is her mother's smile while giving her milk. That warm and soothing smile made her think she was a lucky one.

But at that time he still did not understand, so there was nothing wrong if he thought like that.

As time went on, he finally understood about the circumstances surrounding him.

Her mother always looked beautiful wherever she went. It doesn't matter if it's just coming out of the house for a moment. It is not surprising that many men try to tempt their mothers. But as if he had gotten used to it, his mother just laughed a little while blushing in shame.

Her mother is really beautiful. That's what he always thought.

But he finally found out the reason why his mother was like that. It was because his mother was the one who sold his body for money. At the same time he finally understood why when he asked about his father, his mother always avoided.

His mother's work is not a job to be proud of. It's a bad, dirty job for some people. But he never thought that way.

For her, her mother was a kind and loving mother. No matter what anyone says, the most important thing is that he loves his mother. They live a quiet life despite sometimes difficult times because his mother does not have customers.

One day, he felt something inside his body. It was a feeling he had never felt before. Something warm and strong.

Then he unknowingly could make a small tornado.

It was magic. Doesn't that mean she's a witch?

His mother was just an ordinary person, so he never thought she was a witch. But she had heard of a witch who married an ordinary person having the possibility to have the child of a witch.

Could that be what happened to him?

Does that mean his father was a witch?

He did not know, but he told the truth to his mother with pride.

Did I make you proud, Mom?

With such feelings, he finally decided to master his strength. She's training to be a better and stronger witch.

He was finally able to create a tornado bigger than himself. With this, I made mom even more proud of me. That's what he thinks.

He then invited other children to practice fighting with magic. It was a dangerous action if without parental supervision, but he did not care at that time.

His opponent was just a younger child and still not long ago was able to use magic, confidently he thought it was an easy fight.

but he eventually lost.

He didn't know why, but the bruises were proof that he lost the fight. That's reality.

Why could he lose?

He told that to his mother. His mother looked surprised and anxious. After apologizing, he was finally able to calm down.

Then the next day, his mother took him somewhere. It was a Knight's office.

There he was taken to a room and carried out an examination. When he saw the results of the examination, for some reason his mother looked disappointed.

When he came home, his friendly and smiling mother suddenly slapped and hit him hard in the face. He did not understand why his mother had changed. Did he make a mistake?

While enduring the pain, he apologized repeatedly even to his knees. But none of this brought her mother back to her normal life.

Then the words came out of his mother's mouth.

"Why did I give birth to a useless child like you? If this is free, my efforts all this time. I slept with a powerful witch to make me have a child who can guarantee my life. I just gave birth to rubbish. Oh my God, why is this happening to me?"

Not only anger, regret and sadness was shown by his mother. For the first time she saw her mother like that.

From then on, his mother's treatment changed by one hundred and eighty degrees. Let alone greeting each other, they rarely even met as if his mother did not care about him. Even though he was starving, he did not care.

Where was her mother whom she had known all this time?

Luckily, there were neighbors who felt sorry for him. He was still alive though with leftovers.

But that's not the worst.

His mother did not return. He thought something bad happened to his mother. He went around town looking for his mother, but he didn't find her.

Then after about six months of not seeing each other, she happened to see her mother shopping in a store.

He wants to see her soon. He wanted to hug her. But that desire all vanished when he saw a man with him.

The man was very familiar with his mother. They are like a newly married couple. But even more surprising was her mother's now enlarged stomach.

Her mother's long smile, which she had never seen, was now visible before her eyes.

At that moment, he finally understood everything.

The mother he had known all along was just a falsity. From the beginning he was unwanted in this world.

Even though his heart was broken, he did not remain, for some reason, laughing. But the tears did not stop flowing from his eyes.

Why did all this happen to him?

With that big question, he left invisible again in the corner of the dirty alley.

Since then he has not cared about himself. He sleeps in the slums or doesn't eat he doesn't care.

But why was it that even in his heart he had not given up?

Why don't you just die? Wouldn't everything be easier?

He suddenly called out his magic name, . A 15 cm long knife with a handle that fits into his grip.

While looking at his reflection from the blade in his hand, he asked inwardly.

Why do you look so beautiful when I hate you?

Magic arm and magic beast are the embodiment of the soul of a magician. By looking at it one could see the personality of another witch. That's what he heard.

Then why is his magic arm a knife? Why not a sword, spear or arrow? At least with that, he can fight.

"That's a nice knife. Hm.. Is that your magic?"

He did not know if it was a mockery or a compliment, but at that moment he did not think calmly and just attacked the person.

But surprisingly, without him realizing it was his body that fell to the ground violently.

"You don't seem to want to rob me, but why did you attack me? Could I be wrong?"

He could only see the source shoes of that voice. He wanted to get up to see who was in front of him, but he did not have the strength to raise his head even his body. It seems he has no energy because he has not eaten for almost a week

Simultaneously, his consciousness slowly disappeared. But before the darkness swallowed him, he heard something.

"He has good eyes. How about we recruit him?"

"Eh.. But.. Ma'am"

He doesn't remember anything after that.

when he opened his eyes, he realized he was not in a place he knew. White roof and soft mattress. All of that was very different from the shabby streets he had been living in.

He suddenly smelled a delicious scent in the air. His stomach rang loudly and he wanted to get up immediately, but he could not because he did not have the energy to move his body.

The sound of footsteps approaching. Then the figure of a dark-black-haired youth with the same eyes stood with a large bowl filled with a scrumptious aroma.

"Oh.. Are you conscious? Thank goodness I didn't bring a body to this place."

He did not understand what the young man was saying. But his eyes could not escape the young man's bowl. Of course there are many questions that hamper, but all that he does not ignore.

"Hm.. You want this? Haha.. How could you not want some young lamb that's burned with this special sauce. Then coupled with the right and rare spice, you can't even get this at any restaurant."

Saliva dripped down profusely.

"Fufu.. You're lucky..-"

The young man smiled faintly, then unhesitatingly ate the meat voraciously in front of him.

"can see me eating this food in front of you. Usually no one ever sees it.. Much much much much.."

The flesh disappeared and was not left. There was only the rest of the delicious aroma that made his stomach sound like a monster.

He did not know why the young man ate in front of him or made him see the process of eating delicious food, but one thing was certain, at that time only one thing was in his head.

The young man in front of him was a monster.

That was the story of the young man's initial encounter with Kuro. One of the members of the Shadow Knight is known as the Witch Reaper.

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When he fights swords with each other, Itsuki remembers a past he does not want to remember.

The story of the past that made him remember back then was just an E rank magician known as the weakest. But with hard training and effort, as well as the help of the teacher he considered a monster, he had now become like this.

Fight with someone who gives him strength.

From another person's point of view maybe it was an inappropriate and ungrateful act, but-

(You said never give up on your dreams, no matter who gets in the way, you have to be able to achieve them. Even if it means you have to cut down a god though)

And just like Kuro said, now for the sake of his dreams, he would cut down his own teacher.

"Well!!"

Kuro spewed out thick red blood. Itsuki's sword has broken through Kuro's stomach.

On the other hand, Kuro's sword stuck right in his heart. Although he currently felt his heart split in two, but thanks to the regeneration ability, the pain began to diminish.

He knew he could not defeat Kuro with just strength and technique. No matter how much he mastered and imitated Kuro's abilities, he would never be able to defeat him.

If you can't beat him, then there's only one option. As the saying goes, give meat to get bones. If he doesn't sacrifice, he won't win.

And he succeeded.

After that, he activated Dainsleif's special ability to destroy Kuro's soul. Although Kuro had a relationship with the Demon King, yet he would definitely die if his soul was destroyed.

With that it's all over. He's winner. He surpassed his own teacher. But-the

"!? i?!Dainsleif's powers can't be used?"

Itsuki doesn't understand what's going on. He had once used Dainsleif power to kill, move souls or even damage the souls of others. Everything is so easy as turning your palm.

But to do all that to Kuro like impossible things.

"Itsuki, good effort."

Blood flowed from his wounds and mouth. Even pure white hair was now filled with bloodstains. Anyone could see that Kuro was already at the threshold of his abilities.

But why could Kuro still smile like that?

Suddenly Kuro released his grasp from the sword that stuck in Itsuki's heart. Then he unhesitatingly grasped the sharp side of Dainsleif until his hand was sliced.

"..but if you think this toy could kill me, I'd have done it."

He didn't know what Kuro said.

"I admit you can master the power of Dainsleif, which is why I don't want you to go up against Laila, Yui and the son of a bitch. After all a power that could destroy souls, it was tantamount to a power that destroyed magic itself. In other words, no matter how strong the three of them are, they will not be able to defeat you. Of course I wonder how Macho's father can beat you, but that's it.. It's no use talking about it anymore."

Kuro's gaze was still the same as the last one he remembered. Eyes that were cold and as if eternal darkness.

"But Itsuki, do you think I'm facing you not without reason?"

Istuki's eyes widened as he remembered who he was currently fighting.

Kuro is a man who fights not without reason. If he says he will win, he will win. If he knew the opponent was above his ability, then he would retreat. That way they used to reduce the number of victims in vain.

In other words, if Kuro dares to fight him even though he used Dainsleif, then Kuro has already prepared something.

Could it be something that could go against Dainsleif's abilities? Butwhat?

As if knowing what Itsuki was thinking, Kuro smiled again.

"I didn't prepare anything special. It's just that, from the beginning Dainsleif's abilities were useless against a person who had infinite darkness like me."

"Ke-ge-eight?"

"If you don't understand, I'll show you. By the way, this is one of the reasons I am called a descendant of the Demon King. You're lucky to be the second person to see this."

Before long, the entire white aura on Kuro's body turned dark black. Simultaneously, both of Kuro's white swords turned dark black.

"Itsuki, have you heard of Darkness Art?"