A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

Ha, Bray had the same intuition. If he obtained this power, even Bronze-level beings might be nothing but trash.

And the voice didn't deceive Bray at all.

Unfortunately, Bray seemed to have heard many warnings not to touch this light.

"They don't understand anything."

Maybe so, but Bray also doesn't understand anything.

If you don't understand it, then don't take it.

"Even if you're prepared to die, you don't intend to obtain the power that all beings dream of?"

"I do not have the kind of thoughts that you Black Iron races imagine about seizing or controlling others."

Bray believed it, but—

Bray still couldn't grasp that ray of light.

"He's such a stubborn person."

---

In a daze, the white faded away.

Bray remained in place, the greatsword still behind him, about to cut Bray in half at the waist.

There is no sign of it becoming stronger.

Bray is still the same weak Bray.

However, for a long time, Bray did not feel the sensation of being severed.

"Is it because the other party is so powerful that I don't even feel anything?"

Bray stopped and then turned around.

The greatsword was pressed against Bray's throat.

But not a drop of blood came out of Bray's skin.

Of course, it's not that the defense against the mine has increased; it's just that the Black Swordsman's control over the greatsword is incredibly strong.

This is roughly what it means to handle heavy tasks with ease.

"You rejected that power." A male voice entered my mind.

Do people these days like to use telepathy?

However, the voice is a bit intermittent. Can't you just speak properly?

"You've refused several times so far."

"Twice, I guess," Bray said nonchalantly, as if the sword wasn't pointed at his throat.

Virginia, Blanche, and Nisha looked at Bray, who was muttering to himself and had stopped fighting, with a puzzled expression.

"I can't refuse even once."

"You are amazing."

Beneath the helmet of the black swordsman, a hollow, lifeless voice emanated, making it hard to imagine that the voice in one's mind was that of the black swordsman.

"Can you kill me?"

"No."

"Why?" The voice was filled with sorrow.

“Because I’m too weak.” Bray looked calmly at the black-clad swordsman.

"But why did you ask me to kill you?"

"What I am speaking to you now is only my remaining will."

Bray frowned, somewhat confused.

"Physical and mental collapse is the inevitable fate of the Aragami."

"Aragami?"

But it seemed the black-clad swordsman didn't answer Bray's question.

"I can still retain this last bit of willpower, but can I guarantee that I can keep it up?"

"Now I can't even control my own body."

Mental breakdown, loss of will, ultimately losing all thought and soul, harboring a murderous desire for all beings with souls.

"Kill me before I completely turn into a monster."

"You should have committed suicide long ago."

—"Hahahaha..."

A burst of maniacal laughter exploded in his mind, and Bray felt a headache coming on.

--"it's useless."

Bray remained silent, for he could sense the despair in the black swordsman's voice, as if he were unable to end his own life.

"Kill me."

What should I do?

"All you have to do is fight me, defeat me, and then kill me."

"Ignore everything."

"It has nothing to do with being strong or weak, it just requires you to be aware of it."

Such words would seem utterly ridiculous to the average person.

A D-rank adventurer battles an ancient hero who ravaged the Bronze Bell.

No matter how you look at it, it can never be equal.

The voice of the black-clad swordsman gradually faded into the distance, becoming increasingly intermittent, until finally disappearing completely from Bray's mind.

"consciousness?"

Just as Bray was muttering to himself, the black-clad swordsman withdrew the greatsword that had been pressed against Bray's throat.

"GUAAAAAAAAAAAAAA," a roar that no human could possibly utter, came from beneath the black swordsman's helmet.

The ground suddenly cracked open, and the black-clad swordsman, wielding two greatswords, charged toward the enemy with an unreasonable speed.

For the first time, the black-clad swordsman launched a charge.

From the appearance of the Dark Swordsman until now, all he has done is walk.

No matter how fast the black-clad swordsman moved, he didn't overlook—

At that time, the black-clad swordsman was simply taking a step forward.

But now the black-clad swordsman has assumed a charging stance!

In the path of the black-clad swordsman's charge, bricks and stones shattered, and fallen corpses exploded.

"Clang!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Sparks burst forth, splashing onto the ground and illuminating the area with a vibrant orange glow.

The flames above flickered in and out of existence due to the gale whipped up by the black swordsman's charge, but they stubbornly refused to go out.

Blanche, carrying Virginia, was thrown more than a hundred meters away and crashed hard into a stone pillar.

The entire ruins trembled.

"call…"

Bray stood firmly in place, his "Final Echo" blocking the two crossed greatswords.

The ground was dented by the enormous force.

These stones are not ordinary stones.

To imprison the Black Swordsman, the prison needs to be absolutely secure.

Each brick is made of Godlock Stone.

This divine lock stone was used to create chains that even bronze bells could not break free from.

However, even the solid stone was shattered beyond recognition by the black-clad swordsman's single blow.

But that's not the problem—

Everyone was stunned, staring incredulously at the expressionless Bray.

Just now, Bray blocked the Black Swordsman's charge attack!?

After being blocked by Bray, the black-clad swordsman created a small gap in distance and continued his frenzied slashing attacks on Bray.

The two greatswords, nearly as big as a person, seemed weightless, moving with incredible lightness and speed in the hands of the dark-skinned swordsman.

But what's even more surprising is Bray.

"ding—ding—ding—"

Gusts of wind swept through, making it impossible for those who wanted to watch the battle to even open their eyes.

Bray used "The Last Echo" to block all the onslaught of the greatsword.

Each strike sends sparks flying, illuminating the darkness.

The enormous arena seemed to have been built just for the two of them.

The black-clad swordsman suddenly stopped his attack and stood in front of Bray.

Bray's right eye, which was usually dead fish-like, was half-closed as he looked at the dark-skinned swordsman.

"So that's why it says 'it has nothing to do with strength or weakness'."

During the battle between the black swordsman and Bray, who sensed a strange power, he had already used the Appraisal spell on himself.

---

Blakes

Humanity

Inherent ability: None

掌握能力：「烹饪lv2」「基础剑术lv23」「鉴定术lv1」「斩钢剑术lv11」「古流剑派lv5」…

quality:

"Speed" what?! You're trying to catch up with the sound?!

"Power!" Are you trying to smash the mountain to pieces?!

"Skill" is terrifying!!! Really! I'm scared!!

"Body" - Can a shooting star kill you?

Nothing can break your willpower, right?

Does the "technique" method count?

Overall: Ewww!!! Why are you so strong?! Are you really a Black Iron type?!

---

As always, no specific numerical values ​​were available, which meant that Bray couldn't estimate just how powerful the Black Swordsman was.

Looking at the description, Bray guessed it was because of that "concubine".

"Battle of Life and Death" is a spell I've heard of but never seen anyone wield.

Provided both parties agree, under the effect of a "life-or-death battle," all of their attributes will be averaged out.

This means fighting on equal footing.

In the "battle for survival," the two sides must fight until one of them dies, after which their attributes will return to normal.

If there is no clear winner, both sides will die.

However, this equal distribution does not include acquired abilities and inherent abilities.