"Did you know that even among the Primordial Transcendents, there were divisions among themselves?"
Despite the Grand Master's question, Isaac didn't have the strength to turn his head toward her.
Even though the entity was so far away that it appeared no larger than a fingertip, the moment he took his eyes off it, he felt as if he would lose his head.
"Yes, I've heard of it."
He didn't know the details, but not all Primordial Transcendents were the same.
To put it in terms of nobility, they were like high-ranking aristocrats. Just as the Albion Kingdom had noble families like Helmut, Caldias, and Blackson, the Primordial Transcendents each had their own domains, much like high-ranking nobles.
"That one is called a 'Sword Demon' among the Primordial Transcendents."
"What a name…"
A bitter taste lingered on his tongue. The name "Sword Demon" fit perfectly, as the creature exuded a menacing aura.
"Let me be frank. Retreating would be the right choice here—"
"But they won't let us retreat."
"Exactly. Moreover, can you bring any more forces than what we have now?"
No. Isaac was certain.
Although Arandel was absent, the knights of Helmut were present, along with Silverna Caldias and knights from other noble families.
Retreating now would mean the kingdom's forces would effectively be unable to oppose the Primordial Transcendents.
"On the contrary, this is the perfect opportunity to kill him."
"…Are you confident?"
The Grand Master's question was directed at Isaac, but his gaze was fixed on the knights ahead.
"They are the kingdom's finest knights. I understand your concerns, but I still believe we have the advantage."
"…"
"Have you seen the knights of Helmut before?"
The Grand Master didn't answer. Instead, a smile formed on Isaac's lips.
"We can win. Humanity is not so powerless."
He knew the Transcendents were formidable beings. But on their side, they had knights hailed as great.
Isaac was convinced that even with a massive greatsword, it would be impossible for their enemy to cut down all of them at once.
After a moment of contemplation, the Grand Master nodded calmly.
"Right, you're correct."
The Grand Master supported Isaac's opinion. Though the Transcendent's entrance had been overwhelming, it was the Transcendent who should be fleeing, not them.
Arrows continued to rain down, only to fall meaninglessly to the ground.
At some point, the archers ceased their fire.
The creature, with snake-like eyes, surveyed the knights entering the mansion. Without a word, it slowly drew its greatsword from behind. It was ready to strike, and its movement was a beat faster than anyone had anticipated.
"Ugh!?"
Kwaaang!
A deafening roar, unlike the sound of clashing swords, erupted. Lohengrin's eyes widened as he felt the heavy impact on his greatsword, which he had raised diagonally, and he swallowed hard.
He, too, knew. From his sparring with Isaac, he had learned that such a sword was most dangerous while still in its sheath.
Although he couldn't follow the sword with his eyes, his experience had saved him.
"Hmm."
The Sword Demon let out a low hum. There was a hint of disappointment that its one-strike kill ambush had been so cleanly deflected, but it showed no sign of panic or obsession over it.
"Greatswords forward! Form a wall and advance!"
With just one exchange, Lohengrin instinctively knew. He realized he couldn't defeat this foe in a direct clash. This was, in a way, progress for Lohengrin, though it weighed heavily on his pride, as he had been repeatedly defeated by Isaac, whom he had once looked down upon.
Thud, thud, thud, thud!
The crimson knights of Helmut formed a formation, slamming their greatswords into the ground. They became a massive wall, pressing against the Primordial Transcendent.
"They're responding better than I expected."
"They're doing well, aren't they?"
The Grand Master and Silverna muttered simultaneously. For a moment, the two glanced at each other, but Isaac quickly pushed the Grand Master's head down.
"Ow! What the—!?"
"They are doing well. I didn't expect Lohengrin to have such talent on this front."
Isaac's natural remark led Silverna to continue without much concern.
"Right. Honestly, I was a bit worried, but this is solid."
The Grand Master glared from the side, but Isaac pretended not to notice. It was better than revealing the Grand Master's presence to Silverna.
At any rate, it seemed that Clarice's concerns had been unnecessary—it was a well-coordinated effort.
"The real problem will be the enemy's strength."
The color of the enemy's strength had faded. When they had entered, they had poured everything into a one-strike kill, leaving no room for further effort. It wasn't a wrong judgment, but it was undeniably regrettable.
"Still, it should be fine."
Helmut would act as the wall from the front, while the others would strike from the sides. Isaac placed his hand on his sword and followed the other knights. From now on, he would act not as a swordsman but as an assassin, slipping through the gaps of the knights like a thin needle to subdue the enemy.
"Put all your strength into it!"
The Grand Master's roar erupted from behind. Hearing the shout, the knights of Helmut instantly tensed their bodies.
A dark slash shattered the knights' greatswords and struck through.
Kwaaadduk!
The enemy's strength was rendered useless, the wall of Helmut was split in half, and the menacing Sword Demon's eyes glowed with a crimson aura.
"Phew."
The creature, having swung its sword with such force that its posture was ruined, adjusted its stance as if fixing its slumped shoulders.
More than half of the greatswords were shattered. Some knights had lost their lives, but at least it wasn't a complete massacre.
"How on earth—!?"
In the face of this nightmare-like situation, Lohengrin's eyes widened as he dropped to one knee. The fact that the Sword Demon's slash didn't reach its full destructive potential was thanks to Lohengrin's famed sword.
The knights of Helmut were cut down as if they were powerless.
Even for an Primordial Transcendent, this level of power defied all reason. Could Arandel have stopped him if he were here? It was an overwhelming strength that made one question everything.
"It's sorcery."
Isaac gritted his teeth and charged forward. The Grand Master followed closely, nodding in agreement.
"Right. Just as you said."
The blood-red aura flowing through the Sword Demon's body, along with the dark energy emanating from its greatsword, felt distinctly like a different kind of power. The dark energy in the greatsword was sorcery—a force that had grown by devouring the life force of hundreds of citizens living in Blackson.
"A literal demonic sword."
With the Primordial Transcendent wielding the power of large-scale sorcery, it was no wonder it could unleash such unimaginable strength.
Silverna, who had been running alongside Isaac, gripped her spear tightly and asked, "Isaac! Are you sure about this?!"
After witnessing the overwhelming slash just moments ago, charging at the enemy like this seemed no different from suicide. But Isaac, on the contrary, increased his speed and closed the distance.
"Now's our chance! It can't recklessly unleash that absurd power again!"
Sorcery grants unimaginable power, but it comes at a cost. If it had already swung once, it wouldn't be able to unleash another strike so easily.
While everyone hesitated, Isaac leaped past them, drawing his sword mid-air.
Compared to the Sword Demon's strike, Isaac's attack might have seemed crude. The Sword Demon tilted its greatsword, blocking Isaac's strike with a mocking expression.
Clang!
Isaac's sword, unable to withstand the force, was deflected and cut through the air.
Just as the Sword Demon was about to sneer at Isaac for being too weak to even hold his sword—
"Whoosh!"
Thud!
Isaac's other foot stepped forward, and he drew another sword. This Iaido strike was faster and sharper than the last.
The Sword demon realized Isaac had intentionally let go of his sword to deceive it and tilted its greatsword in the opposite direction to block.
Claaang!
A much clearer resonance echoed this time.
"Impressive."
Just as Isaac and the sword demon locked eyes, a voice rang out from above.
"Your breathing is quite good."
The Grand Master, having caught the sword Isaac had dropped mid-air, launched a swift strike at the Sword Demon.
Swoosh!
"...!"
The Sword Demon hastily leaped back to create distance. Blood poured from a long gash on its shoulder, staining the ground.
"Has its strength weakened? Ever since yesterday, I haven't been able to cut through its shoulder."
Even in yesterday's battle against Arandel, she had aimed for the shoulder but failed to land a clean cut.
"This moment was built on the sacrifices of my kin."
The Sword Demon's forked tongue trembled. Its voice, filled with hatred and resentment, gripped the greatsword tightly.
"Arandel… the place that was meant to be his grave… How did it come to be filled with the bodies of others instead?"
The Sword demon covered its face with one hand. Tears welled up in its eyes, streaming down its crimson cheeks as it lamented bitterly.
"Where has he gone? The master of the sword who was to clash with me… Where has he disappeared to?"
A trap set to kill Arandel.
A demonic sword born from the life force of Blackson's citizens and the deaths of its kin. Gripping the sword, the Sword Demon shook its head from side to side.
"Ah, what a tragedy."
Without taking his eyes off the grieving creature, Isaac turned to Silverna, who had followed him.
"Cover me with your spear. If I get too close, I won't be able to track its slashes with my eyes."
"Help from a distance? That's a tough request."
Nevertheless, Silverna infused her spear with a white aura. It was a signal that she was ready to assist at any moment.
The Grand Master, who had been listening, held Isaac's sword and suggested,
"Attack in the same manner as before. Let's see if I can land a strike."
"Let's switch. I'll be the one to land a hit."
"Hmm? Can you do it?"
The Grand Master glanced at Isaac, her eyes rolling slightly. In response to her question, Isaac chuckled.
How many years had he spent watching the Grand Master's sword?
"Of course."
He was confident.