Chapter R4. The Great Battle
"Oh~ So you're that girl called the 'Sword Saint,' huh? I've heard about you.
Isn't it just a nickname for someone who can do nothing but swing a sword?
Isn't that kind of laughable?
You were abandoned by those you desperately tried to protect."
The young man looked at Reinhild, who once again blocked her attack, with a displeased expression, then as if he suddenly thought of something, spoke mockingly.
"Being told you only know how to swing a sword is a bit subtle.
In fact, most people's expectations of me come precisely from that reason.
But now, I'm beginning to doubt whether I can fulfill that duty." "Oh? You realize the difference in our strength? That's commendable."
The youth said arrogantly.
Reinhild shook her head, looking at the Dragon Sword still sheathed in her hand, then exhaled lightly.
"This 'Dragon Sword' was passed down from the first Sword Saint of the Astrea family. It is undoubtedly the world's top divine weapon... but it does have a flaw." "A flaw? Then it can't be called a divine weapon. It's just scrap metal, isn't it?" "That flaw doesn't affect its power. It simply cannot be drawn from its sheath unless it encounters an enemy worthy enough to pull it out."
At this, she fixed her blue eyes on the youth and swung the Dragon Sword a few times inside its sheath. "It seems you are unworthy of this grave responsibility—that is the Dragon Sword's judgment." "Hmph!" Offended by this severe humiliation, Regulus's face twisted into a snarl.
"I say! What else can a 'Sword Saint' do if not draw her sword? Stop being so narcissistic, you lowlife. I'm on a whole different level from you." "Indeed, not the same level. You are merely someone who happened to gain a strange ability. Also, let me correct one mistake: they didn't abandon me."
Having confirmed there were no dragon carts in sight, Reinhild sheathed the Dragon Sword, then kicked up a sword lying on the ground, caught it with her right hand, and pointed it at the youth.
"They chose to leave this battlefield so I could fight you without hesitation." "Bold words. Did defeating that rotten woman, 'Lust,' make you misunderstand something? Compared to imperfect beings like you, I am a complete individual."
The youth spread his arms and declared loudly:
"I am Regulus Corneas, Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, the 'Greed' of the Seven Deadly Sins. The most easily satisfied and fulfilled man in this world. Remember that, imperfect one."
"I am the Sword Saint's descendant, Reinhild van Astrea."
Following proper etiquette, Reinhild stated her full name, then with a speed that flicked the wind behind her, appeared behind Regulus.
Her sword, flashing blue light, unsheathed without hesitation and stabbed toward Regulus's spine—but invisible 'fine threads' split the sword in two.
?! A moment of shock, then understanding.
Reinhild sensed that in such an open environment and from Regulus's movements, he had not used those 'fine threads.' Those threads were undoubtedly a derivative of some ability.
Even in the sheath, the Dragon Sword's ability to cut through everything would not entirely vanish.
Reinhild dodged Regulus's counterattack with a speed like afterimages, stealing a glance at the unsheathed Dragon Sword at her waist, which showed no reaction.
The girl sighed subtly—she had already tried; the overflow of that slight trait couldn't break through Regulus's defense.
Back to her original position, Reinhild stomped heavily.
The weapons scattered on the ground lifted, then she threw all the weapons at Regulus at a speed invisible to the naked eye.
"What exactly are you aiming at..." Ignoring Regulus's mockery, Reinhild once again closed in.
She dodged the incoming sandstorm at an angle hard for normal people to understand, then casually picked up an axe.
The "Divine Protection of the God of War" instantly made her proficient with the battle axe. She then raised a whirlwind of dust. "The Divine Protection of Clairvoyance" —237 threads.
Reinhild further enhanced her terrifying eyesight with the Divine Protection and successfully spotted the micron-thick fine threads forced out by the dust.
Instantly, she memorized their locations and completed a battle simulation in her mind: dodge, approach, then attack.
With the help of "Divine Protection of the Weapon Master," Reinhild's skill with the battle axe had reached a level of mastery.
The axe bypassed the defensive threads at an impossible angle and struck Regulus's back of the head.
Clang~~ The sound of damage. Just one hit, and the battle axe bent into a twisted iron rod, losing its function as a weapon.
Sidestepping the counterattack, with two Divine Protections aiding her, Reinhild's whip seemed to come alive, striking Regulus's eyes.
Still, it was ineffective. But Reinhild did not lose heart.
From an ordinary person's perspective, it looked like sixteen Reinhilds, each wielding a different weapon, began mercilessly assaulting Regulus.
"Damn it! Always moving!!" The plains were scarred by the aftershocks of Regulus's counterattacks and Reinhild's strikes. Though Regulus remained unharmed, his voice was tinged with frustration.
"Divine Protections of Preemptive Strike and First Encounter." !!! The Divine Protections activated suddenly.
Reinhild raised dust and saw a transparent thread several centimeters thick rushing toward her thigh.
She planted her foot hard.
!!! Severe pain shot up from the sole of her foot.
Several earth needles pierced it—not her foot but some of the earth had been turned into indestructible needles, and she had stepped on them voluntarily.
"Divine Protection of Arrow Dodge."
Though this Divine Protection made it impossible to hit her with ranged attacks, it failed to negate Regulus's attack. Reinhild's thigh was instantly mangled.
"Die, scum." Instead of throwing sand like usual, to ensure a killing blow, Regulus stomped the ground and charged at Reinhild.
His right hand collided with the Dragon Sword she used to block his next attack.
"Annoying sword. The fact that it can't be drawn is absurd. It's basically saying you don't deserve that thing. Though I don't understand that sentiment!!" Regulus cursed while forcibly pushing Reinhild off her spot.
Pierced thigh and slashed foot finally made Reinhild lose balance.
Regulus showed a cruel smile and with his left hand, threw sand at Reinhild, whose defenses were wide open.
The sand, normally only irritating to the eyes, became a terrifying shotgun blast when thrown by Regulus, spraying blood everywhere.
Reinhild's body hit the ground hard, the earth stained red with her blood. The "Sword Saint" was motionless.
"No matter who you are, this is how you die.
Even those who left great achievements or committed the ugliest crimes—death takes their life equally. In a world rampant with inequality, only death is the equal, tender, yet cruel arbiter."
Watching her die, Regulus closed his eyes, describing his actions as if they were divine judgment.
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