The Return of the Iron-blood Sword Hound
chapter-439

Chapter 439: Dreaming the Impossible (3)

Marquis Sade and Warden Orca.

Two individuals, each possessing the combat strength of an entire army, joined forces.

“Hmph—The Ushers who used to chase me were a bit spicier; this is rather bland.”

“Cut the chatter, escapee. There are still a lot left.”

Marquis Sade and Warden Orca were strolling through the midst of the Usher family’s Divine archer squad as if they were merely out for a walk.

But the changes occurring around them were nothing short of astonishing.

Swish—

Sade’s whip moved like a giant snake, striking and flinging assassins from the castle walls.

The coiling whip, twisting and bending grotesquely, slashed and tore everything it touched, bringing a storm of blood in its wake.

Bang! Bang! Boom—

Orca’s Club effortlessly deflected incoming arrows and, when not deflecting arrows, was swung toward the castle walls like a drumstick.

Each time it struck the castle walls, a thunderous boom accompanied by a heavy seismic wave sent enemies plummeting from the walls.

Sade’s attack and Orca’s defense.

Their combination was a far superior version of the pairing of D’ordume and Souare, Vikir had faced in Nouvellebag.

Moreover, Sade was not only good at attacking, and Orca was not solely good at defending.

Sade’s whip moved like a monster’s tongue, coiling around incoming arrows, while Orca’s Club turned any approaching assassins into a bloody mess with a single blow.

A truly perfect blend of offense and defense. A circle spanning dozens of meters centered around the two old men, into which no one could enter.

Bianca’s jaw dropped at the sight of all this.

“Who… who are those people…they easily took out the Divine Archer Squad?”

Her astonishment was understandable.

The Divine Archer squad was the core force of the Usher House, one of the seven great clans.

However, Chimera, who recognized the faces of Marquis Sade and Warden Orca, had an expression twisted in dismay.

[Aren’t those the relics from the 47-person Incident? Why are they here?]

At that moment, Sade and Orca’s gazes turned towards him simultaneously, as if on cue.

“Relics? Are you talking about us?”

“Is it because you’re a demon that you don’t understand the world? Come here for a moment.”

Simultaneously, Sade’s whip and Orca’s Club flew through the air.

Wham—

The snake-like aura and a surging aura like a tidal wave struck Chimera together.

It was a powerful shockwave that managed to topple Chimera completely.

[…Gah!?]

Chimera leaped into the air to escape the aura storm.

“Who are you calling a relic?”

He was startled by the eerie voice suddenly coming from above.

Sade was grinning ominously from above Chimera’s head.

Whack!

The coiled whip struck Chimera on the head like a lightning bolt.

Without even a chance to scream, Chimera fell towards the ground.

Below him, Orca awaited with his Club.

Smash!

Struck by the Club, Chimera was sent flying, crashing through the castle wall.

Swish—

As Chimera’s body flew, it was once again ensnared by Sade’s whip.

The extended whip coiled tightly around Chimera’s waist, and Sade swung it around like a pendulum.

Crash! Crash! Crash!

Chimera, bound by the whip, spun in circles, smashing all the protrusions on the castle wall and destroying the surroundings.

[Aaaaagh-]

When Chimera finally managed to free himself from the whip, staggering out from the debris,

Crunch—

Eight fangs sank into Chimera’s neck once more.

The shadow looming behind Chimera like that of the Grim Reaper belonged to Vikir.

“All demons must die.”

[You dare, human…!]

Just as Chimera began to speak,

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

Numerous iron spikes erupted from the ground, piercing Chimera’s body.

Behind Vikir, Camus smiled sweetly.

“A perfect reunion gift for my hubby.”

Perched on Camus’ shoulder, Sere, now very small, looked tearful.

[Se-Sere… you dare betray me?]

[Sob—sniff—I didn’t do it because I wanted to.]

[Silence! When HE learns of this, you will…!]

Chimera couldn’t finish his sentence.

…Crash!

Because Sancho’s axe, Figgy’s sword, and Bianca’s arrow fell upon him in succession.

Crrrunch—

A golden hand emerging from the ground gripped Chimera, immobilizing him.

It was Sinclaire’s magic.

[Grrr!]

Chimera tried to escape by turning into black smoke, but it was futile.

Flash—

Dolores enveloped him in a white flame, trapping him.

“Stick your fucking neck out.”

Vikir’s eight fangs savagely slashed Chimera’ entire body.

Chimera attempted to retaliate with a spear, but Decarabia blocked it.

“Hmph…”

“We’re done here.”

Vikir looked up to see Sade and Orca standing above.

In the center, where countless spears and arrows lay broken, the two old men were looking down, holding the heads and necks of the Donquixote and Usher attackers.

Vikir instinctively knew it was time to end everything.

[Grrr—if only it weren’t for that ‘blood’. Damn it! Now I see why Amdusias fell!]

Chimera cried out in despair.

But Vikir left no room for any possibility.

He severed Chimera’s ankles and wrists, preparing for the final blow.

He aimed to destroy the heart cleanly.

At that moment,

“Vikir. Wait a moment.”

A voice interrupted Vikir.

Tudor. Tudor Donquixote.

Approaching quietly, he watched Vikir intently.

With his lone arm firmly gripping Gungnir.

“I’ll do it.”

In Tudor’s gaze, there was a firm and resolute determination.

But Vikir refused.

“No.”

“…Why?”

Tinged with disappointment, Tudor’s voice carried a sense of grievance.

But Vikir remained adamant.

“If you spill the demon’s last blood, your fate will change. The causality will twist.”

No matter how fortunate one is to be born, bathing in the last drops of a demon was never a good thing.

Twisted and distorted causality leads the demon hunter’s fate to an unfavorable place.

So the end of a Demon Hunter’s fate is usually dark and lonely.

But.

“It’s okay. This is what I choose.”

Tudor volunteered to become a demon hunter himself.

It’s an inevitable matter to speak so sternly.

Furthermore, Tudor, even in his past life, lived a life that was heavily reliant on spilling demon blood, so perhaps this is also his fate.

“…”

After a brief silence, Vikir quietly stepped back.

In his own way, it was an expression of trust.

“Thank you.”

Tudor bowed his head to Vikir.

Eventually, Tudor turned to Figgy beside him.

“Figgy. Could I get a little of your blood? For some reason, demons are scared of your blood, even though I don’t know why.”

“Of course!”

Responding to Tudor’s request, Piggy nodded and lightly cut his own arm with a knife.

The dark crimson blood flowing from Piggy’s body stained the blade of Tudor’s Gungnir.

“…”

Tudor looked down at Chimera, lying on the ground.

Below Chimera’ face, with his mouth gaping open, the remnants of Monte’s face still remained on his chest.

Surrounded by wounds torn open by Vikir, his heart was visible through the torn flesh and sinews.

Finally, a parched voice escaped Tudor’s lips.

“Dreaming the impossible dream.”

Tudor lifted Gungnir.

“Defeating the invincible foe.”

Tears of blood flew from demon’s eyes.

“Enduring unbearable pain.”

The heart, seeming to burst, squeezed out the strength of its early days.

“Dying for a noble ideal.”

All of this was the true duty and obligation of a knight.

…No.

“A duty, not a privilege.”

With Tudor’s final words, the spear that belonged to the Lion king Cervantes pierced through the air.

Thud!

Tough leather tore apart, and the vile flesh inside was destroyed.

The dangerous malice coursing through Monte’s veins severed, releasing all the venomous contents.

Chimera scratched at the ground, struggling violently, but Tudor’s spear, piercing through his heart and into the ground, showed no sign of movement.

[The grand task… the gate… the era of demons…]

Chimera muttered as his voice faded away, collapsing completely.

And then, he moved no more.

It was the moment when the fourth protagonist, who led the world to destruction, exited the stage.

And the focus shifted to the new protagonist.

Black blood. Black demonic blood.

Tudor’s eyes shine through the demon’s black blood. Completely clear, pure, and righteous.

Vikir had seen it before.

In his past life, in the era of destruction where everything burned to ashes.

The gaze of the hero who had lived most fiercely and passionately at the forefront of that era.

The King of Spears, Tudor Donquixote.

He was the great hero who would lead the future era.