Chapter 637. Not I, but We (2) #PART1
A surge of emotion.
‘Deep.’
The God of War no longer called Harkon a mere knightling.
From the moment Harkon’s sword left a wound on his body,
From the moment he faltered at that wound,
This battle was no longer a game.
Thump, thump, thump.
The God of War looked down at Excalibur, pulsing in his grip.
‘…Could it be?’
Only now did he realize—
He had overestimated himself.
Excalibur was not trembling in excitement at being in his hands.
The ceaseless pounding was none other than fear.
Excalibur was terrified before that grotesque-looking sword.
The God of War knew well the legends Excalibur had carved in the past.
That was why he could not understand.
‘What is there to fear?’
Excalibur had never belonged to just one.
It had been wielded by many gods,
Passed through the hands of countless champions,
And displayed its might on battlefields beyond number.
The God of War gritted his teeth.
‘Even if that sword belongs to him…!’
The one wielding it now is nothing more than an old, frail human!
Swoosh.
And indeed, the God of War could still see Harkon’s movements as sluggish.
Of course, they seemed that way—
The old knight’s body had long surpassed its limits.
However—
“!”
Once again, the light’s intervention.
The very light that had healed the old knight’s body now blinded the God of War,
Throwing off his vision as though coordinating an attack alongside Harkon.
Because of this—
The God of War’s stance broke.
Swaaash.
“?!”
Though wounded,
The old lion’s sword had not dulled enough to miss such an opening.
Staggering back, the God of War’s vision flickered.
[※ Warning: You have suffered a critical wound.]
…Impossible.
By possessing a Player’s body through Divine Descent, he had gained far more than he had lost.
He had stepped into an entirely new realm, one he had never known before.
“You asked me, God of War.”
“……?”
“Is my sword still light?”
How?
How could this old knight and that monstrous sword
Overwhelm him and Excalibur?
At that moment,
A voice rang from Excalibur itself.
-……I
Instantly, the God of War’s expression brightened.
‘So, you’ve finally remembered who you are, Excalibur?’
Yes, you are the Celestial Sword.
A ruler over all weapons.
If you and I—the God of War—become one…!!
‘I will not only surpass this old knight—
That man will no longer be a threat either!’
However, the words that followed shattered his expectations.
-I cannot fight.
…What?
His face twisted in disbelief.
His injuries were so severe that even his speech was faltering.
“W-what… are you saying?”
-Can you not see?
Grinding his teeth,
The God of War seethed.
‘I see. I see it all too clearly.’
That’s why he couldn’t bear it.
Why he—
The God of War—
Had to struggle so desperately
To cut down a single old man!
‘You should be able to subjugate that grotesque sword! Your authority allows you to command all weapons! And I—I am the God of War. There is no being more suited to wielding your power than I am…!!’
But Excalibur, resonating with him, spoke again.
-It was wrong from the start.
“Wrong from the start? What do you mean…?”
-I cannot subjugate that existence.
“…I refuse to accept this!”
Had the one holding that sword been that man, he would have understood.
The gap in Karma was undeniable.
That man was beyond comprehension.
But—
‘Not this old man.’
The Karma he once had was now entirely gone.
The moment he grasped that demonic sword,
The Blessing of the World Tree that had enveloped Harkon disappeared completely.
And that meant only one thing.
The God of War muttered under his breath.
“If you refuse to act, then watch closely.”
That grotesque sword was formidable, yes.
But an old knight who had lost even his borrowed Karma—
He had no right to wield such a blade.
“At any moment, the sword will consume him.”
However—
Swaaaash.
Harkon’s movements did not slow.
Nor was he overwhelmed by his own blade.
His strikes did not falter,
And his composure remained unshaken.
His swordsmanship was fluid—
The culmination of decades of training in the Lionheart Knights.
Even now, Harkon executed his swordplay with precision.
Clang.
The God of War, stunned, barely managed to block the blow.
“How are you still standing? You should already be…!!”
Harkon nodded inwardly.
‘He is correct.’
The Blessing of Hiel had long left his body.
Without such a blessing,
How could he possibly wield a sword on par with Excalibur?
Moreover—
‘This is no ordinary blade.’
A Demonic Sword.
Though it spoke no words,
The ominous energy flowing through its hilt made it clear—
A sinister force writhed within its blade.
Harkon was certain.
‘My feeble body alone could never handle this.’
And thus, he knew.
‘The infinitely deep darkness, was it?’
If it was truly this dreadful,
Then perhaps the Great Sage’s prophecy—
That it would destroy not just Arcana, but all worlds—was not wrong.
However—
“…Haha.”
Without realizing it, Harkon chuckled.
It was thanks to this sword.
For through it, he could feel—
“Even if my Lord were to destroy the world…”
“…What?”
“That too, may simply be a decision made for our sake.”
There was only one reason he could wield this Demonic Sword.
Because Grandfell,
The one called the infinitely deep darkness,
Had foreseen even this moment,
And commanded the sword to obey him.
‘And also—’
Hoyeol.
The one called the light,
Had left behind magic circles in Yusra Kingdom—
Each one subtly restraining the God of War.
Through these layers of preparation, Harkon became certain.
“It is merely a difference in method and direction.”
Yet, both lords ultimately pointed toward the same path.
“You… What are you…?”
The God of War had seen countless eyes filled with faith—
From those who had once worshiped him in the Pantheon.
By just looking into their eyes,
He could always understand what his followers desired.
“W-what are you hoping for?”
But the old knight’s eyes were different.
They were unlike those of priests or believers.
“…I cannot understand.”
Before this incomprehensible existence approaching him,
The God of War unknowingly took a step back.
It was like a rabbit before a lion.
And the old lion spoke.
“A good question—what do I seek?”
Indeed.
It was time he organized his thoughts.
Harkon answered.
“I seek a reunion.”
…A reunion?
As if that explained anything?!
Slish.
“Simply.”
The God of War collapsed before he could hear the answer.
Harkon smiled faintly.
“That is all.”
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tl/n: I am very busy today, I will work on part2 tomorrow
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