The Regressed Son of a Duke is an Assassin

What would happen if the most powerful race on earth, possessing both strength and intelligence, were to lose their sanity and run amok?

Why bother saying anything?

That place would be the scene of a living apocalypse.

Two years ago, in the Lemea Gorge, I saw a Devil Dragon, dwarfed by the giant creature before me now.

It had taken up residence in the heart of the city, adjacent to the slums, beginning its rampage in earnest.

Although it had been buried underground for hundreds of years, it felt as magical as a living dragon.

Summoned during the ancient wars of gods?

Who in their right mind would think to bury such a damn thing underground without even bothering to dispose of it?

And how would Boris…?

*Swoosh!*

Fiery meteors rained down like a deluge.

“Shadow: Cleave of the Vanquished Wind!”

Swinging the sword through the air in a diagonal motion, the spatial illusion cleaved sharply, annihilating the approaching meteors without a trace.

[It doesn’t seem like the time to be mulling over old grudges, Master.]

She’s right.

It may already be rotten and dry and not worth eating, but even so, it doesn’t make sense to leave it like that.

I steeled my resolve and summoned the power of the mist within me.

“….!”

Feeling a sharp gaze, I glanced back.

The slum residents who had looked at me as if they’d seen a ghost were now staring at me with pale faces.

“W-Why you?”

They seemed awfully disappointed that their desired savior hadn’t appeared.

I couldn’t care less.

Since I hadn’t appeared to save them anyway.

I focused again on gathering my strength.

“Shadow 9-style: Manifestation of the Demonic Sword!”

With preparations complete, I flew straight towards my target.

[You realize this guy is on a different level than the ones we faced before, right? You won’t get away with just rushing in with brute force.]

I know.

It’s absurd to think that a being devoid of reason could control power.

I transferred the mana manifested in my hand directly to Kaeram.

Then I rushed towards him, but…

*Thud!*

With a dull sound like rocks colliding, my body couldn’t withstand the recoil and was pushed back.

“Shadow 3-style: Mist Glide!”

Accompanied by the spell, mist emanated from my body, enveloping me and swiftly correcting my body’s imbalance as it plummeted.

What?

This is much tougher than I thought.

Still, it wasn’t entirely ineffective.

While I succeeded in creating a small gap in the protective barrier surrounding Kaeram, it was immediately filled in, returning to its original form.

[Did you even listen to me? Did you save any of your strength for something other than making a mess?!]

Kaeram’s rant was an added bonus.

Somehow, the damn barrier was layered twice, and it was disgustingly sturdy.

Still, whether I succeeded in drawing attention or not, the lifeless black pupils of the Devil Dragon turned towards me.

“Kwaaaak!”

The excited creature, upon seeing me, began to thrash about, moving its two feet in all directions.

Then, it opened its mouth towards the sky and spewed out multiple fireballs in all directions.

It resembled the eruption of lava from a raging volcano.

Now was the opportunity, with the creature recklessly exerting its power.

Even though I should concentrate my strength and rush in as quickly as possible, my gaze inexplicably turned towards the fireballs shooting up into the sky, rather than towards the Devil Dragon.

This is why I dislike dragons as a species.

Even though they didn’t aim for anything specific, they always seemed to fly towards crowded areas like villages or towns.

Is it an instinct that belittles humans, one that can’t be helped even in death?

Not only did I divert my gaze, but the power of mist was also gathering in my hand without me realizing it.

“Shadow 5-style: Mist Avatar!”

Since it was too late for my body to go directly, I swiftly created a mist sphere in my left hand and forcefully threw it towards the direction of the fireballs.

The thrown sphere flew faster than the fireballs and, upon reaching the target, immediately transformed its shape.

*Splash!*

Then, just as I did before, I swung my sword and obliterated all the descending fireballs.

[Are you crazy? Even with that decaying creature in front of you, you still have the audacity to glance elsewhere?]

“Well, even if I fully focus on that creature, it’s still not enough to distract my attention from elsewhere.”

I sent the additional mist spheres I created flying in different directions.

That should buy enough time.

[Do you still want to act like this even after coming all this way?]

“One or two instances wouldn’t hurt. What’s with the sudden concern?”

[Moments ago, you were calling yourself an executioner or something!]

Ignoring Kaeram’s sigh, I once again charged towards the Devil Dragon.

*Thud!*

Do you know the best way to subdue an opponent?

It’s quite simple.

Just exert a force stronger than the one they’re trying to resist.

*Bam! Bam! Bam!*

With much more powerful force transferred to Kaeram than before, I relentlessly struck down the protective barrier, causing the mana concentrated within it to explode with each blow.

This time, it didn’t end with just a small gap.

A large space, enough for five people to enter, was created, which seemed to slightly unsettle the Devil Dragon.

It reached out towards me, manifesting mana in its hand.

*Zap!*

With a flash of blue lightning covering its entire body, but anticipating the retaliation, I had no trouble blocking it.

I continued to strike the shattered barrier multiple times with my sword.

*Splatter!*

Though noticeable wounds appeared in several places, they seemed to hold little significance.

Unless I completely tore apart its flesh, it would be nothing more than a nuisance to the creature.

“Kuwooooo!”

Once again, with a roar, the Devil Dragon swung its massive arm.

As I slightly twisted my body to dodge, I immediately corrected Kaeram and cast my technique.

“Mist: Scattering Eight Petals!”

With a graceful motion, eight sword strikes sliced through the space.

*Sizzle*

With a cheerful sound, the Devil Dragon’s right arm was shattered into pieces.

However, the creature seemed unfazed, immediately swinging its sharp tail as if nothing had happened.

Quickly leaping into the air, it opened its mouth and emitted scorching heat as if it had been waiting.

I chuckled and sent another sword strike towards it.

“Kagagak!”

As the fireball it spat out was slashed by my sword strike, it exploded inside its mouth.

Without missing a beat, I quickly adjusted my posture and dashed towards the creature.

Suddenly, a story I had read in a novel came to mind.

A savior warrior who appeared out of nowhere to save the village by destroying the rampaging monster that wreaked havoc on everything in sight.

As the warrior swung his sword to defeat the fierce monster, someone watching from afar described it as a beautiful and splendid dance.

If someone were watching me from afar now, they might have similar thoughts.

Isn’t there a famous saying like that?

Life is a comedy when viewed from a distance, but a tragedy up close.

While the warrior’s sword strikes may appear as a beautiful dance from afar, to the monster facing them up close, it would seem like a grim execution of death.

No matter how magnificent it may seem, it’s a horrific and gruesome sight that can never be considered beautiful.

“Mist: Dance of the Black Blood!”

* * *

In the midst of Axilium, a massive creature of unknown origin appeared.

It unleashed a deafening roar, turning the peaceful city into a scene of chaos and despair in an instant.

Though people scrambled to flee, some began to realize a shift in the atmosphere and cautiously observed their surroundings.

Despite the destruction caused by the creature, all eyes were drawn to the enigmatic figure at the center of the chaos.

It wasn’t alone.

Whether in the heart of the city, atop buildings, or even suspended in mid-air, the being emerged to combat the onslaught of the creature’s attacks and tame the spreading flames.

Though it was clear that this being was defending the city and its people from the creature, the onlookers couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

It was as if they were witnessing a harbinger of death rather than a savior.

The sheer presence of that being evoked discomfort and a sense of grimness.

Suddenly, a horrific scream echoed throughout the city, originating from the slums.

Even from a distance, the colossal creature, emitting screams akin to agony, thrashed about wildly.

Yet, around it, something mesmerizing seemed to unfold, as if drawing an enchanting pattern.

It appeared as if a swordsman, wielding a blade, danced amidst the chaos.

Some onlookers, captivated by the spectacle, lost themselves in a trance-like state.

Though laughter seemed impossible in such a dire situation, someone central to this event couldn’t suppress a lingering smile.

“Should we call this the salvation of a harbinger executing death? It’s truly an extraordinary sight.”

With each mesmerizing swordplay, the Devil Dragon’s form tore apart, revealing something other than crimson blood – something black surged forth.

Despite the waning brilliance of the dark magical circle emanating from his hand, Boris remained composed.

“I admit it. You are a presence we failed to recognize, perhaps one close to the truth… Unfortunately, with our current capabilities, we cannot withstand your power.”

With a resounding thud, the Devil Dragon’s body collapsed completely under the final strike.

“But rest assured, this world doesn’t solely rely on strength. If it did, history wouldn’t revolve around light.”

Boris gently caressed the white Bible in his hand.

“Until we meet again, Cyan Vert. When that time comes, I hope to face you in a form even closer to the truth. Farewell…”

With a final farewell, unheard by the intended recipient, Boris’s form dissipated in a burst of light.

[TL/N: Nah tf? AGAIN?]