The Swordsman Genius Returnee Even Swallows Immortality

13

The 4th Order where snow poured down.

There was an Order of Knights passing through it quickly.

They were none other than the Order of the Shooting Star Knights.

One of the world’s most prestigious Orders of Knights.

The very front of such an Order of Knights.

Dratain had a deeply furrowed brow.

The reason was simple.

The truth he heard that day through Bolance before entering the 4th Order.

It was truly an absurd story.

‘He was completely defeated by that jerk’s scolding?’

Bolance may be frivolous in thought, but his sword is not light.

For such a guy to lose his mind from a single scolding.

‘Something like that.’

Shouldn’t it be something only someone like Father could do?

Dratain felt a sense of unease.

‘I haven’t seen them once since entering the 4th Order.’

He said there’s a high chance of getting lost on the way since it’s a land of permanent ice and snow.

If that weren’t the case, it meant they were ahead of them.

‘It’s a ridiculous thought.’

Ugh.

He was proud that he had such a thought.

However, his anxiety didn’t disappear.

“Aery!”

That’s why he ended up calling one of the knights.

The knight approached right next to Drathen.

“From now on, relay what I say to the front.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Just in case, just in case they really were ahead.

‘I have to stop them by any means necessary.’

Even if it meant putting the family’s status on the line.

* * *

“Can you keep up?”

“Yes!”

Midpoint of the 4th stage.

Habell had decided to ruin this friendly competition.

And Dante agreed with him.

Dante had also had a long history of animosity with Glysys.

If it had come to this, he wanted a perfect victory.

So Dante and Habell were putting out their maximum speed.

Rumble!

In the meantime, movements were felt beneath the two’s feet.

Their identities were ice crocodiles.

They were creatures that could swim freely under the glaciers.

This place was where the most ice crocodiles were gathered.

Normally, everyone would go around them.

However, Habell and Dante were walking straight over them without hesitation.

They were even daringly stepping on the crocodiles’ backs.

Thwack!

Habell kicked away the ice crocodile that had risen up, piercing through the snow.

Just like that, the crocodile whose belly had been pierced died instantly.

“Just stay still and be a stepping stone.”

Dante followed right behind Habell.

“At this rate, there’s no way Drathen can catch up with us.”

Dante had now gotten used to Habell’s breakthrough power.

But Habell just scoffed as he walked over the crocodiles.

“If we’re talking about a fair and square match, that is.”

“Yes?”

“You’ve provoked the head of the house. You can’t bear to lose your pride if you lose.”

They will surely want to win no matter what.

Even without regard for the means and methods.

“If you can go up the floor, can’t you go down the other way?”

So when Havel asked Dante, he frowned.

“Are you saying that there will be those coming down from the 5th hierarchy?”

“There were some decent guys among the guys who seemed to be deputy commanders.”

It was only one group, but they were okay.

That guy must have been there to assist Drathen.

And so would his men.

“They’ll definitely get in the way.”

“They have no chivalry.”

“We didn’t have that in our time either.”

Havel, who had inadvertently uttered the old saying, coughed in vain.

“Well, let’s go and see.”

Whether they really aimed for a fair fight or not.

Or whether they got in the way.

After passing the Ice Crocodile Zone for a long time, Havel landed on the snowfield.

When Dante arrived, Havel turned his head and stared at one point.

“Who is it?”

There was someone there, covered in a black cloth from head to toe.

There was a mask with a strange pattern engraved on the part of his head.

He bowed his head straight to Havel.

“I am a member of the Shadow Corps belonging to Gryza.”

“Gryza?”

It was Dante who reacted to the name.

One of the five great families.

Gryza, famous for their sorcery and illusionism.

Headquarters, number of personnel, composition of family members.

A family wrapped in a veil, nothing revealed.

Only one thing was certain.

Anyone who becomes Gryza’s target will surely die.

Waiting in front of the Ice Crocodile Zone.

It was like saying that they had figured out Havel and Dante’s route.

‘Maybe.’

Dante wondered if he was the nuisance Havel had mentioned.

“Are you here to give information?”

However, Havel thought differently from Dante.

And it was the correct answer.

“Yes, if you keep going up, you will find an ice forest.”

The icy forest was densely populated with peculiar plants known as ice trees.

“That is where Glyssis’ ambush squad awaits.”

Dante frowned.

As expected, Glyssis had no intention of fighting fair.

“It seems Graiza wants us to win.”

Habell accurately deduced Graiza’s reason for providing the information.

Banphelion and Graiza had no relations whatsoever.

There was only one reason they would provide information.

“That’s right.”

It was because they desired Glyssis’ defeat.

“You plan to use us in your power struggle?”

Banphelion had defeated Glyssis.

Rumors of that would damage Glyssis’ reputation.

And who would benefit from that?

Naturally, the other five great clans.

That was why Graiza had given Habell the information.

“When did you learn of the friendly match?”

It had only been three days since the friendly match had commenced.

Yet Graiza had already known about it.

That meant it was highly probable that the other clans knew about the friendly match as well.

“We happened to have our men in the Tier 3 safety zone, so we received the information quickly.”

“The other clans don’t know yet?”

“They will find out before they pass Tier 4.”

That meant Graiza had gotten the information first.

“You came looking for us, which means Graiza wants to support Banphelion from the shadows.”

When clans clashed, it ultimately came down to a battle of strength.

Compared to Graiza, who had grown to become one of the five great clans, Banphelion was insignificant.

Graiza intended to secretly support such a feeble clan from behind.

“Ha, really,”

However, Habell scoffed.

Graiza’s messenger looked puzzled.

“This might actually work out well for us.”

Work out well?

Habell’s reaction was strange.

“You’re from Graiza, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“In that case, since you’re already here, take a good look.”

Habell began to walk.

“Banphelion is not a clan that the likes of the five great clans can handle.”

As he did so, an overwhelming aura erupted from his body.

Even the snowstorm could not stop his momentum, and the herald of Greyza came to an abrupt halt.

Greyza had recently been investigating not only Dante but also Habell.

However, the man before his eyes was beyond imagination.

“See clearly with your own eyes, and report back to your house. And let the whole world know.”

The herald of Greyza gulped.

“Banphelion has returned.”

The return of the emperor.

* * *

In the icy forest made of ice trees, a group of birds were in ambush.

“Vice-captain, do we really have to go this far?”

At that moment, one of the team members asked, shivering from the cold.

“It’s an order.”

However, a curt reply came back from the one called the vice-captain.

A scar across his forehead and cheek, and dark skin.

He was once the captain of the 3rd Knights.

He is now the vice-captain of the 4th Knights.

It was Malek Julakin.

“Ha, an order, huh? The order of a reckless, young master.”

“Watch your tongue. He is the captain.”

“The captain of the 4th Knights, that is.”

The team member grumbled.

All the team members here were formerly from the 3rd Knights along with Malek.

However, they followed Malek when he was promoted to vice-captain of the 4th Knights.

That was because they were Malek’s men.

They were once those who had surpassed the 5th rank.

But now, they were in charge of supporting Drathen.

It couldn’t be helped.

Because the order to assist Drathen came down from above.

They, too, had to come to the 4th Knights, eating mustard while crying.

“And now, we’re in ambush. The members of the 3rd Knights will laugh at us.”

The team member made a frustrated expression.

The goodwill tour that Drathen had brought on his own.

The ones who were suffering because of it were none other than them.

Attack Dante and Habell if they arrive first.

Such a disgraceful order had been given.

“To begin with, how is it possible for just two people to arrive sooner than the Knights?”

No matter how lacking in confidence they were, it wasn’t like that.

For just two people to overtake the Knights.

The team member couldn’t understand it at all.

However, Malek thought otherwise.

“No, something was different.”

When Malek saw Dante, he felt nothing in particular.

He’s a decent swordsman at best.

The 3rd Knights had plenty of members at that level.

But there was something strangely odd about Habell.

It was because his very presence felt out of place.

Malek had felt a similar sensation before.

When he entered the 6th Order.

It was the same eerie feeling he got when he saw the Demons.

A strange feeling that they were there, but not really there.

“Don’t let your guard down because there are only two of them.”

“As long as the Vice-captain isn’t careless, what problem could we have?”

Despite their words, they showed unwavering trust in Malek.

They were comrades who had faced life and death together in the Tower.

It was only natural.

“Let’s go have a drink after this. The stout brewed in the 4th Order’s safe zone is the best.”

“He only talks about the 4th Order’s stout.”

A nearby squad member chuckled.

But deep down, everyone was looking forward to the stout.

“… Prepare yourselves.”

At that moment, Malek’s aura changed.

The edge of the forest.

Two figures were walking in.

“…Damn, did they really get here faster than the Knights?”

“No, even the Knights can’t break through at this speed.”

An unbelievably fast pace.

They realized why Dante was called a super rookie.

But Malek frowned.

Something was wrong.

He could only sense two presences.

‘Is that how that man Habell felt?’

He was certainly a man whose presence was strangely difficult to sense.

The moment he had that thought.

“You’re not too bad yourself.”

A voice came from behind Malek.

As Malek’s head turned,

He felt his body floating before he even saw him.

Thud!

Soon, he was rolling on the ground.

Malek abruptly stood up and glared.

This place was a snowy desert area outside the Ice and Snow Forest.

The forest and the snowy desert area were several kilometers apart.

But a snowy desert?

He immediately unsheathed his sword.

Cold sweat poured down.

A bad feeling surged.

Then, he belatedly saw a man sitting under a tree.

“Nice to meet you.”

Habell met him very briefly.

Malek felt an eerie tension.

Dangerous.

He was dangerous.

The reason his body floated a while ago was that he had lifted it.

He carried his body, weighing almost 90 kg, and left the forest in an instant.

Without even giving him a chance to resist.

What did that mean?

“…”

Malek gripped his sword tightly with tension.

However, Habell just starred at his actions.

Did he not intend to fight?

“……”

When he asked, Habell finally opened his mouth.

“You must leave the 4th stage now.”

Malek’s eyes filled with doubt.

Leave the 4th stage all of a sudden?

“The 4th stage will face a trial soon. If you want to protect your precious youngest master, you won’t be enough.”

Malek was bewildered.

It was because he couldn’t understand Habell’s words at all.

“So, summon a stronger knight from Glacies and bring them here.”

“What nonsense.”

“Do you think it’s nonsense?”

That was when Habell said that.

Boooooooooooom!

A loud noise echoed from the other side of the snowy desert.

Malek froze at the sound like a whale’s cry.

It was a sound he had never heard once on the 4th stage.

“You’d better hurry.”

Habell said that and got up from his seat.

However, Malek did not turn around.

Instead, he aimed at his sword.

“My aid is in the forest.”

His two eyes were filled with an indomitable spirit.

He would never abandon his aid and go alone.

Even if it meant facing a monster of unknown power.

Habel clicked his tongue in regret.

“Then someone else will go instead.”

As he continued speaking.

Malek realized that his vision had been reversed.

With that, his head rolled on the ground.

Booooom!

Habel turned, leaving the sound behind.

The real calamity began to enter the forest again.