Soul of Burning Steel

Joshua once said that he wanted to turn this around. He can't sit idly by, nor can he remain indifferent. These words are sincere and without falsehood, but can helping these survivors drive away the dead shadows to reverse the decline of the world's destruction? Help these warriors fight and kill their enemies to save the mortals? No, people have their own paths, these warriors who are fighting in the holy city don't need this kind of superficial help to hinder them, they are burning their hearts, so there is no need to do anything.

What Joshua needed was to go to the source, the origin of the Shadow of the Dead, Gaetar, the imperial capital of the Ulan Empire, and find the truth there.

The number of the army of dead shadows is too large, and even the vision ahead is blocked. At this time, the warrior will make a move, swinging a giant sword or ax and chopping out a light blade. All the dead shadows in the place were swept away, and countless soul marks were absorbed by the soul abyss, and they could no longer be reborn in the dark mist.

--Too much.

This is Joshua's inner thoughts. Soul Abyss cannot absorb complete souls, but only those soul fragments that died at the hands of Joshua. But at this moment, the endless army of dead shadows represents endless soul fragments. Such a huge amount of soul was sucked in, so that the warrior himself didn't know what the consequences would be, but this was a necessary step if he wanted to march to the deepest lair of the dead shadow.

In the depths of the dark soul abyss, countless crystal-like fragments howled and cursed, making irrational noises, but at this time, with the continuous, seemingly endless influx of soul fragments, the original fragments were piled up by them. It rises and becomes a towering mountain. These soul fragments were originally the smallest part of the soul, but under the accumulation of this speed and weight, the mountain began to spontaneously compress and condense layer by layer, and finally collapsed, forming a small black core.

This dead black ball is suspended in the very center of the soul abyss, like a bottomless ruin, actively absorbing all the soul fragments in the soul abyss, assimilating them into a part of itself.

At the same time, in the Corolla Fortress, on the observatory in the center of the city, the old man with the structure assimilated with the entire city looks into the distance, the place where the light shines.

"Adjacent to the sanctuary...the power."

He murmured in disbelief, "But how is it possible?"

Since twenty-seven years ago, it is impossible for new sanctuary-level existences to appear in the Grandia world. Even the former sanctuary-level powerhouses must self-seal part of their strength and suppress themselves to the peak of the heavenly realm. .

This is because the whole world is gradually dying and returning to silence. The sanctuary-level power communicates with the entire world, and even connects with the world's most original power. The gradual destruction of the Grandia continent will naturally affect these existences that are most closely connected with the world, and continue to cooperate with this dead original power One, it will make itself fall into dead silence.

This effect is more obvious to the strong. It is precisely because the old man was a step slower and was infected by the breath of death, so he can only use the construct to replace the dead body and make himself a half-machine life. Existence, and other sanctuary powerhouses also encountered similar problems, but they also used various methods to get around it.

However, this does not mean that it is impossible to break through the sanctuary realm in the Grandia world, it just means that because of this dead environment, when the strong break through or use the power of the sanctuary, it is the time of death.

Joshua didn't know this.

But even if he knew, he wouldn't care a little bit.

70%, 71%, 72%, 73%... The numbers are advancing bit by bit, as he continues to absorb the free energy in the surrounding atmosphere due to the shattering of the dead shadow, this progress bar is constantly moving towards Going forward 100%.

At this time, the soldier was just wondering, he had been walking in the army of dead shadows for a long time, beheading hundreds of thousands of dead shadows, but why didn't there be a strong man like Arman coming to stop his steps ?

What about those undead leaders?

In the distance, on the southeastern edge of the mainland, surrounded by a sea of ​​clouds, the mountains are vast, and a huge mountain range like a giant lying dormant on this land.

Wrapped in shadow and darkness, the powerful swordsman ranked third among all the undead commanders stood between the clouds and mist, eyes closed, beside him, the wind seemed to be still, the atmosphere seemed to be frozen, there was not a single sound in the world, the world There was a dead silence.

He didn't cover his face at this time, and he could see the face that was hidden in the darkness before.

This is an ordinary face with no characteristics, but it is such a face that can be said to be submerged in a sea of ​​people, but it reveals a sharp aura that seems to be able to pierce and tear everything apart, even if he closes his eyes. His eyes and himself remained motionless, but the sea of ​​clouds churning in the mountains was chopped up by invisible blades from nowhere from time to time, turning them into mist and light rain.

The swordsman stood on the cloud, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

And not long after, a stream of light flew out from a small town at the top of a mountain that seemed to be cut horizontally.

The old heroic spirit Arren also stood on the cloud, looking at the commander of the dead shadow in front of him.

"Brother."

A deep voice echoed in the sky. The black swordsman, who was as motionless as a statue, finally made a move. He slowly raised his right hand, and then stroked it on the hilt on the left side of his body. He said in a tone of no emotion: "You are bound in this town like this, you are really ashamed of the sword in your hand."

"The reason why I practice, learn and draw the sword is to protect the one I love."

The old swordsman shook his head calmly at this time, and Yaren replied blankly: "Unlike you, I have a stubborn head, and I don't yearn for the supremacy of swordsmanship at all. They are all I have, and there is no restriction." .”

"Stubborn, the same as before."

The undead leader narrowed his eyes, and he said softly: "It seems that you still won't make a move this time, right? It's the same as the last time I killed the teacher before you made a move... Even if the final battle has already started, you still won't make a move." Instead of trying to save the world with your own strength, you stay where you are, like a hen guarding its nest."

The old swordsman was silent for a long time, he looked towards the direction of the tomb of the saint, where black clouds were entangled, and half of the continent was sunk in darkness, then he looked behind him, this is a small town where countless people live peacefully The town looked up nervously at this scene, and was wary of the other direction.

In the other direction, right under his feet, there is an army of dead people densely packed enough to occupy the mountains and rivers. They are slowly advancing and encircling the town. The Death Shadow Swordsman led his troops to the other side of the continent, confronting his brother Heroic Spirit, who was also awakened.

"look."

The dead shadow swordsman noticed the line of sight of the heroic spirit. He turned his head and looked towards the southwest of the mainland. Together with him, he looked at the dark darkness that was gathering on the other side of the continent. The swordsman seemed to be mocking: "All living beings are fighting for the future, but you are shrinking In the corner of the continent, try to use your strength to protect these weaklings, and wait for the fisherman's profit for both of them to die."

"Because of these weak people, you dare not even draw your sword in front of me—what qualifications do you have to call yourself a sword master? It's really despicable and weak, shameless enough to make me sick."

After talking a lot, but seeing no reaction from the other party, the third commander of the Dead Shadow sighed in disappointment, and said boringly: "It seems that I can only force you to take action."

As he spoke, he put his hand on the hilt of the sword.

"..."

The old swordsman had been silently listening to the other party's sarcasm, and kept silent, but when he saw the other party's hand on the hilt, he trembled all over and let out an exclamation in shock. Afterwards, the old swordsman pressed his hand on the hilt, At the same time, he turned his head immediately, as if he wanted to say something to the residents of the town.

run!

He opened his mouth and was about to say something, but no sound came out in time.

Because a roar came from the earth.

"shut up!"

In the town of Yaren, an old man heard the words of the dead shadow swordsman in the sky, and he immediately glared angrily. This old man who looked almost as old as his ancestor angrily pulled himself out of the scabbard around his waist. Saber when he was young, loudly reprimanded: "You are not allowed to insult the glory of your ancestors!"

And one after another roars also came from the small town, sweeping across like a wave.

"Don't worry about us, Master Ancestor! Let's do it!"

"What is our fate?! After so many years, we still need our ancestors to protect us. It's worth noting this life!"

The townspeople, who were originally terrified by the approaching army of the dead, seemed to be ignited with explosives. They let out roars that they would never have made before, and the person in charge was a female knight covered in scars, the female knight Davian. Standing beside the old man, he glared at the sky and said, "There are no cowards in the Astoria family! The dead, draw your swords! Even if we die, we will never shrink back!"

And the next moment, the old man beside the female knight got rid of the support of the people around him and walked to the edge of the city wall of the town. He looked directly at the endless army of dead shadows that was slowly approaching, and he clasped his fingers tightly, and stood the sharp sword in front of him. , the old man was almost hoarse, and said loudly in a pious tone: "I am the seventeenth generation descendant of the sword saint Aren Astoria! The light of the blade, the glory is immortal! My life is endless, My sword is unbreakable!"

He turned his head to look at the people in the small town, and said angrily, "What are you waiting for?! The descendants of the Juggernaut! We are the ones who dragged down the footsteps of our ancestors!"

"Draw your sword!"

Above the sky, the old swordsman who was about to let them escape quickly was stunned.

Because afterward, everyone in the entire town, whether young, middle-aged, men, women, old, or children, except for all the babies who couldn't move, and all those who were proud of the name of the descendants of the Juggernaut—all drew their swords!

"The light of the blade, the glory is immortal!"

"My life is unstoppable, my sword is unbreakable!"

Everyone roared the inscription engraved on their family crest.

These villagers who have struggled to survive in the apocalypse for nearly thirty years, no matter how difficult it is, have never forgotten to practice swords. They are proud of their surnames from the bottom of their hearts.

So, in order to maintain this honor, they drew their swords. These swordsmen even opened the gate of the town, took the initiative to attack, and rushed towards the army of undead that was several times, dozens of times larger than themselves, and could even be said to be as vast and boundless as the sea.

No one backed away, and no one fled.

The old swordsman stood dumbfounded in the sky. He watched with his own eyes the descendants of his blood rushing from under his feet to the battlefield, rushing to death, but he was stopped here by his junior brother, who could not stop it, and could not stop it.

This is their courage and glory.

The faint light of magic energy was released from the blade, and the wind and thunder surged, shattering the atmosphere. The residents of Yaren Town were not weak. Under their impact, even the undead army was in chaos, one after another. The silver-white sword light flickered vertically and horizontally in the darkness, filling the air with the sound of breaking through the air. Thousands of dead shadows were smashed into flying ash and returned to the earth amidst the sound of breaking through the air.

But how can hundreds, if not less than a thousand, villagers make waves in the sea? After a burst of commotion, the endless dead shadows that started to move again instantly overwhelmed these swordsmen, cutting off the retreat that they didn't need.

Swinging the sword to slash bursts of anger, after fighting for a long time, a male swordsman was finally exhausted under the siege of countless dead shadows. The man on the verge of death bled, and fell to the ground, but seeing the swarming enemies, he slammed Standing up vigorously, he swung his last sword and chopped dozens of dead shadows in two. But in the end, he was still engulfed by endless shadows and disappeared into the darkness.

——My ancestors, we are your descendants, and what flows in our blood is the blood of heroes who never surrender.

A voice suddenly sounded in the mind of the old swordsman. It was the voice of the man who took the heroic spirit who came from the end of the world and guarded them for thirty years as his faith.

--yes.

A female voice followed, it was the voice of another dead female swordsman, this voice was very young, but she didn't regret her death, but was full of regret and hope.

——So you don't have to worry about us, we... want to see you, once as a hero.

"Ah... I know... I know."

I know that tears are useless, that there is no salvation in this cruel and hopeless world.

However,

Tears of the soul fall.

However.

The sword in his hand was clenched tightly.

The old swordsman—heroic spirit—the former earth-cracking swordsman Yaren Astorea firmly grasped the sword in his hand, facing the menacing junior in front of him, who seemed to be ready to attack at any time, Death Shadow The third commander, this Heroic Spirit closed his eyes to prevent tears from falling, and calmed down the agitated heart.

The world is as short as dew, I know that such a battle is meaningless, it is just a futile death, I also know that as long as I run away, I can live as long as I don’t fight, as long as I become the last in this world One hundred and three thousand people will do.

enough.

But there is always something that is better than death and can never be escaped or betrayed.

Infinite power seemed to surge out from the depths of his heart. Yaren opened his eyes. His body, which was originally composed of countless rays of light, suddenly began to fluctuate rapidly. It seemed that the thousands of light particles that made up his body were rapidly The explosion broke apart, and a mighty force that surpassed a volcanic eruption and overshadowed the tsunami sky erupted from his body, spreading rapidly towards the high sky in all directions.

The old swordsman's hand was also on the hilt, and he pulled out the holy sword that had been silent for a long time from the scabbard.

"Sanctuary—"

The dead shadow swordsman who had been silently watching all this suddenly let out an exclamation, and he roared angrily: "How dare you?!"

"Why don't I dare?"

In this bloody wind, in this mountain of corpses, in this sea of ​​blood, and in the blood of blood relatives flowing wantonly, the sword master laughed loudly, and then—— drew his sword, and cut it down!

Immediately, the mountains toppled and the earth split the abyss.

1

It's almost the end of the month, let me ask for a monthly pass too... the foreshadowing of this world will also be collected.