Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 267

BOOOOM!

A deafening explosion reverberated through the area, transforming even the surrounding air into a shockwave that struck everything nearby with immense force.

The blow, said to be powerful enough to cleave the sea in two, landed squarely on Viper’s back.

Screeeech!

Viper let out a blood-curdling scream that seemed to rip through the air. Its form began to bubble and writhe uncontrollably.

Though the attack could have killed most living creatures instantly, Theo remained on guard.

The axe’s blade began to glow with a cold, sharp light as it cleaved Viper’s body diagonally in two.

However...

Creeeak!

The writhing darkness quivered and wobbled, its shape blurring momentarily before reconstituting itself.

No feedback.

It felt as though the blow had sliced through empty air, leaving no satisfying resistance.

Did it briefly transform into an incorporeal state to evade?

To confirm his suspicions, Theo launched his four Death Beads at the creature. However, they simply passed through Viper’s translucent form, failing to land any effective blows.

It’s not entirely the same.

Rather than penetrating the translucent form, it seemed that any part of Viper’s body struck by an attack vanished entirely for a moment.

Theo’s attacks carried both the destructive power of the Phasa and the banishing force of the Kuma, a combination inherently deadly to most creatures. Viper, however, instinctively seemed to know just how dangerous they were and adjusted accordingly.

There’s still a lot I don’t know about it.

Harald’s expression, however, remained calm, as if this outcome was to be expected.

Creeak!

Gaining some form of confidence, Viper’s translucent body began to writhe again as it launched another relentless assault.

But this time, things were different.

“!?”

The creature’s unpredictable attacks, momentarily turning translucent before striking, sent chills down Theo’s spine.

The strategy of baiting and guiding its attacks as before now carried much greater risk, forcing Theo to rely on more straightforward defense tactics.

On the opposite side, Harald’s axe techniques were unfolding with ferocious elegance.

Is that really an axe?

The fluidity with which Harald wielded his massive weapon made it seem as light as a twig. Yet the devastating sound accompanying each swing made it clear just how deadly the weapon truly was.

A surge of mana condensed around Harald, imbuing his axe with a bluish glow. The sound of crashing waves echoed faintly, and a tidal wave of force began to press down on Viper.

Screeeech!

Viper’s form turned translucent again, evading the axe’s blows as if to prove that conventional attacks wouldn’t work.

As Harald’s axe passed harmlessly through Viper’s semi-transparent body, the creature began to twist and prepare another attack.

But at that moment...

He’s smiling?

Harald’s face broke into a grin.

BOOOOM!

A thunderous crash rang out as Viper’s body was flung backward, colliding with a massive boulder and shattering it into countless pieces that scattered everywhere.

What was that just now?

For a brief moment, it looked as if Harald’s axe had summoned a wave that crashed into Viper, delivering a direct hit.

Screeeeech!

Viper, likely having never faced such an attack before, let out a furious scream.

Determining Harald to be the greater threat, the creature shifted its focus entirely to him, unleashing the same relentless assault it had previously directed at Theo.

He’s relentless.

Harald, unfazed, parried only the attacks aimed at vital points while ignoring minor injuries. Whether it was because he didn’t fear pain or because he had no reason to block non-lethal strikes, his strategy was clear.

Though countless attacks were exchanged, Viper’s injuries were far more severe.

Harald’s enormous axe crushed and tore through Viper’s body, leaving gaping wounds, while Harald himself bore only a few punctures—none of which were deep.

His body, tempered to near perfection, was like a fortress, nearly impervious to ordinary attacks.

So, this is Harald Van.

He seemed as vast and indomitable as an ocean stretching endlessly behind him.

Creeeeak! Screeech!

Frustrated by the repeated injuries, Viper began to emit an ominous darkness that spread outward, devouring the surrounding space.

Rumble...

The area around Viper was consumed by a black shroud that seeped across the ground.

The darkness thickened, smothering all light as it blanketed the battlefield, turning the day into a pitch-black night.

From the corrupted ground, shapes began to emerge.

Uuugh... Argh...

The eerie wails of tormented souls filled the air.

They’re not undead, but...

Theo could only assume these were the vengeful spirits of those killed by Viper.

“This is disgusting,” Theo muttered.

The scene assaulted all senses. A rancid stench filled the air, the ground was sticky and damp, and the oppressive atmosphere clung to his skin like an oily film.

“We must be inside its stomach,” Harald said grimly.

Drip... Drip...

Sticky, viscous liquid began dripping from above.

RUMBLE!

A grotesque sound, like the pulsing of a massive organ, echoed through the dark space as something enormous began to stir within the shadows.

The darkness consumed everything—trees, rocks, even the ground itself. All forms of life began to dissolve, and even mana was slowly being drained away.

It was unmistakably Viper’s stomach, attempting to dissolve Theo and Harald alive.

Theo felt as though he were adrift on an endless ocean. The sheer vastness of the space made it impossible to gauge its boundaries.

“For now, let’s run in opposite directions,” Theo suggested. “If this thing moves with us, then we’ll truly be doomed.”

“That sounds reasonable,” Harald agreed with a laugh. “I didn’t expect hunting with you to turn into such a lucky stroke.”

A thought briefly crossed Theo’s mind.

Harald might have been killed hunting Viper alone.

When Viper had appeared in its earlier form, Harald might have stood a chance. But this new ability was something even Harald couldn’t overcome on his own.

Perhaps their meeting had been fated.

“Let’s meet outside,” Theo said.

“Good luck, then.”

“And to you as well.”

The two sprinted in opposite directions at full speed.

Screeeeech!

Viper let out a startled shriek, as though thrown off by their unexpected strategy.

Even with all its expansions, it must have limits.

While Viper could stretch its reach, covering two directions simultaneously was likely impossible.

Countless tentacles erupted from the ground and sky, aiming to impede them, but hitting two rapidly moving targets proved nearly impossible.

Theo deflected the oncoming tentacles with ease, steadily increasing his speed.

This place is vast.

Though he felt confident he could reach the Ragnar stronghold in under an hour at his current pace, the endless expanse of Viper’s space felt like an infinite horizon.

And then, suddenly...

Vrrrmmm...

An unidentifiable, pulsating sound began to reverberate, a mournful, mind-eroding noise.

The word death surfaced unbidden in Theo’s mind.

“Is this its final struggle?” he muttered.

He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was happening, but alarm bells rang incessantly in his head, as if urging him to escape immediately if he wanted to survive.

The sense of impending doom grew stronger with each passing moment, quickening his steps.

Finally, he spotted it.

There it is.

Beyond the horizon, cracks appeared, allowing faint beams of light to seep through.

The overextension of Viper’s domain made it obvious that this was the boundary.

Vrrrooom...

A chilling sensation crept up the back of Theo’s neck.

Something was rushing toward him, fast—so fast that even a slight hesitation would mean capture.

“Haaaah!”

With a sharp cry, Theo slammed into the fissure and shattered it.

Blinding light greeted him, signaling his escape. Relief should have followed, but the cold dread remained.

BOOOM!

“Well, I expected something like this,” Theo muttered dryly.

As he twisted his body to dodge, the massive axe belonging to Harald smashed into the ground nearby.

Harald’s cold, unyielding gaze locked onto Theo, who didn’t stop moving. Ignoring Harald, Theo turned his focus back to Viper to finish it off.

Viper, now weakened and unable to maintain its incorporeal form, was clearly on its last legs. Its black blood stained the ground like grotesque flowers blooming in the dirt.

This was the moment to strike.

Just then, Theo felt a chilling sensation behind him once more—a crushing weight descending from above.

Harald’s axe was bearing down on him.

Clang!

Theo spun and parried the massive weapon with his sword.

The sheer destructive force of the axe reverberated through his arms, leaving his hands tingling.

But something felt off.

It’s forceful, yet it doesn’t feel truly threatening.

Harald’s expression was layered with an unknown sorrow, but Theo didn’t have time to ponder it.

If he’s interfering with finishing off Viper, it must mean our interests are at odds.

It was puzzling why someone like Harald would resort to such petty tactics, but there was no time to dwell on it. Theo unleashed a flurry of sword strikes to create distance before lunging at Viper.

With one swift motion, he severed its head.

Thud.

Viper’s head fell limply to the ground, and its shadowy form dissipated into smoke.

All that remained were its Bloodstone and other by-products.

First, the Bloodstone.

Theo quickly collected the Bloodstone and stored it in his inventory before turning to face Harald.

Harald, for some reason, was staring at Theo with hollow, haunted eyes.

“How did you know?” Harald asked.

From the first ambush to the moment Theo evaded his attacks, everything had unfolded too smoothly.

It was as if Theo had predicted every move, responding with a calmness that suggested he was following a well-rehearsed script.

Harald couldn’t help but think Theo had known all along.

“When did you notice?” Harald pressed.

It seemed impossible for someone to understand their opponent so thoroughly in such a short amount of time.

They’d only spent half a day together—barely enough time to scratch the surface of someone’s character.

“Since yesterday,” Theo replied.

“What?”

Harald couldn’t believe his ears.

Without the use of some mystical technique, how could anyone discern another’s intentions so easily?

“You carry the scent of the Holy Church of Light,” Theo said calmly.

Harald’s eyes widened, his earlier confidence replaced with shock.