I Grabbed the Tyrant’s Heart - Chapter 271

The Southern Emperor’s sharp sword aimed for my chest, but I swiftly leaned back to avoid it.

Just as I had moved away from my previous position, a piece of metal took its place.

I quickly planted one hand on the ground, spun around, and distanced myself from the Southern Emperor. But in an instant, he closed the gap again.

Clang!

I easily blocked his sword strike, and the Southern Emperor gritted his teeth in frustration. He quickly cast a spell, and five sword blades materialized out of thin air, all aiming to strike me simultaneously.

I muttered in trouble, though I wasn’t truly troubled at all. The Emperor’s eyes gleamed with murderous intent as he saw my defensive magic.

“Of course, you are the wizard who blocked our army’s attack!”

I didn’t respond and swung my heavy sword in a horizontal arc.

My defensive magic was similar to the grand wizard, but the feel of the magic was different. The Southern Emperor hadn’t noticed it from afar, but it seemed he had now realized it.

The Southern Emperor, continuously unleashing offensive spells while swinging his sword, made it impossible for me to release my defenses. The only attacks I could manage were physical ones.

“Haha! You can’t defeat me.”

Unfortunately, the Southern Emperor was highly skilled in magic. It seemed he had regained his senses, no longer destroying buildings but focusing all his attacks on me.

The same sword blades from earlier attacked me repeatedly.

Additionally, a thick fog appeared, likely to obscure my vision, while strong winds blew to disrupt my balance and shake the ground beneath my feet.

Most of these attacks were deflected by my magic, but not all of them were so easily stopped.

Each time, the rigorous training I had undergone with Ber paid off, allowing me to endure and deflect them.

“You’re persistent, Euel?”

The Southern Emperor sneered and twisted his lips.

“You should’ve already died!”

Ah, the Southern Emperor has truly lost his mind.

If he thought he could make me angry with such remarks, he was gravely mistaken. Thanks to Tess, I had built a high threshold for annoyance in my youth, and it took much more to upset me.

And one more thing, I would’ve already severed his head if this sword weren’t unfamiliar to me.

Perhaps it’s fortunate for him that I’m using an unfamiliar sword.

Also, let’s not forget that we’re fighting here, in the heart of the Southern Empire’s palace.

“I’m living well and content.”

I said with a bright smile. My response only seemed to infuriate the Southern Emperor more. He immediately combined several different spells in his anger.

While maintaining my defense, I focused all my attention on countering his sword strikes.

No matter how dazzling and powerful his magical attacks were, as long as I could block them, there was no real problem.

If we both had equal abilities, it all came down to concentration.

“I’ve got you!”

I intentionally let my defensive magic wane, but the Emperor didn’t notice and, with a triumphant expression, thrust his sword toward my chest.

I deliberately moved back slightly, just enough to dodge.

I had calculated everything perfectly, but the tip of the Southern Emperor’s sword grazed the transformation charm on my necklace and cut through the string.

Clang!

As the necklace fell to the ground, I reverted to my original form.

At the same time, I thrust my sword straight toward the Southern Emperor.

‘I’m still lacking.’

My sword was longer than the Southern Emperor’s, so I didn’t need to move much to wound him.

“How dare I offer my collar to someone like Your Majesty?”

The tip of my sword struck him, and I drew a straight line to the right. My sword cut through his collarbone and shoulder.

“Ugh!”

The wounded Southern Emperor staggered back, but I moved quickly.

Once more.

I stretched out my arm and thrust my sword forward, this time feeling a heavy sensation reach my fingertips.

As my sword pierced his left shoulder, the Southern Emperor’s flesh stuck to it, making it difficult to pull my blade out. I had to twist the sword to remove it.

“Argh!”

Now blood, tinged with a bluish hue, stained the air.

“It seems you’re still feeling pain.”

I said while meeting his fierce glare.

“Then again, even monsters feel pain.”

Perhaps understanding the hidden meaning of my words, his waxen face began to redden with anger.

“How dare you!”

In a fit of rage, the Southern Emperor raised his magic power without a care for the collapsing buildings around us.

The roof was crumbling, and there was less and less space to stand.

Clang!

After a quick glance at the shrinking space, I stepped forward and attacked again. The blood from the shoulder wound was still flowing, but the Southern Emperor was too busy charging at me.

He must think he won’t die.

Both Tess and the Southern Emperor were still human, living beings at their core. Losing too much blood is fatal.

Though it may seem like nothing’s changed right now, his movements will slow soon. Unless, of course, he had made a deal with God.

***

Crack.

A Southern Empire officer, seeing the shattered white mirror fragments beneath my feet, muttered in a daze.

“I’m dead…”

“If you surrender, I’ll spare you.”

I said with a small chuckle, and his eyes wavered left and right. It seemed he hadn’t been brainwashed by the mad Southern Emperor. Or maybe the brainwashing had worn off.

“Re, really?”

“Yes. Anyone who wants to surrender should go to the top of this island and wave a white flag.”

Euseniel had made me promise not to kill anyone who didn’t deserve it.

She was worried that if I stained my hands with blood, I might lose my sense of reason.

Ah, Euseniel.

I was already lost, but I’ll do as you asked.

“Follow me!”