24 Hearts

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Chapter 3-1. ‘Black Tree’ Tribe

“Are you going over there? Really?”

“Yes, I have to go.”

“I think that’s a bad decision…”

“?”

Jeanne replied in a gloomy voice. Judah, who kept looking down at Kain’s body, looked down at her. Unnatural sounds echoed through the air as the sound of the wind whipped through them one beat late.

Kwaang!

The ground cracked along like the explosion of a bomb. The trees fell, and dirt soared high.

Kwakakakak!

As if a shark came upon the surface of the water, a blast of magical power whipped through the forest, like fins cutting through the sea. The battle of the two Wielder of the Sword had been a natural disaster. They saw the whole area turn into ruins before their eyes.

“Well… That’s right.”

Indeed, it was crazy to see things like that and go in without fear. Rumors said that people could die after intervening in a duel between two Wielder of the Sword. Jeanne’s stamina and magic resistance could withstand the attack of the Wielder of the Sword to some extent, but Arhil was a problem. Although her body had been trained for a priest, she was nothing by herself and without Jeanne.

He thought, ‘Arhil might not handle it well. Without Jeanne, she can’t protect herself on her own.’

He was different. He received stat bonuses from his fragments. Even the quality of the Blue Lancer’s armor differed by rank. That wasn’t a bad thing, but despite the apprentice Blue Lancer’s armor, it wasn’t guaranteed protection in a battle with two Wielder of the Sword. Judah happily nodded his head and replied lightly.

“Okay. Then, I have no choice but to go alone.”

“What?! It’s dangerous, Judah. I wasn’t stopping you because I was worried about our safety. I said it because I was concerned about your safety.”

“She’s right. No matter how strong you are, going in there and helping is suicidal!”

Arhil followed Jeanne’s defense. What difference did they cause about being there? As he kept Kain’s body near him, his thoughts continued to linger in his mind. He thought it would be better to go to the battlefield and learn through it and deal with the last blow.

After all, his progress was saved when he got the thirteenth fragment, the Yakal of Wrath.

‘I could die then?’

If he died, he would come back to life and go back to this very moment. What was there to fear?

If he thought about it, this was an opportunity — an opportunity to gain practical experience and face against the Wielder of the Sword Quake. Maybe even give the final blow and get an adventure out of it. It’s like whenever a new fight occurs in any game, and he had to take on the challenge and fail several times just to find out the winning pattern or strategy.

It’s unpleasant to experience dying a few times, but such an opportunity seldom came. Judah pulled up the Yakal despite the wishes of Arhil and Jeanne, who were holding him back. Perhaps the weapon wasn’t planning to give up. Even though Yakal’s magic came to him by surprise, summoning a red curtain over him, it began to falter. His -player- characteristic tries to demand it back.

‘Even if I got the Yakal, the skills I should get for it isn’t working.’

The sword was not submitting. This was a problem that time would solve, but it seemed that he couldn’t borrow this fragment’s power right away. Judah then confirmed Yakal’s information.

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[Name: Thirteenth Fragment-Yakal]

[Rating: Legend_Sword]

[Equipment: Great Sword]

[Attack power: 135]

[effect]

Strength+4, Stamina+3, Knowledge-5, Luck-5

Attack and movement speed increased by 10%. Reflexes and movement vision increased by 5%.

50% increase in health recovery speed and recovery amount.

[Explanation]

This is the great sword made from the thirteenth fragment of Pernen’s heart. It was forged from minerals extracted from meteorites that fell from the sky and had the power to absorb magical energy. Initially, it had a pitch-black color, but through all the bloodshed by slaying many beasts and people, it soaked it in blood. The power engraved to its heart shard is “wrath.”

‘Kill it, kill it! Kill them! Kill it! Kill them! Kill them all!’

-Swordsmanship acquisition (Passive)-You cannot win by merely getting angry. You must have skill. (First time skill acquisition)

└Poke, one point (Active): Momentarily rushes and concentrates all the power at the blade’s tip to pierce it.

└Linkage, Ascension (Active): An attack is blocked with a linkage that can be used after stabbing or after an attack is successful. This also sends the enemy into the air due to the strong force.

└Slashing bells, wind (Active): Slam attack. If it cannot cut the target, the blade can be used for crushing.

└Linkage, Blood Wind (Active): A disastrous and long-range attack and shoots a reddish slash.

-Restore(Active): Absorbing the fragment’s power will instantly increase the combat ability.

-Equivalent Exchange (Passive): Reduces knowledge by 30% and increases strength by 30%.

-Stronger Power (Passive): From the moment you enter a battle, your strength increases by 1 each time a certain amount of time passes. It grows to a maximum of 10 and does not affect beyond 100. When the health falls below 30%, it is temporary and stops the user from being tired.

-Fast regeneration (Passive): The ability to recover the body increases and minor wounds heal in an instant. However, it takes time if you suffer a severe injury, such as losing a body part.

-Sword Correction (Passive): Increases the attack power by 15 and amplifies the power of the technique used two times.

-Magic Defense (Passive): You can block magic below a certain level.

-The thirteenth of Pernen’s twenty-four hearts (Passive): The thirteenth of the twenty-four hearts has the power of “wrath.”

-Passive: If you collect all 24 fragments made from Pernern’s heart, you can inherit the power of the Demon King Pernern.

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Yakal…

It was indeed a good weapon.

It was made from a rare mineral obtained from meteorites. It had the power of absorbing magical power as much as possible to say that it had infinite capabilities, and Pernen himself made it. The center of gravity, balance, and length was perfect. And it had been set up as a weapon for Kain.

That was why it didn’t suit Judah’s body. In the first place, it was set to be used with both hands rather than with one hand, so holding it in one hand also felt awkward for him. However, if he passed the swordsmanship level to match its higher attack power compared to the Flying Fighter’s spear that he used now, he could immediately use the fragment’s skills.

‘The thing is… the Yakal is not admitting me.’

Perhaps because their situation was different, the Yakal refused to lend him any strength. Thanks to this, he only received its effects, but he couldn’t use its skills at all. If he tried to activate a skill like he usually does with Altemia, there was no response. It was a weapon that he needed to deal with, but since it didn’t listen to him, he could only sigh.

‘There’s still a long time left before I can get Winter Wind or Silver Cross…’

There were even the owners of those two weapons, making it even more challenging to obtain. Judah sighed. Arhil and Jeanne waited for Judah’s judgment as he remained silent, hoping they would listen to their pleas. They were very good companions. None of the game players would have thought that Judah, who was meant to be betrayed, would get such reliable companions.

“Anyway, I’ll be back.”

“Judah!’

Jeanne called his name as he ran off to do what he planned.

“You may really die. I know you have fragments; even then, you can’t come out alive from there!”

“Of course, yes, but if Miss Isabel loses, then we’re all dead.”

They could run away from here before that happened. However, if they used the space moving manastone given by Count Genuine in Aslan, they can move directly from here to -Urun Kingdom-. They could get out of there without having to struggle. However, he thought it was a waste to give up this opportunity to face the Wielder of the Sword without fear of losing anything. His stats, skills, and items would be lost if he returned to his save point after death, but at least he could experience and remember it. That was his most important asset.

“Then I will go too.”

“No, that’s not possible.”

“Why? Do you mean I’m not as good as you are? I can protect you with my skills. If Arhil blesses you, it is enough for you to endure against the Wielder of the Sword!”

“To be precise, you’ll only be able to withstand him a few times. Your body may withstand it, but it will be difficult with that equipment.”

Jeanne’s face hardened. Judah thought of what he wanted to do with a dissatisfied look and stretched out the Yakal he had in his right hand.

“But if you can use this, let’s go together.”

Even though it was an offense to her pride, Jeanne put lance in the ground and received the Yakal he handed over. And, as if it had gotten a new host, Yakal, who had no response when in Judah’s grasp, began to tremble. Seeing Jeanne’s eyes turn red, Judah quickly grabbed the Yakal.

“…!’

Jeanne gasped, taking all the breath she could get after everything she just saw in that brief second. Judah apologized.

“I’m sorry, Jeanne. I know what you want to say and what you’re worried about, but I have to go.”

He didn’t know what would happen, even debating to hand over the space moving manastone to Arhil. Judah ran into the battle. And in a blink…

[You are resurrected.]

Quake chopped him with his greatsword.