The Great Sword is not the Main Body!
Chapter 192 – The Primordial Beast

The light comprising Delia’s body began to scatter. The light that had raged more brilliantly than anything else lost its power and faded away.

And behind that fading light, her white arms and legs that had been sacrificed for power beyond her means, Her restored eyes, her organs, her body, Even the faintly flickering True Energy within her had been perfectly regenerated.

Delia’s face contorted as she felt the True Energy inside her—now deeper than before.

Thinking about it logically, No, even considering miracles beyond logic, this was absolutely impossible.

It was power she had already discharged. It was life force that had been expended and dispersed. It was True Energy that could never return, no matter what.

And yet, it had returned.

“No… it didn’t return…”

It had transferred. From somewhere else, into Delia’s body.

Delia’s trembling eyes fell upon the man standing before her. His fluttering sleeve. His limping leg. His back covered in wounds.

“Heinzel… what have you done…?”

He didn’t answer. No matter how many times she called, he simply stood still, staring ahead.

Finally, Delia staggered to her feet and took a step toward Heinzel.

At that moment—

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I’m stronger now!”

He laughed.

As if he hadn’t heard a word Delia said, he laughed boldly and raised his hand toward the sky.

At first glance, it seemed like the laughter of someone who had lost his mind before a powerful enemy. But there was no madness in his smile. No despair, no fear, no frustration, no regret. None of these emotions were present.

What his smile contained was:

Joy. Happiness.

Relief.

A bittersweet longing.

It was the smile of someone whose lingering regrets had vanished, As if a long-cherished wish had been fulfilled.

Because of this, Delia had to stop walking. She had to withdraw her outstretched hand. She had to firmly close her lips.

After a moment, Heinzel’s laughter ceased.

Deep fear spread across Leviathan’s face.

Countless legs slammed into the earth. The massive body writhed. The gaping maw twisted as if it would tear apart. Razor-sharp teeth flailed wildly. The hell hidden within its mouth let out a horrifying screech.

Before this calamity, the mortal who stood tall—

Heinzel—

Clenched his fist and walked forward. Though one leg was missing, his body—barely supported by faint magic—moved lightly. In contrast to his fluttering sleeve, his ragged prosthetic arm formed a solid fist. His back, unbending before any violence, remained straight. The path he walked forward was clear.

Swaaah—Swaaah—

The hell lurking in Leviathan’s mouth unleashed itself. Death poured forth—the kind that even a Challenger giving their all would have little hope of surviving. As if trying to shake off its fear, Leviathan exhaled violently.

But Heinzel’s steps did not falter. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t waver.

He raised his arm.

And Delia saw. She saw legs that stood firm, certain they would not fall. She saw a back that vowed never to bend.

She saw not the distant, hazy gaze of someone looking far away, but sharp, focused eyes looking directly ahead.

She saw the will imbued in his body.

She saw a fist bearing the future.

[KKKAAAAAAAAAAAAA———!]

Hell rained down. A blaze like the black night sky crashed into the earth. Leviathan’s mana, which had devoured even gods, blocked Heinzel’s path, delivering death to all living things.

In that chaos, the mortal swung his fist. Recklessly. Crudely. Foolishly. A punch containing no plan, no thought, nothing.

A desperate struggle to cast off past mistakes, regrets, grief, despair, and fear.

A fist that had fully accepted a past riddled with remorse exploded with brilliant light amidst the inferno.

And thus, hell split apart.

A path opened.

The future emerged.

Heinzel walked forward.

Step—

He heard the laughter of children playing joyfully within strong fences.

Step—

He smelled the sharp glow of sunset and the comforting scent of evening.

Step—

He saw villagers who had fallen into early sleep among gentle beasts.

Step—

He strolled through a flower garden in full bloom, petals dancing beautifully in the wind.

Step—

He felt the warmth of a delicate flower crown, a splendid bouquet, and the front door adorned with his daughter’s drawings.

He reached out. He grasped the doorknob. He steadied his breath. Closed his eyes. And opened the door.

Thud-thud-thud— The sound of running across creaky old wooden floors.

Rustle, rustle— The dragging sound of indoor slippers made from rabbit fur.

“Daddyyyyy!!”

“I told you not to run in the house.”

He heard voices.

“Daddyyyyyyy!”

“This child!!”

The bold voice of a daughter who dreamed of becoming a princess. The gentle voice of a wife who had vowed to care for him forever.

To that, The once-quiet boy. The once-proud young man. The once-happy parent. The once-despairing adventurer.

Heinzel,

Opened his eyes.

•  

There, instead of a horrific battlefield, His peaceful, warm home awaited.

And there,

Neatly braided hair with a mischievous smile that didn’t match. A missing front tooth from a recent fall, making her smile even more adorable. Slender frame and round eyes, just like her parents.

He saw his daughter throwing herself into his arms, her lovely voice filled with trust and faith.

Through his constricted throat, he called her name. A name he had never forgotten. A name he had held in his heart for a lifetime. For the first time since losing his daughter, he spoke the name he had never been able to utter:

“Lora.”

“Daddyyyyyyyy!”

A tiny body leapt into his arms. Pushing aside his prickly hair and beard, she burrowed against his chest. She tugged at his thin arms and smiled broadly.

“You worked hard again today, dear.”

He looked up. Brown hair neatly braided like Lora’s. A warm smile. Handmade apron and dress. Tall stature and round eyes.

“…Saein.”

Saein slowly approached, lifted Lora into her arms, and smiled wryly.

“Did you finish everything before coming back?”

“Huh? Daddy didn’t finish his work?”

Heinzel couldn’t answer. Saein flicked his forehead.

“Finish everything first, then come back.”

The finger that had tapped his forehead moved to his unruly hair. It brushed his beard. It gently traced his eyes.

“Do what you want. How you wish. Or as you’ve always done.”

A bright smile bloomed across Saein’s face. It carried boundless trust. It was filled with profound love.

“You did nothing wrong. So it’s okay. Finish it all, then come back, Heinzel.”

“Did Daddy do something bad? Gasp… Did you skip work?! Why?!”

“Daddy just really wanted to see Lora. So, Lora, will you give Daddy a kiss for encouragement?”

“Daddy’s beard is prickly… Mmm… But since you missed me! Daddy! Kiss!”

As Heinzel hesitated, Lora grabbed his fingers with both hands and pulled him down. His head lowered, and her warm lips touched his cheek. A tiny smooching sound rang out. Followed by pouty complaints about his prickly beard.

Then, smooch— Saein’s kiss landed on his forehead.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Take your time. Leave no regrets. Let everything go completely.

“Win… and come back.”

Saein’s hand lifted Heinzel up. Raising his knees that had touched the ground. Straightening his hunched back. Lifting his bowed head.

Through the narrow gap in the door, warm sunset light filtered in.

He turned and faced the sunset. He reached for the doorknob.

He looked back at a past he could never forget. He gripped the nightmare he could never erase.

“Come back safe, Daddy!!”

Lora’s voice gave strength to Heinzel’s arm. It kept him from bending. It helped him clench his fist once more.

It moved his feet forward.

Creeak—

The door opened.

Beyond it, hell surely awaited. Terrible pain and an uncertain battle lay ahead. A battlefield where not even the next step forward was certain.

But still, What did that matter?

The life of the boy who knew nothing of the world. The life of the young man more skilled than anyone. The life of the man who lived as a parent. The life of Heinzel who lived as an adventurer.

All of these had been the same.

And still, he had survived until now.

“I’ll be back.”

And so, without hesitation,

Just as always. Out of habit. The way he had lived his life.

He opened the door.

•  

The courage of a boy who was brave simply because he didn’t know the world instilled fear in the beast.

The skill of a young man who perfectly utilized his talent tore out the beast’s jaw.

The responsibility of a father who fought endlessly to protect his family withstood the beast’s onslaught.

The hearty laughter of an adventurer who changed everything and walked a new path drew screams from the beast.

With each punch he threw, the beast’s screams erupted. Its fierce fangs shattered helplessly. Its arrogant eyes twisted. Its fearlessly gaping mouth slammed shut. Its proudly raised head was crushed.

In contrast, Heinzel was composed. He was thorough. Calculated. Cautious.

He repelled the calamity spewing from its maw and slashed the beast’s nape. He ripped out its teeth and drove scrap metal scattered on the ground into its body. The rusted sword in his hand became a machete that cut through tiger hide. A stone became an arrow that struck an eagle. His fist became a hammer that shattered turtle shells.

He didn’t break. He didn’t fall. He didn’t release his grip. To sever the beast’s breath, he clung on tenaciously and relentlessly.

This was, without question, a hunt. The hunt of a boy, a young man, a father, a man. The foundation of Heinzel’s being.

The form of a hunter.

He tore through the beast’s hide. Split its muscles and broke its bones. Pulled out its organs and drained its blood. There was no hesitation in his actions. No doubt, no worry, no pause.

With each practiced, flowing movement, the beast’s breathing gradually weakened.

However, the beast did not submit quietly. Though its breath faded, its ferocity intensified. Its deafening roar made the earth wail. The mana in the air fled. The heavens turned away.

Only the black sun watching over the battlefield remained fixed upon it.

The beast’s final struggle began. All of its essence surged through its torn throat. The currents reversed. The earth overturned. The seas rose up.

The stench of the sea. The crash of violent waves. The roar of terrible tsunami. The heavy darkness of the deep abyss.

A calamity that seemed to bring all the sea’s fury swept around the beast.

Yet Heinzel laughed. Louder. Rougher. More boldly.

He clenched his fist. Stronger. Firmer. Heavier.

He thought of his friend. He remembered him bringing spring with a single old sword. He remembered him cutting through the world. He remembered him cleaving the sky, even the sun itself.

But Heinzel didn’t need a sword. Weapons were a luxury.

He raised his fist.

Toward the massive tidal wave. Toward the terrible abyss. Toward the natural disaster no human could resist.

He thrust his fist forward.

CRACK—

From the point where his fist connected,

Countless fractures spread across the world.

Those fractures,

In the reddened sky, In the black sun, In this world warped and filled with misfortune,

Created a massive distortion,

Carving in it,

A new future, hope, victory,

An irreparable scar,

Forever etched.