A quarter of the swampy area, which covered at least 2 km in radius, was cut down. Nothing in its way was spared. All the trees fell down in rapid succession.
Even the hill wasnât spared.
Noelleâs eyes and mouth were wide open. She had never seen this kind of slash.
The alien also noticed the power from that swing, so it was already jumping into the air to avoid it, but the sword still cut both its legs.
Selena thought she had caught up with all these people when she became a world class summoner, but it turned out she was wrong.
Compared to the Sword Saint, she still had a long way to go.
Lilith said, "Stop him. He is burning his own life force to swing that sword..."
"!!!" Selena was stunned. The Sword Saint actually planned to sacrifice his own life.
Amphitrite gulped down. "He hasnât officially formed his second rule, but he has forcefully created that second rule by using his own life."
Noelle couldnât help but overhear their conversations. "GRANDFATHER!!!"
She didnât want it to continue. She knew why Sullivan did all this.
If not for the alien aiming for her, he wouldnât have made this gamble. No, if she had just not come here, her grandfather might not have needed to sacrifice himself.
If it were any other world class summoners, they would probably have succeeded in escaping. It was because she insisted on helping her grandfather that led him to this decision.
Sullivan, on the other hand, smiled. âDonât stop me, my beloved. My intention to wield the sword has forever changed after meeting your grandmother. I never wielded my sword to make myself cool or strong. I wielded this sword to protect you, to protect my entire family. If I canât even do that thing, whatâs the use of wielding this sword?â
Since the sword was equal to his life, if he really couldnât protect them, what was the use of clinging to his life?
Sullivan was aware of what would happen to him the moment he unleashed this sword.
âMy sword couldnât protect your grandmother from that illness... My swords couldnât stop the family from breaking apart after losing your grandmother... If not for your father, I might have stopped being myself. So thatâs why, please donât stop me. Please let this sword... at least succeed in protecting something for the first time...â
Sullivan swung his sword one more time, trying to kill the alien.
To his surprise, the alien actually tapped the sword from above.
Its legs that were supposed to have been cut down didnât regenerate. The alien didnât have the time to regenerate it.
Hence, it changed its legs with spikes.
Sullivan gritted his teeth and switched his stance to change the trajectory of the swing up.
The alien jumped over him to avoid it as the sword strike flew into the sky. The cloud was cleaved into two as if Sullivan had slashed the heavens.
The alien intentionally passed him so that it could position itself near Noelle.
"Youâre not getting away!" Sullivan shouted as the sword moved once again.
However, the alien had figured him out. Sullivan was so concerned about Noelle that the alien could take advantage of that relationship to trick him.
Suddenly, multiple spikes emerged from behind and stabbed him.
"Gah!" Sullivan had to choose at that time. If he avoided the spikes, it meant he wouldnât be able to stop the alien from reaching his granddaughter.
That was why he chose to receive the spikes with his body.
"Grandfather!" Noelle screamed. She had to stop him. She couldnât lose him. It was her fault. If she hadnât come here, this wouldnât have happened. "Please..."
Despite the blood flowing out of his mouth, Sullivan still smiled as he waved his sword horizontally.
"!!!" The alien panicked. The spikes were supposed to hinder his movement, even if he chose to protect his granddaughter.
Yet Sullivanâs form remained perfect even if his heart was pierced.
The alien twisted its body to save its own life, even though it couldnât chase after Noelle anymore.
Even then, the alien got its arm and a portion of its upper body cut.
The alien clutched its other hand, causing the spikes to bloom like flowers.
"Gah!" Sullivan spat a mouthful of blood as numerous spikes formed within those spikes, wrecking his body.
In addition, because it couldnât aim for Noelle anymore, the alien chose a different method to kill him.
Not only did it manipulate the spikes on Sullivanâs body, but it also formed more and more spikes in the surrounding area. It was planning to take down everyone within the area, just like what happened in the crater.
But thanks to the black cell, the power contained within those spikes was much greater than usual, to the point where Noelle or Selena wouldnât be able to stop them. This time, even Sera, Flora, and Alavenya would end up dying inside here as well.
Sullivanâs eyes had grown blurry as his vital organs were deteriorating fast.
Still, he maintained his perfect form as if he wasnât affected by anything.
He had done countless swings for his entire life. There was no condition he hadnât experienced when swinging his sword. That was why this swing would be the same as any other swing.
The swing that he wished could fulfill the promise he once made for the swords.
âThis is the dedication of my life. A swing to protect... a swing...â Sullivan felt like he was hallucinating because his vision had grown blurry. When he looked at Noelleâs face, it reminded him of the time when she was just a child.
With big eyes and a smile, she was hugging a big sword while saying, "Grandfather. I want to become a swordsman like you. Thatâs why I will start with this sword! Hehehe!"
Sullivan couldnât help but smile. â...a swing to teach...â
It was something he had always said. It might look like nagging from an annoying old man, but he would say it again and again. âDonât follow in my footsteps. Become a proper summoner who uses a sword. Donât be like me because I know how lonely it is. Please let this sword make you understand everything that I want to say.â
"Life Sword, Zeroth."