Only I Am A Reader

'It's him.'

Following the sight of the 'flying' figure, Leo received his answer. He was the only one that knew why 'he' was here. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do to stop it… for now.

"Finally! It's time for harvest!"

Everyone could now see the cause of this whole commotion, it was an average-looking man in long black robes. Although the long hair reaching his waist was completely gray, his face was strangely young. His voice wasn't exactly old, but it seemed to carry the tone of long age.

However, the guards couldn't afford to pay attention to the abnormal man. Something was sent flying the moment he moved his hand, the Emperor's life was in danger!

"Shield his Highness!"

The guards who saw the intruder's gesture had noticed it, but the ones who stood by the Emperor hadn't. Under the alert, they finally saw what was coming down! It was a… sword!

Shiing!

Seeing the object coming in his direction, the young Emperor drew his sword out of its sheath. Despite his status, he had grown into a peak Sword Grandmaster using the 'wealth' and 'environment' that he was blessed with, he was even personally tutored by the legendary sword mentor. However…

Splish!

He simply couldn't react to the speed of the sword flying at him. Let alone deflect it, he couldn't even dodge! By the time the guards could react…

Thud!

His head was already on the ground!

'A worthy replacement.'

Witnessing all of this, Leo lightly nodded. Without the help of a rampaging mutant, targeting the Emperor was enough to throw the guards' ranks into disarray! At least until he came into contact with his target.

"...Avenge the Emperor!"

Total desolation could be observed on the head guard's face, but he didn't stay shocked for long as he gave a bloody shout. He only glanced at the squad of guards who proceeded to take away the princess before he charged at the Sky-Piercing Sword!

"Foolish. To think that he would really die from that. A bag less doesn't really matter anyway, it's time for you to fulfill your destiny! My, Sword Demon's destiny!"

Tap! Tap! Tap!

Not even throwing a glance at the horde charging at him, the man proceeded to strike at the gigantic sword before him in an organized manner after announcing his identity!

"Avenge his Highness!"

"Avenge his Highness!"

"Avenge…"

Like a group of fanatics, the army of guards charged over unfazed, their swords teeming with raging Sword Breath!

"You shall be the first then."

Tap!

With one last strike, the Sword Demon finally withdrew his hands. He turned to face the raging crowd with a patient smile.

"Keuk…"

The closest one to reaching the center of the arena suddenly grunted, grasping at his heart as he suddenly collapsed to the ground.

"Yes, just like this!"

Klang. Klang. Klang…

As if it was a chain reaction, the whole army of guards started collapsing one by one, the echo of swords falling to the ground took over their expressions of pain.

"Hahaha… hahahaha! This is what I have been waiting all of these years for!"

The confused and fearful trial survivors only noticed what was happening when the maniacal laughter was the only thing they could hear. It was late, but they could see it, the rich sea of Sword Breath that was rising from the collapsed guards! It was all racing to return to its origin! The Sky-Piercing Sword!

The sword that stood tall yet unreactive for years greedily sucked in everything that flew towards it. Like a moth to a flame, the illusory sea of swords completely vanished!

"You have enjoyed this long enough…"

Tap! Tap! Tap!

The Sword Demon resumed his organized striking as he spoke in a condescending tone. Producing a faint hum in response, the unmoving sword reacted once more, exuding a faint threatening shine!

"Now, it's time for all of you to repay your debts!"

Shuaaa!

The sword's hum grew louder and louder as the light grew brighter and brighter, no one understood what this meant, but their hearts tightened with a strong sense of foreboding.

"Gah!"

They didn't immediately collapse like the guards, but the trial survivors clutched their hearts as they could feel that something was being sapped away from them, they could barely stand as they tried to resist the strong grasp that seemed to take hold of them.

"Why… am I losing my 'Breath'?!"

The bulky man's strong body helped him in enduring the painful process, but it couldn't stop it. Everyone here was helpless under the 'reaction' of the Sky-Piercing Sword, they could only wail internally as everything went according to the Sword Demon's plan…

"Hm?"

However, that wasn't truly the case, amidst the frozen crowd, one man stepped forward without exhibiting any reaction. Ray bent down to pick up a sword from the ground, brandishing it and pointing it in one direction! The Sword Demon's head!

"You… the sword told me everything! I will not allow you to wantonly steal what's not yours!"

"Rubbish! How can you resist the Progenitor Sword's recall?!"

The so-called Sky-Piercing Sword was 'his' artifact, it was the one that bestowed this world its 'breath' and thus had the ability to harvest it all! There was no way to destroy that rule considering the dependent relationship it formed. Unless…

"It doesn't matter how I could resist it. Seize your act of thievery immediately or die to my sword!"

"...Just successfully condensing some Innate Breath on your own doesn't give you the right to order me around. I was the one that gave you the chance to do so!"

The Sword Demon quickly guessed the reason for Ray's abnormality. He didn't think that someone had actually deviated from the path that he set.

"Those are my words. Just having knowledge of something doesn't mean you are its owner. Even if it did, you have no right to relinquish the effort of countless people all for the sake of your selfish desires!"

"You, how do you know-"

Tak!

Just as the Sword Demon was about to refute Ray's words, a loud impact reached his body before his ears, launching it into the pile of collapsed humans.

"Well said, brother."

Ray's eyes instinctively widened as they landed on the source of the sudden voice…