Regressing as the Reincarnated Bastard of the Sword Clan

Chapter 316

Theo extinguished the flames on the Drake’s Fang Blade, his eyes fixated on the mass before him. The earlier sneer had vanished, leaving only traces of agony on its face.

“It seems incapable of fear.”

Had it felt fear, there would have been a fleeting change in expression the moment the flames were withdrawn.

“Even burned, its regenerative abilities remain intact.”

The hiss of searing flesh echoed as the once-blazing threads of fire dissipated. The rapidly regenerating mass momentarily heaved with labored breaths before its features contorted in pain.

The prelude was over.

Both combatants shared the same sentiment as their eyes met with renewed intensity.

Suddenly.

Whoosh!

The creature inhaled deeply, and its massive hand, shaped like a spear, surged forward with incredible speed.

Its movements surpassed even the previously ferocious attacks of Kwachie.

Squelch. Squelch.

Countless tentacles erupted from its right arm, tearing through its flesh and lunging viciously at Theo, aiming to pierce his body.

“This brings back unpleasant memories.”

For a brief moment, Theo recalled Viper, his blade reflexively slashing out with irritation.

The air was carved into dozens of arcs, shredding the creature's right elbow and spraying fragments of flesh and blood around.

At that moment.

Splat!

From the severed elbow, a new arm erupted instantly, spraying fluids in all directions.

“Oh?”

Theo let out a soft exclamation, his gaze intrigued as he swiftly severed the freshly grown limb.

Slash!

The sharp, continuous sounds of cutting filled the air, testifying to the relentless assault Theo was unleashing upon the creature.

Arcs of crescent light flashed in midair, scattering pieces of flesh in all directions, forming small piles of gore around them.

The speed of Theo’s strikes had reached the point where even a storm seemed to pale in comparison. From the outside, his blade moved so fast that his actions might appear motionless.

Screeeeeech!

Unable to withstand the relentless assault, the creature withdrew its arm and staggered back a step.

“This is getting disgusting,” Theo muttered, his face calm as he swung the Drake’s Fang Blade once, shaking off chunks of flesh, blood, and grease.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

The remaining masses began to converge, forming a circular formation around Theo. Despite being surrounded, Theo didn’t move.

He needed to confirm something first.

Squelch. Crack.

The monstrous entities swelled even further, their towering forms now blotting out the sunlight.

Boom! Boom!

An onslaught of merciless attacks rained down upon Theo, shattering the surroundings and scattering debris.

Thud. Thud.

The air was filled with deafening roars and the rhythmic thud of Theo’s steps. The sound of his movements intertwined with the chaotic cacophony.

The Triple Core roared within him, accelerating Theo’s body further as he pushed into the realm of the imperceptible.

Slash, slash, slash!

The relentless sound of cutting echoed without pause.

The strikes carved into the masses’ necks, backs, chests, legs—every surface of their grotesque forms was slashed and regenerated in an unending cycle.

Rooooaaar!

The creatures let out collective howls of agony, their bodies writhing in pain. In their desperation, they began attacking each other, driven by mindless frenzy.

Theo’s crimson eyes gleamed as they herded the masses into further chaos.

From afar, Nazariou watched the spectacle, his expression filled with shock and disbelief.

“Is that… a man?”

The scene before him was so far removed from anything comprehensible that even fear could not surface. It was a vision of unadulterated terror.

Nazariou felt a faint sense of relief that he had assigned the Hexagram Knights elsewhere; at least they wouldn’t witness this and fall into despair.

“No… Is that truly Theo Ragnar?”

Nazariou’s doubts evaporated. This monstrous display confirmed what he already suspected.

Theo had singlehandedly traversed the countless traps, defeated the Hexagram Knights led by Kiell, and breached even the fortress of absolute defense.

Nazariou was so overwhelmed by the absurdity of it all that he forgot to act. It wasn’t until the blaring of horns snapped him out of his daze.

Blare! Blare!

The distinct sound of horns echoed through the forest. They were sounds Nazariou knew all too well.

Nazariou trembled with rage at the recognition.

“The Naga Tribe dares…!”

For the once-oppressed Naga Tribe to issue such a provocation was something Nazariou could not tolerate.

Yet.

Crack.

Nazariou ground his teeth. He knew full well that engaging the Naga Tribe alongside the Ragnar forces was reckless in his current state.

“They’re already this close?”

The ground trembled under the advancing army’s footsteps, the sound growing louder with every passing moment.

Even if the opposition had mobilized their troops, now was not the time to face them head-on.

But.

“Retreat is death.”

Returning to the Mage Tower would ensure his demise. Fleeing wouldn’t save him either.

“The Tower Lord would undoubtedly send pursuers.”

As someone bearing the surname of Monte, Nazariou knew this better than anyone. The Tower Lord would not rest until every participant in this operation was hunted down.

“No. It cannot end like this.”

Nazariou’s expression darkened as he turned and moved swiftly into the depths of the forest’s shadowed embrace.

“So, you’ve finally arrived.”

Even as he drove his blade forward, Theo glanced at the trembling forest around him and smirked.

Though the figure had yet to reveal itself, the sound alone confirmed its proximity.

Shifting his focus back to the masses, Theo narrowed his eyes.

“I’m starting to see it now.”

His countless strikes hadn’t been mindless venting. With each regeneration, faint traces of mana flowed into the creatures.

Bzzzzt!

Occasionally, certain masses emitted a dark pulse, momentarily entering a groggy state before absorbing vast quantities of mana.

Following the streams of mana with his gaze, Theo assessed the situation.

“First, the corpses.”

The masses drew mana from the flesh and blood of the corpses around them, constantly regenerating their wounds.

“Even the ground has dried up.”

The parched and faded vegetation at the edge of the clearing confirmed it. The chimeras were siphoning mana from their surroundings to recover.

Sooner or later, they would begin leeching mana from living beings. Theo concluded this based on the significant mana intake of the first creature he had clashed with compared to the others.

“Well, let’s start with you.”

Targeting the creature that absorbed the largest amount of mana, Theo’s blade shifted.

Sensing his intent, the creature stiffened, its expression twisting in alarm as sharp tentacles erupted from its body in every direction.

Whoosh!

Theo effortlessly slashed through the incoming tendrils, dashing along their length.

Shhff!

The Deathbeat blades spun through the air, severing the vision of four of the chimera’s countless eyes, while Theo’s Drake’s Fang Blade split its skull.

Crack!

The sound wasn’t just the splitting of bone. Something solid and resistant stopped the blade’s tip.

Squelch!

As Theo wrenched his blade free, a dark red gem shattered at the edge of his sword.

At that moment.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The creature stomped in fury, shaking the ground beneath them. Theo leaped back, landing smoothly on the ground as he looked up at it.

The gem embedded in its head had melted away, leaving its face grotesquely disfigured.

“I don’t know how many of those gems you’ve got,” Theo muttered, his eyes gleaming as he raised his blade.

“But you’re going to die.”

The moment he spoke, Theo noticed something—these creatures were capable of fear under specific circumstances.

Whoosh!

A violent windstorm of blades swirled around Theo, created by the countless slashes from his sword.

The powerful wind ripped apart the creatures’ thick hide, exposing sinewy muscles beneath.

As crescent arcs formed, they spiraled toward the Drake’s Fang Blade, engulfing its core. When the crescents obscured the entire blade, Theo unleashed them.

Shhhhink!

The whirlwind of slashes shredded the creature’s body relentlessly, revealing two more gems embedded deep within. Theo seized the moment and delivered a decisive strike.

The towering creature, over ten meters tall, froze instantly, its activity ceasing entirely.

Crack.

As its body collapsed, various remnants of its form scattered to the ground. When the detritus cleared, a frail Naga corpse stood at the creature's center.

Their lifeless eyes met Theo’s gaze.

“May you rest in peace.”

With those words, the corpse finally crumbled to the ground in tranquility.

Clang. Clang.

The rhythmic sound of armor reached Theo’s ears as the ground quaked beneath approaching forces. The Ragnar army had arrived, their ranks flanked by the Naga warriors.

Despite their earlier horrors, the Nagas had returned to the battlefield, their bravery bringing a faint smile to Theo’s lips.

Terepun, as serene as ever, greeted him with a warm smile.

Bzzzt. Bzzzzt.

A sudden burst of static grated at Theo’s ears. Turning, he noticed the massive mana flow connecting the masses flicker and distort before fading entirely.

He didn’t need to guess the cause.

“Loddy finished the job.”

The five mages from the Mage Tower responsible for enhancing and controlling the chimeras had been taken out. Judging by the delay, Lodbrok had likely faced them at a significant distance.

“Assist the patriarch and drive out the enemies!” Julius commanded.

The combined forces of the Ragnar army and the Naga warriors surged forward.

From that moment, the battle turned decisively.

With the mana link severed, the chimeras’ movements became clumsy, akin to puppets with severed strings. The Naga warriors, filled with rage, hacked them to pieces, while the remaining chimera forces crumbled under the Ragnar army’s onslaught.

Terepun approached Theo silently, his expression complex as he surveyed the battlefield.

Theo said nothing, sensing the elder’s heavy emotions.

The silence stretched between them until Terepun grasped Theo’s hands, tears streaming down his face.

“Thank you… truly… thank you.”

Theo covered Terepun’s trembling hands with his own, saying nothing as he waited for the elder to regain his composure.

“...Forgive an old man for showing weakness,” Terepun said, forcing a faint smile as he wiped his eyes. His gaze, though weary, was resolute as he looked around.

The sorrow in his eyes, the scars of loss etched deep into his soul, stirred something within Theo.

Nearby, the Nagas mourned their fallen, their somber cries resonating across the clearing.

“Shouldn’t we celebrate survival, at least for today?” Theo suggested softly.

Today was a historic day for the Naga tribe, one where they had escaped annihilation.

Terepun nodded solemnly, raising his trident high.

“We have defended our sanctuary! You have all done well!”