Debuff Master - Chapter 1163

Chapter 1163

“Aaaaack! What the hell do I do now?!”

“Kyuuu! You gotta get yourself a lightsword first, owner punk!”

“I know! But where the hell am I supposed to get one?!”

The lightsword was the main weapon of the Corals, and every Coral had one. However, the problem was that it was not something that could just be picked up at a shop.

According to the manual, every Coral was born with their own lightsword. It was a living weapon that grew alongside its owner for life.

Each lightsword carried a unique serial code, and only the rightful owner could wield it properly. Its size and form changed to match its user, so no two lightswords in the entire world were ever the same.

To sum it up, getting one was practically impossible.

‘What do I do? What do I do?’

Siegfried racked his brain until he finally gave up and decided to ask the officer he turned into an Irradiator.

“You must craft a new lightsword.”

“Huh?”

“Using someone else’s lightsword can cause severe backlash. Unless it’s an emergency on the battlefield, using someone else’s lightsword is taboo in our culture. Hence, crafting a personalized lightsword is the only option.”

“R-Right…”

“But the problem is… it will take at least three days to have a lightsword forged.”

“What?! That’s a huge problem!”

“For now… I suggest that you say that you lost your lightsword in battle before your Forced Blooming. Then, claim you’re waiting for a new one to be forged.”

“Oh!”

“The unit you said you served with was wiped out, so no one will suspect anything.”

“Got it.”

“Please put some of your blood in here,” the officer said, handing him a flask. Then, he added, “All lightswords are forged using their owner’s blood, so it’s essential.”

“Right, okay,” Siegfried agreed.

Deep down, however, he doubted if he would even need the lightsword. In nine days, he would be gone from here anyway, so why waste time making a weapon?

‘Still, it’s better to be safe than sorry.’

This was how he did things. He would always prepare for the worst-case scenario, which was the reason he stashed away anything and everything into his Inventory.

“Got it. I’ll stick to the story you gave me. Try to get my lightsword crafted, though.”

“As you command, Master.”

With that settled, Siegfried ordered the lightsword and headed out to prove himself worthy of becoming one of Maximus’ personal guards.

‘I guess I’ll just beat them down with my fists.’

If anyone asked, he would just say that he lost his lightsword. Then, he would beat up his opponents the good old-fashioned way.

***

The test took place in the courtyard behind the command center, which was where the training grounds for the imperial guards were located.

Surprisingly, the test was quite simple. He would spar with one of Maximus’ personal guards, and both of them would be using real weapons.

As long as he showed decent skill, Maximus intended to pass him on the spot.

‘Too easy.’

Siegfried did not have a proper weapon or his Invincible Spear Art, but he was confident that he could handle a single one of Maximus’ personal guards. After all, he possessed the martial arts passed down by King Leonid, so his bare fists were as good as any weapon out there.

However, Maximus’ personal guards seemed to think otherwise.

“Did you just say you plan to duel me without your lightsword?”

“Ah, yes. I lost my lightsword right before I got my Forced Blooming. Things were chaotic after, so I could not get a new one made until now,” Siegfried replied with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head.

“I see… In that case, let’s postpone this. There’s no point in sparring with an unarmed opponent.”

“No, we can go ahead. I am ready.”

“…What? Are you seriously going to face me without a weapon?”

“Yes,” Siegfried replied.

The whole yard was thrown into an uproar.

“Such arrogance!”

“Ha! Young ones these days!”

“Unbelievable!”

“Does he really think that receiving Forced Blooming has made him untouchable?”

“What a disrespectful brat.”

Siegfried was not aware of it, but challenging someone without a lightsword was a massive insult. The Corals were born with their lightswords, which made them no different from a part of their body.

What if a Coral refused to draw their lightsword against a fellow warrior?

It was more than just dueling unarmed. It was an indirect way of telling the opponent that they were unworthy of their blade, which was a thousand times more offensive than any insult.

Moreover, the concept of hand-to-hand combat was quite rare among the Corals. They were a race that treated their lightswords as an extension of their body, so they did not feel the need to develop any martial arts that used only their bodies as weapons.

‘Oops… This doesn’t look good.’

Siegfried realized he had screwed up somewhere, but had no idea exactly where he had screwed up. This part was not in the book, Understanding the Coral Race, manual. If it was, he hadn’t read far enough to come across it.

Still, he had a glib tongue that had gotten him out of countless situations like this.

“I do not mean any disrespect. The lightsword is our life, yes—but what if you lose it in battle?” Siegfried asked.

The opponent scoffed and spat back, “Ha! Then you die. What’s with that absurd question?”

The Corals were a proud race that losing or surrendering their blade was simply unthinkable. In extreme cases, there had been Coral Knights who killed themselves just because they lost their lightswords.

“Yes, I know that… but… I am an Imperial Guard. If I lose my blade, my life is forfeit. But if my lord is in danger, do I just stand down because I lost my lightsword? No! I would fight barehanded to protect my lord, no matter what!”

“Hmm?”

“For that reason alone, I trained myself to use my hands. I will protect my lord even if I have to fight with my bare hands.”

“I-I see…”

His opponent wavered slightly at Siegfried’s retort. Even though it sounded absurd to the Corals, this was basic common sense for humans.

Unfortunately, the other Corals were not buying it.

“Ha! Does he expect us to believe that?!”

“Ridiculous!”

“What disrespect!”

“Drag him out!”

Siegfried ignored the crowd and clenched his fist.

“Allow me to show you. Come at me.”

“You will regret this, newbie. Your arrogance will be your downfall!”

With that, Siegfried’s opponent drew his lightsword and lunged straight at him.

***

Somewhere on the Coral Planet, inside the Imperial Palace…

“Are you all right, Your Imperial Majesty?”

The commander of the Imperial Vanguard, Archmaine, asked anxiously as he looked down at the Coral Emperor, who was lying on the bed.

The Coral Emperor smiled faintly and replied, “I am fine, Archmaine. Just merely… a little tired…”

“My lord…”

However, Archmaine knew all too well that the emperor’s ailment was far from just simple exhaustion.

The continued use of Forced Blooming had taken a heavy toll on the emperor.

Ever since the Marchioni Empire’s invasion, the Coral Emperor had been pushing his body to its limits by repeatedly using the Forced Blooming.

It was no wonder that his body was falling apart.

The Coral Emperor spoke in a tired, weary voice, “Soon… they will be complete… Once they are complete, my work will be done here.”

“Your Imperial Majesty’s grace extends to all of our people. Please, have strength and be of a strong spirit. Soon, your mighty warriors will drive out the invaders,” Archmaine urged, looking anxious.

The Coral Emperor shook his head and replied, “No, Archmaine. It is not they who will protect our people.”

“…Pardon? What do you mean by that, my lord?” Archmaine asked, sounding confused.

“They will merely prevent the extinction of our race. But they cannot save us.”

“M-My lord! They are the warriors you have painstakingly awakened through Forced Blooming! Their power is beyond question, so how could they not save us?!”

“The salvation of our people… lies in the hands of an invader.”

“Hm?!”

The Coral Emperor closed his eyes and said in a calm voice, “I have seen the future, Archmaine. Our people will be trampled and enslaved by the invaders. Our planet will become their colony… Our defeat is inevitable.”

“T-That cannot be!”

“But among those invaders, one will save us all.”

“I-Is that truly so, my lord?”

Archmaine knew that the Coral Emperor possessed the gift to see the future, so if he had seen their defeat, then defeat was certain.

Yet even so, he could hardly believe what he was hearing.

“I speak the truth, Archmaine. But worry not. It will be but a brief trial. The night without a sun may be cold, but warmth will embrace us once again when the sun rises. To our people, it will be a short, cold night, but do not fret.”

“My lord…”

“Do not trouble yourself over this, Archmaine. Ah, speaking of which, it seems my time is coming to a—cough!”

The Coral Emperor suddenly coughed up blood, as the continued use of Forced Blooming again and again had pushed his body far beyond its limits.

***

‘He’s strong,’ Siegfried could feel that his sparring opponent was no pushover.

Just from the force of the incoming attack alone, the Coral was without a doubt powerful.

In terms of stats alone, the Coral probably could stand shoulder to shoulder with warriors who had reached the realm of Masters.

However, that was not enough to threaten Siegfried.

His skills and stats had grown so much that beating an opponent in the realm of Masters was like child’s play to him at this point.

‘Dodge the incoming attack…’

Siegfried evaded the attack with a sidestep, and then he threw a knee kick in one fluid motion.

Bam!

His opponent jolted from impact.

‘Trip him up.’

Not missing the opening, Siegfried twisted and swept his opponent’s leg, tripping him up.

Of course, his opponent did not just take it lying down.

“Y-You dare!”

Though flustered, the Coral showed the composure expected of an imperial guard.

Unfortunately, there was no way that a Coral, who had never experienced real hand-to-hand combat, could win against Siegfried. After all, Siegfried was armed with the martial arts of King Leonid.

Siegfried moved behind his opponent in one fluid motion and locked his arms around the Coral’s waist. Then, he pulled him backward, flipping him over.

BAAAM!

The Coral was driven straight into the ground with a suplex.

Kwachik!

‘Ground and pound time!’

Siegfried climbed on top of the Coral and began raining fists down on his face. He activated Machine Gun Smash and hammered down punches like a rapid-fire cannon.

“…!”

The imperial guards watching were stunned, every single one of them rendered speechless by Siegfried’s terrifying hand-to-hand combat skills.

The combat style Siegfried displayed did not exist among the Corals, so what they were witnessing gave them culture shock.

“Enough!”

At that moment, the captain of the imperial guards stepped forward and stopped the sparring session.

“That’s enough!”

Hearing that, Siegfried let his opponent go, but it was already too late.

“G-Guugh… Urghh…”

The Coral was a mess. His nose was crushed; a few of his teeth were knocked loose; and his face was a total wreck.

The captain of the imperial guards approached and asked, “Did you say your name was Mindrius?”

“Yes, captain,” Siegfried replied with a nod.

“You pass. Good job.”

“Thank you,” Siegfried replied, bowing his head.

“Hm? What did you just do?”

The captain’s eyes narrowed at him, seemingly suspecting him.

“Huh…? Pardon me?”

“Why did you lower your head?”

“To show my gratitude…?”

“That’s a custom of the invaders, is it not?”

It was then.

‘H-Holy shit! I’m fucked!’ Siegfried froze as the realization hit him.

He had completely forgotten that the Corals showed respect by holding their right arm vertical and their left arm horizontal to form an “ㄴ” shape. Instead of doing that, he bowed just like a human would do out of habit.