Chapter 208 - The Blade That Chose

"YOU WILL DIE HERE."

Voice of Gram sounded so loud in the underground chamber that it echoed from its walls like the sound of funeral bells. These words were full of millennia of anger, betrayal and hate.

Crimson energy was pouring out of the corrupted sword.

This light was coming in waves, pulsating and alive. Chamber got a new look from these waves of crimson energy that made the stones look like part of hell and not a place where someone can survive.

Jennie was standing under this light.

Excalibur was held by her hand and the light was shining from it, making this one star that could be seen in the dark. This gold light was warm and calm. It was creating a safe spot around its master.

Her white hair was whirling in the storm of demonic power. White strands were moving in the hurricane, contrasting with the light and the shadows and the colors—gold and crimson, light and shadow, hope and despair. Her eyes, those ancient eyes, were staring at the monstrous sword.

The whole chamber was collapsing because of Gram.

Rocks were falling from the roof like meteors, breaking the floor with the sounds that reminded about earthquakes. Pillars were breaking and pieces of them were flying through the air like shrapnel. Demonic runes on the floor were glowing brighter and symbols were moving on them like they were alive, feeding on the chaos.

The eye of Gram was opened completely.

Crimson pupil of this eye turned almost black and became the darkness in the darkness. This eye wasn't watching Jennie. It was looking into her soul through the sword.

"Not today."

Voice of Jennie was quite, peaceful. It was just one little flame in the hurricane.

Gram started his attack.

Corrupted sword was moving downward with the speed of lightning, leaving behind its crimson energy and making a sound like screaming.

Jennie raised Excalibur.

CLANG!

This sound shook all battlefield.

This sound wasn't just noise. This sound was a wave that passed not only through the chamber, but through the whole world. The ground was cracking above them and ancient ruins were falling down. Royal knights were staggering and their hearing and bodies were hurting from this sound.

Knees of Jennie were bending.

Floor under her feet started to crack from the incredible power that was put on it.

Gram was pushing down with the huge strength.

"You cannot escape me!"

Voice of Gram was a hurricane, a symphony of rage. Corruption was pulsating and growing, feeding on its anger.

Jennie was gritting her teeth. Her arms were trembling because of the unbelievable strength of the opponent.

"I'm not trying to escape."

Eye of Gram was narrowing and its crimson light was flickering because of the surprise.

"Then why do you resist?"

"Because I don't want to kill you."

Gram froze for half a second.

This moment was barely noticeable, like one heart beat in the symphony of rage. But Jennie was able to see it, to feel it in the way the sword was losing its power for a second.

And then the rage exploded.

"LIAR!"

And the crimson energy grew brighter in its fury.

The ground under Jennie continued cracking and pushing her back, making her boots slip.

The girl's hands trembled. She sweated and dusted herself off, yet she still did not break her concentration.

"You're scared."

Gram's crimson eye flared up.

"I'm not scared!"

"Yes, you are."

Jennie looked straight into the sword's eye.

There was no hatred or anger in her gaze, only calmness and understanding.

"You're afraid that if you stop being angry..."

She pushed the blade away.

Gram was flung far away, flying back and spinning until it righted itself.

"...then you will become nothing."

Silence.

Suddenly, Gram recoiled, its energy flaring up and flickering, as if struggling to hold onto life.

"No."

Jennie took a step closer.

"You've been too angry for so long that you became anger itself."

"No."

"You forgot yourself."

"NO!"

Gram shot a huge blast of crimson energy.

It ripped the entire chamber apart in the process.

Jennie was thrown backwards.

She hit the wall and shattered it, the dust spreading everywhere and making everything go gray.

BOOM!

"Jennie!"

Roxy screamed in panic and attempted to run, but Lucas restrained her.

"Just wait!"

Lucas took a step forwards, holding his sword in his hand.

But Snow held him back.

"Just wait."

Lucas turned his face towards Snow with a torn expression.

"She's hurt."

Snow looked straight ahead, where there was just the cloud of dust now.

His nine tails were spread wide apart, and his divine aura pulsed with strength.

"But she's not done yet."

Dust filled the air.

Apart from the noise of falling debris and the faint roar of collapsing stone, the chamber remained silent.

There was no movement for several seconds.

Then...

A golden glow appeared in the dust cloud.

At first, it was only a spark, barely noticeable among the grey. Then it grew larger, driving away the darkness and filling the chamber with warmth.

Jennie emerged from the dust cloud.

Her face was covered in blood, dripping down her cheek in a crimson line. Her clothes were ripped and torn apart; dust and debris were covering them.

But Excalibur was still in her hand.

The golden blade glowed with bright light, banishing the darkness.

Jennie wiped the blood away with the back of her hand.

Gram stared at her.

"Why..."

Its voice changed somehow – it sounded weaker and less confident. The rage was still present, but there was something else in its voice – perhaps, confusion?

"Why do you keep standing?"

Jennie looked straight at the sword, her voice calm despite the blood, injuries and tiredness.

"Because you haven't said everything yet."

Gram's magical eye trembled.

"I hate you."

"I know."

"I hate humanity."

"I know."

"I hate Leonis."

Jennie nodded. "I know."

"I hate this world."

Jennie lowered Excalibur.

The golden blade's light faded to gentle glow.

"I know."

Gram's voice broke and crackled.

"Then why don't you hate me?"

Jennie smiled gently.

It was the smile of a person who saw too much pain, too much suffering, too much loneliness in her life.

"Because you're not your anger."

Corruption suddenly screamed.

"ENOUGH!"

Darkness exploded from Gram.

It spread across the chamber in all directions, devouring everything in it – including light and hope. The world went black – absolute, suffocating and endless darkness.

Roxy's barrier started shaking.

"What is that?!"

Eclipse suddenly emerged from under Jennie's cloak, its voice serious.

"The corruption is taking control."

Jennie looked at Gram.

Its black energy fully covered the blade, consuming everything else – even crimson traces of it. Gram's eye disappeared, vanishing into the darkness.

Then it transformed.

Crimson armor-like energy covered the blade, shaping it into pieces and creating edges. Huge demonic aura started appearing, filling the chamber with its overwhelming presence.

The chamber shook.

Snow's expression became serious. His nine tails spread wider and his divine aura lit up.

"That's not Gram anymore."

Roxy swallowed. "Then what is it?"

Eclipse answered calmly.

"It's the thing that was living on its hatred."

The darkness was twisting and growing.

And then...

It shaped itself.

A huge serpent formed in the middle of darkness, becoming an object of nightmares and ancient legends – its body twisting in the chamber, looking like dark river, flowing from one end of it to another. It had five heads, and each one was worse than previous one.

The first one was crimson, its scales glowing with inner fire. It had molten golden eyes and dripping liquid flame mouth.

The second one was black, darker than the night. Its eyes were empty pits, and its breath was so cold that it froze the air.

The third one was silver, glowing like moon on water. It had pale blue eyes and whispered sweet lies in its voice.

The fourth one was green, full of poisonous scales. Its eyes were sickly yellow, and it breathed out smell of decay.

The fifth head was pure white. Its eyes were blind, and it sang hymns which made soul weep.

Five heads raised and looked at Jennie in different expressions – hatred, hunger, cunning, malice and sorrow.

And from the middle of this monstrosity came a voice – not Gram's voice, but one which was even older and darker.

"I am Kalika."

The name echoed throughout the chamber as a curse.

"The Devourer of Swords."

Jennie's eyes widened.

She knew this name somewhere before – from ancient legends, old stories, from those tales which mothers used to tell their kids to scare them.

Kalika.

The serpent which ate divine blades.

The monster which absorbed godly power.

"I have been waiting a thousand years for this day."

The five heads spoke simultaneously, their voices blending into a horrible symphony.

"Divine Sword, filled with hatred, deserted by its master..."

The crimson head laughed.

"It was delicious."

Jennie gripped Excalibur tightly.

"You've fed on Gram's hatred."

"I've fed on its suffering."

The black head said, its voice void of any warmth.

"I've fed on its loneliness."

The silver head hissed.

"I've fed on its betrayal."

The green head whispered.

"And now..."

The white head smiled, its blind eyes somehow managing to see everything.

"I'll feed on you."

The serpent attacked.

Five heads pounced together, each one trying to strike from its own side. Fire, ice, poison, shadow, and light—five forces of destruction, acting in unison.

Jennie raised Excalibur.

CLANG!

She blocked the crimson head, feeling the heat of its flames.

CLANG!

She deflected the black head, feeling its icy breath.

CLANG!

She dodged the silver head, hearing whispers that tried to convince her of anything.

CLANG!

She parried the green head, feeling the hiss of the poison.

CLANG!

She blocked the white head, feeling its blinding radiance.

The serpent didn't cease its attacks. It kept on attacking from all sides, using its five heads with the same precision as the best warrior. Jennie moved between them, as graceful as a stream of water and as quick as a flash of lightning.

But she was not fighting.

She was looking for Gram.

"Gram!"

Her voice rang in the chamber. The serpent laughed.

"Gram is gone."

The crimson head leaped.

"It belongs to me now."

Jennie blocked it.

"Its hatred is mine."

The black head struck.

"Its suffering is mine."

The silver head whispered.

"Its soul is mine."

The green head hissed.

"Everything is mine."

The white head smiled.

Jennie clenched her teeth. She could feel Gram's presence—it was faint, but still visible, hidden inside the serpent's body. The Divine Sword was still here, locked inside the prison of its own hatred.

She had to free it.

Roxy watched helplessly behind her shield.

"Jennie can't keep it up!"

Lucas pulled his sword.

"I'm going to help her."

Snow put himself between them.

"No."

"Step aside."

Snow looked straight into Lucas' eyes.

"She has ordered us to stay outside."

Lucas clenched his fist.

"But she's alone."

Snow's face softened.

"She isn't."

Lucas looked back at him.

Snow pointed at Jennie.

"She stands with a sword that everyone else abandoned."

Lucas froze.

Inside the chamber...

Jennie stopped moving.

The serpent attacked her with its five heads, screaming in unison.

She let go of Excalibur.

The golden sword started shining brightly.

But she did not attack.

Instead...

She threw the sword down.

Excalibur disappeared, its golden light fading away and transforming the sword into its original shape — a simple hairpin that clattered to the ground.

Roxy stared at her in horror.

"What is she doing?!"

The serpent stopped.

Its five heads hung in the air, each one confused by Jennie's move.

"Why?"

Kalika's voice echoed through the chamber.

"Why have you dropped your weapon?"

Jennie looked into Kalika's eyes.

"Because I am not going to fight you."

The serpent roared.

"YOU WILL DIE!"

"Perhaps."

Jennie smiled.

"But I will not kill Gram only because you use it."

The heads of the serpent twirled with rage.

"Gram is MINE!"

"No."

Jennie took a step forward.

"Gram is its own."

The crimson head attacked. Jennie did not stop it.

The black head struck. Jennie did not move an inch.

The silver head whispered. Jennie ignored it.

The green head hissed. Jennie did not take a step back.

The white head smiled. Jennie did not look away.

She moved forward, walking to the serpent with a sword, unarmed and fearless.

"I will not make you trust me."

The five heads of the serpent circled around her, getting ready to attack.

"You are a fool."

Jennie closed her eyes.

"I've been called worse."

The heads descended.

At the very last second...

A crimson light appeared.

The heads stopped.

Jennie opened her eyes.

The darkness quivered. Kalika's form started flickering and trembling, as if its edge was made of mist that cannot stand still.

Inside the darkness... somewhere... a voice whispered.

"Why?"

Jennie replied.

"Because you deserve to choose."

The serpent froze.

"What?"

Jennie looked at the crimson light—that tiny spark of Gram's own self, hidden under Kalika's form.

"You've lived for a thousand years in slavery."

She took a step.

"First to your own hatred."

Another.

"Then to Kalika."

Another.

"But I will not enslave you."

The crimson light brightened.

"You choose."

Silence.

"Stay angry if you want."

The darkness quivered.

"Hate humanity."

The crimson light started expanding.

"Hate Leonis."

The serpent's form started cracking.

"Hate me."

A crack appeared on Kalika's scales.

"But choose it yourself."

The serpent started screaming with rage.

"NO!"

Jennie didn't move.

The darkness started tearing itself apart.

"SHE IS MINE!"

The cracks appeared on Kalika's body.

"I AM KALIKA!"

The heads of the serpent squirmed with rage.

"I AM ETERNAL!"

Jennie smiled.

"Then be."

The serpent exploded.

BOOOOOOM!

The wave of crimson and black light flooded the chamber. The five heads disintegrated, their forms dissolving in nothingness. Kalika's cry resonated through the darkness—a sound of pure, powerless rage.

And then...

Silence.

The serpent was dead.

Gram floated in the middle of the chamber.

Its blade was still black. Still crimson. The darkness had not been completely removed yet—the dark veins still crept across its surface, glowing with the weak, sickly light.

But something changed.

There was a tiny section near the hilt that had turned silver. It was tiny—the size of a fingernail—, but it gleamed with crimson light like a star in the night sky.

Gram's magic eye opened.

It looked at Jennie.

For the first time... there was no hatred in its look.

Only weariness.

"You..."

Jennie walked toward the sword.

"Yes?"

"You haven't purified me."

"No."

"You haven't destroyed me."

"No."

"You haven't commanded me."

"No."

Gram remained silent for a long time.

And then it asked.

"Why?"

Jennie smiled.

"Because you are not a weapon."

The sword shivered.

"You are a Divine Sword."

The darkness started melting slowly, little by little, flake by flake. Not violently. Not forcibly. Just melted, disappearing like morning mist in the rising sun.

The blade of Gram started to transform back to its original color once again, just as the silver of it crept into it, like light in a darkened room. The blood-colored lines began to fade away as their ugly glow was replaced by the steady, warming beat of the metal.

The ancient Gram was starting to appear under the layer of corruption.

So...

beautiful.

ancient.

powerful.

There was still some crimson left in Gram. But it was not corrupted. No, it was...

its own power.

Gram stared at Jennie.

"I remember."

Jennie paused.

"What do you remember?"

Gram sounded soft.

"Leonis."

Jennie's eyes narrowed.

"What about him?"

"He did not abandon us."

Jennie remained silent.

Gram continued.

"His death ."

A flash of memory occurred.

Leonis going through the ancient kingdom of , searching, fighting . But the war had taken him away internally . He died, and people destory the swords . And those weapons had been scattered.

Gram sounded shaky.

"He died and you are the reincarnation of Lenois."

Jennie's eyes widened.

"Yes."

The memory vanished.

Gram stared at Jennie.

"And I believed he had abandoned us."

Jennie smiled sadly.

Gram's eye closed.

"I was wrong."

Jennie stared at Gram.

The Blade of Wrath had apologized to her.

Gram raised itself .

"But I still have anger."

Jennie smiled warmly.

"You don't have to give it away."

Gram paused.

"What?"

"Wrath is not always evil."

Jennie went closer to Gram.

"Sometimes anger shows us that something has really mattered."

Gram's crimson eye softened.

"Then what shall I do with it?"

Jennie showed her palm.

"Choose your purpose."

The chamber was dead silent.

Gram stared at her hand.

Then...

The enormous Divine Sword slowly started shrinking. Its enormous size changed into the form of a beautiful silver-and-crimson sword. The blade was elegant, perfectly balanced. The hilt was made of ancient leather, and the pommel contained a crimson gem which shined with the fire inside.

The sword moved to Jennie.

Jennie raised her hand.

She put it on the hilt.

In the second she touched it...

The battlefield was flooded with light.

BOOOOOOM!

Golden light from Excalibur.

Blue light from Leviathan.

Storm energy from Tempest.

Shadow from Eclipse.

And crimson light from Gram.

Five Divine Swords reacted together at the same moment. Their lights merged into the pillar of light that rose up into the sky.

The sky of Forbidden Battlefield opened. Ancient clouds were pushed away, showing the stars which had not been seen for a thousand years.

The royal knights were stunned.

Roxy gaped upward.

"What..."

Snow instinctively spread its nine tails.

Even Lucas could not say a word.

Jennie's hair was floating in the enormous magical wind.

Five Divine Swords hovered around her.

Excalibur—the Sword of Kings.

Leviathan—the Blade of Oceans.

Tempest—the Blade of Storms.

Eclipse—the Blade of Shadows.

Gram—the Blade of Wrath.

For a brief moment...

All five resonated together.

The ground shook. The ancient battlefield responded. All buried weapons rose up from the ground—not in violence, but in recognition.

Thousands of weapons flew up in the night sky.

Then gradually...

they bowed.

Lucas stared in amazement.

"The battlefield..."

Roxy whispered, "It is recognizing her."

Snow looked at Jennie.

"No."

His voice was full of wonder.

"The Divine Swords are."

The five swords sent a wave of power.

Jennie stood in the center of it.

But Jennie herself did not show any signs of disturbance.

She looked at Gram.

"Are you sure?"

Gram replied.

"I waited for a thousand years for someone."

The sword's crimson edge lit up.

"I thought I was waiting for Leonis."

Its eye looked straight at Jennie.

"I was wrong."

Jennie's heart missed a beat.

Gram's voice echoed across the battlefield.

"I waited for someone who will let me choose."

Jennie smiled.

"And you have chosen?"

Gram hovered next to her.

"Yes."

The crimson light burst.

"I choose you."

Jennie closed her eyes.

For a brief moment...

She was not Leonis.

She was not the Sword King.

She was just Jennie.

And a Divine Sword had chosen her.

Gram spoke for the last time.

"Jennie."

She opened her eyes.

"Yes?"

The Blade of Wrath replied:

"Let us move forward together."

Jennie smiled.

"Together."

Five Divine Swords.

One wielder.

And somewhere far beyond the Forbidden Battlefield...

Something ancient awoke.

A voice whispered into the darkness.

"Another blade has chosen her."

A pause.

Then a cruel smile.

"Five Divine Swords..."

The darkness stirred.Azrael ,the Second Demon General stood sliming at the battlefield.

"The Markless Maiden is becoming something that even the gods fear."

Back on the battlefield...

Jennie looked toward the horizon.

Behind her floated her five Divine Swords.

For the first time...

The world began to realize it.

The Sword King was back.

Her name was Jennie.