I’m the Madman of This Family

Chapter 336. The Enemy of My Enemy is My Ally (2)

Authority is undoubtedly a miracle performed by a ‘god,’ yet it is also an irrational phenomenon.

However, there is no such thing as ‘absolute’ in this world, and some Transcendent Beings manage to reach it. Through unparalleled talent and bone-grinding effort, they create techniques that rival authority.

Techniques that reach the realm of the divine, ‘Divine Techniques.’

Keter’s ‘Celestial Infinity Technique.’

Hyperion’s ‘Clear Sky Thunder Fist.’

And Dayal’s ‘Mugu.’

There are different kinds of strength, but truly strong things don’t need complicated explanations. The essence of Mugu is a good example.

A sword that cuts the world.

Dayal’s sword cuts the ‘world.’ It is a concept one dimension above space, and it even cuts through time. An undefendable sword. The only answer is to avoid it.

But Keter didn’t avoid it. Instead, he embraced Mugu. He ran toward death.

It was an act that could only be described as suicidal. After all, the starting point of an attack is always larger. Conversely, the further you are from the starting point, the smaller it becomes.

Martial Artists call this the ‘gap of attack,’ and maintaining a razor-thin gap is considered the pinnacle. The closer you dodge an attack, the more chances you have to counterattack. Even if you are hit, it’s only a graze. A graze won’t take your life.

But if the blade penetrates just 3 centimeters inward, the sword reaches your life. Controlling distance is everything in battle.

Yet Keter ignored this concept and charged in, essentially declaring his own death.

‘That’s how it should have been…’

Dayal looked at Keter. His expression was easy to read.

-Did I win? Haha!

Because his emotions were so blatant, it was impossible to discern his true feelings.

‘How does he know Mugu’s weakness?’

There is no ‘perfect’ technique in this world. There are always weaknesses and flaws. If someone claims their technique is invincible, they’re either ignorant or a novice who hasn’t discovered their own weakness yet.

Mugu also has a weakness. In fact, Mugu has a safe zone.

1 meter.

Within a 1-meter radius around the caster, Dayal, Mugu cannot reach. The sword that cuts the world has a long hilt. No matter how short the swing, there’s always a 1-meter gap.

By that logic, Keter should have been safe. He got so close that he was practically touching Dayal.

But that only applies if his ‘movement speed’ was faster than the speed at which Mugu was swung.

In other words, Keter was slow. That’s why he was cut.

‘Even so… he was only cut up to just below the shoulder.’

In terms of speed alone, Keter was way too slow. Half his body should have been severed.

But what limited the cut to just below the shoulder was…

‘Was it not Mugu?’

Dayal couldn’t believe it himself, but he saw it clearly with his own eyes.

Keter, who had been stretching without any preparation, suddenly charged in. Dayal was surprised when he charged. Even if unintentional, the weakness of Mugu was precisely the 1-meter distance.

‘But it was too late.’

Keter’s overlapping injuries slowed his movements. He wouldn’t make it into Mugu’s safe zone in time.

-Or so Dayal thought.

Whoosh.

Keter swung his right hand like a sword.

What unfolded from his hand was ‘Mugu.’ Its completion was far inferior, but it was unmistakably Mugu. Mugu unleashed not with a sword, but with a hand.

Mugu clashed with Mugu. The result was naturally the annihilation of Keter’s Mugu, but it bought him time.

A mere 0.2 seconds.

But it was still 0.2 seconds.

Thanks to that, Keter, while being cut by Mugu, managed to advance and reach the safe zone—Dayal’s embrace.

‘If this were a real battle…’

Keter would be dead. In 0.2 seconds, Dayal could have used Mugu three more times.

But Dayal had clearly stated he would only use ‘one strike.’ That’s why, even though he saw Keter coming, he did nothing.

‘I said I wouldn’t let my guard down, and I truly didn’t. Yet Keter won?’

A shiver ran down Dayal’s spine.

How did Keter know Mugu’s weakness? Even if he knew, the audacity to charge toward death like that isn’t something just anyone can show.

“…Impressive.”

After a short yet long silence, Dayal acknowledged Keter.

*

Keter was still smiling, but he eventually knelt on one knee, clutching his heart.

Dayal took a step back and said, “Now I understand why Eslow lost to you. For us, the Lords, to be defeated by a single person in a duel…”

Dayal sheathed his sword.

“A commendable achievement. But you won’t be able to boast about it yourself.”

Keter wasn’t dead. But he would be soon. Half his heart had been severed.

He had already lost part of his heart when Eslow pierced his solar plexus. That alone was fatal, but then Dayal’s Mugu cut him even more.

Keter’s trembling hand dug into the ground and pulled out an Elixir. A Supreme Elixir he had hidden underground before the fight.

A Supreme Elixir that can even revive the dead. Worth hundreds of thousands of gold per bottle, Keter downed it in one gulp.

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!

As the Elixir passed his throat, Keter’s severed shoulder bubbled, and new flesh immediately sprouted.

The Elixir restores even damaged organs. So his heart should have been restored as well, but—

Rip.

The regenerated shoulder tore again, and blood gushed out.

“Wh-why?”

Henya, who was watching, was even more shocked. He had clearly healed, so why was he injured again? Dayal placed a hand on Henya’s shoulder and said, “My Sword Aura contains tens of thousands of tiny Sword Auras. The moment it cuts the opponent, those tens of thousands of Sword Auras penetrate their body. It’s a technique designed to counter those with infinite regeneration.”

“Such…!”

Henya tried to run to Keter’s aid, but Dayal held her shoulder, preventing her.

“Henya. Crown Prince Rukan has ordered that if you show any sign of siding with Keter, you are to be killed immediately.”

“……!”

“Do you also intend to defy the Royal Family like Eslow?”

“…….”

Henya couldn’t bring herself to say yes. But she also couldn’t just abandon Keter, so she bit her lip until it bled.

“I won’t stop you if you want to watch Keter die. But know this: the other two will also die.”

Dayal gestured to the right.

Upon arriving here, Wid was lying down, and Lyze was sitting, gasping for breath. They weren’t dead, but they were severely injured. They needed urgent treatment.

Henya didn’t have time to think long.

“…I’ll leave.”

“A wise choice. I’ll help you formally inherit the direct territory. This is, of course, the Prince’s will.”

Dayal’s warning not to defy him.

Henya was furious at her own weakness, but she couldn’t fight recklessly like Keter. She knew it well. She wasn’t as clever or strong as Keter.

But she didn’t blame herself.

‘I’ll do what I can.’

Thanks to Keter, she survived.

Even if Keter dies, Sephira remains. If she can’t repay Keter, she’ll repay Sephira.

‘That’s the best I can do, Keter.’

Henya knew that dragging things out wouldn’t do Keter any good, so she took Lyze and Wid and left the scene. Dayal followed.

Soon, Keter was left alone.

He was fighting a battle with himself.

“Ouch, ouch. I might die if I’m not careful.”

The fragments of Sword Aura Dayal left behind were destroying his body from within. His heart was already in tatters.

Yet he could still breathe because of the Troll’s regenerative power in his blood and the Elf’s blessing.

“Dayal’s Sword Aura is a problem, but my heart will stop soon.”

Keter’s heart had already stopped. It couldn’t beat on its own.

Yet he was still alive because he was using Mana to manually pump blood through his body.

But it was only a temporary measure. He needed to repair or replace his ruined heart as soon as possible.

“First, I need to focus.”

If he lost focus for even 0.1 seconds, he’d die instantly. Keter concentrated intensely to neutralize Dayal’s Sword Aura.

Then, someone appeared by Keter’s side.

Thud, thud.

Keter heard the footsteps but couldn’t turn his head.

“As expected, the Prince was right.”

A voice he had never heard before.

But Keter at least knew this person didn’t have good intentions toward him.

Swoosh.

The sound of a sword being drawn echoed openly. Soon, a long shadow pierced Keter’s shadow.

“It’s unfortunate to meet you here, Divine Archer, Keter.”

Whoooooosh.

As he raised his sword, a gale surged and condensed into the blade.

“I am Dust El Ruvan, the Gale of the Marquis Ruvan’s House. Crown Prince Rukan sent me in case Lord Dayal failed to take your life.”

Dust El Ruvan, the Gale.

He was an elder of the Marquis Ruvan’s House and a 7-Star Prime. A seasoned veteran, he wore a deeply regretful expression.

“Though I only watched from afar, your skills were truly outstanding. Even I couldn’t guarantee victory. I was particularly impressed by how you faced two Lords without flinching.”

Though bound by orders, Dust was also a Martial Artist. It pained him to see a young and exceptional Martial Artist like Keter die so meaninglessly.

“Lord Dayal must have felt the same. As a Martial Artist, he must have been curious about how you reached such heights not with Swordsmanship, but with Archery.”

His tone was friendly, but the gale grew fiercer.

“But I’m sorry. I don’t have the same discretion as the Lord. The moment I defy the Prince’s orders, the backlash would be too much for the Marquis Ruvan’s House to bear.”

Keter heard it all but couldn’t respond. If he diverted even a little focus, he’d die before Dust’s sword could finish him.

Dust roughly understood this and didn’t mind as he raised his sword.

“I sincerely thank you for sparing Sir Tesla, the Tempest Knight Captain. So I’ll make you one promise. No matter what, I’ll ensure Sephira’s bloodline continues. I’ll make sure at least one person survives to carry on Sephira’s Archery. So—”

The gale suddenly stopped.

The world fell silent for a moment.

“Please rest in peace.”

Swish!

The Gale’s sword enveloped Keter’s entire body.

---