Volume 6 Chapter 46 Earth-Seeing Horace Vs. God Of Iron-Cutting Sumeragi
The clash of swords began, fierce and silent, within the grand arena of the Blood Duel Cup.
It was a fight stripped of wasteful destruction—tight, precise, and deadly.
Horace advanced, clad in the armor of Deus Ex Machina. His weapon: Magic Sword Duran, humming with arcane energy. Sumeragi stood firm, the Iron Cutter Sword Kamiuchi gripped in both hands, ready to intercept.
"Heh... You've really gone all out, Horace," Sumeragi said, narrowing their eyes. "That armor—made to kill gods, right?"
Horace said nothing.
"Let me guess... after you took down Arzent? One of his underlings—Remi, maybe? You said if there was a better way to kill gods than Golem Master, you'd take it in a heartbeat."
Horace gave a faint nod. "That's right. I still respect the path... but I won't be bound to it."
"Hah. I wouldn't expect you to admire that bastard for long."
Their swords clashed, a flash of light bursting between them. The impact rippled through the air.
"But still... you say that armor was made to slay gods, yet all I see is boosted attack power. How does that make you think you can defeat a divine being?"
Deus Ex Machina—Horace's golem armor—had a forgotten feature.
Parameter Manipulation.
It held multiple slots, allowing instant reconfiguration of strength, durability, weapon compatibility, and more. A simple concept... but deadly in practice.
"If your output exceeds human limits," Horace said quietly, "then you can defeat anything that hasn't surpassed those same limits. Gods are the ceiling of humanity—not beyond it. So yes, they can be defeated."
"Interesting," Sumeragi muttered.
A god is the limit of a human.
That was Horace's belief. And judging by Sumeragi's silence, perhaps... they agreed.
Since the beginning of language, no stronger word than 'god' had ever taken root.
"Output, huh... yeah, that's the essence of tools. Even a river's flow can be controlled by human hands." Sumeragi looked at their sword. "Mine's forged from the steel of a metal planet. And even that—still within human bounds, is it?"
"Only those lacking magic call gods 'superior beings.' It's just the excuse of the powerless."
Sumeragi gave a wry smile. "You're fun to talk to. But don't forget—my sword is a tool too!"
Sumeragi swung down hard. A wave of magical force roared toward Horace.
With a flash of silver, Horace met the blow with Magic Sword Duran, slicing through it like a crescent moon parting the clouds.
"I'm aware," he said calmly.
"Then you understand—if I am the limit of a human, then every strike from my blade surpasses that limit."
"I do."
"Then I'll admit it. Anyone who took down Shildress head-on deserves the title of 'mythic.'"
"On that note... care to explain how your ability handles Shildress's chains? They were forged of iron, right? What happens when she face you, the God of Iron Cutter?"
"The sword is mine, yes—but it doesn't share my divine power. If I touch the chains directly, they break. But my sword alone can't cut them."
"Got it. So physical contact with your body breaks the chains... but the sword's just steel."
"Exactly."
Sumeragi raised their blade again. "Shh!"
They stepped in. Steel clashed against steel as Horace caught the blow—barehanded. The golem's arm locked the blade in place.
"What?" Sumeragi blinked.
"Surprised?" Horace asked.
He raised his leg and drove a powerful kick into Sumeragi's stomach.
"Guh—!"
Sumeragi flipped back to reduce the damage and landed smoothly, sword at the ready.
"Wait... can it be? Are you already channeling divine power?"
Horace had already defeated the God of Provisions, Arzent, and the God of Sealing, Shildress. Their remnants—metals imbued with fragments of divinity—now formed part of Deus Ex Machina.
Within the armor, traces of Shildress's sealing magic had been embedded.
The relationship between the sealing god and the iron god was simple: if sealing magic touched the Iron Cutter, it suppressed its destructive edge.
"I'm not using full power," Horace admitted, "but the material itself is tough enough."
He raised his blade once more.
"So whether it's your sword or your skill—bring it. I'll cut it down."
"...Heh."
Sumeragi smiled.
"Let me ask. Is that armor of yours the hardest thing for me to cut?"
"Naturally."
"I see..."
Sumeragi swung. A slash-shaped burst of energy surged toward Horace. He lifted his arm—barely a few millimeters—and moved with impossible speed. The attack grazed the armor... but didn't break through.
"...What? Can it really not be cut?"
"Of course it can." Horace replied. "And if I win... you'll step down from the throne of gods. Your power will be mine. But even your divine blade can't cut the iron forged from this armor. That tells you everything."
"...Then I'll rely on my own ability. If even divine steel can't be cut, I'll go beyond it."
"That's the way. Golem Master or not, you're a swordsman first. Let the sword teach the lesson."
Horace nodded.
"...Then let's finish it with the next strike."
He adjusted his grip on Magic Sword Duran.
"I was thinking the same," Sumeragi replied, tightening their stance.
For all the blows exchanged until now, none had been enough to end the duel. But now, after revealing their deepest techniques and truths, both fighters had resolved to end it in one final move.
Logic, theory, and history had all led to this moment.
To the strong, it was obvious in their posture. To the defeated, it marked the end of the festival.
"...Let's go."
"I'm ready."
They charged—not at blinding speed, but with the grace of honed warriors.
Speed was a tool, not a goal.
Their strikes—filled with pressure, radiating power—were visible even to normal eyes, yet fast enough to blur the air.
"Scorpion Twenty!"
"Divine Technique: Iron Star Splitting!"
A thrust like a spear met a descending blade like a comet.
The clash was unnatural—one a single point, the other a sweeping line.
But they believed in it.
A shockwave erupted. The very air split. The arena trembled.
"...Sumeragi."
"...Yeah?"
"...This is my victory."
"...Looks like it."
The divine sword shattered.
Horace's blade pierced Sumeragi's heart.
In the Forest of Soul—a spiritual dungeon—fatal wounds meant only one thing:
Transfer Outside the Dungeon.
"Impressive," Sumeragi said quietly, before vanishing.
—And thus, Horace claimed victory in the Blood Duel Cup.
Notes:
• Sumeragi - One of the Five Divine Gods, known as the 'God of Iron-Slicing.' He introduces himself with a pleasant smile and seems to have a purpose in meeting Horace.
• Deus - A mischievous, childlike entity who transformed from Horace's battle equipment into a five-year-old boy with bright red hair. Energetic, curious, and chaotic, he calls everyone 'mommy,' survives lethal blows from Horace’s golem, and casually discusses alchemy and magic. Horace's exasperated yet intrigued companion.
• Remi - Instructor for the 1st through 3rd divisions of the Holy Knight Squad.
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