When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword - Chapter 6

When I Tried Strengthening 【Rusted Sword】, It Evolved Into An Overpowered Magic Sword

Chapter 6   Evolution

A simple upward slash without any particular form or technique. Since the artifact provides no benefits, the sword probably appears to be stopped from the other side. Nevertheless, I swung the rusty sword with all my might.

“Huh? Who the hell are you?”

The demon noticed me as I entered the clearing, giving me a lazy glance. Ignoring that, I continued my attack. However, just as I closed in on the demon, my vision suddenly blurred. Following that, a sharp pain surged through my abdomen, and before I knew it, I was sent flying backward, crashing into a large tree behind me.

“Ugh… Ah…!”

…It hurts. It hurts a lot. I can’t comprehend what just happened. Amidst the hazy confusion, I managed to lift my face and, somehow, looked toward the demon. It had lifted its right leg towards me without my awareness.

Did it kick me…?

“Huh? What’s wrong with you? You’re weak as hell. I thought you might be able to put up a bit of a fight, coming at me so confidently, but you’re a total disappointment.”

The demon looked at me with disdain.

Certainly, I’m on the weaker side among humans, but that kick was way too fast…!

I could barely see anything.

It was a combat ability that couldn’t compare to the Treants I usually fight. Probably receiving powerful benefits from the divine artifact in its right hand.

Already possessing higher physical capabilities than humans, it becomes an overwhelming force with additional benefits from the sacred treasure.

This is a demon, a higher-ranking demonic being that adventurers often face.

While not an opponent one can easily defeat, I forced my creaking body to stand, swaying as I readied the sacred treasure.

“Stay away from that girl…”

“Heh, stay away, huh? Then try making me, you weakling.”

Provocatively, it responded. Fueled by anger, I tightened my grip on the sacred treasure and launched a second thrust.

“Haaaah!!!”

But once again, it countered…

“Hah, you’re slow.”

Saying that, it kicked me with its right leg. I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen and crashed into the large tree behind me.

There was no time to dodge or defend. The overwhelming difference in strength was apparent.

I fell to the ground, powerless, unable to rise immediately.

“Tch, facing weaklings like you won’t earn me much experience points. I heard rumors that quite a few skilled individuals were born in the villages nearby, so I came to check it out. But it turned out to be a real letdown.”

So, that was the reason this demon came near Red Village.

Three years ago, during the Blessing Ceremony, many people, including Ruby, received high-ranking sacred treasures. Most of them became adventurers and gained considerable fame, according to rumors. Upon hearing this, the demon came to Red Village in search of powerful individuals. The demon’s artifact receives potent blessings from malevolent gods, growing even stronger as it kills formidable humans.

“A bit risky, but I might as well start targeting ‘Platinum’ and ‘Master’ adventurers seriously. It’s the quickest way to become stronger.”

Saying this, the wolf-like demon walked towards the girl lying on the ground.

Then, it raised its large sword in its right hand.

“Well, that’s enough talk. Even facing weak opponents, experience is experience. First, you’ll be the one to die, you damn runt.”

“N-no…”

Oh no, that girl!

Enduring the pain all over my body, I quickly stood up from the ground.

“Uwaaaaah!!!”

I recklessly cut in between the girl and the demon.

Using the [rusty sword], I blocked the giant sword that was about to cut the girl, creating a standoff with the demon.

“Ugh… Grr…!”

“Heh, managed to block that with such a beat-up artifact. I’ll give you some honest praise for that. But…”

Suddenly, the demon whispered in a chillingly low voice directly to me.

“I’m getting annoyed, so I might just kill you for real.”

In an instant, the hand holding the hilt exerted tremendous force.

An unimaginable strength.

With my [rusty sword], there was no way I could match the demon’s [Black Greatsword].

At this rate, the artifact would break.

If the artifact broke, I’d have no means of fighting.

No, even before that, I would be killed the moment it broke.

Both me and the girl behind me.

The current durability of [rusty sword] is…

Name: Rusty Sword

Rank: F

Level: 9

Attack Power: 9

Blessings: Strength +0, Durability +0, Agility +0, Magic +0, Vitality +0

Skills:

Durability: 2/15

“Damn it…!”

It wouldn’t be surprising if it broke right now.

I absolutely can’t afford to lose.

Can’t I defeat a single demon?

Can’t I save a single girl?

After aspiring to be an adventurer and enduring so much training.

Even with encouragement from Ruby and my mom.

What was the point of these three years?

“Farewell, you wannabe hero.”

With a creepy smirk, the wolf demon pressed the greatsword even further. A displeasing creaking sound emanated from the rusty sword, and finally, a crack appeared.

Torn apart by its sacred treasure, and that would be the end.

A wannabe hero who took pride in effort, believing that hard work would eventually be rewarded. I thought that something would change if I kept going recklessly. Although no one was watching, I believed that someone was acknowledging this effort.

But it was just make-believe.

I, who could never become a hero, was escaping reality by engaging in meaningless training.

While always maintaining a positive front in front of my mom, deep down, I had accepted defeat.

I could never become an adventurer. I could never become a hero.

As the demon said, I’m just a wannabe hero, unable to save even a single girl.

(Well, that’s enough of that…)

It’s okay if I can’t become an adventurer.

It’s okay if I can’t become a hero.

It’s okay if I can’t prove those who insulted me wrong.

It’s okay if I can’t catch up with Ruby, who said she’d be waiting.

Such dreams no longer matter.

Right now, I just…

“I don’t want to lose…”

To the demon in front of me.

“I won’t… lose…”

To the timid version of myself from before…

“I won’t… lose…”

Don’t want to lose? No…

“I will absolutely win!!!”

In an instant, in response to my shout, the [Rusty Sword] glowed with a white light.

This was a phenomenon I had witnessed many times before—the leveling up of the divine artifact.

By facing a far superior demon in battle, the level of [Rusty Sword] had increased.

Just a moment ago, it was at level 9…

Name: Rusty Sword

Rank: F

Level: 10

Attack Power: 10

Blessings: Strength +0, Durability +0, Agility +0, Magic +0, Vitality +0

Skill: [Evolution]

Durability: 2/20

[Rusty Sword], Level 10.

It had been quite a while since the last level up.

Moreover, an unfamiliar skill, [Evolution], had manifested in the [Rusty Sword].

“Evolution…?”

It was a skill I had never heard of before.

I had no idea what its effect could be.

However, it seemed that the effect of that skill was…

The change in the [Rusty Sword] went beyond just leveling up.

Like a creature breaking out of its eggshell, the rust on the sword fell away with a crisp sound.

Eventually, the true form of the sacred treasure hidden beneath the rust was revealed.

“W-What the… is that?”

A blade as black as the darkest night, seemingly absorbing all light. The handle was dyed in the same darkness.

And to top it off, a distinctly visible, ominous aura, pitch-black and menacing.

It looked like a sacred treasure held by a demon, as if bestowed by an evil god.

The eerie entity’s true nature was…

Name: Cursed Magic Sword

Rank: S

Level: –

Attack Power: 500

Blessing: Strength +500, Durability +500, Agility +500, Magic Power +500, Vitality +500

Skill: [Sacred Treasure Synthesis]

Durability: 500/500

“Cursed… Magic Sword?”

My [Rusty Sword] had transformed into a sacred treasure with the ominous name of [Cursed Magic Sword].