Danmachi: the Great Devourer

C167: Sword Form

Alt Title Teaser: A Single Stab

Overall Word count = 1288 on 12/4/2024. 

So before we start, I want to share a cool image i got from playing a game called Tiny Rogues. I found a certain…legendary weapon after posting the previous chapter, which feels like Fate to me. (pic here)

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RHONGO-MYNIAD!!!" Axel roars with conviction.

A golden glow manifests in Axel's hands, it originally came in the form of a spear like the original but then the golden glow overtakes the whole thing and it turns into an unseeable block of gold that then begins to retake shape.

A/N: for the next part ill list out the specific parts of a regular katana sword and their respective parts for extra detail.

The front part (Kissaki) turns flat like a refined katana blade except as this flatness spreads further, the front begins to twist and bulk up a bit into the shape of a tri-tipped spiral blade. (ref image for a spiral knife is here)

With the exception of the tip of the blade which is a mosaic of color and laws, the rest of the katana styled blade (Shinogi, Hamon and Ha) is purple like Raikou's Yasutsuna and the guard (Tsuba & Fuchi) is smaller than usual but rigged with small thorns pointing out along the blade length all around the guard. The guard and spikes are all black while the handle (SAME) is primarily white with an additional white wrap (Ito) but lacks any internal ornaments (Menuki) or pegs (Mekugi). The pommel (hashira) is quite well designed though, it's split outwards like a cone with a glass bead inside this cone. 

This bead is a reflection of Axel's inner world and serves as the primary connection between world blade and inner world. The current state of the world is still primarily barren which makes it look like a mix of deserts and forests. 

This is due to the original farm-land village template that Rimuru Village followed until it rapidly expanded and became a city. This farmland ensures that there are the occasional hills in the surroundings to make it appear larger, yet a total lack of mountains as a result. The current highest point in the world is a sand dune from where Axel fought Gaia. The excess stone was broken down after the titan was slain and made into larger dunes.

As the golden light recedes from the blade, Axel is finally made truly aware of how powerful and compatible the sword is with him. He can sense the connection to his reality marble much better now. This comes in the form of easier manifestation into reality, greater control over laws and even Gaia's power which were made into pillars of the world itself, this means that nature is vibrantly thriving, expanding its roots even through the largest Axel-made desert.

As for the compatibility situation, this allows Axel to rapidly utilize his own abilities through the sword, allowing Axel to enhance it's already ridiculous slicing and stabbing power such as through [War Gods Strike].

This is exactly what Axel does as he channels his various abilities to enhance his own power and speed as well as the swords power whilst channeling the laws of swords, and metal through it. The combination of man made born laws and natural laws enhanced the power greatly as Axel poises the blade above his head. His hand has a reverse grip on the handle as he stabs down at the Giant man's head. 

The dragon man made no move to block except create a simple reiatsu barrier to block but it was only after that was shattered, did it properly feel the sensation of death proper. It had not originally envisioned that the tiny sword could do much to it that it couldn't regenerate from but the current sensation is confusing to it.

Unbeknownst to the dragon, the combination of human laws and natural laws always creates a visceral explosion at the moment of connection, which would be where it's heart would be. Such a level of force and destruction would even injure it's soul, and that is without even mentioning the [Spirit Energy] contained within the sword. All the other laws and powers had densely hidden the other traps. 

Yet the dragons desire to escape was all for naught as it was for once too slow. STAB SPLURT BOOOM

The spiral aspect of the current Rhongo alone easily pierces through the immeasurable hollow 'skin' and into it's chest where the accumulated laws and spirit energy are fully released. For maximum effect, the spirit energy intermingles with these law energies, giving them an extra spiritual nature. This is an effect that would come naturally when the time comes for this Rhongomyniad to acquire its own spirit/soul. So for now, Axel has to cover this gap, especially due to the nature of their current enemy. 

The end result of the stab was as envisioned: stab to pierce the skin, blood flowing out due to the sharp-curving tips nature and then finally the explosion caused by the compatible metal laws being released into the dragon's heart. 

An explosion of metal laws is not a normal fiery one but one with an innate sharp sensation. Like a flow of wind, except where the wind is spinning saw blades escaping from a bad mechanics shop, flying in random directions from the point of explosion. This explosive force even knocks Axel back as he returns to a normal sword grip, satisfied with the effects of his new sword. 

A fountain of blood was made in midair as the dragon is still in shock and pain over the surprisingly simple attack. It should have known that Axel would not do something so simple, yet it has no proper battle experience for combat of this level. Having only ever fought proper humans, the closest it got to this level was it's brief fight with Passionlips and Raikou. 

Speaking of the duo, the two have recovered and are standing guard next to all the other heroes to ensure no sneak attack occurs again. Raikou had already recovered her leg and had been absorbing the surrounding energy. A minor devouring ability given by Axel which passionlips lacks due to simply being able to absorb natural sunlight and heat to replenish her magical energies and converting a bit of that energy, she can recover her physical state. 

As for the weaker heroes, Astolfo who is in the center of this group is mourning the loss of Achilles as he was truly a close friend to her. Anastasia, another hero is also recovering as her guardian puppet was gravely wounded by the hollows fatal attack to its human host. The rest mourn the loss of Siegfried but remain steady to ensure that no one else dies amongst them. A bit further away, Diarmuid is cradling the two broken spears with a sense of loss.

Astolfo, Anastasia and Diarmuid all gaze at Gaius with anger in their eyes and hatred on their faces. All seem to create their own plans of revenge for their own respective losses, unbeknownst to each other that they have such plans. 

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Alt Title: A Single Stab of Rhongomyniad, Explosive tip

Next chapter teaser- Best Doggo?

So another small spoiler, im gonna try to wrap up this fight in the next chapter. So next chapter will be on Sunday the 8th to grant me that extra time to properly write a chapter longer than 2k words (hopefully. I shall try not to get too distracted with playing replaying Fallout New Vegas)

Drop a comment if you wanna judge my writing or the story. Ill try to respond, especially if you're confused or anything.