Ubermensch – Chapter 155

Chapter 155

The kings had made up their minds.

“If you swear to break your Geas, I swear I won’t return to Ulster until I hand you over.”

“Bring me dog meat.”

Cú Chulainn said in a calm voice.

“My Geas is to never refuse an invitation and to never eat dog meat, so I will refuse the invitation and eat dog meat here today.”

The kings returned, and the formations began to be arranged again.

Morrigan cursed.

“Foolish man! Truly a foolish and idiotic man! You refuse the easy path and only walk the difficult one!”

Looking at Morrigan’s back as she flew into the sky, Mason spoke for the first time.

“Do you not regret it?”

“Indeed, Oztalon. I do not regret it.”

Cú Chulainn said with a calm expression.

“If I cannot sacrifice a cow for the sake of the herd, nor sacrifice the herd for the sake of a cow…”

“…then it is right for me to sacrifice myself?”

“Haha.”

Cú Chulainn laughed heartily.

“If there is a next life, and if we meet again, I will become a follower of Oztalon.”

“As a reward for driving the chariot for you?”

“With a god who understands me best in the world, how can I not have faith?”

A moment later, a soldier approached with a plate of well-cooked dog meat.

Cú Chulainn received the dog meat, and the soldier said.

“Our soldiers have decided to hold a small feast to honor your bravery. Would you like to join us?”

“I refuse.”

The holy energy that flowed around Cú Chulainn’s body disappeared. The protection of the Arrow Deflector was gone.

And, Cú Chulainn bit into the dog meat.

The muscles and strength from his robust body disappeared.

Now, all that remained was a single warrior.

The weakest and most powerless, a warrior who had broken his Geas.

Cú Chulainn stepped down from the chariot.

Without the protection of the Arrow Deflector, engaging in chariot warfare would only turn him into a pincushion.

‘I cannot defeat the army.’

Then only one thing remained.

“I am Cú Chulainn, son of Lugh. Though my Geas is broken, I am still a warrior. Is there no warrior who will take my head?”

The crowd was silent. Not out of fear. The opposite. It was an emotion close to pity.

The warriors feared that fighting the broken Cú Chulainn would defile their honor, and the soldiers did not step forward as they had no orders. The kings could only feel a mixture of admiration and regret for Cú Chulainn, who fought with all his might.

“If Cú Chulainn had been under my banner, how could Erin have been divided into warring states!”

However, they could not leave the large army idle indefinitely.

Unable to disobey the order, a warrior stepped forward.

“I, Calatin, son of Cormac, have come to take Cú Chulainn’s head under the king’s order.”

Holding a long spear, he bowed to Cú Chulainn.

“You were the greatest warrior of Erin before breaking your Geas, and even after. Would you please step down and consider the safety of yourself and your family?”

“Cú Chulainn has nothing to abandon but himself.”

Realizing that words were useless, Calatin pointed his spear.

There were two main battlefields for warriors: close combat and chariot warfare. Spear techniques were a basic requirement, and javelins were also primary weapons. Due to the nature of chariot warfare, where the distance closed rapidly, thrusting was the main tactic rather than slashing, and this led to thrusting being commonly used in close combat as well.

‘The neck or the heart.’

Especially, the upper body, not the lower body hidden by the chariot. Aiming for the heart or neck, which could certainly end a life, was the main tactic.

‘If I aim for the heart and miss, it will only cause more pain.’

Calatin underestimated Cú Chulainn and pitied him.

‘Let’s aim for the neck.’

Therefore, he thrust his spear, aiming for the neck.

At that moment.

Cú Chulainn twisted his body half a turn, dodging Calatin’s spear and simultaneously thrusting his own spear.

Thud!

Cú Chulainn’s spear pierced Calatin’s neck.

Cú Chulainn said in a calm voice.

“I knew it would be the neck.”

Calatin, after trembling briefly, collapsed on the spot.

At that moment, people realized.

Even though Cú Chulainn’s monstrous strength had been reduced to less than that of an ordinary man, he was still the greatest warrior of Erin, who had learned martial arts in the Shadowland.

The warriors’ eyes changed.

Although diminished, Cú Chulainn was still a mountain to overcome, and although weakened, he was still a formidable opponent.

“I, Dagda, son of Oscar, will challenge Cú Chulainn.”

“Cú Chulainn, son of Lugh, will face Dagda.”

Dagda narrowed his eyes and approached Cú Chulainn.

‘Cú Chulainn’s strength is no different from a woman’s.’

Strength was the most important factor in battle. Most warriors could kill a person with a single light blow, but women had to swing with all their might to harm someone.

Cú Chulainn was the same.

If it weren’t for Calatin’s own momentum, how could Cú Chulainn’s spear have pierced his neck?

‘I’ll push through with strength!’

Dagda threw his long spear and drew two long swords from his waist. Originally, they were emergency weapons for close combat, but for the current Cú Chulainn, long swords, which allowed for lighter consecutive strikes, were more dangerous than a heavy, single blow from a long spear.

And, a storm of swords rained down.

Clang! Clank! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Cú Chulainn could only barely block with all his might. The long spear was originally a long and slow weapon, and even more so now that he lacked strength.

Completely on the defensive, Cú Chulainn was focused on blocking, and wounds were carved all over his body.

Nevertheless, Cú Chulainn was being pushed back.

Normally, Cú Chulainn would have forcefully struck down the enemy with his blade and thrust his spear to end their life.

But he lacked strength.

‘Is this how those who faced me felt?’

Lack of strength was truly frustrating.

If he lacked strength, he had no choice but to rely on wisdom and courage.

Cú Chulainn dodged the incoming sword strikes and then threw himself forward.

Thud!

Even though Cú Chulainn’s muscles had shrunk, his weight had not changed. The charge, carrying the weight of a grown man, was enough to make the warrior stagger.

“Haaaaaaaah!”

Cú Chulainn gripped his spear short and fell onto Dagda’s body.

“…!”

The moment he felt the spearhead touch him, Dagda realized.

‘What a sneaky and disgraceful move. Has Cú Chulainn fallen so low?’

It was admiration for the warrior.

‘Even in such a state, he defeats me?’

As he fell to the ground, he felt the spearhead pierce his breastbone. What Dagda felt was pride.

‘I was a formidable opponent, worthy of making even Cú Chulainn fight in such a sneaky and disgraceful manner.’

Dagda smiled, and that was the last expression he made alive.

“Gasp… Gasp…”

Cú Chulainn was breathing heavily. Blood flowed from the sword wounds all over his body, bruises appeared on his face and body, and there was even a large bump on his forehead from the fall.

However, there was a majestic beauty in his appearance.

Who could not admire a warrior who fought to such a state, and who would continue to fight even in that state?

“Cú Chulainn is here. Is there no warrior who will take Cú Chulainn’s head!”

“I will step forward!”

Another warrior emerged, and Cú Chulainn fought. He fought with all his wisdom, courage, fighting spirit, and conviction, and became even more battered.

However, his limit finally arrived.

Cú Chulainn could only stand by leaning on his spear.

It was clear that a single thrust from the youngest rookie would end his life.

Cú Chulainn felt thirsty.

“Water…”

The warrior standing before Cú Chulainn said in a calm voice.

“If you wish, you may drink water and come back.”

“What is the name of the warrior standing before me?”

“Allen. Allen, son of Arm.”

“I thank you. With blessings. I pray that you and your son will never know thirst or hunger for the rest of your lives.”

Cú Chulainn staggered and walked to the pond, falling into it.

The pond was quickly stained with blood, but Cú Chulainn quenched his thirst with the blood-mixed water. However, unable to control his body, he fell and was in danger of drowning.

Morrigan, who had flown back, entered the pond in the form of a beautiful woman. She lifted Cú Chulainn’s face.

“Even now, it is not too late. Become mine. Become mine, ease your pain, and save your country!”

“I will not abandon my wife.”

“You will die here anyway, are you saying you won’t even give yourself to me after death?”

“Ah… I see. I will die here.”

Cú Chulainn smiled faintly.

“I’m sorry… but I have already entrusted my next life to another god. To the blunt god who watched over me…”

“You… You are a man who will not bend to my will until the very end.”

Morrigan had a strange expression, a mixture of tears and a smile.

Cú Chulainn, with a gentle smile, said.

“If I had become yours, would you have thought of me as much as you do now?”

“No, I wouldn’t. You were so beautiful because you were unattainable and fleeting.”

Morrigan lamented.

Cú Chulainn staggered and leaned against his spear shaft.

“Don’t go, Cú Chulainn. Don’t leave this pond.”

“Allen, son of Arm, awaits me.”

“I will show him favor. As one who received Cú Chulainn’s blessing, he is worthy of the War God’s attention.”

Morrigan embraced Cú Chulainn from behind.

Unlike her usual self, she whispered gently and kindly.

“Stay here… and watch.”

“Watch what?”

“Your country being saved.”

From afar, an army was approaching.

At the forefront was Conall, Cú Chulainn’s foster brother.

“For Ulster! For Cú Chulainn!”

Those who had witnessed Cú Chulainn’s desperate struggle had risen up. Cú Chulainn’s valiant effort was enough to burn away the fear and helplessness that Morrigan had instilled in their hearts, and the warriors and soldiers of Ulster, having regained their courage, rushed to the battlefield.

“For Ulster! For Cú Chulainn!”

A soldier who stood still could not stop a warrior charging on a chariot, and a disheartened warrior could not defeat a valiant soldier.

Seeing the Ulster army break through a section of the allied forces, Cú Chulainn smiled.

“Ah, great Ulster! I am proud to be a warrior of Ulster.”

“The Shadowland is returning to its place. You have accomplished the salvation of your country and people, so now depart in peace.”

“One thing. Grant me just one more miracle.”

“Do not beg me for something that has already been accomplished.”

At that moment, Edrid approached Cú Chulainn.

“Cú Chulainn…”

“Edrid.”

Cú Chulainn smiled and stretched out his arms, his blood and water-soaked hands caressing Edrid’s cheeks.

“I apologize for making you give birth alone. I apologize for not being a good husband. I apologize for not being able to make you happy…”

“Thank you for allowing me to bear the child of a hero. I am grateful for a husband who was clumsy but kind. I am content with the happiness you gave me.”

Edrid, too, was a person of the pragmatic Celtic culture. She accepted her husband’s death with a strong will and comforted him instead of herself.

“Someday, we will meet again. On that day, please sing for me.”

“It will take a long time for a tone-deaf man like me to learn to sing, so please come see me in the distant future.”

Edrid nodded.

Cú Chulainn smiled, and his head slumped.

Morrigan, her face wet with blood and tears, looked at Mason.

“Go, foreign god. Take the greatest soul of this land with you.”

Mason nodded.

“Ghost Dragon!”

Crash!

As the dimensional wall shattered, the Ghost Dragon appeared.

“Did you call?”

A flickering soul rested on Mason’s palm.

“Take his soul. The most radiant soul of this land.”

“What will you use it for?”

A soul that resembled him had made a promise.

He had vowed that if he could not abandon a cow for the sake of the herd, nor abandon the herd for the sake of a cow, he would abandon himself.

“As my warrior. As my Champion.”

The Champion of the Protecting God, Oztalon.

It was the moment Cú Chulainn joined his pantheon.