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Chapter 97 Swordbreaker
Stay calm, stay aware, stay cool, stay focused on the fight. I can think about souls and all that later. But, before our final clash, there's one thing I really want to ask.
"... Hey, can I ask you one thing?"
"What is it?"
"So, after you revive and kill your enemy, what do you plan to do next?"
That was my genuine question. When I killed Brutogyu, I thought the vendetta was over, and I didn't know what to do next. Even with Beato there, thoughts of that girl slipped from my mind, and I was filled with a sense of emptiness. I wondered what this gal planned to do after killing heroes repeatedly and reviving her enemy, killing them again with her own hands.
"It's decided. I'll revive them again and kill them. Torture them and kill them, revive them again, and kill them. Over and over, I'll make them taste the torment of hell until I die."
"Is that for real?"
"Do you think I'm joking about such things?"
I thought she and I were similar. But, it seemed I was mistaken. That mindset felt inexplicably alien.
"Are you really serious?"
"A foolish question. I mentioned it a moment ago."
"I see, got it. I must have been foolish to feel a sense of closeness to you on my own."
I pondered what revenge meant to me and finally found an answer. It was a conclusion, a way to move forward.
Gustav and Judas. When I kill my remaining two enemies, I am sure I will be able to accept my family's death. That's when I would feel like I could move something that had been frozen since that day.
"I'm not trying to play the role of a justice warrior. I have no right to say that sacrificing someone is necessary to revive a hero's soul"
I involved numerous unrelated people for the sake of revenge. I kill. I didn't want to deny the very essence of revenge.
"But you know, I think revenge is there to reconcile with one's own heart and move forward. You, who are caught up in revenge and senselessly sacrifice unrelated people, are completely different from me, even though we are both seeking revenge."
"So what? What are you trying to say? Do you want to outright deny what I'm doing?"
"No, that's not it. I don't want to preach; I simply want to sort out my feelings."
I infused magic into the crimson Swordbreaker, pouring all the magic of the [Boil] that melted everything.
"I have no hesitation in killing you anymore."
"Yeah, I never had any hesitation from the beginning."
Levia lowered her hips, assuming a forward-leaning posture. Her left leg extended backward, and she held the sword horizontally with both hands. The posture was higher than what would have been if it were the full-powered maneuver. Surely, she didn't have the strength to use that technique any more. I was in a sorry state too.
"It ends with the next strike. I'll cut off your head."
"We'll see about that. You might be the one reaching the end."
Both the Moon Shadow Legs and Divine Hawk Eye were still active. If it's just a regular high-speed charge, I should be able to catch it.
"Now..."
Levia's foot kicked the ground, diving straight towards me. Perhaps I had become accustomed to the super-high-speed charge, or maybe there was a flaw in Levia's body, but I could clearly see her movement. Alright, all that was left was to catch her with the swordbreaker, and if I could bring us into a deadlock...
"How naive."
At the last moment, Levia slammed on the brakes. Sand kicked up, obscuring my vision. This was bad; I might lose sight of—!
Chills ran down my spine. My body moved reflexively due to the tremendous murderous intent from behind me. In the instant I bent my body, Levia's sword swept just above my head. That was close; if I had been a bit slower, my head would have been severed.
"This guy..."
At the moment the enemy swung away, I delivered a back kick.
-THUD!
It felt like the sole of my shoe hit her stomach. Levia staggered, creating a fatal opening. I quickly turned around and brought down my sword from above.
"For you to be taken down by this...!!"
-Gah…!!
However, Levia was truly something else. Without collapsing, she maintained her stance and intercepted my strike with her sword. The red and silver blades clashed, scattering sparks in their confrontation.
"I won't lose! Until I achieve revenge, I will never die!"
"Lose? No, you're finished."
Yes, the conclusion had already been reached. The moment we brought it into a deadlock, my victory was assured.
"What are you talking about?"
"That's why you've lost. Do you know the name of my sword?"
In an intense clash, sparks flew between the two blades, and eventually...
"The swordbreaker."
-Kopo, Kopokopo
Levia's sword began to melt, turning a deep red.
"This is... What in the world is happening?"
"The power of [Boil]. Thanks to your comrade, I awakened to this new power. Also, this sword."
A deep red mineral that conducted magical power. I wondered if this victory was also thanks to Toka, who created this for me.
"This thing is made of a material that conducts magical power. Just like my hands, it's an excellent item that boils with just a touch when magical power flows through."
"Blum's [Mech] also works like this...!"
However, melting minerals requires a large amount of magical power. Unlike touching with bare hands, I need to store a lot of magical power in the sword beforehand to melt it.
"Come to think of it, my previous sword was broken by you, wasn't it? How does it feel to have your own actions come back to haunt you?"
Levia's blade had completely melted, turning into a mass of magma. With her weapon lost, Levia was cornered. It seemed she lost the will to fight, taking a bewildered step back.
"Alright, let's finish this."
-Swoosh...!
"Agh, aaaaahhhhh!"
I flung the magma, slamming it into Levia's face. A sizzling sound reminiscent of placing meat on a hot pan echoed as Levia collapsed. Screaming and flailing her legs, her face burned.
"...Phew. Now then, who's next?"
Ignoring the one on her own, I glared at the person beyond the shattered window. After all, I came here to kill this one. I don't know why, but thankfully, he didn't casually run away, which really worked out for me.
"Fu...fufufufufufufufufuhahahahahaha!"
What...? Gustav suddenly burst into laughter. It's kind of creepy. Has he gone mad?
"Hahaha! Thank you for the best thrill, the best show! But you know, do you think I'd entrust my life to an unknown demon like her!? Don't mock me!!"
Oh, he suddenly snapped. His voice was trembling.
"There's no way for you to win from the start! Hero Kyrie, this is where you'll meet your end! Hahaha!"
-Crash!
The moment Gustav pressed a button, thick walls dropped down, protecting the room where he was. Unlike shutters, these were sturdy walls, but they were nothing more than an obstacle to me.
"...Do you think you've escaped from me with this?"
Perhaps Gustav was distracted when I melted the sword earlier. If I create a hole with my [Boil], it should be easy to—
-Boom!!
"What... What's happening!?"
A deafening roar. An explosive sound that shook the air erupted from the ground right in front of me. Then, one after another, explosions started occurring all over this space.
This must be another trap set by Gustav. Damn it, he was well-prepared.
"At this rate, this place will completely collapse..."
Even without collapsing, being swallowed by the blast would be the end of me. I would not allow myself to die in a place like this!
"Guaaah, giiiiiiii!"
Levia, struggling on the ground, was something I couldn't deal with right now. There's no time to finish her off. I need to focus on escaping.
Turning towards the wall that sealed off the room, I dashed through the explosions at full speed. Thanks to the Moon Shadow Feet, I reached it in an instant, but the problem lay ahead.
"Dissolve!!!"
I touched the wall and channeled my magic. I needed to create a hole large enough to pass through so swallowed by the explosions.
"Hurry, hurry, melt quickly...!"
-Boom, crash!
Due to explosions happening all around, the ceiling had finally begun to collapse. I have no idea what happened to Levia, but she probably would not survive.
"...Alright, it's open!"
A hole large enough to pass through has finally opened. I quickly jumped through, passed through the hole, and rolled into the room through the broken window.
-Dogoooooo!!
A particularly large explosion occurred, and flames burst out from the hole.
"Haa, haa... I was almost a goner if it was a bit later..."
Well, I would savor the joy of being alive later. Gustav was no longer in the room. He seemed to have escaped somewhere, but there was no way I'd let him get away. I would definitely corner him, torment him, and then brutally kill him.
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Kinda hope Levia survives tbh.
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