NOVEL NEXT Chapter 34 - Misunderstandings Deepen (10)
The dueling grounds were located in the outskirts near the city walls of Aus.
It was a circular colosseum-like arena, large enough to accommodate many people.
In the center was a large square platform, seemingly the place where duelers would fight.
“Praus, will you be alright?”
Just before ascending to the dueling grounds, Tori spoke to me. Urkha was peering down at me from atop the platform.
Her pupils were already slitted vertically, having seemingly opened her beastkin form.
Seeing that, I calmly opened my mouth.
“Don’t worry.”
“You seem confident. Not the slightest hint of intimidation, even against an S-rank opponent.”
What are you saying? Can’t you see me trembling in fear? My legs are shaking uncontrollably.
“Since she contracted with the fire spirit, this will be quite challenging.”
‘Indeed. This is more than just challenging.’
“Did you forget who I contracted with?”
Oh, someone please stop my arrogant mouth.
“…Haha, that’s right. You contracted with a Spirit King. Is that why you’re so confident?”
With this, I had justification for using wind magic.
No matter what skill I used, they would assume it was an innate ability of my sword.
“But the power of a Spirit King alone won’t be enough to defeat Urkha.”
“…Your words seem contradictory. Do you want me to win or lose?”
“What?”
“Your request was clearly to subdue Urkha. After entrusting me with that request, are you now questioning whether I’ll win or lose?”
“But, but…”
“All you need to do is watch silently. Don’t disrupt the atmosphere with unnecessary chatter.”
“I understand. I’ll do that.”
His visible unease was likely due to Urkha’s unexpected proposal.
The ‘right’ to do as he pleased with her.
When he heard those words, Duke Tori’s face had contorted as if having a seizure.
I understand why he reacted that way too.
Duke Tori and Urkha had a tragic relationship where they could only drift apart due to the difference between human and beastkin.
To be precise, their relationship fell apart because Tori chose the image of a nobleman and political reality.
But Tori couldn’t be entirely blamed, as that was the only way he could protect Urkha at the time.
In the end, he married another woman, and everything between them ended. But he still harbored feelings for Urkha.
That’s why he suggested subduing her so she could live, wasn’t it?
“Urkha, do you remember what you said yesterday?”
“About you having the right to do as you please with me?”
“Yes.”
“Of course I remember. But you know, this is a fair match, so isn’t it unfair that only one side has a penalty?”
So she wanted to make a wish too?
“…What do you want?”
“If I win, you’ll serve under me.”
Serve under her? Was she planning to form a resistance or something?
Seeing me with Iris and Maria, she must have thought I held no prejudice against other races.
“May I ask the reason?”
“You piqued my interest.”
An odd obsession glinted in her piercing gaze.
An expression she should have reserved for Duke Tori. Why was she fixated on me instead?
“Very well. I accept.”
“Come up here. I’ll show you what I’ve got.”
As I climbed the steps to the dueling grounds, I surveyed the surroundings.
In the audience seats were our group, the Duke’s servants, and knights.
I stepped onto the dueling floor.
“The rules of the duel are simple. Do not inflict lasting disabilities that would inconvenience daily life. And do not kill.”
So anything else was fair game?
Simple yet ruthless rules.
Urkha stretched languidly, her flexible body an artform, especially with those leg splits.
“Aren’t you going to stretch? You might get hurt.”
“Do you have the leeway to worry about your opponent?”
I scoffed and silently drew my swords.
[Unwavering Vengeance has been equipped.]
[The Revenant skill can be temporarily used.]
[Wind Blade – Aura has been equipped.]
[Wind magic up to 8th-tier can be used.]
[Durability does not exist. This is an indestructible item.]
“Dual-wielding? Having more swords doesn’t necessarily make you better.”
Said the one carrying an excessive number of daggers, to the point where I wondered where she was storing them all.
“Don’t worry.”
‘Do you know who is possessing this body? It was Pasma, a man who died without ever embracing a woman, having lived his entire life devoted solely to the sword.’
He would certainly be skilled with dual-wielding as well.
[My friend, I hope you didn’t have any disrespectful thoughts?]
“Of course not.”
You have quite the keen perception.
“Let me know when you’re ready. I’ll wait.”
She tossed and caught a dagger, feigning nonchalance.
“Revenant.”
[Activating the Revenant skill.]
“Pasma, how’s your condition?”
“Not bad.”
“Then let’s make this quick.”
I had no intention of fighting Urkha for an extended period.
Leaving mana aside, parrying all her sword strikes with sheer physical strength was impossible for me now. I didn’t have the confidence to respond to her agile movements either.
So there was only one choice for me.
One decisive strike.
“Mirage Waltz Form Five.”
Pasma took a stance, focusing all his strength into his legs and infusing it into the Aura.
This was to brace for the recoil from using the skill.
“Ha! You think I’ll give you time to use a technique?!”
As she threw a flaming dagger and charged to quickly close the distance, I muttered:
“High-Speed Movement.”
Pasma used my body to stop at the spot where she had been standing moments ago.
The thrown dagger embedded lifelessly into the ground, its flames flickering.
“That technique…! It seems even faster than yesterday?”
Of course it is.
Back then it was me using it, but now it’s Pasma with his heightened senses using it.
But that shouldn’t be your main concern right now.
“Mirage Tempest.”
A sword whirled through the empty air.
“Phew… Do you feel that sensation?”
[You… Can this truly be called the Mirage Waltz?]
“It can.”
This was a technique Tina created by combining Pasma’s Mirage Waltz and Aerial’s wind magic.
I glanced back at our group.
Behind me were Aerial, Delma… and Dex, who had secretly followed, gaping in shock.
While I didn’t expect such a reaction from the others, I hadn’t anticipated Aerial’s either.
“What is this… What did you do?”
She asked, watching what I had wrought. I looked in the direction she was pointing.
There was a circular crater where a mountain had been scooped out.
The sight of an entire mountain vanished was beyond the scope of what a human could achieve.
“It’s a simple explanation. I infused it with my mana. That’s all.”
I swung the Aura leisurely as I spoke.
Just because my body was weak didn’t mean I lacked mana. With mana, I could use the techniques of the relic as much as I wanted.
That’s why it was an item that could only be obtained later in the game.
“It’s not that simple, is it? Praus, just what exactly are you?”
“I infused it with mana.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. Even the strongest weapon can’t use skills above 8th-tier. To use a terrain-altering skill requires at least 9th-tier.”
She unnecessarily spouted information about the sword’s capabilities.
The silver lining, I suppose, was that everyone listening was too dumbstruck to react.
“Unbelievable… Is this really Praus…?”
“Even I didn’t expect this…”
Delma and Dex mumbled as they observed the transformed natural scenery.
A sensation like gently slicing through the air reached my fingertips.
Ah, not bad at all.
Kwakwakwakwang!!
The explosion that began from the dueling grounds’ floor extended all the way to one of the arena walls where there were no spectators.
Through the gaping holes in the destroyed building, the screams of citizens could be heard.
“It’s fortunate the power was properly controlled.”
“Yes, if I had used as much force as in the mountains, an entire side of the city would have been demolished.”
Pasma and I were the only ones who could speak so casually in this situation.
Glancing around, Urkha, who had been facing me, Duke Tori watching from the corner, and everyone seated in the audience – not a single person could open their mouths.
Urkha gritted her teeth at the devastation left behind by the Mirage Tempest.
“You, what exactly…”
“The sincerity you desired. I deliberately aimed elsewhere, knowing this would kill you if it hit.”
Pasma contorted my facial expression, deliberately raising the corners of my mouth in a taunting smirk.
Urkha wasn’t one to let that slide.
“You bastard…”
She drew her sword. I pointed my blade at Urkha.
“Next time, I won’t miss. Forfeit the duel now. Otherwise, you’ll die.”
This was exactly what I wanted!
Psychological warfare.
I used that technique first to show her the absolute gap that made defeating me impossible, just like with Incurou.
“Ha! This is fun!”
But it seemed only the brutish Incurou could be swayed. Damn it.
By trying to take the easy route, I had only provoked her temperament instead.
“So you were serious about killing me, huh? Then I have no reason not to try killing you too?”
“Do you think you can kill me?”
My arrogant tone made the veins bulge on her clenched jaw. She glared at me with venom in her widened eyes.
“Alright, let’s see who dies!”
She stomped the ground, causing the cement floor to crack where she stood, fragments flying up.
She moved towards me without hesitation, swinging her sword at my neck.
Clang!
When her blade clashed with Unwavering Vengeance, intense flames erupted.
She immediately took out several daggers hidden on her thighs, slipping them between her fingers before plunging them into the ground.
The embedded daggers made sizzling sounds as they ignited.
The surrounding temperature rapidly rose with a whooshing sound.
“I’ll burn you to a crisp!”
Chiiing!
The scorching flames felt like they were searing my skin. The rapidly vaporizing ice shielded my body, but it didn’t seem like it could withstand for long.
“But fire doesn’t work on me, you know.”
Seeing Pasma further provoke her amidst all this, I inwardly sighed. Did he know the state my body was in right now?
“So you made preparations against fire magic, did you?!”
She tried to pin me down with her sword, exerting her strength. As expected, her sheer physical power began pushing me back bit by bit.
“Hrrah!”
Just before the sword blocking her daggers was overwhelmed, I swung the other Aura.
Fwoosh—!
Unfortunately, she evaded my sword strike, retreating to create some distance between us. I approached her with a heavy step.
“If this is all you’ve got, it’s disappointing you became an S-rank—”
Clap!
She clapped her hands.
“Come forth, Ignis.”
The moment she uttered the spirit’s name, flames erupted from her skin. Simultaneously, Urkha’s hair turned crimson.
“Did you really think you could defeat me with just that?”
She touched the flames on her skin, creating a sword formed of fire.
“Incomplete Mirage Waltz.”
“An ‘incomplete’ one, huh… I’ve wanted to try it in actual combat. How fortunate.”
Pasma said as he gripped the Aura, taking a stance while holding Unwavering Vengeance with both hands.
“Mirage Waltz.”
The two of them almost simultaneously charged their positions, clashing amidst the raging flames as Pasma and Urkha collided.