NOVEL NEXT Chapter 40: The Promised Day
The air at the base was thick with tension. The faint orange hues of the setting sun stretched across the horizon, casting long shadows on the faces of the sorcerers gathered there. The contingent of female Danish sorcerers stood together, murmuring quietly among themselves, their expressions a mix of worry and anticipation. They had seen Furōkawa train tirelessly over the past month, pushing himself to the brink of exhaustion. Now, as the clock ticked toward 7 PM, the reality of the promised battle hung heavily in the air.
Furōkawa stood in the center of the room, his face calm but resolute. Dressed in his battle gear, Onamazu strapped securely to his side, he looked like a man ready to face the world's greatest storm.
Emilia approached him, her steps measured but deliberate. The faint traces of her lingering injuries were all but hidden beneath her cloak, yet her concern for him was evident in her expression. She stopped a few paces away, folding her arms tightly.
"You don't have to do this," she said, her voice steady but laced with worry. "We could find another way. Maybe delay—"
"There is no other way," Furōkawa interrupted gently, turning to face her. "You know that, Emilia. From the moment I spoke to her, this battle was set in stone. An unintentional pact, maybe, but a pact nonetheless."
Emilia's jaw tightened, and she lowered her gaze. "I know. I just—" she hesitated, searching for the right words. "I just don't want this to be the last time we see you. Sigrun is different. You've said it yourself. She's–"
Furōkawa placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch firm but reassuring. "It won't be the last time. I made you a promise, didn't I? I'll come back alive. No matter what happens out there, I'll return."
She looked down at him, her blue eyes meeting his. For a moment, the room seemed to fade away, the anxious whispers of the other sorcerers falling silent.
"You've always been stubborn," Emilia said softly, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. "That's one thing I can't argue with."
Furōkawa chuckled. "You finally know me."
She stepped back, taking a deep breath to compose herself. "Alright then. Just… don't do anything reckless. Fight smart. And remember, we're all waiting for you."
Furōkawa gave a small nod before glancing around the room. The Danish sorcerers all watched him intently, their expressions a mix of respect and apprehension. "I'll be back," he said, his voice steady and commanding. "You have my word."
The path to Sigrun's battlefield felt both familiar and foreign. The desolate field in Germany stretched out before Furōkawa, bathed in the eerie glow of twilight. The stillness of the air was unnerving, as if the world itself was holding its breath for what was about to come.
As he approached the center of the field, Sigrun's figure came into view. She stood tall, her golden armor gleaming faintly in the fading light. Her massive sword, once planted firmly in the ground, was now in her hands, its edge resting lightly against her shoulder. Her radiant hair flowed freely behind her, and her golden eyes locked onto Furōkawa the moment he entered her sight.
"You've come," she said, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable power. "On the promised day."
Furōkawa stopped a safe distance away, his own cursed energy steady but restrained. "I said I would, didn't I?"
A faint smile crossed her lips, though it was devoid of malice. "I'm glad. The others underestimated you, but I could see it from the beginning—you are different. Stronger than they ever realized. It is fitting that you made it this far to face me."
Furōkawa's eyes narrowed slightly, his hand resting on the hilt of Onamazu. "You're not like the others. I knew that the moment I saw you. Your strength… it's beyond theirs. But that's why I'm here. To end this."
Sigrun nodded, lifting her sword and holding it out in front of her. The blade seemed to hum with energy, a faint golden glow emanating from its edge. "Good. Then let us make this a glorious battle. One worthy of the power we both hold."
Furōkawa stepped forward, his cursed energy flaring slightly as he drew Onamazu. The blade glinted menacingly in the dim light, its edge blackened with cursed energy. "You're strong. Stronger than anyone I've faced. But that won't stop me."
Sigrun tilted her head slightly, studying him with a curious expression. "And you… are stronger than any mortal I've fought in centuries. This will be an honor."
The two began circling each other, their movements slow and deliberate. The tension in the air was palpable, their energies clashing invisibly as they sized each other up. Sigrun's grip on her sword tightened, her stance shifting slightly, and Furōkawa mirrored her movements, his focus unyielding.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to stand still. The final battle was about to begin.