Chapter 534: The Duel (4) [Bonus Image]

Chapter 534: The Duel (4) [Bonus Image]

God.

This quiet, shocking declaration was not caught by the continent-wide broadcast, obscured as it was by the rampant light and explosions filling the arena. However, Gavid and everyone in the audience felt those words. Eugene’s calm voice carried an arrogant certainty.

But no one could deny it. The current Eugene had undoubtedly transcended human limits, and the powers he wielded were fittingly divine.

The one who felt this truth the most was the Demon King of Incarceration. Eugene’s divinity reminded him of emotions he had long forgotten.

Perhaps, just maybe, truly....

This time....

‘However,’ the Demon King of Incarceration pondered while resting his chin on his hand.

Eugene Lionheart was a monster born of destiny and potential, and indeed, his divinity was worthy of admiration.

However, he did not possess a particular advantage in this duel. Gavid Lindman had cast his lifelong title and position to embrace his purest desires as a demonfolk. He had reached the realm of godslaying.

In the Age of Myth, he would have made his name known as a godslayer and perhaps ascended to the most dreadful ranks of the Demon Kings.

"I'm not sure,” the Demon King of Incarceration murmured with a wry smile.

If Eugene or Hamel had achieved such stature three hundred years ago, the Demon King would have opened the gates of Babel without a second thought.

But it was not a time of war now. Three hundred years had passed since then. An era that should have ended long ago had persisted for three more centuries. If not for the Oath, if there had not been a slight intrigue, the Demon King of Incarceration would have repeated what had been done at the end of the last eras as well.

"It's not enough,” the Demon King of Incarceration muttered bitterly.

Perhaps that power would have been enough three hundred years ago. But now, it was insufficient. After all, three hundred years was a long time for everyone.

As if to prove it, despite such a massive explosion of power, Gavid Lindman did not retreat. Had it been him three hundred years ago, he would have been obliterated by that force.

But Gavid was no longer the same demon as three hundred years ago. If Noir Giabella had transcended her limits as a demon by gathering countless desires, Gavid Lindman transcended his limit through repeated epochs, confining himself and pursuing nothing but the sword.

Gavid swung Glory. The explosion of light seemed capable of annihilating the entire area, but it was blocked by the tip of Gavid’s sword.

He swung it sideways. The line bisected the light. Without a sound, the light was extinguished, and all was voided. Eugene’s eyebrows twitched in annoyance. He had not anticipated his attack would be cleaved in a single strike.

"Ha.” He let out a short laugh.

Indeed, it wouldn't be easy.

Expecting this duel to end simply and swiftly without much difficulty would be an overstep of arrogance. Just as Eugene had finally grasped divinity after a year of various trials, Gavid, too, had experienced the unknown and reached an unfathomable realm. That was why he could stand tall in this place.

"New powers,” Gavid murmured.

Eugene was utilizing the new strengths he had acquired after the commencement of the duel. The Holy Sword and the Moonlight Sword, as well as the Demon King's weapons, were now reforged into the Holy Moonlight Sword, Levantein. In addition, he was using his sanctuary and Prominence.

"Is that all?" Gavid asked.

Eugene did not respond immediately but stared at Gavid for a moment. The question did not stir any particular emotion in him; it wasn't loaded with any other meaning.

Yet, on a separate note, Eugene couldn't help but feel a certain way, a sentiment he wasn't keen on expressing. He took a deep breath before responding, "I'm sorry."

He hadn't intended to keep his cards hidden. Once again, Eugene lifted his left hand.

Whoosh.

The embers of Levantein transferred to Eugene's left hand. Black flames traced a line following his hand.

"I still have habits from past battles, and using it right from the start isn't something I'm used to," Eugene admitted.

A smile spread across Gavid's lips. The implication of his words and actions was clear.

Three hundred years ago, Gavid had been overwhelmed and terrified. Hamel had shown him a resolute will to kill without regard for his own soul or life. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that this technique essentially represented Hamel of Extermination.

The burning hand was thrust into Eugene’s left chest.

Thump.

The loud sound was heard by everyone in the arena. The flames of Levantein resonated with Eugene's heart as it beat rhythmically.

Thump, thump, thump.

With each heartbeat, the flames enveloping Eugene slowly settled down into tranquility.

What if....

What if he attacked now? That thought crossed Gavid's mind. If he struck while Eugene was deploying Ignition, wouldn't Eugene be defenseless? If that were the case, there was no reason not to attack now.

‘No,’ he decided resolutely with a shake of his head.

Despite wielding such immense power, Eugene still desired more. The blade, aglow with a crimson flame, advanced, and as it did, Eugene infused it with yet another power.

The power of Jigollath, imbued in Levantein, had the ability to shatter and explode anything in its path.

As the flame approached Gavid, he intuitively knew what was about to unfold. The black sword would crush all the chains of Incarceration he had focused around him.

It would defy the Demoneye of Divine Glory. It would even shatter the blade of Glory, which was supposed to be unbreakable. In the presence of Levantein, the chains wrapped around his body for defense would mean nothing.

Yet, Gavid thrust his sword forward. There was no other option available to him. Evading the attack was impossible. The sword’s nature made avoidance futile.

Levantein had already decreed Gavid’s fate as one of absolute defeat and death. To flee from the blazing red and black flames would be akin to escaping fate itself.

Gavid wasn’t wrong in his prediction.

The cruel and violent divine flame shattered all chains. The flames continued forward and cleaved through the blade of Glory. Yet, Levantein did not stop there. The flame pushed forward as much as Eugene desired and reached Gavid.

Crack, crackle.

Dark power sparked between the blade and Gavid. For a moment, Gavid’s wide eyes and Eugene’s eyes locked.

Eugene withdrew his gaze. Levantein slashed through Gavid’s body. With a whoosh, the soaring flames reached the chains that covered the dome of the arena and dispersed.

Gavid’s knees hit the ground. His head drooped. Eugene stood there for a moment as he gazed down at the kneeling demon.

“Ugh...” groaned Gavid.

The duel was not long. It lasted less than ten minutes.

Yet, during those ten minutes, surprisingly, Melkith did not speak even once. She couldn’t. The duel between Eugene Lionheart and Gavid Lindman was majestic enough to completely silence the chatterbox Melkith.

"It’s over."

Melkith finally managed to speak. She jumped up from her seat and looked down at the arena.

Honestly, she initially thought Eugene might lose. Gavid had parried Eugene’s attacks too easily and calmly.

But after Eugene activated Ignition, his victory was assured. Everyone present, including Melkith, knew well how Eugene fought. Eugene would not use Ignition unless he was certain of victory.

“It’s over!” Melkith exclaimed excitedly while jumping up and down from her seat.

Melkith had contracts with three Spirit Kings, and she could vaguely sense how destructive the power loaded within Eugene’s sword was. No matter how strong Gavid Lindman was claimed to be, Eugene’s sword left no room for any counteraction. A sword that kills upon contact — how could one possibly stop it?

"It's over! Eugene won! Long live the Brilliant Eugene Lionheart!" Melkith cheered while raising her hands high.

The other spectators were unlike Melkith. They were not without their dignity. Thus, they did not jump or cheer wildly. However, their feelings were not much different from Melkith’s.

They were overwhelmed by Eugene and Gavid. In particular, they could clearly feel a divine might radiating from Eugene. It felt natural that he had only taken a few strikes. Each blow carried the potential to shatter the world, and there was no reason to strike hundreds or thousands of times.

"Hurrah!"

Only Melkith continued to shout with her arms raised high in the silence.

As she continued shouting, the audience, too, began to realize something. Gavid didn’t get up after falling to the ground. He was a demon with the ability to resurrect from being decapitated, having his heart crushed, and reduced to ashes. However, it appeared as if he could not revive from Eugene’s strike.

This meant one thing. Just as noisily as Melkith was proclaiming, Eugene had indeed won the duel.

A murmur spread through the spectating crowd.

The eyes of the Black Mist quivered. They, too, were overwhelmed by Eugene's divine might. But even in their overwhelmed state, they had believed in Gavid’s power, in the power of the Blade of Incarceration.

They could not accept the defeat of their revered duke. Was the battle fierce? Was it intense? Had it been a clash where everything was put on the line such that it wouldn’t have been strange for either side to fall?

No. It was Eugene who dominated. From the moment Eugene used Ignition, Gavid's sword never once brought Eugene close to crisis.

The Black Mist could hardly accept this truth. They looked bewilderedly towards the Demon King of Incarceration.

He was still sitting on the throne of chains, with his chin propped on the back of his hand. He seemed unfazed by Gavid's defeat and death despite spending hundreds of years together. Had he anticipated the outcome from the beginning? Had he felt no expectation because he sensed Gavid’s defeat?

No.

The thoughts of the Demon King of Incarceration remained unchanged. He had never sensed Gavid’s defeat and death. The Demon King of Incarceration still could not discern the outcome of this duel. He hadn’t expressed his ignorance towards the outcome of the duel in vain.

"Gavid Lindman." The lips of the Demon King of Incarceration parted.

Eugene was still looking down at Gavid. He neither turned away in assured victory nor struck with Levantein again to completely eliminate Gavid.

He couldn’t.

Eugene was feeling a strange and ominous stickiness.

"...Not yet," Gavid muttered, his head still bowed. "It's not over yet."

Then, Gavid staggered to his feet.