Book 4: Chapter 11

Book 4: Chapter 11

Oath of Flame

GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

The Red Ox screamed in agony after it had one eye cut open. It swung around its halberd haphazardly. But I had no time paying attention to you alone.

Battle Skill, Iron Rosethe strengthening technique using pure magic particles that I couldnt control became Battle Skill after the spirit named it.

That Battle Skills name was also a spirit approved epitaph that represented me.

Aria, switch to back up Viro!

Roger!

Dalton who saw my fighting stood up while giving me new instruction. I abandoned the Red Ox and switched to back up Viro who was baiting the Blue Ox by himself.

The moment I started running, the scenery of the surrounding that was reflected in my eyes blurred away instantly.

For good or bad, this Battle Skill wasnt as powerful as that technique that I couldnt control. But, compared to that technique that had awful balance, this Battle Skill increased all my statuses and even I became able to control it.



Viro!

Great, he was still alive. But, he was already in a ragged state after baiting a strength type like the Blue Ox by himself.

I sped up even more and left a trail of light behind me like a comet. I didnt slow down at all and kicked at the Blue Oxs head with the blade on my heel.

*GAKIIN!*

BUMOO!?

It made a loud sound when my heels blade got deflected by the horn but, the impact greatly jolted the Blue Oxs head.

Aria!?

Heal yourself Viro.

I landed while throwing a reserve potion from my Storage toward him. Then I immediately rushed off to slash at the Blue Ox with my knife.

BUOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

As expected even with my speed increased, the damage I inflicted was still low thanks to my light weight. The Blue Ox immediately noticed me and swung down its great sword. I crossed my black knife and dagger and blocked the attack head on.

HAAAA!

My joints creaked from the overwhelming burden. But I could still bear it.

I used my whole bodys strength and technique and stepped forward while parrying the attack. Then I landed an elbow strike on the Blue Oxs approaching forehead with all my strength.

BOOOOOOOOOOO!?

The Battle Skill improved not only my speed, but also more than doubled my physical strength and endurance.

Thanks to that I could compete even against the Blue Ox if it was just for an instant, but I had no intention of fighting the Blue Ox with physical strength.

BUO!?

I vanished from the Blue Oxs sight and instantly circled behind it. Then I thrust my dagger to its neck with both hands.

BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Just how thick its flesh was.

Even so the Blue Ox rampaged in intense pain. I jumped down from its back and dashed forward while scattering trails of light behind me. I slashed at the Blue Oxs unguarded hand. It made it let go of its great sword.

Even I who originally only had the physical strength of an average person could parry the Blue Oxs great sword with the strengthening. Then if my agility that had been at the same level with the Blue Ox from the start got doubled, even the rank 5 Blue Ox and Red Ox werent my match anymore.

I immediately rushed and kicked away the great sword that was dropped on the ground.

But the Blue Ox that had fallen into state of excitement didnt even care of that. It got on all four and lowered its stance in preparation to charge at me with its two horns.

I also stepped forward in respond to that. I took out two hidden weapons from the Storage and left a trail of light behind me while rushing toward the Blue Ox right from the front with my maximum speed.

The distance of several meters was shortened in an instant. Just a moment before we crashed, I stabbed the two hidden weapons at the Blue Oxs eyes. Then I jumped over the Blue Oxs huge body just a moment before its twisted horn pierced me.

BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

It stumbled and rolled on the stone floor while howling in agony.

Support the adventurer!!

The knights who still could move caught up at that timing.

Viro, take care of this place.

I immediately entrusted the role of facing the Blue Ox to them and Viro. Then I immediately left in order to back up Dalton and others.

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Aria (Alicia) RaceHumanRank 4

Magic Power : 82/270Stamina : 159/210

Overall Combat Strength : 916 (With Body Strengthening : 1769)

Battle Skill : Iron Rose / Limit 82 Second

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My magic power had decreased a lot. The normal body strengthening generally consumed 1 mana every a hundred seconds, but this technique was consuming a hundred times more mana.

In full capacity I could use Iron Rose for 270 seconds, but the actual time I would be able to use it would be a lot shorter than that if I also considered the usage of magic and other Battle Skill.

Even before that, using this technique just for less than a minute with my still growing body was already causing all my bones and muscles to start screaming in pain.

Even so, its not a reason to stop here.

.

I sped up even more and approached the back of the Black Ox that Dalton and others were fighting. I held the black dagger with both hands and without slowing down I pierced the back of the Black Oxs knee until its kneecap.

GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?

As expected even the Black Ox screamed from the sudden agony.



My comrades and the knights realized the situation from my yell and immediately ran away to escape. The many Fire Balls rained down in that moment.

!!

Flame blasts whirled up. The Black Ox and Blue Ox raged inside the flame with their last ember of life before crumbling down. Their surrounding was changed into an ocean of flame.

I then sensed Carlas mana swelling up again and dashed toward her.

Iron Rose

My pink hair changed color once more into the grey iron color like burning ash. The vestiges of light scattering from my hair trailed behind like comet while I sprinted like an arrow. Without slowing down I jumped toward Carla as she was about to cast another magic and kicked with my heel.

Carla!!

Aria!

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Carla Lester RaceHumanRank 4

Magic Power : /450Stamina : 29/51

Overall Combat Strength : 749 (With Body Strengthening : 2333)

Gift : Soul Thorn Exchange / Life Time

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In that moment, the black thorns coiling on Carlas skin let out a great burst of mana. She leaped aside to dodge my kick as though the thorns coiling all over her body was moving her.

Ice Lance

Countless ice spears were fired from Carlas hand. I dodged them with high speed movement while spinning and struck at her neck with a knife.

*GINN!*

A thorn shaped ice blocked my blade. Carla fired her Dig Volt in that instant. My hands grabbed on the floor and I sped up to evade while kicking with my heels blade. Carla twirled in the air to dodge that. She then laughed while pointing her fingertip at me.

Fire Breath

Critical Edge!

My Battle Skill cleaved the flame and gouged Carlas shoulder, while the slashed flame swallowed me. We ignored those damages and danced in the air even more. Carla who controlled her body using the thorns and my kick clashed in extremely close range.

*BASHIN!!*

We both dodged while kicking at each other. Our kicks hit each others side with the sound of flesh being pounded. I changed my posture midair and landed on a rubble, while Carla landed in the middle of flame. There we faced each other.

Carlas face was grimacing a little bit from pain in the middle of flame that was spreading around her. But that expression changed into a wide smile like a little kid who was in the middle of a flower field when she looked at me.

Oh my, Aria. That hair color is also lovely.

I too was grimacing from the recoil of using Iron Rose on top of another Battle Skill, even so I glared at Carla quietly.

So thats your Gift. You didnt ask to be healed?

As I thought Carla also got invited by that spirit. If she wished to have her life prolonged instead of a Gift, she should be able to live at least as long as Elena.

But Carla didnt ask for extension of her life. She wished for even more destruction.

Soul Thornthose words that I overheard must be the activation words for her Gift. I felt that Carla was losing seconds of her life in exchange for the immense mana she was bursting with.

The black petals scattering from the black thorns that were coiling on her body looked like Carlas life itself disappearing to me.

I dont need thatsomething like a normal life is unnecessary for me.

Carla stood in the middle of flame without getting burned thanks to her immense mana while her fingers played with her black hair as though to state that her own life didnt matter to her.

Something has to be done to the magic stone in my heart so that my body can be healedif that happens, there wont be any meaning to my life until now. It will be a waste to all those blood and sweat I had shed to train my magic.

Carla

Ill keep moving forward until my life run out. I wont let anyone get in my way until everything that drove me mad is swallowed in flame. Yes, even if its youAria.

The color of madness looked inside Carlas eyes. She sported a ghastly but bright smile.

It was then, the spirit altar at the back sunk down and vanished. A door silently appeared and opened behind it. A small amount of light leaked out from there.

That spirit is unexpectedly considerateit even opened a door to return back after the last enemy is defeated.

Carla pinched the bottom of her dress inside the flame and lightly bent her waist. She curtsied so casually as though she was saying farewell to an acquaintance that she ran to on the roadside.

Well then, fare thee well, Aria. Lets postpone our settlement until a worthy stage for us has begun. Im really looking forward to it.



Carla arrived at the exit even without getting burned inside the flame. She didnt even look back at her fiance Ervan and vanished into the exit alone.

By everything, did she mean everyone involved along with this countryeven so based on her personality, that time would be the time where we would fight to the death.

I see

I stood alone in the middle of flame while staring fixedly at the exit where Carla vanished into.

Carlayou couldnt give forgiveness no matter what huh.

You couldnt forgive your family, this country, and everything involved that drove you mad.

For her living wasnt a salvation. It was nothing else than death that would be her salvation. Carla was seeking destruction so much that she refused to live.

I recalled Carlas words when we first met.

.

Aa, how lovely. If Im going to die one day, I want to die by your hands Aria.



.

Most likely those words were earnest words that came from Carlas heart.

Fine thenif you said that was your true wish

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Alright thenCarla. Ill definitely kill you with my own hands.