Chapter 216 - Rally (7)
Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
“Henry.”
“Yes?”
“If you don’t mind, may I indulge in some personal greed?”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’d like you to take this magic armor off of me.”
“Alright, but if things go south, then I’ll have to...”
“I know. If that happens, then we’ll move according to the plan.”
“Thank you.”
Valhald’s personal greed was that he wanted to take on Balak solely with his own strength. After deciding on when they would fall back on the original plan, Henry took off Valhald’s magic armor. With that, Valhald felt his body get a little heavier.
‘Well, magic sure is convenient.’
Henry’s supporting magic increased strength, speed, as well as accuracy and agility. Even without training, magic could work like a drug, turning a B-class mercenary into an average knight.
However, Valhald didn’t like relying on such unnatural powers because he believed that training prevented an unstable future and humbled an arrogant past.
As Henry stepped away, Balak asked Valhald, “It’s been around what, twenty years?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“How strange. I’ve heard that you relinquished your position as the imperial first sword.”
“That’s right.”
“You’re so hard to decipher. What’s wrong with you? Why would you give up your position to someone like Kington?”
“It was just some rank. It didn’t mean much to me.”
“I guess...”
The two seemed similar, but they were also very different. Therefore, given their values and ambitions, Balak accepted to rule Killive while Valhald accepted the position of the first sword of the Imperial Ten Swords.
Balak continued, “Anyway, Valhald, why are you with the traitors of the empire?”
“Traitors? Who are the traitors?”
“What do you mean? It’s obviously the wizards who have murdered Silver Jackson, the former emperor, and destroyed the imperial palace. You’re not going to tell me that you didn’t know, right?”
“It’s true that they murdered Silver Jackson and destroyed the palace, but I don’t consider them traitors.”
“What do you mean?”
“I only did what I had to do. Also, ever since the empire collapsed, treason no longer means anything to us. It’s merely a term that Arthus has arbitrarily redefined.”
“You’ve changed a lot since I last saw you. Where did you learn to speak such nonsense?”
“I’m just stating the facts. And who’s the one speaking nonsense, anyway? After all, it was Arthus who orchestrated this so-called ‘treason,’ not us.”
“What?”
“You’re not going to pretend like you don’t know, are you? You’re the one who cares so much about justice, and yet you side with Arthus. Aren’t you just contradicting yourself at this point?”
Valhald essentially mirrored Balak’s response. He had only been telling the truth, so he had nothing to hide. However, Balak reacted differently than him. He was a bit taken aback by Valhald’s story because it seemed strangely similar to what Hector had told him the other day.
“...”
Balak stood silent for a moment, visibly confused. This was not the first, but the second time he heard an accusation against Arthus. Moreover, this time it was none other than Valhald who had come up with that allegation.
This was a very serious problem because Balak, a man with a very strict moral code, had served Arthus purely out of righteousness and loyalty.
After much thought, Balak shook his head and said firmly, “I trust my emperor. The emperor will always be criticized and slandered, and that will never change.”
“...What a fool.”
There was no point in continuing the conversation. Balak would fight to the death to defend his beliefs, and Valhald would do the exact same, and even if this weren’t a matter of conviction, neither of them wanted to miss this opportunity to fight each other.
The air became stifling in the windless hollow as their Auras combined with their intense killing intent, stirring the atmosphere.
Soon, two blue roses bloomed like flames.
“I’m just matching your efforts.”
“Let’s see how much longer you’ll be able to say that!”
Bang!
Balak’s Aura was now vibrating. He swung his Black Punisher once again, widening the distance between him and Valhald.
“Enough playing. Let’s put an end to this.”
Because both of them were so evenly matched in terms of strength, it was clear that this duel would just go on forever at this rate. Of course, if it had been up to them, they would’ve kept fighting for days on end, but they were short on time.
Balak took a proper fighting stance, and his Aura stopped quivering. However, moments later, the Aura that covered his entire body expanded tremendously.
“That’s...!”
Von and McDowell’s eyes widened as they witnessed what was going on, and so did Henry’s.
‘Ultimate Skill?’
Ultimate Skill.
A Sword Master who unlocked their ultimate skill was considered to be among the best. Moreover, those who mastered using their ultimate skill reached the rank of a peak Sword Master.
In this duel with Valhald, Balak was about to use his ultimate skill, the final trick up his sleeve that he hadn’t used in decades.
“Very well.”
Valhald smiled. Witnessing Balak’s ultimate skill was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thus, Valhald figured he should return the favor. He refreshed his Aura and raised his sword high above his head.
Tzzzz!
Valhald’s Aura dispersed into the air from the tip of his sword. Seeing this, Von, McDowell, and Henry suddenly became alarmed.
“T-that maniac... It can’t be!”
“Oh, hell no! Von, grab Ronan from over there!”
Valhald continued to release his Aura. After forming into a sphere at the tip of his sword, it started to slowly expand, just like Balak’s Aura.
“Ha, you too?”
Seeing Valhald’s Aura form into a sphere, Balak chuckled.
Valhald’s act thrilled Balak, causing him to expand his Aura at a more intense rate.
Finally, when Balak’s Aura expanded enough to fill the hollow, it took a different shape.
Tzzzz!
His Aura turned into the shape of a man wearing a three-horned helmet and sharp accessories on his shoulder. Indeed, Balak had used his Aura to create a giant image of himself.
‘Giant God Warrior!’
This was Balak’s ultimate attack: creating the best soldier on the continent, the Giant God Warrior.
Having summoned the Giant God Warrior, Balak raised the Black Punisher with his right arm. Then, the Giant God Warrior also lifted up the morning star made of aura, which looked exactly like Balak’s Black Punisher.
Rumble!
As the Giant God Warrior, who stood as tall as the hollow, raised his hand, his weapon scraped against the ceiling of the hollow.
Henry quickly cast a spell to prevent the hollow from collapsing, but as McDowell saw this, he yelled, “Henry! We need to take cover!”
“I know! Everyone get behind me!”
“Y-you, just how...?”
Von carried Ronan, who was unconscious.
McDowell, clueless, had called for Henry, who was trying to prevent the destruction of the hollow. However, Henry shook his head and asked everyone to take cover behind him.
At that moment, the hollow was heated up by an indescribable hot energy.
“I’ve finally gotten the chance to fight you, Valhald!”
Balak stared at the tip of Valhald’s sword, his expression elated.
At the tip of Valhald’s blade was his blue Aura, round and hot, reminiscent of a tiny sun, or rather, the sun itself.
‘The Blue Sun!’
The Blue Sun was Valhald’s ultimate skill, which used the hottest Aura in the world.