Chapter 334 A Parting Gift (7)

RUMBLE!

As the plasma sphere entered the eye of the storm, the bladed weapons in Basil's Domain and those that he owned were disintegrated. When the plasma sphere exploded, colouring the dark cloud blue, his Domain dispersed.

As a bright blue light illuminated the eye of the storm, a deafening sound overwhelmed the air. The sound was so loud, it even made the ground that was 12 kilometers below them vibrate and cause an avalanche.

BOOM!

It didn't end just there however; two thin lines, colored in silvery blue and gold—two extremely dense Mana Blades from Durendal and Caliburn, were also rapidly coming at the cloud. They hit the cloud a second after the plasma sphere did.

The previously black cloud that had now turned blue due to the plasma explosion was split apart. Looking at it felt like looking at a split sky, which was undoubtedly a terrifying and fascinating scene.

Screech!

The two Mana Blades hadn't yet dispersed nor had they gone far away after cutting the blue cloud. They were held in their place as they were trying hard to break the Barrier that was protecting Charles.

Basil knew his Technique would never be able to break Charles' Barrier; he immediately flew towards Charles himself. In the middle of the way, however, he had to stop as his vision suddenly shook violently.

"Kuhuk!" He threw a mouthful of blood. He felt like his heart was being squashed like a lime. "... I am starting to feel the drawbacks. Luckily, I have the Phoenix Essence within me."

Being a Fifth Circle Mage, Basil naturally didn't fulfill the requirement to use [Synchronization]. He couldn't fully control the power, which in turn damaged his body quite severely.

Normally, without the sufficient control over the power, one would even die from using [Synchronization].

Basil could still alive and merely received internal injuries thanks to the fact that he was a Peak Stage Blue Core Knight and, of course, the Phoenix Essence that would heal the injuries.

[Are you sure you are going to torture yourself like this? It is better to let him go, and take Iliana with you. It's not worth it. He is naturally stronger than you, so you shan't feel shame.]

"Torturous it is indeed, Asia... However, if I let him go, he will only get in my way in the coming future," Basil explained calmly. "He is a boulder that is slowly getting bigger. If I let him live today, very sure I am, he will stop me in my way."

[... Just know when you should stop.]

Smiling softly, Basil turned his attention to Charles again. The Phoenix Essence had healed his injury, so he was ready to resume flying towards Charles.

He immediately clicked his tongue, however, as soon as he saw that his Mana Blades had dispersed. Charles was already gathering the split cloud again, and it was gradually turning black again.

Rumble!

A loud thunder was heard a moment before the heavy rain fell. The sky was dark and gloomy—it was as if death and sorrow had just materialized themselves.

Encapsulated in their Barrier, the rain couldn't touch Basil and Charles. The distance between them was gradually eliminated, until eventually, Basil arrived in front of Charles.

Shining in gold, Basil looked at Charles, whose body was covered with a black mist. He could see lightning and darkness in Charles' eyes, which made him unsure whether he was facing Charles or Bahamut.

"Name thyself, thee, who is facing me," Basil said stoically.

"Why don't you take a guess?"

Charles' voice was overlapping with someone's voice. The other voice was heavy and raspy, which gave the impression of being an extremely old person's voice.

Basil immediately smiled bitterly at that, and shook his head faintly. "Thy end is closing. It is very surprising to me that someone as bright as thee hath chosen to end his life this way."

It was clear to Basil that Charles had finally awakened the tiny bit of Bahamut's consciousness in the heart. It was not a good news, however, with this, Charles' fate was already sealed.

"Why don't we see, instead of speculating, who will end up six feet underground?" Charles grinned viciously.

"None will," Basil stated surely. "I shall live, and watch as thy body turneth to ashes."

Smirking at Basil's response, Charles swung his hand at Basil. His hand tore the air as his finger discharged lightning bolts.

Zap!

Moving his body to the side, Basil dodged the attack easily. He then did a maneuver, utilized one of his Techniques, and spun his body as he came at Charles.

In response to that, Charles merely raised his hand before slamming it down with a smirk. A whirlwind suddenly descended at Basil, forcing him to stop spinning and dodge it.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

As soon as he stopped spinning, countless of whirlwinds were formed. They were swaying left and right, spinning violently in a cylindrical movement.

Crack!

Lightning bolts descended just a second before Basil flew away from the whirlwinds. A blizzard was occurring by the time he knew it, and it was not just any blizzard; it was a blizzard that was fully controlled by Charles.

"Well... This is frustrating, isn't this? I have no more swords to divert these lightning bolts." As Basil maneuvered in the air, dodging the whirlwinds and lightning, he smiled bitterly at how unfavourable the situation had become.

The only option he got other than dodging was taking all of the hurdles head on, which was really not a good idea. Although he had his True Light Magic armour, it wouldn't last against all of the hurdles.

Swish!

Being in the blizzard made him was the same as letting Charles attack him. Anything that was a part of the blizzard was Charles' weapon—even the ice rain.

Each of the ice pellets could destroy the Barrier of a Fourth Circle Mage. It was absurdly destructive considering that it was merely the byproduct of Charles' real Spell, or rather, the Dragon Language he had used.

"Asia... Now is the time," Basil muttered as he flew towards Charles.

[Husband... You know the risk, don't you?]

"May we end him before this body withereth."

While Basil was taking it calmly, Asia was frowning in Durendal's Sword Realm. She didn't like the choice Basil had made, however, she didn't want to be a bystander.

She couldn't stop him either way; in the end, she eventually decided to help him. Leaving Durendal's Sword Realm, she went to Basil's Mindscape. She had determined herself to kill Charles even before her Soul destroyed his body.

"[Vacant Vessel]!"

As soon as Basil utilized the Pacifer Art that would allow Asia to half possess his body, his golden eyes and his Pacifer Seal shone brightly. He felt light-headed the moment his soul entered his Mindscape, leaving his body vacant.

He found Asia looking at him with a small sad smile the moment he opened his eyes in his Mindscape. He didn't understand what that smile was for, however he strangely found himself sympathizing with her.

"Shall we do it?" Asia asked.

"We shall." Basil extended his hand, and Asia immediately grabbed it. "Together, we shall see the glory this time."

He didn't know what he had just said, but he was too captivated by Asia's sweet smile to mind it. When he wondered why Asia captivated him so much, his Soul returned to his body, leaving the Mindscape together with Asia.

Whoosh!

The moment he opened his eyes, he found Charles already a few hundred meters ahead of him. His left eye had turned blue—it was so clear, one might think one was looking at a sea when looking at it.

Gone was the thought about the strange dialogue had had with Asia earlier. With Asia now controlling his body with him, he focused his attention solely on defeating Charles.

"Do you feel comfortable?" Asia spoke using Basil's mouth.

"The amount of power thou hast maketh me feel as if I am going to explode in any moment. Comfortable, it is not; amazing, it is however, which I have to admit," Basil responded calmly.

"How long can you last?"

"We shall see."

When Basil's conversation with Asia, which looked like a monologue, ceased, he, or rather, they had arrived in front of Charles. Charles seemed to know what was happening as he was smirking in amusement.

"I see you have an ancient being inside you too," Charles remarked.

"Who are you calling ancient, you bloody leasing-monger?!" Asia replied, her voice overlapped with Basil's. "Don't compare me to your raggabrash arse!"

Blinking his eyes once, Basil told Asia to calm down. Although she was not necessarily ancient, she was, after all, still thousands of years old; so he couldn't completely refute Charles, or rather, Bahamut's words.

The battle began as soon as the conversation ceased; Charles immediately attacked him by sending him a gigantic lightning spear. Already having a sufficient power, he swung Durendal at it, successfully cutting it.

As Durendal's Sword Realm became vacant the moment Asia entered Basil's body, Durendal's Sword Soul filled the vacant Realm, under Caliburn and Basil's permission.

In result, Durendal now possessed the sharpness that could really cut anything—even lightning—again.

"Tsk. That annoying Durendal," Charles muttered.

Flying away at a high speed, he extended both of his hands. He discharged two massive lightning bolts out of his hands, and sent them towards Basil, who was chasing after him.

Boom!

Just as he thought Basil had been hit, Basil suddenly appeared in front of him. That made his eyes widen; alas, before he could properly protect himself, Basil hit him with an energy ball that was discharged out of Caliburn.

"[Light of Glory]!"

Charles was sent flying away before the energy ball exploded and illuminated the world with golden light. A huge chunk of the black cloud that was looming above them was also dispersed, partly stopping the blizzard.

Boom!

Just as the golden light disappeared, Charles teleported himself to Basil's side. He was about to hit Basil with his lightning covered hand, however Basil swung two gigantic Mana Swords at him even before he managed to do it.

Wooong!

The air and the ice falling from the black cloud were evaporated upon contact with the Mana Swords. Charles hastily erected a Barrier to protect himself from them, but even then, it wasn't enough to really protect him.

"Dagnamit!"

Slash!

He couldn't help cursing furiously as he was thrown away by the Mana Swords. His abdomen was cut open, however, he was still glad that he could get away with just that.

... At least, until he saw Basil above him.

"To the ground, we shall go."

"This bloody yaldson!"

Stab!

Thrusting Durendal and Caliburn at Charles, Basil broke through Charles' Barrier. His swords pierced through Charles' chest as he brought Charles to the ground at a high speed.