Chapter 457 Beat It Out

The concept of caste didn't exist in the society of the Demi-Human. Each Demi-Human had a status which was based on their battle prowess and their innate talent but everyone treated each other equally. Status didn't matter much because they considered everyone family. Still, one could easily spot the difference between Nobles and commoners.

Those who managed to climb to the rank of Nobles were powerful Demi-Humans. Nature favoured them—they were born with an absurd innate talent, making them ahead of everyone else. While their talent made them stand out, there was another thing that made them stand out—their appearance. Stronger Demi-Humans resembled humans more than most of the population did.

It had nothing to do with how far they had evolved but with how well they could control their Beast traits. They could control their emotion better but they were still hot-headed like most of the population were.

Kurdva was the perfect example of a strong Demi-Human. He could control his Beast traits to the point that he only showed his tail. He could even make himself perfectly look like a human but he didn't, because he wasn't one. He didn't like being associated with humans whom he deemed inferior to Demi-Humans.

Clank!

"I heard that you wield Durendal and the legendary Caliburn. Where are they? Why are you wielding this strange-looking sword instead? Afraid that I may take it away from you?"

As he blocked Kurdva's claws with Kusanagi, Basil looked at Kurdva with a quirked eyebrow. He wondered how the Demi-Human Emperor didn't know about Kusanagi despite being close with the Elf, some of whom directly witnessed him extract Kusanagi from Yamata no Orochi.

Smirking faintly, taunting Kurdva in the process, he discharged a Wind Blade out of Kusanagi. Since Durendal's Sword Soul was within Kusanagi occupying it, the sharpness of the Wind Blade was out of the ordinary.

Kurdva couldn't help widening his eyes as he saw his claws being cut by a mere wind blade. Proving himself to be an experienced fighter, he was quick to recover from his shock. He then retreated, successfully dodging the wind blade. Looking at Basil carefully, more of his Beast traits came out.

His claws regrew quickly. They were longer and sharper than before. His fangs became more prominent and a pair of fluffy wolf ears appeared on his head. With the grin decorating his face, he looked feral.

"Ah, are you underestimating me, kiddo? I may look as old as your brother but I have lived for two hundred years. You should never underestimate your Elder!" Kurdva exclaimed before charging at Basil.

Scoffing lightly, Basil responded, "I am notorious for not respecting my Elders, let alone other's Elder. Expect me to disrespect you."

Fortifying his stance, he blocked Kurdva's advance head-on. He was slightly pushed back but Kurdva was successfully stopped. It was bewildering for Kurdva. They hadn't incorporated Mana into any of their attacks yet; however, Basil still could keep up with him. No human should possess that much physical strength.

"What are you? I wonder."

"What am I? I also wonder myself." Basil smiled. "I only know who I am and that is Basil Pacifer."

"Who is Basil Pacifer?"

"Who knows? I may be defined differently in everyone's eyes."

"What do you define yourself as?" Kurdva quirked his eyebrow, showing a genuine curiosity for the first time.

"A family-loving man."

Kurdva snorted involuntarily at the answer. He had expected Basil to give him a self-glorifying answer because of his nature, so the answer took him by surprise. Chuckling in the next moment, he put more power into his hands, pushing Basil back. Basil intrigued him but the fight still had to go on.

Basil planted his feet on the ground, stopping his body from being pushed back. Kurdva smirked at this, thinking how futile Basil's attempt was until he found himself unable to push Basil back anymore.

"You should assume your Beast Form. You have to stay true to yourself to be able to match my strength."

"Who do you think—"

Clank!

Swish!

Thinking Basil was joking, Kurdva was surprised when Basil managed to send him flying. He let out a dumbfounded 'huh' as his body was in the air. Doing a quick manoeuvre soon after, he landed on his feet. He skidded on the ground for a few meters until his claws stopped his skid.

p1ease visi(t) n0ve1b(in).ne)t

He stood up and was pleasantly surprised by the pricking sensation he felt on his abdomen. His garment was also soaked, so he looked down to see what happened. Expecting it to be a light scratch, he was stunned and enraged to find his abdomen almost cut open. If it wasn't for his thick skin, he would have seen his intestines flailing out of his abdomen.

A cold gleam flashed in his eyes before his slit-shaped pupils dilated. His Mana exploded, pushing away the air around him. His appearance remained the same but he was actively using Mana now. He kicked the ground, leaving a cratered ground in his wake, and appeared before Basil in the blink of an eye.

Basil could see the attack, so he merely raised Kusanagi to block it and then watched in fascination how Kurdva's injury healed in a second.

Boom!

The air blasted as Kurdva's claws clashed with Kusanagi. Kurdva was once again surprised that he couldn't push Basil back. He was using half of his power but he was sure it should have been enough. He became an Emperor for a reason. He was exceptional—extremely. The development bewildered him greatly.

"I have told you—stay true to yourself," Basil stated. "Assume your Beast Form."

"Do you think you are worthy enough to see my Beast Form, human!?" Kurdva replied, enraged.

Basil went silent for a few seconds as he observed Kurdva's ferally charming face. "Yes, you are worthy enough to show me your Beast Form."

"This fucker!"

Seeing that Kurdva didn't get his message, Basil sighed softly in exasperation. He activated his Pacifer Seal, blasting Kurdva with the Nature Mana he controlled, shocking Kurdva immensely. As his golden eyes looked into Kurdva's green eyes, he sent intimidated Kurdva with his Dragon Intent. Kurdva's pupils constricted and his body automatically went into flight mode.

Before Kurdva could escape, however, Basil kicked him in his solar plexus. His body bent like a curve as he was sent flying. Basil disappeared into thin air and then reappeared at the end of the direction his body was flying to. Basil greeted him by hitting his head with Kusanagi's hilt.

Thinking it was over now that he was already lying on the ground, Kurdva's rage went through the roof when Basil kicked his head. He was sent flying again and, this time, he could barely stay conscious.

When his clarity returned, he was lying on his back, gazing at the blue sky that was obstructed by the cold look of a golden-eyed handsome male human. The sensation of something weighing on his face came not long after and his rage returned as he realized what happened.

"You son of a whore, get your foot off me!"

"Can I consider this my win?" ignoring Kurdva's displeasure, Basil asked coldly.

"Do you think I have lost? Pfft. Laughable!"

"Then, make it quick. I don't have much time."

Kurdva was both hot-headed and prideful. He couldn't accept the fact that he had to use his full power to defeat Basil, so he was reluctant to do it. It wasn't until Basil sank his head into the ground did he change his mind. Putting his pride aside, he assumed his Beast Form.

Stepping back, Basil watched as the injuries he had inflicted on Kurdva disappeared. Kurdva stood up in the next moment, looking healthier than ever. Kurdva glared at Basil murderously as he got bigger and Basil looked at him calmly. Basil watched in fascination how the human-like Kurdva turned into a 7-metres-tall wolf that stood straightly like a human.

"Awoo!"

Kurdva howled as his transformation finished. The sound vibrated everyone's eardrums to the point of almost rupturing them. When Kurdva stopped howling, he focused his glare on Basil. he focused his killing intent and Mana Pressure on Basil but even those outside the arena could feel it. Basil's company became concerned, yet he remained steady as ever.

"You should advice your human friend to surrender," a familiar female voice said, attracting the attention of Basil's company who were watching the fight in anticipation.

Turning to their left, they found Oseya and her daughter, Calliope, who had just returned from taking Nadiza to the infirmary. They were slightly surprised to find Calliope with Oseya. The lass looked unbothered by the terrifying pressure Kurdva was exuding. It made them look at Oseya in wonder.

"I am not shielding her from the Mana Pressure. I am not strong enough to shield her from Mana Pressure of this calibre." Oseya shook her head. "She is a special child—nothing can scare her. Her tolerance of Mana Pressure is outrageously out of the norm. "

The statement made Basil's company nod in understanding. They now got why Basil was interested in the lass. It was not the case, still, but they were glad Basil remained himself anywhere. He didn't think about anything that didn't benefit him in his current situation.

Clank!

"Woah…. Uncle Basil is holding against Uncle Emperor well."

At Calliope's remark, everyone's attention returned to the arena. There, they could see Basil blocking Kurdva's punch easily with Kusanagi. It was quite off-putting for Oseya to see such a big Werewolf stopped by a 2-metres-tall human. Of course, Oseya thought this way because she didn't know Basil had defeated a bigger creature.

Seeing how Basil could hold his ground well, his company heaved a sigh of relief. Basil still didn't look winning but it was just a matter of time until he did.

"Now, I can say you are serious," Basil remarked.

"You will die but don't blame me, lad. Your Mana provokes my battle instinct endlessly," Kurdva warned with a light growl.

"Don't worry. I know how to face a rabid dog."

"Impudent!"

As Kurdva began to overwhelm him, Basil materialized his seven Ultimate Circles. The air distorted as the Magic Circles gathered the Mana in the air. Basil's power was dramatically amplified, bringing him to the same power level as Kurdva, much to Kurdva's bewilderment. Not stopping there, he also materialized his Domain.

Flash!

Golden light filled everyone's vision for a few seconds. When they regained their vision, they found themselves standing on a plain full of golden grass. Tens of thousands of bladed weapons floated above the grass. Hundreds of gigantic swords decorated the golden sky.

Basil was the centre of this profound world. At this moment, he showed the Demi-Human Emperor why many were reluctant to become his enemy.