Chapter 458 Beat It Out (2)

In Basil's past life, the Demi-Human Emperor, Kurdva was forced to cooperate with Demons. His people were held hostage by them, so he had no choice but to accept it. The saving grace was the Demons treated them as an equal. Still, it didn't mean they didn't suffer.

When his people were held hostage, he asked everyone to help him. No one heard his plea, so he swallowed the bitter pill and grabbed the Demon's hand. It was much to his disbelief that every race immediately united and went against them. He quickly lost a lot of his people to the people that he thought were allies.

His hesitation disappeared instantly. He ordered every one of his people to kill everyone who stood in the Demon's way. His heart still didn't belong to the Demon but his spite made him a very ruthless person. Demons gladly handed him help. The war between Demi-Humans and the rest of the world lasted for three years and the Obelisk Masters weren't involved in it.

By the end of the war, the Demi-Human perished. Some said there were still Demi-Human survivors hiding out there but Kurdva was recognized as the last Demi-Human to die. The war made one side perish and dealt a heavy blow to the other side. Demons entered the scene immediately and only then did everyone realize they had been played.

Hiss.

Looking at the steam that came out of Kurdva's nose, Basil involuntarily recalled the statue that the Elf built for Kurdva in his past life. The statue was named 'The Wronged Emperor' and it looked exactly like the current Kurdva.

"Can't help marvelling at my appearance?" Kurdva said with a smirk.

"I have seen prettier dogs," Basil quipped neutrally.

"You have balls, don't you?"

"I do and they are not exposed like yours."

"I am not a dog!" Kurdva growled furiously.

Basil smirked; Kurdva was already agitated. Demi-Humans were sensitive to Mana. Their mood was heavily influenced by Mana, so they could easily tell if someone was dangerous from the Mana they were exuding. Basil had been holding back his Mana. Now that he had unleashed it, Kurdva finally understood the magnitude of the situation.

Basil was fully aware, of course, that intimidation wouldn't work against the hot-blooded, battle-maniac Emperor. Things would have been different if it was a war. Kurdva might give up the fight and choose to preserve his life for his people. It was a simple duel, however, so he wouldn't back up.

It was distasteful losing to someone but it was fine as long as he didn't lose his life. Therefore, he would fight Basil and enjoy every moment of it.

Basil could tell what Kurdva was planning just from looking at the gleam in his eyes. It was something he had expected. He had a simple way to resolve the situation and it made him involuntarily smirk. The brave doesn't lose his fear. His fear is buried deeply in him. To break the brave, one has to only beat him until his fear comes out.

Rawr!

Propelling himself at Basil who was suspended in the air, Kurdva clasped his clawed hands and raised them above his head. He spun his body like a drill at an incredible speed, swirling the air around him.

Basil remained in his place and merely looked at the incoming Kurdva silently. A gigantic sword dropped from the sky a moment before Kurdva reached him, protecting him from Kurdva's attack.

Immediately realizing that he couldn't pierce through the sword, Kurdva stopped spinning and retreated. His mental alarm immediately went off, prompting him to turn around and crossed his hands before him to create a Barrier.

Clank! Clank!

Thousands of swords were flying at him dangerously, aiming for his life. Basil was a few metres away from him, looking at the scene with utmost disinterest. Being a competitive individual, Kurdva hated the scene greatly. He used Wind Magic to propel himself at Basil, still keeping his Barrier active.

It was much to his panic that Basil disappeared like an illusion just a moment before he reached him. He didn't get time to even look around before Basil's powerful kick hit him square in his solar plexus.

Boom!

Kurdva had to grit his teeth to suppress a groan from coming out. As his body was launched away like a football, he wheezed like someone with asthma. Basil's kick was painful. He was used to pain but it still managed to make him cringe.

Proving himself to be worthy of the Emperor title, he quickly regained his posture and stopped his launch. Looking around him vigilantly and spreading his Mana Sense at the same time, he gathered his Mana in his hands. A grin was decorating his face the entire time. He was excited to see where Basil would appear.

"I know you will come at me from the above!"

Looking up, Kurdva met Basil's surprised face. His grin got even wider as he tore the space with his claws. He was sure Basil would be injured since Basil would have no way to dodge it. Alas, it ended up as mere wistful thought. When he saw Basil's faint smirk, he instantly figured out he had messed up.

Whoosh!

A gigantic sword came flying at him from below as soon as 'Basil' disappeared from his view. He hardened the hair covering his body as he turned around and then clamped the tip of the gigantic sword between his armpit. He wanted to take control of it and threw it at Basil in spite. He managed to take control of it quickly enough but he immediately discarded the idea.

Another sword was coming down at him. He ended up throwing the sword that was under his control to the sword that was coming down at him.

"You bastard!"

Swish!

The gigantic sword was thrown as if it was a dart. It cut through the air faster than the one coming down at him. Before the two swords clashed, Kurdva hastily retreat. Proving his instinct to be correct, when the clash happened, a huge explosion occurred.

Kurdva had to focus on defending himself and let his body get blasted away. He remained vigilant but he wished Basil wouldn't suddenly appear behind him like a maniac who wouldn't even care if his attack hurt him.

Alas, what he wished to not happen happened.

Entrusting his safety to his hardened hair, Kurdva turned around and let the shrapnel hit his back to block Kusanagi with his hands. Growling as he held it between his hands, he ignored the fact that it was drawing his blood.

"Crazy bastard. Are you tired of living!?" Kurdva exclaimed furiously.

"My power can't harm me," Basil replied simply.

"Cocky, aren't you?"

"I have proven my statement to be right."

Observing Basil from top to toe, Kurdva found him unscathed. He clicked his tongue in annoyance as he couldn't refute Basil's words.

"You may think I am bluffing, so why don't I show you the proof?"

"Hmph! I am not someone who refuses to believe what I see."

"No, no. I feel the obligation to."

Thinking Basil was messing with him, Kurdva growled and leaned his head forward to gnaw on Basil. He immediately discarded the thought, however, the moment he saw the familiar smirk on Basil's face. He knew Basil was up to something. He found out what it was when he looked into Basil's eyes.

A gigantic sword was coming down on him and it was only a few metres away from his back. He was confident in his speed, so he was sure he still had time to dodge it. As he was about to burst his Mana, the gigantic sword flashed and pierced through his back in the blink of an eye. He was greatly bewildered and he could see his reflection in Basil's eyes.

When he thought about how pathetic he was for losing this way to Basil, his soul was sucked into Basil's eyes. He lost his sense of self for a couple of seconds. When he regained his sense, he found himself sprawled on the ground, looking up at Basil. Immediately heaving a deep breath, he was shocked to find his lungs working perfectly.

Widening his eyes as he understood what had happened, he stood up urgently. He only managed to remain standing for a few seconds before falling on his butt, much to his utter bafflement.

"Your legs haven't healed yet."

"W-What? What happened?"

"I see. It seems the trauma you suffered has made you forget what happened."

"Don't joke with me, brat! I know you used a Bewitchment on me!"

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

"Did I?"

Basil looked into Kurdva's eyes coldly. His golden eyes glinted from time to time, showing his hidden desire to kill Kurdva. For the first time, the way Basil looked at him made Kurdva's breath hitch. It had been quite a while since he felt intimidated.

"I am busy—as I have told you. Why don't we end this duel quickly?"

Kurdva wanted to say the duel had ended in Basil's victory but he couldn't say it eventually. He remained silent and looked at Basil gallantly, doing a good job of hiding his fear.

"Take this," Basil said as he threw a pill of Morning Dew. "It will quickly heal your legs."

Kurdva caught the pill and gulped it immediately.

"Interesting. You didn't even consider me poisoning you as a possibility."

"You wouldn't want your soon-to-be-partner to die, would you?" Kurdva smirked.

"That is a valid point."

When his legs were healed, Kurdva stood straight. Basil let go of Kusanagi, letting it rise into the sky. He gripped the hilt of Durendal which was floating on his left. Kicking the ground, he distanced himself from Kurdva.

"Let us do our best, shall we?"

As soon as Basil said that, Kusanagi stopped rising and the golden cloud created a vortex. Kurdva immediately knew what Basil wanted him to do, so he unleashed his full pressure. He blasted the air around him away. His hair lit up brightly and electricity sparked from time to time.

Boom!

A golden lightning bolt hit the ground near Kurdva. He could feel the fearsome power but he remained unfazed. Spreading his hands to the side, his hair glowed brighter. At the same time, black lightning lashed at the ground nearby.

A fearsomely gigantic lightning bolt hit Kusanagi afterwards. This was the cue for Kurdva to charge at Basil.

Basil held Durendal vertically. He transferred the electricity that Kusanagi stored to Durendal and then swung it at Kurdva who had appeared before him. Golden met black. As the two clashed, their lightning cracked the space and deafened everyone. The air was filled with high-voltage electricity. It could shock anyone in the vicinity to death.

"Grrr…! You are a powerful opponent, Basil!"

"And you are a stupid opponent, Kurdva."

"Fuck!"

Basil fully swung Durendal and a Space Tear made its appearance for a few seconds. When it disappeared, the two different kinds of lightning did too. Kurdva was planted to the ground, having a huge gash on his chest. Basil remained in the air but he also had five claw marks on his chest. He was bleeding but looked way better than Kurdva.

When he dematerialized his Domain, the audience was awakened from their daze. Regardless of whether they had fought in the Great War or not, what they had just witnessed astounded them greatly.