Chapter 134 – The Half-Elf With Eyes of Red (2)
Burning the forest.
It wasn’t easy, even for me. I knew all too well what the forest meant to the elves.
However,
‘It’s wrong to harm others just because you’ve been hurt.’
The elves had set fire to the dwarves’ warehouses, which was their everything. Such actions were something humans, full of malicious intent, would do.
And,
‘At the center of it all is the half-elf with eyes of red.’
Creak! Creeeeak!
Still locked in combat, I stared intently at my opponent. There were a lot more half-elves across the continent than you might expect.
It was the legacy of humans recklessly enslaving elves in the past, leading to the birth of many mixed-bloods.
However, as far as I knew, there was only one half-elf with such striking silver hair and those ominous red eyes.
“Erina, the Swordsman of Slaughter. You were still alive?”
“......!”
In that instant, her crimson eyes glinted with a murderous light.
Bingo.
Swish!
I rolled swiftly to the ground. A crimson slash streaked past where my head had been just moments ago.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
More strikes followed in rapid succession.
It was hard to believe that such a massive blade could be so quick.
The sword’s edge was razor-sharp, its aura unbearably heavy. A perfect trinity of speed, precision, and destructive power.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Gritting my teeth, I blocked the incoming strikes. I parried every blow with a dwarven sword.
And so, we clashed once more.
“You...... Blocked even that?”
Erina’s pupils widened in shock.
She had unleashed a strike meant to kill, yet here I was, a mere child, neither dodging nor faltering, but deflecting every blow.
‘Honestly, I feel like I’m about to die, you pointy-eared bastard.’
With every strike she unleashed, a deafening ‘Boom!’ resounded in my ears.
My young, fragile body couldn’t fully withstand the shockwaves. Even so, I had one thing to rely on.
‘I’m not alone anymore.’
The moment that thought crossed my mind.
“You brat!”
Shwip!
As the blades flew toward her from both sides, Erina leapt gracefully into the air.
In mere moments, Marquis Foltaine and Duke Serin were standing reliably by my side.
Even Bolt, who had been frozen in place behind me, let out a relieved sigh.
Hummm!
Suddenly, a deep, resonant hum filled the air. The most oppressive bloodlust I had ever felt radiated outward.
‘Danger!’
An alarm blared in my mind.
Tremendous mana swirled around Erina’s massive greatsword.
The red-eyed elf took a steadying breath.
Slaaash!
Sensing the imminent threat, the three of us simultaneously struck toward Erina. The best measure of defense is prevention!
Clang!
“......!”
But that monster fended us all off with a single swing.
Flash!
Then, with just one slender arm, she hoisted her enormous greatsword high into the air.
The wild mana condensed and condensed on that sword, and—
Boom!
She brought it crashing down onto the ground.
-Die, all of you.
It was as if the voice of a madman echoed in my ears.
Craaaack!
The earth quaked violently, fissures forming everywhere. Fragments of shattered ground erupted skyward, each piece ensnared by the murderous aura.
Fwooosh!
One by one, the fragments were engulfed in crimson flames.
Meteor Shower.
The signature move of the ‘Swordsman of Slaughter’.
Crash!
“......!”
As if that weren’t enough, Erina’s other hand, now free of her sword, stretched toward the knights. The air around us twisted violently, shimmering like a heatwave.
“Shockwave.”
‘Who could predict the flow of nature and deflect every petal in a storm?’
The Third Chapter of the Illusory Dance: Blossom Rain.
Clang! Clang-clang-clang!
Swords clashed in relentless exchange, neither side giving an inch.
Swish! Swish!
Duke Serin wasn’t idle, his rapier darting like a serpent, probing Erina’s blind spots. It was a situation where a single mistake could cost you your life.
But then—
“......!”
Amidst the pandemonium, I caught sight of something through the rainbows refracted by dissipating flames.
Another rainbow—artificial yet familiar.
‘......Ah, you were with me all along.’
A faint smile tugged at my lips.
The one-handed Illusory Dance, a technique I’d hoped to give to that person.
But now, they were performing their own beautiful choreography with a single sword.
‘I’m coming, my lord.’
‘Yes, come.’
Our gazes met, and unspoken resolve passed between us.
Just like in the past. My old comrade, whose next move I could predict just by looking at his expression.
Without a sound, their blade struck.
“......!”
Slash!
The half-elf whipped around, even offering to sacrifice Erina recoiled, strands of her silver hair severed as she narrowly avoided the strike.
“Where do you think you’re going......!?”
Claaang!
A powerful uppercut.
Slash!
Simultaneously, the other arm of my ally, Trevor—his prosthetic arm—rose up.
“......!”
Erina’s smirk faltered for the first time, as her hand failed to register the familiar resistance of flesh.
‘That’s right. It’s a prosthetic.’
Screech!
Free from physical pain, Trevor’s blade didn’t waver. Erina, sensing danger, redirected her swing.
Ca-clang!
Her blade barely managed to deflect Trevor’s, grazing her cheek. Fury painted her face just as I saw it—the singular, clearest path between us.
Slash!
“Ahhhh!”
Finally, a monster-like scream burst from a half-elf.
My most precise and devastating strike of this lifetime had severed her flesh. It was the shortest line I’ve ever drawn in this life.
“Urgh......”
A pained groan followed, her left arm dangling by a thread, white bone exposed through a grievous wound.
“You maimed one of my precious comrades. It’s only fair if you repay in kind.”
“......!”
Trevor offered me a faint smile, wordlessly affirming our coordination honed through countless battles.
Thunk.
By then, Marquis Foltaine and Duke Serin had Erina pinned. One blade pressed against her throat, the other poised at her heart.
“Halt!”
The marquis roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
“......!”
Every fighter froze, turning to face us.
“E-Erina?”
The elves’ faces were painted with disbelief as they gazed at her restrained figure.
“I don’t usually take hostages, but if you insist on continuing...... I’ll start by severing her neck.”
“Keep fighting! Don’t worry about me......!”
Slap!
I silenced her with a sharp slap.
“The defeated have no say.”
“......!”
Trevor stepped forward with a smirk.
“I’ll take care of the prisoner.”
“How do you feel?” I asked.
“......Pardon?”
“This must be the first time, in that body, that you’ve fought and defeated a monster like this.”
Trevor froze briefly, his eyebrows twitching before his lips curled into a radiant smile.
“I feel alive for the first time in ages.”
At that, I allowed myself a faint grin as well. That’s good enough, then.
* * *