Chapter 161 : Chapter 161
Chapter 161 - Before the Dawn Breaks (1)
Collaborate with Salvatio and Akmandar to dispose of Rain Enlight.
When the 'Knight Executioner,' Grændal, first received such an order, he couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt inwardly.
It was true that the boy had shown an extraordinary path until now, but from his own experience, he had concluded that Rain Enlight's combat power itself was insignificant.
Grændal had faced Rain before during the academy raid. It was only for a few exchanges in a very short moment.
Certainly, the fact that he used his wits to buy time against him, who had an overwhelmingly superior skill level, was a factor that confirmed his potential.
Perhaps even a knight who had properly accumulated experience on the front lines would find it difficult to do so.
However, in other words, it also suggested that despite such potential, there was an insurmountable wall between the two.
It meant that if he didn't display a flash of wit, he wouldn't even be a match.
‘One of the three would have been enough.’
Well, he might have grown compared to the battle back then. Such a counterargument could be raised, but…… it was only a short period of a few months.
Even if he were a heaven-sent prodigy, there was a limit to how much one could grow in such a short time.
-Although Grændal held such thoughts, he did not express any doubts or disagreements about the directive.
After all, wasn't it a mission given to him by 'the One'?
Surely there must be some intention that he could not fathom, Grændal persuaded himself.
However, Grændal's thought that an excessive amount of force was being poured in remained unchanged, and this was the same when he faced Rain Enlight again.
‘He seems to have grown remarkably in a short time…… but it's still not enough.’
The sight of him barely managing to pursue him as he moved at a pace slow enough to make one yawn, and the sight of him barely responding to the first attack.
A skilled knight can see through an attacker's level with just a single thrust. And, this applied to Grændal as well.
From his perspective, Rain Enlight was not even enough to face him alone.
Let alone three warriors of a similar level to himself. There was a limit to overinvestment.
Surely, he had thought so…….
Swoosh-
“……!”
In the second exchange with Rain Enlight that followed immediately after, Grændal couldn't help but feel something was off.
‘He perfectly deflected my sword strike on the first encounter.’
A strike of gentleness disguised as an attack of strength. This was a technique that represented Grændal's unique, logic-defying skill, and it was also his essence.
And yet, to have perfectly deflected such a technique despite the disadvantage of it being the first encounter.
“……The atmosphere has changed.”
Grændal, who had glimpsed the result just before the swords clashed, muttered softly, because the boy's momentum had completely changed compared to just a few seconds ago.
The confused eyes filled with bewilderment were gone, and in their place was a swordsman who put his soul into every single sword strike.
Whoosh-!
And as a result of that exchange, Grændal's sword swung wide and spun in the air.
That alone was an achievement that would have surprised anyone, but the boy didn't stop.
Dash-!
The sight of him deflecting Grændal's sword and, at the same time, running in the opposite direction without hesitation.
No hesitation could be felt in the boy's eyes.
As if everything before his eyes was clear, he just moved forward to execute the next plan.
At that point, Grændal would have realized.
That his judgment was wrong.
And that The One was right.
‘This kid is dangerous.’
He didn't know what had happened, but in an instant, not only his judgment but also his physical abilities and skills had exploded.
Even considering that the boy had a skill that increased his physical abilities, it was even more so.
It was reminiscent of a scene where a monster breaks out of a hard egg.
“We must not let him get away-!!”
For this reason, Grændal shouted loudly with such urgency.
He must be buried here. Otherwise, he will become a great source of trouble later on.
He must be buried right here.
With a judgment that was infinitely close to that truth.
Fwaat-!
As if reflecting Grændal's shout, Akmandar's spirit arrows rose with a brilliant momentum.
The target was one, the boy's life.
***
After temporarily removing Grændal from the battlefield, the next thing to deal with was Akmandar's spirit arrows.
In addition to deflecting the dozens of spirit arrows in the shape of eagles without taking a fatal blow, I had an additional goal.
First, to return as many arrows as possible to Akmandar with the ability of 『Spellbinder』.
Second, at the same time, to move in the opposite direction of Grændal and get away from him.
And to approach Salvatio, who was on the opposite side of Grændal.
Yes, I'll admit it. This was a goal that was almost impossible.
To deflect the attack of an enemy at a far higher level than me at a perfect angle, and on top of that, to move at high speed.
Akmandar, the main opponent, was not the type to go easy on the weak. It was probably an attack close to his full power.
Considering that, this was a goal closer to a feat or a divine skill than combat.
I knew. I knew damn well. That even if I died and died over a thousand times, it would be a long shot to achieve that goal perfectly.
It was my wretched body, and my ambiguous talent. Such a cruel fate.
……But, what of it.
Whether my body was born with a wretched fate, or whether I was in a miserable destiny.
What of it.
I take a step.
I move forward.
I catch my breath.
I stomp my feet to move as long as I'm alive.
And. I never stop.
‘……Is that it.’
I saw the path.
My vision, which had been darkly closed in over a thousand regressions, opened up wide.
I could see the flying arrows as if time had slowed down, and I could see the trajectory the arrows would take as if I were seeing the future.
Kagagak-!
And, my 『Spellbinder』 and the first spirit arrow clashed.
Fast, heavy, and deadly.
At the first clash, I thought.
Do I have to deflect such an attack more than 40 times from now on?
It might have been the harbinger of despair. My perception might have been looking at despair.
However.
-The body that has crossed the line of death over a thousand times, transcends perception.
Kaaang-!!
The first spirit arrow I parried returns to Akmandar in a precise trajectory.
Shwaaak-!
With a short interval in the decimal unit, countless arrows fly in.
Kang-!
Second shot, I deflect it. I send it back at a perfect angle.
Kaaang-!
Third, fourth, fifth, I see the point where they converge into a single line. I slash that line precisely and send it flying back.
Kang, Kang, Kang-!
I deflect, I send back.
I deflect, I send back.
I deflect, I send back.
Tukwaak-!
“……!”
An arrow I failed to deal with pierces my shoulder and side.
Blood spurts out. My body screams from the direct hit.
Nevertheless, I do not stop walking.
Kang-!
Again.
I deflect, I send back.
Kaaang-!
I deflect, I send back.
It was a goal so simple and clear that it made me laugh dryly. That was all.
“Hyaaaaaa-!!”
The voice I let out while repeating that series of movements was a shout closer to a scream than a kiai.
Because I was weak, I needed at least that pathetic scream to shake off all that pain and fear.
Kang-
Kang-
Kang-!
I swing my sword, I run, I swing my sword, and I run again.
“What, in the world, is this……!”
In the midst of repeating that in a daze, I thought I faintly heard Akmandar's voice, unable to hide his astonishment.
The guy who had maintained his composure in any situation. Such a flustered voice.
And.
Whoosh-!
When I looked up at the sky as my sword cut through the air.
Faaat-
I could see the brilliant sight of all the arrows I had deflected flying towards my enemy.
“……Ha, ha…….”
In that scenery, I let out a small, dry laugh.
Were these hateful arrows always this beautiful and shining?
That was the reason such a useless thought came to mind.
Kagagagagak-!!
Immediately after, the rain of deflected arrows covered the spot where the originator of the spirit art had been, and a large cloud of dust rose.
‘He probably won't be able to participate in the battle for the next few seconds.’
It might be seen as a futile achievement for a struggle with all my soul…… but that was enough.
It was also true that it wasn't the end.
It was a given. There were still enemies left.
***
Despite his body being a wreck from the attacks he failed to deflect, Rain continued to run forward.
In the opposite direction of Grændal, and towards the direction where Salvatio was.
“Haha, yes! It wouldn't be rewarding if you didn't struggle that much!!”
The modulated voice of the man in armor resounded through the night forest.
Thump-
It was a word shouted by Salvatio as he readjusted his stance upon seeing the rushing Rain.
Despite being covered in blood, without fear, and on the verge of success, without excitement, Rain's thoughts spun rapidly.
‘The original purpose was to threaten with 『Fortress Kill』 and then retreat.’
As recalled from the fight with Vargas, armored figures were rare in the world of 『Arche』.
Armor was a negative factor that only hindered the movement of most knights or humanoid enemies based on physical strength,
and considering that most of those enemies had durability far exceeding that of a normal human as a baseline, the benefits were few.
To go so far as to use armor despite the penalty, meant that there was a clear problem with the body's durability.
Salvatio was the same, and Rain knew that from his experience in <Arche>.
Therefore, Salvatio would be wary of 『Fortress Kill』. It was a given that our side's resources were all known to the enemy. It was almost certain.
He would be overly cautious of the artifact that targeted his only weakness, so I thought I would take advantage of that excessive caution to escape…….
Suddenly, such a question came to Rain's mind.
‘Is that really enough?’
Can I be satisfied with just that?
It was a funny question, even if it was unconscious. In a situation where I'm desperate to survive, to ask if I'm satisfied, if it's enough.
But Rain's inner self answered.
‘No.’
What kind of pain have I received from them until now.
What kind of contempt have I received in those numerous deaths.
To end it with just that?
‘I can't accept it……!’
It was anger. Anger stemming from a terrible and deep-seated grudge.
I want to harm the opponent by any means necessary.
Anger gave birth to such a desire, and desire, in turn, gave birth to inspiration.
The inspiration to think of the most effective way to wound the target.