Chapter 142
In the center of the vast, empty cave sat a throne made of rough stone. Perched upon it was a colossal Tenebris, towering at least ten feet tall, his gaze fixed upon us. He was encased in impenetrable black armor, radiating an aura of immense power.
At his side rested his weapon of choice, an Odachi sword that matched his own imposing size. His eyes, initially filled with a chilling boredom, suggested he had only just been awakened from a long slumber.
In the blink of an eye, those eyes ignited with a fiery red intensity. He locked eyes with Cypher and offered a subtle, unnerving smile.
Meanwhile, I silently retreated to the side, knowing that this was Cypher’s fight. I only joined him merely to observe and to intervene if the situation took a turn for the worse.
From the system shop, I bought a bucket of popcorn and settled in to watch the scene unfold. I couldn’t help but be amazed. It was as if I was watching a live-action adaptation of my own creation. This was the scene I had written, the battle I had envisioned, playing out right before my eyes.
The tension in the air was palpable. The two swordsman seemed to recognize the strength within each other.
"You... You have an interesting aura," Tenebris said, his voice a deep rumble that sent a chilling wind swirling through the room.
Cypher’s face betrayed a hint of nervousness. A monster capable of speaking human language was a clear sign that this was no ordinary foe. Even in the reality of this world, Elite rank monsters and above possessed intelligence on par with humans. Still, speech was still primarily limited to humanoid monsters.
"..." Cypher remained silent, his hand tightening around the grip of his sword.
Tenebris slowly rose from his throne. As his hand closed around the hilt of his Odachi, the massive sword vibrated, emitting a crimson glow. "If you’re ready, come at me," he said, pointing the tip of his sword towards Cypher.
"You can do this, Cypher. I’ll support you from the side," I encouraged him, hoping to bolster his confidence as he stepped closer to Tenebris.