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Chapter 93 – Tainted Soul

As Nelus was waiting for his long sword, Kaikus to absorb the surrounding mana to repair itself, he glanced at the frantic announcer as he then started to speak aloud.

Announcer: I am afraid; the winner of the semi-finals, “Titan Scale Swordmaster” has been killed.

Hearing this sudden announcement, everyone started to yell in frenzy.

???: Inconceivable!! Lord Iatan has the strongest defense of the swordmasters!!

???: He is of the Tarwas race… how and when was he killed!?

???: Yeah… if he really was killed then we would all notice!!

???: Where is his body?

Tarwas race is race of the beings of the earth, when born they resemble a turtle and as they grow they attain a more humanoid form…

Announcer: If he was killed… where is his body… I mean, it would really cause a commotion if he really was killed within this village…

???: That… is…

The man then looks at Keltis as he raised a dark grin which made him tremble uncontrollably he then tries to make excuses which made the announcer even more suspicious of the case, suddenly… a bloodied figure came in from the gates which made the people gasp as well as the Keltis furious…

???: Wait… hahh… hahh… I am… not yet dead!!

The handsome black haired man with green scaled protruding from some parts of his body as he glared furiously at Keltis… he then staggers as he walks towards the inner arena while holding his wounds as blood continually drips from his body… people were staring at him with pale faces as his body was completely covered in blood.

Nelus: (This looks bad… his life energy is fading.)

???: That’s swordmaster Iatan!!!

???: He’s injured…

Announcer: Quickly, call the medics!!!

???: Yes sir!!

The man then ran towards a small gateway inside the arena and as he opened the gate… a smell of blood spread throughout the arena…

???: Everyone has been killed!!!

The audience then started to panic as Keltis seeing this, became amused, his grin then turned to a frown as he looked at Iatan.

Keltis: (I’ll need to kill him quickly; luckily I have this skill…)

Keltis then laughed inwardly as he suddenly disappeared. Nelus who has been paying attention became solemn as a condensed aura appeared on his eyes, invisible to others; it was his God’s Eyes. Status or illusions, nothing can hide when using this ability. What Keltis used was a skill from the sword he was holding.

Mythril Broad Sword, Geldas Type:S Class Metallic WeaponDurability:9291 / 9410Skills:Stealth, Mountain Splitter, Strength+, Speed++, Gash CraterA broad sword made from the mythical metal, mythril. It is said to be extremely durable and hard that only legendary experts can forge it. It is said that the one who created it was a powerful hermit who lives in the mountains who avoided others, he was then slain by Keltis the current owner of the sword and tortured the hermit for wounding him.

Nelus: (I see… stealth…)

In Nelus’ sight, Keltis was rushing towards Iatan without making any sound as his transparent figure drew close, Nelus then disappeared as Tania sighed as it seems she noticed Keltis disappearance while the people were in panic. As Keltis was a few feet from Iatan, he brandished his sword as he slashes down towards him, suddenly, Nelus appeared in front of Keltis while once again grabbing his sword as Nelus eyes glowed a silver like aura looking towards him as if he was seeing him clearly, this made Keltis startled, what Nelus used was Divine Combat Style: Stance 9, Flash Assault.

The audience then notices Nelus’ appearance in front of Iatan as they became silent, Nelus then threw a kick as Keltis tries to block. In his surprise, Nelus’ kick was far more powerful than he expected. He then was blown away towards the center of the arena. Nelus then threw the sword he was holding towards his side as it landed, Keltis’ eyes became bloodshot as his rage was nearing its limits. Iatan seeing Keltis’ appearance then trembled with rage as he then shouted as blood came out from his mouth…

Iatan: That’s the one who tried to kill me!!

Hearing Iatan, the audience became shocked as everyone started murmuring as Keltis then shouted…

Keltis: Hah!! So what if I tried to kill him? I am the strongest swordmaster! As if anyone can stop me from killing whomever I want!!

The audience became silent as most of them were enraged at what Keltis had said, it was also the truth… sadly for a long time, he had become an undefeated figure, by no Altea was already awake and was gritting her teeth as Taln glared at him. Nelus then activated Aqua Rejuvenation towards Iatan as everyone became wide eyed… Nelus… a mysterious figure who suddenly entered the tournament… not only he can wield a metallic weapon but also can use magic… this was the first time the beigns of earth had seen such a thing…

Iatan: Thank you friend…

Iatan, who was at the middle of life and death didn’t mind as instead thanked Nelus, Nelus then used Restore on him healing his mind as well. His life force became stable as his wounds started to heal. Restore isn’t as simple as it is seen, all of the Gods are capable of learning it, not only can it heal the mind but also the soul… though for the Gods it is only a low class magic while handling the soul before they process it for reincarnations.

Keltis: Who are you…?

Nelus: Nelus…

Keltis grinded his teeth as the audience laughed. Keltis then gazes at them as they pursed their lips.

Calice: (Lord Nelus… his soul seems a little off…)

Nelus: (I know…)

Keltis:You are really making me angry… killing you won’t be a problem for someone like me!

Nelus: Can we get on with the challenge?

Everyone then became startled as they were thinking if Nelus was crazy… all of them were familiar with Keltis’ strength that it shouldn’t be underestimated.

Announcer: A-ah yes… for the finals… sadly, Lord Iatan is unable to proceed thus making Lord Nelus the winner! Lord Nelus, do you wish to challenge Lord Keltis?

Nelus: I accept the challenge.

Keltis: Hah! You punk… you DARE!

Keltis then emanated a blackish aura as the air trembled, his eyes became black as his irises became crimson, and his body became bigger as if he was brimming with energy this sudden transformation made the audience tremble in fear as if they were looking at a monster that can slaughter them all… Nelus then came closer to Keltis as he stared at him. He then lifts his sword as Keltis narrowed his eyes as he grinned darkly.

Nelus: (As I thought… a tainted soul…)

Tainted souls are souls filled with sin and corruption, a God can normally suppress it using his link as it is quite infectious… it is a proof that a God has either been killed and the link was lost or that the God has lost control of the land he or she governs.

Keltis: Hahahah!!!! So much power is flowing within me! Do you think you can defeat me now?

Keltis shouted as Nelus remained silent while Taln and Altea were looking at him worriedly, they too felt that something was off as the dark aura felt like it can invade them at anytime.

Altea: (Nelus, please be careful…)

As the announcer signals the start of the match, Keltis rushed towards Nelus as he tried to slice Nelus’ neck. Nelus raises his sword and easily blocks it.

???: So fast…

Keltis: Ho? You managed to block me?

Keltis then grinned as he looks at the people watching us… he then threw his sword as it heads towards a group of people, the nearest where it is headed was towards a woman of the beastmen race.

???: Kyaa!!

Nelus then used flash assault once more and appeared in front of the woman, he then block the sword using Kaikus and deflected it.

Nelus: Are you alright?

???: Ah… yes…

The girl said in a daze as Nelus smiled gently as it quickly grew solemn. Keltis then appeared above them and grabbed his sword Geldas and used the skill Mountan Splitter as the edge of the railing made of stone Nelus was standing on crack and split into two as Nelus then crashes downwards destroying the arena’s wall as a huge hole appeared.

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Taln: Nelus!!

Tania: Stop shouting, father is alright.

Tania said as Taln slightly calms down, the dust then clears up revealing Nelus unscathed. Keltis then snorted as he once again rushed towards Nelus. He slashes at his leg as Nelus blocks it with his sword. Keltis then tries to punch Nelus as he easily dodges. Nelus then returns the punch; Keltis blocks it with his sword as he became wide eyed…

Keltis: (How hard is his fist!?)

Nelus: (I can only use enchantments so…)

Nelus then converted the mana around him as it turns to the wind element; he then covers his body in a sky blue aura. He dashed near Keltis and executed a thrust to his side destroying a part of his armor as he let out a pained howl. He then tries to grab Nelus’ neck as Nelus appeared to his other side and does another thrust, blood spills out from his wounds. Keltis then smiled as his wounds were starting to heal at a very fast rate.

Keltis: Hahahahha!!! Is that all you got?

Keltis said as he charges towards Nelus while readying his stance… unlike Altea he is one of the rare half breed of two beings of different elements so he can only use 50-75% of metallic weapons and pure energy, but that much is enough to be considered formidable just because of his variation which makes him harder to defend against.

Keltis uses a pure skill as pure energy started to emanate from him, he gathers it o the blade of his sword as its edges seems sharper as the wind that makes contact on it seems to split apart. He jumps up and unfolds his wings and dives down towards Nelus he points his swords towards him, trying to use his weight as added force to corner him.

Keltis: Let’s see you handle this!!!

Nelus then pointed his sword upwards towards Keltis as he focuses on his sword. As Keltis came in contact with Nelus a huge explosion occurred as the surrounding ground shatters while pieces of the ground scatter everywhere… everyone became silent as they felt the overbearing power coming from the arena while dust was covering their sight as it floated everywhere… an aura blasted forth sending the dust away as their sight clears…

Nelus: Are you done?

Keltis: I-Impossible…

Everyone became astonished at what they are seeing in the arena… Keltis who was holding his sword remained stationary on the air as if he was frozen while Nelus who was holding Kaikus with one hand blocked the attack completely…

Keltis then felt that the one in front of him was a monster… as his gaze swept over Keltis he felt… fear… for an innumerable amount of years no one can even withstand his attack… more so that he felt that he became much stronger so suddenly… but this man in front of him defied common sense… no matter how much he tries to push him back he remained in his initial position like an immovable mountain… his heartbeat then became faster as hw started to panic.

Keltis then drew up his sword and continued to bombard Nelus with an array of slashes which he parries easily… he then tries to use a skill unique to swordsmen, the profound arts as he readies his stance…

Keltis: (Sky Blade Art: Pure Breaker!!)

Keltis then spun with his torrential slices at Nelus as he blocks it with Kaikus, pure energy started to ripple and intensify as the sword shines an overbearing aura. He releases the sword as took a step backward, he uses the pure energy on the sword to control it and make it thrust itself towards Nelus as Nelus used his sword’s skill Flame Clad as crimson flames erupted from it trying to push back the energy imbued sword. Keltis then charges at him as he punches the handle of the midair sword thrusting towards Nelus. The pure energy inside the sword explodes as the arena was enveloped in a bright light as an explosion once again occurred… The bright light subsides as a crack appeared on Kaikus… seeing this made Keltis ecstatic as he laughed…

Keltis: Too bad for your sword but you forced me to do this!

Nelus: Do you think it is as simple as this?

Keltis: What? You’re just being a sour lo… ser…

Keltis and the others’ jaws drop as the sword fixes itself immediately, no one can explain what has happened…

Altea: His sword… wasn’t it suppose to be on low durability after the intense clashing…? Right now it seemed like it was fully repaired in an instant… that’s just…

Keltis: Unfair… does that mean your sword has… an auto-repair ability!?

???: Eh!? I never heard of a metallic weapon having that kind of ability!!  

???: Normally, the weapon slowly recovers by absorbing the mana in the air…

???: Wait… didn’t he use magic at one time?

???: That’s right… I never heard of someone who can use mana and a metallic weapon at the same time… that must mean…

Nelus: (I used the mana in the air and controlled it to enter the sword directly…)

As the croud became aware of this fact they begun an uproar as well as trying to figure out just who Nelus is…

???: Nelus… I think I there was a messenger that came a night before from the one who circle around the skies of the land of darkness…

???: Oh? Do you mean you know him?

???: If I remember right… he said… “A God has… descended… with Lord Folia and Lord… Genbalt… and the name was… NELUS!!!???

???: A God!? Aren’t they just powerful X ranks?

???: You don’t understand! A rumor has been spreading a bit saying that the God’s are on a whole new realm of power! Even a group of X ranks are nothing to them…

???: You’re joking right?

Hearing them Keltis’ face paled as he looks at Nelus questioningly as Nelus seemed as if he isn’t denying it… Nelus then walks towards him as he backs away… for a few days the news of the battle of the Gods have been spreading because of the beings of the sky effectively spreading it but the case was that no one seemed to believe them but seeing Nelus’ absurd power up close they are starting to believe it…

Keltis: N-no stay back…

Nelus remained silent as he took a step closer Keltis’ face then went ashen as he tries to escape seeing that the situation was against him… Nelus then appeared in front of him and said…

Nelus: Tell me if you can’t handle it. I will stop if you do so.

Nelus then drew his sword as he lifts it up, Keltis then readies himself to block Nelus attack as Nelus supplied his sword, Kaikus, with mana that seemed almost limitless… he then activates flame clad as a pillar of fire as high as if a mountain appeared. It was as if  Nelus was readying for Keltis’ execution. Nelus then slashes the towering pillar of fire as Keltis quickly blocks it… the ground beneath him fell into ruins as half of his body sinks down, his mythril sword was starting to crack as its durability was quickly diminishing. He then looks at Nelus with tremendous fright as all colors of his face was drained out.

Keltis: Staaahhh… (I can’t breathe… I can’t say a word… the flames kept sucking in the air around me… I can’t speak!?)

The cracking kept spreading on his sword as cold sweat kept appearing… he wanted to tell Nelus to stop but he was unable to do so… as the durability of his sword reaches rock bottom, the sword shatters as the pillar of flame completely engulfs him leaving only a black sphere on his ashes…

Keltis: (Gaaaaahhhh!!!)

Nelus: (There is no saving your soul…)

Nelus then approaches the soul as to his surprise it disappears… he then sighed as he felt a familiar signature…

On ???’s side…

???: Geez! Folia’s one thing, now I need to handle all the tainted souls…

She then sighed as a black sphere appeared on her hands as it shatters to a hundred fragments as it dissolves into the air…

???: Please bring back Genbalt as soon as possible, Lord Nebulus.

She said as she looks down on the land of earth while governing it temporarily. She has black eyes with a hint of Gold emanating from it, black hair with golden linings, beauty that is average among Gods yet has a profound attraction emanating from her, she has a slender body while wearing a dignified golden open-shoulder dress with dull metallic like luster and despite her gentle gaze there seems to be a cold light coming from it… it was none other than the Goddess of Law and Order, Murix.

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Hope you enjoyed this chapter! :-)