Dusk.

It was the short moment between day and night. When Solaris sank in the west, the twin goddesses would ascend to the sky and shine a protective light that kept everyone safe in their sleeps.

However - dusk is when the transition between light and darkness occurred. It is where the 'gray' side surfaced and the line between black as well white blurred.

And in the middle of nowhere, I propelled myself forward, cutting apart knights like a raging storm.

"Wh...y...!?" A knight shouted as his hands were severed.

I delivered the finishing blow with a decapitation. Ruthlessly. I swayed to dodge a sword thrust and grabbed the outstretched arm to push the armored enemy for a friendly fire. Once his steps faltered, I swept his legs, throwing him down and stabbed into the gap of visor, finishing him off.

"Last of it." I noted as I pulled out the sword glistening with deep scarlet stains, ignoring the blood covering my dress, and the visible trembling of my last victim fading away.

Dead bodies were scattered across the battlefield. The scent of rust permeating intensely that it nauseated me, and hands that begged for mercy were bent upward.

Among the scattered corpses, the vultures flying high in the sky, and the weapons that I destroyed continuously...

"Gh...! Ghaaa! YooOOoOoOOOUUU!!"

One suffering soul was in my sight.

Holding a white sword that transformed his body into that of a monster, the man sluggishly stepped forward. With abandon, he leaped forward and slashed down like a lightning from the heaven.

*CLANG!* The swords sang before I shifted my center of gravity and parried the bone-crushing attack. Meeting gaze with the knight that had his helmet broken and revealing his handsome... yet twisted facial, I singlehandedly cut his fingers, wrist, the nerves, and his entire arm all the way to the shoulder.

"Gh...! Gwoooohhh!!"

The Royal Knight roared. I walked past him but sensing the wind’s change, I ducked.

*WHOOSH!!* The mutated arm the size of a long-limbed ogre swung widely. Ignoring the wounds or spraying blood, I was showered by the red rain that sapped my strength the more they touched me.

Even so, I repositioned Radiata parallel to my sight. Spinning in place, with a boost of aura, I struck the knight at the side - thus sending him flying across the field.

Unfortunately, he crash landed on corpses of his comrades. Even more, he quickly recovered while pummeling them with his monstrous arms. It wasn't pleasant to hear flesh, internal organs and bones pounded like that, much less seeing it happening in front of me.

"......you know nothing about when to give up huh?" I gazed at Orleans with pity.

He huffed. He grunted. He growled. Any trace of sanity at complete loss in his light blue eyes as he launched himself forward.

Simple attack. Lagnaris drawn. Aim: vital area of heart. Objective: soul furnace (heart).

Like a whisper entering my ears, memories opened up and transmitted my enemy's thought. I nodded as I stepped aside from the obvious frontal charge and slashed the right arm once again.

Yet it spewed white smokes, the wounds hastily closing up. Damn it... this won't end at this rate.

'Of course. Because Lagnaris is using his life force to make sure his body remained usable.'

Eh... this again. I almost rolled my eyes had I not been in a deadlock with the Royal Knight. Seriously, you have the timing to upgrade your rank into 'speaking relic,' Radiata.

'Why do I have to care? Almost all Relics can speak, and I have memories that spanned millions cycle of life. You best not underestimate your elder, girl.'

Gah. And he sounded like a condescending old man! I didn't ask for Takeru Mk. II!!

'Silence! Do not compare me with that cynical masochist!!'

Maso—*SWISH!*—uwah!?

"That... that was close, dammit!!" I yelled as I scurried a few dozen meters away from Orleans' range.

However, that annoying Lagnaris just had to glow repeatedly. As if it was laughing at me.

'This noisy fake... What a child when you can only do so much.'

Ah, un... I don't get it but do you dislike that thing?

'Of course! A Lagnaris is always seen hunting my users!! In fact, it never stopped appearing even though most of them committed suicide so as not to have their Soul Essence be drained!!'

That's... quite harsh. So they're just that strong to even force Iris choosing suicide.

"Then, is there any tip to defeat them?"

'There is.'

Huh?!

'Don't get it wrong. That idiotic human has a limit in using Lagnaris. No matter what, it's not something a living being should touch since it drains your life force when in prolonged contact.'

So... it's no use if one wasn't an immortal or a Homunculus like Fei?

'Indeed. Also, pay attention to it.'

Hmm...? I closely stared at the Lagnaris while weaving about to avoid the relentless attacks.

'It's a mere blade. And it even exposed itself by forcing fusion with the human. As long as you destroy the sword...'

"...I can beat him. But what about Sir Orleans?"

'He is of no concern. Do not be so naive that there is a way to save everyone. You have...'

"Killed his army… right, fine."

I stared dead center at my last opponent. He was getting frustrated that he didn't deliver fatal damage on me so his figure became even bulkier. I'm impressed he could still run and jump like a superhuman but he's way too easy to hit.

What scary is... I could shrug off the guilt of killing this time. It seems that the vast combat experiences are already dulling my common senses as a reincarnated person from Earth.

At this rate, I'm going to be a cold blooded mass murderer. I don't want to be like that.

"...it really can't be helped." I exhaled as I turned my glare on the white sword. "Let's get this done with. Fast."

I didn't wait for one second to enter his range. Although my sudden movement surprised him, the Royal Knight swung down his white sword to crush me.

I dodged by stepping aside, and the earth was cleaved instead. Pieces of rocks flew everywhere at the frightening display of raw power but I ignored them.

I don't care what he will cause. Just aim and attack. Attack and respond. Attack and...

"Kill!" I slashed Orleans' side once. A diagonal wound opened and sprayed blood as a result.

The Royal Knight howled. Even so, he didn't flinch, much less shying away. He swung Lagnaris as if rebounding it from the ground but I jumped and landed on the pristine white blade.

Crane Stance. Used by Blade Dancers. Specializing in controlling the flow of blades, flexibility and stability.

"Radiata."

'Strike it. Break it with all you've got.'

I reversed my grip over the Relixia Arma. The sword glowed with golden luster that seemed as if it came from the dusk itself. But I didn't stop at unleashing the sword's might.

I poured mana and aura to the maximum limits I could exert. I felt my energy being drained while my heart heightened its pace several folds. My blood running extremely hot and I could hear my entire muscles straining themselves beyond the limit.

"Seventh Step...!" Even so, ignoring all the repercussions that I've had, and all that I will receive...

I slammed the blade with all my might at the Lagnaris!

"......!?"

Orleans ripped open his mouth as a wordless scream burst out from it. Sparks scattered and his veins seemed to convulse to a disgusting degree.

In the midst of it all, I heard a faint sound of cracking like glass breaking. Beyond the orange sparks that seemed like the cries of the cursed weapon, I noticed a speck of 'wound' staining the white blade slowly, reducing the annoying black hazes tremendously.

'Dodge!'

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

It was then that I nearly missed the knight's other arm lunging at me. Unfortunately, all I could do was to block it and get blown away very far.

"Agh...! Gah!" I bounced off the ground several times before finally stopping.

Hacking out blood, my already exhausted body acquired additional damage that I smirked. Damn it, what the hell is wrong with me...?

'You were careless.'

"Shut... up... at least I'm alive..."

'Then get up and fight. He's coming.'

I clicked my tongue and darted to the right. At once, the sword that blasted the ground sent strong wind as well as aftershock that carried me through the hard ground. My body ached all over but it was manageable.

I can still fight...!

"Haaaaa!!" I ran and struck the Lagnaris.

"Grhaaaaaa!!" Orleans responded with an angry yell and a wide slash to the side which I avoided in the last second.

Skidding under the giant flailing arm, I stomped the ground, leaping and cutting his other arm into pieces. Pieces of flesh, bones and blood splattered all over as I intruded through them and cut apart his left leg before stepping away from a counter attack.

"RRAAAAAAAAAAAGGGH!!"

A sudden booming sound. My instinct put my body to steer away widely that I couldn't make up what knocked me out for an instance.

Before I knew it, I was lying down, my left side growing numb as the urge to vomit outweighed my control. The ground turned red in no time and a chill ran down my spine.

I flipped to the right, avoiding another earth shattering pound. I propelled my legs to back away only to wince as I found one of them bleeding heavily.

'Damn. You're way weaker than even Iris when she's drunk.'

Shut up! I don't need you to remind me!! Just tell me what to do now!

'Then strengthen yourself again.'

Ugh... I think I'm going to go comatose if I do it again. Can't be helped.

"...Reinforce." I whispered as I got a hold of my body fully once again.

'Attack like when you fought Bravzgaim.'

How did you... gah, screw it! "You've got some questions waiting after I'm done here!"

"OOOOOOOOOOO!!"

The blades suddenly crisscrossed. I caught the trajectory clearly in my eyes so I proceeded to hit at the place he's about to hit, canceling the attack altogether.

Once. Twice. Thrice. The count multiplied in minutes that only flashes of light seemingly surrounding us.

*BANG!* Radiata deflected Lagnaris squarely. This time, the knock back even forced Orleans to flinch and I delivered a clean cut on his abdomen.

"Gh...!?"

"Not done yet!!"

Adapting to his recklessness, following in suite, smoothly anticipating his every move with my own. The longer we fought, the more I inflicted damage and the more frequent Orleans healed himself. Every memory taught me how to strike, how to refine my efficiency, how to avoid death in a split second.

Again and again and again. Stopping at nothing. Waiting for nothing. Engage until one of us goes down.

It was war of attrition at the finest.

"Grrh...! DIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!"

And suddenly, Orleans roared.

'Now!'

When I heard Radiata's shout, Orleans thrust Lagnaris forward. It was like an arbalest being shot, the air booming while wind was torn in halves by the speedy stabbing motion.

My reflex kicked in along with my desire to dodge the certain-kill attack. I swung my body to the right side, letting the white sword grazing past me but...

The moment the sword stabbed all the way to the limit, the entire Sword Breaker shattered into million pieces. Along with the roaring winds, I heard something unpleasant coming from my left side and red sprayed at the corner of my vision.

'Don't stop! Move!!'

I gritted my teeth. Don't look back. Don't hesitate. Look ahead of you. Fight!!

*BANG!* I smashed Radiata at Orleans' right hand. The hand cracked together with the white armor as I once again slashed at the wrist.

“Ngh…….!?” Orleans swallowed down his pain as the hand holding Lagnaris slowly bent away, hanging like a thread about to be cut by a scissor.

Then I drew my blade and struck the Fake Relic.

*CRACK!* A large wound appeared, distorting the pristine and abnormally elegant weapon. At the same time, my entire body was screaming in pain as I felt as if my left side was being placed right next to a melting pot.

"YooOOoOoOOOUUU!!"

I heard a roar. I ducked down to avoid a flailing left arm. Lagnaris was pulled as Orleans tried to make for some distance but!

"You won't escape!!" I yelled and rushed, cutting the distance to slash the Lagnaris as well as Orleans' hand.

"GRAAAAAAAAAHHH!!"

It was then that the wind changed direction. I sensed a leapt of murderous intent with my entire body as if a siren blared inside my head.

I stepped back – and the ground vanished.

"Wh...!?"

'Run!'

I didn't hesitate to do that but I couldn't expose my back. With another backward leap of faith, I avoided the sudden cave-in of the grounds I stepped on a moment ago, realizing it was not a simple sudden disappearance of the earth.

It was him. Orleans was swinging Lagnaris in a blinding speed repeatedly on one spot. He tried to take away my feet and when I dodged - the ground was gouged cleanly in exchange.

"R-ridiculous...!" I almost entered a case of heart attack had my noisy Relixia Arma not yelled at me.

'Just shut up and focus! It's not like his body could withstand the strains produced!!'

True to his words, Orleans' body convulsed. He grunted and groaned as his muscles showed patterns of veins that began to pop one after another.

It was disgusting. Already a monster, losing moral and logic, and his body was breaking down while he fought like a madman.

"GHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"

And he charged, sword slashing down.

"........."

I dodged. I avoided and inflicted more wounds that couldn't regenerate on time.

'He's crumbling soon. Give him mercy already.'

I breathed in. I exhaled. Shifting my posture as I dodged another earth shattering pummeling, I measured everything that I've gathered so far. I know that already, Radiata.

"That's why, give me all you've got."

The Relixia Arma shone with golden brilliance. Holding the sword tightly with one hand, I knew that the output would be reduced.

Even so, I don't have much left. My left arm seems to be mangled. My left eye was blurry. My legs wanted to give out if given the slightest chance to rest.

And my heart beats faster and faster, telling me that I've long exceeded my limits.

"Draconic Swordstyle..."

I lowered my waist, raised Radiata to an eye level. At the same time, Orleans lunged forward toward me.

"Seventh Step."

I kicked off the ground - and I thrust my sword forward.

"White Dragon's Flight!"

*BOOM!* Once the swords struck each other, a blinding white explosion unfolded.

Everything was shredded. Everything was torn in pieces. The ground became dry and burning chasm as the air seemed to have boiled over. Smokes enveloped the battlefield where carcasses and steel lied on top of each other--

"RRGGGHAAAAA!!"

There emerged the monstrous being, his Lagnaris worn out and his body lost a third of his body. His head shaking as his legs staggered just to stand straight.

"Blade Arts—"

The Royal Knight snapped his eyes to look bask. Reflected in his reddened eyes...

"Moonlight Arc!"

A brilliant line of light flashed in the image of the lunar satellite. Blinding the world, the golden crescent light severed the white sword into two.

----------------------------------------

----------------------------------------

A/N: And... well...? I guess that does it. Hah, yet again, I did something ridiculous. Really, now, how much more will it cost you to not be reckless, Charlotte?