There was no signal.
We moved forward. I drew two Obsidian Swords besides me and sped up like a bullet. I didn’t even hesitate to cast Reinforce – a spell entirely built to strengthen my body to the limit – for the second time and now, brimming with power, I lashed out a wide slash from the right at Bavzgaim.
There was a collision of metal. The enemy’s claws were sharper than razor and glistening with pale black color the moment my sword met them head-on. As if the monster possessed swords as extensions of his limbs.
The other sword was swung. Aiming at the right side and it was deflected with his right arm. He aimed it to stab at me, his claws straightened like a massive bastard sword, causing me to quickly side-step and let the claws dug into the ground.
A still smile was permeating on my face while I hopped on the extended arm and ran straight to Bravzgaim’s shoulder. The monster obviously noticed my aim. His left claws were ready to slap me off his body but—
“Too slow!”
I leaped from the arm, avoiding the claws but as I was floating in midair, I was also spinning to the right side. In front of Bravzgaim whose arms were already occupied with his last commands, I immediately launched an attack.
“Rapid Claws!!”
As if the blades of winds taken shapes, flashes of black tore the air and struck the monster squarely. At the head. At the shoulders. At the arm he used to defend his face. And then at his bulky body.
Blood sprayed. The silvery-black furs were tainted with red. The air instantly turned cold as ice as maddening killing intention accompanied with angry howl surfaced.
The damages I’ve done varied. I’ve delivered twenty-four deep stabs within several moments and yet the signs of my enemy weakening never appeared. Not to mention I failed to hit a critical hit despite my sure-kill aim.
Landing on the ground, I swiftly retreated before a furious set of claws pierced the grounds. And—a sudden uppercut blew through the dust, striking me.
“Gah……!!” I was flung away. The impact alone was absorbed by the swords which were readied in the nick of time but the aftershock including the impact was enough to destroy them and blasted my body like a ball.
I landed on the ground and rolled before recovering while picking out a Long Sword and a Short-Sword. “Nn…not… yet!! I’m not done yet!!”
I dashed forward. The King of the Mountain roared, towering as a menace with his claws fully prepared to intercept my movements. Also to finish me off but the moment he swung down his right arm—I took a huge leap by exploding a large amount of mana under my feet.
Just like how jet fighters received sudden acceleration due to the thrusters, I suddenly arrived in front of the seven meters tall monster and instantly slashed at him.
Sixth Step—Dragon Bite.
A double cross slash carved straight at the torso. I sensed the flesh being sliced but I knew all too well that it was shallow enough to allow me to expect it beforehand. Therefore, once the skill ended, I pivoted in place and sent out another technique.
First Step—Tail Smash.
With a wide swing of swords, combined with my current speed and the boost of inertia acquired, both the Long Sword and the Short-Sword embedded in Bravzgaim’s side. I let them go and retrieved a sword nearby as quickly as possible to deliver additional damage.
Third Step—Soaring Fang.
Propelling myself upward, a gash of wound was given to the monster. In tremendous pains and anger he howled, with blood profusely splashing but he was distracted. The moment I was in the air, climbing his burly body with ease……
Fourth Step—Falling Talon Revised.
I pointed the blade at Bravzgaim. Like a falling arrow, I straightened my body and aimed for a spot while I ‘kicked’ the air with a large dose of mana enough to create explosive sound. The moment I sped up, I thrust the sword down and…
“Gha—GRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR?!!!!”
A vision was stolen. The last eye of the monster was destroyed as the sword embedded itself in the eye socket. I wanted to press further to bring his end but he swayed violently and the long arm of his knocked both the sword and me away.
“Gaaaahh!?”
*shatter* I glimpsed the sword broke apart in tiny fragments. My body which was enhanced with hybrid technique by the combination of mana and aura racking in throbbing pains. My nose kissed the ground several times and I even tasted the dry, tasteless dirt for several occasions.
“Gah… Agh…! Ngh!” I vomited blood as I shakily recovered at all fours.
However—I stood up. I spat out blood, feeling a few of my bones cracking but still capable enough to support me in this duel! Thus I picked two swords and looked at my enemy.
“Oww… You… you really don’t have an attitude in treating a girl, huh…?”
Oddly enough, I shivered. What did I feel that time? It was in fact, a simple thing for I have started to adapt with the intense pressure this guy had been giving off for a while. That was why I shuddered.
For the magnitude of murderous intent had quadrupled to unimaginable height.
I took a step back. And it showed how idiotic I was for even doing that as when I even moved for a step, Bravzgaim vanished from the spot.
“Naa—!?” Everything was drowned the moment a shadow crossed the corner of my sight. A flash of light as if the Revolving Lantern approached me the moment I raised my sword to block the shadow.
The world turned upside down. I felt as if I was thrown and struck by a truck which had killed me before again but this time… a lot stronger than that. My body bounced for a few times; I heard the sounds of breaking bones and rupturing organs and I had myself nearly cut by the scattered swords lying around had my reflex to escape death wasn’t on.
My back slammed to a tree. The sense of balance was shaken for a few moments and…. nausea enveloped me. Combined with stupidly hot sensation from the base of my stomach, I bent down and vomited blood as if trying to make a puddle of it.
Red filled my left sight. I heard trickling liquid falling from my chin into the freshly made crimson puddle. My breathing faint, and I whimpered in extreme pains.
It hurts… It damn hurts…! I let my guard down! How stupid could I become, for fuck sake……?!! Cursing and sending insults from the vocal cord, I hastily stood up and glared ahead.
“…Didn’t you know… that hitting a lady… earns you a thousand of beating…? Especially… for a gentleman like you…… Bravzgaim…!!”
I took out two daggers lying on the ground besides me. They were very rough and thanked to the earlier impact, it seemed the durability has decreased slightly. Still…!
“I’ll teach you a manner…. No. I’ll hammer in you some common senses before your defeat, King of the Mountain!!” With a dash similar to earlier, I arrived in front of the monster.
“ROAR!!” He quickly raised his limbs to pummel me in blinding speed but with my current state—including the enhancement of my senses by inserting more mana into them……
I can see them! By a breadth of hair, I avoided a deadly thrust. With a forceful sidestep which nearly twisted my bones, I dodged a jab. In the nick of time, I evaded two-way pincer hold coming to squash me, and I launched my counterattack once I reached the closest proximity with Bravzgaim.
The sound of slicing air. The echo of slashing the flesh of a living being. The numbing sensation of ‘hurting’, and possibly killing one ran through my arms. I smelled the scent of rust. I sensed wetness and melting warmth on my skin.
But—ignore it. Don’t be swayed. Don’t be scared. Hold your sword. Fight. Fight. Fight!!
“AaaaAaaaAAaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!”
A wide slash. Dodge. A cross slash. Graze. A stab. Duck. An uppercut slash. Chain attacks. Do a feint and jab him with a cross counter!
“GRAH…! RRROOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRR!!!!!”
I told myself to keep moving. Even when deadly blows were ready to destroy me should they hit me squarely. I shouted at myself to not let up my attack. Even though my body was screaming at how much strains I’ve put into it.
I gripped the weapons I have till blood trickled down, with one thing filling my head all the time.
Fight. Survive. Fight. Live. Live. Fight. Fight. Fight! Survive!!
Then I heard a shattering sound. A dagger was broken apart due to the immense strain of assaulting a monster with body as thick as steel. No, maybe at adamantium-class but who cares?! I slashed down and once again another weapon was broken.
In response to the loss of my weapons, Bravzgaim maimed with his claws. I jumped to the side and curled myself like a ball. My back smashed onto the ground before bouncing back, and in midair, I picked swords which were still standing before I crashed down. Hard.
I could feel my life fading away. A few direct hits and the overuse of [Reinforce] was burdening this fragile body too much that a relapse occurred. It would be no wonder if I collapsed here and then……
“Even so…!!” I leaped straightforward like a bullet desiring to penetrate the heart of its target.
The sound of singing metal was yet again reproduced. But it wasn’t once that the weapons collided to manifest sparks and shockwaves.
Once. Twice. Thrice. Is it even possible for a mere human to keep up with the ferocity of a monster above them?
The blades sang. The echoes of shattered swords emerged. Yet simply throwing them and picking another swords meant giving up was not an option. Therefore the flashes of blade illuminated the night over and over.
Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again.
A sword was swung, and then shattered. A short sword was picked, used to block, cracked, and then thrown. A dagger was held for a counter slash and then destroyed. I moved from place to place, taking new swords in my hands and attacked as if there’s no tomorrow.
But it’s not because I wanted to die. Nor because I have no choice but to fight.
I want to live. I want to survive. I want to see my dream accomplished. That’s why I fought. That’s why I sought for power. Because it was my desire that drove me to fight that I will not back down.
If my enemy is the strongest in the world, then what can I do to defeat it? What should I do to pave a way for me to go to? The answer… is unexpectedly simple.
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Fight. Use everything I have. Wring out the strength I have till the last drop. All that I have…pour it all to defeat my enemy!
“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!”
Faster.
“Ghrrraa?!!”
Stronger.
“?!?!?”
“ooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!!”
I attacked and I dodged. He parried and he countered. No matter how much he was wounded, he could still locate where I am. Still I upped my speed and I stormed at him with torrents of swords.
A swing of sword was met with claws. With glass shattering sound it became broken fragments which grazed my cheek. Quickly picking up the nearby sword I attacked again and again and again!
Attack. It shattered. Grab the next one. Slash down. Dodge! Now counter. It shattered again. Another was taken. Attack again. It hit. A counter. Avoid it! One shattered once more. Take yet another sword. Repeat.
The process repeated itself. The cycle reset back for numerous of times.
Draconic Sword-Style: First Step, Second Step, Third Step, Fourth Step, Fifth Step, Sixth Step……
“Seventh Step—”
Under the darkness curtained sky, the sword I held with both hands shone in bright white light. Mana was gathered from the atmosphere. Internal mana was absorbed from my body. Both the clashing and yet powerful essences of life concentrated together within the blade. Creating a veil of bright, white light which seemed so dazzling like a star.
“Flight of the White Dragon!!”
Blinding was understatement. The world instantly shone as if dawn had arrived. Against this sword of light which gave the sacredness of a Holy Sword, nothing could stop it from obliterating my enemy the moment I swing it down—
Or so I thought.
“GWOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!”
Insane howl. A maddened, crazed, instinctual cry which destroyed the brightness of the holy sword.
With the arm retracted, it was as if adjusting a bow to shoot the most powerful arrow of a god.
With its claws prepared, it was as if a mortal was challenging the might of the immortal.
With steel determination, and the heart of a dazzling flame, a fist was shot up. Welcoming the deadliest technique that I have learned in my lifetime. And—
*shatter* The sword of light was destroyed. Just like that. As if punching a thin window. My eyes widened, completely stunned but the moment small cracking sounds crawled into my ears, I snapped back and dropped the broken sword.
“NOT YET!!”
Swiftly. Quickly. Just like a thunder falling from heavens, I snatched a sword next to me and leaped to Bravzgaim. He quickly used his arms to defend his wounded body but!
“You’re wide… Open!!”
A streak of light passed through his right arm. To be more precise, his claws and immediately after contact—they shattered along with my sword.
Fragments of steel and claws flew. Glitters of our broken weapons glistened by the light of the moon. Amidst the floating, glittering fragments, I dashed past the defense of the King of the Mountain, grabbing a sword behind him and slashed at his side before circling back to my former position.
“Not enough… it’s not enough!”
I yelled to no one but to myself. What is it that I lacked? What is it that I don’t have to defeat my enemy? Is it not enough for me to simply utilize my strength? Is my technique not enough to break open a path? Is my tactic not enough to outwit my enemy?
The answer—is a rightful YES. It’s not enough to simply copying and displaying them. It’s not enough for me to simply wield the techniques I learned! So…
Imagine them strongly! Combine them all! Make them into one! Manifest your efforts! Create the technique only you could use to defeat your enemy! Use your talents! Your strength! Your determination! Your will! Your experiences! Your soul and body!! Everything into one!!
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!”
I attacked with all of my might. With all of my speed that my body can reproduce. With all of my will that I poured into my swords. I continued to attack the King of the Mountain with the techniques of all swordsmanship I have copied, learned and birthed using my own hands.
The elegant and elusive cuts of a Blade Dancer. The powerful cleaving pound of a Warrior. The agile and rapid stabs of a Rogue. The brave and balanced slashes of a Knight. The precise and deadly slices of an Assassin. And—the ultimate, strongest strike of the Dragon.
I learned them all because I always observed them. The people who were stronger than me. Those Adventurers who could travel across this dangerous continent without any qualm. The knights who fought and defended the village. My father who became a famous legend because he continued to hone his skill and stealing the techniques of his enemy... and Fei's swordsmanship that entranced me.
Right at that very precise moment… words flowed from my mouth as if it was the most obvious thing to say.
“—Sword Arts: Blade Tempest!!!”
My body moved on its own. I just knew how I swing my sword. I just knew how I could enact the movement I desired. Because exhaustion have taken tolls in me? No… it’s not that.
It’s because—this is the only way to defeat this enemy!!
In a blinding speed, swords were brought down. Blood profusely scattered, tainting the tall grasses and the swords in the grounds.
In a storm of sharp blades, one was broken and one was replaced. The sword was replaced the moment it shattered as if I held thousand swords in my hands.
But the dreadful thing was how the storm overwhelm Bravzgaim. More blade penetrated his defense. More swords were able to carve deep wounds on him. Though blinded, he was as capable as a Warrior who used his other senses to grasp the location and movement of his enemy.
That was why it’s dreadful.
I unleashed blades after blades to strike him. Every swing of sword was met in succession but as quick as the wind, another sword slashed down at the opening, faster than earlier. The pace quickened. The storm became stronger. The attacks raged, slowly devouring the King of the Mountain while I received various injuries in the middle without minding them.
For minutes that lasted like hours, I fought the King of the Mountain. For seconds that stretched to the infinity, I moved my limbs as if trying to break them apart. I fully utilized every bit of my techniques and power. I wrung out all of my strength and putting it all in my swords. I sustained wounds gradually and so do my enemy.
I attacked with a sword and it shattered. I evaded the next attack and take another sword from the ground. Leaping at the monstrosity to do the same thing again.
“ROOOOOOOOOAAAARRRRR!!!!”
Then a powerful strike attacked me. With the last of my strength I side stepped only to have the claws nearly destroying my head by a millimeter margin had I been too late to avoid it. And I counterattacked in an instance!!
“HAAAAAA!!!”
In one of the torrents of flying blades, a successful slice completely severed Bravzgaim’s right arm from the shoulder.
In dismay, two swords lodged their blades into the monster’s knees. Causing him to kneel to the ground.
And following his fall, numerous swords stabbed his body from all sides. From his front. From his back. Into his stomach. Piercing his hips and palms. And boring through his chest.
Blood sprayed around like fountain. And yet that signified how much magnitude this battle holds to me. Even within the rain of dark crimson fluids, I have yet to finish the monster as it raised his other claws to attack me.
I drew the Obsidian Sword to cut off the extended arm. Clear sound of severed flesh could be heard as black blood scatters around. And now, with his last arm falling off his body and with his entirety pinned down by hundreds blades……
“…haa…… ha… Ha…… Haa……. It’s… my victory…… Bravzgaim.”
I stood in front of Bravzgaim. With him kneeling, now I can see his face clearly. A lone monster, the last of its kind. Remaining behind and disappearing from the eyes of the world. Yet no matter how much he was wounded, his pride as a Hunter as well as the King of this mountain range has yet to disappear.
I felt numb. My entire body is weakening as soon as I noticed. My vision grows hazy and yet I still gripped the last sword in my right hand. Even within the onslaught Bravzgaim never showed despair, and instead, a smile could be seen.
A smug smile. A bitter smile. A smile full of relief, gratitude and spirits. And yet sorrowful knowing how this battle will end. Even anger and frustration was washed away with a grin that told me how he regretted for not encountering me in the day where he was at his best.
This monster—this being is a warrior. He is a Warrior in the truest sense of words and I respect him for that spirit. I am also certain that he is no longer in his best shape where he was revered as the Strongest in the whole Continent.
Ages. Illness. Wounds. Motivation. So many things have chipped away his power gradually. And then, a low growl echoed as if telling me what to do.
”—An end which befits me. And I have enjoyed it for certain! Now, prove me your Will!!”
I gripped the sword tighter than ever. Peering at the eyes of the enemy who have brought me closer to my goal. An opponent that only appeared only to be slain. A worthy rival who I could never meet again once I fulfilled his wish.
Is it correct for me to do this? Is this alright for him who has a brilliant life, more vibrant than mine? I closed my eyes momentarily, and scolded myself once I remembered who I fought for. I don't want to stop moving. I don't want to be left behind by Fei. I don't want him to protect me and then dying because he wanted to.
The only way for me... even if it will hurt me... is this path.
“……thank you, Bravzgaim. I’m glad I met a Warrior like you.”
Holding the hilt with both of my hands, I raised the sword above my head. My trembling stopped, and I roared to end this battle with a final strike.
Breaking through the winds and cutting over the air—the sword slew the King of the Mountain.