Blood dripped from Ghislain's gritted teeth. Even after regaining the level of his past life and enduring the strain of five cores power for an extended time, there were limits.
And now, those limits have arrived.
"Hah…."
Ghislain staggered to his feet, blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Idun, who had also been forced back, spat blood but managed a euphoric smile as he observed Ghislain's state.
"Hahaha, so your strength has finally given out? I knew it. In the end, I was superior."
From an outside perspective, both seemed equally battered. But on closer inspection, there was a slight edge favoring Idun.
The difference lay in their fighting styles.
Ghislain amplified his mana for explosive bursts of power. Idun, on the other hand, dispersed that force, minimizing its impact.
This allowed Idun to neutralize Ghislain's overwhelming attacks and turn them into ordinary strikes.
Their starkly contrasting styles and advantages shaped their duel. While Ghislain burned through his energy rapidly, Idun's style was better suited for endurance.
Step.
Idun stepped forward and resumed his stance.
The longer the fight dragged on, the more favorable his position became. All he needed to do was push a little further.
"Tch."
Ghislain spat blood and wiped his mouth.
It was true that he was expending more energy, but so what?
His opponent wasn't unscathed either. Even though Idun dispersed the damage, not all the impact could be negated.
There was bound to be accumulated damage within his body.
'Just a little longer.'
In this life-or-death battle, Ghislain finally faced a new wall.
He only needed to fight a little more to see if he could break past it.
Both combatants moved again, each harboring unwavering belief in their victory.
BOOM!
Now, every clash of their swords left them staggering. Though their mana reserves were running low, they still unleashed powerful strikes.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Every attack carried their full force. With each exchange, new wounds appeared, and the toll of mana use added up.
BOOM!
"Gah!"
A groan, whose origin was unclear, echoed across the battlefield. The two fighters stumbled back, coughing up blood.
Ghislain wiped his mouth and grinned.
"Damn, you're a tough bastard. This isn't easy."
Still, it was better than his previous life. Back then, he hadn't even had a chance to fight properly before he died.
Idun, gritting his teeth, smirked back.
"Still have the nerve to bluff, do you?"
By now, Idun could no longer fully disperse the force of Ghislain's attacks. Each strike left wounds on his body.
Despite this, Ghislain was visibly more exhausted. His stance had grown slightly unsteady with each attack.
In truth, Ghislain had already reduced his core to the 2nd stage. Continuing to maintain the 5th stage would have overwhelmed his body.
But even at the 2nd stage, it was enough. Idun was just as drained, his mana nearly depleted.
Both men smiled fiercely as they clashed again.
BOOM!
With every strike, it became clear the end was near. Their mana reserves had almost run dry, and their bodies were riddled with wounds, narrowly avoiding fatal blows.
They knew exactly how much damage the other had taken.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
After a few more exchanges, Idun retreated slightly.
Ghislain didn't pursue him. He, too, needed a brief respite.
Idun's retreat was deliberate. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts.
Inside, his heart was filled with despair.
A bitter smile crossed Idun's face.
"So, I'm going to die here."
Even if he killed Ghislain, there was no way he'd escape in his current state. He would be overwhelmed and killed in an instant.
It was better to abandon thoughts of survival.
"Hah…."
Taking a deep breath, Idun straightened his back.
Dying here was regrettable, but not unacceptable.
At the very least, he would be remembered for killing Duke Fenris.
That would be his legacy.
He would be the man who slew the hero who swept across the continent.
"That's not so bad."
Yes, it wasn't bad at all. His name would shine like a star for eternity.
Idun had finally let go of his lingering attachment to life.
"I won't die a pathetic death."
His death had to be beautiful, something worthy of reverence and admiration.
Raising his sword with dignity, Idun's eyes still gleamed with determination.
Ghislain, watching this, chuckled.
"That's a good stance."
Though Idun's character was abhorrent, Ghislain couldn't help but respect his resolve.
That unshakable confidence, bordering on faith. There was no doubt in it.
Idun deserved to be counted among the greatest warriors.
"I'll give you the death you deserve."
The kind of death Ghislain himself had experienced in his past life.
He had his own unyielding convictions.
Now it was time to see whose belief was stronger.
BOOM!
Ghislain's core had already dropped to the 1st stage. No, his mana reserves were nearly depleted.
Idun was in the same state.
The radiant light that once surrounded their swords had faded.
Now, they relied solely on their honed swordsmanship.
SWISH!
Both moved with a precision that no ordinary human could match.
Even the watching knights couldn't follow the movements of their blades.
Their techniques had reached a sublime level.
CLANG!
As soon as their swords clashed, they immediately moved to strike the other's vital points.
There was no need for wasted movement or techniques to wear each other down. Only sharp, decisive strikes mattered.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
New wounds appeared on both fighters. Neither could fully block or avoid the other's attacks.
SLASH!
Another wound was carved into Ghislain's body.
But there was a subtle shift.
SLASH!
Two wounds appeared on Idun's body.
This pattern began to repeat.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Though Idun had held the advantage when their mana was full, he was now starting to lose ground.
The corners of his eyes twitched in frustration.
"You… what is this swordsmanship…?"
When their mana reserves were abundant, he hadn't noticed. He had thought Ghislain's skill was on par with his own.
But the longer they fought, the harder it became to predict Ghislain's movements.
His sword was unpredictable, almost chaotic.
It was clear. This was a blade forged through countless brushes with death.
"I can't accept this!"
Idun gritted his teeth in fury.
He had been hailed as a genius swordsman his entire life. With endless support from a young age, his talent had flourished.
And yet, here was Duke Fenris, a mere upstart from a destitute county, outshining him in swordsmanship.
His disbelief was only natural. Ghislain's blade carried a weight far beyond his years.
With all their mana expended, it was clear. Ghislain's pure swordsmanship was superior.
CLANG!
Ghislain's sword struck Idun's, deflecting it aside and breaking through his guard. Idun's expression froze in shock as he frantically retreated.
Finally, doubt crept into Idun's mind, and that hesitation began to affect his movements.
Ghislain smirked as his lips curled upward.
"This is a blade that has crossed the line of death countless times."
The amount of mana at his disposal was a disparity he couldn't bridge. Idun had been raised in optimal conditions, cultivating his mana over many years.
Catching up to that in just a few years would have been arrogance. Only his explosive mana cultivation technique allowed him to fight on equal terms.
But swordsmanship was a different matter.
From his early days as a mercenary to becoming the Mercenary King, Ghislain had honed his sword every day, his life on the line in countless battles.
And then, he had faced death itself.
And surpassed it through his regression.
Ghislain's blade carried all those lessons and realizations.
And in this life-or-death struggle, it was all coming together.
"I will go beyond, here and now."
He had refrained from using the power of Dark's amplification. No, it would be more accurate to say he couldn't.
Even at his current level, he could only use it twice at most. While it would grant incredible strength, if Idun evaded, the fight would be over.
So, Ghislain fought without relying on it.
Blood trickled from Ghislain's clenched teeth.
Despite having pushed himself to his limits and fighting Idun at the very edge of death, Ghislain had once again transcended his limits and perfected a new sword technique.
In that moment, he felt the voice of his sword echo in his mind.
— This is your will, the will you've lived by.
The sword had finally come to share its master's will and gaze upon the world as he did.
Thus, even without mana—
Step.
Ghislain advanced, a feral smile curling his lips.
To everyone's astonishment, red light began to glow once more in his eyes.
SWOOSH!
As his sword moved, it seemed to slice through the air itself, the sound reverberating as if tearing apart the fabric of reality.
Despite having exhausted his mana, the speed at which his blade struck gave the illusion of a sudden eruption of power.
A sword that followed the flow of the world itself.
It was a sword that harmonized perfectly with the fundamental forces of existence, a manifestation of will incarnate.
SLASH!
The sword cleaved through the empty air, leaving behind a vivid red trail.
It flowed seamlessly with the rhythm of the world.
The sword was no longer just a weapon; it had become a conduit for primal forces.
Reconstructed by Ghislain's will, the sword was now almost alive. Anything it touched would embody the same will as its master.
Idun stared at the approaching sword with trembling eyes.
But the emotions that filled him at that moment were neither fear, despair, nor a sense of defeat.
'Beautiful.'
The trajectory of the sword was so stunningly beautiful that Idun found himself entranced.
Though hailed as a prodigy of swordsmanship, he had never imagined such a realm existed.
To become one with the flow of the world.
That was a level attainable only by those who had brushed against death countless times.
"Ah, so that's what it was."
The light of enlightenment flickered in Idun's eyes as he stared at the blade drawing ever closer to him.
This was the ultimate expression of the world's truth, an exalted art of sublime beauty.
It was like the unseen hand of a divine being writing poetry in the sky.
For someone like him, who cherished beauty and art above all else, the sight of this sword struck a profound chord in his heart.
And that is why the only emotion left in him was one of burning envy.
"I… I'm not the protagonist of this world?"
The realization was unbearable, but undeniable.
A sword more powerful and beautiful than his own had materialized before his very eyes.
"I too… wish I could wield such a sword…."
Idun gripped his sword tightly with trembling hands.
He could do it. He had to.
It couldn't be that only Duke Fenris could wield such an artistic and divine sword. Idun couldn't accept it.
After all, he was far superior to Duke Fenris.
"I am the chosen hero of this world!"
There could be no doubt about it.
CRACK.
His sword moved slowly, and the air around him began to waver.
A sword that barely brushed the flow of the world.
At the precipice of death, Idun's extraordinary talent found a way forward, allowing him to imitate the sword he faced.
PFFT!
Blood spurted from Idun's nose, ears, mouth, and eyes.
It was power he wasn't yet allowed to wield, and forcing it strained his body beyond its limits.
Even so, he swung his sword.
Though it wasn't true mastery, his unparalleled talent allowed him to mimic Ghislain's technique.
CRACKLE!
Time seemed to slow. The world around him grew hazy and indistinct.
The only thing that remained clear was Duke Fenris's sword.
A realm beyond the time of mortals—a space where another kind of time existed.
In this world, the red trail of the Duke's sword crept closer to Idun.
Idun's sword, reaching for the same realm, chased after it.
But his arm was unbearably heavy. He could not yet move freely in this vast, oceanic space.
GRIND!
Just a little more, just a little further—
If he could reach just a bit farther—
…I could have become a legend.
SLASH!
WHOOOSH!
The world came back into focus for Idun.
And he realized, with stunning clarity, that his neck had just been severed.
"Hah."
His thoughts calmed. It was truly over.
He had to remain dignified. He could not die a disgraceful death.
This was the last shred of his pride.
Thus, while he still had breath, Idun opened his mouth to speak.
"Duke Fenris."
With each word, his severed head wobbled on the brink of falling.
Yet he didn't stop. He had to say what he wanted to, to the very end.
"You… will become a legend."
Idun was certain.
This war would end in Duke Fenris's victory.
And thus, he must…
THUD.
His final words remained unspoken as Idun's head fell to the ground.
[T/L: I need your support, dear readers. I will give discount to all those who will buy the rest of the chapters all together, so please support me the reader on my webnovel platform and read ahead chapters on my ko-fi page "RevengerScans" : https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]