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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Boom!
Kurika’s claws slammed down on me. I thought maybe this time I could fight him head-on, but…
“Ugh!”
I felt all the blood in my body rush to my head and hands. I gasped for breath, as if trying to expel the crushing weight that threatened to crush me.
“You withstood it?”
Kurika sounded surprised that I had managed to survive his attack, but…
His body was suddenly lifted off the ground and flung away. Only a swirl of black fur remained, marking the spot where he had stood moments before.
“How dare you interrupt my battle!”
‘This bastard’s actually enjoying this.’
Sharcal, who had initially been fueled by rage towards Kurika, was now shouting excitedly, slamming his staff against the ground.
Both he and Kurika had been trapped in the Demon Realm Forest for centuries. Their power was so overwhelming that no other monster dared to challenge them.
He must have been bored.
Incredibly bored.
Especially Sharcal, a battle maniac obsessed with proving his strength, unlike Kurika, who had chosen to become the guardian of the gods’ treasure vault.
This battle was a dream come true for him, a long-awaited opportunity to unleash his full power.
“Daniel McLean! I will wash away the humiliation of defeat once more!”
“Damn battle maniac!”
I had to stay out of their way.
I dodged Sharcal’s invisible distortion magic, watching the path of his staff as he swung it wildly.
‘I’m not like these monsters. One hit, and I’m out of the fight.’
Unlike Sharcal, who protected himself with magic, or Kurika, whose thick hide and monstrous endurance could withstand almost any attack, I was vulnerable.
I had to avoid their attacks if I wanted to survive.
“Growl!”
Kurika, despite taking a direct hit from Sharcal’s magic, was suddenly standing before me. My posture was broken from dodging the previous attack, and I could only raise my sword in a feeble attempt to block his claws.
Crack, clang!
My sword snapped in two, and Kurika, relentless, pressed his attack.
“You dare mock me!”
Sharcal, believing Kurika was ignoring him, unleashed a barrage of attacks. Kurika’s head was slammed into the ground.
Invisible meteors rained down on Kurika, forcing him to curl up defensively.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I discarded my broken sword, drew another one, and charged at Sharcal.
He was the bigger threat right now. There was a chance I could reason with Kurika, just like I had in the past, but…
Sharcal was obsessed with battle, and he would only get in the way of any conversation I might have with Kurika.
Crack!
“Did you think you could catch me off guard twice?”
My sword was blocked by a distortion in the air, like striking an invisible whirlwind.
I was so close to reaching him, but the silver glow within his skull mask flashed mockingly.
“Haa!”
I gripped the sword with both hands and forced my way through the distortion. It would have been impossible before, but now, I was in my prime.
I was confident I could break through.
“Huh.”
Sharcal’s defensive magic shattered like glass, the pieces shimmering as they vanished into thin air. He gasped in surprise, his eyes fixed on me.
“Defense doesn’t suit a strong person, does it?”
“You know me well!”
Of course I do, those are your words.
Sharcal’s defensive magic was weak compared to his powerful, wide-range attack spells.
His distorted mana wasn’t suited for defense, and besides, he believed the best defense was a good offense.
Crack!
My sword plunged into Sharcal’s shoulder.
Kurika’s unintentional distraction had allowed me to get close, and at close range, my chances of defeating Sharcal increased significantly.
“You’re right, the best attack is also a defense.”
Suddenly, an invisible force slammed into me, sending me flying backwards. It felt like being hit by a speeding carriage.
Sharcal’s robe was torn in several places. The madman had included himself in the blast radius to create distance between us.
“Kuh, exhilarating.”
Sharcal leaned on his staff, a satisfied smile on his face. He began to cast another spell, but…
This time, Kurika used me as a distraction. He charged through the barrage of invisible attacks, his beastly instincts guiding his movements.
He had also decided that Sharcal was the bigger threat. He bared his fangs and lunged.
His speed was far greater than mine.
And Sharcal, injured from the previous attack, was struggling to cast his magic.
Crack!
Kurika’s claws sank into Sharcal’s abdomen. His expression was hidden behind his skull mask, but blood was spreading rapidly across his robe.
“Heh, hehe. Isn’t this fun, Kurika?”
Kurika, wiping the blood from his eyes, replied to Sharcal’s rasping question,
“You truly are a warrior to the core.”
He looked at Sharcal, who was laughing even though death was imminent, with a mixture of disgust and admiration.
But Sharcal vehemently denied it.
“Don’t be mistaken. I am no mere warrior. I am not some foolish, pathetic creature who throws away his life for a fleeting thrill.”
A bright, silver light emanated from Sharcal’s chest, where Kurika’s claws were embedded.
Kurika tried to pull back, but it was too late.
“Victory! That is all that matters to me! How dare you compare me to those weaklings who risk their lives in battle! How dare you believe you can defeat this tyrant!”
Countless monstrous limbs erupted from Sharcal’s chest. One of the giant hands slammed into Kurika, sending the werewolf flying backwards, blood spraying from his mouth.
“Gah!”
Despite the force of the blow, Kurika seemed relatively unharmed.
He roared, showing that he was still standing.
“I am the ultimate victor. I am the tyrant who devours victory. If I can be defeated simply by allowing you to approach me, how can I call myself the strongest?”
The monstrous limbs that sprouted from his chest grew larger and more numerous. I had to admit…
If I had been alone, I would have lost to Sharcal.
And Kurika, if he had been alone, would have lost as well.
While I was studying at the academy…
While Kurika was protecting the secrets of the Demon Realm Forest…
Sharcal had been training in isolation, honing his skills and expanding his knowledge, obsessed with becoming the strongest.
‘He was prepared for the weakness he showed me last time.’
I was surprised that he had managed to achieve this in such a short time, but he was a mage who spent every waking moment researching magic.
He must have absorbed and mastered everything he could find.
I drew another sword, gripping one in each hand.
One of my three swords had already broken, leaving me with only two. I had to face both Sharcal and Kurika with these, but…
“Hey, Kurika.”
I spoke to Kurika, who was growling fiercely.
“How about we work together?”
“……”
His eyes, reflecting the moonlight, flickered with interest. He seemed to be considering it longer than usual, so I sighed and said,
“The Priestess of Time didn’t tell you about our past relationship, did she?”
“……You had a connection to me?”
I knew it.
I chuckled dryly and scratched my head.
“We were just friends. We’d meet up at night, share a few drinks, exchange gifts…”
“Hmm?”
Kurika looked as if he couldn’t imagine himself doing such a thing.
That’s right, as we drank together, you laughed and said you never thought you’d be friends with a human.
I missed those days.
“That sounds like nonsense.”
“Damn it, you believe that bitch over your friend?”
“Watch your language.”
How could I make him believe me?
Sharcal’s monstrous limbs were about to engulf us, and I needed to say something drastic, something undeniable.
A perfect phrase flashed through my mind.
At the time, I had dismissed it as drunken rambling, but seeing the look in Kurika’s eyes, I knew he had been serious.
“You chose me to end your long life, remember?”
“……!”
Kurika’s eyes widened as he looked at me. I met his gaze, but that was a mistake.
Sharcal seized the opportunity, swinging one of his monstrous limbs towards me.
But…
Crack!
Kurika, appearing before me in a flash, shattered the mage’s attack with his teeth and claws.
He stood protectively in front of me and said,
“Just this once.”
I understood what he meant.
I nodded and stood beside him, my sword at the ready.
Kurika’s belief that Rin had to die wouldn’t change. He would use the dagger to eradicate the apocalypse within her.
Because Rin had to die, I couldn’t be his drinking buddy in this life.
“This is something we’ve never done before, even in our past lives.”
For the first time, we stood together…
Facing the same enemy.
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