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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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How did Sharcal perceive our alliance?
Two powerful enemies suddenly joining forces to fight him… It would be terrifying for anyone, but…
“Ah! This is the privilege of the strong!”
He seemed to revel in the challenge, writhing with pleasure as he swung his staff.
His long-range magic attacks were as fierce as ever, and in close quarters, his monstrous limbs swirled around us like a whirlwind.
“He’s a true calamity.”
“Sharcal tends to fight with the flow. He’s probably thrilled that we had to join forces to stand a chance against him.”
The fact that we had to work together to defeat him must have fueled his ego. In a way, this was exactly what he wanted.
“So are you going to keep fighting like that?”
“What do you mean?”
I spoke to Kurika, who was pacing back and forth, as if trying to control his claws. He couldn’t possibly be content with being underestimated like this, could he?
“Draw your sword.”
I felt a strange sense of irritation at being the only one fighting seriously. Kurika’s eyes flashed at my words, and he chuckled.
“It seems you truly did have a connection to me.”
Crack.
The ground twisted and contorted.
A hole opened beneath Kurika’s feet, and a massive sword, the size of a grown man, emerged from it.
Of course, it was only massive from my perspective. For the towering Kurika, it was the perfect size to wield with one hand.
“It’s been a while since I last held the Sword of Rest.”
“……”
“Do you perhaps know the origin of its name?”
Kurika gestured towards his sword. Honestly, I was too busy dodging Sharcal’s magic to entertain his questions.
“No! The only times I saw that sword were when you were fighting me and when you went to kill the apocalypse!”
“Hmm, I see.”
He muttered, seemingly satisfied with my answer, and began deflecting Sharcal’s attacks with his sword.
With Kurika armed and fighting alongside me, the tide of battle shifted.
He led the charge, and I followed close behind, covering his flanks. Sharcal’s monstrous limbs and invisible magic couldn’t reach us.
“Yes, yes! This is how it should be! You won’t defeat me so easily!”
Sharcal’s shouts echoed through the forest. We were closing in on him, but he continued his relentless assault, unfazed.
No matter how much he roared and tried to intimidate us, he couldn’t stop our advance.
“……You’re better than I expected.”
Kurika looked at me with genuine admiration as I fought alongside him.
“Heh.”
I chuckled. We were surrounded by giant monstrous limbs, but we were strangely calm.
“What’s so funny?”
Kurika glanced at me, his curiosity piqued. He swung his sword, cleaving through everything in its path.
“You said the same thing before.”
“……”
“But back then, we were enemies.”
And that was the moment he acknowledged my strength.
A myriad of emotions flickered in Kurika’s eyes. He seemed to have many questions about my past life, but given the current situation, he cautiously asked just one.
“Why are you protecting the Earliest Apocalypse?”
I deflected a monstrous hand, dodging Sharcal’s invisible magic by focusing on the tip of his staff. My dulled Sherpa instincts were awakening in this battle against powerful opponents.
“Long ago, when I ruled the continent, there were fanatics who worshipped me. They believed I would bring about the destruction of all races.”
“Yes, I know.”
We shared many stories as we drank together. It was a clear night, the moonlight shining brightly, a rare sight in the Demon Realm Forest.
“Are you one of them? You didn’t seem like a foolish man, but perhaps I was mistaken?”
“No, you were right. I’m not some apocalyptic fanatic. I’m not protecting the Earliest Apocalypse to destroy the continent.”
“Then why?”
Kurika’s attacks grew faster, as if urging me to answer. He grabbed a monstrous hand, crushing it with his bare hand.
“Rin. Her name is Rin.”
“……”
“I was the same. When I first learned that she was the Earliest Apocalypse, destined to destroy the world, I wanted to kill her.”
“Hmm.”
“But I realized that was wrong. She’s fighting against the apocalypse, struggling to hold onto herself.”
“You’re gambling the lives of all the people on the continent for that?”
“Yes, to give her a chance.”
Kurika fell silent, lost in thought.
Sharcal’s attacks continued relentlessly, but…
The world wasn’t as simple as a math equation. 1+1 didn’t always equal 2.
We fought together seamlessly, as if we had been partners for years. We were surprisingly calm, despite Sharcal’s all-out assault.
“Kuhhh!”
Sharcal’s endless supply of mana seemed to be dwindling. His magic attacks were losing their power, and the number of monstrous limbs he summoned decreased.
“Ugh!”
He groaned, leaning heavily on his staff. He clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain. He was clearly reaching his limit.
Kurika and I charged forward without hesitation. We could easily handle the remaining limbs.
Even though they fought fiercely to protect their master, without Sharcal’s invisible magic to support them, they were just ordinary monsters.
And both of us were experts in dealing with such creatures.
Sharcal’s eyes flashed as we approached. He gathered the last of his mana, slamming his staff on the ground in a desperate attempt to stop us.
Boom!
The ground crumbled, and Sharcal disappeared into the cloud of debris. He had abandoned his ineffective defensive magic, resorting to a desperate, offensive strategy.
It wasn’t very Sharcal-like, but…
He probably knew…
That it wouldn’t be enough to stop us.
We leaped over the debris, our swords slashing through the air. A few pebbles grazed my cheek, but I easily reached Sharcal.
Thud! Thud!
My sword and Kurika’s plunged into Sharcal simultaneously. He gasped, his teeth gritted as he growled,
“Grrr! I cannot be defeated!”
“You were strong. If we had fought one-on-one, I would have lost. Don’t be ashamed.”
Sharcal’s eyes flashed with anger at Kurika’s words.
“What’s so strange about weaklings joining forces against a strong opponent! You had to cooperate because you acknowledged my power!”
This level of delusion… it was no wonder he was known as the Tyrant of the Demon Realm Forest. His madness was almost tangible, sending shivers down my spine.
“The strong do not lose. They do not kneel. Do you think I would grant you the noble honor of taking my life?”
Thud.
Sharcal opened his hand.
His ancient staff, resembling a withered tree trunk, rolled across the ground and clattered to a stop.
“You crazy bastard!”
I shouted in alarm.
“What is…?”
Kurika, sensing what was happening, frowned deeply. His beastly instincts told him what was about to unfold.
“My death… is my own.”
Sharcal was casting magic without his staff.
He had used the staff to control his chaotic, destructive mana.
Without it…
He would be consumed by his own magic.
A violent whirlwind erupted from Sharcal’s heart, twisting and distorting the very fabric of space.
His silver eyes gleamed with a strange light.
And then… a blinding explosion engulfed the Demon Realm Forest.
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