I’m Here to End This Fight – Chapter 255

Chapter 255: The Ninth Floor of the Tower of Magic (2)

Yuri let out a somewhat hollow laugh.

‘A domain, huh…’

When he first crafted his sacred sword and reached the level of a certified Sixth Dan, Johan had warned him.

He told him not to attempt opening a Domain (Zone) without proper preparation.

Thus, Yuri spent his time refining his basics to make up for his shortcomings.

Training his body.

Mastering his techniques.

Enhancing his mana.

Seeing Yuri consistently and solidly building his foundation, Johan nodded in approval before leaving.

[“Kid, I think you’re well-prepared enough now.”]

It was permission to move on to the next step.

Having received Johan’s confirmation, Yuri had recently been trying to open his Domain.

…But the results were less than satisfactory.

‘It felt like it would come when I didn’t want it, but now that I’m eagerly welcoming it, not even a shadow shows up…’

That’s why he was laughing somewhat hollowly now.

What an unenjoyable situation.

In the past, he had been anxious about the moment he might step into the Domain, but now that he needed it, he couldn’t attain it.

Yuri let out a small sigh.

“Sigh, anyway, they say I need to open my Domain within 96 days to complete this quest.”

Yuri, arms crossed, muttered in an uncharacteristically defeated tone.

“…Will it work, though?”

Yuri never thought he wouldn’t be able to open his Domain.

No, he was sure he could open it no matter what.

The problem was that he had to achieve it within the limited time of 96 days.

‘This won’t be easy.’

Upon reaching the level of a certified Sixth Dan, Yuri realized just how lucky he had been.

An enlightenment that came by luck.

Insights that far exceeded his preparations.

Timely help from Johan.

Reflecting on the past, he had to acknowledge that his current level was due not only to his talent but also largely to fortune.

The issue now was whether such luck would continue to follow him as he advanced to the next level…

“Hmm…”

Sitting cross-legged with his arms folded, Yuri closed his eyes.

After sitting like that for a moment, he suddenly stood up.

Gone was the worry that had been on his face.

“Screw it. If I just keep at it, it’ll work out.”

Had he ever once started anything thinking things would go his way?

He’d gotten through everything just by going with the flow.

‘I just need to do what I’ve always done.’

What he always did.

Strive with all his might to open his Domain within 96 days.

As Yuri made that resolve, Johan’s words echoed in his ears.

[“Every stage is like this, but the higher you climb, the larger and more solid the walls that block your way become. Especially from Sixth Dan onward, breaking through those walls can take an unbearably long time. A single moment of insight and fortune in this stage can determine whether it takes a few years or several decades.”]

Followed by a voice tinged with laughter.

[“Now that you’ve come this far, you better hope you haven’t been borrowing from future enlightenment and luck. Heh heh.”]

Back then, Johan had jested that if Yuri had used up his future luck, he might never surpass the Seventh Dan in his lifetime.

Although it had been irritating, Yuri dismissed it as the old man being petty at the time…

‘Thinking about it now… Damn, it’s annoying, isn’t it?’

Now that he was struggling to open his Domain like this, Johan’s words felt like a curse.

Actually, upon closer thought, it was indeed a curse.

Fueled by the provocation, a burning heat rose in Yuri’s eyes.

“Damn it, fine! This time, I’ll break through to the certified Seventh Dan with skill, not luck!”

And within 96 days!

Full of determination, Yuri shouted into the air.

“Aunt Coco, come out! Let’s fight right now!”

A provocation directed at Coco.

And then…

“…Did you just call me Aunt?”

As a result, Yuri ended up with a large bump on his forehead.

—

On a slope of the Ice Wall Mountain Range.

A deep, snow-covered mountain valley.

Crash!

Thud!

With a heavy noise, a giant tree snapped and fell.

At that moment, beyond the broken tree stump.

A large figure who had been standing with his back to it collapsed with a thud and shouted.

“Let’s take a short break!”

And a reply came instantly to that shout.

“What’s this? Are you tired already?”

With a zap of blue lightning, a shadow descended from the sky.

“Clicking your tongue like that, after so little effort?”

Appearing with a dissatisfied click of the tongue was none other than Johan.

And across from him.

The one who had snapped the massive tree with his whole body was Ralph Schnell.

Seeing Johan approaching with his hands behind his back, Ralph scowled.

“How little effort? It’s already the fourth day!”

“Complaining after just four days.”

“Do you think we’re still in our prime? Back in the day, sure, we could go at it for a week without rest, but at this age, we’re too worn out for that!”

“You stubborn brat, saying that with a body like yours, do you think that’s convincing? You’d be fine moving for a month, not just four days.”

Ralph scowled at Johan, who shook his head in disbelief.

“If you keep nagging like that, I’m just going to leave.”

Hearing that, Johan held his tongue without further complaint.

After all, in the current situation, it was Johan who needed Ralph.

“Alright, let’s take a short break.”

“I’m hungry, so give me some food.”

“Do I look like your cook?”

“I’m leaving.”

“…This bastard, seriously.”

Muttering under his breath, Johan moved.

Zap!

Unfurling his Thunder Wing, Johan swiftly flew somewhere and returned in an instant.

He pulled out a bottle of liquor and some snacks from who knows where and tossed them to Ralph.

Ralph, catching them easily, asked in a grumpy voice.

“I asked for food, so why booze?”

“If you don’t like it, give it back.”

“Who said I didn’t like it? I’m just happy, that’s all.”

Worried that Johan might snatch it back, Ralph quickly brought the bottle to his mouth.

Gulp gulp gulp.

The sound of the bottle emptying in no time.

Seeing Ralph’s Adam’s apple bobbing, Johan quietly sipped from his own drink.

After downing a whole bottle in one go, Ralph.

“Ahhh.”

He showed a refreshed expression and silently gazed at Johan.

‘Has it been two months already doing this…’

The reason Ralph and Johan began their indefinite mountain life was because of a few unexpected words from Johan.

[“Hey, I need your help.”]

Words Ralph had never expected to hear from Johan.

So shocked by Johan’s request for help, Ralph agreed without even knowing what he had to do.

‘Of all people, for Senior Johan to ask for help… I never imagined it.’

Probably anyone who knew Johan would react the same way upon hearing that he had asked for help.

It was that surprising for Johan to make such a request.

Anyhow, this is how their mountain life, which had begun impulsively, had continued up to the present.

As Ralph chewed on some jerky, he posed a question.

“So, what’s this all about?”

“…?”

“What are we doing all this for?”

“…Asking now?”

“I’m curious.”

“If you were going to ask two months in, why didn’t you just live without knowing?”

“Well… at first, I was excited just to hit you, Senior, without thinking much…”

“What, are you getting bored after doing the same thing for two months? Tired of it?”

“Huh… Well, I can’t say I’m not. So why are we doing this?”

“What do you think I’m doing?”

“Refining your techniques?”

“If you knew, why ask?”

“No, I mean, the technique looks complete already, so how long are we going to keep doing this?”

At Ralph’s question, Johan scoffed.

“Complete? My ass. We haven’t even properly started.”

“…Is that true?”

Ralph looked at Johan with astonished eyes.

Until now, Johan hadn’t avoided a single one of Ralph’s attacks.

He countered every single one.

With the Magic Flow technique.

Johan’s mastery of Magic Flow was astoundingly complete, especially compared to what Yuri had shown before.

At least, that’s how Ralph saw it.

But Johan scoffed again.

“Far from it. Complete, my ass. I’m not even at that kid’s level yet.”

“That kid? Who are you talking about?”

“What’s there to ask? It’s the kid you know too. Who else uses this besides him?”

“Are you talking about your… disciple?”

“Damn it, disciple, my ass. Now I’m the one learning.”

“…?!”

Ralph’s eyes widened to the size of saucers.

Not teaching someone, but Johan learning?

This was the first time Ralph had ever heard something like that in his life.

“Is… is that true? No, more than that, wasn’t the Magic Flow technique created by you, Senior? So how…?!”

Ralph’s voice was filled with shock as he asked, and Johan chuckled.

“Surprised?”

“Rather than surprised, it’s hard to believe…”

“Ha ha, I understand. I understand all too well.”

“…?”

“…I felt the same way.”

His tone had turned somewhat rueful.

“…I did create it, but at some point, when I came to

my senses, it wasn’t mine anymore. Damn it, it’s like leaving the deed to your land with some swindler, only to find a fancy house built on it… How absurd.”

With a distant expression, as if something precious had been taken from him, Johan gazed upwards.

There, a sky darkened with heavy clouds came into view.

And at that moment.

“Huh?”

Snow began to fall from the sky.

Soft, clean snowflakes, falling one by one.

Plop.

They landed gently on the old snow beneath, covered in dirt and dust from the previous night.

Watching this quietly, Johan muttered softly.

“…Old things are always covered by the new.”

And thus, hidden beneath the new, they’re bound to be forgotten by the world.

But.

‘Even so, that doesn’t mean the old snow has disappeared.’

Though buried and forgotten, the old snow hadn’t vanished from the world.

If anything, it was the snow at the very bottom that would last the longest, the last to melt when spring came.

‘As long as I’m still around, I won’t let that kid get ahead of me.’

The problem was that the monstrous kid would be catching up to him at a ridiculous pace every day.

While Johan took one step, that brat was taking ten.

Leaping forward.

Of course, even so, the gap between him and Yuri was still considerable.

‘…But someday, even this will be caught up to.’

It was a practically certain future.

Just a matter of time.

And that time wasn’t very long.

How long would it take for that kid to catch up to him?

Thirty years, twenty years?

‘No, for that monster brat, it wouldn’t take that long.’

Ten years.

That was the longest he could stretch it.

So Johan steeled his resolve.

“…If I don’t want to be overtaken by that kid, I’d better push myself a bit harder. Damn, what the hell am I doing at this age?”

Hearing Johan mumble, Ralph flinched.

Then, realizing Johan’s intent, Ralph’s eyes widened.

“…Are you serious, Senior?”

“What?”

“Oh…”

Seeing Johan’s questioning gaze, Ralph realized with certainty.

‘Senior is…’

He was genuinely…

‘Considering that kid his rival!’

He was treating Yuri, the kid he had taught, as his competitor.

Johan Redner, who had seen the Sword Master as his only rival all his life!

Stunned by this realization, Ralph asked as if in a daze.

“What on earth… happened with that kid?”

“With that brat?”

Johan grinned at Ralph’s question and replied.

“I got bitten. It was my misjudgment.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Ha ha, at first, I thought I could handle it, thinking it was just a monster brat I was feeding and raising. But it wasn’t.”

Johan’s smile faded, and his gaze turned sharp.

“At some point, it grew so big that I couldn’t handle it anymore… Now it even has its eyes on my prey, that monster brat.”

“……”

His words were filled with a strange mix of emotions—resentment, joy, resignation, excitement—impossible to decipher.

A heavy silence fell between Johan and Ralph.

After a moment, Johan softened his gaze and shifted the mood.

“So, I just set it free over there.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“There are some curious old folks in that place too. Do you think they’d just pass by that monster brat without messing around?”

“…?”

“They’ll probably poke at that monster brat out of curiosity…”

Johan chuckled.

A mischievous glint appeared in his smile.

“And then they’ll get bit good and hard. Ha ha.”

Watching Johan, who seemed to be enjoying just imagining it, Ralph blinked in confusion.

Johan then finished his drink, stood up, and dusted himself off.

With only a little time left, he couldn’t afford to waste any.

“Well then, since we’ve rested enough, shall we start again?”

“Ugh… Let’s do it.”

Even though he complained about the difficulty, Ralph Schnell never backed down.

Soon after, a massive explosion erupted from the mountain valley where the two were.

Boom!

An enormous windstorm swept through, flattening a forest of dozens, even hundreds of acres in an instant.

And not far from the epicenter of the blast, on the neighboring mountain peak.

The aftermath of Johan and Ralph’s clashes over the past two months had turned one of the mountains completely barren.

Bang! Bang!

The explosions continued to echo throughout the Ice Wall Mountain Range, carving away at the mountains.

And as the destruction continued, time passed swiftly.

20th day of the Hundred Days Quest.

Looking down at the unconscious Yuri, Coco’s eyes held a trace of curiosity.

“Hmm… What could this be?”