Chapter 299

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My head felt like it was splitting.

As if a steel nail was piercing through my skull, stirring up the brain matter.

A splitting, shattering pain relentlessly crashed over me.

If it was pain from an injury, it wouldn’t be a problem.

I could recover with the Super Regeneration I borrowed from Lucia.

However, this was mental anguish.

Super Regeneration’s range was limited to the physical body.

It couldn’t solve mental issues.

“Huu…”

Eugene exhaled a hot breath.

Whether it was because of the throbbing headache, even breathing was difficult.

The pounding of his heart echoed in his ears.

His body temperature rose rapidly, enough to evaporate the beads of sweat trickling down.

It hurts. It’s painful. It’s agonizing. It’s difficult.

He had long forgotten the passage of time.

His vision had narrowed drastically.

The breath that had risen to his chin forced its way out through his lips.

The sparring, where he couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment, steadily pushed Eugene into a corner.

Humans are only allowed one Supernatural Ability.

The reason was simple.

Supernatural Abilities are the manifestation of one’s mental strength.

Because it is the embodiment of the ego, one can only have one Supernatural Ability.

People like Alice and Frey might have two abilities due to their split personalities, but Eugene only had one personality.

『Borrowed Power』

A Supernatural Ability that borrows other Supernatural Abilities.

In other words, it means borrowing the mental world of other Supernaturals.

Handling a mental world that is not your own places a tremendous burden.

Furthermore, using multiple Supernatural Abilities in conjunction further increased the consumption of mental power.

It was Eugene’s chronic weakness.

Purely in terms of martial prowess, he had reached the level of a Captain.

But there was a clear difference between him and the Captains who had truly reached the pinnacle.

His power was not stable. It might work for short battles, but he was extremely vulnerable in long ones. In the end, his strength was achieved through shortcuts. There were bound to be loopholes.

He was increasingly being pushed to his limit.

Even if the body is fine, it’s over if the mind is exhausted.

‘Acceleration’, ‘Danger Sense’, ‘Pyrokinesis’, ‘Heat Ray’, ‘Hardening’, ‘Super Regeneration.’

If even one of these became unstable, the precarious balance would collapse.

“…Ha.”

Eugene let out a dry laugh.

Despite being driven into a corner, he didn’t feel a sense of crisis.

Rather, he felt a sense of liberation, as if his mind was clearing up.

His heart felt as refreshed as looking up at the blue sky after the dark clouds had cleared.

‘So, this is how it feels.’

To pour out everything you have.

It’s something he always did. In his training with the God of War, Eugene always exerted his full power. But the result was always the same. The fight never even materialized, and he was just unilaterally trampled on. Even if he managed to counterattack, it was far from being an effective hit. It felt like recklessly running into an unbreakable wall. It felt like an egg hitting a rock.

But what about now?

He can fight.

Against the Leader of the Sacred Knights.

Against a Captain-level Supernatural.

A battle was being established.

Of course, the God of War and Johan are different.

It was natural that he couldn’t win against the Commander.

He was doing well enough to be able to put up a fight.

However, understanding with the head and accepting with the heart were separate matters.

Despite the God of War’s harsh training, Eugene never backed down. He always tenaciously overcame it, throwing himself at it again and again. It’s not that it didn’t hurt, it’s not that he wasn’t afraid, and it’s not that he wasn’t disheartened. Even when he got stronger, he didn’t feel it, and no matter how strong he got, he was always trampled on the same way.

…So, what about now?

What about me now?

A figure he would have had to look up to in the past.

An opponent he wouldn’t have been able to reach even a few months ago.

He was fighting the Leader of the Sacred Knights.

‘I have gotten stronger.’

The fact that he had only recognized with his head finally resonated with his heart.

Eugene felt an unparalleled catharsis from that fact.

The God of War’s training was harsh but effective.

Because of Super Regeneration, he could instantly recover from any injury.

Because of his desire to become stronger, he endured the grueling training.

As a ‘Chosen One’, he reacted efficiently to the Supernatural Abilities of other supernaturals.

Directly imprint it by beating it into the body.

If the body remembers, the head will naturally remember as well.

As a result, Eugene achieved remarkable growth in a short period of time.

Considering that the God of War was always busy and could only spare a short amount of time, the training certainly proved to be highly efficient.

However, there were definitely side effects. If it’s hard to even brush against their clothes even if you’re prepared to die and giving it your all, it’s hard to be reckless. Although he was enduring with determination, Eugene was suffering from a considerable sense of helplessness. Because he didn’t feel a sense of accomplishment, he didn’t properly recognize that he had become stronger. He only vaguely guessed that he had grown.

‘…Not yet.’

Eugene clenched his teeth tightly. He can be faster. He can sense more skillfully. He can increase the power. Not yet. My strength is not over yet. I’m pouring everything out, but there’s still something left.

Click. Click.

The sound of gears meshing echoed. Not from the outside, but from the inside. Not outside, but inside. The gears rotated inside Eugene. Eugene’s pupils contracted slightly. The field of vision is further reduced. Only radiance filled Eugene’s vision.

A little faster.

Remember Leo’s catchphrase.

Acceleration is power.

If your technique is inferior.

If you’re outmatched in physicality.

If you can’t compare in experience.

Then push through with speed.

Eugene’s body ‘accelerated’. With the exception of Yui’s Pyrokinesis, it was the Supernatural Ability he used most often among those he borrowed. For Eugene, it was the last hidden card and the final bastion. The reason he was able to fight Belial before was thanks to Acceleration, even if he was prepared to self-destruct.

It was a speed that even Frey’s borrowed Hardening couldn’t withstand. It’s okay. He could recover the shaved-off body with Super Regeneration. Eugene half-opened his blue eyes in the significantly slowed-down scenery around him. This was the maximum power he could exert in ‘sparring’.

“This is…!”

Johan’s lips curved into an arc. Eugene, who had been one step behind, began to take one step ahead. Johan, who had been taking the lead, took a step back. The hand gripping the Holy Sword trembled. The moment he received blade, his arm went numb. The successive strikes that poured in at once were truly a storm. It was a scene reminiscent of Karma, the Captain of the 4th Division.

“Haha.”

He couldn’t hide the laughter that unconsciously flowed out. In exchange for the dramatically increased speed, the precision of his swordsmanship decreased as a reaction. However, he covered up those shortcomings with advantages.

The power contained in each strike was excessively heavy. Even if he parried with the Holy Sword, his body was pushed back, and as he was pushed back, the paths of his sword gradually decreased one by one. The clues for a counterattack were scattered, and the scarlet blade rushed towards Johan.

He tried to evade, but that was not easy either. It was a ‘danger’ to have the initiative that he had barely grasped taken away. Eugene’s ‘Danger Sense’ warned him of the future more actively than ever. Acceleration did not simply stop at making the body’s movements faster. ‘Supernatural Abilities’ was also within the scope of Acceleration. ‘Danger Sense’ derived dangers even faster and provided them to Eugene.

“Ah, this won’t do.”

Not a life-or-death struggle, but sparring with a junior.

Because of that, Johan was controlling his power so that it wouldn’t be dangerous. He only created one Holy Sword, and he was only acting as Eugene’s opponent with ‘swordsmanship’ rather than Supernatural Abilities. But, this won’t do. He can’t win like this. He’ll be attacked in reverse. He’ll lose.

“You really are absurd.”

It’s not like it matters if he loses.

But he can’t show an unsightly appearance in front of Lucille’s blood relative (What he thinks).

Just a little, should he put in his sincerity?

“O Light.”

The radiance of the Holy Sword became noticeably brighter. Johan’s black hair began to shimmer with gold, and his black eyes also took on a golden hue. 

Holy Sword. 

Johan’s Supernatural Ability. It’s not just an ability to create a shining sword. The holy sword bestows blessings upon its owner, and the brilliant light bestowed God’s protection upon Johan.

I never thought I’d have to use this.

So, with self-deprecation, Johan looked at Eugene.

He hasn’t even reached adulthood yet, but he already has this much power.

By the time he graduates from the Academy, he might already have been surpassed.

But, that’s not today, and it’s not now.

It’s too early to be devoured yet.

The title of Knight of Light wasn’t won by gambling.

“Haa, huup…”

Eugene gasped for breath at the Sword Saint’s changed atmosphere. The warning sound became even louder. Just as he had revealed his full power, Johan was also showing his sincerity. Eugene smiled. A competitive spirit dwelled in his narrowly tilting blue eyes, and a sense of liberation dwelled in his exhaled breath. He was happier than anything else that the strong person in front of him was showing his sincerity.

Their eyes met. A second like eternity passed, and without either of them taking the initiative, they simultaneously pounced on each other. The Holy Sword and Blade dug into each other’s weaknesses.

Koo-oong!

“?!”

The two swords did not clash. Before that, something heavy fell between Eugene and Johan and shattered with a thud. Eugene rolled his eyes and looked at it. It was a pillar. A pillar that supported the building to prevent it from collapsing. Why is this broken?

“Huh? Uh-oh…?”

The contracted vision expanded in an instant.

It was as if the blackout curtain that had been covering his eyes was being lifted.

Eugene looked around in confusion.

The training ground, which had clearly been fine, was a mess.

No, the assessment that it was a mess was a generous one.

The building, which had holes all over it and no ceiling, was nothing more than ruins.

“What, what?! What is this?!”

“Why are you so surprised? A training ground can’t possibly be left intact after a battle between Captains, can it?”

“I clearly controlled my firepower!”

“It’s the same even if you control it.”

No matter how sturdy it is designed, there are limits. It was common for it to collapse within a few years even when used by ordinary members of the Celestial Corps. Moreover, if it was a sparring match between the pinnacle of humanity, it was no different from declaring that it would be demolished. In particular, Eugene was inferior to the Captains in terms of power control, so it was a predetermined procedure. 

“Why didn’t you stop me until it got to this point, even though you knew?!”

“I was going to stop at the right time at first.”

Johan shrugged at Eugene’s complaint.

Johan had no intention of destroying the training ground at all.

Originally, he was just going to check his skills and stop sparring.

“The state of Mushin(無我之境). The state of oneness(物我一體). The state of perfect harmony(渾然一體).”

“Pardon?”

“Enlightenment comes from small opportunities.”

The anguish that had been building up without him knowing.

The dissatisfaction accumulated from training with the God of War.

The anxiety that comes from worrying about Lucia.

He blew it all up with the sparring just now.

He forgot everything and focused his consciousness only on the strong enemy in front of him.

“How is it? Do you feel a little refreshed?”

“…”

Eugene closed his mouth at Johan’s question.

To be honest, he did.

It was the first time in his life that he had been so excited by a sense of liberation.

If he had his way, he wanted to continue the sparring from just now.

“Besides…”

Johan passed by Eugene and looked beyond him. He had only faintly felt it during the sparring, but now he felt it more clearly. He was really glad that he didn’t dismiss it as a delusion. An absurd phenomenon was unfolding here that was so ridiculous that he seriously considered whether he had finally gone crazy.

“We shouldn’t disturb the moment of enlightenment, should we?”

“?”

Following his gaze, Eugene also turned his head.

A familiar blue-haired girl was taking a deep breath with her eyes closed.

The quiet breathing was as comfortable and soft as if she were sleeping peacefully.

For a moment, he seriously suspected that she had fallen asleep while standing.

“…?”

Eugene tilted his head.

An unknown vibration brushed against his skin.

As if the breathing of a huge creature was causing ripples.

As if a creature born after breaking out of an egg was taking its first breath.

A sacred and incomprehensible atmosphere settled in the ruined training ground.

“Alice?”

“Shhh.”

Johan quickly covered Eugene’s mouth with his hand.

Danger Sense was calm, perhaps because this was not classified as a danger.

Thanks to this, Eugene, who had been caught off guard, was left speechless.

“Watch carefully. Because someday you will have to reach that realm too.”

A gentle breeze blew.

Somehow, it felt like it was carrying heat.

It was a strange wind like a solid iron wall.

“Haa…”

The dainty lips that had been closed opened.

The tightly closed eyes opened, and the red and blue eyes sparkled.

Alice blinked her heterochromatic pupils and then let out a bitter laugh.

“It looked so great when I saw it from afar.”

But when I actually arrived.

“It’s really fucking nothing.”

Frey burst into a mischievous laugh.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Next chapter will already be the 300th.

And I would write a r19 chapter every 100th chapter.

It’s time for the king of wholesomeness to return.

No dirty stuff! It’s the death penalty!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
They both dumb, now show Lucia getting beat up.

Oh yeah, r19 next and next and next chapter~

You’ll see what I mean by that.