Ch.350350. Resolution (3)

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Fierce blows are exchanged.

The Luminary’s two drawn holy swords clash with my fist strikes.

Of course, I’m not completely incapable of using a sword and do occasionally incorporate it, but fundamentally, this is the method I’ve most frequently employed until now.

“It stings quite nicely even after all this time!”

“…”

Despite saying such things, his face is beaming with a bright smile.

It’s not strange that he’s reacting this way in this situation.

Fighting with my most familiar attack method makes one thing abundantly clear: his claim about being “familiar with me” isn’t just empty talk.

It’s not simply that he’s good at receiving my attacks or countering them—it’s beyond that level.

It’s almost like we’re synchronizing. Not fighting, but dancing.

Rather than combat, it’s closer to communion.

“You know what.”

That’s how obvious it is—I’m even speaking during the fight.

“You’re holding back, aren’t you?”

“Oh my. You finally noticed?”

“…”

“If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so long ago. From the moment I first recognized your existence, I’ve had more than enough power and means to do so. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

That’s true.

But even if that’s the case, I can’t just back down here.

I take a deep breath and activate several skills in sequence.

As I activate Swordsman’s Focus, my reflexes are maximized. My posture aligns with the martial arts engraved in my muscles, and my body launches forward.

The Seal of Fallen Heaven may be blocked due to Talker’s influence, but its “effects” still remain in my body.

With my physical specs enhanced by my demonic ascension plus Desperate Survival added on top, my athletic ability now exceeds the Luminary’s level.

With all the combat experience I’ve accumulated, I should be able to land a surprise blow even against someone like him.

Between the sword strikes swinging to both sides, my fist shot straight toward his face, targeting a momentary opening I spotted.

-!

My fist makes direct contact with his jaw, a position that could deliver a shock to the brain, but…

“—Phew.”

“…”

My eyes narrow as I watch the Luminary calmly catching his breath.

Not even a speck of damage visible.

‘—This.’

I definitely felt the impact in my hand. If I had truly connected, he should have been knocked out.

But this guy…

Just ‘before’ the attack made direct contact, his physical specs suddenly increased.

As if something automatically activated in response to a life-threatening situation.

I know exactly one skill that produces this effect.

Desperate Survival.

The alpha and omega skill I received when I first awakened my Gift.

And the Luminary in front of me had perfectly copied it with identical performance.

“…How did you do that?”

Cutting straight to the point with that question, he massaged his neck, which seemed stiff, before answering.

“My teacher gave it to me. He always strangely hated seeing people he cared about get hurt.”

“…”

“He extracted his ability and passed it to me. I don’t know how he did it, but thanks to that, I have the most important thing.”

Teacher.

The title Elia always uses to address me overlaps with what this person calls me.

“…”

The items attached to the Luminary’s arm briefly catch the corner of my vision.

Hidden by clothing until now, they’re extremely familiar objects to me.

Holy Ultima, Soul Linker.

Two pieces of equipment that symbolize me.

Unlike the ones I wear, these show visible signs of weathering from the passage of time. It’s impossible to imagine how long he’s been carrying them.

And beyond those traces, what’s even more noticeable is:

Their immaculately maintained condition, without a speck of dust.

It’s clear they’ve been constantly polished, repaired, and mended daily. They look almost new except for the parts that were impossible to fix, showing how carefully he’s handled them.

“…Ah, these?”

The Luminary, noticing my gaze, brushed over them with a bitter smile.

A feeling of preciousness, longing, and affection all mixed together flows out.

“They’re your relics.”

“…You’ve taken good care of them.”

“Of course.”

His face was still smiling as he said that.

But if you peeled back that facial expression, the inner feelings would surely be dripping with rotten blood and pus.

I mentioned earlier that this is closer to communion than combat. That’s because I can clearly feel the torrent of emotions the other person is experiencing.

In that sense.

The “sense of loss” being transmitted from the tip of his sword right now…

Is clearly of a depth I cannot even begin to fathom.

“—If you understand, then let me kill all the demons.”

“…”

“How do you think I felt watching you die?”

But even so.

I can’t just let this be.

Of course, trying to dissuade him would lead this conversation down an eternal parallel track. Since his actions are driven by his own experiences, he’ll remain convinced no matter how much I try to talk him out of it.

“How about this.”

What he needs isn’t persuasion.

It’s an ‘action’ that will give him a completely ‘closed possibility.’

“—I’ll erase your worries for you.”

If he’s worried about demons destroying the world…

That’s something I can resolve better than anyone.

●

Come to think of it, family reunions are always meant to be touching.

How would a sister feel meeting her brother who had died and returned as a spirit? Surely, it would be heart-wrenchingly poignant…

[Elia, please calm down a bit—]

“Brother, just be quiet for a moment!”

[…]

…There was a time when Calivan thought that way.

Though all he got in return now was a fierce shout.

“—You’re frustratingly hard to hit!”

“That’s my line, you know.”

If this weren’t such an urgent situation, they’d probably have thrown down their weapons and be pulling each other’s hair by now.

The atmosphere was so awkward that even Sunhwalyun, who had been launching consecutive attacks from the other side, was scratching his head uncomfortably.

“…Look. I know I’m a bit of a jerk as a spirit mage, but what’s with this internal division already?”

That’s exactly the problem.

They had no trouble coordinating even when facing the Luminary, whose capabilities vastly surpassed their own, but now they were strangely out of sync with each other.

It was maddening that this was happening even though the other side was clearly on the defensive.

“Student Council President. Be honest with me.”

“…What is it?”

“You’re worried about Darwood, aren’t you? Your mind is elsewhere.”

“…”

There was no way to deny it.

But one thing was certain.

“The same goes for you, doesn’t it?”

“…That’s true.”

“Then, there’s only one solution.”

Elia narrowed her eyes and muttered.

“We finish this quickly and go help the teacher.”

“…”

Elnore silently looked at Elia.

Having crossed swords together for quite some time, she could now read the other’s intentions without much difficulty.

Elia was clearly convinced.

That there was definitely a way to pierce through the opponent.

As someone who knew what the Boy King’s soul inside the Soul Linker given by Darwood had prepared, Elia couldn’t help but say that.

What the Boy King had prepared during all those years of seclusion was a small, sharp dagger.

But that dagger…

Would undoubtedly be able to pierce through the heart of that spirit mage.

“—But his defenses are quite solid.”

The opponent, who deployed offensive, defensive, and various auxiliary spells while circulating them fluidly… was undeniably and terrifyingly powerful.

Though not quite at the level of the Luminary they had just faced, this human still felt less like fighting a person and more like assaulting a fortress.

It gave the feeling of hitting a rock with an egg at the human level.

Yet they could still continue the battle with this rhythm because…

“I win as long as I stall for time anyway.”

Sunhwalyun said in an almost yawning voice.

His attitude clearly showed that he saw through their intentions.

“Seems like you’re preparing something to stab me with, but do you think you’ll get the chance?”

“…”

Whatever they had prepared…

With that attitude, it was clear he had calculated that he would definitely win just by staying put without allowing any variables.

And Sunhwalyun certainly had the capability to back up those words.

The problem was…

“That remains to be seen.”

The man who had just crushed the head of the Pope who had the same attitude was nearby.

And the two women here, especially one of them, were deeply influenced by that man’s behavior patterns…

“Feeling confident, are we?”

Sunhwalyun smirked at Elia, who was glaring fiercely with gleaming eyes, but she showed no signs of backing down and just exhaled sharply through her nose.

“The teacher isn’t the only one who can do crazy things, you know?”

“…”

“Listen to me, I have a plan!”

Elnore silently watched Elia, who was panting as she uttered those words.

‘…That man’s karma runs deep.’

It was a thought she had in all sincerity.

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