Ch.3838. The War Between Vengeance and the Divine Spear

A young child cannot conceive the concept of suicide.

This is because self-hatred is not imprinted in our genes.

A child believes they are the correct answer, that they are right, that they are the world itself.

As they grow, interact with the world and people, they learn that this is wrong and that the concept of common sense has already been formed by others.

So I must have been quite a peculiar case, realizing from birth that I was the wrong answer.

The unbearable bright light, the beautiful sculptures, the irrefutable correct answers—they all burrowed deep into my mind even when I closed my eyelids in sleep.

Even now, I’m just wandering around with an answer sheet full of mistakes.

I thought I could finally restore it to the correct answer this time.

Even if I obtain the world.

Nothing ever goes according to plan, does it?

◈ ◈ ◈

“Lord! Something terrible has happened!”

While I was playing mahjong with Lee Lu-a, Deep Dive, and Hans to increase my sloth rating, a quick-witted fellow came running in, out of breath.

“What is it?”

“We’re under attack! They look ready for war…!”

CRASH!

The main entrance of the hall was violently destroyed as villains in suits began walking in.

Vengeance members immediately took combat positions. Lee Lu-a and Emma also blocked my front, keeping the enemy at bay.

Click, click.

The sound of high heels echoed. E.lena walked confidently through the villains.

I gently pushed Lu-a’s shoulder aside and stepped forward.

E.lena and I faced each other.

“Geo.”

“E.lena.”

Tension filled the air. Vengeance members swallowed nervously.

With a single signal, this space would transform into a battlefield drenched in blood. I could also see Finisher, the second-in-command of the Holy Tree.

We’ll both see plenty of corpses.

Judging by E.lena’s demeanor, she seems quite angry.

I wonder how she’ll approach this.

“So Vengeance has taken second place.”

“That’s right.”

“In such a short time, with so few people, a new organization. That should be absolutely impossible.”

“I’ve proven it’s possible.”

“Well, that’s all fine, but with such ability, you’re trying to rival the Holy Tree. I can only see impure intentions.”

“Are you planning to cut off the sprout?”

My question made my subordinates tense.

I judged that E.lena had different intentions. If she truly wanted war, she could have just ambushed us.

This building is owned by the Holy Tree anyway. It would be easy to attack. There’s no reason to start with dialogue.

“Geo, what exactly are your intentions?”

“I told you, E.lena. A relationship of trust between you and me.”

“Why do you want something so uncertain instead of documents?”

“Because I want you.”

E.lena glared at me steadily while covering her mouth with a fan.

“Do you remember the proposal you made to me before?”

She must mean breakthrough.

Currently, E.lena’s villain rank is SSS, and her ability level is 9.

What she wants is to strengthen her ability. But she must have felt a wall in her growth for a long time. That’s why she developed the Skylens. The Skylens is a device that forcibly enhances abilities, but it has side effects.

That’s why in the original work, E.lena was much stronger than now, but half of her body was in the form of green gel. Her mind was also much more broken, and she played the role of the hidden villain in the fourth scenario.

I’ve seen in the settings that the reason she wanted to enhance her ability was to reach a level where she could resurrect the dead with her verbal commands.

“Of course I remember.”

I answered immediately.

Guide E.lena to grow through the souls of her comrades.

And handle her as my subordinate, using her as a long-term piece to clear the scenario.

This is the picture I’m drawing.

“You don’t think I’d believe such a bluff, do you? Geo.”

If not, why would you come here and mention it?

I had a hunch.

“Did it fail?”

E.lena didn’t answer.

“Fortunately, it seems you didn’t use it yourself.”

“Geo.”

Her hair began to float gently with anger.

“If you thought gambling would make everything go your way, you’re mistaken.”

“I just need to prove it, don’t I?”

I declared.

“Would you believe me if I showed you my power?”

Snap.

E.lena closed her fan.

“Geo.”

She dropped her fan at my feet. The fan rolled pitifully on the floor.

“You’re going to die.”

I moved.

“Let’s go to the top floor. I’ve prepared a training facility. Dark Matter, follow me.”

“Geo, this is a duel. I won’t allow spectators.”

“This is a life-or-death battle with you, the strongest villain. Dark Matter is a villain I personally discovered and raised, Vengeance’s second-in-command. If I die, she has the right to witness it.”

Lu-a’s shoulders trembled at my words. E.lena didn’t object further.

E.lena, Lu-a, and I left the members behind and took the elevator to the top floor.

We arrived at the training ground and set the building’s defense to maximum.

Even with this, there’s a risk of building collapse if we go all out, but considering our abilities, it will be a one-on-one battle that will end quickly.

“Geo, there’s no chance you’ll die, right…? This was just an excuse to call me?”

Instead of answering, I patted Lu-a’s head.

E.lena and I faced each other.

“Since there are no listening ears, let’s talk frankly, E.lena. Did the Skylens fail? Did you confirm the side effects on a substitute?”

“Geo. Don’t test my patience.”

“As you can see with Dark Matter, my supporter ability that assists growth is real. Dark Matter hasn’t reached that level yet so I haven’t had a chance to use it, but I know the proper way to break through limits.”

“Geo. ‘Shut your mouth.'”

“Alright. I’ll be quiet. Oh, by the way, I mentioned the Red Dragon before to make the deal, but I already knew all the information.”

“I told you to shut up!”

Stamp!

E.lena stomped the floor with her high heel and shouted.

“What are you? Why do you keep pretending to know about me? Why do you ignore my verbal commands? Why do you keep annoying me, why. WHY?!”

E.lena glared at me, clenching both fists and breathing heavily.

“I’ve told you the reason many times.”

I answered lightly.

“I want your ability.”

E.lena gritted her teeth.

“There’s been a truckload of bugs who targeted me with such trivial reasons.”

“Pfft.”

When I couldn’t hold back my laughter, E.lena’s face distorted.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mock you. I just thought your self-consciousness was a bit cute.”

“Self-consciousness? You dare use such a word? You know nothing about why I protect myself!”

“Of course I don’t know. You haven’t told me.”

E.lena’s gaze was fierce.

The E.lena I knew from the original work was much more mentally broken than now.

Was it because her body was damaged by the failure of the Skylens?

She said before that everyone who touched her died. It seems there’s a reason beyond simple hatred.

“I’ll make one proposal as a condition for this match, E.lena.”

“A proposal?”

“You came in thinking you’d take my life, but as I said, I need your talent. So I have no intention of killing you here.”

Hearing my words, E.lena’s expression became even more distorted.

“So if you’re about to die, I’ll stop attacking at that moment. Then acknowledge your defeat. Oh, and since I value your body, I won’t make attacks that leave irreparable wounds. Accept these conditions.”

“Your arrogance and deception have reached the heavens and become a sin. That won’t happen.”

“Accept it.”

“Fine. One should listen to the last words of someone about to enter a coffin.”

After talking so much, my mouth is starting to feel heavy. It’s certainly difficult to resist E.lena’s verbal commands.

But including last time, I have enough data. I’ve gotten the feel for it.

I’ll end this match instantly.

“Then let’s begin.”

I took my stance.

E.lena’s eyes also turned cold.

In an instant, the atmosphere surrounding her changed.

“Transform.”

[R■■ELATI■N]

“Red of War.”

[B■LLUMRU■E■]

I charge forward.

But from the moment the red dragon’s skin enveloped my body, E.lena was already moving her lips.

It wasn’t ordinary language. She too was going all out from the start.

“Danpaldanlahaenojireojiteunduteunkkeobonaehanaljiweogeokajigeurojigeoweogeolajigeogeogeoralalalalalala――――”

High-speed verbal command.

A combination of commands that ears cannot follow flows instantly.

Her physical body strengthens. She directed the commands at herself instead of me.

She must have judged that using attack commands on me wouldn’t have immediate effect.

She intends to withstand close combat.

Good spirit.

CRASH!

My fist overlaps with E.lena’s arm. I can see her swollen muscles.

Reaction speed, dynamic vision, strength, stamina, muscle fiber density—everything enhanced to an incredible level.

Indeed. Is this what a level 9 verbal command is?

To withstand the Red of War.

“Huff—!”

E.lena immediately reacts to my technique. Tai Chi. Movement without waste.

But she still yields to overwhelming power.

BOOM!

A spinning kick. E.lena defends by rotating both arms, but I push her back.

She barely managed not to fall.

Just as I was about to follow up with a combo—

Swish—

Something pierced my shoulder.

There were fine lines flying through the air.

My reaction was too slow.

Hair, huh.

“‘Float.’ ‘Rotate.’ ‘Sharpen.'”

Before I knew it, dozens, hundreds of strands of hair were floating around me.

Indeed, she can use it like this.

It would be tough if all of them targeted my heart at once.

“‘Tear.’ ‘Break.’ ‘Twist.’ ‘Destroy.'”

E.lena was also continuously casting attack commands on my main body. My body gradually becomes heavier. My bones resonate.

“Geo, you are going to die now.”

E.lena declared, glaring at me with cold eyes.

“Indeed.”

She’s a strong woman.

Wealth, intelligence, power, and strength.

Everything at its peak.

And such a woman is desperate to kill me.

“Then before death arrives.”

I spoke to my heart.

“I must run toward death.”

[C■SUS■AER■LA]

“Blue of Death.”