Chapter 129 – The Valoran Subjugation (3)

BOOM!

Another fiery explosion ripped through the air, consuming the already thin oxygen.

Six down.

“Haa…” I gasped, trying to steady my breathing.

Phase 2 should have started by now… This Valoran was tougher than his in-game counterpart. More…resilient.

And the lack of a health bar was
incredibly
annoying.

Clack.

The sound of hooves shattered my thoughts.

SHHK!

A guillotine-like strike. Exploding orbs of dark magic. Runes blooming on the ground. A greatsword tearing through space.

I calculated the trajectories, mapping out my escape.

Two steps back. The hooves slammed down, creating a crater where I’d been standing.

Two steps right. The exploding magic grazed my clothes.

Three steps forward. The runes dissipated behind me.

I ducked, swinging Frey upwards.

CLANG!

The impact reverberated through my arms, deflecting the greatsword hidden within the dark energy. I used the momentum to spin away from a spreading rune, stabilizing myself with a burst of bloodlust.

I pushed forward, the rune snapping at my heels.

“Ugh!”

I bent backward, a scythe of magic whispering past my hair.

“Haa!” I gasped, throwing myself to the side.

BOOM!

A pillar of fire erupted where I’d been standing.

Damn.

[He’s getting faster, isn’t he?]

“He is—!”

Swish!

I ducked, dodging a magic spike, then lunged forward, scattering the resulting dark mist with a flurry of blows.

Holding my breath, I dispersed the mist with a wave of bloodlust, then hurled two daggers from my belt.

Thud. Thud.
They struck two approaching runes.

KABOOM!

A wall of fire erupted.

I straightened, sensing the tension in the steed’s muscles. I reversed my grip on Frey, swinging upwards.

CLANG!
The greatsword, aimed for my neck, was deflected. I adjusted my grip, swinging downwards.

CRUNCH!
The reins snapped. The steed’s neck split open, spraying blood.

I leaped upwards, bringing Frey down towards Valoran’s head.

BOOM!
The blow was intercepted. His fist, the size of my torso, knocked Frey aside.

Expected.

I used his fist as a foothold, twisting mid-air, landing smoothly. Then, seamlessly, into a slash.

The power flowed from my toes, through my legs, hips, shoulders, arms, to my fingertips—

—and into Frey.

No sound. Just the splitting and shattering of magic orbs, the dissipating mist, the corroding energy.

The steed’s hoof, cleaved in two. The wound on its neck, deepening.

I didn’t hesitate, throwing myself to the side with a burst of bloodlust.

KABOOM!

The flames engulfing Valoran intensified.

And then…

Crack.

The Bracelet of Verdure fractured.

Just from replicating that attack…

[That’s…not good.]

I silently agreed with Cartia, catching my breath.

And then…

Thrum.

A powerful pulse emanated from Valoran’s flame-wreathed form.

Phase 2.

I quickly chewed and swallowed painkillers and anesthetics, bracing myself. I channeled bloodlust into the ground, anchoring myself.

The next attack would start with sound. Then teleportation, followed by slashing attacks. Then whirlwinds of dark magic. Double the orbs and spikes.

I had no defense against the sonic attack. Hence the drugs.

Injuries could be healed with potions. Or by Rubia, later.

“Haa…”

I took a deep breath.

[AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA—!!]

A deafening roar ripped through the air, shaking the very ground. My ears burst, hot blood spilling out.

Mercifully, I felt no pain. Serr’s concoction was potent.

While I savored the blessed numbness, the surrounding debris and rubble disintegrated. The remaining building foundations cracked and crumbled.

The once-peaceful Cartia mainland was now a desolate wasteland.

Twenty minutes.

That’s all it took.

[Strange feeling…seeing a place I lived for a thousand years…reduced to rubble.]

I nodded silently in agreement with Cartia, cleaning the blood from my ears.

It was…unsettling. Especially since this had been Rubia’s favorite place.

I poured a high-grade potion into each ear.

The warmth spread, and sound returned.

The wind.

And then…

Clang!

The telltale sound of tearing space.

Teleportation.

I twisted Frey upwards, the familiar weight of Valoran’s greatsword meeting my blade. I used the recoil to spin, kicking off Valoran’s stomach, creating distance.

I landed, bloodlust dampening the impact, and immediately leaped again.

The thud of my boots against the scorched earth.

The frantic beating of my heart.

The rasp of my breath.

The wind whistling past Frey’s edge.

Clang!

Valoran vanished.

To my right.

I swung.

Up.

Frey, carving through distorted space.

Diagonal right.

A grazing blow against Valoran’s neck.

Left.

A deeper cut across his shoulder.

Front.

Dark ichor splattered onto the ground.

Valoran smirked, grabbing Frey’s blade.

[What the—?]

He
smiled
?

Clang!

“Huh?”

The scenery shifted.

Empty space.

No.

[Shit.]

The sky.

Cold wind whipped past me. My bloodlust clawed at the emptiness, finding no purchase. My body, weightless, uncontrolled.

Below, Valoran’s greatsword swung upwards.

I twisted, using the blade’s momentum to spin.

CLANG!

The impact sent me tumbling. Valoran’s attacks relentlessly pursued me through the air. Spikes grazed my skin. Orbs exploded around me, disorienting.

I couldn’t block. I couldn’t dodge. I couldn’t counter. I couldn’t even control my own body.

I was falling.

Focus on landing. Ignore the minor injuries. Protect vital points. Wait for an opening.

I expanded my senses, mapping the distance.

Fifteen seconds.

Bloodlust, repelling the dark magic. Aura, dispelling the mist. Frey, deflecting the greatsword.

Each exchange left new wounds.

Clang!

[Right side!]

A sword of darkness descended.

I twisted, bloodlust lending strength, and swung Frey upwards.

CRAAANG!

The impact nearly crushed me, the force accelerating my descent.

Two seconds.

And then…

Orbs. Spikes. The greatsword. A massive fist. Choking mist.

[Shin Noah!]

BOOM!

A blinding flash of divine power. A protective barrier, intercepting everything.

[Holy shit… I thought I was dead!]

“Huff… Noah, you need to eat more. Too light.”

A soft thud. Arms wrapped around me.

“…Huh?”

“Sorry I’m late. Got lost.”

“R-Rubia…?”

Clang!

“Enough chit-chat! Get ready!” Serr’s voice, sharp and urgent.

“She’s right. No time for small talk. Are you alright?”

Rubia’s divine power flowed through me, healing my wounds.

“Rubia…you’re covered in blood…”

“Ah… Heh… I…tripped.” Her robe was torn, revealing bloodstains beneath. The wounds were gone, but the metallic scent lingered.

“Just…scrapes. Nothing serious.” Rubia’s gaze shifted to Hermilla, who stood at Valoran’s feet, deflecting his attacks. “Noah…” she said, her voice low, “…I hate to ask this, but…”

She took a deep breath.

“…even if you lose an arm…I’ll reattach it. Just…keep fighting. Trust me.”

“Pfft…”

Not exactly romantic…but…

…it filled me with a strange sense of…joy.

“I trust you, Rubia.”

I retrieved Frey, my steps lighter than air as I charged back into the fray.