episode_0100

It is often said.

An elf’s weapon is synonymous with a long lifespan.

Usually used as a metaphorical expression.

Implying that during a long lifespan, one can accomplish many things.

But there were those who took the concept of lifespan literally as a weapon.

And one of those lunatics is standing before me now.

In the dark hall, a faint light spreads out.

The light emanating from Rex’s lifespan, gradually changing to an orange hue.

Evidence that his lifespan is decreasing in real-time.

When the cold blue flames finally flicker and extinguish.

That’s when Rex will die.

“I’ve staked everything on my revenge! What have you staked?”

Rex truly staked everything.

His life and lifespan, all in pursuit of revenge.

But if that revenge is directed towards Transylvania, then it’s a problem.

He’s spewing nonsense even towards the wrong person.

“I’ll say it again! If you’re not prepared to face death, then surrender!”

“What kind of fool doesn’t prepare for death…”

This is truly hopeless.

The technique of burning lifespan to exchange for power is certainly frowned upon, but not illegal.

“Ah…”

Glancing at Mia, she seems equally bewildered.

As long as the duel rules are not violated.

And Elvengard laws are not broken, there is no grounds for me to stop this duel as a judge.

Ultimately, the duel must proceed as it is.

He intends to defeat me in an instant.

Then immediately call Transylvania to the arena to seek revenge.

Next would be Yuria.

That damn bastard would burn his lifespan to the ground to kill Yuria as well.

Rex is clearly losing his sanity and rampaging.

Teetering on the edge of legality, trying to commit a crime.

I must stop him.

No one else but me must stop Rex here.

The first method that comes to mind is, of course, time manipulation.

Delaying time until Rex’s flames turn blue.

As long as I can hold out until his lifespan is depleted.

But even Rex, as foolish as he is, could think of such a simple method.

“You rat! Did you think I wouldn’t see through your scheme!”

“Grr…”

Thud!

As Rex slams the ground, dirt scatters in all directions.

Covered in flames, Rex charges towards me.

Instead of clashing swords, I dodge to the side to evade.

But he quickly changes direction and pursues me with his blade.

After scrambling and narrowly escaping, I finally manage to completely evade his blade.

“How long do you think you can keep running!”

But that’s just a temporary effect.

The cost of dodging.

When Rex immediately comes back at me, I had to strike back decisively.

I keep running and running, only to reach my limit soon.

In the end, Rex has the upper hand in speed and strength.

I’m sacrificing my stamina to prolong my life.

As my stamina depletes, my retreat slows down.

And the lingering wounds on my body increase.

One mistake here could mean a fatal blow instead of a lingering wound.

My breath quickens in an instant.

And I’m already backed against the wall.

There’s nowhere to run, no more energy left.

Now, I must stand and fight.

To escape from the corner, I must face his blade.

And I have no intention of engaging in a fair fight.

“What?!”

Feigning vulnerability.

I swiftly counter his sword with a kick to the underside of his shoe.

Simultaneously aiming a low horizontal strike at his waist with my blade.

“I already knew you were using two sword styles!”

However, as if he had anticipated it, Rex subtly adjusted his distance and fell back, avoiding the exposure.

He tried to counterattack by deflecting the flying sword with a sturdy iron ring and attempting a counterattack, but he was quickly exposed again.

In an attempt to create confusion, he mixed attacks from the Dakiaryu and Frostryu styles, but Rex calmly responded and blocked them.

“Now is the time.”

However, this created an opening.

Dakiaryu and Frostryu.

One focused on attacking and the other on defense, they were polar opposites.

Guarding against both styles at the same time meant being completely defenseless against a completely different style.

“Huh?!”

The final joker card.

Drawing the Meridaryu, he swung the sword and thrust forward.

A movement completely different from the wide swings or thrusts before.

Instead of aiming for a direct hit like the Dakiaryu, it was the complete opposite.

Like flowing water, he penetrated the defense and pierced the enemy with the tip of the sword.

As the enemy’s wrist bent at an impossible angle and the blade of the sword flew, Rex’s eyes widened.

This cannot be avoided.

No matter how fast Rex’s reflexes were, pulling his head back as far as possible was the best option.

Yet, the enemy’s skull was still within the range of my sword.

Gotcha.

“Aaargh!!!”

“······?!”

At that moment, something unbelievable happened.

The tip of the sword touched the enemy’s forehead.

Feeling the skin being cut and the blade penetrating inside.

But what followed was not the sensation of the skull cracking and breaking.

Just the sensation of scratching and passing by the skull.

I hit his head, but I didn’t kill him.

“Haah······ Haah······ Using the Meridaryu too······. You damn thief!”

“This is insane. How are we supposed to catch him?”

Rex, who had stepped back, held his bleeding head and gasped for breath.

He hit the weak spot perfectly.

However, Rex was just unbelievably tough.

What he gained from burning his lifespan was not just strength.

His body’s durability had also increased accordingly.

A shallow cut would not be enough to expect a fatal blow.

So, the only way to shatter Rex’s skull with certainty was to strike with a decisive blow with the sword······.

That was impossible.

Just now, it barely managed to penetrate by a stroke of luck.

Facing an opponent who was superior in strength, speed, and skill, such a big move would not work.

“This is bad.”

There are no more joker cards to play.

Having shown both Dakiaryu and Frostryu, even the Meridaryu.

From now on, Rex will approach me even more cautiously and carefully.

I wish he had just gone completely insane and reckless.

Going mad quietly, while also resisting rationally with overwhelming physical strength, there was simply no way to fight back.

“An elf who risks his life, damn it······. Do you guys just organize a suicide squad? You seem like you could even conquer the world.”

“No elf who wastes the divine providence bestowed by the World Tree! Unless they are prepared to risk everything for revenge like me!”

With blood dripping from his forehead, one of Rex’s eyes had already turned red.

Taking a deep breath and raising the sword again, Rex assumed a stance.

Gradually, the light surrounding his entire body was changing from yellow to blue.

In response, I did the same.

Adjusting my twisted wrist and gripping the sword.

Already at the limit of my stamina, the tip of the sword was trembling.

Nevertheless, I could not retreat.

“Why aren’t you giving up? Your desperate attack was in vain! Stop your meaningless resistance and give up! We are fighting for our lives here! If you’re not desperate, then stop wasting others’ lives and leave!”

“I’m in the same boat, risking my life.”

Yelling under the pressure, Rex.

But desperation is mutual on this side too.

After all, I’ve been rolling for 12 years.

It’s the final chance given after rolling for 12 years.

But I can’t let the guy who declares to strike in this final round go.

Absolutely, I can’t let him face the tip of Yuriya’s sword.

“I can’t understand! Are you even mourning the witch? What kind of existence is the witch that everyone fears and even Elvengard abandoned?”

“Mourning…?”

It’s unbelievable.

Am I mourning Yuriya?

In the end, a bitter laugh bursts out.

“Ha. No.”

No.

It’s definitely not that simple emotion.

It’s not just liking or hating.

“It’s more than that.”

Soon, the trembling of the sword subsides.

Strength surges through my body.

My stamina has already exceeded its limit, but my focus is at its peak.

The control of magic refined through the magic stone in the sword handle is more perfect than ever.

What more can I say.

Right now, I am stronger than any moment before.

But I still can’t match the elf who burns a thousand years of life.

Perhaps for the next 5 minutes, Rex will exhibit the strongest level of power.

In the face of overwhelming power, the gap in combat experience and skill is meaningless.

Even a properly aimed blow is blocked by a solid skull.

No technique will work from now on.

“Ha…”

Observing Rex adjusting his posture, a feeling arises.

It’s like hitting a huge wall.

It’s just a wall that you can turn back from, but trying to overcome it recklessly will only exhaust you.

To shatter Rex’s bones and deal a fatal blow, I must land a direct hit.

That means I have to make a big move and get close.

Otherwise, before the sword strikes, my body will be in shambles.

I must survive and strike Rex with a direct hit.

The sword must reach where it cannot be reached.

Beyond the limits of the sword, by any means…

“Ah.”

Only now.

I feel like I understand the meaning of the vague and cryptic words.

It’s not just a simple long-range sword strike.

I think I understand the meaning.

The purpose of the Dakia style is not to deal with distant enemies in the first place.

It’s to cut where the sword cannot reach.

To cut inside where there is no gap.

Created to transcend the limits of the sword.

The ultimate purpose.

The essence of attack.

“Why… the sword…?”

Dropping the sword that has become useless and a mess.

Grabbing the wooden scabbard at the waist.

And holding the sword handle tightly wrapped with a silk cord in the other hand.

It’s an unfamiliar feeling.

Uncomfortable and awkward.

Without the magic stone that helped control magic, the flow of magic throughout my body quickly becomes chaotic.

But the sensation at my fingertips becomes more refined.

The trembling of the sword and the convulsions of my muscles resonate.

I’m ready to draw the sword.

“Futile effort…!”

Rex’s face turns pale, and he rushes towards me.

At the same time, the sword is drawn from the scabbard.

A strange sensation accompanies it, and the system window appears before my eyes.

[Specialty, ‘Dakia Style’ has leveled up.]

[Specialty: Dakia Style (lv.11)]