Chapter 53: The Hidden Floor (5)
KRAAASH—
In the midst of the fierce battle that had raged on for several minutes, I leapt high into the air.
At the same time, the spot where I had been standing was instantly blown apart by lightning.
Maintaining flight as I spread my wings, I scattered fifteen Shinsu swords down toward the ground.
One Shinsu sword detonated violently while infused with Shinwonryu, and amid the bombardment of the remaining blades, Sworn Enemy Maschenny endured it head-on and fired another technique up at me.
Maschenny-style Lightning Spear Art, Killing Technique - Blade of Radiance (Espada de la Luz)
A massive blade shot skyward.
I spread my wings wide, wrapping them around my body to block the attack.
While the secondary Shinsu storm generated by Shinwonryu trapped her in place, I descended rapidly and drew my sword.
— Messenger's Tenfold Slaying
I slashed in rapid succession, drawing ten sword paths.
Each followed a different trajectory, carving Maschenny apart from multiple angles.
Not letting her escape as she was flung far away, I formed four Shinsu swords and hurled them, scoring direct hits.
KRAAAANG—!
An explosion followed by a violent Shinsu vortex obscured everything from view.
After taking Messenger's Tenfold Slaying and then a Shinwonryu follow-up, this should have been the end.
I did feel a little bad attacking her this hard—but if it were Maschenny, she would rather I fight her seriously.
If I'd held back, she would've been even angrier.
"Haa… try thinking about how it feels to have to kill a close friend too."
Even if the fight was fun, finishing it always left a strange feeling behind.
I sighed lightly and turned away.
Since she was my sworn enemy, she'd probably revive somewhere and come charging at me again anyway.
Before that, I should go meet Hon.
I started toward the place where the massive sword of light stood—
Then I heard a voice I really didn't want to hear.
"…Wait."
…!
Maschenny was still standing.
Despite taking four Shinwonryu hits head-on, she had somehow forced herself back up.
Looks like I underestimated the body of a Zahard Princess.
"My enjoyment… isn't over yet."
A massive lightning spear began to form—
But unfortunately—
"No. This time, it's over. Maschenny."
Her body couldn't endure any longer.
She had already pushed herself past her limits by forcibly operating her body with Lightning Pills, and the accumulated damage I'd dealt finally caught up to her.
SHRAAAK—
Blood poured from her entire body as Sworn Enemy Maschenny collapsed.
Her form was wrapped in light, and then she vanished somewhere else.
I stared at the scene with a conflicted look, let out a sigh, and continued on my way.
Seriously—no matter how much she loves fighting, moderation exists for a reason.
I worry the real Maschenny might end up like this someday.
I should hurry, deal with the Altar of Swords, and then resolve things with Sworn Enemy Maschenny properly.
"Hmmm. You're rather rough with women, aren't you?"
"That's not—huh?"
I'd answered naturally—but then it hit me.
Who was that?
I looked around and finally found the speaker.
A stone pillar of the altar nearby.
Sitting casually atop it was a boy, smiling gently.
White robes like mine.
White hair, white eyes, pale skin.
And the moment I saw his face, I was reminded of the face I'd first met when I was twelve.
He'd grown up nicely.
"…Hello, Father."
"Oh? You recognize me? The people from outside grew tiresome, so we built this hidden stage to live apart. And since then… you're the first one to reach this place."
"Haha… I'm honored."
For some reason, I felt a cold sweat forming.
Compared to the Arie Hon I'd met outside, he felt far less overwhelming—but even so, the faint sense of divinity still lingered.
An atmosphere that made conversation itself feel burdensome radiated from him.
"Since you're here, would you like some tea? I'll treat you. Come along."
He jumped down from the pillar and gestured casually with his thumb toward the massive sword of light in the distance.
Despite my confusion at Arie Hon's unexpectedly polite welcome, I followed him obediently.
So this was what he was like back when he was a D-Rank Regular.
Come to think of it… he preferred tea over alcohol back then, huh.
Maybe I could learn how to brew tea from him.
Learning Arie traditional tea directly from Hon himself wouldn't be bad.
Lost in such trivial thoughts, I walked alongside him toward the sword of light.
Matching his leisurely pace, I spoke up.
"Do you live alone here?"
"Not quite. Before entering the hidden stage, when I still resided in a normal stage, several Arie data came seeking to follow me. I live here with them now. It seems the me outside has quite a lot of children… things have changed."
"You really do feel like a completely different person."
"Hahaha. You're the first to say that aloud. Your power, Shinwonryu… there's much to discuss. I'll make up for the sleep I lost with that."
…Wait. Did I wake him up?
He must have been watching my fight with Sworn Enemy Maschenny the whole time.
I scratched my head awkwardly and smiled.
Hon returned the smile.
That somehow made me even more uneasy.
....
Palace of Spears — Nearby Ravine
CRACK—
Five lightning spears surrounded sworn enemy Hoaquin, then fired simultaneously.
It was a perfectly timed attack—there was no way to avoid it.
"Ghk—… this body really has its limits. Can't even use Shinwonryu."
To keep Maschenny at bay, sworn enemy Hoaquin hastily formed a massive Shinsu sword and launched it, but it was effortlessly split apart by her technique.
Maschenny-style Lightning Spear Art — Killing Technique: Spear of the Electric Mind
Her lance, wrapped in lightning, thrust straight toward Hoaquin's heart.
Almost simultaneously, sworn enemy Hoaquin's sword struck down toward Maschenny's neck.
A clear mutual-destruction scenario—
But Maschenny released her lance mid-thrust.
"What—?!"
"Falling for the same trick twice. How soft."
Sworn Enemy Hoaquin tried to close in immediately, but the lance—still in the middle of Spear of the Electric Mind—self-destructed, unleashing a massive electrical explosion that inflicted heavy damage and bound his movements.
Maschenny did not waste the precious time she gained.
Lightning gathered in her hand.
Dark clouds formed around her.
She poured every ounce of remaining power into a single spear—
No.
Lightning itself.
This was the strongest technique she could use in her current state.
Maschenny-style Lightning Spear Art — Transcendent Technique: Divine Punishment
Just as in legends where an evil man is struck down by lightning from the heavens, dark storm clouds billowed densely around Maschenny, and a single bolt of lightning extended from her hand.
But that single bolt split—
And split again—
Until it became dozens of thick lightning strikes.
All of them targeted one thing.
Her sworn enemy—Hoaquin.
Divine Punishment descended upon him.
KRAA-BOOOOM—!
A thunderous roar erupted, as if real thunder and lightning had torn through the sky itself.
The surrounding area was utterly devastated, swallowed by lightning.
Even after the initial strike ended, residual lightning energy continued to rage wildly.
Several more bolts fell from Maschenny's storm clouds, stirring chaos—only then did Divine Punishment finally come to an end.
Thud.
"Haa… haa…"
Maschenny lost her balance and dropped to one knee.
To cast that technique—to create that single blow—she had poured every last shred of power she had left into it.
Her heart pounded as if it might burst.
Her breathing was ragged, repeatedly drawing in and expelling Shinsu.
And yet—
The thought that she had defeated him made her smile.
At least, until sworn enemy Hoaquin emerged from the cloud of dust.
"Ghh… when did you even prepare something like that…With this body, not dying was the limit."
…!
Incredibly, sworn enemy Hoaquin was still alive.
His entire body was torn to shreds—but unmistakably, he lived.
She hadn't expected him to endure even that.
Even a sworn enemy version of Hoaquin—far weaker than the real one—had survived her transcendent technique head-on.
Then just how strong was the real Hoaquin?
A powerful opponent was the perfect catalyst to stoke her fighting spirit, but the gap between her and him now felt vast beyond measure.
Back during the Festival, they had been evenly matched—
But now, frustration twisted her lips.
Then… the Lightning Pill is all I have left.
She could no longer move under her own power.
At this rate, victory would belong to her nemesis—
so Maschenny took out a Lightning Pill.
This would forcibly drive her body beyond its limits.
Using it now—when she was already at her absolute limit—would cause severe backlash…
But there was no other choice.
"Huh—hey! Don't take that! The rebound will be insane!"
Sworn enemy Hoaquin panicked when he saw her pull out the Lightning Pill, frantically waving his hands.
The irony made Maschenny let out a hollow laugh.
"Shut up. If I use this, I win. You're basically at death's door too."
"No, hey! That thing won't be enough! I'd rather just—"
SHWAAAK—!
A sharp sound split the sky.
Both Maschenny and sworn enemy Hoaquin instinctively looked upward.
A bolt of lightning falling from the heavens toward Hoaquin—
…No.
A person?
"SHUT UP!!"
KWA-KWA-KWAAAAANG—!!
An overwhelming lightning strike, saturated with terrifying electrical power.
Its force rivaled—even surpassed—Maschenny's transcendent technique.
It swallowed sworn enemy Hoaquin whole.
Already on the brink of death, the sworn enemy Hoaquin was completely annihilated.
From within the lightning that filled the surroundings, a single boy stood up.
"HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SLEEP?! WHAT KIND OF RUCKUS IS THIS IN SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME?!"
A boy whose entire body—down to his pupils—crackled with electricity shouted in irritation.
-------------------
A/N: Merry Christmas guys 🎄 🎁
500 power stone [ 1 extra ]
1000 power stone [ 2 extra ]
If you want to read 20 advance chapters ahead.
Visit my patreon: patreon.com/Leonzky