[EP.38] The Underdogs Victory
Breaths rushed from Kraushs mouth.
Blood from his nose trickled down, wetting his cheeks.
His face was taut with strained blood vessels, a testant to the excessive use of his intuition.
Bark, bark, bark!
The sound of barking around him was disorienting, echoing inside his head.
The world, tainted red, provoked a bitter feeling.
It was his first ti harnessing his intuition to such an extent.
He did not have much longer.
At this rate, his intuition would be severed.
The limit was slowly pressing down on him.
But Kraush gnashed his teeth against it.
Suffer through it.
He had felt his limits keenly since early evening.
Weak and talentless, that was his self-assessnt.
Thus, overwhelming opponents with sheer strength, like a genius would, was impossible.
Berkman was stronger than him.
Hence, Kraush had to hide his strength tenaciously until the very mont Berkman was certain of his complete victory.
Klang!
Finally, the limitations of his intuition revealed themselves.
In that instant, when Kraushs sword, mistakenly splitting an illusion, faltered, Berkmans eyes flashed, sensing victory.
His axes presence dissolved.
The aura-flooded axe of his boasted a presence grander than ever before.
As if pulling the very air into its grasp, Berkmans axe tore through the atmosphere, swinging down towards Kraush with a chilling howl.
In Berkmans mind, the only sight was Kraushs head soaring off.
And then that mont.
Crack!
A blaze erupted within Kraush, surging through his body.
Ignis had ignited the world-devouring power that lay dormant within him.
Combustion was akin to the driving force behind power.
The sa held true for the world-devouring power.
A violent combustion of that power began with Igniss ignition.
Crack-crack-crack!
The force generated from burning the world-devouring power infused directly into Kraushs body.
The fierce storm of strength montarily broke through his limits with such intensity that it deford his muscles and altered his bones.
His breathing changed.
The deanor of his body transford.
All information flooding his sight in that split second led to accelerated thoughts.
In that instant, Kraush, enveloped in accelerated contemplation, felt as if ti had stopped.
The expanded perception even sensed delicate snowflakes slowly falling from a distant tree.
The surging heat from within him then reached the Illusionary Bind.
Crash!
The sound of breaking glass reverberated strongly.
Though the Illusionary Bind dissipated in the burning heat, Kraushs eyes still reddened from the blaze.
Tears of blood and nosebleeds burst forth simultaneously.
This was the backlash of harnessing the world-devouring power to surpass his limits.
A combination of Ignis and Extre Blood Poison, it was Kraushs original ultimate technique.
Annihilation Erosion.
3 seconds.
He realized by sensation.
With his current capabilities, he could sustain Annihilation Erosion for no more than 3 seconds.
End it within that tifra.
In that mont, a black fla surged upon his blade.
With newfound strength infused into his faltering sword, Kraush surged upwards, defying Berkmans axe.
Kraush was faster than the axe could reach.
Like a hunting hound tearing at the neck of its prey,
Kraushs sword rushed towards Berkmans throat.
Up until the sword neared his neck, Berkman seed oblivious to its presence.
Kraushs blade was that swift.
In the interim, Berkmans mouth, resembling a dogs snout, inadvertently opened.
A purely reflexive action, where the body responded before the brain registered the threat.
Only then did Berkmans eyes belatedly recognize Kraushs sword.
When did he? Im going to die. Im dying!
Under normal circumstances, it wouldve ant death by now, but in this split second, his reflex action created an opportunity.
-!
Welcoming Sound.
An inaudible explosion of sound shattered Kraushs eardrums in the next instant.
One reflexive action spawned a lifeline, a variable that was crucial for Berkman.
Piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!
The ringing in his ears was followed by a disorienting sensation, twisting his vision.
Crash-crash-crash!
The aftershocks of the impact turned the fight on its head.
Due to the ruptured eardrums, Kraushs sword, disoriented, sliced through Berkmans right shoulder instead.
While the scorching blade wielded dreadful power,
the sword embedded in his shoulder was ant for Berkmans neck.
It was Berkmans reflex that had turned the situation upside down in an instant.
At the sa ti, the flas encasing Kraush were slowly extinguishing.
The effects of Annihilation Erosion were fading.
What followed could only be an extended retirent.
The scales of fortune and misfortune swapped places between Berkman and Kraush.
A situation reversed in an instant.
As Kraush swung his sword, he felt the ebb of strength due to the Annihilation Erosions toll.
With a shoulder cleaved by the axe and a shattered left hand, binding the axe was impossible.
Impossible?
It surely was.
But that was a tale of the sword.
He still had another move up his sleeve.
Kraush released his right hand from the grip.
With that very movent, the remaining flas from the dwindling Annihilation Erosion ferociously indwelled his right hand.
So fiercely infused were they that the muscles and skin tore as the flas surged upward.
Kraush swung his arm with no hesitation towards Berkmans axe.
Crack!
The mont they collided, the axes blade lodged into Kraushs right arm.
Despite being reinforced by Annihilation Erosion, the muscles and bones were cleaved by the axe.
Ultimately, the axe would bisect Kraushs right arm, then carry on to slice his neck.
Yet, in that mont,
the arm impaled by the axe bought a few crucial seconds.
Kraushs eyes blazed a brilliant blue.
In this extre situation,
his spirit dived into the realm of oneness in a flash.
His ntal fortitude was such that even Crimson Garden would marvel.
Drip!
A droplet from his spiritual strength fell into the lake of his mind, rippling outward through his entire body.
The rising dragon from the ntal lake scaled his arm and eventually, reached his sword.
In that mont, the sword plunged into Berkmans shoulder beca one with Kraush.
Witnessing this, Berkman bore a look of resignation.
Despite the lucky factor of his reflex, Kraush had tenaciously seized the mont until the very end.
His doggedness was such that it could have left even Berkman, the so-called Butcher, disgusted.
Ive lost.
Realizing that every move hed played had culminated in defeat, Berkman closed his eyes.
And then
One Sword.
Crunch!
Along with the sound of Kraushs remaining left hand bones shattering, his sword cleaved Berkman from shoulder to end.
Crashcrashcrashcrashcrashcrashcrash!
The forest echoed with the sound of the aftermath from that one strike.
Bisection at the hands of Kraushs strike, Berkmans body, now cleaved in half, tilted past Kraush.
Seeing the life ebb from him, Kraush let go of his sword.
His left hand had failed to withstand the force and shattered.
Snap, click
But the real concern lay elsewhere.
Kraushs right arm, previously impaled by the axe, was hollow.
His right arm lay so distance away, rolling in a snowdrift.
Thanks to the Annihilation Erosion, his right arm seed to bid farewell as it smoldered away.
Amidst the drip-drop of blood,
Kraush gasped for breath as he turned around.
Crimson Garden silently watched Kraushs actions.
Understanding that he sacrificed his own arm, she could not attempt to stop him.
The strong prevail without wounds,
But the weak can only win covered in scars.
It was Kraushs only possible form of victory.
Are you satisfied?
Although that victory was rightly won.
Crimson Gardens sigh escaped her lips.
She knew the wretchedness of Kraush, who had no choice but to choose a victory marred only with wounds.
But he had won.
For the first ti, Kraush had defeated a real powerhouse, the kind he thought himself incapable of ever beating.
Damn, so much for satisfaction.
Twisted with irony, a smile hovered over Kraushs lips.
Crimson Garden just shook her head, chuckling at his stubborn nature.
Just then, Kraushs body crumbled.
It was the end of the line for his ntal tenacity.
Kraush!
Ebelasque quickly erged to support Kraushs failing form.
Seeing him with an amputated right arm and a shattered left hand, Ebelasque bit her lip.
The smile that faintly lingered around his mouth left her speechless, even as she wondered if such victory was worth the imnse damage sustained.
What kind of life has he been living?
How could Kraush still manage a smile amidst such a disastrous victory?
Lets go back.
Crimson Garden spread her wings and took flight with lightness.
Ebelasque, seeing this, stood, cradling both Bianca and Kraushs bodies in her arms.
It was ti to take care of the aftermath.
***
Through the slowly clearing haze,
Kraush saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
He gazed at it vacantly for a while before feeling pain throughout his body.
It hurts.
When was the last ti he had felt such pain?
Even though he was accustod to pain due to a curse, there was little he could do about injuries this severe.
He noticed the absence of sensation in his right arm.
No doubt due to it being severed.
But it was fine.
He could manage without a right arm; after all, it wasnt the first ti hed lost a part of his body.
He slowly lifted himself up.
Worry for the little chick with white hair ca to mind.
In the midst of that thought, he spotted snow-white hair beside his bed.
Seeing her laying on top of his bed, he couldnt help but be flabbergasted.
She was weakened and wounded from her ordeal,
yet there she was.
Kraush lifted his bandaged left hand.
Fortunately, the pain wasnt too severe, likely due to good dicine applied.
With that hand, Kraush gave Bianca a gentle thump on her head.
Ah.
With a short exclamation, Biancas head shot up.
Her sapphire-like eyes t his.
By her expression, she seed to be alright.
If youre going to sleep, go to your own bed.
Hearing Kraushs words, the perplexed Bianca slowly looked at his now empty right arm socket.
Kraush turned aside, thinking she would bla herself.
Does it hurt?
Bianca asked in the mont he moved.
Her emotionless face, caused by the snow doll curse, was as impassive as ever.
Not much.
Kraush replied curtly, signaling her not to worry, and Bianca clutched the blanket tightly.
She then opened and shut her mouth, seemingly struggling to find the words she wanted to say.
But Bianca couldnt spit them out after a long mont since she did not know what to say.
Seeing this, Kraush spoke for her.
Why did you go into the mountains?
Lokal Mountains were treacherous terrain.
Especially in Hardenhartz, where there was perpetual snow, entering such a mountain was akin to madness.
At Kraushs words, Bianca seed to rember sothing and reached to the floor.
She then lifted a bottle which contained The White Snow Hot Yang Spores.
Kraush realized it then.
The reason Bianca ventured into the mountain was to find The White Snow Hot Yang Spores.
This fool.
A quiet sigh escaped Kraushs mouth.
Should he scold her, or should he praise her for the effort?
Though unsure why she had personally sought out The White Snow Hot Yang Spores,
he was aware that there must have been so circumstance compelling her in Hardenhartz.
That story could wait for another ti.
Therefore, Kraush rummaged through his pocket.
Fortunately, Biancas snowflake pin was still safely inside.
Kraush took it out with his left hand.
Attempting to pin it to Biancas hair, he ended up grimacing.
Sorry, I cant seem to pin it.
At those words, Bianca reached out to take Kraushs hand away from her hair.
Then, maneuvering his hand herself, she properly affixed the pin to her hair.
Watching this, Kraush then patted her head lightly.
Well done. Thanks to you, we can complete the elixir.
After receiving Kraushs complint, Bianca quietly fell into silence.
Seeing her like this, Kraush withdrew his hand, only for Bianca to catch it again.
Kraush, sir.
Hearing her call him, Kraush looked at Bianca.
Despite her still impassive face, Kraush for so reason felt she looked sadder that day.
I cant feel any emotions.
Bianca looked at his empty right arm socket.
She felt a sense of responsibility there.
However, it wasnt anger or sorrow, it was re guilt.
Nothing more than guilt.
I cant make faces, cant cry, cant even blush. I feel neither happiness, anger, nor sadness for you saving in such a state.
For the first ti, Bianca painfully realized her curse.
Thats what curses are intended for.
To tornt those burdened by them.
And tornt, Bianca felt, bitterly and gravely, for not being able to express any emotion to Kraush who had tried so hard for her.
Kraush silently looked at her.
He rembered a past conversation with her.
I envy you. For being you.
The voice of her, expressionless, looking at her own face, lingered in his mory.
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