Chapter 77: Great Night (2)
I opened my eyes again.
Instinctively, I knew—I had lost consciousness.
I slowly looked around.
There were people staring at with worried expressions. Among them was the Saintess.
Sibelte Appel’s face had noticeably improved. Yet within her relieved expression, I could see guilt.
“How much ti has passed?”
I spoke indifferently. My body ached like madness.
Every ti I turned my neck, creaking sounds echoed, as if my body were broken.
“This contract is quite interesting. Even though I lost consciousness, it didn’t count as my defeat. Does the duel only end when one of us dies?”
“There is another way. You admit defeat.”
At my muttering, Reculrus replied.
“That was also an attack made with my full power. Your body shouldn’t have endured it. Yet here you are… standing. Remarkable.”
He even applauded. The astonishnt on his face was genuine.
“The fact that you wounded is shocking enough. That is precisely why I desire you even more. Even if not in your pri, you endured my power. A body blessed by the heavens—I must have it.”
His tone was relaxed.
As if he could kill at any mont.
I frowned.
“The outco hasn’t been decided yet.”
“No, it has. Because next ti, I will kill you.”
He smiled. Greed flickered in his eyes.
“Admit defeat. Then you may live. No matter what you try, you cannot kill . Accepting defeat is your only path to survival.”
“……”
I don’t think so.
My eyes sank coldly.
‘That said… he’s not lying.’
From the start, I was replaceable.
Even the Saintess had been offered the sa deal. The mont she refused, he tried to kill her.
To him, subordinates were nothing more than interchangeable parts.
If I refused, I would be killed just like she almost was.
I let out a long breath.
My body scread at —warning not to fight anymore.
I ignored it completely.
In the end, what I had to do was simple.
Win.
That was the only way I could continue living as a human.
I thought carefully.
Even my full-power strike hadn’t killed him.
But I didn’t despair.
He had definitely taken damage.
Then—
If I struck with sothing even stronger, I could kill him.
Of course, that was absurd.
My previous strike had already been my full power. My realm hadn’t suddenly increased.
But still—
I believed that if I risked everything, even death, I could kill him.
Wooooong—!!
Inner force surged from my dantian.
It flowed violently through my ridians, refusing to stop.
Gush!! Gush!!
Each ti I drew out more power, blood burst through my torn skin.
My muscles convulsed. My body spewed blood, unable to withstand the overwhelming force.
At that sight, the Saintess was horrified.
My body was already so broken that it was a miracle I was still standing.
And yet, I was drawing out even greater power.
I could die at any mont.
That was why she prayed.
For the resolve of a man who was burning his life away to kill Reculrus.
‘Please… let his challenge succeed.’
She prayed again and again.
But as ti passed, people grew confused.
One minute. Ten minutes.
I didn’t move at all.
I stood still—like a corpse.
Even Reculrus began to feel sothing was off.
Then—
Flash—!!
Red mana enveloped my entire body.
It was different from before.
Darker. Denser.
Stronger.
Slowly, I raised my sword and took my stance.
Only then did everyone realize—
I had been gathering power all this ti.
“You…!”
Reculrus’s eyes trembled violently.
“What’s wrong?”
I smirked.
“Are you finally afraid?”
Crack. Creak.
With every word I spoke, disturbing sounds echoed.
Only now did people realize—
Those sounds were my bones and muscles breaking apart.
Endless circulation.
I was unleashing the true power of the Four Seasons Star Cloud Technique.
I forced my body to contain the maximum possible energy.
Of course—
My body couldn’t endure infinite circulation forever.
If I didn’t stop, I would eventually explode.
But for now—
I could still endure.
Crack—! Crunch—!
Feeling as if every bone in my body was shattering, I took a step forward.
Each step carried the resolve:
If I don’t kill him in one strike, I die.
Seeing approach, Reculrus took a step back.
He felt it.
My energy had grown—
And now surpassed his.
“Y-you…”
“Don’t run. It’s my turn now. Or will you admit defeat?”
“……”
Rage filled his heterochromatic eyes.
Defeat?
From a human?
Impossible.
“That cannot be!!”
Kwaaaaaang-!!
His roar exploded with mana.
Everyone nearby collapsed to their knees.
“I will never lose to a re human!!”
An overwhelming pressure crushed down.
It was difficult even to et his gaze.
But I didn’t look away.
Instead, I glared straight at him.
Slash—
A silent strike cut through his torso.
Paaang-!!
Only after did the sound of air being torn follow.
My sword had moved faster than sound.
Reculrus realized it too late.
‘Re… regeneration!!’
He tried to react—
But his body wouldn’t move.
His upper and lower halves refused to reconnect.
His regeneration, once extraordinary—
Was failing.
‘He wasn’t supposed to be this strong!’
This wasn’t just surprising.
It completely defied his expectations.
Fear gripped him.
Even Force couldn’t kill him at his peak.
But now—
Weakened—
He couldn’t recover.
‘Am I… going to die… here…?!’
At that mont—
He saw it.
Among the shattered labyrinth ruins—
A figure watching silently.
A boy.
And like him—
He had heterochromatic eyes.
---
---
Thud—
After Reculrus’s body fell to the ground—
Silence descended.
No one spoke.
“Is he… dead?”
Then—
I spoke calmly.
“I don’t feel any life from him. And it doesn’t seem like he left behind any tricks before dying. Strange… For soone so strong, he died rather easily.”
My words reflected everyone’s thoughts.
He had felt like a calamity.
Yet he died in a single strike?
It was hard to believe.
Breaking the silence—
Was again.
“He might revive. We should keep watch for a wh—”
Thud.
I collapsed face-first onto the ground.
“Ah… I’ve reached my limit.”
After that—
I said nothing.
Silence fell once more.
Then—
“Save him!!”
Retina’s cry echoed like a lion’s roar.
At that, Sibelte snapped to her senses.
“Priest Frey!”
Frey rushed toward without a word.
My condition was critical.
I needed imdiate treatnt.
“His condition is terrible.”
Sibelte said, her face pale.
“His organs, blood vessels, bones, muscles… nothing is intact. How is he even alive?”
It was hard to believe I was human.
But that didn’t matter.
I was still alive.
Which ant—
She could save .
Paaaat—!!
Warm light flowed from her hands.
Divine power entered my body, healing everything.
As she worked, she noticed my dantian.
‘There’s sothing strange… It feels like a knight’s Mana Heart.’
Was this the source of my power?
She avoided touching it.
A Mana Heart was a knight’s life.
And mine was in an unusual position.
Careless interference could be dangerous.
She focused completely.
One hour passed.
My condition steadily improved.
My twisted bones returned to place.
My torn muscles beca even stronger.
The recovery was terrifying.
Beyond human limits.
‘…Is he really human?’
Even she began to doubt.
“…How long was I unconscious?”
I opened my eyes again.
Sa indifferent tone.
Sibelte let out a small laugh.
“You’ve been out for an hour. How do you feel?”
“Comfortable. Warm.”
My face was relaxed—
Like soone resting at a resort.
“The Holy Knights confird Reculrus’s condition.”
“Is he dead?”
“He’s dead. Without a doubt.”
“That’s a relief.”
If the Saintess said so, it was certain.
I relaxed.
Soon, I stood up.
“...What a monstrous body.”
“I hear that often.”
I turned to Garan.
“The demons in the labyrinth—are they gone?”
“Retina checked with detection magic. They’re still there. Probably frozen after their leader died.”
“Good. Then we can extract information.”
“Rest. Even if your body is fine, your mind isn’t. We’re still in enemy territory.”
I nodded.
ntal exhaustion was always worse than physical.
As I moved to rest—
I saw him.
Standing beside Reculrus’s corpse—
A boy.
Requilith.
He sank his fangs into Reculrus’s neck.
“……!!”
I didn’t know what he was doing.
And that was exactly why I had to stop him.
Ignorance could be dangerous.
But just as I moved—
He pulled his fangs out.
Reculrus’s body had withered—
Completely drained of blood.
‘He… drank it?’
Why?
My expression hardened.
Too many things beyond common sense had been happening lately.
This could be another.
I spoke calmly.
“Hey. You.”
“Why?”
Requilith answered casually.
“Did you drink Reculrus’s blood?”
“Yeah. The blood of a True Ancestor is a precious tonic for defective ones like us. Thanks to you.”
“…Explain.”
“Hmm…”
He frowned slightly.
Then—
He began to speak.
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