Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Spring, Come Forth (6)
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With a deafening roar, the stone wall exploded. Indigo seawater cascaded down like a waterfall. Ronan spat curses upon witnessing the insane act.
"That crazy bitch...!"
The outside was the lightless deep sea. It seemed she intended to sink the entire Rodolan into the water. Asel, who had quickly levitated into the air, swept his hand through the empty space.
Boom! Kwang! Another explosion rocked the area. Water jets began gushing from three holes. In mere seconds, the seawater rose to their calves. Pale-faced, Erzsebet canceled the spell she had been preparing.
"Oh my god...!"
She extended her hand toward the flooding area. Wooong! A purple barrier sealed the hole, halting the inundation. Erzsebet bit her lip at the overwhelming pressure beyond her expectations.
"Ugh... I can't hold it for long!"
The hole was gradually widening under the water pressure. Root-like cracks spread across the entire wall. She glanced at Ronan.
"Ronan...!"
Her eyes conveyed the obvious meaning. Ronan nodded. Unable to unleash sword aura, he would have to close in and subdue her directly.
Paaang! Enhancing his leg strength with mana, he leaped toward Asel. Asel clicked his tongue in contempt and pointed his index finger at Ronan.
"Kugh!"
Ronan's airborne body halted midair. An invisible hand gripped him. Asel gazed down at him impassively and spoke.
"Damn it, who the hell are you talking about?"
Asel began muttering in a sunken voice. Ronan furrowed his brow. The guy talking about seduction was already pissing him off enough, but not revealing who made it worse.
"What?"
"Crazy bitch. If I knew, I'd have found them already."
Ronan let out a hollow laugh. He couldn't extract info anyway since she only spouted what she wanted. Trembling with rage, he raised his arm and flipped her off.
"Fuck off."
With that, Ronan spat. Asel silently clenched his fist. The gripping force intensified. A haze-like chill rippled and spread around Asel's body.
'That...!'
Ronan twisted his lips. It was a familiar spell from his past life. Shooo... The chill gathered, taking form. Seven massive greatswords of ice materialized in the air. Asel pointed his index finger at Ronan again.
Screeech! The seven greatswords shot toward Ronan. Each was long and massive enough to pass for a temple pillar. Ronan sighed deeply.
"Can't end this cleanly, huh. Asel."
The moment the greatswords closed to within a step. Kwajangchang! Ronan's arm vanished from view, and simultaneously, the seven greatswords exploded midair.
Lamancha was already in Ronan's hand. Asel, who hadn't even seen the swing, twisted in bewilderment. Shattered fragments rained down.
Slash! Ronan swung again, severing the telekinetic hold. His freed body began to plummet. Calmly switching power sources, he gripped the hilt.
'Handling mana has gotten easier. Is this thanks to the spring?'
Lamancha's blade turned white. Gathering mana, Ronan activated Terranil's aura. Kwaaaang! A massive shockwave erupted beneath his feet. Startled, Erzsebet flinched.
"Kyaa!"
Space quaked. Ronan's falling body shot upward. Panicked, Asel tried to gain altitude, but Ronan was already upon him. Ppueok! Ronan's fist plunged deep into Asel's gut.
Saliva sprayed from his open mouth. A rib cracked deep inside. Asel's back arched like a shrimp.
Gritting his teeth, Asel flung his arm to shake him off. Chill gathered again, spawning dozens of ice spikes around them. Ronan quickly scanned the incoming spikes.
Five from the left, seven from the right, twelve straight below.
Calculation complete, Ronan slashed the air without hesitation. Twenty-four crescent sword auras manifested along his sword path. Whoosh! They shot toward the spikes. Simultaneously, the spikes targeting Ronan launched. Kwajangchang! Sword auras and ice spikes collided midway, blooming twenty-four ice flowers.
Not a single sword aura missed. Shattering sounds echoed. Asel's eyes widened. Even after countless ages, it was unbelievable. Ronan immediately reached out and grabbed his throat.
"I'll make you come out whether you like it or not."
As Ronan tightened his grip, Asel's face drained white. His airway constricted, breaking his focus. The telekinesis lifting him failed, and they began to fall.
"Not bad. Considering what you've done to me, that bastard probably wants to die too."
The wind howled past their ears. Ronan never loosened his grip. Asel's vision blurred.
He was dead serious about killing even if it meant breaking the vessel. Asel racked his brain and finally drooped his head. Soon, he lifted it and screamed in horror.
"Hyaak! Ronan?!"
"...Asel?"
Ronan's eyes widened. It was the voice of the Asel he knew. His pale eyelashes were turning red again. Teary-eyed, Asel poured out his words.
"P-Please believe me...! Hugging you or whatever was absolutely not my will. Those weird words too! Waaaaa! My body moved on its own...!"
"You idiot, is that important right now? What the hell happened?"
"I-I don't know. That woman suddenly embraced me and..."
Tears streamed from Asel with every word, splattering Ronan's cheek. In that instant, Ronan's grip slackened. Suddenly, Asel's head snapped back. Ronan raised an eyebrow.
"Asel?"
"You bitch...!"
The voice changed back. Ronan immediately tightened his grip, but Asel's spell was faster. An invisible palm slapped Ronan away. Kwan! He flew straight into the wall.
"Kugh!"
"Ronan!"
Kwang! Ronan slid down the wall. Erzsebet urgently extended her hand, pulling him in with telekinesis. At that moment, an explosion rocked a different wall. Kwaaaang! Seawater gushed out, pouring over her head.
"Th-This...!"
No time to dodge. Reflexively, Erzsebet raised her left arm overhead. A hemispherical barrier enveloped her, Ronan, and Itargand. The instant the water hit the barrier, she realized her mistake and gasped.
"...Hah!"
She had forgotten the other barriers. Her divided focus shattered the precarious shields. Expanding cracks burst open, collapsing an entire wall section.
"N-No!"
Erzsebet screamed. Kwaaa! The stagnant water surged like a torrent. Seawater swallowed the three in an instant.
The water had risen to half the chamber's height. Asel, levitated again, chanted softly.
"Frozen Field."
⟨ Frozen Field ⟩
Blue chill spread from his feet. Kaaang! The writhing seawater froze solid in an instant. The water noise ceased, silence descending.
Ronan and his group at the bottom couldn't escape. Only bone-chilling cold rose from the frozen vortex. Gazing down at the black ice, Asel rubbed his neck and muttered.
It was absurd. Even as a descendant, he hadn't expected such skill from a swordsman. He had nearly lost consciousness for real.
[Ro... nan!]
Then, a boy's cry echoed in his mind. The original body's owner. Asel shook his head.
He had thought to leave upon realizing it was a man's body, but changed his mind. No vessel with such talent anywhere. Better to maintain the body and curse a gender swap. The boy's voice returned.
[Give... it... back...!]
The boy's consciousness resisted endlessly despite possession. He needed to break his mind first. A sinister smile crept onto Asel's lips.
Asel looked up. Focusing, he thrust his fist. Kwaaaaang!! An invisible fist smashed the ceiling, exploding. Rodolan shook, screams echoing everywhere.
"Kyaaaa!"
"Th-The floor! What happened?!"
"M-My leg's stuck...! Help!"
Soon, dust cleared, revealing the gaping hole in the ceiling. Simultaneously, bright light poured over Asel's head. Looking up at the hole, Asel chuckled hollowly. A blue dot twinkled far above.
It didn't take long to recognize it as sky. He had punched straight from the deepest basement to Rodolan's peak. A scream resounded in Asel's mind.
[N-Nooo!]
Asel's body ascended along the light beam. The seal had long shattered.
The hole's sides exposed prison cross-sections. Rodolan was in chaos from unprecedented destruction.
Bloodied fallen people. Lucky freed prisoners rioting, guards suppressing them.
Desperate screams unending. Some shouted at Asel, but nothing changed. Asel's view widened as he rose.
Asel inhaled deeply and burst into laughter. Dawn spread before him. Sunlight glittered off watery scales. Fierce sea wind tousled his white hair.
Beneath lay Rodolan, holed through its head. Rock-hewn docks and moored ships came into view. People outside the formation pointed and shouted at Asel.
"A-A person came out!"
"Who is it? Something go wrong?"
"So what was that explosion?"
They squirmed like ants. A cracked smile formed on Asel's lips. Scanning the crowd, he spoke.
[S-Stop...!]
Asel pointed at a galley. Larger and more ornate than the emperor's flagship—Itargand's ship. As he clenched his fist. Kwaaaang! A 20-meter ice spike pierced and erupted from the ship.
[No!!]
Screams filled Asel's mind. The seawater-frozen spike grew, lifting the ship. Ujikkeun! Unable to bear its weight, the ship split in two. The bow's fall splashed people.
"Aaaah! S-Save me!"
"L-Lord Itargand's ship...!"
The docks turned to pandemonium. Soaked people scattered in panic. Chill from the spike froze the sea surface. Aiming at another ship, Asel spoke.
[P-Please. Please stop, okay?!]
Despite desperate pleas, Asel raised his hand again. Just as she prepared another spell. Kwaaaaang!! A sudden explosion roared from behind.
Asel whipped around. Beneath rising dust like volcanic ejecta lay the utterly demolished fortress. His own hole had tripled in size.
He couldn't comprehend. Then, a dark shadow loomed over Asel's head. Only then did he hear wingbeats amid the sea wind. A familiar voice called.
"Hey, lady."
He slowly looked up. A massive red dragon beat its wings against the sun. Horrific scars marred its side and chest.
No doubt. Flames flickered between slightly parted teeth. Atop the dragon's head sat two who should have been crushed by ice.
"We almost died for real. Wanna die?"
They clung to the young Itargand's horn, glaring at Asel. The surreal sight paled Asel's face.
"Fire."
Ronan said. Itargand's maw opened. Pent-up flames poured like rapids. Crimson fire engulfed Asel's vision.
Asel raised his hand. Chwaaak! An ice spike rose from the sea toward Itargand. Flames melted it swiftly, but its size persisted.
As the spike cleaved flames toward Itargand. Kagaak! It split, revealing Ronan. Asel's eyes bulged.
Red-tinged Lamancha in right hand, sheathed Imir in left. Asel reflexively raised a barrier, but Ronan tore it with a casual swing.
"Come out already, you mangy bitch."
Distance closed. Ppueok! The arcing Imir smashed Asel's nape. His eyes rolled back, consciousness snapping.