Chapter 312
Chapter 312
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 312
Chapter Title: Finale (3)
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The battle didn't drag on for long. Abel shook the blood from his blade and opened his mouth.
"How about it? Ready to give up on hope now?"
There was no reply. Ronan, who had been facing him until the very end, spat out a glob of congealed blood in something resembling a response.
"Kuhk... Heuk...!"
His entire body burned with agony. Beneath his tattered clothes, the exposed skin bore the marks of Abel's sword—slashes and stabs etched deep.
The wounds gushing blood showed no sign of closing anytime soon. It was the blade that had crippled the Savior, after all. Abel chuckled, showing off the gash in his own side.
"Still, I have to say I'm impressed with you. A little deeper, and it might've been dangerous. I knew you had talent with the sword, but I didn't realize it was this much."
Ronan gritted his teeth. Just as he'd said, he should have finished it then. If he hadn't wasted his strength fighting the bald king, he could've driven his blade straight into the heart.
'Damn it. If only I'd had time to recover.'
It was a shitty situation, but he couldn't turn back time. Muttering curses under his breath, Ronan flipped him off.
"Fuck off."
"Hahaha. That's my nephew, alright. That's the spirit."
"Get... your feet off them... Hoo."
Ronan growled, pointing his sword tip at him. At Abel's feet lay Zaifa and Naviroje, both gravely wounded.
The two sword saints had charged at Abel the moment the melee began, only to be broken. Zaifa had lost consciousness. Naviroje barely lifted her head and spoke.
"Ro... nan. Run... away..."
Ronan twisted his lips as their eyes met. The sight of his bloodied mentor trampled by the enemy was unbearable.
Whoosh! Ronan unleashed a sword beam to force Abel back.
"Get your filthy feet off her!"
"So rough."
Abel retreated with a playful grin. He'd somehow preserved his teacher's honor, but the situation hadn't improved.
Excluding the two sword saints, countless powerhouses littered the ground around them. Groans and cries echoed endlessly, muddling everyone's minds.
[Kroooar... Grrr...!]
Not far away, Orse writhed in pain. Back in his true form, a spiral spear carved from his own bone was embedded deep in his side.
Nearby lay the Shadow Archduke's severed head. Fanged jaws slowly parted.
[Ba... lzack...]
It was a miracle he was still alive. His shredded body was scattered everywhere. Without the seven essences of fresh blood that could revive the dead, he'd have followed his brother long ago.
Among the fallen were Navardoje and the Dragon King. They'd fought valiantly despite severe burns but ultimately lost. Being in the sky during the initial massive assault had been fatal.
"Ro, Ronan..."
Asel sniffled, watching the standoff from afar. Behind him lay Schlieffen, Marya, Braum, and other unconscious friends.
"Kuh... Uh..."
"H-Here's the medicine. You can't all die... right?"
Relatively unharmed, Iril bustled about tending the wounded. Adeshan, wounded in the shoulder, groaned.
"Damn it..."
They were all huddled together. Asel's hemispherical Star's Blessing protected the few thousand survivors.
Adeshan had urgently ordered the retreat upon realizing there was no chance of victory. Her head hung low as a choked voice escaped her.
"I'm sorry... If only I'd been... a little more capable..."
"D-Don't say that..."
Asel shook his head. No one blamed her for doing her best.
In truth, if Abel wanted, he could tear the blessing apart in an instant, but he didn't. It wasn't mercy—he just wanted to savor their despair a bit longer.
Everyone on the battlefield knew it, but no one could resist. That helplessness was the worst part. Abel, having absorbed all the giants' power, was far stronger than Ronan had anticipated.
He'd taken wounds as the fight dragged on, but all except Ronan's healed instantly. Suddenly turning his head, Abel spoke in an admiring tone.
"Ah. The one who surprised me most today was you, Alibrije."
No answer came. At the edge of his vision, Alibrije gasped for breath, limbs severed one by one.
"You... devil..."
Alibrije's rag-like state was second only to the Shadow Archduke's in severity. Beside him yawned a dimensional rift with a bluish maw. Abel scoffed at the sight.
"To think you'd made a second sealing stone just like the one that trapped Navardoje... I admit it was close. A little later, and I'd have been done for."
He sighed in genuine relief. Alibrije's stealthy approach during the chaos had nearly sealed him.
The second sealing stone, made from remaining materials, banished its target to an isolated dimension, just like the first. Of course, it was pointless now.
"I'll think about who to shove in there later. Rest now."
"Wait... Kuhk!"
Alibrije tried to speak but vomited blood and collapsed. Excluding the forces Adeshan had separately withdrawn, all soldiers lay gravely wounded. White soul-like vapors rose from the dead.
"I didn't plan to kill you yet. So fragile."
Abel clicked his tongue in pity. He'd measured his strikes to avoid death, but their weakened bodies couldn't endure.
The vapors from the corpses were all absorbed into Abel. Ronan instinctively knew they were the souls of those he'd slain.
'Bastard. He really became a giant.'
Crack. Ronan's grip on his hilt made a crushing sound. Better to end it—kill or be killed—than watch this any longer.
'Maybe once...'
If he timed it right, he might win. First, make the bastard drop his guard. After a pause, Ronan spoke.
"Let's... hear it..."
"Hm?"
"What's this grand plan of yours... that's worth all this bullshit? Let's hear it."
Abel raised an eyebrow at Ronan's question. Ronan wasn't curious at all—he just needed time. Glancing at the whitened night sky, he nodded.
"Well, there's still time. Why not."
Everyone would know soon anyway. Deciding to be generous, Abel sheathed his sword and continued.
"Not much to explain, really. My goal is to evolve the beings on this star to a higher dimension."
"Higher dimension...?"
"Yes. The giants you've slain are prime examples. They roam the universe as apex predators, hunting planets. They exterminate life on target stars, absorb souls, grow stronger."
Ronan frowned. It still didn't make sense. Focusing on healing, he spat.
"What kind of bullshit... You really think that's better?"
"Fleeting lives like yours could never understand. How pathetic we are now. Bound to dust-like stars, devouring each other."
Abel's face hardened briefly. Memories with the Savior surfaced—the mushroom clouds beyond the atmosphere, civilizations snuffed out.
"Then why backstab the giants?"
"To seize control of the ego. We were mere prey before, but now that I hold their origin, we will lead this soul collective. We'll rule the universe—immortal, ageless."
"As snotty bald blobs, huh."
"I guarantee it'll be cooler. Soul forms are freely shapeable."
Abel flatly denied liking baldness himself. Twirling his sword playfully, he glanced at Iril.
"You could've had a better end, really. If you'd left Iril alone, she'd have died happy in a dream. Can't understand why you rejected my mercy."
"You fucking bastard. That's mercy?"
"Got a better word? Anyway, don't worry too much. Everyone but you will vanish before they even notice death..."
Abel trailed off. Sparkling mana spread from his body. Looking skyward, he finished.
"Anyway, time to end it."
Ronan's brow furrowed. If a surprise attack was coming, now was the moment. He kicked off the ground, slashing at Abel's neck. Clang! A sharp metallic ring echoed.
"...Fuck."
Ronan twisted his lips. Two blades locked before his eyes. His desperate strike was effortlessly blocked.
"Fool. Think I wouldn't notice you stalling?"
"Shut up!"
Abel sneered. He'd seen through Ronan's plan. Enraged, Ronan swung repeatedly, but all were parried.
"Stop. You've already lost."
Abel laughed outright. Despair settled on the survivors' faces. As Abel moved to finish it—
Adeshan clutched her wound and shot up.
"Ronan! Now!!"
Her ragged cry rang out. Shadow mana from her enveloped Abel, seizing his mind.
"Foolish. Think that works now?"
But Abel didn't falter. Adeshan's power couldn't touch him anymore. Closing his eyes to activate his mental barrier—dizziness overwhelmed him.
"Kuhk!"
Abel retched. Like a shockwave to the head. Surprised by his reaction, Ronan raised a brow.
"What?"
"Which... bastard...!"
Abel pulled back, scanning around. His eyes locked on one spot beyond Asel's barrier—Iril glaring at him.
"You, Iril...!"
"D-Don't hurt my brother!"
Iril cried out pleadingly. Her sunset eyes blazed. Unaware herself, her power had awakened—the strongest of the Savior's, wish realization—assaulting Abel.
"Kuk... Kroo...!"
Abel's face showed true dismay for the first time. He hadn't expected two mental assaults at once.
Of course, he had countermeasures. The origin's power was that immense. Clutching his forehead, he grunted.
"Hahp!"
A mental barrier unfolded. The women's invading wills were violently repelled. Blood burst from Adeshan's nose and mouth.
"Kuhk...!"
"Kyaaak!"
Iril screamed and fell back. Adeshan barely caught her. Abel groaned in fury.
"You damned bitches...!"
Abel staggered, clutching his forehead. Ronan sensed instinctively: this was the last chance. Boom! Seeing him charge, Abel scoffed.
"Think this fluke changes anything?!"
Abel twisted, unleashing a powerful strike. Outmatched, Ronan flew back like struck by a battering ram. Faces of those clinging to hope froze. Abel shouted.
"It's over. I'll kill you all!"
Suddenly, brilliant light erupted from Abel. Immense mana warped the space around.
"T-That's...!"
"We're all dead now, huh."
Instinct told them it was the technique that destroyed 30% of the star. As death loomed in every mind—
Whoosh! Crimson light burst from Ronan's trajectory.
"Hm?!"
Pulled by something, Abel turned. Ronan was still flying—but toward Alibrije's dimensional rift.
"You bastard, no!"
"Dumbass. Took you long enough?"
Abel recoiled in shock. Ronan smirked. He wouldn't miss this final chance. Using Abel's power against him, he reached the rift in an instant.
"Come here!"
Grabbing his hilt, Ronan yelled. Shwaaa—! The sunset glow around Abel brightened. His barely resisting body was hooked and dragged.
"This... impudent!"
Abel braced his legs. But he kept sliding. Ronan's aura was stronger than against the giant king.
Reverse-gripping his hilt, Abel jammed his sword into the ground. Scraaaape! A long furrow formed, slowing him. Relief flickered—then Ronan, at the rift's edge, bellowed.
"Asel! Push!!"
"What?"
"You have mana left! Shove this old fuck's back!"
Dread hit Abel; he turned. Asel had dropped the barrier, staring at him.
"B-But... if he goes in, Ronan...!"
"Don't think ahead! Wanna all die?!"
Ronan snapped. Realizing no alternative, Asel clenched his fists. Squeezing out tears, he thrust his arms forward.
"I-Invisible Hand!"
"Wait...!"
Abel's face hardened. Whoosh! Invisible force slammed his back. His body launched airborne, dragged anew.
"Gotcha, you fucker."
Ronan grinned. The rift had half-swallowed him. Off-balance, Abel was yanked to Ronan's face in a blink. No time to react. Pffsh! Ronan's waiting sword pierced his chest.
"Kuhk!"
This wound was deep. Blue blood sprayed from Abel's mouth. The two entwined bodies tumbled into the rift's churning void. There, Ronan glared into Abel's eyes and snarled.
"I will kill you. No matter what."