Chapter 313
Chapter 313
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 313
Chapter Title: The Sunset is Beautiful Because It Sets.
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『Kahak!』
A sword pierced through Abel's chest, and he vomited blood. A dimensional rift swallowed the two men. Along with the sensation of his guts floating up, an endless fall began.
『Damn it...!』
Abel gritted his teeth. The battlefield scenery had vanished completely, replaced by an amorphous space enveloping them. The rift they had entered was already too far away to see.
It was the isolation dimension that Alibriehe had poured his soul into creating. Strong enough to imprison even Navardoje, if things continued like this, they would be trapped here forever.
Abel was racking his brains for a way out when suddenly—crunch! Ronan lunged forward and sank his teeth into Abel's nape.
『Urk?!』
“Grrrrr!”
It was incomprehensible behavior. With fangs buried deep and refusing to let go, he was like a trained hunting dog. Abel raised his fist and began pummeling Ronan's face.
『You filthy beast... what the hell are you doing?!』
“Grraaah! Urk!”
『Let go right now!』
Empowered by the giants' strength, the punches stung. Sounds of cheekbones and nose breaking echoed, but Ronan didn't loosen his jaw. Finally losing patience, Abel raised his sword.
『...Damn it all!』
Right now, escaping this space took priority over dealing with Ronan. Drawing power from the origin, he swung his sword at the ground beneath his feet. Riiip! The rippling space tore open, revealing a new dimensional rift.
That’s...
Ronan’s eyes widened. A chilling wind blew from beyond the rift. It was a passage to another dimension.
So the seal was pointless from the start, huh.
It was an astonishing power. To think he could tear through space at will. The two plummeting figures were naturally swallowed by the rift. Boom! They crashed onto a blindingly white sandy beach.
“Urk!”
『Gah!』
The height was so great that the impact was severe. The fine sand was dyed an unnaturally pure white. Somewhere, the sound of waves crashing could be heard.
Where is this...?
Ronan glanced around in surprise and raised an eyebrow. If the end of the world existed, it would look like this. They stood on a certain beach. Beyond the pristine white sands stretched a blood-red sea.
No signs of life stirred in the crimson waters. The cloudless sky glittered with star clusters. The celestial bodies, dozens of times sharper than those in the night sky he knew, proclaimed this a wholly different world.
It feels familiar somehow.
Ronan narrowed his eyes. In a way, it reminded him of the Nebulaclaige headquarters. At that moment, Abel regained his senses and bellowed.
『You bastard, how long do you plan to hang on?!』
Gripping his sword in reverse, Abel tried to stab Ronan. This one had to be dodged. Finally releasing his bite from the nape, Ronan twisted his sword hilt and pulled back. Shlick! Blue blood spurted from where the blade was withdrawn.
『Krrk...』
Abel’s face twisted. Not fatal, but quite deep. Just as Abel could harm Ronan, Ronan could inflict meaningful damage on him too.
『...That was close. I’ll make sure that traitor Alibriehe suffers before he dies.』
But regardless, Abel felt relief. From his perspective, being nearly trapped in the isolation dimension was a far greater crisis than the easily disposable Ronan. Ronan landed with a spin and spoke.
“If you can... huff, go ahead and try.”
His mouth was smeared with blue blood. Abel sneered. Shaking off his sword with a flourish, he posed a question.
『I can’t comprehend it. Why are you still struggling? Do you truly believe you still have hope left?』
“The fact you’re babbling means you’re not confident, huh. Side effect of absorbing power—did your balls shrink or something?”
『Hah.』
Abel sighed at the childish provocation. It was pathetic how he still hadn’t grasped the situation. He’d taken a hit due to those two women’s interference, but the gap between them was insurmountable from the start.
Ronan’s trembling legs proved it. He’d long reached his limit.
He was putting on a brave front with all his might, but his body refused to cooperate. Suddenly lowering his sword, Abel spoke.
『Let me show you how foolish you’re being, nephew. Do you know where we are?』
“Don’t care.”
『Hear me out. This is a star the giants swept through once.』
“...What?”
Ronan furrowed his brow. Confirming his attention, Abel continued.
『I noticed the moment my feet touched the ground. This is the hallmark of planets they’ve ravaged. All life lost, turned into a pale corpse devoid of vitality. The beings that once roamed this star now live on within here as souls.』
Abel patted his chest. Ronan didn’t respond. A star ravaged by giants— that explained the familiarity.
“So what?”
『This is truly great power. Severing the eternal cycle of destruction for this star’s intelligent beings in one go. Nephew, look there.』
Suddenly, Abel raised his sword to point at the night sky. In the direction the blade led, countless star clusters danced.
As Ronan wondered what he was supposed to see— a thin white beam shot from the sword tip. The beam stretched deep into the night sky, pointing at a faint bluish dot.
『See it? That’s the star we live on.』
“What?”
『A world that seems endlessly vast is just dust from afar. Pathetic, isn’t it? Trapped in such specks, failing to understand each other and killing one another...』
Abel clicked his tongue. The hatred was evident in his furrowed brow— hatred for the folly of shattering the brightest layers accumulated like strata.
『What you desperately try to protect is merely that speck of dust. Even that will surely self-destruct if left alone. But if you abandon your attachment to mortality now, you— no, we— can protect all the visible starlight.』
“Dude, that’s not called protecting.”
『No. It is protecting. From the fate of self-annihilation.』
Abel stated firmly. Lowering his sword, he turned back to Ronan.
『So give up now. I swear I’ll end you without a hint of pain. Don’t waste your remaining life on something so insignificant.』
Killing intent gleamed in his earnest eyes. Ronan remained silent.
His sunset-hued gaze lingered on the star he’d lived upon. Indeed, as Abel said, it was small and insignificant. The term “dust” felt too generous.
Silent Ronan finally spoke.
“Yeah... you’re right. It’s nothing much.”
『Finally realized...』
“Honestly, it’s been heavy. They call me a hero, the empire’s dawn, whatever, but I’m just a swordsman. Save the world? Damn, thinking about it now, it’s ridiculous.”
Ronan let out a hollow laugh. Memories of the past flashed like a panorama. Abel tilted his head at the unexpected response.
『...Why bring that up suddenly?』
“But I think I can manage this much. I can protect that one.”
Suddenly, Ronan slowly raised his arm. He positioned the star between his outstretched index and middle fingers. The faint blue glow was beautiful.
“Fits right in one hand.”
Grinning, Ronan clenched his fist as if grasping the star. The mother star vanished behind his hand. Realizing persuasion had failed, Abel gripped his fist.
『...Looks like your head’s worse off than I thought.』
“If you can, try it.”
Lowering his gaze, Ronan glared at Abel. Impressive spirit, but that was all. Abel smirked wryly.
『Poor nephew, I’ll send you to join your brother soon.』
The moment he failed to kill in one strike, Ronan’s luck ran out. No more mercy. After a brief eulogy, Abel kicked off the ground and charged.
Kaboom!— The sand exploded where he stood, and his form vanished.
Still slow.
Abel chuckled inwardly. In time that seemed halted, only he maintained his original speed.
The wave foam and sea breeze tousling hair were frozen. Ronan was barely starting to raise his sword into position— the only movement resembling action.
『Don’t resent me too much. You’ll all live on inside me anyway.』
Muttering to himself, Abel unleashed a slash. As the blade arced wide toward Ronan’s neck— Clanggg! An abrupt metallic clash echoed in the stopped time.
『What?!』
“You just... huff, thought I was slow, didn’t you.”
Abel’s eyes widened. Ronan smirked with one corner of his mouth. Somehow, Ronan’s sword had risen and locked against his own, grinding.
『How.』
Impossible. The moment Abel showed an opening in shock, Ronan adjusted his stance and counterattacked immediately. Bam! Pushing Abel back, he unleashed a barrage of strikes.
『Kuh...!』
Ronan had matched his speed. Abel desperately parried. Skreee! Invisible slashes crossed, sparks numbering in the hundreds erupting into the air.
『You bastard, what trick did you pull?!』
Abel shouted, but Ronan silently swung. As the fierce exchange peaked— Claaang!— With a roar, the two rebounded and landed.
Abel’s face was now deadly serious, unlike before. Catching his breath, Ronan spoke.
“Huff... my hunch was right.”
『What?』
“So damn sweet. Your blood, you bastard.”
Ronan cackled. Realizing the meaning moments later, Abel was horrified. Ronan had bitten his nape to suck his blood.
『No way... the curse...』
“Yeah... feels like all the dregs at the bottom are finally gone. Thanks to you.”
That’s why he hadn’t let go despite his nose breaking. To boost his odds, he needed to completely eradicate the lingering curse in his body.
Having drunk the previous Giant King’s blood caused the curse; drinking the blood of Abel— now equivalent to the current Giant King— accelerated its purge. Fortunately, it succeeded. Time to end it.
“This one strike settles it. No second chances.”
Taking a deep breath, Ronan gripped the hilt with both hands. With vitality partially restored, he could attempt the trump card meant for the Giant King. Seeing the arrogant posture, Abel growled.
『Talkative now? Means death’s near, huh. You know it changes nothing.』
He’d dropped all pretense of composure, clearly furious. Truthfully, Abel was right. Even with the curse purged and skills matched, his body’s condition was abysmal.
Should’ve at least kissed her goodbye if I knew.
Ronan twisted his lips, Adeshan’s face flashing in his mind. Why did the cliché of loved ones appearing before death hit now?
Lose and die. Win and die. Yet he couldn’t back down, so he fought. Pondering, Abel mirrored Ronan’s stance.
『Fine. I’ll humor you. One strike ends it.』
“Thanks.”
Ronan smiled. As they fell silent, the waves grew louder. Facing each other, Ronan and Abel raised their swords.
『Then, let us become one.』
Abel said. Focusing, time stretched long. Simultaneously, both vanished from sight. Whoosh! Two explosions erupted on the silent sandbar.
They charged at each other. But neither could see the other. Only instinct sensed the opponent’s presence and approach.
Moments later, the instants crossed. No metallic ring echoed. Time resumed its flow, and the vanished pair reappeared. The frozen waves crashed down.
Blood gushed from Ronan’s mouth.
“...Kuhk.”
Ronan staggered. His abdomen was inevitably sliced. Blood welled grotesquely from the wound, unrealistically red. Laughter came from behind.
『Haha. See that?』
His vision blurred. As Abel turned with a victor’s smile— Ronan straightened and rasped.
“You’re... that sinking sunset.”
『What?』
“Afraid to set, so you pull the world’s light to you... That’s why you schemed this madness. Scared of the people you care for perishing... So at the most beautiful blaze, to remain forever...”
What the hell are you saying?
Abel demanded, but no answer came. In Ronan’s hazy vision replayed the memory of watching the sunset on Sagi Hill with Adeshan. Steadying his breath, he continued.
“Don’t drag it out. Let the sun set. Morning always comes after night. Sunsets, people’s lives... they’re beautiful because of the times beyond...”
Abel narrowed his eyes at the nonsense. Judging it deathbed delirium, he prepared the finishing blow— Slash! A blue line traced across Abel’s throat.
『......!』
The belated chill raced through his body. He hadn’t sensed the blade touch. It had already slashed during their clash.
『You.』
Truthfully, the trump card wasn’t special. Just his most confident action. Drawing and slashing— faster than anyone.
Thud. Abel’s head slid off and hit the sand.
“So...”
Ronan trailed off. Sploosh! Blood fountained, soaking the sand. Dropping his sword, he murmured low.
“Fade away now. Abel.”