Chapter 395
Chapter 395
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 395
Chapter Title: 2-17. Great Counterattack (4)
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#17
Persuading people is incredibly difficult.
In a way, that's only natural.
If swaying the mind of someone whose entire life—from birth to upbringing—differs completely from mine were easy, that would be the strange thing.
That's why those skilled at persuasion are likely to rise to high positions in society.
Adeshan and Marya were prime examples.
Especially Adeshan. She possessed the ability to manipulate opponents as if they were resting in the palm of her hand, even without resorting to Mental Domination.
Unlike me.
Looking back, perhaps even becoming a father was because I was persuaded by her arguments.
"So that's how it was. I should've caught on the moment she kept emphasizing it was a safe day..."
【Groan!】
I swung my sword while lost in such thoughts.
People tend to get distracted by idle musings when they have a moment's leisure.
The clash of blades rang out with a metallic screech.
It was a simple strike, but more than enough to throw Abel off balance.
He barely avoided having his head severed and staggered back.
【Damn it, what kind of speed is that...!】
Abel muttered.
His face was fiercely contorted, the shock evidently severe.
Five minutes into the fight.
His body was covered in wounds large and small.
"Starting to give up yet? Still can't believe I killed those baldheads?"
【Shut your mouth... Hah, what trick are you using!】
His breathing was ragged.
If I were as injured as he was, I'd be the same.
The ground beneath our feet was soaked with blood and chunks of carved-out flesh.
Not a single drop had come from my body, though.
I wonder. Just how far can that regeneration go?
It was enough blood loss to have killed an ordinary person long ago.
But my uncle was a nauseating monster even in the parallel world.
Two left arms and one right arm rolling in the pool of blood.
His right leg, severed above the knee.
All proof of his terrifying regenerative power.
It took less than 30 seconds for severed limbs to fully regenerate.
Of course, whether it took 10 seconds or 5 made no difference.
"Trick my ass. You're just that pathetically weak, that's all."
【You insolent brat... I'll cut out that tongue of yours.】
Abel gripped his sword hilt with both hands.
The luminescence swirling around the blade intensified.
Glittering mana enveloped his entire body like armor.
I could see the wounds I'd inflicted starting to heal again.
【I will.】
"You think it's right to say something so serious about cutting your nephew's tongue?"
A hollow laugh escaped me at his earnest expression.
To an outsider, it might look like I was the villain and he the hero saving the world.
I could even understand his brazenness, in a way.
Back in the original world, he hadn't repented until the very last moment.
Why can't I solve things with words?
I was once again reminded that persuasion wasn't my talent.
Just look at this guy—refusing to listen even as I demonstrated with actions, not words.
"You're quite the resilient one. I've shown you this much of a gap, and you're still not broken."
In the end, it seemed I was fated to play the bastard role.
Rinn, soaked in blood, emitted a hazy sword aura.
Abel, preparations complete, let out a spirited shout and charged.
【Haaap!】
"Impressive as always."
The momentum drew involuntary admiration.
It resembled Father's swordsmanship but was far rougher and more savage.
The white luminescence now wrapped not just the blade but the hilt as well, flashing brilliantly.
The blade of light, over 3 meters long, seemed capable of slicing through anything in the world.
An explosive power I'd never seen in the original world, unmatched by any swordsman I knew.
This was probably Abel's peak strength without absorbing the Origin.
"I'll persuade you for sure."
I cast aside stray thoughts.
Spun the hilt once and kicked off the ground.
Everything but me slowed.
Clouds froze, waves poised to swallow the rocks hung with mouths agape.
The surroundings blurred, then Abel's fierce face appeared right before me.
【A... a... a... a...】
In the slowed world, even his voice dragged.
He still hadn't noticed my presence.
I easily slipped out of attack range and slashed upward from below.
The blade tip scraped the ground, tracing two silver arcs.
Red lines etched across both his shoulders.
【......!!】
Abel's eyes widened.
He seemed to grasp what had happened.
To perceive it this quickly—he truly was the cult leader of Nebula Klazie.
The sword halted, and the world regained speed.
Clouds flowed again, waves crashed over the rocks.
The lines atop Abel's shoulders split open.
The instant I landed after crossing him.
Splatter!!
Both of Abel's arms shot into the air.
【Karak!】
His sword fell.
Spraying blood like fountains dyed the sky.
Two arms, two fountains.
The blood of Abel, who had experimented endlessly on himself, wasn't red or blue—it was a violet reminiscent of black roses.
【How dare you do this!】
Abel glared with bulging eyes.
Killing intent intensified, stabbing my body like needles.
As he roared, bones and flesh began regenerating from the stumps of both arms.
Much faster than before—20 seconds tops for full recovery.
"Let's test your limits."
Of course, I had no intention of letting it happen.
Time slowed once more.
Silver circles floated, our bodies crossed.
Abel's legs and torso separated amid a crisp sound of rending flesh.
Slice!
The limbless torso crumpled to the ground.
【Kheuk!】
Arm regeneration halted.
This time, it seemed to hit hard.
Resistance impossible, but my persuasion wasn't over.
I stomped his chest with my right foot, and Abel vomited blood.
I pointed the hilt at his throat and spoke.
"Say something if you want to cooperate."
【You dare... Gak.】
Abel couldn't continue.
My sword had severed his tongue and uvula simultaneously.
I proceeded to stab his body wherever I pleased.
From head to thighs, sparing no facial features or groin.
【Stop... stop... gruk!】
"This is kinda fun. Feels like pruning a tree."
The satisfaction of honest labor after so long.
Abel babbled whenever his tongue regenerated, but I ignored every word.
Far too early for his spirit to break.
"Right, what was that you said to sis earlier?"
【Gek! Keurk! Gek!】
"How are the kids doing? You fucking bastard. Is that what you say?"
Persuasion with a side of vengeance for Navardoje.
Still pissed thinking about it.
If he weren't essential for catching baldheads, I'd have beheaded him first.
"Good, we've got time. Let's see this through."
【W-wait... Eurk.】
"My temper's mellowed a lot. To think I held back seeing that."
【Khaaaak!】
The crystal lens popped from a ruptured eyeball.
Under the blue sky, persuasion continued.
Future tech be damned—classics were best.
Suddenly, Rodolan's Karaka inquisitor's words flashed in my mind.
He'd said I had talent as an inquisitor. Now I got it.
"Huh?"
About ten minutes later.
Abel, who'd been writhing, suddenly went still.
"What? Dead?"
【......】
Poking with my foot yielded no response.
Wounds on limbs and body weren't regenerating.
Just barely clinging to life.
Even giant-blood elixir had limits.
"Ah, must be tired."
Not surprising; I'd anticipated it.
As long as he didn't die, we could enjoy more time together.
I lightly sliced my forearm.
Blood flowed into Abel's mouth.
Seconds later, his wounds began healing again.
【Wh-where... is this...?】
Soon, Abel awoke.
His complexion worse than before serious persuasion began.
I waved, smoking atop his chest.
"Hey."
【Huuuuh!】
His eyes nearly popped out.
Like someone roused from a nightmare.
Abel flailed to shake me off, but limbs hadn't regenerated yet.
"Well then, shall we continue?"
I flicked ash and stood.
Proper rest meant even more enjoyable persuasion ahead.
The ground had long become a purple carpet.
The moment I drew my sword again.
【S-stop now! I believe you!】
Abel cried out in horror.
A reaction I'd never seen before.
"Believe what?"
【Hah, huff... I believe you took down the invaders... You weren't just bluffing.】
He nodded frantically.
Eyes fixed on my sword.
Reacting to the slightest movement—my persuasion must've left an impression.
"Good. So you'll cooperate?"
【But I can't endorse that insane plan.
I don't know how much you know, but fighting invaders here and storming their home base are worlds apart.
We'll lose our lives, and even what we've reclaimed.】
"That's for me to handle."
【Foolish...! Then how about this? You said the others can strike at the invaders too. Use the remnants to draw their attention, while you and I steal the invaders' Origin. Heh heh, split it half and we can shake the universe.】
Abel laughed.
His confident tone suggested he thought it genius.
It was reasonable, sure.
"Haaa..."
I sighed, brushing back my bangs.
What to do with this uncle.
"Tch, still haven't come to your senses."
【......What?】
"Told you, persuasion isn't my talent."
【Wh-why? Stop! Don't come closer!】
Abel waved his hands frantically.
Tiny arms were sprouting from both shoulders.
Different style from before, but healing meant my blood worked too.
Good.
Meant deeper communication possible.
"Close your eyes for a sec."
I doffed my coat to cover Cain's urn.
Brother or not, this scene was too much to keep showing.
"Let's chat a bit more. Drain some blood, and sanity might kick in."
【Kaaaaak! Stop!!】
I raised my sword overhead.
Another scream erupted atop Winter's Horn.
A shame to do this even in a parallel world, but unavoidable to enlighten my foolish uncle.