Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Noble Half-Breed (4)
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Resolving myself to death, I sprang into action.
Squeezing out every last drop of mana, I attacked the enemy before me in a trance-like state.
Once this flurry ended, I'd surely pass out.
Could I kill her before losing consciousness?
Could I overcome the regenerative power of her pure-blooded Seraphim lineage?
Probably not.
She would survive.
So once this assault halted, I'd be the one to die.
After blacking out, Ireila would pierce my chest, fulfilling the prophecy.
But I didn't stop.
I'd do everything in my power until the end.
With that resolve, ignoring the messages floating before my eyes.
I simply swung my axe in a frenzy.
And right as the onslaught concluded, I sensed something odd.
…Mana… left?
I didn't faint.
My breath came in ragged gasps from exhaustion, but mana depletion hadn't robbed me of consciousness.
No, it even felt like I had more mana than usual…
And that's when I finally checked the message hovering in my vision.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [An achievement has been confirmed.] [Achievement: The Wall Breaker.] [Feast of the Stars - Your seed has been planted.] Achievement…!!
Seeing the message made everything click instantly.
For some reason, my desperate last stand had triggered an achievement.
So achieving feats makes me stronger…
I'd thought achievements were just fertilizer, letting ancestors gain stronger powers.
I was wrong.
Right after claiming it, I felt my strength, stamina, and mana surge beyond previous limits.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Trait Auto Healing activated!] Shhh.
As my minor wounds mended, I gazed at Ireila in the arena's center.
She, too, had become a battered mess, just like me.
And like me, she was using her healing to mend her injuries.
"Still got some fight left in you?"
"…How. You should've run out of mana. …Did you trick me?"
"Not a trick, but yeah, that's how it turned out."
I grinned and slung my axe over my shoulder.
Ireila stared at me with fear-filled eyes, her body trembling.
The haughty confidence from moments ago was gone.
That last barrage must've shaken her badly.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor Eternal Teacher of the Fairies cheers for your survival!] [Ancestor The Creating Mortal raises their hammer in joy!] [Ancestor First King of the Beastkin lets out a hearty laugh!] The ancestors who'd expected my death sent messages brimming with delight.
But then.
Elisis sent an unexpected one.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Ancestor Eternal Teacher of the Fairies bestows a gift upon you!] A gift…!
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Trait Phoenix Saga acquired!] […You feel the spirit of fire enveloping you.] She must've been dying of frustration, because the moment I earned the achievement, Elisis hurled the trait gift my way.
Finally, a new trait.
And one with perfect synergy for my Quartet of the Wind—no surprise from someone who's tested it.
Her choice was spot-on.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Trait Phoenix Saga activated!] Whoosh.
Activating it summoned flickering flames over my hands, much like the Quartet of the Wind.
Ireila's eyes widened in shock at the sight.
"That's…"
"Know it too? Can you use it?"
"……."
"Guess you just know of it."
I glanced at the massive clock near the announcer and referee's perch.
Three minutes remaining.
The match would end soon, and if I survived the time, I'd live.
I could dodge that fated death.
"What'll it be? Call it quits?"
I asked Ireila outright if she'd abandon killing me.
She fell silent for a moment.
Then glanced subtly toward the VVIP seats.
And soon after.
She met my eyes with a grave expression.
"Survive this, and you win."
"Your master's dead set on me dying, huh?"
"……."
"Dunno why she hates my guts so much, but fine."
I hefted the axe from my shoulder into ready stance.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Trait Quartet of the Wind activated!] [Trait Phoenix Saga activated!] Whoooosh!!
Fwooooosh—!!
Wind energies swirled around my body, flames overlaying them to form an immense inferno aura enveloping me entirely.
The blaze soon condensed into my axe.
As I finished preparing my strike, Ireila's eyes sharpened, unleashing crackling lightning.
Zzzzzap…!!
Her electricity gathered into her hand, condensing as well.
We stood locked in a standoff, each channeling power into our weapons.
Can I withstand it?
Honestly, victory seemed impossible.
To me, she was a true monster.
No matter how I struck, she healed.
Seraphim regeneration was potent, but hers was abnormal.
Probably thanks to inheriting elven mana reserves too.
Tat!
With preparations complete, we charged without signal.
Whoooosh!!
Our final blows landed simultaneously.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
📢 ANNOUNCER ⚡ [The two gladiators cap off the match with their final attacks just before time runs out!! Has the verdict been decided?!?!]
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena.
The crowd's roar followed, overwhelming the space.
The arena flashed brilliantly from their magics.
When the light faded, it revealed.
Two figures standing, each having inflicted mortal wounds on the other.
📢 ANNOUNCER ⚡ [Aaaaaah—!! They're alive!! Both gladiators!! They've wounded each other grievously but survived!!!]
Ireila turned her head to gaze at Number 17, who'd passed her by.
Then looked down at her own arm.
Fwooooosh!!
"Ngh…!"
The cauterized stump burning fiercely.
Her left arm had been severed.
Flames rose from the wound, preventing regeneration.
Shlick!
Ireila sliced the burning stump with her Song of the Hawk-infused handblade, retrieved her fallen arm from the ground, and pressed it back into place.
Shhh.
Seraphim healing activated, reattaching it perfectly.
Flexing the fingers a few times, Ireila looked back at Number 17.
It landed, but… too shallow.
Number 17 still stood tall, unscathed from behind.
Ireila recalled the moment they'd crossed.
His axe hurtling toward her, and in that gap, she'd thrust her lightning-charged hand.
Into his chest.
Yet the wind gathered there had blocked her deeper penetration.
He read me completely…
This was undoubtedly her defeat.
Without healing, she'd have died ages ago—a total loss, she thought.
📢 ANNOUNCER ⚡ [This bout ends in a draw—!! Match over by time limit survival for both combatants!!]
The match ended precisely as time expired, announced by the referee's voice.
Drip… drip…
At that moment.
Number 17, blood pouring from his chest, staggered and collapsed.
Step, step, step.
Ireila approached, knelt beside him, and looked down.
"Hah, ngh, hah… what is it…?"
"…That much won't kill you anyway."
"Haha, so finishing me off now?"
"……."
Then someone leaped from the stands, rushing toward them.
"Gladiator, sir!!"
Tiriel, Colosseum Clinic Director and Seraphim healer.
She hurried to Number 17's side, checked his state, and poured holy power into him.
"Hic, what do we do…! A chest wound like this…!"
"I-It's fine… not fatal…."
"But the blood…! Hold on, Gladiator, sir…! I'll do something…!"
"……."
Ireila impassively watched Tiriel heal Number 17.
Then a transmission spell reached her.
Elena's aggressive voice followed.
Ireila—!! What are you doing!! Finish him now!!
Confirming he lived, she ordered the kill.
"……."
Ireila eyed Number 17's healing wound, then flicked her gaze to the VVIP seats.
But Lady Elena… the match is over.
What does that matter?! Just kill that mongrel now!!
Really? You sure?
Eeeek…!! So insolent lately…!!
Killing him now, and the Colosseum owner won't stay quiet.
…….
Ireila shifted her view to the seat beside VVIP, where Parion's ruler Taira sat.
The aura from there chilled her spine.
Taira had overheard, glaring ferociously at them both.
…….
Shall I?
Elena had no retort.
With silence as answer.
Slide.
Ireila placed her hand opposite Tiriel's on Number 17's chest.
"W-Wait…! He's under treatment, don't interfere…!"
"Mine's more efficient."
"Huh? What do you…."
Fwoooooosh—!!
Vast holy power erupted from Ireila's hand, blanketing Number 17.
"Th-This is…!"
The surge triggered his Auto Healing, sealing the chest wound in seconds.
At the same speed as her own healing.
Ireila—!! What the hell are you doing?!
Elena's voice exploded from silence, but Ireila replied coolly.
But he'll live anyway, so helping's fine, right?
What the—!!
Elena tried to argue, but couldn't.
He'd heal regardless; her aid changed nothing major.
You… prepare yourself when you return.
Yes.
Ireila answered flatly.
Whatever punishment awaited.
It wouldn't kill her, so it didn't matter.
Just.
"What… poison and antidote in one…?"
"……."
Ireila felt an odd joy that this mongrel slave survived.
Her stoic face softened ever so slightly with a faint smile as she teased him playfully.
"You owe me now. …Pay it back later."
Thanks to that, the punishment soon to come didn't feel so bad.