VS Hornigold

Click—

"It's off!" "Get out of the way!"

Riko cast a rune spell with her freed hands, shattering the remaining handcuffs, then yanked her staff from her waistband. The two men charged toward the room where Admiral Shark had gone. The castle was already shaking from the battle outside, and servants were fleeing in panic. Their eerily calm movements, as if they'd anticipated this exact scenario, made Hyacinth suspicious. Preparing dinner for five people suddenly seemed like more than coincidence—everything felt off.

Riko led Hyacinth to the top-floor room, the same prison where she'd been held. There stood a figure in Shark Admiral's crimson coat, quietly laying the groaning Zan on the bed. He turned, hand on his sword hilt, and suggested they talk. Hyacinth aimed his gun.

"—What an ironic twist. The Pirate King, King of the Seas. A man who needs neither fame nor glory, and the one thing he truly desires belongs to another."

"......Are you talking about Lady Circe? She has her own will. It's her choice who she loves."

"That's what makes it sadder. The Pirate King is the sort of man content if she's happy. And right now, he's fighting a pointless battle. Even if he wins, he'll have nothing left."

"Can't we resolve this with words?"

"Impossible. For a man who's spent ninety years on the sea living solely for her, accepting he can't be her happiness or stay by her side? I'd say as a pirate, I'd steal her by force. All his life's efforts rendered meaningless. But he just laughed. Said it was natural she'd fall for the man who reached out first, and he was glad. I was speechless at that man's magnanimity. Can you even fathom his feelings?"

Hyacinth had no answer. Hornigold was that kind of man—if there was someone who'd reached ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠out to Circe, saved her, and if she chose and loved him—despite walking ninety years solely for her, without a shred of hesitation or greed, he could purely wish for her happiness. He was fighting now to confirm if that man could protect her. Even now, for this deeply personal matter, he'd sent all his subordinates away and faced five alone.

"....I can't accept it. If he can give up! He could just talk it out without fighting!"

"Having betrayed his captain and crossed that line already, he'd rather die than live pathetically.... Remember this: a man's life is his own. He does as he pleases. The freest man on the seas—no wave or storm bends him."

The sword slowly drew, aimed at Hyacinth. Old war dog versus young hound. The two men faced off, battle lust rising, ready to clash any second.

"Do whatever! I'll do what I can! While Radamu-hyung fights, we'll rescue her and escape as planned!"

"Hornigold won't just let you go."

"That's not for you to decide! Riko! Take the captain and get out! I'll handle this!"

"Heh... You suit a soldier more than an adventurer.... Come on, then. Since I've betrayed too, I'll honor the request.... Don't worry, I'll go easy."

"No responsibility if you get hurt!"

"My teeth aren't that loose to yield to youthful fire?"

Clang—Shark Admiral lunged, leaving an afterimage. Hyacinth crossed his two pistol-swords with one arm to block, knees buckling, nearly hitting the ground. But gritting his teeth, he shoved back, kicked the chest for distance, and circled to block access to Riko, adjusting spacing. Gripping the pistol-swords reverse, he took stance.

Rumble—With thunderous roar, Hyacinth kicked off the floor, bounding off ceiling and walls in triple jump, kicking Shark Admiral. The admiral grabbed the swift kick with his arm, slamming Hyacinth from midair. His sword tore the red carpet.

"He always sticks me with the heavy lifting...!"

Riko lifted Zan with rune magic and smashed through the window, leaping from the castle. Shark Admiral glanced at her escape, then aimed at Hyacinth.

"Come, young one. Let me teach you a move."

Grit—That condescending line ignited blue lightning across Hyacinth's body. Mana burst, he charged for a short decisive fight, unleashing chain slashes with explosive boom—

Blinding flash from the window—Radamu and Hornigold crossed blades.

Clang—! Bopal Weapon clashed with cutlass. Not mere metal; the blade pushed out, lightly deflecting Bopal Weapon. Hornigold measured distance fluidly, steps unflagging. Radamu swung his massive greatsword to deny space, retreating maximally.

First clash blocked, second traded power, third—Bopal Weapon slid along cracked flaw in cutlass, stabbing air. No, greatsword halted, but Hornigold flowed like water, knee-kicking Radamu's gut. Stiffening briefly from pain, Radamu skidded back, carving twin furrows. He steadied breath, regripped greatsword, glaring at the leisurely man with hands behind back, cutlass aimed.

Ethanol faucet formed under palm. Twist—fierce stream shot like bullets. He slashed to cut, but Radamu fired Fireball, igniting endless flame from faucet, pressuring Hornigold.

Massive blaze swallowing even slashes exploded everywhere, seeming to engulf Hornigold—

Pop. Like bursting balloon in puddle, flames and ethanol vanished before eyes. Folded leg lifted. Crater ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at his feet, deep bootprint. He stomped again—crack—ground split, accelerating flying kick blotting Radamu's vision. Shadow on face—reflexive backbend dodged, but reptilian tail coiled neck. Braking midair, neck cracked sickeningly.

Radamu barely cast Recycle, turning body rubbery to endure. Tail-whipped and thrown, Hornigold slashed chest and thigh with cutlass, whirlwind of deadly wind.

Sunrise split on blade, sparkling. Radamu, midair unable to land, swung greatsword desperately to block. But Hornigold sought no power struggle. Sword flowed over blade, slicing arm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and waist.

"Guh...!"

Cast Deadly Queen, launching Bopal Weapon like missile. He ducked to evade—Radamu yanked hand, cutlass plummeting from above. Familiar pattern, Hornigold tried hurling again, but Radamu rock-still like fused to earth, freezing both momentarily. Invisible Touch gripped spirit sword, charging Hornigold's back.

"Hmph."

Hornigold toed falling cutlass hilt skyward at chest. Radamu cast Metal Skin to block—but shout, light foot stomp, wrist twist. Shock through gripping hand, bone dislocating, arm limp. Releasing instantly, Hornigold tail-smashed spirit sword, hook ripping chest.

Blood sprayed into Hornigold's eyes, step behind, kicked leg pit to fell him, reclaimed Bopal Weapon with good arm, smashed shoulder. Deadly Queen exploded from hand, crumbling balance. Blade neared good arm—he overbalanced more, backbent head into path; Bopal Weapon cratered ground, dust flying. Post-first blast, arm flipped, gripped face. Second explosion hammered.

Gritting through face blast stagger, tracked wind-whistle, flattened body. But tail smashed crown. Face met stone floor; gap, toe lifted jaw. Summoned glow-in-dark dinosaur at limp arm anchor. Swelling dino launched skyward. Recovering vision, magic circle footing, vertical sky dash—hooked dino flung, Bopal Weapon horizontal slash gutted Hornigold. Dino-sliced, shallow blood—pre-attack backstep evasion. Cutlass thrust brow—but cleaved lingering magic circle. Glass shatter—Time Rewind 2 seconds, falling self stomped shoulder, Bopal Weapon pinned instep. Metal parted like water, leg bled. Hook-hand pierced ankle skewer-style, twirled club-smash toward ground—but razor timing 1-second rewind, falling momentum spun roundhouse to face. Blade upthrust through leg as foot connected—Invisible Touch spirit sword blocked, reclaimed Bopal Weapon, landed distancing.

'No opening to reset dislocated arm bone!' Pause to fix, and attack flies. That brutal exchange under three minutes—Radamu cold-sweated.

"Don't disappoint. Sword weeps. Shed weight, lost performance first, even greatsword merits. Pushed back by mere cutlass?"

Words Saintess echoed. Bopal Weapon shed weight, taking only greatsword reach and edge, discarding all else. Couldn't smash with mass, bounced by one arm, exposing flaws, inviting counters.

"Love Circe?"

"......I'll take responsibility."

"Not enough. Love a woman—one woman. Clashing me with such light heart? Such flimsy resolve? 'My woman to no one, protect from any scum'—swing without that weight? Brat.... Do it right. Women aren't trophies."

—Bopal Weapon trembled. Red mana leaked, sword cry roaring like voicing will. Furious for master, expressing rage. Radamu blinked at first sight, staring greatsword. Hornigold burst laughing.

"Kyahaha...! Indeed, don't insult the master you acknowledged? Angry for wielder you can't control.... You're loved, little one."

Radamu stabbed Bopal Weapon ground, reset arm, two-handed lift. Power infused, eyes willed, stared waiting Hornigold. One with Sword skill flowed through blade, swing path shimmering.

Evil God fight proved hero's duty. This proved he could protect precious ones.

"I'll fight and prove—for Circe who loves me, Hornigold—!!"

"Anyone can talk big!!!"

Air crushed by constellation presence. Amid pressure, jealousy, envy, satisfaction—Hornigold grinned fangs, arms wide, stanced. Show true Pirate King heart, charged ground. First step quaked earth. Like storm-tossed deck, balance shook—fixed feet endured. Second step, Bopal Weapon twisted self, stabbing at Hornigold. But third flowed blade-face.

Vision whited, body smashed backward through wall. Desummon/resummon Bopal Weapon blocked kick, but earth uprooted, crushed under wall. Truck-impact shock, black blood vomited; Bopal Weapon self-desummoned after near-crushing him. Gripped spirit sword. No resummon gap—tempest kicks poured. Each hit powdered metal/stone, trailing blade-winds flaying skin. Invisible Touch ankle strike futile, transparent hand shattered. Grit teeth, spirit sword front-block/glance best. Back to wall, endured one-man typhoon, body eroding, all to defense.

"Grraaah...!!"

Cornered, crushed by kicks—Radamu. Hundreds seeming feet speed barrage, Hornigold accelerating tireless. Harpoon pierced shoulder.

"Hornigold—!!"

Kidd flew in, kicking. Back-kick staggered. Outer God Fear effect? Stared Radamu—gap, sidestep, Eye of the Watcher fired. Head snapped aside dodge, leaped rubble wall, flipped midair wall-kick, kneed Radamu's gut. Vomiting blood swung spirit sword—hand snatched ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blade, hurled at Kidd.

Eye of Watcher failure probability forced. Not disaster effect. Radamu magic circle landed pre-Kidd collision, wiped mouth blood.

Perplexed by "Fate"—looked up, Hornigold's hair shifted gold to white. Rapidly aging, youth fled, staggered wildly.

"....Whatever it is, chance!!! Castella!!!!"

Kidd roared skyward. Prince Castella half-replaced broken cursed sword with ice, plummeted slashing. Cutlass shattered ice, hook tore chest—but wing-flap last-second distanced, landed by Kidd.

"Power weakened! Reactions slower too!"

"Cough, cough—"

Blood-mixed coughs, visibly senescing—Radamu leaped. One Eye his fate?! Charging one-eyed, Kidd harpooned, Castella reformed ice cursed sword, flew up. 3:1—Hornigold slowly extended hands, lifted left leg stance.

Now target vitals—attacks crossed in blink.

His kick burst space. Air exploded literally, vacuum instant. Leg-centered airflow. High overhead leg ground-smashed. Initial shockwave pulped innards rigid, follow-up quaked earth, impossible massive wave mana-formed, swallowed three.

Flowing seafloor currents—Radamu readjusted Bopal Weapon, charged atop, slashed at kicks. Blade halted space-blocked. Mana/wind coiling leg dragon-ascended, launched Radamu skyward. Soared kingdom skies, distant speck crashed mithril wall encircling isle. Unconscious-free tenacity magic circle dash—Hornigold beckoned faster, arms wide.

"Fifty years. Think 'Fate' crushes me? Lame excuse."

Wrinkle-spotted face, dull sunken eyes, white hair—no youthful vigor. Yet fate's death sentence, sea disasters, brutal trials, Evil God, elves couldn't kill him.

"Lion's lion aged. How long crawl before ninety-year elder, young fools?"

Direct shockwave blood-vomit, Kidd/Castella lacked rise strength. Thus Mortis from crumbled wall confronted.

Rage, vengeance, hate—and tearful pity at aged him—complex expression, mace raised. Hornigold smiled kindly.

"—Yield elder one move, come, big sis."

"Hornigold──!!!!"

Unable mere name-scream emotion-laden, she charged.