Defying Death's Embrace
A searing pain crashed through Ludenberg Lavante's mind. His vision blurred into haze, and he vividly felt the massive greatsword crushing his right chest. Malevolent divine power coursed through his body, weakening him and sealing off any chance of regeneration. Gradually, death began to consume him.
Am I just going to die like this? he asked himself. Strangely, his mind remained sharp, relentlessly repeating the thought. I don't want to die.
Ludenberg didn't want to die. He'd only just reconciled with Ashytara. He'd only just found someone he could open his heart to. He was so close to proving himself. Die like this? Don't make me laugh.
Images from the massive eastern erosion incident flooded his mind—the corpses of soldiers scattered lifelessly, dying pointless deaths. That scene. And his own desperate wish never to end up like that. I want to live.
But his clarity lasted only a moment. The overwhelming pain from his body began dragging his consciousness into an endless abyss. I can't lose consciousness like this. I'll die the instant I do.
"Aaaahhh!"
In the depths of his fading mind, he heard the scream-laced cry of his precious friend. Then, scorching heat. He saw Ashytara unleashing Solem's flames, slashing at Jepita with her sword.
"No... run away..."
Even in that state, Ludenberg forced his mouth open, rasping out a voice thick with blood. He felt it trickling down his lips. His awareness was sinking faster. He struggled to cling to it, but he couldn't stop his consciousness from being pulled into the darkness. His blurred vision blackened completely, and awareness slipped away.
Jepita briefly released his sword from the flames, creating distance as he stared at Ashytara.
"These are Solem's flames, aren't they? Indeed. A pleasure to meet you, second princess of Solenute. Ashytara Solenute."
Even in the dire situation, Jepita greeted her with leisurely composure—a display of his utter confidence that she could never surpass him.
"Shut up!"
"Oh? You're quite close with Lavante's bloodline, it seems... But that friend's life is nearly spent. Allow me to offer him a final courtesy."
"No... no..."
The blazing hope flickered out, and fathomless despair threatened to swallow her too. "Ludenberg, please. Don't die."
"I... won't... die... so run..."
Through his fading consciousness, Ludenberg spoke. "No way. If you die, I'll die too."
"No... don't."
His barely parted lips overflowed with worry for her. Ashytara felt tears welling up. Of all powers, why Solem's flames? If it had been Mare's divine power, there might have been even a sliver of hope to save him.
To Ashytara, Ludenberg was her hope for life itself. And now that hope was fading.
"Step aside, princess. My goal is to exterminate Lavante. I have no intention of touching you."
But Ashytara didn't budge. "Why? Why target Ludenberg? If you were going to go after someone, I'm the princess—you should've picked me!"
"Haha. The princess of Solenute knows nothing."
"What?"
"Do you know what the name Lavante means to the Salvation Cult? An enemy that must be eradicated. Leonard Lavante. The one who slaughtered countless of our cult members during the eastern massive erosion. The survivors swore an oath then—to butcher every drop of Lavante blood."
"..."
"And if I killed you here... I can't even imagine it. All of Solenute's combat forces would march on the Salvation Cult. That's not what I want. But... Lavante is different."
Ashytara instantly understood why he wouldn't touch her. She was Solenute's direct heir. Killing her meant war with the entire empire. But Ludenberg was just one member of the Lavante ducal family. Even if it sparked conflict, many nobles wouldn't support it. Directly attacking the Salvation Cult was far too risky, bringing massive losses. Those eyeing Lavante's position had no reason to take such a gamble.
Besides, Lavante alone couldn't strike the cult effectively. Even if the imperial family ordered war by force, those schemers would send half-hearted troops under flimsy excuses. Like Duke Altis and Marquis Asta, prime examples.
"I see... so that's how it is."
Conversely, that meant he couldn't touch her. Ashytara realized this. She raised her greatsword high. Fierce flames reignited, enveloping the blade.
"Oops. Shouldn't have said that? No matter. You can't stop me anyway. I—"
Jepita closed the distance in an instant. "—am confident in my hand-to-hand combat as well."
His fist, infused with the evil god Phisper's divine power, clashed against Ashytara's greatsword. She unleashed her swordsmanship wreathed in blazing flames, but before Jepita's iron fists, the fire began to weaken.
Clang!
The impossible sound of bare knuckles meeting a greatsword rang out, and Ashytara's blade started to crack. She gritted her teeth, pouring more divine power into it, but the overwhelming gap in fundamental skill was too vast.
Thud!
"Ah, ugh!"
She couldn't hold out long. Ashytara took Jepita's fist straight to her abdomen. He grabbed her hunched neck and hurled her far away.
"That should keep you down. Now, time to finish this."
"No... Ludenberg..."
Ashytara tried to move, but she couldn't. Exposed directly to Phisper's malevolent divine power, her body was continuously weakening.
Jepita approached Ludenberg. "This ends it. Lavante bloodline."
With those words, he gripped the greatsword embedded in Ludenberg's body and yanked it out.
"Nooo!"
With Ashytara's scream, a fountain of blood erupted from Ludenberg's right chest. His vision, already hazy from near-unconsciousness, went completely black.
Nothing visible. Nothing audible. The senses he'd amplified through desperate effort faded. Was this death? Ludenberg could only think so.
Gradually, thought itself ceased. A sense of being pulled somewhere brought creeping comfort that overtook him.
"Planning to give up just like that?"
Just as comfort dyed him and he nearly let everything go, a voice echoed in his ear. Familiar. Crystal clear.
Raha?
"Intending to die like this, Ludenberg?"
I don't want to die.
"Then rise."
Impossible. My right chest is pierced, and Phisper's divine power seeping in is weakening me. Even if I could stand... I can't beat him.
"No, you can win."
I'm dying right now. How am I supposed to rise?
"You've died once before, haven't you? Crushed by that highest-grade erosion beast. What was it like then?"
There were sensations. It hurt like hell.
Suddenly, chains rattled, tightening around his body.
"And now?"
Fierce pain surged from where the chains constricted, sharpening his fading consciousness. It felt like he was being forcibly yanked back from the brink. Ugh.
"This is just the start. Awaken your pain receptors. Restore your senses."
Damn it.
"You told me yourself. You want to prove who you are. So... you're just going to die pointlessly here? Is that all your resolve amounts to? Then you're nothing but a loser. The pathetic kind you despise most."
Shut up.
Raha's sharp rebuke jolted his mind awake. Through her whipping words, Ludenberg focused his consciousness and began restoring his senses. His fingertips twitched. His toes moved. Sensation returned gradually to his chained, numb body. Agonizing pain accompanied it from his chest, but he gritted his teeth and endured. Because he didn't want to die. Because he had to prove himself alive and repay Ashytara's faith.
As bodily sensation returned, Ludenberg finally opened his eyes. A pitch-black space. His chained form visible, and Raha seated on a throne, gazing down at him.
"Come, Ludenberg. Don't get buried. Don't surrender yourself so easily. Not even to death."
The moment Raha finished, the chains fell away. Simultaneously, the bizarre vitality he'd felt against the high-grade erosion beast exploded within him. Like when he'd borrowed the Starting Knight's body. No—perhaps even stronger.
Ludenberg drew Libera from his waist and swung it fiercely. Something shattered with a crack.
* * *
Ludenberg opened his eyes. Light gleamed in his once-dulled green pupils, and fierce pain from his chest surged through his entire body. Sensations returned from his fingertips and toes.
"What...!"
Jepita, witnessing it, let out a stunned groan.
Ludenberg rose from his fallen position. He gripped Libera tightly, holding the sword upright. In the wake of the pain sweeping through him remained a bizarre, ferocious vitality coursing wildly through his body. Somehow, his own flesh no longer felt entirely his own. It was as if his physical limits had expanded another level.
"How can you stand? With that injury and blood loss, you should be dead."
"..."
Ludenberg silently stared at Jepita. I saw his attacks clearly enough. But my body couldn't keep up. Now... maybe it can.
"Incomprehensible. But... the outcome won't change."
Jepita swung his greatsword at Ludenberg. The same motion as before—but the result differed.
Clang!
He parried it. Not barely, nor falling behind Jepita's speed. He didn't even yield ground. Ludenberg perfectly blocked the strike.
"...How?"
"..."
Ludenberg didn't answer. He couldn't explain what he didn't understand himself. He simply swung Libera to slay the enemy before him.
Jepita blocked Ludenberg's sword and drew upon Phisper's divine power. A curse to weaken his foe imbued the greatsword, and chilling energy enveloped the area, pressing down on Ludenberg.
But Ludenberg crushed it all. Just like when he'd donned the Starting Knight's flesh, his body moved exactly as he willed. Each swing of Libera sharply deflected Jepita's greatsword, and his swift movements dodged every incoming Phisper saint law.
Jepita began to fall back. How can someone without divine power produce this strength? No—how can he rise from wounds that should have killed him and fight even stronger?
Jepita couldn't comprehend Ludenberg, who had not only survived near-fatal injuries but pressed him with vastly superior skill. Bewilderment disrupted Jepita's movements, and Ludenberg seized the opening.
Crunch!
Libera pierced Jepita's left shoulder.