Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Why Does He Keep Getting Stronger?
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Former Martial Emperor, Durandal.
Every achievement he had racked up was utterly astonishing.
Like facing down the World Erosion's Heavenly Sovereign with his bare fists and inflicting a wound that would never heal.
Or venturing alone into the sky-floating World Erosion, the Sky Citadel, and sealing it shut.
Or taking down a 10-star Erosion Beast in the forbidden zone of Aaron's Castle.
One after another, tales from beyond this world spilled forth.
Even he had retired now, though.
Living a peaceful life as the headmaster of Raheln Academy.
Though to the students, he was a headmaster far from kind.
Today, too, he was spending a leisurely day in his office.
But it seemed like today wouldn't stay leisurely.
Footsteps approaching the office from the hallway outside.
Durandal remembered every faculty member's footsteps and presence.
These weren't familiar.
Which meant that even though the academy had been open for nearly a year, the one event that had happened just once was about to repeat itself today.
"Now, I wonder who it could be."
Durandal gazed at the office door with an intrigued expression.
Soon, a knock echoed—knock knock—and he responded.
"Come in."
Through the open door stepped a boy.
The boy, just turning fifteen, had hair gleaming a sharp ink-blue.
Durandal knew that hair color all too well.
It was the symbol of the Valheim family, after all.
The face of the one first-year who had come to submit a petition—Charlotte Valheim—and her younger brother, Krash Valheim.
'The siblings are cut from the same cloth.'
From causing a huge uproar right after entering Raheln Academy.
To even coming to submit a petition.
Durandal slowly smiled and rose from his seat with a thud.
The office shook like an earthquake from that alone.
Despite his age, his body possessed a massive frame far beyond human limits.
Some called him Mount Tai upon seeing him.
"What petition do you have for Raheln Academy?"
The only reason students came to him was one thing.
Petitions.
Durandal had no intention of hearing anything else.
He was as uncompromising as ever.
But Krash thought that was perfect.
This way, he could cut straight to the chase.
"Allow students to take World Erosion missions as well."
"Very well. Prove your strength to deliberate the petition, Krash, and I'll approve it."
Durandal answered without a hint of hesitation.
Petitions were rejected outright the moment strength couldn't be proven, anyway.
But prove that strength, and he'd accept any petition.
"Just one thing, though."
Durandal unwound the watch from his wrist.
He placed it on the desk, and it thudded, making the desk creak.
The watch itself was absurdly heavy.
"Proving your strength gets harder depending on the petition's scale."
Durandal said as he lumbered toward the door.
He looked down at Krash standing there, towering several heads taller.
Then he gripped the door firmly.
Crack!
The door he grabbed splintered to dust.
"Wanting World Erosion missions? It'll be quite perilous."
A warning: if this was half-hearted, turn and leave quietly.
Any normal student would've backed away in fear.
But Krash stared up at Durandal without a trace of fear.
Durandal looked down at him with curious eyes.
His pressure was beyond imagination.
Durandal was even exuding enough aura to make Krash retreat.
Yet Krash showed no sign of flinching.
'Hmm. That's a trait you see in veterans who've rolled through battlefields.'
How could a mere fifteen-year-old show this?
His interest was thoroughly piqued now.
He'd always enjoyed nurturing late bloomers.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have founded Raheln Academy.
The reason for this uncompromising petition system was simple.
To find diamonds among the academy's shining talents.
And once found, he'd pour everything he had into forging that gem.
"To the training grounds."
Was this boy the gem?
He moved, hoping the boy would meet his expectations.
The arena training ground stood empty after today's sessions ended.
Krash and Durandal faced each other.
A few spectators sat in the arena stands, watching them.
Charlotte, Sisley, and Haring.
Krash had moved right after his meeting with the three.
Of course, they knew he'd head to the arena.
"Charlotte Valheim, what do you think?"
Sisley asked, eyes on Krash and Durandal.
Her mind was genius incarnate.
But that was intellect, not physique.
When it came to combat, Sisley was practically a blank slate.
Born frail, she couldn't learn much.
Even she had shallow knowledge of martial arts.
So she asked Charlotte.
Who had genius talent in martial arts.
"Fifty-fifty."
Charlotte gave a realistic answer.
"Putting World Erosion missions on the table is basically the highest difficulty petition. That old man's dead serious."
Charlotte brushed her hair aside.
"Anything but me, and fifty-fifty is generous."
Arrogant, but pure Charlotte.
"Then he'll win."
The unexpected reply came.
Sisley met Charlotte's eyes and slyly curled her lips.
"That kid's the strongest I know."
Sisley gazed at Krash with conviction.
"Yes."
Haring's voice chimed in.
As Sisley and Charlotte turned, Haring stared at Krash with serious eyes.
"Krash... he's strong."
Haring had seen Krash's unyielding conviction on missions.
His mental fortitude outstripped his abilities.
She believed in that spirit.
Amid all their expectations, Krash stared steadily at Durandal.
Durandal hummed a tune, wrapping bandages around his hands one by one.
"Age catches up; hands ache. Gotta prep like this or the bones scream."
His lid-sized fists looked ageless to anyone.
But Durandal said it anyway.
Bandages tight, he swung his arms lightly.
Crimson Garden's voice rang in his head meantime.
Word had spread; others were trickling in.
'Sigrin's on the move too.'
And the fake Arthur as well.
Might as well go all out now.
"One thing before we start."
"Hm? Speak."
Durandal grinned broadly, eager to test this newfound gem.
But he didn't know.
How cheeky this gem was.
"If I fall, please deliver me to the saintess nicely."
As Durandal tilted his head at Krash's preemptive defeat declaration.
Krash quietly swallowed.
"Hoo."
Smoke billowed from his mouth.
World Erosion burning inside as Ignis, activating Annihilating Flame Erosion.
Durandal's eyes beneath thick white brows slowly widened at the sight.
He'd heard reports of Krash's forbidden art.
But seeing it up close, it was worse than imagined.
His body was enhanced to the brink of self-destruction.
"Hmm, indeed."
Now he understood the defeat claim.
Forcing out that power left no room for mental strain.
"No worries. I'll get you to the infirmary fi—"
"Not done yet."
Krash cut him off and swallowed again.
His eyes reddened with heat.
Second Annihilating Flame Erosion, accelerating beyond norms, overloading Lunar Yin Body.
Black Flame surged wildly inside.
Durandal's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Isn't that overdoing it?"
Output was worryingly excessive now.
Air warped around him with intense heat.
Even at this distance, faces burned; Krash endured far worse.
"Still... not... done."
Durandal's face showed surprise at those words.
He'd already surpassed limits, yet more?
"What."
As Durandal reacted.
Shatter!
Krash felt internal chains snap.
Red aura surged wildly around him.
On the edge before the world twisted.
Thousand Kills Star's malice clashed with World Erosion's madness, revealing the midpoint.
Smoke from his mouth turned red.
Space around him warped visibly.
Atmosphere buckling under the force.
Third stage of Annihilating Flame Erosion.
Exterminating Flame Asura.
Krash's pinnacle realm.
"Student Krash!"
As Durandal shouted it excessive, light around Krash sucked inward.
Winds howled like a storm.
Arena heat reached incoming students.
Spring air turned summer sweltering, sweat beading.
Then.
"Ah, damn."
Krash muttered from the blaze.
Throat scorched; voice strained under the weight.
Arena floor melted under his heat.
Yet Krash clung to his mind desperately.
To stop the Empire-Staron war, he needed Durandal's approval.
He'd throw his body for that.
Deep inside, then.
Krash awakened the dormant night.
Night God's skill.
Nox.
Awakened night flooded his body instantly.
Inside Krash.
A blood-red full moon rose.
Lunar Yin Body's peak time draped within.
Soaring heat met Nox's ultimate yin via Lunar Yin Body, shattering another limit.
Roar!
Black Flame erupted skyward.
As if draping night over the heavens, pitch-black inferno below.
Krash's red eyes gleamed sharply.
And finally.
Krash bit the instant enhancement elixir he'd held since arriving.
Crunch!
Curse-laced poison from the broken elixir seeped through his body.
Krash's Annihilating Flame Erosion melted and absorbed curses.
This custom elixir surged vitality forcibly.
Sizzle!
Curse burned inside, spreading through him.
Three high curses used:
Hellfire Blaze, Moon Frenzy, Island Shadow.
Plus dozens of mid-low curses chaining them.
And assorted poisons.
A yin-fire abomination, this elixir was pure malice—never to be swallowed lightly.
But Krash took it without hesitation.
To reach his absolute limit.
In that new realm attained.
Krash's flame-engorged red eyes blazed in the night.
Heaven-Exterminating Asura.
Fourth realm, beyond Exterminating Flame Asura.
In the arena's black flames.
Krash drew the glowing crimson Thunderclap.
Then, he spoke one line.
"This'll sting a bit."
His challenge to the Celestial Martial Sovereign.