Chapter 38
Clang! Clang! Kang!
A man fending off a barrage of fists with just a single sword. Astraia couldn't hide her astonishment at the masked man, who calmly blocked each of the monster's massive punches one by one—while holding her in one arm.
An Aura Master? No... maybe even Lord level...
Even to her, who knew little of aura, the power of Prince Taurus was on par with national-level forces. Sure, sprouting two extra arms was grotesque, but it meant his destructive power had grown even stronger.
So what about this masked man? Effortlessly parrying punches that shattered boulders with a single blade spoke volumes—his realm transcended imagination.
"Damn it! Trying to balance with one arm..."
Whether holding her was a misstep, a troubled voice leaked from behind the mask. He needed both arms for full power, but one was tied up with her—naturally, it was exhausting.
"Um, excuse me... Eek!"
"Stay still! Moving could get you cut by debris!"
The princess, about to beg him to just toss her aside, screamed as the wind pressure surged. The masked man shielded her with his body, reassuring her.
"You ruined my plans...! I finally made executive, and you wrecked it!!"
"What're you blabbering about."
Slash—!
"...?!"
"Four arms? You can spare two. Hell, that was your 'normal' state anyway."
A flash too fast for the eye. In an instant, the arms sprouting from his back were severed, tumbling to the ground. Taurus whipped his gaze to his back in shock.
"I'll hear your story before killing you, so surrender quietly—"
Crunch! Cruuunch!!
"...I hate this pattern the most..."
With grotesque sounds, the prince's arms regenerated. His power had surged, boosting his regeneration too—the wounds from their clashes were healing before their eyes.
"...Princess. If I chop off the prince's limbs but leave him alive, am I innocent?"
"...Capture him alive, and it'd be perfect. Even if he dies, I'll stake my life to defend your innocence. So don't worry—do it."
"Why risk your life for a guy you just saved... Anyway, got it."
Then, regeneration complete, Taurus charged with his massive bulk. The masked man scooped up the princess and hopped nimbly around the garden.
It was like watching a desperate bullfight between matador and bull.
"Hya!"
"Guh?!"
Until now just dodging, the masked man leaped high, vaulting over the charging Taurus's face. As he moved to slice the prince's limbs from behind—
Grip!
"The severed arm?"
A heavy sensation—he glanced at his sword hand. One of the prince's lopped-off arms had latched onto his wrist.
He'd landed right where the arm was severed, and it grabbed him instantly.
"Fuck, what the hell is this—not even a lizard!"
Aura protected his hand from shattering, but the weight alone was grueling. His defense slowed just a fraction.
"Ngh! Sorry!"
"Wha— Kyaa!!"
In the end, the masked man hurled the princess he'd shielded with one arm. Luckily, he'd rolled his eyes to spot the thickest bushes, so she landed safely without major injury.
"Ngh... Hey, hold on!"
Boom!
Thankfully, he'd raised his freed arm to block the punch, but the sheer mass overwhelmed him—he was sent flying backward. After tumbling several times, he barely regained balance and stood.
Crack—crumble.
But the mask, battered by repeated frontal impacts, finally shattered, unable to endure.
"...Mars?"
The face behind the broken mask was, unfortunately, one she knew all too well.
* * *
"Fuck me."
My body, wrapped in aura, had durability several times a normal person's. But the mask was just a tool—no way it could tank those brute punches unscathed.
Should've made one from mithril.
Sure, it'd cost a fortune, but it'd hide my identity perfectly. Rushed for time, I grabbed a cheap market mask—and here we were.
"You're... the one with the princess back then?"
Even half-mad, he remembered me.
"Glad you remember. Thought a nobody like me would've been wiped from a prince's mind."
"What... so you're not just some powerless low noble?!"
He'd investigated me as the princess's fake fiancé, but found nothing notable. Only a tiny few had seen my true power.
A worthless foe suddenly outclassing him—must sting.
"Spot on, but harsh words. Makes low nobles like me sad."
"I'm... an Aura Master now. With His power, no one can oppose me... What the hell are you!!"
"What else? Someone stronger than you."
Thwack!
"Gahk!!"
I kicked with all my might to fling him far from the princess, but the weight difference limited it to a few dozen meters.
Just how dense are that guy's muscles?
"Hey, one question."
"What—"
"Who's 'granting' you this power?"
"Ha! Fool! Think I'd reveal His identity?!"
"Didn't expect you to. Next: what were you gonna do after marrying our princess? Share the power?"
Taurus sneered vilely at my question.
"With that useless bitch? Hilarious! I'd drag her home and sell her as a breeding stock for experiments!"
"..."
"Royal blood means she's well-fed—perfect for popping out kids. Abandoned by her dad anyway, might as well be useful—"
"Enough."
Splurt—!
"Guh! Khuh!"
"Shouldn't have asked. No sane guy abuses power like that."
A red lump hit the ground. Three-inch tongue causes trouble—old sayings ring true.
"Khuh... Yuh... dah 'ell... dah's dah blooh!"
"If you'd said you'd let her go, I'd have gone easy."
I unleashed my inner aura. Taurus buckled to his knees under its weight, biting his lips till they bled—Lord aura wasn't light.
"Don't... mock meee!!!"
Black energy fully erupted, shrugging off my suppression. He glared murderously.
"Now I get it. You... killed Merpho..."
"Merpho? Oh, the chimera maker? Yeah, me. Here for revenge?"
"Heh... no, thanks. You killed him, so I got promoted."
Chin.
"So... as thanks, I'll kill you painlessly!!!"
Black energy gathered in both hands—he assumed a stance and unleashed his ultimate punch with a roar.
"Ultimate Technique! Meteor Rush!!"
Dozens of fists filled the sky, raining from all directions. Aura-formed and solid, they crushed toward me.
But.
"Noctus Style 5."
A casual thrust—the tip met one fist.
Pop.
Like dandelion seeds scattering, it burst into petal shapes. Then—
Boom. Pop. Boomboom.
The horde blocking my path dissolved into flowers, a petal blizzard signaling spring's end.
Hundred Blossoms Rampage
Shooo—
Watching his aura fade as petals, the prince wore a hollow expression.
"What... the? You forcibly tore my aura...?"
"Hey."
"?! When did you—!"
"Your own fault, so don't hold a grudge."
Wild Dance.
Slash!
One clean cut. Yet it severed all his limbs in a flash.
"Gaaaaah!!"
To prevent regeneration, I coated his wounds with my aura, sealing his flesh's recovery. The Saintess's holy power would be better, but this was best for now.
Blocked from healing, he writhed in agony—but as the guy planning to turn the princess into breeding stock, pity was off the table.
And so, the princess's wedding ended messily, with the prince's rampage contained.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...Fuck."
Of course, with my identity fully exposed to everyone.