Victoria's Sacrifice

“Training here always demanded that kind of resolve.”

Geum Taeyang’s lips curled into an arrogant smirk. He had become a completely different man from the one who faced Elizabeth. The place where Geum Taeyang and Victoria now stood was a massive cave behind a waterfall near the temple of the Goddess of Light. In the past, after Cloud and Victoria had become the Guardian God and Guardian Commander respectively, they had often conducted their secret, high-intensity training here.

“This duel is no longer about resolve. It is reality. And that is precisely why I, Victoria Saint-Pierre, believe it must be done for Lady Serazad’s sake.”

Why had they chosen this cave for their confrontation? When they fought inside the temple, they used the finest swords. But here, they wielded their heroic treasures at full strength. The reason was simple: heroic treasures were secrets. Revealing their abilities could allow external enemies to devise counters against them.

Before Cloud died, this place was also the only time the two of them could be alone. After that, Cloud left on a business trip and was poisoned by Antoine.

Their final training session had taken place here as well. That was why Victoria had chosen this location for her life-or-death battle with ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Geum Taeyang. The meaning ran deep.

“You were holed up for an entire day. I wondered what you were thinking, but it turns out it was this. Typical Victoria. Then I’ll answer in my own way. When have I ever refused your challenge?”

Victoria, who had been violated and forced to acknowledge that Geum Taeyang was not Cloud, had shut herself away for a day. How had Geum Taeyang known? He remembered her patrol schedule from his previous game knowledge. She had skipped patrols for two full days. The reason for her seclusion was simple: she had concluded that either the reincarnation of Cloud or she herself must die to end this maddening situation.

You’ve had it rough, Victoria. Such a rigid girl, yet subjected to my twisted training.

Victoria of the Saint-Pierre family was defined by her rigid principles. She was an extreme perfectionist. Just yesterday, Geum Taeyang had thoroughly violated that principle-driven nature of hers inside her office. The office and the uniform—how symbolic.

To uphold that principle, she decided either I, the reincarnation of Cloud, or she herself must die. What a stubborn woman.

Victoria’s greatest principle was to properly serve Saintess Serazad and protect her happiness. Yet she believed that with her own heart in such turmoil, that duty had become impossible. Therefore, she sought to settle things with Geum Taeyang once and for all. That was Victoria Saint-Pierre’s way of showing loyalty to the Saint-Pierre family.

An effort-type genius. The year Cloud died, twenty-year-old Victoria was only B+. In six years she achieved two breakthroughs. Most close-combat classes require ten to fifteen years between breakthroughs. Given how devastated she was, her effort makes sense.

Victoria’s emotional suffering had been unimaginable. Saintess Serazad could at least confide her grief over Cloud’s departure to Victoria, but Victoria had no one to turn to. She had to endure everything alone. For six long years she had suppressed her feelings while pushing herself through brutal training to protect Serazad in Cloud’s stead.

I can’t see her special item since her favorability hasn’t reached 90, but it doesn’t matter. It’s obvious—the Saint-Pierre family’s secret heroic treasure, the spear Astra. In terms of compatibility, it’s a troublesome opponent for me.

In the otherworld of Pieta, the spear symbolized loyalty. Thus, the Goddess Selendis granted the Saint-Pierre family both divine authority and the heroic treasure Astra. Because Victoria had been chosen by Astra, she had been able to become Guardian Commander at such a young age despite only being B+ in combat ability.

Since it’s a spear, it’s less susceptible to my absolute demonic sword Luciena’s domination than a magic treasure would be.

Though their base physical stats were both A+, Geum Taeyang held a slight edge in the details thanks to conquering Leona’s fetishes and erogenous zones. He also possessed [True Mana Detection] and had copied [True Mana Step] from Leona during their second meeting. However, in a direct clash of heroic treasures, even he would struggle to gain the same overwhelming advantage he held against Paewangchammado.

Still, the outcome of this fight is already decided. I completed my build-up perfectly yesterday. This duel will end exactly as I intend.

Yet Geum Taeyang remained confident. The moment Victoria had called him here to fight to the death, he had already judged the mission cleared.

“Let us begin. As always, I shall point my spear at you first.”

Blue mana, no—emerald mana, the color of the Spirit Goddess Selendis, formed a weapon inventory barrier beneath Victoria’s feet.

From within that emerald barrier, the long heroic treasure, the Heroic Spear Astra, rose ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠vertically into view.

Victoria gripped Astra firmly.

“Cloud’s reincarnation, Geum Taeyang. I will prove that the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me of six years ago and the me of today are completely different people!”

She thrust the tip of Astra toward Geum Taeyang.

“Then I must prove something as well.”

Geum Taeyang summoned his own weapon inventory barrier.

“That the Cloud who has become the Great Khan Geum Taeyang has become an even more merciless man. After experiencing death once, I gained a great realization.”

He drew Luciena with flair, rested it on his shoulder, lifted his chin, and looked at Victoria. Cloud’s opening stance was almost identical to Conan Barbara’s.

Even after being reborn, you still obtained such a similar sword, Cloud.

Victoria’s gaze wavered slightly as she looked at Geum Taeyang’s Luciena. It was a demonic sword mixed with magic, yet still a heroic treasure that had existed in the otherworld conquest records—Cloud’s very own heroic treasure.

You always scolded him, saying it didn’t suit a Guardian God… Damn it… I missed it… That barrier’s light… and that mana color…

As a Guardian God, Victoria also possessed the bloodline of the Estevan family and naturally used emerald mana. Yet Cloud, connected to a treasure mixed with demonic energy, had trained separately to use matching mana. The rigid childhood friend Victoria had found it utterly displeasing, but seeing that displeasing sight again after six years made her chest tighten.

“I will bore a hole through your heart with Astra!”

Suppressing her surging emotions, Victoria charged at Geum Taeyang with Astra leading the way.

Whoa… Experiencing what I only saw in the game is on another level!

Geum Taeyang clicked his tongue as he faced Victoria’s spear attack, which instantly closed the distance. Just like with Leona, the gap between graphics and reality was overwhelming.

The way it bends like a whip instead of a spear! It really looks like a snake!

The Saint-Pierre family’s secret art was one-handed spear technique. When combined with their family treasure Astra, it gained wings. Astra could bend like a live fish and even extend at a certain level. It truly resembled a massive serpent—an ever-changing close-combat heroic treasure.

But the counter to Astra’s fraudulent physicality is ultimately [True Mana Detection].

Geum Taeyang dodged Astra’s spear tip with flawless precision. No matter how wildly Astra changed, it was still mana that created those movements. The key to dealing with it was how well one could detect mana. Geum Taeyang, despite being a close-combat specialist, possessed [True Mana Detection].

With [True Mana Step] as well, it’s almost harder to get hit on purpose.

When Leona visited the Gaia Tribe a second time, Geum Taeyang had deliberately requested a spar. On the surface it was to satisfy Leona’s lust under the “winner takes the loser” condition, but in truth it had been to copy her [True Mana Step]—preparation for conquering the heroine Victoria during his visit to Memphis.

It was already strong enough to make me jealous back then, and it’s still strong. No, it’s become even stronger, Cloud.

Though she maintained her expression, Victoria felt a chill as Geum Taeyang dodged every one of her Astra attacks. How had Victoria grown stronger during those six years of suffering? Because she had aimed for the strength of the one she missed, the one who had devastated her—Cloud.

He’s breaking every simulation I drew in my head.

She had been confident. With her current self, she could push Cloud to his limits. She had intended to steer the duel in the direction she desired. Yet Cloud was no longer the Cloud of that time—he had become far stronger.

Then I have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no choice but to use that… I was still hesitant because I haven’t fully adapted, but there’s no other way!

Victoria had come here prepared to end everything with Geum Taeyang. Therefore, there was no “next time” for her. She would create the result she had envisioned no matter what.

Yes, use it. Throw everything you have, Victoria!

Geum Taeyang also knew. He knew the final trump card Victoria would use to enforce her will. He had already accounted for it and prepared accordingly.

In that moment, Victoria’s eyes turned crimson.

Selendis’s Wrath!

The ultimate technique of the attack weapon created by the Spirit King Selendis—Selendis’s Wrath—was activating. It was said that demonic energy originally came from spirit energy, and the proof was that red energy manifested from spirit treasures. Nature was endlessly peaceful and benevolent, yet it could also capsize great ships and erase nations with volcanic eruptions. Spirit energy pursued harmony, but when it harbored ultimate killing intent toward an opponent, it manifested as this red energy.

“Let’s settle this, Geum Taeyang!!!”

The attacks of Astra, imbued with Selendis’s Wrath, began. If before it had felt like two or three serpents wildly striking, now a downpour of spear attacks rained down on Geum Taeyang.

That’s not all. When Selendis’s Wrath activates, it creates an effect similar to the aura suppression of Paewanggyeokgwon.

Geum Taeyang felt an enormous energy constricting him from all sides.

To shake this off, I need to emit an equal or greater fighting spirit or killing intent.

This was the ultimate technique of Selendis spirit energy that drove both the user and the opponent into a frenzy. Victoria Saint-Pierre had dragged Geum Taeyang into a stage where, as she had declared, one of them must die.

Killing intent! Killing intent toward Geum Taeyang! Killing intent toward Cloud who has returned as Geum Taeyang! My spear will reach his heart! I will end this fight without caring for my own safety!

Not only did Victoria’s eyes glow red, but red smoke rose from her entire body, and her expression had transformed into that of a warrior filled with killing intent. If it were easy to use, it wouldn’t be an ultimate technique. Once consumed by Selendis’s Wrath, one’s reason would fly away and they would rampage. As expected, Victoria’s attack stance was purely offensive—she had deeply immersed herself in Selendis’s Wrath.

An opening. My Luciena is going in.

Geum Taeyang, possessing both [True Mana Detection] and [True Mana Step], would never miss such an opening. He elegantly evaded the downpour of Astra spear attacks and thrust out a sharp strike with Luciena.

Luciena and Astra crossed.

Then, a soft smile appeared on Victoria’s lips—a smile that did not suit her crimson eyes at all. With a clatter, the heroic treasure Astra, emitting red mana, slipped from her hands.

Yes, Cloud… You… You protect Lady Serazad…

That was right. Victoria, who had declared that one of them must die here, had chosen to die by Geum Taeyang’s hand—to commit suicide at his hands.