Chapter 362
Chapter 362
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 362
Chapter Title: Catastrophe, and the Hero (5)
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A few years ago, to bind the Demon King, Raniel had made a deal with the stars. That day, she offered up half her lifespan, filling her soul with an immense amount of starlight.
"I accept the deal."
What Raniel had obtained then was starlight far surpassing even the brilliance of Kyle, said to possess the strongest output among all past heroes. The power seized by a mage once called a sage, with the resolve to burn her entire life away, was truly close to omnipotence.
Flooding starlight.
The hero's radiant form.
Kyle etched that sight into his eyes.
That is what a hero is.
A figure that never retreats before any foe—that is the hero he had always dreamed of, Kyle thought. He burned that image into his mind.
And so, the hero Kyle envisioned...
The perfect ideal... was Raniel on that day.
'...It must have left quite the impression.'
Raniel let out a hollow chuckle.
The Star's Sacred Treasure granted to her was the scales—Balance. But she believed its form was merely symbolic. What Raniel desired was to become the hero Kyle dreamed of. And in interpreting what a hero was, her own subjectivity was included.
A hero is one who sacrifices themselves.
One who bears the price and presses forward.
Thus, it was Balance.
The scales forged from the Star's Sacred Treasure did not demand her lifespan as before, but Raniel believed the key was the act of 'offering' something. A treasure perfectly suited to a mage like her.
As always.
She paid the price, and the deal was struck.
What the Star's Sacred Treasure enacted was not enhancement, but reenactment. A reenactment of that day when she faced the Demon King. Yet it wouldn't be exactly the same as that day. Much time had passed, and Raniel hadn't wasted it.
Unlike back then, when she was overwhelmed by the power.
Unlike back then, when she collapsed under its weight.
Now a hero herself, she could withstand this vast starlight. Her body still strained under it, but she wouldn't crumble like before.
...What she desired was a means to victory.
Kicking off the ground and charging forward, she recalled it.
What she had used that day to bind the Demon King's feet. The platinum particles swirling around her responded instantly to her thoughts.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Platinum Chains A familiar sound rang in Raniel's ears.
Raniel looked at what coiled around her hand.
It was not the Star's Sacred Treasure. Nor was it something unbreakable, or an unyielding symbol of the hero. But years ago, she had summoned this to face the Demon King.
If the foe was the Demon King.
If it harbored shadows.
This was as good as the Star's Sacred Treasure itself. Looking at the platinum chains wrapped around her hand, Raniel smiled. Smiling, she thought: Now it's a fair fight.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
Even after becoming a catastrophe, Kyle had continued to grow, moving a bit faster and more efficiently. Just as Raniel dashed by tearing through space, Kyle warped space itself as he charged.
His eyes wide open.
His superhuman senses pushed to the limit.
Toward the approaching Raniel, Kyle swung his sword.
Sword strikes that shredded space surged forward. But Raniel showed no intent to dodge. Far from evading, she took another step forward.
There was no way to block it—why?
The question was brief. Kyle saw the hand reaching out. Something was coiled around it: shining platinum chains.
💥 CLASH! 💥 KAAAAANG!
The clash of metal rang out.
For the first time, Kyle's sword—which cleaved all it touched—was blocked. With her hand wrapped in chains, Raniel seized Kyle's blade. Kyle's eyes widened.
It wouldn't cut. It wouldn't break.
He tried to unleash sword ki from the captured tip, but Raniel moved first. Just as Kyle had gripped her wrist earlier and swung, Raniel gripped his sword and surged another step forward.
💥 IMPACT! 💥 KABOOM!
The ground quaked.
Cracks spiderwebbed across the floor.
In that split second, Kyle couldn't read Raniel's movement. Acceleration beyond superhuman vision or senses. The sound of air bursting echoed belatedly in his ears.
Air tore as a fist approached.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Smash Direct hit to the heart
Raniel's fist struck Kyle's heart.
Physical impact hit first, followed by a shockwave rattling his body. Far beyond the previous one. As Kyle's body failed to withstand and began flying back—
⚡ CHAIN BIND ⚡ Platinum Chains extended Shot-out chains wrapped around Kyle's airborne body. Raniel gripped the end. Still in her punching stance, she spun once and yanked the chains.
"...!"
He was pulled in.
And into that pull stood Raniel, clutching ashes. Even as he was dragged, Kyle twisted and swung his sword. A perfect strike worthy of the Sword Hero... but...
💥 BLOCKED! 💥 KAAAAANG!
Dozens of chains suddenly appeared between them, blocking the strike. They couldn't fully stop the sword ki and snapped, but that was their role.
The broken chains turned to platinum particles.
The particles ticked and clung to Kyle's body, even his retinas, mimicking ashes.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Ignite A spark flew before his eyes.
Then Kyle's vision went white. Roaring heat and blinding flash swept the area. Caught in the spell, Kyle rolled on the ground. With his eyes vaporized, he swung wildly on instinct.
His strikes were sharp, but not enough to reach Raniel. Amid his swings, her presence closed in instantly.
As regeneration finished and Kyle opened his eyes, he saw blue. His blurry vision filled only with blue—the blue of Raniel's eyes right before him. He realized too late she had gripped his throat.
Crunch.
The moment she seized his neck, the chains around her hand bound him to her grip. Inside the bound chains, her hand flashed platinum.
"Ashes to ashes." ⟨ Ashes to Ashes ⟩
The chains surged. Platinum flashes blinked through the gaps.
💥 EXPLOSION! 💥 KAAAAA BOOOOM!
With a roar, Kyle's neck snapped.
Flesh and muscle tore away. Rising shadows barely kept his head from detaching, but the explosions continued. Raging platinum particles birthed flash after flash.
Boom, boooom!
Binding the unbound shadows, Raniel unleashed spells repeatedly. Her own hand wasn't unscathed—skin flayed, white bone exposed, cracking but regenerating instantly.
This fight had transcended common sense.
Yet in pure regeneration, Raniel lagged. Amid repeated blasts, Kyle tried to swing. Tch. Clicking her tongue, Raniel released the chains and kicked him away.
Screeech.
Kyle rolled across the ground before rising, shadowy hands pouring from his heart, piecing together his ruined body like a doll.
Then—
Shing.
Raniel tilted her head back.
A sudden sword strike severed her hair, floating in the air. She frowned. He was even faster now.
"...This is getting serious."
Raniel bit her lip hard.
Her physical prowess held the edge for now, but it wouldn't last. Kyle was catching up in speed.
Then.
'I need to end this quickly.'
Decide before he adapts.
End it before he grows further.
Raniel kicked off and charged. But she didn't accelerate fully at first. Matching the moment Kyle swung, she stomped the ground.
Bursting platinum particles, instantaneous acceleration.
Air burst as she slid behind him. Chains followed her path with a rattle. Kyle turned and swung again, but just before his strike completed, Raniel vanished from view once more.
⚡ CHAIN TRAP ⚡ Spiderweb Chains deployed She accelerated into his blind spots repeatedly. How many times?
Chains sprawled like a spiderweb around Kyle. As strikes missed, he dragged his sword tip low. Blade parallel to the ground. In that stance, Kyle overwhelmed Raniel.
Reverse Heaven Sword.
The moment he moved to unleash the heaven-splitting strike—pop, air burst as Raniel brushed past his side.
Rattle.
She swung her arm.
Net-like chains converged on her instantly, binding Kyle in their path. He severed them to swing... but...
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Rebuild As the sword traced its line, the ground sank. Off-balance, Kyle wobbled. Seizing the moment, Raniel yanked the chains with all her might.
Kyle's arm shook.
Shaken arm shook the blade tip.
Shaken tip disrupted the technique.
💥 DISRUPTED! 💥 KIIIIIIING!
The Reverse Heaven Sword faltered. Unaligned sword ki scattered wildly. Pillars crumbled, debris that should soar flung every which way.
Everything visible flipped chaotically.
Even Kyle, bereft of balance, wasn't free. Amid the chaos, he glared. In the churning madness, one unshaken presence stood.
Now it's my turn, you bastard.
As if declaring it, Raniel—anchored by chains—laughed from solid ground. She clapped her palms together. Platinum particles aligned, tracing an eerie circuit.
Then—flash.
Deprived of orientation, Kyle saw it.
In the demon realm where no sun rose, deep underground where none shone, a massive sun ascending. A platinum sun filling his vision.
Whoosh.
Bursting heat made Kyle's eyes widen.
Instinct screamed danger. He swung midair, but Raniel stomped, refusing to allow it.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Graviton Things swept by sword ki, floating dust, Kyle mid-pose—all crushed by immense pressure. Debris and Kyle slammed into the ground.
Range specified, power amplified.
Gravity narrowed to Kyle's body, pressure intensifying. As he strained to rise, Raniel stomped again.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Cataclysm ⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Rebuild The ground collapsed. Collapsed earth rebuilt into new forms. A circular wall rose, trapping Kyle. At Raniel's flick, chains shot from it, binding him.
Circular wall.
Chains tangled like a web inside.
As chains restrained him slightly, Raniel interlaced her fingers. Stocked circuits ignited entirely.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Spell-Bunch All circuits released
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Judgment Cyan-white flashes blazed.
Thunder roared belatedly, shaking the area. Inside the wall, flashes chained. Cyan lightning lashed Kyle's body.
...Normally, Kyle was immune to spells. His shadows resisted them. But Raniel's spells now carried vast starlight.
💥 OVERWHELMED! 💥 KABOOM!
Before unimaginable output, even shadows tore. Lightning-charred, Kyle's body blackened. Shadows tried restoring, but residual lightning along chains kept crumbling him.
The shadowy hand on his broken arm slipped for the first time. Kyle dropped his sword. The moment he did—the moment shadows released—his body felt light.
"......"
He saw his sword drifting in air.
And the massive sun melting the trapping wall, descending, vaporizing all it touched.
The sun falls.
Responding, mana-saturated chains from Judgment flashed white. Like ashes awaiting flame, they ticked.
Dozens, hundreds of chain strands: the ashes.
Falling sun: the ignition.
Raniel's best strike now, and even Kyle found it threatening. His body trembled. First crisis since the fight began.
Approaching death.
Fear gripped him.
In fear, Kyle reached for the drifting sword. Not with the broken shadowy arm, but his human one.
Grip.
With human hand, Kyle seized the sword.
The moment he did, the sun flashed white. Scattered ashes flashed. As vast power surged—
Swoosh.
Kyle swung.
The swing light. Light yet unshaken. Unshaken, thus heavier than all. Even buried in shadows, his realm didn't fade.
Kyle was a swordsman.
With one sword, nothing was uncuttable.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 3.
Seeing the falling sun, Raniel sensed victory. She'd poured every means. Predicted Kyle's moves, acted a step ahead, cornered him.
Ultimate-scale spell.
As she raised her arms against the incoming shock—slash, an unwanted sound echoed.
Splat.
Raniel's eyes widened.
As the sun exploded, ashes about to detonate—a single line split the blast. But incompletely. The fiercely flashing sun exploded anyway.
💥 EXPLOSION! 💥 KAAAAA BOOOOM!
Roar shook the area.
Heat vaporized ground with a hiss. Shockwaves rattled earth and air relentlessly. In the chaos, Raniel clearly heard it.
Slash.
Slash, ceaseless cutting.
Scorching heat cleared rapidly. Shockwaves severed. Sword scars etched chaotically on trembling ground.
Finally—slash.
A sword stroke grazed Raniel's side. Winds shifted. With shockwaves and heat gone, Kyle stood there.
"......"
Right arm limp in shadows, left hand on sword, he slowly raised the tip toward her.
Not normal.
He'd split the sun, but not fully. Enduring mega-spells bodily, his flesh collapsed. Shadows were busy just stemming it.
No more recovery.
One small impact, and his crumbling body wouldn't rise.
'...No way he can swing in that state.'
Raniel narrowed her eyes, thinking so.
No way to match prior speed. Yet why? He seemed unweakened. Sharper even...
Snick.
"...!"
Raniel gulped and threw herself aside. Slash—the space she'd stood sliced diagonally. Sword ki incomparably keener.
'...Insane.'
Raniel gritted her teeth.
No room for carelessness. What she faced now wasn't the catastrophe. It was the mightiest swordsman to reach uncharted realms: Ganikalt van Galatrick.
A swordsman in that same realm.
Proving it, Kyle swung again. Slow swing. Weak compared to shadow swings.
But.
The erupting sword ki fastest, sharpest, heaviest. It sliced Raniel's chains effortlessly, raking her shoulder.
Splat!
Blood fountained.
Even rising starlight severed. Wound didn't close. Grimacing, Raniel stomped.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Rebuild Her spell reached for Kyle's stepping ground— but he swung lightly. Slash—something cleaved.
Spell fizzled.
Raniel's eyes widened.
Starlight-amplified spell. Stocked, no cast delay. Yet Kyle cut it—reading mana flow before manifestation.
"This is getting serious."
Raniel laughed hollowly.
One solid hit. On battered Kyle, even basic Smite would end it. Then her plan could proceed.
Turn him human again.
But no opening. Instinct warned against closing in. She gritted teeth, spamming spells.
Slash.
Useless.
One swing severed all nascent spells. Amid fizzing mana remnants, Raniel chuckled.
Kyle still stood there.
Sword aimed.
As if beckoning: These spells won't work. Come close and settle it.
"Damn bastard."
Raniel smiled bitterly.
⚡ CHAIN ARM ⚡ Chains coiled on hand She calculated remaining time. Kyle wasn't alone at his limit.
Repeated mega-spells.
Overworked body on regeneration faith.
Time left: a handful. When it ran out, enhancement ended. Defeat then. Victory or loss—a single step away.
Raniel looked ahead.
Kyle, sword aimed, steadying breath. His stance: swordsman's domain. Step in, get cut. Shredded. Clear death ground.
Walking into death willingly.
Madness, folly. Fools who do are mocked as madmen. But fools and heroes are a hair's breadth apart. The difference...
'Success or failure, that's it.'
A hero challenges the impossible.
Crawls into death despite mockery.
Step.
Raniel stepped forward.
Her step, as always.
Toward the front, Raniel advanced.
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