Chapter 337: I Leave the Rest… to You (3)
Chapter 337: I Leave the Rest… to You (3)
The Overlord regained consciousness.
As Patrick released his grip, the man stumbled, staggering for a few steps before finally plunging his sword into the ground to steady himself.
Using the embedded blade as a makeshift cane, he barely managed to keep himself upright, his breath coming in thin, ragged gasps.
“Are you back with us now?”
At Patrick’s voice, the Overlord painfully lifted his gaze to look at him.
His eyes held an indescribable swirl of emotions.
The Overlord stared blankly at Patrick for a moment before turning his head to survey the surroundings.
“Aaaagh!”
“Die!”
A world filled with screams and death.
This was the result he had wrought.
“I have failed, then.”
“…….”
“In the end… it has come to this.”
“…….”
What excuses could be made?
High ideals, convoluted circumstances, the price paid, and the effort exerted along the way—none of it mattered. If it failed to produce the desired result, it was simply wrong.
The Overlord spoke to Patrick.
“Should I say I’m sorry for letting you down?”
“That’s not something… No, never mind.”
Patrick let out a long sigh.
Scratching his head, he looked at the Overlord.
“So, how are you going to clean up this mess?”
“Are you asking me about the aftermath?”
“Who else is going to do it? The one who tied the knot has to be the one to untie it.”
“Hardly the thing to say to a man on the verge of death.”
The Overlord knew his body better than anyone.
Jonsa’s experiments had left him utterly broken. The life force that had been barely sustained by Jonsa’s mana was now hemorrhaging out of him without pause.
He wouldn't survive. However…
“I can save you.”
“What?”
“I said I can save you. Are you deaf?”
“…….”
“I’m not exactly thrilled about it, but what choice is there? Someone has to clean up this disaster, one way or another.”
“…….”
“Tell me how to fix this. Then I’ll save you. Just this once, I’ll even lend you my strength.”
Hearing Patrick’s words, the Overlord let out a hollow chuckle.
Even in the midst of this catastrophe, this man was offering him a chance.
What on earth did he see in him? What could he possibly see in this wretched failure to warrant such an offer?
The Overlord looked up at the sky.
Indifferent to the agonizing affairs of men, the high, blue expanse was cruelly beautiful.
They say that when death draws near, everything in the world begins to look beautiful.
It seemed the saying was true.
The Overlord lowered his head and looked straight at Patrick. And then…
“Patrick Schneider…”
“What now?”
“You are far too kind.”
“Most people I know would disagree with that.”
“And you are a soft-hearted fool.”
“Why, you little—!”
Patrick started to snap back but stopped himself.
Before his eyes, the Overlord was forcing his body to move, straining to lift his sword.
“Kh… Argh…!”
A man who was once one of the strongest on the continent, a hero who had commanded the world, was now struggling just to lift his own blade.
Indeed, it was a miracle he could move at all, considering his life force was drained to the very dregs. Yet, enduring a pain that felt like his very bones were being ground to powder, he raised his sword.
Pointing it at Patrick, he spoke.
“Let me tell you one thing.”
“People trying to teach me lessons in the middle of a fight is the thirty-sixth thing I hate most in this world.”
“A ruler… must be ruthless.”
“Are you ignoring me?”
“And he must be cunning.”
“This is a first. Someone actually ignoring me to my face.”
“From now on… Cough! Cough!”
“…….”
The Overlord was suddenly seized by a violent fit of coughing.
Looking at the clumps of gore mixed with the blood spilling from his mouth, it looked as though pieces of his internal organs were being torn out.
Yet, even through that agony…
“I shall show you.”
He raised his sword. A vivid Aura Blade ignited upon it.
* * *
The tide of battle was mostly settled.
April had destroyed the magic circles created by the dark mages and killed the Sword King.
From that point on, there was no way for the enemy’s strength to increase.
Furthermore, when the dragons began incinerating the enemy with their Breath from the sky and Kalaron’s familiars began their one-sided slaughter, the battlefield was overturned as if by magic.
The Allied Forces, who had been prepared for death, rallied.
“Counterattack!”
“Forward! Victory for justice!”
“Wooooaaaah!”
Their morale soared to the heavens as they charged forward.
Moreover, with the direct disciples of Jonsa losing control, many of the Enemy Knights collapsed back into corpses, while some regained their senses.
“What… what have I done…?”
“Urgh… Overlord, you bastard! How dare you toy with me!”
“I’ll kill him!”
The Sword Queen, Riona Mayvers, and Dustin Late, once called the guardian deity of Decatur, rushed toward the Overlord in a fit of rage.
The leadership of the Allied Forces also headed toward the Overlord’s location.
The Overlord’s head.
It would undoubtedly be the final trophy that decided the victory of this grueling war—the ultimate symbol of triumph.
But when they arrived, what they saw with their own eyes was…
“Aaaaaaaah!”
The Overlord’s sword, still shining brilliantly.
BOOM!
Of course, it achieved nothing.
Even if he was a Lord of the Sword whose name echoed across the continent, the story changed when his opponent was the strongest man alive, the Double Dragon.
Patrick didn't even move from his spot as he parried the Overlord’s desperate, thrashing attacks.
But the Overlord did not stop, even as his strikes were blocked. He continued to swing his sword, shouting at the top of his lungs.
“If only you weren't here… If only you weren't here, no one could stand in my way!”
Crash! Boom! Bang!
“Hey.”
“I will kill you and rise again! I will bring the entire continent to its knees once more!”
“Hey?!”
“Patrick Schneideeeeer!”
“This guy, seriously…”
Patrick, visibly annoyed, swung his Black Dragon Sword in a wide horizontal arc.
Rumble!
It was a single strike, but Patrick’s blow sent the struggling Overlord flying.
The Overlord was hurled dozens of meters away, crashing into the dirt.
Patrick, his gaze full of irritation, began walking toward him.
“What kind of bullshit is this—”
“Patrick Schneideeeeer!”
BOOM!
The Overlord charged back through the cloud of dust.
His powerful strike was strong enough to split mountains and rend the earth. However…
“Kh…”
It didn't work on Patrick at all.
The two men stood with their swords locked, staring at each other.
The Overlord’s face was filled with hatred and fighting spirit.
Patrick’s face was filled with bewilderment and annoyance.
Their expressions couldn't have been more different.
“What the hell is this bullshit… supposed to be?!”
THUD!
As he finished his sentence, Patrick stomped the ground with a powerful step, sending the Overlord flying once again.
The Overlord couldn't withstand the impact and was blown back a great distance, but he didn't fall.
His feet carved deep furrows into the earth as he skidded to a halt. Gritting his teeth, the Overlord charged forward once more.
“If you are gone, no one can stop me!”
BOOM!
“I will kill you and take everything into my hands! If only, if only you weren't heeeere!”
Bang! Crash! BOOM!
His attacks were now closer to a desperate struggle.
Yet, they were incredibly powerful for all that.
* * *
“How can he produce such power…?”
“To think he can do that while he’s dying.”
“Is that the Overlord’s true strength?”
Those who had rushed here blinded by rage, revenge, and the desire for merit didn't even dare to approach.
The Overlord’s attacks were that formidable. However…
“The Double Dragon is stronger.”
“Yes, he isn't backing down at all.”
“If it’s him, he can win.”
The sight of Patrick overwhelming that monstrous Overlord became their hope.
No matter how powerful the Overlord was, as long as the Double Dragon was there, his vile ambitions would never be realized.
“Patrick Schneider!”
“Double Dragon!”
“The strongest on the continent!”
Soldiers slammed the butts of their spears against the ground, chanting Patrick’s name.
Knights raised their swords in salute, looking upon Patrick with awe.
The leaders of the continent also clenched their fists, placing all their hopes for victory on Patrick.
* * *
What the hell does he think he’s doing?
Patrick was simply bewildered.
Of course the attacks were powerful.
The man was burning his remaining life force to pour everything into the raw power of his strikes.
But if he was going to do that, he should at least do it properly.
What was with this posture, riddled with openings?
If Patrick had wanted to counterattack, he could have struck back more than ten times in a single breath.
But Patrick didn't do that.
Rather, he couldn't.
If he counterattacked now…
BOOM!
“Ugh…”
In that brief moment of hesitation, the Overlord’s sword forced Patrick back a step.
Seizing the opening, the Overlord pressed his advantage, using the sheer mass of his massive two-handed sword to push Patrick.
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Patrick blocked it by crossing both his swords.
The two men locked blades once again.
The Overlord stared at Patrick with a face full of hatred and resolve.
And Patrick, looking straight into those eyes…
“Ha, this guy is unbelievable.”
He wore an expression of utter disbelief.
He thought he understood.
He thought he knew why this man was doing this.
And that made it even more annoying.
“Do you really think I’ll dance to your tune?”
Then, the Overlord spoke in a voice so low only Patrick could hear.
“You will.”
“What was that?”
“Because you are a kind and soft-hearted man.”
“…….”
“And because I am a cunning and cowardly one.”
BOOM!
The two were pushed apart again.
The Overlord took a step back and raised his sword high.
“I am the Overlord, Sierion Byssus Yuzef! The name of the Emperor who shall rule the entire continent!”
“…….”
“Patrick Schneider! If you are gone, no one can stop me. I shall kill you and use your corpse as a stepping stone for my hegemony!”
“…….”
The Overlord’s roar thundered across the battlefield, loud enough for everyone to hear.
The resonance was enough to incite fury in all who heard it.
“That damn bastard…”
“How dare he spout such nonsense!”
“I’ll kill you, Overlord!”
“What kind of emperor are you?! You lunatic!”
“Die! Just die already!”
Hatred and resentment poured forth.
All the anger and bitterness of the world were focused on the Overlord.
Among those shouting were not only the Allied Forces but also the soldiers and knights of the Yuzef Kingdom who had awakened from the dark mages’ brainwashing.
And upon the sword of the Overlord, who bore all that hatred…
Road of Sword.
The vivid and brilliant sword of a sovereign radiated light.
There was not a single shred of hesitation in it.
This is my King’s Path.
The Overlord lunged at Patrick.
“Here I coooome!”
Patrick watched him steadily.
He knew.
How could he, the one crossing blades with him, not know?
He was merely playing along with this man’s wishes. However…
“Aaaaaaaah!”
Seeing the Overlord charge with the resolve to die, Patrick muttered softly.
“I suppose there’s no helping it.”
Then, Patrick stepped forward.
Thwack!
The sound of a blade piercing a body echoed.
It was a sound heard far too often on this battlefield.
But depending on whose body was pierced, the weight of that sound changed.
The Overlord had swung his sword first, but in the next instant, Patrick accelerated once more, slipping into the Overlord’s guard.
He drove the White Dragon Sword in his left hand straight into the Overlord’s heart.
“Oh… Oooooh!”
“He won! It’s our victory!”
“Long live the Double Dragon!”
“Long live the Allied Forces!”
“We finally won!”
Countless people watching the scene erupted in cheers.
Justice striking down a great evil.
The result the masses always crave and cheer for most had finally become reality before their eyes.
In that moment, everyone intoxicated by victory shouted for joy. And…
“This… is my… cunning… and… cowardice.”
“Yeah. I know.”
“You… will remain a hero… and I… a loser and the sym… Cough… bol of evil… Cough, cough…”
“I know, so you don't need to say any more.”
“Heh… hehehe…”
The Overlord laughed.
Patrick, feeling the Overlord’s life force slowly fading, spoke.
“If you have any last words, say just one thing.”
“…I leave the rest… to you.”
Patrick didn't answer.
Instead, he gave a very slight nod.
Seeing that, the Overlord closed his eyes.
A very faint smile played on the lips of the fallen man.
November 7, 1531.
The Overlord, Sierion Byssus Yuzef, passed away.
It was the end of an evil that would carve its name into the history of the continent as a legendary villain and the worst of hypocrites—one who had joined hands with dark mages to plunge the entire continent into war for the sake of conquest.
And there was a hero who had defeated that evil and brought peace and justice to the continent.
Patrick Sky Schneider.
Thus was born the name of a great hero, one that would be spoken of for a thousand years to come.