Chapter 185: Blood Transfusion, Brothers (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 185: Blood Transfusion, Brothers (1)
Crackle!
The aura pouring from Bradamante looked like a streak of lightning. The triangular light shining from Jin’s chest glared like the eye of a colossal beast, and from the very start, Shaku’s face was a mask of undisguised shock.
He had never expected Jin to use the Pluto Sword. Shaku had naturally assumed the duel would begin with the Spirit Sword or standard swordsmanship.
Which brother could have taught him...? No, forget that. This isn't a martial art you can use just because someone taught it to you!
"Pluto Sword" was the collective term for the martial arts based on the "Heart of Light," a power unique to the Pluto Tribe. It encompassed all forms of combat, including swordsmanship, spearmanship, archery, and brawling.
In other words, it was a martial art that was impossible to use without a Heart of Light.
Five thousand years ago, countless humans and beastmen had caused an uproar trying to imitate that Heart of Light. However, while they could mimic the form, not a single person had ever managed to replicate the Pluto Tribe’s unique aura circulation.
Yet, the Pluto Sword Basic Form: Lightning currently descending upon Shaku’s head was being performed by a human, and it was indistinguishable from the real thing.
Zap!
Lightning also erupted from Shaku’s sword. He countered with Lightning, the exact same technique Jin had used. As the bolts collided, brilliant blue sparks flew, and gasps of astonishment rippled through the onlookers.
"You brat!"
To be countered with the same technique was a blow to Shaku’s pride.
Though he was the Successor, Jin was still a human fledgling who had yet to be recognized as a "brother." The very idea of Jin using the Pluto Sword was preposterous.
"Who taught him?"
"Was it Brother Tantel?"
"This feels strange. I never even imagined a human using the Pluto Sword…"
Even Temar, who had been recognized as a brother, had not mastered the Pluto Sword. This was because no one had shared the Pluto Tribe’s attributes and memories with him.
One could not perform it with memories alone. One had to possess at least a fraction of the Pluto Tribe’s attributes to manifest the Heart of Light, and for Jin, Boras’s molar served that very purpose.
This feels strange to me, too. I think the Pluto Sword actually suits my taste better than the Spirit Sword.
The Spirit Sword generally consisted of delicate, quiet techniques.
In contrast, the Pluto Sword was explosive and destructive across the board. That swordsmanship, designed for conquerors and the path of the overlord, strongly resembled the Runcandel style.
"2nd Fighting King!"
Shaku, who had been clashing lightning with Jin, suddenly pushed him back and called out to Boras.
"What is it, Brother Shaku?"
Boras suppressed his own flustered state. Like the other members of the Pluto Tribe, he feigned a look of, "How on earth is Jin using the Pluto Sword?"
"I trust your Special Grafting Technique is as masterful as ever!"
The crowd stirred. The Pluto Tribe members buzzed at the mention of the "Special Grafting Technique."
"That… of course it is."
"Then there should be no problem even if I tear the Successor’s limbs off a few times, right?"
When Boras failed to answer immediately, the 1st Fighting King, Baltirok, glared at him.
"Why can't you answer, Brother Boras? Surely it wasn't you who taught the Successor the Pluto Sword, was it?"
"No!" Boras shouted, horrified, internally hiding the thought, It wasn't me, it was my molar!
"Then give Brother Shaku an answer. He’s asking for a favor—one he’ll owe you for."
While Boras hesitated, Jin nodded first.
"It's fine, Boras. Even if my limbs are severed, you can just put them back with that Special Grafting Technique, right? Judging by the name, it sounds like a healing art for restoring amputations."
"But… the Special Grafting Technique isn't omnipotent. If I make even a small mistake, you might lose some sensation in the affected area."
"It’s fine. I’m the one who asked to be pushed as if you were truly trying to kill me, so I’ll take the risk."
He hadn't said those words lightly.
Jin always staked his life on his training. He had no intention of making an exception, not even here in the forgotten land of Laprarosa.
During the Compass Theft Operation, there’s no telling what kind of monsters Kinzelo and Zipple will bring. I have to return from Laprarosa having achieved as much as possible. This is no time to coddle my body.
Shaku grinned, baring his teeth.
"Then I’ll take that as permission. Brother Boras!"
At a glance, it seemed Shaku, Boras, and Baltirok were the ones making the decision.
In reality, they had received the tacit approval of Fighting God Ban. Since Ban had not intervened even as the conversation went this far, Shaku no longer had any reason to hold back.
While Garmund, Linpa, and Boras were sick with worry, Fighting God Ban merely looked down at Jin with a strange glint in her eyes.
"Let’s start again, Successor. I’ll make you pay the price for using the Pluto Sword so recklessly…!"
ROAR!
Suddenly, Shaku let out a deafening roar.
Despite it being a simple roar, Jin felt his eardrums tear and a hammer pound against his skull. If he hadn't protected his body with aura, he would have taken significant damage from the shockwave alone.
The White Wolf Tribe’s roar was just a whimper compared to this. This has more pressure than a dragon’s roar.
From here on, it would be closer to a real fight than a duel. Jin swallowed hard.
Crackle!
Lightning bolts the size of his palms wrapped around Shaku’s entire body. The air grew heavy as if gravity itself had intensified. Jin focused his mind and stirred his mana.
It’s good that I can use all my power without worrying about prying eyes.
Unlike his rapidly depleting aura, his mana was full. He was just about to throw open the gates to the Fire Realm to summon Tess and fight alongside her when he realized—
The blue flames… aren't spreading!
Jin couldn't help but realize that this place, unlike the outside world, was not ordinary.
The phoenixes of the Fire Realm could not come to Laprarosa. This was because Laprarosa was already a "dead world."
"What are you doing, Successor?"
Five streaks of lightning poured down in a straight line. It looked like a miniature version of the Runcandel 3rd Decisive Technique: Meteor Shower. The "Basic Form" of the Pluto Sword was less a single technique and more of a continuous state.
Every time a sword imbued with the Heart of Light’s aura was swung, lightning struck. Since Jin could not yet manifest as much lightning as Shaku, he couldn't counter it head-on.
Boom!
He threw himself around to dodge while preparing a new spell.
I have to create an opening to use the Spirit Sword 1st Form.
If he couldn't summon Tess, there was no winning a frontal confrontation. Shaku possessed a body superior to Jin’s in every way—speed, strength, and stamina.
While Jin’s blessed body had yet to fully bloom, Shaku was a Pluto Tribe warrior who had completed his growth, even if he was considered just an ordinary soldier. The difference was to be expected.
To think there were tens, even hundreds of thousands of warriors like this before they were wiped out.
He had to bet the match on a single strike. The only way for the weak to defeat the strong was to land a fatal blow when they were caught off guard.
With 7-star aura, he couldn't even pierce the lightning surrounding Shaku’s body. Even when an opening appeared and he thrust Bradamante forward, it wasn't a true opening.
The blade was repelled by the mysterious repulsive force of the lightning. It was a form similar to the Hairan Clan's secret technique, the Imperial Sword Dragon Armor, which Dante had displayed in Samil.
It didn't follow up with an automatic counterattack like the Dragon Armor, but Shaku’s sword flew in immediately, so it wasn't much different.
Shaku’s blade, which had been scattering lightning, changed its form. Since Jin was dodging well, he decided to pull out a more efficient technique.
Vrrrrm—!
Aura from the Heart of Light seeped into Shaku’s blade. The infused aura began to pull at Jin every time it clashed with Bradamante.
It felt as if dozens of invisible hands were grabbing his entire body. To break away from Shaku’s blade, he had to exert three times more strength than usual.
That meant his stamina would deplete that much faster, and natural evasion would become impossible.
This must be Basic Form: Oppression…!
It was a technique clearly etched in the memories he had gained from Boras’s molar.
Pluto Sword Basic Form: Oppression.
It was a technique that imbued the sword with an attractive force. The Pluto Tribe’s aura manipulation was on a completely different level from other races.
There was a reason their martial prowess was still the stuff of legends, even though they had been destroyed overnight five thousand years ago.
"Got you!"
Shaku grabbed Jin by the collar. Their two swords were stuck together like magnets due to Oppression. Jin swung his left fist, frantically pounding the back of Shaku’s hand.
Thwack! Thud, crack! Despite the dull sounds, it was Jin’s fist that felt like it was breaking. After enduring the punches for a moment as if humoring a child, Shaku let out a chuckle.
"Is it my turn now?"
A fist larger than a human head flew toward Jin. Lightning flowed even through that fist, which was covered in black fur.
Boom—!
If he hadn't activated the Rune of Mul-ta at that moment, his face would have been completely caved in. Shaku’s eyebrows twitched at the black helmet that suddenly protected Jin’s face.
"What is this now?"
"What else? A secret helmet."
"Fine. You’ll regret it once you’ve been hit enough."
Shaku’s next target was Jin’s chest.
Instead of forming a guard with his arms, Jin took advantage of the opening created by the punch to aim for Shaku’s eye. Pitch-black spirit energy coated Jin’s index finger as it surged toward Shaku’s right eye.
I’ve got him!
He didn't know if an exploded eyeball could be healed with the Special Grafting Technique.
But the atmosphere was such that he might be beaten to death if he didn't strike back now. Fortunately, his desperately extended finger looked like it would reach Shaku’s eye.
Flick!
It touched.
At the same time, Shaku’s fist slammed into Jin’s chest. Boom! A pain as if his internal organs and bones were all being crushed washed over him.
If he hadn't been wearing the Black King Armor, he would have fainted right then and there. The only reason he could poke the eye without raising a guard was thanks to the legendary armor Cyron had given him.
"Cough!"
The Black King Armor did not absorb all the impact.
Furthermore, as his head snapped back and he spat out a glob of blood, he couldn't help but think he should have raised his guard instead of going for the eye.
Damn it, what kind of eyeball… is this hard? Isn't this cheating?
His finger was broken.
It hadn't even been blocked by the lightning surrounding Shaku’s body. Thanks to the concentrated spirit energy, his index finger had definitely pierced the lightning and accurately poked Shaku’s pupil.
However, Shaku’s right eye was perfectly fine, while Jin’s index finger was mangled.
"Ah, our eyes are as hard as our hearts. I guess you didn't know? We weren't called the strongest for nothing."
Boom!
Shaku slammed his fist into Jin’s chest once more. Crack. Beneath the Black King Armor, his sternum shattered.
His consciousness faded rapidly.
"I’ll cut off your limbs as promised. I’ll look forward to a more humble attitude in our next duel, Successor!"
*
When he opened his eyes again, he was in pitch-black darkness.
I didn't even get a chance to use the Spirit Sword because of Basic Form: Oppression. To think an ordinary soldier is that strong… what kind of race is this?
As soon as his consciousness returned, the reason for his defeat came to mind. He hadn't expected to win, but he regretted not being able to try more things.
"…Will it really be okay?"
He heard Boras’s voice nearby.
However, he couldn't call out, as his voice wouldn't come out.
"Yes, Brother Boras. While you recover the Successor, perform a transfusion of my blood."
That was the voice of Fighting God Ban.