Chapter 618: Fighting King Tournament (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 618: Fighting King Tournament (5)
“Why not just come out and say you’re going to kill me? Your eyes certainly look the part.”
It wasn't an exaggeration; Kaio truly had that look in his eyes. His murderous intent was so palpable that Jin felt a tremor run through him, even as he deliberately provoked the man to fuel his anger.
Though Jin maintained a smile on the outside, he swallowed hard.
Playing the villain is no easy task. Damn, this is terrifying.
He had come to Laprarosa, purified the chaos, regained his full strength, and was even gaining deeper enlightenment through the Fighting God Union. Yet, he hadn't expected to be so heavily pressured by Kaio’s mere presence.
Jin had known for a long time that Kaio was one of the top-tier warriors among the Pluto Tribe’s Fighting Kings. Even during the opening ceremony, while Jin maintained the Fighting God Union, the other Fighting Kings had fought while receiving support from Kaio. With a single bow, Kaio had commanded the entire field, and his arrows had been the most troublesome and threatening attacks Jin had faced in that state.
“Begin the 22nd match.”
The moment Ban finished speaking, lightning crackled around Kaio’s greatbow, ‘God-Slayer,’ like a localized storm.
Energy also gathered around Sigmund, but it was a fraction of a second slower.
It was a difference only someone at the level of a Fighting King could perceive. When blade and arrow finally collided, the ordinary warriors saw it as both men attacking simultaneously.
He’s heavy.
The sensation was entirely different from his previous bouts with Teto, Garmund, Palem, or Dalpir. In the last two matches, even though he had lost, Jin felt the outcome might have been different if he had pushed Pluto’s Sovereign Sword to its absolute limit.
But this time, he knew from the very first blow. As he was now, he could never defeat Kaio in a ‘normal match.’
Though, if I keep training, I think I can see a path to victory.
With his current rate of growth, it wouldn't take very long. The sensations he’d felt during the Fighting God Union were accelerating his development day by day.
Clang—!
Every time he parried a rapid succession of arrows, a dull impact rattled his entire body.
As if a feeling-out period was unnecessary, Kaio was driving Jin back with his full power from the very start. Jin was barely managing to keep pace. To the ordinary warriors, they seemed evenly matched, but the Fighting Kings had already judged that the tide had turned in Kaio’s favor.
It was only natural.
Even the ordinary warriors, who felt the two were fighting on equal footing for now, believed the outcome of the 22nd match was already decided.
‘It’s only a matter of time. At this rate, Brother Jin will inevitably tire out.’
‘I hope Brother Kaio doesn't hurt Brother Jin too badly…’
This was the sentiment shared by all, whether they were those who argued Jin should be tested by the other Fighting Kings or those who already viewed him as the confirmed successor.
Everyone was worried. When Kaio said an ‘accident might happen,’ he hadn't just been speaking for Jin’s benefit.
“Didn't you say you could definitely break me? For someone who talked so big, this is disappointing.”
“Why don't you spend less time talking and fire another arrow? I can still hold out—ugh!”
An arrow shattered on impact, and the resulting spray of lightning pierced his left arm. The fragments embedded themselves deep enough to graze the bone. This was no accident; it was Kaio’s intent. It wasn't that the arrow had broken upon Jin’s defense; it was a technique called ‘Scattered Arrows.’
Unlike the shrapnel from a mana cannon, every single one of the dozens of fragments from Kaio’s Scattered Arrows moved according to his will.
Jin hadn't faced Kaio’s Scattered Arrows during the opening ceremony. At that time, Kaio had needed to concentrate his destructive power into a single point to pierce the lightning of Jin’s Fighting God Union, so he had refrained from using it. Furthermore, since Kaio hadn't revealed it during his three previous victories, it was an attack Jin hadn't anticipated at all.
As the fragments pulled free from his left arm, heavy bleeding followed. With the second volley of Scattered Arrows that came immediately after, Jin was forced to take another hit to the same wounded area.
This is no joke.
He needed a major technique to turn the tables.
However, Kaio didn't grant Jin even a split second. Jin had fought countless opponents, but he felt as if Kaio was the first to refuse him even a moment to breathe.
He couldn't close the distance.
Kaio moved like the wind, firing arrows from all directions. It felt as if a dozen archers were unleashing a barrage, not just one man.
Compared to this, Julian’s Lightning Bow Harmila is almost cute.
Kaio was less an archer and more like a storm god given form.
Even when Jin managed a difficult defense, the Scattered Arrows would explode whenever an opening appeared, pinning him to his spot.
Jin switched his sword.
“A Spirit Sword Supreme Technique? Ah, so Brother Jin was relying on that. Yes, that sword is a bit dangerous.”
As he spoke, Kaio immediately increased his firepower even further.
Jin’s Spirit Sword Supreme Technique couldn't even manifest the phenomenon that had previously severed Ling Ling’s senses. The veil of spirit energy attempting to permeate the main hall was being torn apart by Kaio’s lightning.
It wasn't entirely ineffective, however. Kaio’s accuracy dropped as his vision was obscured, and a significant amount of his lightning was being expended just to push back the spirit energy.
“Brother Jin, you must know better than anyone that stalling for time like this is meaningless.”
Every time Jin thought Kaio had reached his limit, the firepower of God-Slayer only increased.
In the end, unable to fully manifest the Spirit Sword Supreme Technique, Jin was forced to convert the scattered spirit energy into a Magic Sword Secret Technique.
Even that wasn't perfect. With his entire body shaking from the impacts like a ship caught in a gale, he couldn't perform any technique properly. He couldn't even borrow the power of Tess, the most crucial element.
Nevertheless, the Karma Fire showed impressive power. It incinerated the arrows and spread out, pushing back the lightning energy and even reaching toward Kaio.
The formidable enemy that came to Jin’s mind at that moment was Hedo, the Tower Keeper of the White Night. The unstably manifested Karma Fire possessed a destructive power roughly equivalent to the attack he had landed on Hedo in the Sota Desert.
And Kaio, just as Hedo had done, displayed monstrous strength by easily shrugging off the dark blue flames and searing heat.
Had it been a perfect strike amplified by Tess’s power, even Kaio wouldn't have been able to brush it off so easily.
But in battle, ‘what ifs’ are meaningless.
Therefore, Kaio didn't seem particularly impressed by Jin’s Karma Fire.
Swish—!
Jet-black sword energy began to erupt through the blue flames. Kaio gracefully dodged the slashes and began to close the distance.
It wasn't that he underestimated Jin enough to give up his advantage at range. Rather, it was a calculated move to finish him off more certainly.
The closer he got, the more the destructive power of God-Slayer multiplied. The lightning energy permeating the entire main hall converged on Kaio as the two drew nearer.
It was like a tightening grip. Even as the area dominated by Kaio’s lightning shrank, Jin couldn't expand his own aura into the void. A stronger force continued to suppress him.
The veil of spirit energy he had spread out was pierced.
With his final line of defense crumbled, Jin now had to endure the lightning of God-Slayer as it began to penetrate his guard. One of the characteristics of Pluto’s Sovereign Sword was maintaining an absurdly advantageous state by eroding the opponent's domain with lightning. Kaio’s technique was a terrifying reflection of that.
Crack—! Slash!
While he frantically blocked the arrows, Scattered Arrows exploded once again. When the third volley detonated, Jin’s vision went dark for a moment.
His eyes.
Two fragments had struck both of them perfectly.
Thanks to the Rune of Mul-ta and his shields, his eyes hadn't been pierced, but his head rang so violently that his consciousness flickered.
“You won't be able to block the next one. Are you alright, Brother Jin? You’d be better off screaming for your life.”
Ten steps. Before he knew it, the distance between them had closed to just ten paces.
Just as Kaio said, the Rune of Mul-ta was completely torn away from over his eyes.
A chill ran down his spine, and cold sweat poured down his back. If his eyeballs were shattered, not even Boras’s healing power could restore them.
Now, because of the swirling lightning and the veil of spirit energy, those outside couldn't see exactly how the battle was unfolding. Even if Jin were to truly lose both eyes, it would be dismissed as a mere ‘accident.’
His heart hammered wildly.
If I back down now, I can never achieve what I set out to do.
The Fighting King Tournament was a battle to determine the successor of the Fighting God. In that battle, every member of the Pluto Tribe put their life on the line. Compared to that, his eyes were a small price to pay.
This was even more true if he considered it the cost of becoming the villain who would unite his brothers.
“You’re pathetic. If it were me, I wouldn't have warned you. I would have taken your eyes immediately, Kaio.”
“And that is exactly what I intend to do.”
Kaio released the bowstring.
At that moment, along with the lightning notched in the bow, all the arrows that had been embedded in the floor throughout the arena shot toward Jin simultaneously.
Even though they were obscured by lightning and spirit energy, the movement was so massive that the brothers outside could recognize it.
The members of the Pluto Tribe flinched, gasping in dismay.
“In the end, Brother Kaio…!”
“Damn it, there was no need to go that far! He could have incapacitated him in any number of ways!”
“This isn't right! Fighting God, you must intervene!”
“It’s already too late… Just as Brother Kaio said, Brother Jin should have surrendered before it came to this. Or we should have stepped in to stop it.”
“Aaaaaagh—!”
A raw scream tore from Jin’s throat.
The accident had finally happened.
After about ten seconds, the explosions began to subside, the massive forces that had shaken the main hall vanishing as if they had been a lie.
Once their vision cleared, the Pluto Tribe saw Jin bristling with arrows, blood pouring from his face. Above him stood Kaio, catching his ragged breath as he looked down.
The tribe members couldn't blame Kaio. The Fighting King Tournament was, by its nature, this kind of battle, and he had simply given his all.
Maintaining the Fighting King Ultimate Technique throughout the fight had been a massive burden on Kaio as well. Barely supporting himself on trembling legs, he aimed God-Slayer at the fallen Jin one last time.
“Huff, huff…”
It was a victor’s aim; if he released the string, Jin would surely die.
Ban watched the scene for a moment.
“The 22nd match…”
But just as Ban was about to declare the end, the fallen Jin bolted upright.
He thrust Bradamante—held between his teeth—into Kaio’s chest.
“Crazy, what is this?!”
“Brother Jin?!”
Though he moved with a speed unbelievable for someone riddled with arrows, it wasn't so fast that Kaio couldn't have reacted.
However, Kaio could do nothing as Bradamante pierced his chest. To avoid being stabbed, he would have had to release the bowstring aimed at Jin’s head.
“Y-you…!”
Even with his chest pierced, Kaio did not release the string.
On the other hand, as if he truly intended to kill him, Jin twisted his head, grinding the blade embedded in Kaio’s chest.
“I told you, Kaio… you can’t beat me. Never.”
Then, as the energy of Bradamante exploded inside his chest, the arrow grazed Jin’s cheek and split the sky.
Kaio collapsed, coughing up bloody froth. Jin stared down at him for a few seconds, his body trembling, before he finally lost consciousness.