Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Judgment of Atala (9)
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If the arena's clamor were painted as a picture, the crowd's voices would form a densely layered background, thick with shades of noise that stubbornly filled the entire canvas.
Yet the central space surrounded by that backdrop was an empty void.
The two protagonists of this stage, Kadim and Perun, stared at each other in silence for a long while. The only exchange between them had been Perun's faint greeting upon entering—a single, thin stroke of a line.
The wait was not short. Only after the noise from the stands began to die down did the time of emptiness finally end. Kadim gripped his sword hilt tightly and parted his stiff lips.
"I'll skip the pleasantries. As I said before, I'm no brother or ally of yours."
"……."
"You don't seem unfamiliar with this situation. You've been a gladiator for a while now."
Perun gripped his own sword hilt and nodded slowly.
"That's right. It wasn't a life I particularly enjoyed, though……."
"Why not? It must have been easier than fighting demons."
"Because it's meaningless brawling. It's empty struggle, wasting blood while ignoring the real enemy. Even if the rewards were few and the dangers high, facing demons with the subjugation force gave me far greater satisfaction."
Kadim tilted his neck slightly. An answer that matched his own view. One he'd half-expected. This man had lost an arm precisely because he yearned so desperately for meaningful battle.
But that gave rise to another question.
"Then why come back here and stand before me?"
"……On the surface, it's because the Agon faction elders ordered it. Word of what happened in Agon has spread even to Galentana. The elders were quite flustered. They planned to trap you here, but instead, you caught the eye of Grand Master Yubik and became a star gladiator……."
However, the elders' backers weren't limited to the Arena King.
The elders had heard that other patrons—leaders of mercenary bands—saw the Demon Slayer as a thorn in their side. That aligned with the elders' desire to eliminate him, leading to an agreement to deploy the 'Indomitable Legion' in the games. And Perun had been chosen as the dagger to pierce the Demon Slayer.
But that couldn't be the whole story. Kadim sharpened his gaze.
"Then what's the real reason? To kill me and protect Agon's Furious Horn, in accordance with the laws of the wilderness?"
"Before I answer that, let me ask just one thing…… one single thing."
Perun raised his hand and took a deep breath. His Adam's apple twitched precariously, as if snagged on a massive thorn. His pupils blurred with tension, and his heart pounded as if ready to explode.
The one-armed warrior dragged out his question like he was vomiting blood.
"Are you, by any chance, the one chosen by the noble War God…… the 'Great Warrior of Atala'?"
A silence so profound even the wind seemed to stop.
Yet compared to the long internal struggle leading up to the question, the answer came back disappointingly simple.
"Yes."
"……."
Perun could sense it was true.
Because of those unyielding eyes that wouldn't flinch even in a sandstorm, that gaze firm despite the long years.
So he had no choice but to twist his face.
He'd sensed it from the visions. But hearing it directly with his own ears was still a shock he couldn't suppress. Doubts, confusion, despair, ecstasy—all intense emotions melted together like in a furnace. When he spoke again, even his voice trembled completely.
"Then, the one who leads us…… Agon's Furious Horn—no, Lord Goltaran…… what is he? Is he also the Great Warrior of Atala?"
"No, the 'Great Warrior' is a covenant only one person can make with the god. He's a false Great Warrior who stole my title."
"Then why does he have the previous Great Warrior in his custody? Why does he claim to be the Great Warrior, and what is that shrine maiden……."
"That's why I'm here—to uncover it, execute the false Great Warrior, and reclaim the 'Judgment of Atala'. Things got complicated when he vanished, but now if I defeat you and kill Agon's Furious Horn, I can wrap it all up."
"……."
Kadim's voice remained utterly calm. Perun fell into thought. Then, suddenly, he raised the sword engraved with ancient runes and showed the axe at his waist.
"……Do you know what these weapons are?"
Kadim nodded with a fresh sense of novelty. Of course he did. He had forged them himself.
'Jawblade' and 'Flamewail'. Weapons he'd sharpened as 'The One Who Sharpens Names' in his first playthrough. How they had survived to this day in this man's hands…….
"I've served Lord Goltaran…… all my life. He taught me how to fight, shared his astonishing power with me, and even when he said I'd face you, he lent me these blessed weapons. My head still tells me he's the one and only Great Warrior, the savior who will eradicate the rampant evil, the rightful leader of the legion to whom eternal loyalty is due."
"……."
"But…… my heart tells me you are the true 'Great Warrior of Atala'. That's why I had to come find you. To resolve this contradictory intuition. To learn if I've pledged loyalty to the wrong person all this time. With two Great Warriors staking their lives against each other…… I had to make a choice. So I, I……."
Overcome by anguish, he squeezed his eyes shut, then slowly lifted his eyelids like dawn breaking and declared.
"I've come…… too far to turn back."
"……."
"……I'll clash with all my power, Great Warrior. Please, show no mercy to this servant who has chosen the wrong path to the end."
Fighting spirit blazed in Perun's pupils like the crimson flames of dawn.
Kadim met it with the gaze of one observing a fearless moth flying into the flame.
"……What, are we finally fighting?"
"Yeah, looks like he's ready to go at it."
"Oh, ooooooh!"
"Waaaaaaaaah!!"
The long-cooled stands reignited. With the roaring cheers rising like an inferno at their backs, the warrior ablaze with fighting spirit charged forward first.
A gray blade thrust forth as he closed in.
Clang!
Kadim drew Blood Ghost and parried nimbly. The recoil was strong enough to topple even someone with two good arms, but Perun didn't budge much. He'd hooked his hook onto the flat of the blade and added extra force.
And there was another reason.
'Jawblade'…… one of its effects was definitely 'Strength Enhancement'…….
A special effect that boosted strength just by gripping the hilt. Valuable enough to make its rank Rare on its own. Indeed, Perun's left arm muscles bulged noticeably, robust and powerful.
But Jawblade's special effects didn't stop there.
Clang! Thwack, thunk, clang! Clang!
"You can't just…… keep blindly parrying like that, Great Warrior. You'll keep losing energy……."
"……."
'Stamina Drain'.
A special effect that exhausted contacted foes while recovering the owner's stamina. The contact judgment was generous enough to count weapon clashes. With every blade collision, faint smoke-like essence leaked from Kadim and flowed into Perun.
Hummmm…….
Ancient runes engraved on the gray blade glowed. Thanks to those two effects, Jawblade's overall rank was somewhere between Unique and Epic. It lacked Blood Ghost's explosive power but offered superior stability.
Of course, it wasn't just the weapon. In the meantime, Perun had devised and mastered swordsmanship suited to a one-armed swordsman.
Fix the hilt with his good hand, push the flat with the hook to control power and direction, and sometimes parry the enemy's blade directly with the hook. A style that could easily devolve into sloppy swings, but Perun had elevated it to a level where he could stand against Kadim, thanks to his innate battle sense.
Clang! Clang, clang!
Blades slashed in diagonals, surged in straight lines, and whipped in gentle curves. The erratic swordplay poured down like a shower. Irregular like raindrops in a puddle, probing for openings. Kadim couldn't respond loosely; he had to sharpen his senses.
Clang, zzzzt…… clang!
The two traded fierce blows. Neither easily drew the other's blood. But Kadim was definitely taking more losses. 'Stamina Drain' couldn't be blocked just by parrying…….
Murmurs gradually spread through the stands.
"……What? Is the Demon Slayer getting pushed back?"
"Not pushed back, exactly…… they're evenly matched……."
"Wouldn't you say he's basically losing? The Indomitable Warrior isn't at full strength anymore……."
"Man, who would've thought the Demon Slayer would struggle against a one-armed half-cripple……."
Until now, they'd only seen the Demon Slayer overwhelmingly slaughter his foes. The very idea of him in an 'even fight' was shocking. Especially against a man who'd lost his right arm.
But Kadim remained calm. If anything, as time passed, it was Perun growing anxious.
Thwack! Thwack! Crash!
"……."
No matter how much stamina he drained, Kadim's power didn't wane.
A normal person would have long collapsed, but Kadim felt no great fatigue. Just a slight muscle ache. His stamina could endure hundreds of hours of all-night battles.
And now, he'd found a way to disarm his foe.
Clang! Clang, clang! Clang!
Kadim swung wide, obsessively targeting one spot on the blade. Perun noticed and tried to deflect, but it was too late.
Crack—clang!!
Sparks flew as the Jawblade's blade snapped in two.
"……!"
Perun's pupils shook. Kadim exhaled sharply.
Jawblade was an excellent weapon, but its base before sharpening was a common iron sword. Ordinary material without 'Durability Enhancement' couldn't survive 300 years intact. Surviving this long was impressive.
"The sword broke!!"
"The Demon Slayer shattered the enemy's weapon!!!"
"Waaaaaaaaah!!"
"It's the Demon Slayer after all!!"
Whoosh—whish! Whoosh—whish!
As if they'd never been stirred, the crowd erupted again. Perun hid his dismay and quickly backpedaled. The broken sword lost its effect; Kadim no longer lost stamina.
At a safe distance, Perun bowed his head in respect.
"As expected…… you truly are the Great Warrior. To think you'd break the blessed sword outright…… Truly the might chosen by the Father of the Wilderness……."
Roarrrrr—!
A burning iron shard flew in, cutting him off.
"……Hup!"
The one-armed warrior dodged the hellfire dagger by a hair. Kadim advised in an indifferent tone.
"Don't get distracted mid-battle. Would a demon or monster spare you for that?"
"……My apologies. I've shown a shameful display."
Perun readjusted his stance. With his left hand, he gripped the haft of the axe at his waist. Hot sparks scattered wildly.
Crackle, crackle…….
"But…… I still have another weapon."
"……."
"Your prowess is undoubtedly at the pinnacle of mastery…… but this is such a destructive weapon, I'm not sure you can counter it. May I, a mere warrior…… dare face the Great Warrior with this axe's power?"
Perun raised the axe. Small in size, but its aura was far from meager. Brilliant flames licked along the extraordinary edge.
―――― Roar, roar—!!
'Flamewail'.
Kadim knew the weapon well. A throwing axe with 'Flame' for fire-attribute attacks and 'Explosion' on impact. Powerful enough to one-shot mid-tier demons.
Even with it before him, Kadim remained impassive.
No, he nearly laughed at the enemy asking permission amid battle.
"Doesn't matter. Didn't you say you'd come at me with everything?"
"……."
"Throw it. Before I take your head first."
Perun stared at Kadim, steeling his resolve.
"Understood. Then, with pleasure……."
Fingers clenched tight around the haft. Tendons stretched taut, storing elastic power. He twisted his torso back, loaded his forearm and bicep heavily, then hurled the glowing axe with his whole body.
Thwack! Roarrrrr—
Afterimages blazed fiercely; the axe scattered flame fragments like sawteeth as it hurtled toward Kadim.
Just before it struck and exploded, Kadim whipped his own throwing axe upward like a lightning bolt.
―――――― Boom—!!
Flames erupted, and a deafening blast shook their eardrums. Terrifying impact shoved their bodies back. Flamewail spun into the air and shattered on the ground; Kadim tumbled several meters away.
But he brushed off the dirt clinging to him and stood calmly.
The crowd and Perun gaped, frozen. Kadim spat blood and murmured.
"Good strike. But a bit short."
"……."
"Now…… it's my turn."
Kadim gripped his axe haft tightly.
Grrr, grrr…….
Crimson afterimages flickered across his fierce face.
The light source was elsewhere. From his right hand, from the wildly crackling lightning at the end of the ink-black axe haft. Like lightning thrashing beneath thunderclouds just before a dark sky unleashes its fury in a thousand bolts.
Kadim drew a deep breath.
"……Hoo."
Exhaled thickly and hurled it forth.
Thwack!
An axe forged in the frigid wastes, sharpened with the name 'Salmon' in the underground fortress of a fallen kingdom.
―――――― Cracklezzzzzt—!!
But the night before last, when the moon hid in darkness, reborn as lightning in the form of an axe, overlaid with a new name.