Lightning Sword (3)
Yushin voluntarily unsealed the Stigmata etched into his shoulder. It was a sign of respect toward Bariteon Trident. A token of gratitude for helping awaken his inner fighter.
Bariteon let out a booming laugh and nodded in acknowledgment. He felt exhilarated by Yushin's bold revelation of his true nature. But he had no intention of going easy. Now that a man's duel had begun, he would focus solely on determining the victor through fair combat.
"A-A Another One...? No way, that's why that human... He's a Another One!!"
Liana Linehold stared at Yushin in shock, her eyes fixed on the blazing red Stigmata. Meanwhile, most of the students had no clue what they were looking at. Unless someone like Leticia Santander was obsessed with ancient tomes, it was only natural they wouldn't know about Another Ones.
'Another Ones are whirlwinds that bring revolution to eras and seal the fates of powers.'
That was something she'd heard from someone. As Liana gazed at Yushin's Stigmata, the words suddenly resurfaced in her mind.
To think I'd actually lay eyes on an Another One. Is that why Senior Ardena doted on that human so much? Because he's an Another One?
Another Ones were beings who crossed over from other worlds, granted divine powers by the gods themselves. It was a tantalizing tale that anyone might covet. That's why power brokers from every race and nation kept tabs on them.
"Another One, Another One... Another One...!"
Liana muttered endlessly to herself. This was huge—front-page material. If word got back to the newspapers, it'd be headline news everywhere. She could rake in a fortune just tipping them off. But her feet wouldn't budge. She wanted to keep watching the brutal clash between Yushin and Bariteon. As a swordswoman herself, she couldn't tear her eyes away from their awe-inspiring duel.
"Master, you gotta win! Blow that thug punk away in one shot!!"
Alonne Valencia clasped her hands together and yelled, shattering the tense atmosphere. Would her cheers reach inside the barrier? It was unlikely amid the chaos, but Yushin probably hadn't heard anyway.
Alonne glanced sideways at Leticia, who was watching beside her. Leticia shuddered under that gaze, feeling the silent pressure. Swallowing her embarrassment, she decided to shout like Alonne.
"P-Please... win, Master."
She wasn't a kid anymore, and with all these people around, she couldn't belt it out. Leticia's face flushed crimson as she whispered like an ant crawling by. If Alonne's shout might not have reached the barrier, Leticia's mumble sure as hell didn't.
"You gotta yell louder! Think Master's gonna hear that tiny voice?"
"Q-Quiet down...!"
"If Master loses, it's all your fault."
"Why me?!"
While Alonne and Leticia bickered, the fight between Yushin and Bariteon intensified. Bariteon's spear thrust sharply, but Yushin deflected it masterfully with the flat of his blade.
"Ngh!"
After flicking the spearhead away, Yushin reversed his grip on the longsword and swung. Bariteon leaned back dramatically, barely dodging the slash.
They traded blows relentlessly, but each attack missed or was parried. The deadlock seemed endless, but cracks were starting to show. Yushin sported only minor scratches, while Bariteon bled from deep gashes.
Thunderbolt Eight Swords: Thunder Bow
The lightning-charged blade pulled back like a drawn bowstring, then unleashed a shot-like slash in an instant. No time to react. Thunder Bow lived up to its name—a bow of lightning that tore through foes before they could even register it.
"Damn!"
Bariteon instinctively raised the shaft of Eternal Snow to block. Too late. The strike was too fast for defense. The thunder bow smashed through Eternal Snow and pierced his shoulder. Blood sprayed, soaking him like spilled red paint.
I aimed right for his head... but it clipped that ice spear and veered off. Lucky bastard. Or sharp instincts? If he hadn't trusted his gut, I'd have drilled a hole clean through his skull.
Yushin muttered as Bariteon staggered back, blood gushing from his shoulder. A true powerhouse of the elf kingdom. It had taken real effort to corner him. Not fully subdued yet, but the lethal wound was a win. With that deep gash, swinging his spear would be tough now.
"Not over yet. Haha, you think a scratch like this finishes me? I'm not that soft. When a man's got his weapon out, he sees it through to the end, right?"
Bloody as he was, Bariteon refused to yield. He grew fiercer, like a wounded wild dog turning savage. No intention of going down quietly—and Yushin felt the same. The burning battle lust in his chest wouldn't extinguish easily. This wasn't a fight that ended just because you were tired or bleeding.
"Next strike takes your head."
Yushin declared, raising Lightning Sword Karus. The gleaming, thunder-infused blade reloaded like a bow once more. He planned another Thunder Bow. Bariteon gulped dryly at the sight. An unseeable, unpreventable blow. The bow loosed before you could block—aimed straight at his head for instant death.
"Dying to a worthy foe is an honor. Even if they call it a dog's death and point fingers, to me, it's the most glorious end."
Bariteon straightened up, spine rigid. Even if the next hit killed him, he'd fight on. He feared no death—a man who smiled into it for the thrill of battle. He'd started this duel knowing death might come. That was Bariteon Trident's resolve.
In response, Yushin prepared to unleash everything at him.
"Hm?"
Liana whipped her head around. Amid watching the life-or-death duel, she sensed danger from behind. Instinct, maybe. As one of the Twelve Warrior Captains, her senses were razor-sharp. She didn't ignore the warning, hand flying to her sword hilt.
"Gah, intruders!"
"Intruders at the academy! Stop those beastkin ronin!"
Something barreled through, knocking academy staff aside like ragdolls. A blue-haired woman with perky beast ears atop her head. Definitely a beastkin ronin. Liana had never seen one up close, but her face rang a bell. Where do I know her from...?
As Liana muttered, the beastkin woman swung a fist at her. A punch with enough force to pulverize rock. Liana hurled herself aside just in time.
"Eek!"
If it'd connected, she'd be dead—face smashed into unrecognizable pulp. Ignoring Liana, the blue-haired beastkin smashed her fist into the barrier around Yushin and Bariteon. The shield woven by dozens of mages crumpled like an aluminum can.
Krraaaang—!!!
The beastkin breached the barrier. Lightning and blizzards raged inside, but she quelled them with one punch.
"Oppa... you hurt?"
It was Allen Rocksfield. Face-to-face now, Yushin recognized her as the barrier-crusher.
"I'm gonna kill 'em all. Every last one here—rip 'em limb from limb, gouge out their eyes, yank out their guts."
Allen bared her teeth, glaring at Bariteon. Her bloodthirsty warning sent chills through him, like his body was already being torn apart. She meant it. This intruder planned to slaughter everyone present. Overflowing malice and bottomless madness shone in her golden eyes. Gritting through the agony in his shoulder, Bariteon stepped between them.
"Stop."
Yushin reached out. But Allen didn't halt, radiating killing intent like she'd tolerate no interference this time.
"Oppa will get mad."
"S-Sorry, got it...! Just stop, okay? Don't get mad..."
At Yushin's warning, Allen faltered, reining in her bloodlust. The beastkin woman shrank back, whimpering like a puppy anxious not to displease its master.
"With the barrier trashed like that, can't really keep fighting."
"Lucky break for me."
Yushin lowered the tip of Lightning Sword Karus. Bariteon flashed a wry smile and nodded. If the duel had continued, he'd be dead for sure. He owed the human his life now.
Bariteon withdrew Eternal Snow and stepped back. He'd been ready to die in the duel. But now, he'd accept this mercy. Unexpectedly, some freak intervention had spared him—fate wasn't done with him yet.
"Dismiss the barrier."
Bariteon commanded. His disciples, wary of the sudden intruder Allen, obeyed anyway and dropped the shield.
"I'll take responsibility like I said before the fight. I'm infamous as a rowdy in the elf kingdom anyway—no punishment for raising hell at Bria Academy. My plants in the Yetzirah Council will sweep it under the rug like always."
Bariteon started walking. His disciples rushed to support his wounded form, but he waved them off stubbornly. Even drenched in blood, he refused help. A man's pointless pride, perhaps. True to a guy who lived and died by his ego, he prioritized dignity amid the bleeding.
"You got demolished, Master."
"What the hell is that human? We knew he wasn't ordinary, but an Another One?!"
Bariteon burst into laughter at his disciples' words. Despite his ragged state, his grin eased their worries with sighs of relief.
"I knew you'd win, Master—you're an amazing swordsman! No way you'd lose to some thug."
Alonne shouted, rushing to Yushin to celebrate his victory.
"Damn right! Getting one-sidedly wrecked by punks is enough from that other world."
"You're the best, Master."
After toppling the No. 4 Warrior Captain Ardena Valencia, he'd now beaten No. 3, Bariteon. It might crush elven pride entirely. But Alonne was genuinely thrilled for Yushin's shining triumph—her master, and the object of her crush.
"Treatment first. Let's head back to Valencia Castle. Don't wanna get dragged into more hassle."
Yushin nodded at Leticia's words. Allen was still growling at Bariteon and his disciples, not fully over her bloodlust, so he yanked her tail.
"Kyaa♡"
Caught off-guard, Allen let out a lewd moan. Alonne and Leticia's eyes snapped to her. Blushing furiously, Allen chomped Yushin's shoulder hard to vent her shame.
"Okay, sorry. Let go now?"
"Grrrrr!!"
Despite the apology, the embarrassed beastkin woman growled beastly, taking it out on Yushin.