Chapter 106: The Centennial Beasts Festival (6)
Arondale frantically manifested his Aura. Whoosh! A burst of crimson energy erupted from his core.
Slash! Slash! Slash!
Simultaneously, dozens of slashes crossed Arondale’s entire body. The sensation felt like cutting through frozen meat and reached Ronan through his fingertips.
“It’s tough.”
Ronan furrowed his brow at the unfamiliar sensation. It seemed like Arondale’s toughness had increased several times in an instant. The sword had only cut through his soft muscles, unable to reach his bones.
‘Damn annoying. Is he a body enhancement type?’
Ronan pursed his lips. This was perhaps the most challenging type of ability.
Magic-constructed shields could be cut down like paper, but when it came to enhancing one’s physical body, it required a different approach. Arondale, who had been gathering strength while being slashed by Ronan, launched a powerful blow.
“You brat!”
Huuung! A fist resembling a cannonball soared towards Ronan. The blow had surpassed the speed of sound, catching Ronan off guard.
“Fuck..!”
It was too late to dodge. Ronan held Lamancha in front of his torso and took a defensive stance. Whoosh! Ronan’s body was sent flying backwards as if it had been hit by a giant tornado.
“Kughh!”
Baang!
A belated shockwave resounded. Ronan clenched his teeth. Even the Twin-Headed Ogre’s punches weren’t this powerful. He stopped his flying body by slamming Lamancha into the ground.
“…You fucking wild boar.”
It didn’t seem like Arondale had bought his position with money. A round crack appeared in the middle of Lamancha, if it had hit him directly, it would have been an unquestionable death.
“Ughh.”
Suddenly, dark red blood gushed through Ronan’s throat. Despite his defense, it seemed like he had sustained some internal damage.
Cough! Ronan spat out the blood he had stored in his mouth onto Lamancha. As the crack was filled, a haze of anticipation began to bloom. Arondale, who was examining his wounds, muttered in a voice mixed with anger and admiration.
“It’s sharp. What’s your true identity?”
“Just a student.”
“Don’t make me laugh. A mere student managed to hurt my Aura-covered body?”
“As you can see.”
Ronan frowned at the sight of Arondale’s state. Blood was flowing through the cracks of his tattered clothes, but most of them were only superficial injuries.
The only significant injury was the initial wound inflicted by the sword energy, exposing white bones beneath the torn skin. The only one that had hit him before he manifested his Aura. From Arondale’s bloody lips, a deep voice emanated.
“Kaliborro, will you consider joining us? I promise you the best treatment under my name. You will enjoy wealth that even the Emperor would envy.”
“Suck my dick.”
“What a pity.”
Fwoosh! Arondale’s aura intensified, enveloping his entire body. Already a massive figure, he swelled further, transforming into a beastly shape resembling a werewolf. He growled as he fixed his gaze on Ronan.
“Then, prepare to die.”
Ronan sneered. In terms of momentum alone, he was on par with the Nebula Clazier branch managers. It seemed like it was going to be a difficult fight.
‘Just my shitty luck.’
Ronan lifted himself up using his sword as support. Shssss… a strange breathing sound escaped from between his lips. Red energy began to fill Lamancha’s blade once again.
“Let’s finish this quickly.”
“That’s the plan.”
Arondale positioned himself with his legs wide apart, displaying a fighting style taught to the Balkarian warriors.
Ronan furrowed his brow. Regardless of his current state, he had to fight with all his might. Arondale, crouching down with his body, was about to leap towards Ronan.
“I’ll remember you— Huh?!”
Slash! Suddenly, a chilling sound echoed. Like spear piercing flesh. The two people froze at the same time. Arondale slowly turned his head.
“…Huh?”
A massive Manticore’s venomous stinger was buried deeply into his shoulder. The only spot that wasn’t protected by his aura, which was struck by Ronan’s sword energy strike.
Purple venom seeped into the wound. Arondale, who came to his senses belatedly, let out a scream and shook off the venomous sting.
“Khaaaagh!”
Arondale hurriedly pulled away, but a large amount of venom had already seeped into his body. Slowly, the Aura covering Arondale’s upper body began to disperse. Blood began to gush out of his mouth as he struggled to breathe.
“Kugh!”
“Why is this…”
Ronan looked at the stinger, his eyes widening. The long, thick tail came from inside of the iron cage that opened up after Arondale had collided into it. The Manticore inside had suddenly awakened and was glaring at Arondale.
“Grrrrr…”
A low growling sound rang out. Ronan’s eyes widened. The eyes of the creature, which should have been yellow, were now tinged with a dull gray.
‘No way…’
Ronan turned his head quickly. Adeshan was lying on the ground, her hand stretched out towards the Manticore. She fixed her gaze on the creature and opened her mouth.
“…Ronan.”
“Adeshan.”
A shiver ran up his spine. Adeshan was clearly controlling the Manticore. Her eyelids continued to droop, possibly due to the lingering effects of the sleep gas.
“…Hurry.”
Within seconds, her head dropped, and the Manticore collapsed simultaneously. The sound of snoring rang out again.
“Zzzzz!”
Seemingly, she had woken it with her shadow mana. Ronan, who was watching the unconscious Adeshan, let out a bitter chuckle. Even though it had been just a moment, controlling a Manticore was an incredible feat, and the speed of her progress was beyond belief. Meanwhile, Arondale, in excruciating pain, rushed towards Ronan.
“Kraaagh! Ughhh!”
There was no trace of composure on Arondale’s face as he rushed forward recklessly. He was probably feeling hellish pain. It was unbelievable that he did not die even after being injected with that much Manticore venom.
His body had transformed into a horrific mess due to the unexpected ambush. The area where the venomous sting had struck swelled up with a bluish tint. His entire network of veins seemed to bulge and pulsate under the skin as if they were about to burst.
An overwhelming torrent of Aura was uncontrollably flooding his entire being, shrouding him. Ronan noticed that he was burning up his remaining vitality to attack him. Ronan shot his sword energy as if to intercept it.
“You damn poacher!”
Bang! A massive strike from Ronan’s sword landed directly on Arondale’s body. Simultaneously, Ronan leaped back and launched dozens of sword strikes. However, Arondale’s body, strengthened by Aura, managed to deflect most of the attacks.
“This can’t be… This can’t be happening…!”
Arondale, in a frenzy, leaped around like a crazed ape, delivering furious blows in all directions. Thud! With a short leap, Arondale slammed the ground, causing a cloud of dust to erupt all the way up to the ceiling.
“Damn it, we’re all going to die.”
Ronan cursed. Leaving him as he was would eventually lead to his death, but he couldn’t let him rampage endlessly.
He had to be killed. However, there was no way to cut through the body strengthened with aura. At that moment, a flash of light flashed in Ronan’s mind.
‘If it’s that technique…’
Ronan wasn’t sure if it was going to work, but it was worth trying. Ronan switched his power source to the core made by Vijra. Lamancha’s sword body, which had been glowing red, began to turn into a dazzling white.
“Kaargh!”
Suddenly, Arondale leaped into the air. With a loud crash, his red, swollen body crashed through the ceiling, and starlight spilled through the newly-formed hole. Soon, the sound of Arondale’s approach became rapid.
‘I only have one chance.’
He could feel his second heart beating rapidly. Ronan bent his waist and took a defensive stance. Simultaneously, a golden phantom enveloped his right arm. It faintly resembled Varen’s, taking the form of a beast’s claw.
“Kkuuuugh!”
Ronan gritted his teeth at the sensation that went far beyond his expectations. A strength he had never experienced before surged within his arm. Ronan groaned as he was overwhelmed by the sudden surge.
“You are truly amazing… Varen.”
“Kaaaghh! Die!!”
Suddenly, a thunderous voice came from the sky. Arondale’s body, completely covered in Aura, with both his bent and raised, was descending on Ronan. Like a meteor showering down, leaving a red trail behind.
“Come.”
There was no way to avoid it. Ronan had no intention of avoiding it. The distance between Arondale and him was closing in, and when it was almost at a distance of one step. Ronan’s arm disappeared from sight. The sword strike, like a flash, cut across Arondale’s body. The sword, swung with great power, moved forward without stopping, drawing a flowing semicircle. Arondale’s eyes widened.
“Ugh…!”
“A death fit for a poacher, isn’t it?”
Ronan smirked. Suddenly, a white line appeared across Arondale’s body. It started from his forehead and extended all the way to his groin, gradually widening.
Just as he was about to collide with Ronan. Arondale in mid-air, was vertically severed in half, and his blood and internal organs spilled out. Thud! Thud! The severed halves of his body tumbled to the side.
“Haah…! Haahhh…”
Ronan let out the breath he had been holding. The golden energy surrounding his arm disappeared and excruciating pain washed over him. He was left drained after over-exerting himself. Looking down at the fallen Arondale, who was struggling to speak, Ronan realized that he had succeeded.
“…I did it.”
Though it was a close one, it was still a success. The phantom that was wrapped around his arm was undoubtedly Varen’s Aura. A sudden wave of exhaustion swept over him from his completely drained core.
Ronan shifted his power source once more. Realizing Adeshan’s presence a bit too late, he turned to her.
“Damn it, Sunbae.”
She was lying face down, her clothes drenched in Arondale’s blood. Ronan staggered toward her and picked her up. Fortunately, she was only sleeping soundly and didn’t seem to be injured.
“…I’m indebted to you.”
If it weren’t for the Manticore’s surprise attack, things could have gone awry. Of course, the possibility of losing was much greater, and even if he managed to win, it would have been at the cost of all the cages around them being destroyed.
Ronan smiled softly and wiped the blood from Adeshan’s cheek. Suddenly, the reason they had came here flashed through his mind.
‘…What about the Doppelganger?’
His gaze swept around frantically. The Doppelganger, still lying in the same spot, caught his eyes. Ronangently laid Adeshan down and approached the Doppelganger still in Varen’s form.
“Oi, wake up.”
-Kku… Kkuuu…
Ronan held his sword to the Doppelganger’s throat with his left hand and slapped him with his right hand. The Doppelganger whimpered and opened its eyes, and as soon as it saw Ronan its fur stood on its ends.
-Huh! Ronan?!
“You really do look like Varen. Let’s not waste any more time and come with me.”
Ronan thrusted Lamancha deeper into the Doppelganger. Before long, the Doppelganger’s body began to bubble like foam. Looking at the Doppelganger, who had once again transformed into himself, a shadow of a frown fell on Ronan’s face.
‘As expected… it’s me from back then.’
The Doppelganger was a perfect mirror image of Ronan from his previous life. More precisely, it was the version of himself from the final battlefield where he fought against Ahaiyute. Ronan’s gaze shifted to the black masses clinging to various parts of the Doppelganger.
‘Are those the curses?’
They appeared to be the same as the curses he had seen in the Mental World. The curses, taking on the form of black masses, were devouring the Doppelganger’s body. The Doppelganger, who had been silently observing Ronan, opened its mouth.
-I couldn’t protect anything.
“…I know.”
Ronan managed a bitter smile. He had a feeling he knew why Ahaiyute hadn’t shown up. What he truly resented was his own past self, who had wasted both his time and talent on futile pursuits.
The Doppelganger, seemingly exhausted, made no more attempts to flee. Ronan, who had been silent for a while, spoke.
“That’s why we’re working so hard now.”
“Wh-who is here?!”
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. Thud! A massive shadow descended through the hole in the ceiling. It was Varen Panacir, who came after hearing the commotion. The note he received from Ronan was held in his left hand.
“A poacher? What are you talking about?”
Varen, witnessing the tragedy, froze in place. Blood and internal organs were scattered everywhere, and a half-severed corpse was laying at his feet.
“Wh-what on earth happened here…!”
It was a sight reminiscent of hell. Meanwhile, the creatures that were going to be displayed at the Beast Festival were all fast asleep.
As Varen looked around, he noticed a familiar young boy kneeling on one knee in the middle of the hellish scene. The problem was that another man with the same face as him was lying beneath him. With a perplexed tone, Varen asked.
“Ro-Ronan? The other one is…”
“You’re a bit late, Varen.”
Ronan, who was down the Doppelganger, turned his head. The corners of his mouth curled into a slight smile.
“We can celebrate the festival now, right?”
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