Chapter 353: The Undying One
[Moments Before]
The man on the tower had sensed the presence enter his Domain the instant Damian and Kuro crossed the threshold.
The boy and the beast were concerning, their power levels far above what their ranks suggested, but they were manageable.
It was the third presence that made him pause.
Someone else had entered, moving in the shadows, watching and waiting.
Someone whose Aura signature made even an S rank like him feel cautious.
’Strong... Very strong... But...’
He’d locked onto the presence, analyzed its position, its movements and its intent.
And found something strange.
No killing intent toward him and no hostile actions. Just... observation.
The presence revolved around the crimson-haired boy, protective but not aggressive, like a guardian watching over valuable property.
’Interesting... Someone powerful enough to make me cautious, but they’re here for the boy, not for me.’
He’d made a tactical decision.
Focus on breaking Bella’s Domain while the assassins handled Elizabeth. The presence wouldn’t interfere as long as he didn’t attack the boy directly.
Simple and efficient.
But then the boy had opened his Domain, killed a hundred B ranks with mental assault alone, and started carving through A ranks like they were children.
’Troublesome... But the men should still be able to finish him. He’s burning through his reserves too fast. He’ll exhaust himself soon.’
He’d pressed harder against Bella’s Domain, feeling her defenses cracking, knowing victory was close.
Then her Domain shattered.
His flames spread uncontested.
The mission was almost complete. Elizabeth would die to the flames if the assassins couldn’t finish her in the next thirty seconds.
He’d descended from his tower, moving to ensure the kill–
But the presence moved to intercept.
BOOM
They met in mid-air, the collision creating a shockwave that reshaped the landscape.
He found himself face-to-face with a bald, muscular man whose body radiated power that transcended normal S ranks.
Recognition hit immediately.
’One of them... One of the Unnamed Four...’
****
The four S ranks fighting Vermont froze as the shockwave rolled across the battlefield.
Vermont stood apart, his hair completely grey now, his face aged decades from forbidden techniques. His body swayed, barely able to stand, only willpower keeping him upright.
Bella collapsed completely, blood still pouring from her eyes, nose, ears, mouth, the Domain backlash destroying her from inside. She tried to push herself up, but failed, her arms giving out.
Everyone’s attention turned to the two figures standing in the crater.
The man’s orange eyes narrowed as he took in the bald man’s appearance.
"So... it was you... The Undying One of the Unnamed Four..."
His voice carried weight that made the words echo across the battlefield.
The Unnamed Four.
Four S rank fugitives who’d vanished, four legends who’d slaughtered Noble family members and disappeared without trace, four individuals every Noble family wanted dead.
Vermont’s eyes widened despite his exhaustion, shock cutting through pain.
’The Unnamed Four... Here? One of them came... for?’
Vash rolled his shoulders, joints popping, his expression casual despite the tension crackling in the air.
"Jormund Royce... Traitor of the Royce Imperial family... Didn’t expect to see you here."
His voice was conversational, almost friendly, completely at odds with the violence surrounding them.
Jormund’s flames blazed brighter, heat intensifying around them.
"What are you doing here? Since when did the Unnamed Four start... protecting Nobles?"
Vash glanced back at where Damian lay broken under Kuro’s protection.
"Protecting Nobles?"
He shrugged his massive shoulders.
"I’m only protecting the kid."
Jormund’s eyes tracked the gesture, seeing the crimson-haired boy barely clinging to consciousness, seeing the destruction he’d wrought, understanding what it meant.
"The Head decided she would die today," Jormund said quietly, his voice carrying across the battlefield despite its softness. "I only want her dead... Give her to me."
The words hung in burning air.
"..."
Silence stretched.
Vash’s face became serious. He was quiet for several long seconds, his expression showing genuine consideration.
Vermont’s face went pale, horror replacing exhaustion.
’No... He’s not actually–’
Bella tried to stand, to move, to do something, but her body refused all commands, the backlash having destroyed her ability to fight.
Her mind screamed denial even as she prepared to burn her remaining life force if needed.
Then Vash spoke.
"That seems like a good idea if I’m being honest."
Vermont’s heart stopped.
Bella’s face showed devastation, her violet eyes finding Elizabeth through blurring vision, grief cutting deeper than any physical wound.
’I’m sorry... I’m so sorry... I failed you...’
Under Kuro’s protective barrier, Elizabeth heard the words clearly despite her failing consciousness.
’He’s... going to hand me over?’
Damian’s eyes opened slightly, awareness flickering.
’Vash...’
Then Vash’s face split into a wide grin, genuine and absolutely insane.
"But... I’m stupid. And I tend to make bad decisions."
BOOM
He vanished.
****
The fight that followed exceeded anything the battlefield had witnessed.
They moved too fast for normal perception, S rank speed turning combat into snapshots connected by shockwaves.
BOOM
Vash’s fist drove toward Jormund’s face, knuckles wrapped in concentrated Aura.
BOOM
Jormund dodged, counterattacked with a palm strike wrapped in orange flames.
BOOM
Vash tanked the hit, his specialized body cultivation making his flesh harder than steel, his bones denser than normal S rankers. The flames charred his skin but caused no real damage.
BOOM
His return strike caught Jormund’s ribs, the impact creating a sonic boom, bones cracking under the force.
They separated, circled and attacked again.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM
Many exchanges happened in a single second, each one creating craters, each one reshaping the landscape, each one existing in microseconds most awakeners couldn’t perceive.
Jormund created fire constructs that burned hot enough to melt stone. Vash shattered them with bare fists, his body ignoring temperatures that would vaporize normal flesh.
"Phoenix Spiral!"
Orange flames formed a tornado around them, spinning faster, heating the air until it became plasma, everything inside the spiral burning at temperatures that exceeded normal fire.
Vash charged through it anyway, his body smoking, skin peeling away, muscles visible beneath.
His fist drove into Jormund’s ribs.
CRACK CRACK CRACK
Multiple bones broke, with Jormund coughing blood.
They separated again, both of them breathing hard.
Vash’s body was a mess, burns covering ninety percent of his skin, some areas charred down to bone.
But he was still standing and still smiling.
"Your flames can’t kill me, Jormund. My body’s tougher than your temperature can overcome."
Jormund spat blood, his ribs grinding with each breath.
"And your fists can’t put me down before I burn through your regeneration."
They stared at each other, both recognizing the stalemate.
