The rough tree bark against his back scraped his skin sharply, as if it might pierce through his clothes. It felt like his future in a nail-shut solitary cell was rushing at him from behind.
Was the front, facing the escape route, any better? Not at all. The dug-up earth and ice-pierced trees created a grotesque scene with their exposed red innards. With sharp tips pointed at him as if ready to skewer his head, the situation was the same in front and back, just without direct contact.
'Shit...'
Nero, cursing inwardly, shifted his gaze to the right where the cold was approaching. Thankfully, the moonlight was dim today. Otherwise, his figure would have been clearly reflected in those crudely jutting icicles.
"I told you to come out."
The owner of the cold bass voice, befitting a cold-blooded person, didn’t even give him time to catch his breath. Feeling as if he might really be split in half along with the tree if he made a wrong move, Nero swallowed hard and darted his eyes.
But would it suit a member of the special elite unit Armsilver to obediently come out when told to?
Nero took a deep breath and carefully put on Felix’s face mask. Then he grasped his right wrist with his left hand and slowly drew out his mana. As his hand was covered in dark flames, long beast claws grew out, just like when he had torn the mother body's front legs.
Nero, flexing his finger joints to prepare for attack, lowered his posture while holding his breath and focused on the other's movements.
'If we fight now, I'll win.'
In a one-on-one confrontation with an S4-grade mage as immeasurable as the Captain, he would naturally be at a disadvantage. But wasn’t the other side currently severely injured and extremely exhausted?
Moreover, he couldn't feel even a quarter of the original mana he had sensed on the battlefield. In other words, if he could somehow exploit an opening and launch a surprise attack, his chances of winning were much higher even if it turned into a prolonged physical fight.
'If he keeps doggedly following, then I'll just end it here.'
As a soldier, the more cornered one becomes, the colder the mind should be. It was the Captain's teaching that the moment you hesitate due to the enemy's circumstances in enemy territory, it's you who becomes the vengeful spirit full of stories, not them.
He knew that person had risked his life to bring the Captain out of the barrier. But if he tried to do anything that might harm his and the Captain's future, whether he was the Council's Commander or the Captain's benefactor, Nero was prepared to eliminate him with his eyes shut.
Nero's eyes, having made a firm resolution, were now tinged with deep killing intent. The tense atmosphere stretching on in silence sharpened the nerves of the two who had yet to see each other.
Just as the fierce gazes of the two aiming at their targets were faintly glowing in the darkness,
'Words won't do, it seems.'
Hugo's shadow, cast on the thick ice pillar, raised his heavy greatsword upward.
Kwaaang!
A blue sword energy cutting through the air mercilessly cut down the trees. As soon as Nero sensed it and ducked his head, a sharp gust scratched past his back and nape.
Everything above the pillar that had been cleanly cut in half flew away. As all hiding places disappeared, Nero, who had barely avoided it, watched for an opening and rushed at Hugo's neck.
But as Hugo blocked with his sword and struck back strongly, Nero grudgingly dodged to the side and barely regained his balance, planting both feet on the ground.
Chwaaaa-
As his whole body kept sliding backward with inertia, Nero dug his blackly rippling claws into the ground and dragged a long trail. The trees split in half came crashing down on both sides with creaking sounds, as if about to bury him.
Nero, who had burned them away by swinging his arms, jumped far back and lightly avoided the falling obstacles. Hugo, who had rapidly closed the distance between them, pressed him hard, driving the opponent back with force.
Soon after, an eerie silence fell over the place that had become a wasteland as if a storm had swept through. Thick earth dust and broken tree trunks ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) filled the space between the two who were breathing roughly.
"Haa, ha. Wow, he's serious."
Nero muttered in disbelief as he wiped the wound that stretched from his ear to his chin with the back of his hand. Though he had felt it was just a slight graze, the amount of blood flowing was quite substantial, more than he had expected.
Meanwhile, Hugo, who was also touching around his neck, sharply furrowed his brow upon seeing the bloodstains on his fingertips.
"Aren't you just as serious?"
"You threatened me first, Commander, so isn't this self-defense?"
As Nero retorted shamelessly while wearing his false face, blue veins popped on Hugo's jaw, tight with anger.
The nimble movements rushing in at high speed and aiming for vital points were very similar to 'his' movements from their previous confrontation. But somehow, as if even that personality had transferred, his brazen tone and behavior irritatingly grated on his nerves, just like him back then.
However, Hugo, who had quickly sealed the wound on his neck with Recovery, thought this wasn't the time for such things and planted his greatsword deep into the ground at his right.
"I don't have time to play word games with you. You should have something to explain to me."
The moment the greatsword dug deep into the ground, a cold energy burst out from under Nero's feet. Flinching, he reflexively took a step back, and Nero irritably kicked away the tree trunk in front of his feet. Then, making the most insolent expression he knew, he answered the Commander's question cynically.
"What do you mean? Rather, Commander, you should explain this situation-"
"You haven't forgotten who's holding Leonardo, have you?"
At Hugo's words, cutting straight to the point without preamble, Nero's previously glib tongue stiffened. Still, he glared at Hugo with eyes full of killing intent and let out a cold, incredulous laugh.
'This bastard, even when I'm trying to let things go smoothly... How dare he bring up the Captain in front of me?'
He had been forcing himself to use honorifics that didn't suit him, but what he got in return was a fierce threat using the Captain. Because of this, although he was glaring, Nero's mouth clamped shut, and Hugo, thinking he'd made himself clear, continued speaking.
"I won't ask what your relationship with him is. No, rather, it's so transparent it's below expectations and I'm not even curious."
"..."
"However, that relationship will be useful in interrogating you. You, who have been going around pretending to be one of ours, should know well who has the final say in Leonardo's treatment right now."
Nero could fully understand the implied meaning in those words. He was openly mocking him, saying if he was going to act, he should do it properly, that his performance was full of holes and below expectations. Yet at the same time, he intended to manipulate him by holding the Captain hostage.
Suddenly feeling as if he had been dipped in lava and pulled out, he felt extremely hot, but sensing that the other had come knowing everything, Nero couldn't hastily retort.
"So from now on, answer my questions sincerely. Depending on what answers you give, my decision regarding you two will also change."
A grinding sound came from Nero's molars, which he had unconsciously clenched.
'Fucking noble bastard.'
He was well aware that nobles in high positions often had two faces, but it seemed that even the sympathetic and kind appearance toward the poor and pitiful Captain was just a superficial one to gain his favor.
To Nero, Hugo's current appearance looked like a cruel ice reaper driving him and the Captain, whom he had embraced, to the edge of a cliff.
'...That bird bastard in the cabin was definitely the Commander's divine beast. Then even if I try to deny I can change my face, he would have heard everything I said to the Captain...'
While quickly recalling what he had said in there, Nero regretted his actions that had entangled him too deeply with this group. As he remained silent, lost in thought, Hugo looked at the faint nameplate embroidered on Nero's chest and asked in a low voice:
"What happened to the owner of those clothes?"
Expecting Armsilver to come up first, Nero lowered his head at the unexpected question. Then, as he stared down at the clothes he was wearing, he suddenly realized that this person hadn't yet confirmed the existence of the real Felix.
"Is he dead? Or, did you kill him?"
Just then, Hugo asked again in a solemn voice. Nero, who had been rolling his eyes for a moment, slowly raised his head to look at him.
'Wait a minute... this.'
Having quickly reached a conclusion, Nero deliberately showed a sinister smile.
Somehow, if he used it well, this could be turned around and used to his advantage.
