Chapter 57: I won’t miss next time
[POV]: Maria.
"We won." I let out a long, tired breath as I began using my bloodline skill to heal Kellan. I not only had the ability to heal myself, but also to heal others.
The plan had worked perfectly.
I knew we would never be able to defeat my friend’s husband alone. He was truly a monster whose close-combat techniques had reached the master level. So, we had to take advantage of each of our unique strengths and work together to defeat him.
I had changed a lot ever since that battle with him. I had come to understand that recklessness and arrogance only led to death.
Eventually, I fully understood the Pope’s lesson.
The one I needed to focus on was myself, not Arthea.
The chosen child of the Gods didn’t need me if I was still weak and pathetic. She needed a stronger companion. That person had to be me, not him.
I would become stronger and surpass him. In the end, I would stand by her side.
Kellan chuckled.
"He’s strong, but quite arrogant... Should I take his position?"
Hugh merely shrugged before taking back his spear.
I sighed, about to say something, when a loud crashing sound echoed through the training ground, drawing all of our attention. We turned toward the source of the noise, our faces filled with confusion and disbelief.
"I-Impossible..." I stammered in panic.
Kellan’s gigantic golem had been cut cleanly in half. The two halves collapsed to either side with a thunderous crash, sending chunks of stone scattering across the floor.
Kellan coughed up a mouthful of blood. His face turned pale as he stared ahead in pain. His summon had been destroyed, causing a backlash to his mana core. He was now useless in this battle.
He muttered weakly,
"W-What the fuck? How could he cut my golem in half with a single slash? I thought you said he was only a master of close combat?"
My expression darkened. If that was the case, then there was only one possibility—Henry hadn’t revealed his true strength yet. I clenched my jaw in anger and frustration.
Hugh narrowed his eyes before adding,
"It wasn’t swordsmanship... He used some kind of kicking technique."
Kellan and I fell silent for a moment. We looked at each other, trying to assess the situation.
How could we possibly defeat him after already using all of our trump cards?
A few seconds later, Henry gradually emerged from the cloud of dust. His face remained expressionless, his eyes just as empty and soulless as the first time I had seen him.
I unconsciously took a step back as sweat began pouring down my body, as if I were weak prey standing before a true predator.
I was afraid of him.
Damn it! How could I be afraid of someone with only SS-rank potential? I was supposed to be better than him.
I kept telling myself that until... he leaped into the air and unleashed a powerful axe kick, releasing a razor-sharp arc of energy that tore through the air with a piercing whistle.
That attack was too fast. We didn’t even have time to react, let alone dodge... We would die... during a practice match?
As if I were experiencing déjà vu, I saw our future—our hollow eyes staring at the ceiling, our internal organs scattered the floor, and parts of our bodies sliced cleanly in half.
But not today.
In the blink of an eye, a five-meter-long gash was carved into the wall behind us. We gazed at the gash and gulped in fear.
"I won’t miss next time," Henry said in a neutral voice.
I let out a tired sigh.
"We surrender."
Kellan and Hugh nodded in disappointment.
Then, Henry walked past us and headed toward my friend. I silently watched him, then shifted my gaze to her.
I recognized that attack. It was [Wind God’s Kick], a technique my friend had used before. I wondered how he could execute it so perfectly when it was an [SSS+]-rank martial art.
I couldn’t help but feel that Henry was a perfect imitation of my friend.
Had she passed all of her manuals on to her husband? I wondered.
...
[POV]: Arthea.
I stared at my husband in fear, especially after witnessing his performance. He looked at me with cold eyes, and my heartbeat began racing as usual. I quickly avoided his gaze, trying to calm myself like I always did.
He pushed my wheelchair down the hallway.
I hesitated for a moment before asking. It was a question I had wanted to ask for a long time.
"How do you know them? Wind God’s Kick? Abyssal Shadow Step? Close-Combat Art?"
My husband replied,
"What makes you think I know them?"
I bit my lower lip before letting out a sigh. Of course I knew them, because they were mine. I had learned them when I was five years old and trained relentlessly for the next ten years until I had mastered them. Every movement and every strike was engraved into my mind.
If my husband didn’t want to answer, I wouldn’t ask him again.
To my surprise, my husband said,
"They’re yours, not mine. I’m just copying everything from you. So, don’t be surprised if, one day, I even have a bloodline skill like yours."
...
I froze, trying to process what he had just said. He was copying my techniques and even my bloodline skills. That explained everything.
But how could he do it?... No, I didn’t care about that anymore. There was only one thing on my mind: if he learned everything from me... would he throw me away?
My heart began to ache the moment that thought crossed my mind.
I asked, my voice filled with hurt,
"After you finish copying everything from me... you’ll throw me away, won’t you?"
My husband fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Of course not... Don’t forget what I told you before. You give me peace. You’re a tool with no expiration date. I won’t throw you away... but in the future, it won’t be my decision anymore. Once you’ve fully recovered, you’ll be free."
He added,
"You can do whatever you want."
After hearing what my husband said, for some reason, I felt a little dejected. I should have been happy, but I couldn’t feel any joy.
To me, it also meant that he wouldn’t need me anymore.
I didn’t know what to say. My mind was completely blank at that moment.
I whispered,
"What should I do if I’m free?"
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