kscans

Chapter 45 - Acquisition and Conclusion

【You have acquired the skill ‘Turmoil.’】

Upon hearing this, the question ‘What does that mean?’ crossed my mind. Normally, acquiring a skill was said to take years, but that didn’t matter right now. I tried to focus my attention on the enemy before me, but he wasn’t moving at all. What’s more, he had turned gray.

Looking around, everything had turned the same shade of gray, creating a silent space. It felt as if everyone had turned to stone, or as if time had stopped. And I thought.

(A skill? ‘Turmoil’? I don’t know what it is, but if it can defeat him, I’ll take it. What are its effects?)

I projected the thought in my mind.

【‘Turmoil,’ upon activation, causes your magic to flow out uncontrollably in exchange for an increase in all your stats and the power of your magic. However, once activated, you cannot stop the flow of magic by your own will. The skill will not be deactivated until your magic is depleted. Addendum: When activated, your eyes will glow red.】

The explanation seemed to be over.

...I see. So my physical abilities and magic get a boost in exchange for my magic leaking out uncontrollably. It seemed like a skill for short, decisive battles.

Considering my current magic reserves, I wasn’t confident I could fight for long. Besides, I had no desire to drag out a fight with a guy like this.

With that in mind, I thought.

(Understood. I’m ready.)

As I projected that thought.

【Then, I will restore the space.】

In that instant, the colors returned to normal.

The voices of the people around me echoed once more, and my opponent approached, his sword raised.

I had no time to be impressed that things were back to normal.

"Skill, ‘Turmoil’!"

I activated the skill I had just acquired.

At that moment, I felt the sensation of magic leaking from my body. I also felt my physical abilities rising.

I had been using ‘Thunderclap Incarnation’ until just a moment ago, but it had been deactivated at some point. I had many questions, but for now, defeating the enemy before me was the priority. Sheathing my sword, I ran.

Rodel was thinking, What just happened?.

Just as he was about to slice his opponent to pieces with his sword of light, the man had shouted the activation of a skill. At that moment, his opponent’s eyes had begun to glow with a red light. Combined with the horns on his helmet, he looked just like an oni.

Just as he thought that, his opponent’s figure suddenly vanished and appeared right in front of him.

I was surprised by his speed.

At first, I had intended to draw my Japanese sword while running. But his speed was so great that I had forgotten to draw it. Instead, I punched him in the stomach with my right fist. Punching his armor-clad stomach wouldn’t do any damage. But my fist dented the armor and sent him flying. He bounced twice on the ground and then collapsed.

Rodel was bewildered after being sent flying.

He had been fighting under the assumption that his opponent was an inferior foe. But then the man’s eyes had turned red, he had appeared right in front of him, and he had punched him. The impact was so strong that he couldn’t withstand it and was sent flying. Even after hitting the ground and getting back up, he couldn’t understand what had happened.

But one thing was clear: his opponent had humiliated him. The shame of being pathetically punched and sent tumbling to the ground. With that thought, he readied his sword. His Light Magic had been dispelled when he was sent flying, but he reactivated it, turning his sword into a blade of light.

I looked at Rodel.

He had stood up and was activating magic on his sword. Seeing this, I slowly drew my Japanese sword and took my stance. I activated my lightning magic with a very small amount of magic power. Sparks flew along the blade, and it ignited, taking the shape of a sword of flame.

The ‘Flame Fang’ was complete.

With it in hand, I ran. I reached my opponent and delivered a diagonal slash. He blocked it with his sword of light. It seemed a second surprise was out of the question. I would give him that. With that thought, the sword clash between me and Rodel began.

It was a battle of just flame and light colliding, with no parries or dodges.

The sword of light had the power to cut all things, but my sword of flame was able to hold its own without being cut. Seeing this, I was certain. In games and anime, cutting all things often involves condensing power to increase its potency. If the sword of light was the same, then a sword of condensed flame should be able to counter it.

My theory was spot on. I could block his sword without being cut. But this situation didn’t last long. I was gradually pushing him back.

In a battle between me, with my physical abilities enhanced by ‘Turmoil,’ and Rodel, with his enhanced by ‘Body Enhancement,’ I had the upper hand. I sent his sword flying with a powerful blow.

Rodel fell from the aftershock of the slash.

I used the opening to jump. I reached a height of about forty meters. It was high enough to see the entire spectator section.

I was quite surprised, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted. I fell in an overhand stance, and when I reached the perfect distance from my opponent, I swung down with all my might.

Rodel had been staring at me in a daze as I flew high, but he quickly snapped out of it as I approached and dodged. I swung my sword at the ground where Rodel had been. The ground cracked, and the surrounding area erupted as if in a chain explosion. The circular crater was about two meters in diameter, and the aftershock was even greater.

Rodel was hit by the aftershock and was sent flying a short distance. I was surprised by the power, but this was no time to be impressed. I turned to face Rodel. He had fallen on his rear, but as soon as he saw me, he stood up. Seeing this, I unleashed a flame at him.

A slash of fire, a crescent-shaped attack, flew toward Rodel.

Seeing the slash, Rodel instantly cut it down with a diagonal upward slash from his sword of light. His judgment was correct. Sometimes, it’s better to face an attack head-on than to dodge. But I hadn’t thought for a moment that this would defeat him. As I launched the flaming slash, I sheathed my sword and ran toward him.

This time, I adjusted my speed so as not to overtake the slash. The moment Rodel cut the flaming slash, I drew my sword with all my might.

I had previously changed my scabbard to iron to make it easier to create sparks. But I hadn't tried this until now.

The reason was simple: the flying sparks would burn my hands.

For that reason, I had searched for fire-resistant gloves on Earth. There were various types, but none that matched my armor. It couldn’t be helped. On modern Earth, there was nothing that would match a suit of armor. I had also searched in the city of Alum but couldn’t find anything. But, three days ago.

I found them in a tool shop in the port town. I bought gloves that were excellent in fire and heat resistance. Now, I could draw my sword with all my might without it being hot and without getting burned. The sparks that flew out when I drew my sword were more intense than those created by rubbing it with lightning. I controlled the fiercely burning flames and drew my sword toward Rodel.

"True Fire Flash!!"

I shouted as I drew my sword.

Rodel saw me and immediately intercepted. He swung his sword in a diagonal downward slash from the left. Flame and light, katana and sword, clashed. But the stalemate ended quickly. The flame pushed back the light, and then, it cut the sword of light.

With that momentum, it slashed through Rodel’s upper body. A moment of silence, and then, Rodel’s body burst into flames, his upper body fell, and he collapsed. Rodel’s body disappeared and turned into a doll.

The match was decided. At that moment, the surrounding crowd erupted in a tremendous roar.

The spectators were shocked. They were shocked that the upstart had defeated Rodel of ‘Flash.’

At first, they had thought he would lose pathetically, but once the fight began, he had put up a fierce struggle and, in the end, had defeated Rodel. There was no one who wasn't surprised by this. Some were not convinced that Rodel had lost, but his opponent had fought fair and square and won.

To boo him now would be the same as smearing mud on Rodel’s face, they thought. However, they were so simple-minded that they seemed to have forgotten that Rodel had cut down Glad.

And then, the king stood up.

"The winner of this duel is ‘Intense Thought’!!"

With that declaration, cheers erupted.

I took a breath. My magic was still leaking, but it would soon subside. Just as I thought that, the wall of the arena was suddenly shattered.

Everyone turned their eyes to see Rodel emerge from the cloud of dust.

Rodel, who had been teleported to the loser’s room.

"I won’t accept it!!! That I, of all people, would lose to such a lowlife!! I can’t accept it—!!!!"

To Rodel’s shout, I replied.

"Then what will it take for you to accept it?"

To my loud question, Rodel answered.

"Isn’t it obvious!! Until I win—!!!!"

Rodel shouted his foolish demand at the top of his lungs.

The arena fell silent.

At that moment, from a corner of the spectator seats.

"Booo—!"

A sound that could only be described as a jeer rose up. It set off a chain reaction, and the surrounding voices were dominated by jeers.

"Don’t talk nonsense—! Rodel—! Don’t disgrace the duel—!"

"To think Rodel-sama would say such a thing, I’m so disappointed!"

"You lost, didn’t you!! Then just accept it—!"

A cacophony of insults echoed through the arena.

Even Rodel’s fans seemed to have had their anger ignited by his latest statement.

Hearing this, Rodel roared.

"Shut up—!!! I am a chosen one—!! It’s only natural for me to win—!! Don’t you trash tell me what to do—!!!!"

Rodel bellowed with immense anger.

The jeers from the crowd only grew louder.

And then, the king declared.

"Rodel!! Your latest statement not only disgraces this duel, but it is also shameful conduct for an A-rank adventurer!! It is unforgivable!!! Your punishment will be decided later!! This duel is now concluded!"

The duel ended with the king’s declaration.

My eyes still red, I gave Rodel a brief look and then started walking back to the waiting room.

Rodel stood there, frozen with frustration.

It's natural for me to win, so the people will surely accept me fighting until I do, he had thought.

But the response he received was denial. Hearing that, Rodel had let his emotions get the better of him and had lashed out. That act had displeased the king, who had announced his punishment. Why, how could this be? His mind was filled with such questions.

At that moment, a voice sounded in his head.

(There’s no need to worry, is there?)
(You are right. Everything you have done. Everything you will do. All of it is right.)
(So, do whatever you want. It’s okay, all of it will be forgiven.)

Rodel didn’t know whose voice it was, but he thought.

"...That’s right. I am right. I am forgiven for whatever I do!!"

Rodel ran.

I was heading to the waiting room, but I suddenly felt a killing intent from behind and turned around. Rodel was charging at me, raising his broken sword.

Rodel chanted.

"I am right! I am right! I am right!"

He repeated the same words over and over as he came at me.

I drew my sword, creating a shower of sparks. I manipulated the fire magic and unleashed the flames at Rodel. At first, I thought he would dodge or cut through it, but Rodel was swallowed by the flames. I stood there for a moment, stunned by the sight. When the flames disappeared, Rodel was lying on the ground.

His body was twitching slightly, so he seemed to be alive. After that, several soldiers appeared and took Rodel away. I couldn’t quite understand what had happened to him. I instinctively looked toward Tina.

At that moment, the members of ‘Beautiful Sword’ were leaving the arena with grim expressions on their faces.

Outside the arena, in a certain back alley.

Harynair, in the form of a dancer, was beaming with joy. She was satisfied not only with the fight, but also with sending a telepathic message to Rodel and watching his crazed face and actions.

"Humans are just so interesti~~ng. What kind of game should I play next~~?"

As she muttered this, she sensed a presence behind her and turned around.

There stood the members of ‘Beautiful Sword’ in their battle gear.

Harynair spoke with a calm expression.

"Well, well. If it isn’t ‘Beautiful Sword.’ ...What can I do for you? In a place like this?"

To Harynair’s question, Tina replied.

"A moment ago, in the arena, when Rodel broke through the wall and intruded, Milfy said she felt a flow of magic from the spectator seats. Then came Rodel’s rampage. After it was over, we saw you leave the arena with a smile on your face, so we followed you. And we clearly heard you say, ‘Humans are interesting.’ ...Who are you?"

Tina’s words were laced with killing intent.

Harynair thought, I messed up. She had let her guard down after seeing something so amusing. Judging that there was no room for excuses, she revealed her true form. The dancer transformed into a succubus.

‘Beautiful Sword,’ upon seeing this, immediately entered a battle stance. But in the next moment, a pink gas was released from Harynair’s body. ‘Beautiful Sword’ tried not to inhale it, but it was too late.

Even a slight whiff of the gas’s sweet scent would make one’s head feel hazy and their strength drain away.

Then, four crosses appeared behind them, chains shot out and bound their hands and feet, crucifying them. ‘Beautiful Sword’ was unable to move. Tina desperately tried to move, but she couldn’t even lift a finger.

Harynair approached Tina.

"Ufufu. What a gallant face. Should I call you handsome rather than cute? ...Oh well, I will invite the four of you to my mansion. There, we shall have lo~~ts and lo~~ts of fun."

Harynair whispered as she placed a hand on Tina’s chin. They thought, This is the end. They would be toyed with by this monster for the rest of their lives. So they despaired.