novelraw Chapter 180.1 - Mortal Combat
Chapter 180.1 - Mortal Combat
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『―― Your ultimate technique really does feel like an ultimate technique.』
I spoke with genuine admiration as I looked out over the forest now full of tree stumps.
『Hehehe, you got it right?』
Leaning against the greatsword he had driven into the ground, the man smiled with a grin, even as he struggled to catch his breath, his shoulders rising and falling heavily.
Sword Saint Hessel.
A large number of logs were needed for the construction of the Frontline base, so we went to a nearby forest and carried out a bold logging operation. It was a sight to behold, trees falling one after another, as if an invisible giant were swinging a massive sword through the forest.
『I’m not that great with finely tuned movements, but when it comes to the weight of a single blow, no one can top me. They don’t call me 『Heavy Strike』 Hessel for nothing…!』
I was sent as part of the Holy Religion’s reinforcements to the northern frontline, that was where I met Hessel, and we quickly hit it off. Both of us had our hometowns burned down and were left with no family. I was a Hero, and Hessel a Sword Saint, but as elite combatants fighting on the front lines against the demons, we found common ground right away.When it comes to hatred toward the demons, no one surpasses us! To chip away at the Demon King Army, even if only a little, and to protect the peace of the people, we swore to one another that we would keep fighting on the front lines.
Nevertheless… 『Heavy Strike』 Hessel, was it?
『Don't you think that your moniker is actually kinda inaccurate?』
I’ve been thinking about this for a while, and since this was a good opportunity, I’ll go ahead and say it.
『No matter how you look at it, this ain't your average heavy strike.』
I spoke to him while gesturing toward a section of the forest that had been completely cleared out.
『Hmm… that said, back when I’d just become a Sword Saint, it hadn't reached this level yet though. At best, I might be able to slice a big boulder clean in half.』
『That's already ridiculous enough though…』
So after mastering the logic of the world, gaining experience, and refining his ultimate techniques even further. At this point, his 『Heavy Strike』 moniker didn’t quite do Hessel justice anymore. Something flashier, something that captures the sheer force of wiping out entire enemy armies in one blow, would suit him better――
―― Something brand new.
『――Frontline Demolisher』
『Eh?』
『Frontline Demolisher, what do you think of that name? Ain't that a perfect moniker for the current you?』
A Sword Saint who had always fought on the front lines, delivering devastating, fatal blows to enemy forces.
The moment he brandished his greatsword,
What lay before us was nothing but a vast stretch of land, completely leveled and cleared――
『Frontline Demolisher… I like it!』
Hessel's eyes beaming with joy upon hearing me suggest a new moniker for him.
『That’s perfect for me, I like it! From today on, I’m Hessel the 『Frontline Demolisher』!』
I bumped fists with the cheerful Hessel, sharing the moment.
「… Thank you, Alex!」
It was the memory of the distant past――
†††
「――DIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!」
The moment the Sword Saint with the greatsword came into view, I immediately dropped flat to the ground. My body moved on reflex, then the memories of the past came rushing back.
Hessel. Never expected that guy to survive until now――
Whoosh.Boom.
Death swept past overhead.
With a rumble in the earth, the surrounding houses were demolished like tumbling blocks. The subordinates of Kvirtal who had been guarding me also collapsed with a wet, splattering thud.
Almost all of them died instantly, cleaved straight through from the chest up, armour and all. One subordinate, who had apparently been protected by someone else by sheer chance, was flailing wildly with both arms split clean down the middle, but with blood gushing from his chest in rhythm with his heartbeat, he likely wouldn’t last much longer.
Naturally―― Even the Three Idiots who were in front of us were already on their last breath.
When I looked over, I locked eyes with what was left of the Seyrey Night, just a bust now, his upper body cleanly severed at the shoulders. He had died with a blank, stunned expression still frozen on his face. Nearby, the spear he’d received from Platy lay broken in two, scattered on the ground. Okke Night and Alvar Auril were also lying in their own pools of blood――
Just one swing caused this much catastrophic destruction.
You've gotten even more skilled, haven’t you—Hessel!
「Y-You BASTAAAAAAAAA――RD!」
Amidst such devastating destruction, there was someone else aside from me who barely managed to dodge the attack.
That person was Kvirtal. He might sense the incoming danger thanks to his years of experience on the battlefield, and used 【Concreta(Stone Manipulation Curse)】 to create footing and retreat upward. He glanced back to check that I was safe and seemed slightly relieved, but now he was furious at the sight of his subordinates’ death.
「YOU LOWLY CREATUREEEEEE――!」
Jumping down from the swaying foothold, he placed his hand on the stone pillar. Unusually rough and furious magical power radiated from Kvirtal, fueled by his anger.
「【Con Apelgia(Stone Piercer)!!】」
The stone pillar suddenly compressed, honed into a thin, razor-sharp spike, and shot forth, unleashing a storm of explosive magical power in its wake.
With a thunderous roar, the rock spear tore through the wind. As if to avenge his fallen subordinates, it closed in on Hessel, who could barely move due to recoil after using 『Frontline Demolisher』, at a speed too fast for the eye to follow.
「【Megali Prostasia(Grand Blessing)!】」
The hero in the rear cast a spell, and a shield of light formed in front of Hessel.
However,
The stone spear, imbued with monstrous bloodlust, let out a thunderous bang as it smashed through the shield of light.
It mercilessly tore straight through the center of Hessel’s chest.
The stone spear flew on into the house behind, raising a billowing cloud of dust.
「Gobh――」
I could hear the sound of him coughing up blood from here before he fell to the ground with thick drops.
「Guh―― GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA――!!」
Yet, even as blood gushed from the wound in his chest and his mouth, the muscles across his entire body swelled with power. The greatsword he had swung in a wide arc was once again raised high overhead—
「――――AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!」
And swung down.
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM.
A crack runs through the ground before Hessel.
An unbearably heavy, unseen, and deadly blow.
「A――」
Kvirtal let out a strange cry――
A blue line bled out from the crown of his head to his groin, and with a sickening squelch, he was cleaved in half and fell.
One half of his face, still bearing a look of astonishment, looked at me――
「… Highness… Ru—」
Only after seeing it through did Hessel finally collapse as well.
Unbelievable… Such unwavering pride as a Sword Saint…!! Dammit, you're incredible… Truly incredible… Old friend!!
――Then came the sound of kicking the ground.
A chill ran down my spine. That was when I remembered, I wasn’t merely a bystander in all this.
「【Forbid pierce】」
Rising to my feet, I swung my spear-sword. With a clang, sparks scattered into the night as I deflected Barbara’s rapier, now lacking the pushing force.
「――」
From close range, Barbara’s face twisted in frustration as she immediately pulled back with the quick, bounding speed of a startled horse.
「「【Flash(Let there be light)】」」
As if to cover her retreat, the hero and the priests unleashed a barrage of light arrows like a torrential downpour. But the 【Sindikaíos】 enveloping my body shone brightly, deflecting them all—
「SAGE! WARD!!」
「【MAY WE BE PROTECTED FROM EVIL WORDS! O PURE WIND, BECOME OUR SHIELD!!】」
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