Acting as a Slit-Eyed Villain Perfectly

Chapter 182

Chapter 182. Overtime (2)

Rumble, crash──!

Once again, lightning illuminated the world.

In that fleeting moment, the figures of Yulian and Claude exchanging swords came into view.

'... It's fast.'

In the midst of the intense downpour, just following their movements was a challenging endeavor.

The only hint that they were locked in combat was the sparks flaring up when metal clashed against metal.

Despite the absence of visible bloodstains washed away by the rain, Yulian bore numerous wounds and cuts.

'Still... holding the upper hand.'

Right now, the advantage was clearly Yulian's.

Each time his sword met its mark, Claude's body flinched noticeably.

'However...'

The issue was Yulian's physical state.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was as if a dead man had risen again.

His current condition was akin to a 'walking corpse', so much so that few would dispute the description.

"Hah, hah..."

Yet, somehow..., he didn't seem on the verge of defeat.

Yulian, letting out a dry laugh as if possessed, appeared to relish in this dire situation.

'In that case, what I need to do now is...'

Glancing upward, Lazlot caught sight of the quaking figure of Dantes, gripped with fear.

Klang──!

"Hah, heugh...!"

As Yulian's face came into view amidst the lightning, Dantes inhaled sharply in shock.

'He's fleeing!'

That thought was clear as day.

Dantes began to move as if there was no time for any other thought.

The rain washing away most traces didn't hide how Yulian's blood-stained face gave him an almost demonic appearance.

Reason to be frightened, indeed, but there was no time for such sentiments or pondering them.

'What's to be done now.'

Lazlot got up and started pursuing Dantes.

***

Claude glanced at the hand gripping his sword.

'Can this power really be from a dying man?'

Chrrrt.

s

His hand shook from the massive impact radiating from the clash, akin to knocking on a wall, with attacks persistently probing at his defenses.

Throughout this process, Claude became acutely aware of his own inadequacies.

Yet, his gaze as he looked at Yulian narrowed.

'Something's off.'

It wasn't about his physical state.

More precisely, it was about Yulian's mindset or spirit.

His overly stimulated demeanor was distinctly different from his usual calm facade.

'Or maybe it's just me.'

More importantly was the strange aura Yulian now held.

Surely there should be a fragment of "Dark Star Iron" lodged in that bastard's mana vein.

Yet, what was the 'mana' enveloping his body?

"Impressive indeed, to wield mana, especially when there are 'fragments' in your major vein."

Even the most skilled mage couldn't overcome such injuries in one day.

For even the great mage 'Flugel', it remained theoretically impossible.

Yet, mocking that very notion.

"Is this what you mean?"

Yulian easily showcased a glimpse of the 'impossible'.

"What in the world...!?"

Within Yulian's body, more precisely, along his so-called 'major vein', a dark shadow-like flow was visible.

Upon seeing this, Claude let out a laugh of disbelief.

'So the aura enveloping him wasn't mana!'

In essence, a fusion of 'mana' and 'demonic energy'.

An energy source that defies conventional naming.

"Then, the shadowy sword that appeared back then was a 'Demon'!?"

"Hah."

Instead of an answer, a deep laugh slipped from Yulian's lips.

"You weren't just any ordinary lunatic."

Raising a demon was no ordinary feat.

Moreover, replacing a 'mana vein' damaged by a 'Demon' defies common sense.

'Exposure to demonic energy either decays the body or causes mental distress in humans.'

Then, could the heightened state Yulian exhibited be mental degradation from 'demonic energy'?

'Regardless.'

Defeating an opponent one has already bested once is no great task.

In truth, it was a situation where seeing it through wasn't necessary.

'All I have to do is flee.'

Dantes had already moved outside and would be heading towards a carriage based on the movement sounds.

No matter how much Yulian appeared to have the upper hand in 'battle', chasing would be a stretch given his corpse-like condition.

Yet a change of heart occurred.

'I'd like to try breaking him.'

Having beaten him once, doing so again should be feasible.

If, similar to past duels, he managed to defeat Yulian now, he could tarnish the title of 'Sword Saint'—a symbol of reverence and a breeding ground for knights he despised.

The wretched royal dog and disciple of the Sword Saint that he was—if he could only dispose of him, it would bring him a step closer to realizing his ideals.

Qwaaak.

Having thought it over, Claude checked his tingling hand once more.

'However, engaging him head-on isn't wise.'

Slowly, Claude began to infuse mana into his 'Dark Star Iron Sword.'

His forte, 'Fragment Cohesion', further solidifying and hardening the sword.

'Hmm...?'

The raindrops lessened, and the rain ceased.

Simultaneously, the soft glow from the firefly-like 'moonlight' vanished.

'The Moonlit Sword.'

The signature technique known as 'Moonlit'—so named because of the refracted light produced by Yulian's unique aura, making it appear like moonlight.

'Is it that he can't maintain his unique aura due to a lack of mana?'

No, that wasn't it.

Yulian's weapon was surely made of 'Moonstone', which would usually carry a soft moonlight glow at all times.

Yet now it's like...

'A lunar eclipse.'

Even so, the essence of Yulian's unique aura remained unchanged ──.

'What!?'

Suddenly, Yulian was swinging his sword right before Claude's eyes.

Somehow managing to step back and evade, this time Claude was genuinely taken aback.

'... The second time, and I didn't see a thing?'

Wonder as he might, he swung the blade solidified by 'Fragment Cohesion' at the now-close Yulian.

The best defense is offense.

***

Claude's dark-lined sword lunged toward me, but the trajectory of such an attack was easy to read.

If the trajectory could be read, there was no reason to get hit.

'Moreover, delivering a more fatal counter can be achieved.'

Slash──!

Having parried Claude's attack, I slashed his waist.

Thanks to the rain's cessation, his face was clearly visible.

The sensation felt in my hand indicated a mere graze, yet it contorted his face with pain.

"Heh, ha...!"

Inexplicably, a laugh escaped my lips.

A laugh far removed from my own emotions.

===

⇒ Trait, 〈Open Eyes〉 is in effect.

⇒ Emotions are heightened.

⇒ Trait, 〈True Vessel〉 is activated.

⇒ Inflicts additional damage against 〈Demon King's Vessel〉.

===

After having come to the brink of death, with the extreme rush of adrenaline and heightened awareness from 'Open Eyes', a body accepting 'demonic energy' to compensate for a lacking 'mana vein'.

Perhaps because of this, the world appeared a bloodshot red, but Claude stood out vividly.

"A man risen from the dead...!"

"And how does it feel to be cornered by such a man!?"

"There's nothing definite yet!"

===

⇒ 〈Moonlit Sword〉 enters 〈Eclipse〉 state.

===

First strike.

Crack──!

The clash of sword against sword.

The 'Moonstone Sword' in its 'Eclipse' state, upon contact, chipped away at his sword in chunks.

"What about now!?"

"... Guh!"

Claude's face transformed, colored by surprise, yet he prepared a counterattack nonetheless.

Second strike.

Once more, Dark Star Iron fragments scattered.

Third strike.

With every clash, his sword's length rapidly shortened.

"Ha, haha! Your sword breaks easily, much like your lofty convictions!"

Savoring the disdain towards knights.

Kindling hatred towards the royal family.

The absurdity of committing acts similar to those he despised was evident.

Claude likely knew this well too.

Swinging his sword amidst awkward and unpleasant feelings settled in his eyes.

"Do you utter such words whilst readily following inhumane orders!?"

"Unlike you, I don't attach pointless reasons!"

Crack──!

With the recent clash, Claude's 'Dark Star Iron Sword' shattered in two, causing his eyes to flare.

It was as if he'd been anticipating this moment.

Dark fragments spread across the world, and simultaneously, mana began to accumulate in them.

Claude's unique aura, 'Fragment Cohesion'.

Through that, the scattered fragments in the air rushed towards my face.

===

⇒ Character trait, 〈Black Knight〉 is in effect.

===

Swish.

"That face, could it be!?"

Caring little if someone discovered my identity, I enveloped my face with 'Angelica' to shield against oncoming shards.

"Black Knight?"

"Why? Overjoyed to see this face?"

Never have I undertaken anything earning such welcomes from the likes of you.

While blocking shards with my mask, I drew my sword towards my flank.

Then I lunged towards Claude's chest.

Attempting to parry with a shortened blade, my sword pierced directly into his chest.

"Guh...!"

Hitting its mark, Claude's face twisted considerably.

"To think you recognize 'Black Knight'. Hating knights universally, did you admire this face?"

Withering sarcasm.

Ordinarily, with the character trait of 'Black Knight' in effect, such mocking words wouldn't have surfaced.

The elevated emotion from 'Open Eyes' disregarded that completely.

"Rambling nonsense...!"

Enduring pain, Claude pulled the sword lodged in his chest towards himself.

Preventing its withdrawal, attempting any form of counter.

Unfortunately for him, not against me, nor the 'Moonlit Sword Eclipse.'

'Yulian's aura and demonic energy repel each other.'

In 'Open Eyes' state, some control is feasible, but that's when synchronization is possible.

Should my force wane, in instances like this...

"Gurgh, gurgh!"

It's possible to unleash an aura explosion.

"Urgh, urgh...!"

Claude continued to spit blood, collapsing onto his knees.

Ravaged would be an understatement to describe Claude's state; his body was left in tatters.

Even without inspection, his internal organs must have been obliterated.

Slowly, he turned his gaze upward, meeting my eyes.

"If I'd known it would end this way, I would've assured an end last time."

Listening as Claude lamented, I firmly grasped the hilt of the 'Moonstone Sword' with both hands once again.

"Worry not."

In the reflection of his eye, the 'Black Knight' slipped away revealing a glaring red-eyed image of 'Yulian'.

"I won't make such mistakes."

Grnd.

Twisting the sword embedded in Claude's chest with both hands caused a fountain of blood to erupt.

In those moments painting the darkened night sky red.

His gaze ascended towards the heavens.

With a soft thud, his body collapsed to the ground, rendering Claude immobile henceforth.