I Obtained the Final Boss' Power

Chapter 61 : To the Imperial Capital (3)

To the Imperial Capital (3)

At the old man's declaration, the soldiers trapped inside the barrier looked at each other nervously.

Even the slow-witted soldiers could, thanks to their experience in the 7th Legion, eventually grasp his meaning.

Sending the surviving squad to the capital? That meant they were to fight among themselves until only one squad remained.

"One more thing: I don't care if you kill each other. But if there's anyone who wants to live, just touch the barrier and draw a circle with your finger. You'll be able to get out automatically."

It was dirty, but they were soldiers of the Empire, after all.

Since those who were supposed to be monster fodder rather than killed by human hands were being given a chance to survive, this was considered mercy.

As the old man added that, the watching soldiers drew their swords. Now that such words were spoken, there was no need to hesitate.

One relief was that none of the officers responsible for the soldiers were inside the barrier.

Since there was no officer who could use spells, fairness could be maintained.

"So that's why we were separated here."

Silia asked Klein, who was sitting next to her.

All officers were seated in the training hall gallery, which was outside the barrier.

"But is this really an order from His Majesty the Emperor?"

Klein nodded at her question and replied.

"It'd be stranger if it weren't. Inviting those who should never be let out to the capital where he lives—nothing's more sensitive than that."

Even if that weren't the case, what was happening now in the training hall wasn't problematic.

It made no sense for the Emperor to personally grant audience to beasts in human skin, with no precautions at all.

Even the soldiers could easily predict that.

"Nothing that guy said was wrong. There isn't just one or two soldiers or officers hoping to use this incident as a tool for their advancement."

Just as the old man said, there were bound to be imposters pretending to be Great Devil Slayers.

That meant there were many who wanted to leave the 7th Legion.

"So that's why they're trying to filter them out here. Whether they really slayed the Great Devil or not."

If a soldier came here under false pretenses, it didn't matter if he died inside the barrier.

It was the price for trying to take credit for someone else's achievement.

Already, a few heads of such imposters had rolled.

There was no need for any 'start' signal among them.

"Are you worried?"

At Klein's brief question, Silia shook her head. Because there really was a person who had slain the Great Devil inside that barrier.

However, Silia kept her eyes on the other squad members, rather than that one.

To him, this may just be a passing event, but for the other squad members, it was different.

To them, this was a rare opportunity.

'It's not an unreasonable decision.'

Louis thought as he watched the others already fighting with swords.

Then, he caught an arrow flying at his back and turned his head.

"Are you the ones from Paruzan Fortress?"

Several soldiers, including the one who shot the arrow, approached Louis's squad and spoke.

From them wafted a strangely familiar scent.

"Who are you?"

"We're the elite forces of Kaliion Fortress. I heard you guys beat up our soldiers before."

The 4th Fortress, Kaliion.

At those words, Louis exclaimed in admiration.

"Ah, you were the ones who fought us in the 'arena' last time and got kicked out after a crushing defeat!"

At his brazen tone, veins popped on the foreheads of the Kaliion soldiers.

"I don't like your attitude. Do you have any idea how much disgrace our fortress suffered since that day?"

"Of all soldiers, we got humiliated by a bunch of brats. Thanks to that rumor, we became the laughingstock overnight!"

Nothing is more humiliating than being beaten by kids who weren't even adults.

If that became a rumor, the ridicule would be indescribable.

"So, what do you want me to do about it?"

Of course, Louis couldn't have cared less.

Angered by his attitude, one soldier nocked another arrow.

"What do we want? For you to die!"

Was there any need to waste time on such pretenses?

The moment he fired his bow, Louis stepped forward with his forepaw.

But before he could go, Rio dashed out in front of him and drew her sword, deflecting the arrow.

"Young master. I have a request."

Rio, at the very front, spoke to Louis, who was behind her.

"This time, won't you let me handle it?"

At her words, Louis halted.

Even though he couldn't see her face, he sensed Rio's feelings from her voice.

"Alright, I get it."

As Louis stepped back as requested, Rio smiled and said,

"Thank you."

Then, gripping a single sword, she boldly stood before the soldiers.

The remaining squad members were aghast at the sight.

"Wait a second, young master! Is this really okay?"

"No matter how capable Rio is among us, this looks way too hopeless."

"Yeah! They say those guys are elite soldiers!"

Victor, Pram, and Simon protested one after the other.

It was true that Rio seemed at a disadvantage by herself, especially compared to the ones they fought in the previous arena—these were true elites.

"With the young master's strength, you could finish this with a single blow. Why aren't you stepping in?"

Rozen wasn't wrong either.

If he stepped in, it would be over without anyone getting hurt. Why make things complicated?

They were all right. It was understandable.

To his squad members, Louis replied,

"It's an opportunity."

Opportunity? What did he mean by that?

"It's exactly what it sounds like. Rio wants to see for herself how strong she's become through all her training up to now."

They'd fought monsters, sure, but those creatures now fell with a single stroke.

Now, Rio wanted a stronger foe.

She wanted to gauge the exact level of the strength she'd built up to survive.

"So, don't you all want to test how strong you've become? Opportunities like this are rare."

"Are you saying we should all fight like Rio?"

Simon shuddered as he spoke, and Louis laughed softly as he answered,

"That's your choice. I won't force you, so relax."

He folded his arms, looking unconcerned.

Meanwhile, Rio's fight began.

"Who the hell are you!"

Seeing Rio standing before them, a bowman scoffed and shot.

Contrary to his expectation that the girl's head would be pierced, Rio dodged with a backward tilt and instantly closed the distance.

"...!?"

Rio's blade was about to touch the archer's throat.

At that moment, a soldier wielding a greatsword deflected her sword and protected the archer.

"So close."

Rio expressed disappointment at missing the chance to take one out quickly.

The archer, having narrowly survived, was shaken by Rio's sword, as was the wielder of the greatsword.

Moves no one would expect from a mere kid. The soldier watching Rio narrowed his eyes.

"Wait, black hair and red eyes... That girl, no way!"

In that moment, the soldier seemed to realize something, his eyes widening.

"It's her! The brat who beat up our guys in the arena!"

"Wait, come to think of it, the rest are all little kids too."

With a certainty, the Kaliion soldiers grinned maliciously.

The ones who humiliated their own fortress now stood before them.

"Well, how lucky for us! My name is Joey. Though things have turned out like this, I was once an officer in a mercenary band who gathered to terrorize the Empire. Same goes for the guys behind me."

The man with the greatsword who recognized them introduced himself and readied his stance.

"Regret making us your enemies!"

Joey's heavy greatsword swept a semicircle.

Small as she was, Rio dodged the sweeping blade by ducking her head.

In that lowered stance, she bent her knees instinctively.

Channeling strength into her lower body, Rio launched herself like a compressed spring, instantly closing the distance with Joey.

Aiming precisely for Joey's waist, she swung her sword, but his greatsword suddenly blocked the strike.

"...!!"

As her sword was blocked, Rio sensed danger and drew her blade to her chest.

Joey's greatsword swung in exactly that direction.

"Got you now."

Joey's blade didn't just draw a simple arc. Instead of a horizontal sweep, he sliced upward from below.

When Rio managed to block that blow, her light weight made her soar up in an arc.

Another archer took aim at the airborne Rio, while a mage soldier began casting Fireball.

"Tch!"

Caught in midair with no defense, Rio barely managed to deflect all the arrows, but couldn't completely shield herself from the fireball.

Hit dead-on by the fire, Rio rolled along the ground, her body scorched.

She quickly pulled herself together and glared at the enemies before her.

She was alone, and the other side had overwhelming numbers. But that didn't matter to Rio—she charged in once again.

To stop her, the opposing squad fired another volley of arrows and Fireballs.

If she focused on blocking those, that Joey guy would instantly launch a surprise attack.

But it wasn't as if Rio had another choice.

Just as she braced herself and charged, the arrows and Fireballs were knocked aside by something else.

"Damn, I really can't just stand by and watch!"

Rozen, whose arrow had shot down theirs, spat curses.

"Screw it, I'm going too!"

Following Pram, who canceled the Fireball with her own, the squad members began joining in one by one.

"We're late but sorry for only helping now, Rio!"

"We'll take care of the rest, so you handle that scary-looking guy—or rather, the rest all look terrifying too!"

Victor and Simon jumped into the fray, even though they were nervous.

The troublesome enemy reinforcements that had pestered Rio were now occupied.

"Mm. Thanks."

"Don't think this means you'll win!"

While Rio spoke to her squad members, Joey brought down his greatsword.

She barely blocked it, but the overwhelming weight sent pain through her bones.

Facing an opponent unmistakably stronger than herself, Rio knew she had to draw on that power.

"Huh?"

From her blade, pressed against Joey's sword, a red aura started to surge.

With her sword reinforced by this aura, she seemed to be pushing Joey's blade aside.

"Interesting sword energy. But you're not the only one who can wield aura."

Joey's greatsword shimmered gray.

With their forces matched, Rio began to be pushed back.

"Urgh!"

Using that momentum in reverse, Rio twisted her sword, escaping from under the pressure.

She immediately counterattacked, but Joey parried at just the right timing.

Her sword, like a ball struck by a bat, went flying.

Next, Joey ruthlessly brought down his greatsword onto Rio's shoulder.

"Are you still holding on?"

"Kh...!"

But Rio caught the blade with her bare hands.

Her hands were wrapped in aura, so they weren't injured—but so was Joey's blade.

"Let's see how long you last."

Blood began trickling from Rio's hand as the greatsword pressed down to her shoulder.

Joey, with overwhelming strength, was about to split Rio in half at any moment.

Rio knew this too. Yet, for some reason, she was smiling.

"What is it?"

Perplexed by that smile, Joey was suddenly splattered with Rio's blood.

"Huh?"

The blood, spiking up like thorns, pierced Joey's wrist and shoulder.

"What a cheap trick!"

Even surprised by that, Joey didn't let go of his sword.

Instead, he gripped harder, intent on cleaving Rio completely.

"I'll kill you before you try any more tricks...!"

Pain screamed from the bones in her arms.

Of all the enemies Rio had faced so far, Joey was the most powerful.

But Rio had trained endlessly.

Compared to the two she'd fought while training, Joey was nothing.

"You're no match for the young master or deputy-commander big sis."

"What?"

At that instant, something flew and lodged into Joey's side.

When Joey realized it was Rio's own sword, which she had just lost, he gasped in shock.

"C-cheap shot...!"

A thin red string connected Rio's sword to her hand.

Her blood, streaming from her body, had become the thread, manipulating the sword like a marionette.

Caught off-guard by the unexpected attack, Joey's arm slackened.

"Cheap?"

Rio never thought of this as a sparring match.

Gripping her sword again, she ran the blade along Joey's side where it was embedded.

"I think I'm being perfectly normal."

Blood gushed from Joey's belly.