Chapter 144

Chapter 144

The fight did not last long.

Several exchanges followed in quick succession, a storm of skills and melee attacks raining down. The dark surroundings flashed with the electric sparks of their battle, while the weapons clashing continuously spat out sparks of their own, asserting their presence.

The battlecries rang out in howls, shaking the bamboo forest.

“Ughhhhh!”

“Hahaha!”

The magical swords were flying in from all directions. Adrang disappeared from view.

A brutal punch came from the flank, and I soared upward using the Black Wing.

Innumerable spiky tendrils rained down on the approaching Adrang. He roared and tore them apart with his bare hands.

Seeing an opening, I unleashed a chain attack. But with a single shout, Adrang scattered all of them.

“Stinger!!”

Kwaang! I fired the Skillshot, but Adrang’s projectile collided and scattered it.

“Indeed impressive! Are you copying me perfectly just by watching? You might be to Johan’s liking!”

Even as we fought, Adrang kept giving me an appreciative glare with wide-open eyes.

Of course, from my side, locked in an intense struggle, it felt more like mockery.

[Skill ‘Qi Gong’ learned.]

[Skill ‘Qi Explosion’ learned.]

[Skill ‘Armor Break’ learned.]

Every time Adrang and I clashed, Prometheus Skill had a high chance of activating, obstructing my vision.

Besides obstructing vision, it was as if it was taunting me by saying ‘You were just hit by this,’ which made me unbelievably irritated.

“Kahahaha!”

“Ughhhh!”

We exchanged several wounds.

When my flesh was torn, Adrang’s bones broke. When my right leg was shattered, Adrang lost his left arm.

He gave no quarter, and neither did I let go of the throat gently.

“Kyooouu…”

But as we continued, the difference between Adrang and myself became more apparent.

Like ordinary people, I became slower with each wound.

Conversely, Adrang grew increasingly ferocious like a beast nearing its limit, baring its fangs ever more violently at me.

Asura. He truly isn’t human.

He’s clearly a hungry Sura risen from Hell.

“Kraaaaa!”

Eventually, my final all-out strike connected with Adrang. But with countless magical swords embedded in his shoulder and back, he withstood it using his bare torso.

Pujik. Adrang’s flesh tore and his bones shattered, but his eyes remained fiercely fixed on mine.

“Hyuck!”

The cost of missing such an ideal chance quickly translated into a worst-case gap in my defense.

Kwaang! A file bunker fired at point-blank range toward my face. Thanks to the accelerated senses from Ether, I barely managed to block it with my raised sword. Still, however…

“Ah.”

By the time I collected myself, the Vestark I’d been holding had already been flung far away.

My vision swam.

“Hmm.”

The brief chuckle of Adrang coincided with a ringing in my head.

Kwaang! He once again drove in his fist, which had been momentarily blocked, into my face.

“Kyaa… hup!”

I collapsed on the spot. For a moment, the night sky filled my vision.

Soon, the bloodied form of Adrang appeared above my prone figure.

“Hmm.”

Adrang, stepping on my already battered chest, crushed it further with a creak.

The broken glove was reloaded with the charging mechanism Adrang held using his teeth, substituting for his missing left arm. Then, he aimed it at my right shoulder.

“You know I’m a witch hunter, there’s no harm in letting you know that much. Frankly, I even want the public’s eyes glued to me alone, so I don’t mind the attention.”

“…”

“But how did you know about all the other witch hunters except me? That’s what I’m curious about.”

“…”

It seemed my earlier mention of temporal regression had fallen on deaf ears. Damn. It was a clear proof he never believed a word I said.

So, gritting my teeth, I remained silent, but Adrang had no patience for silence either.

“One shot.”

Kwaang! Accompanied by a thunderous sound that shook the earth, the file bunker was mercilessly fired. My right arm flew away, flailing like a freshly caught fish, out of my vision to the side.

“Arrrrrrk!!”

I tried to thrash around in agony, but Adrang had firmly pressed down on my chest, rendering it impossible.

And with an iron click, the reloading mechanism of the gauntlet was triggered again. Adrang spat out a piece of his broken tooth and spoke through bloody lips.

“We’ve already thoroughly investigated all the subjects we exterminated in Kern. They were indeed all verifiable members of the Resurrection Sect.”

“…”

“Are you a traitor to the Resurrection Sect? Or are you another organization’s member infiltrating this time’s Mu Shin Festival?”

“…”

“Two shots.”

Puhuuhuhk! The silence was answered once again by the activation of the file bunker, and my left thigh was crushed.

I gritted my teeth. The excruciating pain made my limbs tremble. I could instinctively feel my blood draining from my entire body.

“Kyooouuuunnnk!”

“Is your goal internal discord? Or is your organization originally in an antagonistic relationship with Resurrection Sect? What was your purpose for infiltrating the Mu Shin Festival, why are you targeting me, and why are the witch hunters being targeted?”

Kuhuhuhuhuhkuh!

With countless questions, the file bunker was once again loaded. This time, it was aimed at my right leg.

Damn it. Damn it all. I can’t hold out anymore. This pain is killing me. I prepared to give him some reply. But…

“Three shots.”

Kwaang! He fired the file bunker without hesitation, as if my reply was unnecessary.

The heavy impact ran up my right thigh and struck down my spine.

“Kahaaak!”

“I will ask you one more time. Are you… the ‘Guiding Raven’ that the witch last prophesied?”

Not again.

Not again. He’s calling me a raven like some weird bird.

Damn! What the hell is that? Why are these otaku types so excited while making up stories only they know?

I tried to look up at Adrang through my wildly fluctuating vision.

“Ju… st wait… a second…”

Phududud. The crimson droplets running down Adrang’s cheek fell onto my face.

There was my blood, his blood.

“Shi… t! Jus…t give me a ch…ance to… explain, huh… cough…”

Humiliated, dirty, despicable, and overwhelmed by unbearable pain, I managed to mutter something. But immediately after, the remaining hand gauntlet touched my last remaining left arm.

Euddeudek. Ignoring the broken state of his teeth, Adrang engaged the recoil-free mechanism.

“An answer only requires a head and a mouth. I will cut off all four limbs for now, and you can organize your answer till then.”

“…”

“Given that you might just be the Guiding Raven, I won’t simply kill you. However, until I get the answers I want, you might experience considerable pain. As I said, I loathe lies intensely.”

What a damn bastard.

Not even willing to kill me? What’s more desperate than such a declaration from my perspective? I had never felt such a deep sense of terror, and my whole body began to shake as if it was autumn leaves.

“Shit… stop messing around.”

And after some time…

I began to glare at Adrang with a venomous scowl.

“This is… your fault then… you…”

I couldn’t stay inactive. I couldn’t let that wretched nightmare happen again.

Adrang tried to fire the file bunker. The brief moment his gaze shifted to my forearm, I started casting my skill.

Thankfully, I still had a tight grip on the Espada in my left hand.

“Seven Sword Pierce!”

Todooodoodoodoo! The seven rapid magical swords were fiercely aiming for Adrang’s back.

Adrang didn’t even bother to spare a glance.

“Compared to Johan, it’s pitiful.”

Kwaang! Turning around instantly, Adrang slashed the gauntlet. The skill I had stolen from him—Stinger.

A wave of intangible shock erupted, and four of the flying magical swords exploded right there. The rest got scattered off course.

“Huh.”

But it’s fine. I never thought that Mr. So-and-so would fall for such a blatant ambush.

Frankly, the one I sought was not your life, Adrang.

“… I am Death.”

Adrang realized late and widened his eyes. He fixated on the dispersed magical swords.

Cshaaaiiiik! The magical swords, following their twisted trajectory, poured down on me, sprawled out on the ground.

“This…!”

Adrang let out an urgent exclamation.

But it was already too late. Three magical swords were plunged together into my neck.

Puuhububuk!

I wanted to let out a swearword or two, but

The approaching darkness promptly sealed my lips.

After the Mu Shins Festival had ended that day, I immediately began searching for the Residual Memory.

Given that the residual memory was sensed near the Shrine of Mu Shins, I naturally assumed it would be in Adrang’s residence. Contrary to my expectation, it was found in an unexpected spot.

“Such places exist, eh…?”

At the rear of the Shrine of Mu Shins,

There was an artificial bamboo forest. The lantern was spilling pitch-black light toward it. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I stared at the bamboo forest shrouded in darkness.

“…”

I quietly entered the bamboo forest. Following the lantern’s light, I slowly ventured forward. At some point, a broad clearing came into view.

My corpse and residual memory were found quickly, but the condition was rather shocking.

‘These marks…’

Body parts cut off in all directions except for the left arm, a sharply cut neck.

It seemed like the shattered mannequins laid out of in a store named “My Boss Went Crazy” for inventory clearing.

What especially froze me was the shape of the wounds. The marks on the limbs were too familiar.

The distinct wounds shaped like they were simply and brutally crushed.

Other than Adrang’s glove, I’ve neither seen nor experienced such wounds anywhere.

[Item Activation – Izanami’s Heart]

[Obtained the residual memory of the past life.]

[Restored 0 points each to Strength, Agility, and Intelligence.]

[Restored combat skill ‘Stinger’ LV.20.]

[Learned the combat skill ‘Qi Gong’.]

[Learned combat skill ‘Qi Explosion’.]

[Learned combat skill ‘Armor Break’.]

[Restored all memories of past life.]

“Kryooouuuuk!”

I immediately activated the Izanami’s Heart.

As the corpse dissolved into the air, I writhed in pain for a while.

Then suddenly, Kwaak! I slammed the ground with all my might.

“Damn Shit!”

I screamed like a madman.

Adrang from my previous life, the foolish version of myself, and Casas’ ridiculous apostles.

Or rather, just this damn current reality. All of it.

“What the hell do you want me to do! You sons of bitches!”

It was because I was stifled with so much frustration.

Shit. So damn frustrated.