The deeper we ventured inside, the worse the stench became. The overpowering smell of blood and decaying corpses stung my nose.
Simply turning my head slightly revealed numerous places littered with skeletons. I struggled hard to suppress the urge to vomit that arose from the sight.
Despite having seen many harsh things, I could never get used to a scene like this.
“Hmph…”
At least the one fortunate thing was that either my sense of smell had become dull or the odor was beginning to fade.
Otherwise, I would have no idea how many times I might have gagged right there.
[Are you alright?]
When Sibley asked me with a worried tone, I nodded and smiled.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
We had come here to rescue Yurph, so I could endure this much. Thinking this, I walked on, stepping over the squelching mass of flesh.
Although the fog inside was limiting visibility, I had no intention of retreating.
I still had the energy to prevent the fog inhalation.
After walking for quite some time, a familiar face appeared through the mist.
A black-haired girl, slightly thinner, lay peacefully asleep. Her thin arms and fingers clearly marked her as Yurph.
At the moment I was about to step forward with joy at finding her, Sibley quickly blocked my path.
Confused by his sudden action, I stopped in my tracks.
‘What is it?’
Sibley frowned and scolded me.
[Take your senses back. Look around carefully. There’s another one.]
Following his words, I looked around Yurph. A red-haired man was sitting beside her, his eyes closed as if waiting for someone.
[Next time don’t be so hasty and be careful.]
‘Got it.’
He was definitely right. If I had rushed over to her, I would have been ambushed by that man.
Clearly, the man didn’t seem to be sitting beside Yurph with good intentions.
Nodding in agreement, when I replied, Sibley sighed and returned to stand beside me.
‘This man… I feel like I’ve seen him somewhere before.’
The red hair that fell to his shoulders, a stature large enough to look twice my size.
The rough scars on his face, arms, legs, and all over his body indicated that he was not an ordinary person.
As I carefully observed him, I quickly recalled his identity.
‘…Kartra.’
The man I had encountered on the train going to the port city of Ark, the one who had clashed with Abel. He was the monster who smashed Abel’s magic circle with one punch and fought on par with him.
The memory of his red aura flaring up as he charged made the hairs on my body stand on end.
“You came.”
Kartra muttered, slowly standing up. As he opened his eyes, he spotted me and furrowed his brow.
Kartra looked at me curiously, shaking his head as if he couldn’t understand something. Crossing his arms, he carefully examined me and murmured.
“Didn’t they say Abel would come?”
Tsking his tongue, he approached me. His giant figure cast a shadow over me even from a distance.
Realizing this, I urgently raised my rapier and pointed it at him. Kartra just smirked, recognizing my reaction.
After staring at me for a moment, he furrowed his brow again and asked.
“You’ve seen me somewhere before, haven’t you?”
“…”
“Clearly there’s something familiar…”
Though I remained silent, Kartra was still scratching his head, trying hard to remember. Could he recall the time on the train?
Checking the necklace, my disguise was still working effectively.
Not only the hair color but also the eye color was different. Still, the feeling of deja vu was there despite barely remembering me.
He had only seen me for a moment, and still managed to feel an uncanny sensation from my face.
He was far too sharp.
“Nah, doesn’t matter. That’s not important right now.”
Seemingly failing to recall who I was, he sighed. Watching him glance at me again, I tightened my grip on my rapier.
With a dry mouth, I glared at him.
“Hmm… Interesting. Are you challenging me?”
“Return her.”
“Hmm? This girl, you mean?”
Kartra chuckled and pointed at Yurph.
“Surely you don’t think I would use some dirty tactics?”
In his eyes, there was unmistakable fighting spirit and anticipation. A maniacal glint in the gaze of a combat enthusiast made my body instinctively shiver. It was exactly the same look he had when he faced Abel.
[Get ready.]
“Ack.”
Swallowing hard, I summoned the wind. At the same time, Kartra launched himself forward with a single kick, throwing a punch at me.
A terrifying breaking sound accompanied the incoming punch. Using Sibley’s power, I deflected it and swung my rapier.
But as if he had anticipated this, his other fist aimed straight for my stomach.
Whoosh.
Using the wind, I leaped into the air and used the momentum to kick out.
Kartra easily blocked my kick with one hand, smirked, and swung his fist again.
“Ugh?!”
Even using the wind barrier to deflect the impact, a numbing pain shot up my arm.
It was likely fractured, but not completely broken. I was fortunate not to have used my right arm.
“You have too many gaps. So this is your limit?”
“…Shut up.”
I am aware.
The massive差距 in strength between us. While I used the power of spirits, he hasn’t even used aura yet.
If he wasn’t a battle madman, I would have fallen already.
That said, dragging this fight further would only worsen Yurph’s condition.
“Huff… Huff…”
As I tried to steady my heavy breathing and glared at him, Kartra looked relaxed and grinned standing there.
Watching him, I had no clue what to do. How should I handle someone as powerful as Abel?
“Are you afraid, miss?”
Kartra teased me with a finger while smirking lightly. Instead of anger, a daunting sense of fear washed over me.
Afraid? Of course, wouldn’t you be?
With his bare hands, he effortlessly shattered Sibley’s power and disregarded my wind barrier, swinging punches with his fist.
Even without receiving a direct hit, just enduring the backlash fractured my arm.
It felt like death was climbing up my throat.
Wouldn’t it be strange to not fear such a monster? I wanted to run right now. Right this very moment.
Without looking back.
“Rubbish.”
But I couldn’t back down here.
If I let fear take over and flee, unable to rescue Yurph, I won’t be able to forgive myself.
Even if I could regress and make it as if it never happened, it would remain in my memory as an eternal regret.
After all, the reason I wanted to grow stronger was precisely to avoid leaving behind such regrets.
“Kwah. Nice look.”
Kartra grinned happily and warmed up. Cracking sounds began, and his eyes glowed red.
“A mix of fear and courage… there’s no need for hostage drama here.”
Muttering that, he lifted both arms again.
‘Sibley, can you do it?’
[You want to use that?]
‘There’s no way to win otherwise.’
After firmly transmitting my thoughts, Sibley thought for a moment and finally nodded.
‘…Alright.’
The blue wind began to sweep over my entire body.
The faint fog swirling around started dispersing in the wind. Seeing the scene, Kartra let out a sigh of admiration.
The wind formed armor around me. It boosted my physical abilities.
Despite being extremely energy-draining, this technique temporarily enhanced my physical capabilities several times over.
“Wind.”
The wind armor enveloped my whole body.
As I glared at Kartra, a gush of blood shot out of Sibley’s nose. It seemed it was too much work after a while, and his face twisted in anguish.
[Let’s go. This won’t last long.]
‘How long?’
[At most five minutes. Finish within that.]
I nodded and charged immediately. As Kartra mindlessly threw wild punches, I swung my rapier.
Searing.
With the sound of flesh being sliced, blood gushed out from his fist. In an instant, six sword strikes cut through his flesh and bone.
Despite this, Kartra simply smiled, unfazed.
“Ho, so the talk wasn’t just for show.”
A smile appeared on his face. Despite the pain from the cut flesh and bones, his smile never faded.
“Then I’ll go all out, as well.”
A red aura started glowing around him. A chi-chik sound rang out as Kartra’s arm began to regenerate.
His aura had the power of regeneration, huh.
It was an incredibly troublesome ability. No wonder he just charges straight in with wild punches.
[Right side!]
“Kyeep!”
An instant punch from the right. Thanks to Sibley’s warning, I barely dodged, turning my head back and swinging my rapier again.
Kang!
The red aura and the blue wind clashed, making a metallic clang. Not only me but even Kartra seemed surprised, his eyes widening.
Didn’t he think I would react to the previous strike?
Which was indeed correct since if not for Sibley, I would have been hit.
“Ho, no need to baby you.”
Kartra’s smile widened as the red aura from his shoulders flared stronger.
I gritted my teeth and started swinging my rapier.
My blade cut through his body, but his aura quickly regenerated the wounds.
Whoosh!
I narrowly avoided another punch with a tearing sound. Observing him, Sibley’s comments also became increasingly coarse.
[Goddamn, what are you doing, crazy bastard?]
I completely agreed with his words.
[!– Slider main container –]
