Volume 2, Chapter 4 – One-Eyed Dragon Part 2
Volume 2, Chapter 4 – One-Eyed Dragon Part 2
Removing his gaze from the demon that was blowing away, Hiro walked over to Liz.
“Liz, are you okay?”
“Hi…Hiro…”
Liz was breathing heavily as if the spirit’s power was running rampant in her body. Hiro softened the corners of his eyes and put his arms around her neck, holding her upright.
“All right, calm down and take in a breath. Just take your time and think about… something fun.”
This “Realm” was still too early for her. Even Altius, who was touted as a prodigy, took two years to endure this “Realm.”
What is the “Flame Emperor” thinking? …Hiro glares at the red sword that falls beside her.
“Hiro… I――.”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to say anything. You should just keep your determination close to your chest.”
If it makes her stronger, It’s better for Hiro not to listen to it. If she wanted to draw out the power of the Spirit Sword, she had to keep it to herself.
Hiro sat Liz down on the ground, as her breathing calmed down.
“Just leave the rest to me. I’ll have it done in no time.”
Hiro stood up and looked behind him.
“Who the hell are you…?”
Hiro’s smile deepened creepily as he saw the demon getting up and approaching him.
“Hee~, you’re pretty strong, aren’t you? Then how about this!”
The hem of Hiro’s black robe danced in the air, and he half-twisted his body and slammed the silver blade down with all his might.
“Gunu!? I’m asking, who are you?”
As Hiro’s speed wasn’t fast enough, the demon was able to evade him with enough room to spare.
“What!”
Next, Hiro drew a precise trajectory and aimed his sharp blade at the demon’s vital point. However, that attack is also avoided, but it succeeded in cutting the demon’s skin shallowly and making the blood spurt.
The demon counterattacked, but Hiro turned his body to the side to avoid it. The greatsword that was swung down vertically ended up just passing through the tip of his nose. Then Hiro immediately launched an attack on the astonished demon.
“Die!”
“Gnuhh!?”
The demon was being toyed with by Hiro’s slow and steady attack. However, there was nothing he could do to stop it; if he slackened off, his head would be chopped off. The demon had no choice but to catch up with Hiro’s attack desperately.
Then a roundhouse kick from Hiro hits the demon’s cheek. His huge body staggered but refused to fall; the demon wiped the blood from the corners of his mouth and glared at Hiro.
“Hmm… Just when I think I’ve come this far, and someone comes to interfere yet again…”
The demon brushed his sweat-stained bangs up in annoyance.
“It seems that I am not a lucky guy.”
He showed the embedded purple crystals on his forehead, which had been hidden, and exposed them to the outside world.
On the other hand, Hiro relaxes his body and looks natural. His stance was so relaxed that one would think he was letting his guard down.
But the demon must have sensed the powerful fighting spirit that the boy wore.
It won’t be possible to reach it even after many years of fighting, and only those who have studied it further can achieve it. In fact, it is surprising that a young boy would be able to radiate it.
“Kuku, Hahaha… This is what you call a natural talent!”
The demon couldn’t hold back his laughter at the fact that such a fierce warrior was so much younger than him. Then he swung his greatsword, which was as tall as him as if he were waving a twig.
The greatsword that roared through the air caught the dust and headed for the boy with the eye patch. Hiro responded with a small movement, just lifting his silvery-white sword. Blade-to-blade, sparks flew as the great sword slid over the white blade.
“Hou, you did it, boy!”
The demon was about to have a huge opening when it was blocked. However, the demon used the greatsword’s momentum to launch a punch at Hiro’s eye patch.
It was supposed to be a blind spot for the boy, but…
“Unfortunately, it’s not a blind spot. I can see you.”
Hiro managed to avoid it by twisting his body. However, the large movement created an opening for Hiro. If this had been a normal person, he might have jumped at the opportunity. However, the demon seemed to have realized that it was an invitation.
“If so, then I’ll make you blind!”
He dug his toes into the sand and swung his legs up as if to lift himself up. A large amount of sand flew up in front of Hiro’s eyes. In the meantime, the demon kicked the ground and jumped backward to get some distance―but he felt uncomfortable and looked down at his right arm.
“I’m glad I didn’t take you up on your invitation…”
It was the first time he had ever experienced such a thing. When he raised his gaze again, the dust that had covered Hiro’s vision was swept away in a flash.
Sweat slipped down from the demon’s forehead and flowed down his cheek. He lifted his shoulders and wiped them, then lifted the edge of his mouth.
“I admire you even though you are my enemy. How can you reach the peak of martial arts at such a young age? However, I can’t stay in admiration for long. I must change this situation.”
The gazes of both men crossed. They read one move ahead, then two moves ahead. The winner will be the one who can anticipate his opponent’s next move. That’s why they can’t make any easy moves. Both of them concentrate on getting the first move by wearing out their nerves.
“Hahaha――this is good. I haven’t felt anything like this in a long time. I can’t help but enjoy the struggle for life and death! I’ve never felt such joy from the bottom of my heart!”
A warrior’s tremor struck the demon――his body trembled with joy.
“Let’s kill each other once and for all… Hey, “One-Eyed Dragon”! The last one standing is the winner! It’s easy to understand, isn’t it? My name is Ghada Meteor. Let’s play this straight!”
The demon cracked his dry lips into a crescent shape and then twisted his body. Then, the tip of his greatsword, which was as tall as his body, was buried in the sand. Hiro took one look at it and shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m deeply puzzled by the demon race. But, I’m not interested in killing each other.”
But contrary to his words, Hiro had a fierce smile on his face.
The expression on his face was too disproportionate for a young boy of his age――Liz saw it and looked worried. Hiro looked at her sideways and suppressed a little bit of his killing intent.
“But I’m a little irritated right now. You’ll have to be prepared for some degree of injury.”
Next, nothingness overtook the boy. He sank into the abyss and stripped away all emotion…
Hiro lifted his right arm to the front of his chest, raised his silvery-white sword horizontally, and pointed the tip of the sword at the demon. A moment later――sparks fly between the two. A high-pitched sound echoed throughout the battlefield.
Neither of them liked competing with each other and kept aiming at their opponent’s vital points. Gradually, however, the difference in their abilities began to become apparent. Ghada began to slow down compared to Hiro’s speed. Perhaps judging that it was too dangerous to go any further, the demon once took a distance.
“…What is that? I can see a torrent of immense power that is being cleverly concealed. But there is no mention of that sword in any literature or history. At least that’s what I’ve read and seen.”
The demon’s well-trained body is filled with magic power, and his eyes seem to pierce through the heart.
“One-Eyed Dragon… I ask you again, what is that thing you have?”
“The blessing of the “Demon Creator” is a shock. The “Flame Emperor” is “Monstrous Strength.” Each of the world’s five great treasures has its own special blessings. No two are alike. Then you should be able to figure it out.”
Hiro continued with a look of reminiscent on his face.
“Then, let me show you.”
After taking a small breath, Hiro held up the “Heavenly Emperor” to the sky and kicked the ground.
“What?”
Ghada was startled for a moment, but then a divine slash of light struck him.
Divine Flash of Lightning――an intense onslaught from super high speed. The “Divine Speed” brought about by the “Heavenly Emperor” leaves the sounds of the world behind.
In order to surpass it, Ghada put the “Demon Creator” in front of him, but his right arm jumped up, spurting blood. Before he could suffer from the intense pain, Ghada was hit by the next sword light.
It was not possible to stop or avoid it, and his strong body was stained with blood in the blink of an eye.
“Mugaaah!”
Ghada tried to counterattack, but there was no way he could hit an enemy he couldn’t see. Even so, he wielded his “Demon Creator” and desperately chased after Hiro’s afterimage. However, the afterglow’s radiance only increased as if it was mocking him, and the number of cuts on Ghada’s body increased.
“Behind you.”
Hiro came up behind Ghada and threw a powerful kick towards his back. He was about to be blown away, but Ghada gushed out his magic power and twisted the sand around his leg to resist the impact.
“Guh!”
As Ghada clenched his teeth and flipped his body vigorously, the blade of “Demon Creator” sliced away the murky air. But before he could get close, Hiro leaped to avoid it.
“Hah! You can’t move when you’re in the air!”
As if he was waiting for him, Ghada thrusts his “Demon Creator” towards Hiro.
“Unfortunately not. I can still move.”
Hiro makes a spirit weapon appear under his feet. After using it as a foothold, he positioned himself in the air and swung down with great force.
“――Tch!”
Ghada was forced to switch from attack to defense. He was once again being toyed with by Hiro’s unpredictable swordplay. Even if he stopped his sword, fists would fly at him. Even if he avoided the fist, the kick would hit him in the stomach. If he catches the kick, the sword will be aimed at his neck.
“Damn it――if it continues like this!”
As Ghada spat out his frustration, he desperately tried to attack. But there’s no point in slashing in the wrong direction.
In this blazing sun, repeated violent movements will only reduce one’s strength. Within a few moments, Ghada was sweating profusely and bleeding from his cuts, and he fell to his knees as if he had reached his limit.
Hiro noticed that Ghada was breathing hard and repeatedly and pointed the tip of the “Heavenly Emperor” blade at the ground.
“…I think this is enough, isn’t it?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I can still fight!”
It’s too bad; Hiro sighed in disappointment when he got an immediate answer.
“I see… I sincerely hope you will give up and surrender.”
After wiping the sweat from his face, Hiro took a moment to catch his breath and look around.
“Uraaaa!”
A Grantz soldier was slaughtering enemy soldiers while shouting. They were dragging the enemy down from their camels and surrounding them in groups, killing them. The initial momentum that the rebels had had was completely lost.
“Don’t be intimidated! We have the blessings of the God of War!”
In their heavy armor, they represent the courage of all people――the Fourth Imperial Army, the protector of the southern part of the Great Grantz Empire.
The second-in-command of the first group, Kigui, was killed in battle by the demon. However, they are not distraught as they have been through many battles before and are fighting hard to push back the rebels as if to dispel the gloom. Furthermore, the two wings of the Fourth Imperial Army were completing the encirclement of the rebel army.
Next, the shouts and screams of the enemy soldiers reached the ears, and the smell of death and blood mixed with the wind in the nose.
Turning away from the hellish place, Hiro told the demon.
“Moreover, you have not been able to draw the power of the Demon Emperor’s Sword.”
Hiro had fought against a former user of the Demon Creator in the past, but he was not an opponent he could beat as he pleased. He was a fierce man who skillfully used the “shock” to stop Hiro’s movement and counterattack. Even though the Heavenly Emperor’s protection has boosted Hiro’s physical abilities, there is no way that Hiro can defeat him as easily as this. The opponent’s physical ability was also enhanced by the protection of the Demon Emperor’s Sword. After considering that, Hiro made a guess and mentioned it to the demon in front of him now.
“I don’t know what it is about you that attracted the Demon Emperor’s Sword, but I think we can assume that you are losing it. I don’t have to tell you, but you know it better.”
“…Indeed, I was thinking of giving up. I know exactly the reason. But I still have to keep fighting.”
“You can’t beat me if you can’t even draw the power of the Demon Emperor’s Sword.”
Aside from a thousand years ago, the central continent is currently dominated by spirits.
There are no spirits in the Principality of Lichtine, but even so, magic power mixed with particles is extremely thin as well. No matter how many magic stones he possessed, he would not be able to show his true ability on this continent.
Besides, if he can’t draw out the power of the Demon Emperor’s Sword, he won’t be able to beat Hiro.
“So, I want you to surrender. I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
That’s a lie. Depending on the future development of the situation, he would have to mistreat those who surrendered. If he told them that truthfully, they would become stubborn, and resistance would increase.
Whether he saw through the lie or not, Ghada didn’t nod but replied with a wry smile.
“Hmph, then try it with all your might. If you think you can beat me, it should be easy.”
Hiro was expecting him to say that, so he thought of his next move. That is to break Ghada’s will to fight. In order to do that, he needed to shake him up.
“You’ve been worrying about your back for a while now, haven’t you?”
Ghada remained expressionless, but Hiro did not miss the moment when his shoulders twitched.
“Is it possible that there is someone important in your main camp?”
There had been several times during the battle when Ghada’s concentration had broken down. It was the same now. Even though his life was in danger, he kept his eyes on his back.
“Shut up!”
Ghada glared at him, not even trying to hide his anger. It was as if he had just confessed.
Hiro instantly thought about it and strained his voice.
“Liz! Can you stand up?”
“Eh, yeah, I’m fine… I think I’m much better than before.”
“If so, I want you to go to the enemy’s main camp and get the girl who is serving as their leader.”
When Hiro said that, as expected, the reaction of the demon returned.
“Do you think I’ll let you?”
Ghada’s fighting spirit swelled, and the space around him began to distort. Hiro felt a tremendous torrent of magic power. His skin felt as if the heat was burning it.
Hiro was more than a little surprised. Because it was unusual for Ghada to care so much about other races. Basically, the demon race looked down on any race that was not pureblood as an inferior race.
At least a thousand years ago, the discrimination against races by the demon race was very prominent. Other races were slaves and objects of scorn. They claimed that the demon race was the supreme and absolute superior race. It could be said that it was because of this arrogance that the Four Race Alliance destroyed them. The possibility that Ghada is an odd one cannot be discarded, but if he cares about the girl, he must do something quickly.
“Liz. I want you to leave everything here to me.”
The main camp of the rebel army is surrounded. If this continues, the life of the leader girl will be in danger. If his driving force is the girl, the demon will not choose to surrender if something happens to her. So the battle would continue until either side was annihilated.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not desirable. The Principality of Lichtine must have been informed that the battle has already started here. If they catch up to the flank now, even the mighty Fourth Imperial Army will not be able to withstand it.
(To score points, we must avoid significant damage.)
In order to do that, a victory is necessary that the nobles in the center have no room for objection. So the first priority is to get the rebels to surrender. The best thing to do is to intercept the Principality of Lichtine’s army afterward.
“Liz, please.”
“Okay.”
She jumped on the back of her horse and rode towards the enemy’s main camp.
“I won’t let you go!”
Ghada was about to chase her, but Hiro stood in front of him and pointed the tip of his Heavenly Emperor sword at him.
“You think I’m going to let you chase her as well? I will capture you here.”
His motivation was known. Liz would do well to catch the girl.
“Hmph, if you want to catch me, you’ll have to chop off both my legs!”
Hiro ducked into the side of the charging Ghada.
“Let’s get this over with. Can you just sleep for a while?”
Hiro, having closed in on the Ghada, slams his fist into his face. He grabbed the demon by the neck, pulled him back, drove his knee into his stomach, turned him around, and slammed his heel into his neck with great force.
“Ogouaahh.”
Hiro grabbed the staggering demon by the face and knocked him down. A large amount of yellow dust flew up. He raised his legs to sweep away the dust and dropped it on the demon’s solar plexus, causing the demon’s huge body to sink into the desert.
With the unconscious demon at his side, Hiro told a nearby soldier.
“Tie him up tightly so that he cannot escape.”
Then, grasping the “Heavenly Emperor” handle tightly, Hiro attacked the rebels who were still resisting.
“Hyii!?”
“H-he’s coming!”
When they saw that Ghada had been defeated, the rebels trembled greatly. Some of them tried to run away, but they couldn’t do it when they were surrounded.
“Don’t you dare run away! I’ll get your head!”
If they couldn’t escape, they had no choice but to resist, but there was nothing they could do against an enemy they couldn’t see, and they were cut down in the blink of an eye.
Every time a sword wind was created, there was a scream, and blood splattered. Many blood pools formed in the desert, and as the enemy sank, Hiro’s allies shouted with joy.
By the time the pile of corpses was built over, a battle cry had gone up in front of the second line. Perhaps realizing their defeat, the rebels in the surrounding area began to weaken in their resistance.
“…Now I just have to wait for Liz to bring her in.”