C840
"A hastily built bridge..."
Sif nodded, pushing back his red hair.
"Yes. That's the only way you can see it."
He smiled slightly and said he could completely understand it.
"It's not just how we see it, it's what it is, isn't it?"
Rimmer gave him a light tap on the shoulder with his blade.
"I've lived a long time and I've never heard or seen anyone achieve a transcendence like this."
The idea of stealing someone else's power to achieve transcendence was something unheard of in the continent's history. Although Sif clearly emitted the aura of a transcendent warrior, there had to be a weakness.
"Then, feel it for yourself. See if I have any flaws!"
Sif stomped with a twisted smile. A powerful wave of aura surged around him. It was the absolute aura that only a transcendent warrior could exhibit. Sif attacked instantly, as if he intended to finish him off in one blow. A sharp sword strike that could penetrate the eyeball rushed towards him.
"There must be a weakness."
Rimmer bent his left knee and infused his blade with blue wind. He advanced with a refreshing aura that erased the scent of blood, releasing the true essence of the Destruction Wind Sword. Neither Rimmer nor Sif avoided each other's swords. When their sword strikes clashed head-on, the entire cavern trembled.
"Mmm..."
Rimmer let out a muffled groan as he was thrown backward. He frowned and gripped his trembling hand tightly.
"How is it?"
On the other hand, Sif wore a satisfied smile without taking a single step back.
"Do you see any flaws?"
"It can't be determined just by this."
Rimmer shook his head, shaking off the remaining energy of Sif from his grip.
"This is no joke."
After just one clash, his insides churned. It wasn't an internal injury, but the impact was significant. It meant he was completely outclassed in both physical skill and aura.
"I should avoid fighting head-on."
Sif's physical abilities and aura level were on par with those of a martial artist who had achieved transcendence long ago. If he fought head-on, he could lose his limbs before he could endure a few moves.
"You can't say, can you..."
Sif nodded calmly.
"Then I will have to show you more."
He bent his wrist forward and raised the black sword. The moment he aimed the blade as if it were a thrust, a blue light shone before his eyes.
'Sword of Space!'
Rimmer quickly lowered his stance and summoned the wind of Garunua. A sharp strike that pierced space and cut through the wind of Garunua. It was as skillful as Alice's Space Sword.
"..."
Rimmer swallowed hard as he wiped the blood flowing from his cheek.
'What is this?'
Sif's Space Sword was real. It made him think that his judgment that flaws would be revealed was wrong.
-No, I still have to continue.
Once the fight had started, one should not doubt their own judgment. He had to believe in himself and keep moving forward. Rimmer reached Sif's left side, enveloped in the wind of the Gale Style. He wielded the blade he had kept next to his thigh while stepping down with his left foot.
As the concentrated wind of Garunua was released, a massive energy exploded.
"You are fast."
Sif let out a small exclamation and tilted his black sword diagonally. Not to defend, but to attack. Instead of defending, he tried to bite at Rimmer's neck by shooting a Space Sword.
"I can't dodge it."
The moment he retreated, Space Swords came rushing in from all directions. Believing in his sword, he charged recklessly forward. The blade and the black sword crossed, and the blue wind and spatial strikes collided. With a sound like thousands of glass windows shattering, a black rift opened in the center of the cavern.
Rimmer and Sif each took five steps back, staring at each other. However, unlike the relaxed Sif, Rimmer's complexion had turned pale.
"How..."
Paras had said that Sif had not learned to use the Space Sword until he left Alice. But now he was executing the Space Sword perfectly even at close range. Contrary to expectations, not even the slightest flaw was visible.
"It seems you are starting to believe now."
Sif nodded as if he had expected this.
"As you feel, I have achieved transcendence."
"...That's impossible."
Rimmer bit his lip and stared intently at Sif.
"It's impossible to make someone else achieve transcendence through magic, sorcery, or martial arts!"
It was true that Sif had been closer to transcendence than he himself or Raon, but achieving transcendence by stabbing Alice instead of through one's own awakening was something that altered the balance of this world.
"What if it is not human power?"
Sif shook his head as he planted his black sword into the ground.
"What...?"
—Rimmer, since you have been with your grandfather your whole life, I can tell you this.
He said it would be interesting while pursing his lips.
"The humans of Zieghart have the blood of angels flowing through them."
"And...angels?"
Rimmer's eyes rippled as if they had been struck by a turbulent wave.
"As you said, it is impossible to achieve transcendence by stealing someone else's power with human skills. But if it is the power of angels, that is another story."
"Then what did you do to Alice..."
Rimmer swallowed hard and looked at Alice, who was on Dorian's back.
"That's right."
Sif drew a cold smile as he looked at Alice, following Rimmer's gaze.
"I received the power imbued in my mother's blood through the vessel of an angel. That's why, as you said, an impossible result for humans was achieved."
He shrugged and asked if it made sense now.
-No, I still don't understand.
Rimmer shook his head and looked at Sif.
"How did you know there was angel blood mixed with the blood of Zieghart and what is the method to steal power?"
"Because I researched both angels and my body."
Sif pointed to his own head with his finger, saying he had opened his skull.
"Researchers on angels and their bodies..."
The fingertips of Rimmer holding the sword trembled. Research on angels. There was only one person capable of that now.
"You don't mean..."
"That's right."
Sif nodded as he extended both arms.
"Derus Robert. He is my god."
He revealed a solemn expression when mentioning Derus's name. His personality seemed to be changing erratically, as if the very human had broken.
"Did Derus kidnap you and experiment on you...?"
—No, I volunteered. As a show of respect towards Lord Derus.
Sif smiled and said it was his own decision.
"Thanks to that, I achieved transcendence being the youngest on the continent. All of this was his plan."
He clasped his hands as if he truly considered Derus a god.
"After completely extracting my mother's power, our goal is to go for Raon Zieghart and then for grandfather."
Sif lowered his chin heavily, saying he would become the sword that could kill Glenn.
"Ha!"
Rimmer snorted, looking at Sif.
"You... have mentioned the names of two people who should not be touched."
-Why do you think I told you?
Sif revealed a chilling look with his head bowed.
"Because all of you will be buried here."
He raised his head, laughing as if his personality had slightly changed again.
"Alright. Let's see what you can do."
Rimmer straightened his back and held back his agitated chest.
“If a disciple can kill a transcendent, there’s nothing I can’t do.”
He lowered his gaze, raised the sword, and lowered his hand. He summoned the wind and lightning that dwelled in the mental world and slowly opened his eyes.
"Sword Domain: Song of Wind and Lightning."
When Rimmer opened his Sword Domain, a green wind and red lightning spread throughout the cavern, causing a massive wave of aura. Each current of wind and lightning that fell was indistinguishable from a powerful Astral Ring.
"That's fake."
Sif shook his chin and said that Rimmer's Sword Domain was fake.
"This time, I will shatter your false Sword Domain."
As he lowered his black sword, dozens of sword shadows were drawn in the air, dividing the wind and lightning.
"With just that?"
Rimmer snorted and lowered his sword, causing the currents of wind and lightning that had seemingly calmed down to rise again.
"Hmm."
Sif approached, pushing off the ground. Suddenly, he appeared to the right side and lunged with his black sword, incorporating the subtleties of the Space Sword into his footwork. A blade that glimmered faintly. He was unleashing Space Swords even in close combat.
"Blocking would be disadvantageous."
The Space Sword was an attack that penetrated beyond the opponent's defense. The moment one defended, they would lose momentum, so it was better to attack instead. Rimmer raised his sword wrapped in wind and lightning to parry Sif's sword attack.
Although Sif was still superior in terms of raw aura power, Rimmer managed to hold on barely thanks to the power of wind and lightning.
"Not bad for a counterfeit?"
Sif mocked as he twisted his black sword to the left. The twisted black blade contained the power of destruction. Although Rimmer blocked it with his wind and lightning-wrapped blade, his insides churned. Since Sif's sword strikes were imbued with the subtleties of the Space Sword, even a slightly delayed reaction would result in severe damage.
"Do you seem to be struggling? I'm still at ease."
Every time Sif wielded his black sword, the air vibrated and the lightning and wind dispersed. As his original sword skill fused with the Space Sword, it became increasingly difficult to deal with.
"Let's get closer. It's disadvantageous for me if we're far apart."
Although Sif could use the Space Sword at close range, its effectiveness was lower than at a distance. Fighting at extremely close distances, betting their lives, felt more advantageous to him. Rimmer closed the distance with Sif, relying on his body and aura enhanced by the Sword Domain.
In a space too narrow to fully wield a sword, he twisted his wrist and launched the sword of wind and lightning towards Sif.
"You don’t necessarily have an advantage in close combat, right?"
Sif, as befitting a Transcendent Warrior, avoided the lightning sword by twisting his waist, but frowned as if he was annoyed.
—But at least I can diminish your advantage a bit, can't I?
Rimmer fought at a distance close enough to hear Sif's breathing. He aimed for Sif's vital points, employing not just his sword skills and footwork, but also instantaneous body movements with his senses at their peak.
"Alright. I will face you as you wish."
Sif, as if retreating could hurt his pride, stood at the same distance as Rimmer and attacked with a short-range Space Sword. Even as countless lightning and wind strikes fell, his sword did not waver in the slightest.
"What now."
Sif twisted his lips upward and looked at Rimmer.
'He certainly deserves to be called the Sword of Light.'
Ethereal movements as if riding the wind, sharp sword strikes enveloped in lightning, and an unyielding composure even while standing on the edge of a sword. He was a martial artist that anyone would have to recognize. But as the fight progressed, Rimmer's movements began to become familiar.
"Over here."
Sif licked his lips and swung his sword, splitting the wind and lightly tearing Rimmer's thigh.
"Move faster. I can see everything."
He taunted Rimmer and unleashed a series of spatial strikes. It was a chain of blows, launching the second sword strike before the first Space Sword had even extended.
Rimmer deflected five sword strikes, but he failed to block the sixth Space Sword, leaving his waist exposed. It wasn't a serious wound, but it was an indicator that he was starting to fall behind.
"...So what?"
Rimmer exhaled forcefully and moved even closer to Sif. Although he was inferior in strength, speed, physical capacity, and aura, his will could not be broken. It felt like he was stepping into a death pit where they could tear off his limbs if he strayed a little.
"But I have no choice but to keep pushing forward."
Raon couldn't fight in his place, nor could the Head of House come. He was the only one who could protect Dorian and Alice.
'How long has it been since I had a fight like this?'
Overwhelming disadvantage. It had been a long time since he found himself in such a fierce battle where a single misstep could cost him his head. However, curiously, he felt no fear or dread. Rather, he felt joy at being able to unleash everything he had. Perhaps it was because he believed in Raon, as Alice had said before.
"I feel at ease."
As his mind liberated, his previously heavy body felt as light as if wings had grown on him. It felt like his spirit connected to the sky as his lower, middle, and upper dantians became one. Rimmer's movements began to read Sif's sword strikes, which had been difficult to avoid even with all his power. No, the flow of mana in this cavern was seeping into his eyes.
Sif's sword strikes, which were difficult to dodge even with all the effort, began to become legible. No, he could see the flow of mana being generated in this cavern.
Rimmer infiltrated Sif's left side and provoked wind and lightning. The red lightning and blue wind converged in one hand, creating a powerful wave. For the first time, Sif was pushed back and hit the wall with his back.
"What is this..."
He opened his eyes as if he couldn't comprehend the situation.
"Haha."
Rimmer laughed. The pure natural mana was filling the mana circuits of his entire body. He felt his body and soul growing as if they were about to ascend to the heavens. The caliber he had developed over a lifetime was breaking the wall of transcendence that had been blocking his path.
Rimmer avoided Sif's strike and launched his sword towards Sif's shoulder.
Where before his speed and strength would have been too slow and weak, now, infused with lightning and wind, he was able to cut Sif's shoulder.
"What have you done...?"
Sif frowned and unleashed a series of strikes. They were sword strikes sharp enough to be fatal no matter where they hit, but the wind was still on his side. Rimmer moved his body following the green wind, not his original footwork, and shot a lightning sword towards Sif's heart.
When Rimmer's blade collided head-on with Sif's black sword, green sparks scattered throughout the cavern.
Rimmer advanced, wrapping his entire body in the wind of the Gale Style. He had suffered internal injuries, but the growth of his body was even faster. It felt as if he was evolving into an invincible body.
'Transcendence.'
He was sure he was advancing towards the realm of transcendence he so longed for. However, there was something even more important than that.
'I'm enjoying this.'
Instructor of the Fifth Training Field, Leader of the Light Wind Division, Vice Leader of the Light Wind Division. It felt as if he had shed all those armors and regained his freedom as Rimmer.
He felt as if he could go anywhere, as if he had become the wind and lightning. Rimmer clashed head-on with Sif once more. Although he was still inferior in strength and speed, it was no longer an overwhelming disadvantage as before. With the power emanating from his three dantians, it was enough to drive his sword into Sif's body.
As Rimmer's sword strikes grew stronger, veins began to appear on Sif's forehead.
"Are you reaching transcendence? Someone like you?"
Sif's entire body was tinged with black energy. A powerful wave of aura, as if the darkness of the earth was rising, spread, imbued with the subtleties of the Space Sword. It seemed that he was now going all out.
"It’s impossible to block this."
Rimmer bit his lip and turned his blade diagonally. He tried to deflect Sif's strike towards the ceiling and the ground, but the power contained was too strong to absorb completely. The spatial strike that pierced through space escaped from the edge of the blade and went backward.
'Wait! There!'
Rimmer turned around urgently. The Space Sword he had deflected was heading towards Dorian and Alice.
'Ah...'
Now he could block it, but it was so close that he would surely take a significant impact that would affect the fight. Of course, his body was already moving towards Dorian before he could even consider such thoughts. Rimmer lunged towards the approaching Space Sword, tearing through the ground as he advanced.
Although he defended as much as he could with the blade, the most powerful impact he had yet enveloped his entire body.
"What the hell!"
Rimmer bent over, spitting out blackened blood.
"V-Vicelíder!"
Dorian shouted, grabbing Rimmer.
"This is ridiculous."
Sif let out a hollow laugh, looking at Rimmer.
"If you had continued fighting, you might have been able to reach transcendence, but you throw your body to these vermin?"
He frowned as if he couldn't understand.
"Our division leader..."
Rimmer shook his head and wiped his blood-stained lips.
"I made a promise to this ruckus-maker: that he would protect our backs."
He smiled gently, as if he had no regrets.
"As a subordinate, I can't allow the division leader to break his promise."
Rimmer said that was all, slowly straightening his back.
"You are a fool."
"Of course, a degenerate who stabs his own parents wouldn't understand. I'm talking about basic morality, the duty people must fulfill."
He had almost reached transcendence feeling freedom, but in the end, what he chose were the shackles of responsibility. It seemed that he had truly become human after all.
"This is not good."
His body felt heavy. The freedom of becoming wind and lightning was already gone. But he could not speak of defeat. Now was the time to fight until the end.
"Alright. Die as a human. I will live as an angel."
Sif aimed his sword at Rimmer. A massive energy that could collapse this entire dungeon began to twist in his sword.
"Run..."
Alice opened her dry lips, saying they needed to escape alone.
"My power is running out more and more..."
She let a tear fall, saying that Sif was becoming stronger and stronger.
"I told you."
Rimmer shook his head as he wiped Alice's tears.
—Raon considers you family. I can't bring sadness to that disciple who has just learned the importance of family.
He smiled gently as he took a step forward.
"Die."
A dark blue light ray connected with Sif's grip. A transcendent blow that attracted darkness jumped through space and surged inward.
Rimmer advanced towards the total darkness with his trembling hands gripping his sword. Lightning and wind erased the darkness. His strike, imbued with his soul, formed a great light that pierced through the darkness.
"I am the Sword of Light of Zieghart!"
-
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