Chapter 36 The Loser Follows The Winner
"――Alright, this place should be good. No one will bother us here."
Ail and Logan had moved from the Demon Hawk Knights' training grounds and were now in the 46th layer of [God's Remains Labyrinth].
There were many small islands floating above the clouds, connected by transparent bridges and stairs. They had traveled a great distance, crossing these islands to reach the upper layers.
Even in the 46th layer, there was a difference between day and night. Unlike their previous visit, the islands were now bathed in the warm orange light of evening.
Of course, they had been attacked by many monsters on their way here. The monsters that appeared in the 46th layer were all extremely powerful, and normally, an Expert explorer would need a party to take them down. Even if it was just one monster.
However, Logan and his group had literally crushed them and made it this far.
It wasn't like they had simply swung their swords wildly and scattered the weak monsters. They had used powerful skills that consumed a lot of magical energy to take them down without giving them a chance to counterattack.
For Sword Saint Logan, being able to do this in this layer was not surprising. But for many other explorers, it would be difficult. In fact, it would be almost impossible for most people.
As far as Logan knew, only Io Suleiman and Aaron Gale could do something like this.
Ail Hermit was not one of them.
――Or so it should have been.
(...Clearly, he's gotten stronger. Much stronger than the Ail I knew.)
Until now, Ail's way of fighting had been simple.
He would hide his presence with [Stealth], approach monsters silently with [Soundless Blink], stab them with a dagger using [Aura Blade], and then inject poison into them with [Deadly Poison].
However, even [Deadly Poison] was not perfect. If the opponent was enormous, it would take time for the poison to take effect, and depending on the amount of poison, it might not be enough to kill them.
And, of course, there were some monsters that were resistant to [Deadly Poison] itself.
The poison of the aura isn't real poison. It's a skill that destroys the body from the inside after entering the opponent's body. That's why it's effective against undead and non-living beings, but its power is significantly lower.
Despite that, Ail was able to take down powerful monsters like the 46th-layer Sky Dragon and Angel Exia with a single stab of [Deadly Poison].
It's unbelievable that Ail was able to do that, considering the Sky Dragon is enormous and Angel Exia is a golem-like monster.
This was something that the original Ail shouldn't have been able to do.
No matter how powerful Unique Jobs are, [Hermit] is just a job that branched out from scout jobs, and its true abilities lie in reconnaissance, vigilance, trap detection, and removal, infiltration, and assassination. It's not a job meant for direct combat against monsters. It's only natural that its combat ability is inferior to other jobs.
(And, his physical abilities have also increased...)
During their exploration until yesterday, Ail must have been intentionally hiding his power. He clearly possessed physical abilities surpassing his prime.
(If Ail is a member of the enemy forces, it's no surprise that he's become stronger...)
But what's incomprehensible is that Ail doesn't seem to have any variations on the surface. It's not like Judas and the others, who drink potions to enhance their strength. He's reached his current strength in his natural state, without any enhancements.
Maybe Judas and the others were already strengthened to some extent before drinking the potions... but there's no way to confirm that now, and it's not the time to be thinking about that.
On the small island with enough space to fight, Ail turns to face him.
Then, he gives a faint, bitter smile and says,
"But, was it good? You followed me all the way here, without a care, just as I said? Didn't you think there might be ambushes or traps?"
Logan and the others moved from the knight's training grounds to here because of Ail's words.
He said, "Let's go to a place where we won't be bothered," and Logan agreed, silently following Ail.
Of course, Logan didn't let his guard down against Ail's trap. But he moved forward, knowing that.
"I've got a lot of questions for you, Ail. So you won't run away, okay?"
"Hmph, that's a pretty arrogant answer. ...But that's what makes you a sword saint. And that's why it's a shame. You've lost your old spirit. At least I'll guide you with my own hands... I want to say, but I need your cooperation."
(...Cooperation?)
Ail's words gave him a brief sense of discomfort, but Logan continued without changing his expression.
"I refused, but you don't seem to have any intention of backing down."
"Of course not. And I don't feel like answering your questions either."
"It's pointless to torture you, anyway."
"It's pointless. But I need to correct your misconception that you can torture me and get away with it."
"I'll correct your overconfidence too, thinking you can win with just a little doping, as a friend."
"Then there's no choice but to fight."
"Yeah, there's no choice but to fight."
"The loser follows the winner. ...No matter what happens, that's how it is."
"That's fine. That's what I want."
This is a farce.
Although he hasn't gotten a clear answer, it's almost certain that Ail is an enemy, so it was decided from the start that they would fight.
In a fight, the winner gets to have their way. Since neither of them will back down, that's how it has to be.
But even if he loses, he can choose to reject the winner's demands by dying. Of course, that's not an option for him, but it is for Ail.
"I hope this won't be a permanent goodbye with my friend..."
As he said that, Logan drew his sword.
"Don't worry. Even if I win, I won't kill you."
While exchanging light banter, Ail took out a potion from his storage ring. The red liquid inside the bottle was like blood, a distinctive potion.
He popped the cork with his thumb and downed the contents in one gulp. Ail then threw the empty bottle away, into the empty air below the island's cliff.
And soon, a variation occurred.
A sudden surge of magical energy. The pressure of an enormous magical energy that even the guardians of the labyrinth's depths couldn't match. The atmosphere on the floating island, surrounded by a melancholic air, changed in an instant, becoming tense and heavy.
The Sky Dragon that was about to attack Logan and the others suddenly changed its course after receiving the pressure of Ail's magical energy.
The provisional life form, given the role of attacking intruders, abandoned its role due to the overwhelming sense of intimidation triggered by its primal instincts.
Even so, the only visible change was a single variation.
Ail's unremarkable brown eyes began to shine like gold, as if radiating light from within.
"This is... honestly, I'm shocked...!"
Logan muttered, his eyes widening slightly.
The reason behind Ail's variation was unknown. But as a variation, it was the same as Judas and the others. The red potion that triggered the variation was also the same.
So, even if Ail was strengthened, Logan thought it would be to the same extent as Judas and the others.
With that level of strengthening, Logan was confident he could win easily.
But it was different. Unparalleled. The overwhelming magical energy that couldn't be used to its fullest extent was meaningless, but the crushing sense of intimidation that permeated every cell in his body made it clear that something other than magical energy had been strengthened.
It was as if Ail's very existence as a living being had undergone a variation.
From human to something more than human.
Ail glared with an intense gaze, opening his mouth.
"What a shame. Judas and the others were failures, but I'm a remarkable success."
"I see... that sounds enjoyable."
And so, the battle began.
* * *
Ail moved swiftly, swinging his dagger to unleash a blade of aura. The sharp, massive, and powerful aura blade attacked Logan from all directions.
Logan, who had been on the defensive since earlier, struggled to counterattack.
Logan's strength is well-known.
He's undoubtedly a genius, and his overwhelming differences in magical energy and physical abilities can be covered up by his combat skills alone. He had considered the possibility that he could surpass Ail from the very beginning.
However, it's just that.
In terms of magical energy, physical abilities, reaction speed, and skill attack power, Ail is undoubtedly superior. And not just by a little ―― he's overwhelmingly superior. Plus, he don't underestimate him, and the difference in combat skills isn't that huge, so he's confident.
Objectively considering the difference in their combat powers, it's easy to decide who wins or loses. It's like the difference between an adult and a child ―― there's a fundamental difference in basic performance.
Even if Ail overestimate Logan's abilities, there's no way he can lose to him.
And with that, he thought that the rapid enhancement of his skills, which surpass human limits, would lead to a quick conclusion.
Ail, who's in an awakened state thanks to the 'Activator (Nectar)', can vary his skills, albeit artificially.
However, that's not a delicate technique like Aaron Gale's, where he can change one skill into another.
Fundamentally, it's just like what Judas and his group did ―― pouring excessive aura into their skills to increase their power. However, there's a huge difference between Ail and Judas' group in terms of the maximum amount of aura they can pour into a single skill.
For example, [Flying Slash].
It's a versatile skill that swordsmen can acquire in the latter half of the intermediate level, even among scout-type jobs.
Originally, it's a skill that sacrifices power for range, but if Ail uses it seriously, its power would surpass Logan's [Flying Dragon Sever].
The overly enhanced skill has become like a different skill altogether.
Originally, the attack skills of scout-type Jobs, which were supposed to be weak, could deal destruction surpassing even the Sword Saint skill through sheer brute force. In reality, none of Logan's skills, including [Flying Dragon Sever], [Dragon Scale Crusher], and [Destructive Wave], could surpass Ail's attack power.
Therefore, it was thought that keeping a distance from Logan and unleashing an overpowered skill would decide the outcome of the battle.
Ail utilized the agile physical abilities unique to 'Hermit' to the fullest, not allowing Logan to catch up, and constantly circled around to attack from blind spots.
[Flying Slash] variation――Overkill [Air Slash]
A deadly blade that could cut through anything with overwhelming power attacked Logan from all directions.
Originally, it was just a simple [Flying Slash], and it could be activated multiple times in quick succession without any issues. Even with a massive amount of aura infused, the time it took to activate the skill was still much faster than [Flying Dragon Sever].
"What's wrong, Logan!? Is that all you've got!?"
"――Guh...!!"
Logan, on the other hand, was trying to counter Ail's [Air Slash] with [Flying Dragon Sever] and [Destructive Wave], but it was soon reaching its limits.
While [Air Slash] did possess an extraordinary power that could even cut through [Flying Dragon Sever], it was possible to counter it with skills. However, [Air Slash] didn't have the power to attack Logan after cutting through [Flying Dragon Sever].
The problem was that the skill's activation was too fast, and using large-scale skills like [Flying Dragon Sever] and [Destructive Wave] to counter it would quickly exhaust Logan's resources.
Even so, Logan managed to somehow endure the attacks while alternating between defense and evasion.
The relentless rain of blades that showed no signs of stopping continued to strike the ground around Logan, creating deep cracks on the floating island.
But what's troublesome is that, unlike when e faced Judas, Ail's [Air Slash] comes at him from all directions. It's not like before, where he could focus on the front and be fine. Dealing with this is not easy. The relentless rain of blades that comes at me without pause is timed to perfection, aiming to catch me off guard like Logan.
Even Logan, who's been with him for a long time, can't read the pattern of the attack.
Still...
"――Don't look down on me!!"
Logan seems to have given up on using skills to counterattack.
He wraps his sword with aura and goes to match the high-speed [Air Slash] coming at him.
――[Parry]
He deflects, changes trajectory, and uses the enemy's skill against their own skill. If he makes even one mistake, or if his reaction is slow, he'll end up losing his life in an instant, like walking on a tightrope.
There's no time to think about how to deflect which attack.
He just trusts his own experience and skill, and follows his instincts to flash his sword.
"Impossible, not a single hit lands."
And Logan endured it――with the incredible precision of [Parry].
Realizing that he couldn't keep this up, Ail stops his attack and opens his mouth.
"...You're amazing. You've already mastered it that much."
He thought it was useless training, but unexpectedly, it had already reached a practical level.
Ail praises Logan sincerely, realizing that his own choice was wrong. The way 'Hermit' fights is not just about relying on brute force. It's the same as being controlled by power.
"I apologize. It seems I underestimated you unconsciously."
"Not yet, you still look down on me, don't you?"
Ail floats a cold smile at Logan's words, which are slightly out of breath.
"From now on, I'll go back to my original way of fighting. You have no chance of winning. ...Surrender early."
And so Ail goes back to his original way of fighting.
In other words, he uses [Stealth] to hide his figure and launch a surprise attack.
The [Stealth] skill is quite powerful. After all, depending on how it's used, it can make one disappears from right in front of the enemy's eyes.
However, it's not without its weaknesses.
He can't just disappear from sight by using a skill to erase his presence. To effectively activate it, he need another skill, which is [Aura Camouflage].
[Aura Camouflage] doesn't just change the quality of an aura. For example, by releasing an aura with a killing intent, one can even fake the movement of their aura.
People with combat Jobs are extremely sensitive to auras. The moment they sense it, they'll react instinctively, like a conditioned reflex.
By using [Aura Camouflage] to create a fake movement, Ail can momentarily distract his enemy's line of sight and, in that instant, use [Stealth] to conceal his aura and magical energy, completely hiding his presence within his body. Then, he can quickly and quietly move, making it seem like he has vanished from sight.
Even if he's right in front of them, they'll be left with the illusion that he suddenly disappeared.
Ail can do all this at an extremely high level, but even he can't deceive a strong opponent like Logan head-on.
That's why he decided to use the cover of obstacles to create a blind spot. However, there were no obstacles on the floating island they were currently fighting on. There were no trees, no ruins, just a short grass that covered the ground like moss.
"I'll change the location!"
"You mean you'll move to a place that's advantageous to you?"
"I have no choice but to move Like this!!"
Ail stabbed his dagger into the ground.
Immediately after, an enormous aura was released inside the floating island, which even Logan sensed. As evidence, his eyes widened, and his cheeks twitched.
Hermit Skill [Deadly Poison] variation――Over Skill [Dust Destruction]
A poisonous aura that destroys the target from the inside. Normally, it could only destroy a single human body.
However, the excessively enhanced version could send the aura into the target's body, allowing it to destroy even something much larger than itself, reducing it to dust.
Cracks spread across the entire floating island. A massive, deafening sound of destruction echoed.
Immediately after, the floating island where Ail and the others were standing began to fall, its lower part crumbling into dust, losing its buoyancy.
"You're the one who's going to be in trouble for losing your footing!!"
Logan quickly tried to escape into the air using [Sky Drive].
[Sky Drive] covers the soles of the feet with aura and generates an aura board underneath for an instant, using the repulsive force between auras to create a foothold. This is a skill.
As Logan leaps into the air with a clear, crisp sound,
"You're going too fast! Slow down a bit!!"
Ail unleashes countless [Air Slashes] that attack Logan.
The blades block Logan's path and simultaneously collide with the ground, dealing the final blow. The floating island crumbles into dust.
Logan begins to fall along with countless rocks.
"I'm busy, so I won't be staying long!!"
However, he quickly uses [Sky Drive] to run through the air. He starts running towards the exposed floating island without any obstacles, but――
"Don't say something so sad, Logan!"
"Tch!"
Ail releases countless [Air Slashes] like a thick barrage, forcibly guiding Logan's path.
As a result, Logan lands on the floating island where an ancient stone ruin stands.
Meanwhile, Ail also lands on the same island, using the falling rocks as a foothold. The distance between the islands is at least several dozen meters, but for Ail, who can use [Silent Blink], it's an easily traversable distance.
And up until now, Logan's gaze had been fixed on Ail, waiting for the moment to strike. Ail had successfully hidden his presence.
"......"
Without making a sound, Ail conceals his presence and waits for an opportunity to attack.
On the other hand, Logan is aware that Ail is planning a surprise attack.
To defend against the enemy's surprise attack, Logan starts moving at high speed.
And that's correct.
Ail can now attack from the other side of the ruin's wall, dealing a fatal blow unexpectedly. If Logan stops and becomes vigilant, his'll only be attacked one-sidedly.
Logan and Ail, who have realized this, move at high speed while fighting, jumping between several islands.
The countless [Air Slashes] released without end cause the trees, the ruins, and the islands themselves to tremble from the shock, leaving scars from the slashes.
Neither of them utters a useless word. Only the sounds of battle echo through the sky islands.
Logan precisely dodged Ail's attacks, and Ail constantly changed his position.
It seemed like neither of them could land a decisive blow, and the battle was at a stalemate.
But, the hunter was Ail, and Logan was the prey trying to escape.
(I won...)
Even though Ail was hit multiple times by [Air Tear] from the blind spot, he didn't make a sound and was convinced.
If he get too close, the skill-based stealth will be detected. That's why Ail kept attacking from a distance while constantly moving, making it hard to grasp his location. As a result, his attacks couldn't hit him.
Still, his magical energy endurance was overwhelmingly superior. Moreover, even if he said the attacks didn't hit, it wasn't perfect. As the battle dragged on, Ail's attacks started to land.
"Gu...!"
The [Parry] deflected [Air Tear] couldn't fully deflect it, and it started to graze Logan's arm, chest, and leg.
No matter how skilled he is, Logan can't maintain his abilities for a long time. As he consumes his physical strength, mistakes will increase, and the pain from injuries will slow him down. If he bleed, he'll lose even more physical strength, and mistakes will increase further.
The huge difference in physical abilities was becoming clearer as time passed.
Logan's injuries were gradually increasing. The amount of blood flowing was also increasing. His eyes were already losing focus, and he was only reacting to the attacks with instinct. His legs, which had been moving until now, had already stopped.
"Haa... haa...!"
(Logan, I'll finish you off...)
Feeling a slight sense of relief, Ail made up his mind.
To end this battle, Ail silently rushed towards Logan's back.
And in the next moment —— the battle was settled.
* * *
"......"
The intense shock and destructive roar stopped, and a strange silence returned to the fantastical sky layer.
The battle had reached its climax.
It felt like they had been fighting for tens of hours, but in reality, it had only been around 20 minutes.
Just like that proof, when someones look up at the sky, half of it is blue, and the other half is still faintly red. The sun hasn't set yet.
As a battle time, it's not particularly short. As an all-out battle, it would be considered long.
However, for those with Unique Jobs related to combat, a battle like this shouldn't be a problem. They should have the physical strength to handle it. Moreover, if they're strengthened beyond ordinary humans, they should be able to manage with ease, just by looking at the time that's passed.
But Ail was now feeling an intense fatigue, as if even moving a finger was a struggle.
On one of the floating islands, Ail looked up at the sky and said to Logan,
"Logan, you're a person who's greedy for strength. So, when someone stronger than you appears, I thought you'd seek power without hesitation... but it's a shame."
When Ail learned of the existence of Aaron Gale, a monster who surpassed even Logan, Ail came up with a plan. It wasn't a plan that had been years in the making. Rather, it was a plan that Ail had hastily thought up, feeling that an opportunity to achieve their goal had finally arrived.
Half of that plan had succeeded, and the other half was now on the verge of failure.
The successful part was saving the "Labyrinth Conquest Team".
It's possible that even if he did nothing, it would have turned out that way. If he had worked with Judas and the others to destroy the clan, Logan and Aaron might have crushed everything. Even so, if he had fought with all his might, he could have dealt significant damage to the clan, Ail thought.
That's why Ail had forcibly changed the original plan. By using Logan as a powerful pawn.
And the half that was failing was getting Logan on their side.
However, that didn't mean being on the side of the "organization". It meant being on Ail's side personally.
However, to do that, he had to make Logan join the "organization". And at that time, Ail couldn't explain the circumstances to 'Logan'. Moreover, since actions that would clearly harm the organization were restricted, he needed Logan to betray his own allies voluntarily. And that was not because he sympathized with the organization's ideology, but simply because he wanted to gain power, a very practical reason.
It was an extremely roundabout way, but he had no choice but to take advantage of the loophole in the contract that bound him.
It seemed to be going well until halfway through.
The Logan Abrams he knew was a man who was greedy for strength and would do anything to become stronger. Even if it meant using inhumane methods like body modification, if there was someone stronger beside him, he would try to surpass them by any means.
His obsession with strength was that intense. The power to surpass ordinary people was the source of Logan's strength.
It's well known that talent alone can't achieve that kind of strength.
Logan was certainly a genius, but he became as strong as he is now because of his overwhelming obsession with strength.
However, as humans live, their personalities and thoughts can change, and Ail should have thought more seriously about that. There's no reason why his old friend's inner self would remain the same.
"You wouldn't have accepted defeat back then, would you?..."
"I still don't intend to lose now. I've just become more selective about my methods."
Logan replied to his muttering.
His voice came from above.
Ail was lying on the ground, looking up at Logan.
I was lying in a pool of blood, defeated.
The winner was Logan Abrams.
But his body was covered in wounds of all sizes. It was no exaggeration to say he was battered and bruised.
The battle was a one-sided defense for Logan from start to finish. That was undeniable. But in the end, Logan emerged victorious. By focusing solely on defense and intentionally taking non-lethal attacks, Logan created an illusion of being at a disadvantage, making Ail's consciousness doubt his own abilities. This strategy consumed almost 20 minutes of the battle time, and Logan lured Ail into attacking.
That was when Ail was caught off guard.
In the moment when victory seemed certain, Ail let his guard down, if only for an instant.
Logan took advantage of that opening and landed a decisive blow, striking Ail's torso with a swift and precise strike.
This single attack would have been fatal under normal circumstances, but Ail managed to survive with severe injuries.
His collarbone, ribs, and breastbone were broken, and his heart was barely intact. The wounds were deep, and Ail couldn't even move without struggling. Continuing the battle was out of the question.
"You wouldn't have fought like that before."
Ail spoke in a calm, collected tone, despite his body being severely injured.
Logan, the Sword Saint, was an absolute powerhouse.
That's why he wouldn't have employed such a strategy, one that relied on exploiting the weaknesses of others.
"I'm surprised myself. I had to think of a way to win as a weakling."
"Is that so..."
Ail never thought he'd lose by using the 'Activator (Nectar)' and then betraying Logan again. He had planned to surrender and then turn against Logan once more.
If there was a reason for his defeat, it was because he underestimated Logan. In the end, Logan had the strength to acknowledge his own weaknesses. Despite their long history, Ail failed to see that, and it became the reason for his defeat and the failure of his plan.
Even so, Ail didn't feel bitter.
If he died here, all his years of hard work would be for nothing. Although he understood that, he was happy to have discovered his friend's unexpected strength.
"Well... does the loser follow the winner?"
Logan asked for confirmation.
Ail could only force a bitter smile. If Logan's expectations were as he thought, Ail couldn't comply. It wasn't that he wouldn't comply, but that he couldn't. The difference was significant.
"Logan, I can't answer your question... Not now."
"Hmm...?"
"There's something I want to ask of you."
"...I thought I won, didn't I?"
"You're shameless, aren't you? You're aware of that."
He'll probably get rejected anyway. It's pointless from the start. It's just something to say. He says it with a carefree attitude.
"I might die. I might be condemned by society as a villain. No one will probably praise me. But, even so... I'm asking you. Come to our side."
He looked straight into Logan's eyes and said it.
It's a ridiculous request, even he thinks so. After this, he'll probably get rejected and killed or captured. Ail himself was convinced of that.
But Logan, looking straight back at me, nodded as if he had confirmed something, and then laughed and said,
"What? So that's how it was? Then the story changes. ―――Alright. From now on, I'll betray the [Four Great Families of the Seals] and join Ail, your side... no, I'll join your side."
"...What? What's going on, Logan? Are you sane?"
Ail asked, shocked, and Logan nodded calmly.
"I'm sane. ...Is it that surprising?"
"Of course it is. You're going to lose all the fame you've gained so far, and you might even be disgraced. ...Is that okay with you?"
"I don't care about fame. And compared to a friend's request, that's just a small thing."
"A request..."
"That's right. You might not fully understand the situation you're in, but I think what you're doing is probably right. At least, you don't seem to have any regrets about yourself. You're trying to do the right thing, aren't you?"
"......"
"You were fighting alone. It was probably a lonely battle."
"......"
"I owe you an apology. As a friend, I didn't notice, and I'm sorry."
"......"
"But, Ail. You're also to blame. From the start, you didn't have to go through all this trouble. You could've just told me straight out, 'Please, Logan, help me without asking any questions.' That's all."
"......"
Logan looked at him, forcing a bitter smile.
His eyes were hot. Tears. It's been years since he last cried in front of someone. He couldn't even remember the last time it happened. It was definitely a long time ago. He felt pathetic, like an old man who's lost his dignity. But more than that, he felt happy. At the same time, he couldn't help but think that he was sullying his friend's good name. Could he really call it justice if he tarnished his friend's reputation for the sake of his own convictions? He still didn't know the answer, even now.
But despite that, his friend believed in him, even when he couldn't explain himself.
――Logan. I'm the one who's sorry. I couldn't trust you, even though you're my friend.
Ail smiled wryly, tears streaming down his face, and said――
"...Please, Logan, help me without asking any questions."
"Alright, leave it to me."
And from that day on, Logan and Ail disappeared from the public eye for a while――
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