Chapter 256 Rip!!
We all stepped back for a moment.
We moved further away from 'Sword Saint Cain,' who stood in front of the door leading to the island floating in the sea.
Once we got everyone about 2 kilometers (≈ 1.24 miles) away from Cain, I untied the baby strap and handed Lucia over to Fiona.
"Alright, everyone stay here. I think you all know, but if you feel it's dangerous, run away on your own judgment."
"Yeah, got it... Aaron, be careful, okay?"
"Yeah."
I nodded to Fiona and, along with Logan, went back the way we came.
We stopped about one kilometer (≈ 0.62 miles) from Cain. It was the closest we could get without entering his range.
"Logan, you understand, right?"
"Yeah, he's serious from the start, right?"
To be serious from the beginning, we needed to prepare for it.
We drew our swords from their sheaths, and in the next moment, we both surrounded ourselves with aura.
My unique battle technique――――[Dragon Scale]
Rip!!
With a strong force, our clothes burst apart, turning to pieces.
I thought Cain would react to us being unbound, but he didn't move at all and just smiled confidently.
"Still not moving, huh..."
"This much isn't even worth a reaction for him... I guess."
In reality, that seems to be true. This level of preparation isn't enough to make Cain think we're hostile――that's what it looks like.
Instead, the only ones reacting are our teammates behind us.
Lucia's shout of "Why!?" and Io and Ail's shocked voices of "Logan!?" are all I can hear. Then there's a strange scream like "Oinkkkk!!" Who is that?
I mean, aside from Io, didn't Ail also know that Logan had reached this level?
But those questions fade away for now. I just decided to focus on the strong enemy in front of me.
"Alright, then, next."
"Got it."
With that, we each activated our separate Battle Techniques.
My unique battle technique――――[God's Armor]
A massive amount of aura released by Logan gathered around him, condensing and taking shape.
It became a shining armor made of aura.
Not only does it protect the wearer from external attacks, but the armor also acts as a suit that assists the body's movements, a necessary Battle Technique for Logan to go all out.
For the powerful strike Logan is about to unleash, he needs this armor; otherwise, he won't be able to withstand it.
On the other hand, I also prepared from the start for any unexpected situations.
I activated [Slash] and converted magical energy into aura. However, instead of using that aura for a sword, I circulated it into my own body, letting it seep in.
I coated every single cell that makes up my body with aura, or merged it with the aura.
Ignoring extreme pressure and damage, this is my Battle Technique to go all out.
My unique battle technique――――[Chaos Strength]
Eventually, my whole body transformed into a shining aura itself.
I activated my Battle Technique along with Logan. However, unlike the previous [Dragon Scale], it seemed that Cain couldn't ignore this one.
In response to our preparations, Cain also activated his skill... no, his Battle Technique.
"!?"
Logan and I were slightly surprised.
It was one of the techniques we expected Cain to use, yet we still couldn't suppress our astonishment.
God Technique――――[God's Body]
It was a Battle Technique essentially the same as my [Chaos Strength].
It was the same one Fiona used when she activated [God's Descent].
Cain's body quickly merged with an aura, transforming into a shining form similar to mine.
""...""
I couldn't tell how much of his original power was being 'reproduced.' However, it was clear that the techniques he could use, his magical energy, and the specs of his body were being reproduced with a high degree of accuracy.
Both of us were convinced of this in the next moment.
The 3 of us, including Cain, poured magical energy into the swords we held. Soon, we reached a critical point.
――Clang!!
A clear sound like metal striking echoed from each of our hands, and 3 "platinum-colored swords" were born.
"...Logan, I leave the first strike to you."
"Got it."
Nodding, Logan stepped forward.
As he entered the range, Cain, standing in front of the gate, also took a step forward like Logan.
Both of them then stopped, readying their stances. They held their swords up, pointing the tips toward the sky.
The distance was still about one kilometer. Normally, a sword strike, even a long-range skill, wouldn't reach that far. Even if it did, it would be too far to be effective.
However, there was no slackening of focus between the two. In other words, this was not a feint; it was a serious attack.
Right after that――both of them moved at the same time.
With a slight diagonal swing, they brought their swords down.
Their mirrored movements were instantaneous. The swords had already vanished from their hands.
The "platinum-colored sword" transformed into a crescent-shaped blade, tracing the sword line etched in the air, and began to fly before they even finished their movements.
Boom――!!
A burst of aura shot out from the back of the blade, accelerating to its maximum speed in an instant. The aura released for acceleration had enough power to kill a living being with just the shockwave.
And that speed far exceeded the physical limits of any creature's perception, making it impossible for even a dragon to avoid or even see it.
Thus, it was an unavoidable strike.
Sword God Technique: 1st Rank――[Dragon-Slaying Flash: Invisible Ruin]
Both unleashed the same technique.
The deadly slash, moving at a speed that was impossible to see, flew through the air.
Logan and Cain clashed head-on on the massive bridge, right in the middle.
The platinum-colored slash stopped its movement, revealing its form――only for an instant. Right after, the blades that returned everything to dust devoured each other, turning into a point of light.
It was a chilling compression.
And just when it seemed that even the point of light had vanished, the energy, having undergone extreme compression, changed direction due to the rebound.
"""――――."""
In other words, outward.
Explosion.
It looked like nothing more than a sphere of light.
The energy of compression has turned into repulsion, yet some parts are still compressing. That's why it ended up being "only this much." The energies of compression and repulsion balanced at a certain point, preventing any further expansion.
A gigantic sphere of light, about 500 meters in diameter.
It engulfs the bridge and partially erodes the sea.
The massive bridge shakes violently, and the sea surface goes wild, churning uncontrollably. The atmosphere is pushed out in all directions in an instant, transforming into a shockwave that is no longer just sound. The heat from the light's radiation is hot enough to burn skin, but compared to the inside of that light, it could be described as extreme cold.
A massive explosion. A roaring blast. No matter how you express it, all words feel trivial in the face of such destruction.
――I was looking down at such a scene "below" me.
My unique battle technique――[Flash Strike]
The release of directional aura from my entire body allows me to move at a speed that leaves sound behind.
Right after Logan and the others swung their swords, I soared into the sky with [Flash Strike].
Of course, I aimed at the "Sword Saint Cain" with my raised sword.
He attacked right after, but it seems he had predicted my movement.
Sword Saint Technique――[Sky Drive Instant]
Without witnessing the result of his attack, he raced through the air, rising at an incredible speed. And in his right hand was the longsword he should have just lost.
Does he have a magical tool like a storage ring, or is it an ability as a being of the labyrinth, or perhaps a part of the backup from the labyrinth that allowed him to 'recreate' it?
It doesn't matter what the reason is.
By closing the distance between himself and me, Logan has no choice but to refrain from such a powerful attack because it involves his allies. And it was the same for me. If we both used our [Dragon-Slayer Flash] attacks, the explosion would be so big that I would get caught up in it too.
Getting closer to me served to keep Logan in check and protect himself. I couldn't help but admire Cain, who quickly assessed the situation and made the best move.
His longsword was already filled with aura――but in this brief moment, it wasn't enough to create the "platinum sword."
So.
I silently apologized, "Sorry."
This time it was 2 against one. No matter how well Cain tried to select his best moves, that selection couldn't avoid defeat anymore.
At this point, our victory was already certain.
I swung my sword at the approaching Cain.
The sword that sliced through the air instantly lost its form and turned into an invisible slash.
My ultimate technique――――[Slash]
In the next moment, Cain, who had closed in within a few meters, turned into a burst of blood smoke in an instant,
and right after, he scattered into particles of light――.
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