Chapter 105. < 40. Discussing the Continent's Best (3) >
Lumian Kallad and Cynthie Ainsworth. The two, charging at terrible speed, collided. Sword met sword, creating an enormous shockwave.
Crack— craaack!
The ground, unable to withstand the force, split as if an earthquake had struck. The two paid no heed and exchanged swords continuously in place.
Boom! Boom! Kwaang!
It was a clash of strength against strength, aura against aura. They continued to put weight behind their attacks, and accordingly, the cracks in the ground grew more severe.
And when the seventh sword clash occurred, the ground on Cynthie's side was completely destroyed.
It couldn't be helped. For her too, receiving Lumian's attacks—solid as Mount Tai—head-on was demanding. Cynthie quickly moved away from her position before losing her balance.
Having retreated, she let out a powerful battle cry.
"Haaaap!"
Paaaat—!
Immediately after, a crescent-moon-shaped aura was fired. Lumian did not dodge the slashing attack flying toward him, sharply cutting through the atmosphere. He focused his mind and swung his sword diagonally. A heavy force was felt, as if swinging a mace.
Peeeong!
Cynthie's aura was shattered to pieces. The surroundings, which had been entirely dark, were dyed golden. It was blinding. Lumian frowned, and in that moment, Cynthie, who had moved to his flank, continuously poured out aura attacks.
Peong! Peong!
Peobeobeobeong!
Of course, Lumian was not someone who would fall for such minor tricks.
Moving to relatively intact ground, he put strength in his lower body and dismantled each long-range attack one by one. Accordingly, the surroundings became increasingly dyed in gold. It was enough to blind one's eyes.
However, for Lumian, who protected his eyes with aura, there was no significant damage. He wore a puzzled expression.
'Why does she keep wasting aura?'
Sharply processing and firing completed aura is an extremely difficult technique. Even among Swordmasters, few can do this. At most, about 30 percent.
However, this wasted too much aura compared to its power. Unlike aura wrapped around a sword, it was force that disappeared after one use. Therefore, abusing it was by no means a good strategy.
Nevertheless, Cynthie was endlessly pouring out long-range attacks.
As if she had to. As if doing so would give her the advantage.
'Could it be, on purpose?'
It was when Lumian felt something strange. Cynthie Ainsworth's attack finally ended.
Only then could he know. Lumian looked around with deeply furrowed brows.
The plain, dyed entirely in gold.
The remnants of shattered aura remained without dispersing.
When Lumian was about to ask a question, Cynthie spoke first. Her face was filled with confidence.
"A head-on strength contest won't work. You're a Demon King, aren't you? Seeing how you have such power even outside your territory."
"No, I'm not a Demon Ki......"
"But this is the end. As long as you fight in my domain, you have no chance of winning! Hahp!"
Having poured out only what she wanted to say, Cynthie charged again. Lumian, wearing an unsatisfied expression, finished preparing to exchange swords again.
However, something was strange.
His body felt heavy. It felt like something sticky was attached, hindering his movements. He glanced at his arms and legs.
It was Cynthie's energy. The remnants of broken aura stuck like spider webs, restricting Lumian's movements.
'Even in aura manipulation......!'
Even problems arose in drawing up and utilizing aura. It felt like being cursed by a demon sorcerer.
He'd been hit. He ground his teeth.
In the meantime, Cynthie Ainsworth had arrived right in front of Lumian's nose.
With a smile spread across her face, she raised her sword high. And struck down strongly.
Once again, a shockwave vibrated across the plain.
Kwaaaang!
Craaaaack!
"Kugh!"
Lumian wore a pained expression.
It was incomparable to before. Lumian's feet dug deep into the ground.
Cynthie's power had grown stronger. Not only that, her speed had increased too. The golden energy seemed to not only suppress the opponent's power but also make the user stronger.
But realizing it now was too late. Lumian brushed away past regrets and formed a determined expression.
It didn't matter if conditions were unfavorable.
In his past life, he had overcome countless crises with rock-like will. Even now, harboring the aura of a mountain, nothing had changed.
Endure, endure, and endure.
And finally, win. After that, clear up the misunderstanding!
New strength dwelled in Lumian Kallad's body. His swollen arm muscles supported the aura sword.
Kwang! Kwakwang!
Kung! Kung! Kwakwakwang!
10 exchanges, 20 exchanges, 30 exchanges. 50 exchanges passed.
In that time, the plain had become completely ruined. It was dug, split, and cracked to the point where one could stumble while moving if not concentrating.
Even so, not a single scratch appeared on either of their bodies.
It couldn't be called an even match. Cynthie continuously poured out attacks, and Lumian was busy blocking. Sweat poured from his body like rain. It was a situation where asking who had the advantage was unnecessary.
However, Cynthie's expression was not good.
The situation was much worse than she had thought. To the point of being incomprehensible.
'How can he move this much inside the Domain of Dawn?'
A Demon King lost his life at the hands of the Knight King, and finally peace came to the human world. However, Cynthie did not let her guard down.
Evil demons might invade again before long!
Thinking so, she had ceaselessly strived for the past 10 years to cultivate the power to block them, and finally created a technique called 'Domain of Dawn.'
An amazing ability that weakens the power of opponents she harbors ill will toward, and increases the power of herself and her allies.
Moreover, if the opponent was an unrighteous existence, this effect grew even stronger. It could truly be called power perfectly suited for dealing with demons.
Yet, that fellow was moving remarkably smoothly, as if denying Cynthie's thoughts.
And that wasn't the end of it.
'He's gradually adapting?'
She couldn't believe it.
But it was the truth.
Just moments ago, he was barely blocking her sword. She could clearly see him racking his brain to somehow escape the domain.
But at some point, such signs disappeared.
He blocked attacks more easily, and moved his body more quickly.
His expression also became considerably more relaxed. She even felt as if he was using light-attribute energy like herself.
'Nonsense! Focus on the fight.'
Cynthie hardened her expression. Dismissing the rising doubts, she swung her sword even more strongly.
But it wasn't a delusion.
Lumian was truly using light aura.
Sunlight warmly shining down on the huge mountain in his mind. He had begun actively utilizing that power.
'It's much better.'
It wasn't a calculated action. It was purely instinct.
However, the result was the same. When he focused on drawing up the power of light, the Domain of Dawn no longer felt intrusive. Accordingly, he was gradually able to catch up with Cynthie's movements.
No, at some point, he became able to gain the upper hand again. Lumian, smiling, strongly drew up his aura and executed a diagonal slash.
Kwaaaang!
"Kugh!"
For the first time since the Domain of Dawn spread, Cynthie was pushed back.
She didn't go against the force. Having created considerable distance, she glared at Lumian with burning eyes.
"How can you do that?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm asking how a demon, no, a Demon King, can use the power of the sun."
"Haa...... no, what kind of nonsense is that."
Lumian sighed.
He couldn't understand. Why on earth did she think he was a Demon King?
"What Demon King am I? I'm human. I use aura swords and light aura because I'm human. Isn't that the normal way to think?"
"Bullshit!"
"Why is it bullshit? Explain. Do you have evidence that I'm a demon?"
"Lord God Alia gave an oracle. A new Demon King has appeared and is plotting secret schemes. She said perhaps he might have already snuck into the human world!"
"......!"
Lumian wore a surprised expression.
He had somewhat guessed during the Red Mountain incident, but hearing that a Demon King had really appeared, his heart sank.
However, his worry wasn't visible in Cynthie's eyes.
Rather, it felt like he was disgustingly acting.
"Your acting skills are superb! Acting as if hearing someone else's story!"
"No, it really is someone else's story. I haven't heard the reason yet! Why am I a Demon King?"
Lumian shouted loudly.
His voice was filled with injustice. Naturally so, because he hadn't done anything suspicious.
However, that was only his own thinking.
When Cynthie Ainsworth, who had been glaring at him for a moment, opened her mouth, he had no choice but to remain silent like a mute.
"The resurrected Demon King. Secret schemes. Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy hiding nonsensical power."
"......."
"Not a Sword Expert, not an ordinary Swordmaster, a 15-year-old human strong enough to overwhelm me...... such a thing couldn't exist in this world. It's reasonable to assume he's not human. Isn't that right, Demon King?"
"Haa......"
A sigh escaped naturally. Lumian put his hand on his forehead.
There was no room for excuse. Even he thought it was impossible to explain his skills sensibly.
'Right. That makes sense. Rather than a 15-year-old having this level of skill, it's more persuasive to think a powerful Demon King hiding his identity is working secretly outside his territory.'
Especially with the Lord God's oracle adding weight, what more was there to say.
But this was not the truth.
Lumian shook his head and protested.
"I am not a Demon King."
"Bullshit!"
"Really...... really, I'm not. Please believe me."
"Then speak. Explain how you have such skills in a way I can accept. Then I'll acknowledge my wrongdoing and sincerely apologize. I'll even kneel."
"No, fuck, ah, I'm sorry. Ah, I really don't know how to explain this......"
His chest felt tight.
But there was no method. That was why he felt like he'd go crazy.
If he had been close friends with Cynthie Ainsworth in his past life, there would be no problem.
Like with Morgan, he could explain through various past memories that he was the reincarnated Ryan Promhart.
But between him and her, there were no shared memories whatsoever. They had only met 3 or 4 times while dealing with demons.
'Damn it. What should I do?'
Lumian agonized intensely, enough to burn his mind.
But no thoughts came to mind.
Watching that, Cynthie Ainsworth took something out of her bosom and spoke.
"Indeed, you can't say anything."
"Ah, no, wait......"
"Unfortunately, I alone am lacking in power. But it's fine. Once this special flare that can be confirmed even from afar goes off, Rhodesia and Zenas's knights in the city will come to help me......"
"No! Shit! Wait a moment, I said!"
Lumian spat out rough curses and stepped forward.
However, Cynthie's expression was unwavering. It was the moment she was about to fire the flare.
"Would you wait a moment, Sir Cynthie Ainsworth?"
"......?"
Cynthie Ainsworth and Lumian Kallad turned their heads simultaneously.
They had been so focused on each other that they hadn't noticed someone approaching.
Cynthie opened her mouth.
"Who...... A Zenas knight?"
She wore a surprised expression.
The newly appeared people were two.
One was Varkal Garcia. Cynthie didn't know his name, but thanks to the uniform symbolizing Zenas's high-ranking knights, she could at least tell he was an ally.
'The person next to him must be a Zenas knight too, right?'
Probably so.
His attire and face were so ordinary he didn't look like a knight, but if not, there would be no reason for him to be with a Zenas high-ranking knight.
'He seems to be hiding his identity...... who is he?'
Cynthie slightly frowned her face.
Dozens of knights came to mind and faded. It was hard to pinpoint any single one.
However.
"......!"
Lumian Kallad was different.
He thought he knew.
An appearance completely different from what he knew. Probably disguised.
But he could be certain just by looking at the physique. He could notice immediately just by the atmosphere exuded.
Before he knew it, his eyes became moist.
Lumian Kallad, no, Ryan Promhart, called out the lord he was seeing for the first time in a very long while in his heart.
'Your Majesty......'
His face facing the Knight King, Philip III, was dyed with longing.