181. Auror (3)
#181
[It’s even more amazing than I expected. How do you feel?]
“…I feel like I’ve gone back to the past.”
[past?]
Lin asked in a questioning voice. Ronan clenched her fists instead of answering. It seemed like her whole body had turned into a sword.
“…There is such a thing.”
I didn’t know if this was her potential that Rin had talked about. However she felt very similar to how she felt in the past when she fought the final battle with Aha Ute. Even though she was full of curses she never backed down.
Looking back the motivation behind Ronan at that time was not a sense of duty to save the world or a desire for revenge but something he just did because he had to do it. Because she didn’t want thugs destroying the world.
“let’s go.”
Ronan tugged at the hilt of her sword. As the pile of rocks cut by his sword fell the setting sun poured down on his face. I felt a power that I had never dealt with before spread through my heart.
****
Sigh! La Mancha pierced Darman’s chest. A pure white blade protruded from behind his back. Darman who had been skewered vomited his blood. Ronan’s feet lifted off the ground as he pushed his sword forward and raised it upward.
“Wow!”
“how is it. “You’re hurt too.”
Ronan muttered lowly. Darman had returned what he had done to Lin. Thick blood was pouring down his face but Ronan didn’t care and twisted the blade. Kaduk. A scream of pain came from his mouth as the blade cut into his flesh. Darman barely able to catch his breath glared at Ronan.
“This is…!”
Ronan’s face was so calm that it almost looked peaceful. No emotional agitation could be felt in the eyes that shimmered the same color as the sunset. He stared into Darman’s eyes and opened his mouth.
“Don’t think about dying gracefully. “Because I have a lot to ask you.”
Darman felt goosebumps running up his spine. He was a completely different person than before when he was just a hot-blooded brat. Ronan was oozing with a sense of death that could only be felt from a butcher or soldier who dutifully carries out killings.
‘You can’t win.’
Darman gritted his teeth. If things continued like this he had to admit the reality that he could not overturn the win or loss. It wasn’t simply that Ronan’s skills suddenly improved.
If he had only been defeated by skill there would have been many ways to overcome the situation. In any case in a fight between prosecutors who have surpassed a certain level victory or defeat is determined by a moment’s inattention or hunting. It was the same principle that allowed Darman to defeat the monster known as Jaifa.
What frustrated him was Ronan’s calm attitude. He couldn’t see any gaps. Trained through countless trainings he could easily predict the future that Ronan would extract all the information he needed from him and then tear him to pieces and kill him.
‘I don’t know why but my power is being suppressed.’
And that wasn’t the only problem. For some reason he couldn’t use mana. It felt like the sword cutting through my intestines was sucking all the strength out of my body.
‘If only there was a little gap….’
It really was the end like this. Darman’s head heated up quickly. It was impossible to even attempt a strategic retreat or a secret weapon in this state. He was good even if just for a moment so he had to make an opening. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
“Ask for help… won’t work.”
“I’m asking the obvious.”
“…also. “Then I will tell you something good as a gift for the afterlife.”
Every time Darman spoke the scent of his blood was in the air. A dry voice came out from between his lips as he continued to breathe heavily.
“You and I huh… we’re not actually brothers.”
“What?”
“But why do you think we look alike? huh?”
It took some time to understand what he meant. Ronan’s eyes wavered slightly. At that moment Darman grabbed the sword piercing his stomach with both hands. The blade cut deep into my palm but I didn’t have time to worry about that right now.
“Keuuu!”
Darman pulled his sword body roughly to the left. At the same time La Mancha which was located in the exact center of his body broke through his side and escaped. The sharper blade cut through Darman’s bones and flesh as smoothly as if they were butter.
Sigh! The cut gap widened and blood and internal organs poured out. Darman who was lying on the floor hastily rolled over. bang! Ronan’s foot landed where his head had been. As my body fell from his sword I felt my strength returning. He quickly got up and kicked the ground with his back to Ronan. The red-stained soil surged like waves. Darman who instantly distanced himself from Ronan shouted in joy.
“Kahahahahahahahahah… Done!”
“It’s ugly.”
Ronan frowned. It wasn’t very nice to see them running away spilling their contents. Because his own stamina was greatly exhausted he stood still and swung his sword. A red crescent moon shot towards Darman.
“Just a little… just a little more…!”
A sound that sounded like a spell was flowing rapidly from Darman’s mouth. Darman tried to evade by flailing his feet. Originally he would have been able to avoid it without difficulty but unfortunately Ronan’s sword skills were very different from ordinary sword skills. The crescent moon that reached the location adjacent to Darman exploded scattering fragments in all directions. A lump of concentrated anticipation attacked him.
“Kaaaaaaak!”
Quaaaang! Darman hit by a spray of sword energy bounced back as if hit by a battering ram. A loud explosion echoed through his crater. Ronan slowly approached Darman who was lying face down. Darman’s right leg was missing from his tattered body. Even while he was crawling like a bug he was muttering something incomprehensible.
“…descend…but I….”
“You keep talking so loudly.”
Kwasik! Ronan’s foot landed on Darman’s back. The intestines flowed out of his side which had been torn the previous time. Unable to move Darman twisted his body but Ronan swung his sword regardless. A red line was drawn over Darman’s already mangled limbs. It was the moment when La Mancha returned to its original position after completing its work in an instant. His three remaining limbs were separated from his body.
Sigh! A blood-curdling scream erupted accompanied by three streams of blood. Ronan who had subdued him by stomping on his neck opened his mouth.
“What does that mean? “You’re saying we’re not brothers?”
“Hehehe…well. What does it mean? “I also realized this when I saw you today… At first I thought it was just a seed that the religious leader planted and forgot… but something fundamental is different….”
Darman spoke intermittently. A helpless smile graced his lips. It’s not a laughing matter but did he lose so much blood that his brain went crazy? Ronan asked increasing his pressure.
“You mean something fundamental?”
“…Well but I think I can tell you about this one thing.”
Ronan tilted his head. At the same time Darman gritted his teeth hard. Perfect! The energy that developed around him burst out in ripples. Ronan who was thrown back by an invisible force landed about fifty steps away.
“You bastard ended up talking again.”
Ronan raised his head and cursed. Darman’s body was wrapped in pure white waterspout. My eyes were hurting from the sparkling mana spreading throughout the sacred site.
‘It’s getting really dangerous.’
Ronan twisted his lips. The advance payment I received from Lin was coming to an end. Every time he took a deep breath his bones tingled.
“Hmm…!”
I don’t know what kind of manipulation they are doing but it had to end this time. Ronan’s mana-enhanced thighs swelled fiercely. bang! His sword leapt off the ground and was about to touch the waterspout. A strange voice rang out.
【It’s late. Half a penny.】
“what?”
Ronan’s eyes widened. There was a clear sense of déjà vu in the voice which was as low as an underground vein. His fist suddenly tore through the waterspout and struck Ronan. Quaaaang! He flew to the outskirts of the crater and ended up in the middle of the stone wall.
“Keuuk!”
Ronan gritted his teeth. It seemed like hundreds of his iron balls were swinging around in his head. Even though he laid down his sword to defend himself it was still this much of a shock. It was the moment he immediately tore off his body and landed on the floor. The voice from before was heard again.
[I couldn’t even imagine it. I never thought I would use this power. I praise you for pushing me this far.】
“you….”
Ronan raised his head and stopped in place. The waterspout was mixing with the wind and scattering. At the center stood Darman whose arms and legs had grown again.
The problem was that that wasn’t the only thing that had changed. Darman’s overall body size had doubled in size. The skin that had turned completely white like a snowy field was noticeable. A pair of wings reminiscent of birds grew behind its wide shoulders.
It looked very very familiar. Although it was nothing compared to the original in terms of size or power it seemed certain that it received power from some entity. Ronan who was frozen muttered as if possessed.
“Ahayute.”
【Do you know the name of God? As expected you have something.】
Darman said. It felt like meeting a long-lost friend again. A voice of astonishment came from the direction where the survivors were gathered.
“Oh my god it’s a monster!”
“What is that again?”
Their faces were distorted with fear. The people who had just eliminated the three henchmen and were about to join Ronan froze.
Naverose and Schlieffen who strangely did not panic swung their swords. Quaaaang! The dark green crescent moon and the wind blade flew toward Darman at the same time. Quaaaang! An explosion that even shook the ground engulfed his form. With butterflies I chewed on his lower lip.
“Damn it.”
She instinctively realized that the attack didn’t work. As expected when the explosion subsided a healthy Darman appeared. The spherical shield surrounding his body was emitting energy strong enough to make the surrounding space appear distorted. At first glance it was so powerful that it was incomparable to the Tortoise Sword or Ajie’s sword.
【Mortal strength is useless. Don’t you think so?】
“Run away!”
Nabirose shouted. However Darman’s target was not them. As he raised his arm the surrounding light began to gather into his now white grasp. Soon a long spear made of light was held in Darman’s hand.
“That’s…!”
Ronan narrowed his eyes. As expected it was a familiar technique. Darman flew up in a whirlwind and threw his spear at Ronan.
【Disappear.】
It seemed like lightning was striking in a straight line. For a moment a huge explosion that was difficult to capture at a glance covered the place where Ronan was. A pillar of light with a diameter of about 30 meters soared into the sky. A few participants lost their legs and collapsed in their seats.
“Ronan!”
Schlieffen shouted. It was an explosion with no hope of survival. As the light subsided a completely destroyed crater was revealed.
【I should have left a body behind.】
Darman muttered quietly. Smoke so thick that I couldn’t open my eyes was rising from the spot where the pillar of light had risen. He was flapping his wings in the air and looking down at the spot where Ronan had been. Paaaa…! Suddenly the scarlet light that I had seen a moment ago poured out through the smoke.
【Hmm?!】
Darman raised his hands and covered his face. Even though he accepted a part of God he couldn’t face it. Once again the feeling of being pulled by something unknown enveloped my entire body. When he opened his eyes again he was in the smoke he had been watching.
【what…?】
Darman’s frown narrowed. He was just looking around unable to hide his embarrassment. An indescribably fierce killing stabbed him in the back of the head. Darman quickly turned his head and took a deep breath. Ronan was right in front of him ready to draw his sword.
【What on earth is this…!】
Ronan looked surprisingly fine. Darman’s face suddenly distorted at something that went beyond his common sense. Ronan who was staring into his eyes blurted out a word.
“I’m sorry but I’ve dealt with the original too.”
Darman hastily stretched out his hand. However Ronan’s sword had already reached his neck. La Mancha combined with the holy sword drew a smooth arc. A white line was drawn over Darman’s neck.
【Gagging!】
“It’s a tough situation. “At least that bastard didn’t scream.”
Ronan said. At the same time blue blood spurted out from where the sword passed. He clicked his tongue when he sensed that his single sword had failed to cut his neck bone. Darman took flight clutching his shaking neck.
【Kaaaaaaak!】
Blue blood poured down like rain. The moment Darman’s wings spread a strong wind blew away the smoke. Screams erupted from the survivors again. Ronan who was looking up at him grabbed the hilt of his sword.
“I’m sick of posting now.”
The blood dripping down his face was cold. Suddenly Nabi Rose’s words while explaining about Aurors passed through his mind. He said that Aurors are made up of a reflection of one’s ego or desires and that seemed to be roughly correct.
It wasn’t clear but there were a few things I could guess. The helplessness of having to just watch Ahayute roaming the sky. Obsession with the distance the sword can reach. A story related to Noeul who once spoke shoulder to shoulder with Adeshan.
Perhaps it was the last reason that determined the appearance of the ability. Attract the light of the whole world so as not to die. Even thinking about it again it still stands out. Ronan’s mouth slowly opened.
“Come down. “It’s different.”
This was the last time. Ronan grabbed the hilt of his sword. La Mancha’s sword body was once again colored with the color of the sunset. The flash of light that seeped out enveloped Darman who was running away while flapping his wings. In an instant the space was distorted and at the same time a group of lights resembling a sunset dragged him right in front of Ronan’s eyes.
【You guy…!】
Darman shouted something but Ronan did not respond. For a moment his arm blurred and disappeared. The sleek sword path dizzyingly crossed over Darman’s body. It was the moment when he finally stopped striking and wiped the blood off his sword. Sigh! Darman’s body torn into seven pieces collapsed as if exploding.
