< 313. The sunset is beautiful at sunset. >
#313
『Kahak!』
Abel whose chest was pierced by her sword vomited blood. A dimensional rift swallowed the two men. The constant falling began with the feeling that my insides were bursting.
『This damn thing…!』
Abel gritted his teeth. The scenery of the battlefield disappeared everywhere and an amorphous space covered the surroundings. The crack they entered was already so far away that it could not be seen.
It was an isolation dimension that Alibrihe put a lot of effort into creating. She was to the point of imprisoning Navarre so if things continued like this she would be imprisoned here forever.
Abel was in the midst of trying to find a solution. Kwasik! Ronan suddenly lunged at his face and hung down biting the back of his neck.
『Huh?!』
“Keuuu!”
It was an incomprehensible behavior. It was like a trained hunting dog sinking its fangs deep into its teeth and not letting go. Abel raised his fist and started punching him in the face.
『You filthy thing…what are you doing!』
“Ugh! Ugh!”
『I can’t let go right now!』
His fists were numb perhaps because he received the power of the giants. There was the sound of his cheekbones and nose breaking but Ronan did not relax his jaw. Abel unable to bear it any longer raised his sword.
“…Shit!”
Now rather than dealing with Ronan I had to escape from this space. He drew strength from the source and swung his sword at his feet. Sigh! The trembling space was torn apart and a new dimensional crack appeared.
‘That’s it.’
Ronan’s eyes widened. A cool wind was blowing from beyond the crack. It was a passage that led to another dimension.
‘The seal was useless anyway.’
It was an astonishing force. Who would have thought that they would tear apart the space as they please. The two people who fell were naturally swallowed by the crack. bang! The two people who fell landed on the white sandy beach.
“Ugh!”
『Wow!』
Because the height was so high the impact was significant. The fine sand was all stained an eerie white color. The sound of waves crashing was heard somewhere.
‘Where…?’
Ronan who happened to look around raised his eyebrows. If the end of the world existed it would look like this. They were standing on a beach. Beyond the pure white sandy beach the blood-red sea was flowing.
There was no sign of life in the crimson water. The cloudless sky was brilliant with stars. A celestial body dozens of times clearer than the night sky I always looked up at showed me that this was a completely different world.
‘It looks somewhat familiar.’
Ronan narrowed his eyes. In some ways it had a similar impression to Nebula Clage’s headquarters. At that moment Abel came to her senses and shouted at her.
『How long do you plan on sticking around with this guy!』
Abel reversed her sword and tried to stab Ronan. This had to be avoided. Only then did Ronan lift his mouth from the nape of his neck twisting the hilt of his sword and pulling his body back. Sigh! Blue blood spurted out from where the sword body was pulled out.
『Ugh….』
Abel’s face distorted. It wasn’t a fatal wound but it was quite deep. Just as he could inflict damage on Ronan Ronan could also inflict significant damage on him.
『…I almost got into big trouble. Alibrihe that traitor will surely be killed painfully.』
But regardless of that Abel was relieved. From his perspective it was a bigger crisis to almost be trapped in the quarantine dimension than Ronan who could be removed at any time. Ronan landing on his lot opened his mouth.
“If you can…try it.”
The corners of his mouth were covered in blue blood. Abel twisted her mouth. He turned the sword around as if shaking it off and asked a question.
『I can’t understand it at all. Why are you so upset? Do you really think there’s still hope left for you?』
“Looking at you fluttering I guess you’re not confident. “Did your balls shrivel as a side effect of absorbing the power?”
“her.”
Abel sighed at her childish provocation. It was almost pathetic to see her not being able to understand the topic. Although she received a blow for interfering with the two girls there was an unbridgeable gap between them in the first place.
Ronan’s legs which were shaking right now were proof of that. The guy had already reached his limit a long time ago.
He was showing off with all his might but his body had no intention of keeping up with it. Suddenly Abel lowered his sword and opened his mouth to her.
『I will tell you how foolish you are. My nephew. Do you know where this is?』
“I’m not interested.”
『Don’t do that just listen. This is the star that giants once swept away.』
“…what?”
Ronan frowned. Abel seeing that his attention was focused continued speaking.
『I noticed it as soon as I touched the ground. These are the characteristics of the planet that was attacked by them. You lose all life and become a pale bloodless corpse. All living things that once roamed the stars have become souls and are living here.』
Abel patted her own chest. Ronan didn’t answer. Anyway maybe that’s why it felt familiar to me as a star that had been attacked by giants.
“So what are you going to do?”
『This is truly great power. Because the intelligent beings of this planet have once and for all broken the cycle of destruction from which they will never be able to escape. Nephew look over there.』
Suddenly Abel raised her sword and pointed it at the night sky. In the direction where her sword raised its head countless stars were dancing.
It was a moment when Ronan was wondering what he was looking at. A white thin ray of light shot out from the tip of Abel’s sword. A beam of light extending deep into the night sky was pointing to a bluish dot.
『Can you see it? That is the star we live on.』
“what?”
『The world that seems infinitely large is just dust when seen from a distance. Don’t you think it’s really pathetic? How can we not understand each other and try to kill each other while living in such dust…』
Abel clicked her tongue. She could feel his hatred in the furrowed brow. Hatred of the foolishness of destroying the brightest thing deposited like a stratum.
『What you are trying so hard to protect is just a speck of dust. If you leave even that alone you will definitely destroy yourself. But if you give up your attachment to mortality even now you. No we can protect all the visible halo of light.』
“Well you don’t usually say you protect it.”
“no. It’s about protecting it. From the fate of self-destruction.』
Abel said firmly. He lowered his sword and looked back at Ronan.
『So give up now. I promise I will finish it without any pain. Don’t waste your little remaining life protecting something insignificant.』
Life was shining in his serious eyes. Ronan didn’t answer.
His sunset-colored gaze still remained on the planet he had lived on. It was definitely as Abel said. It was small and insignificant. It would be a shame to call it dust.
Ronan who had been silent opened his mouth.
“Yeah…it’s definitely not a big deal like you said.”
『I guess I finally realized it…』
“To be honest it was heavy. Everyone praises me as a hero the dawn of an empire etc. but I’m just a swordsman. “Save the world… If you think about it now it’s a ridiculous order.”
Ronan laughed. Memories of the past were passing through his mind like flashes of light. Abel tilted her head at the unexpected answer.
『…Why are you suddenly saying that?』
“But I think I can do this. I can keep at least one of those. ”
Suddenly Ronan slowly raised his arm. He held the star between the index and middle fingers of his outstretched right hand. The faint blue light was beautiful.
“It’s only big enough to fit in one hand.”
Ronan grinned and clenched his fist as if trying to catch a star. The mother star hidden by his hand disappeared. Abel realizing that her persuasion had not worked at all clenched her fist.
『…I guess my brain was worse than I thought.』
“Do it if you can.”
Ronan lowered his gaze and glared at Abel. The momentum was pretty good but that was it. Abel smiled bitterly at her.
『Poor nephew I will send you to your brother right away.』
The moment Ronan failed to kill him with one hit his luck ran out. He had no intention of showing any more mercy. After a short mourning Abel rushed to her ground.
Kwaaang-! As soon as the sand he was standing on exploded his figure disappeared.
‘As expected it’s slow.’
Abel laughed. He was the only one who maintained his original speed as time slowed down as if it had stopped.
Both the foam from the waves and the sea breeze that tangled his hair had stopped. Ronan was making some semblance of movement but he was only at the stage of raising his sword and taking a stance.
『Don’t complain too much. Because everyone will live within me anyway.』
Abel muttered to himself and struck her with a slash. The blade which fell in a wide arc was about to touch Ronan’s neck. Kaaaaang-! A sudden metallic sound rang out in the frozen time.
『What!』
“You…huh you thought I was slow.”
Abel’s eyes widened. Ronan raised one corner of his mouth. Before he knew it his sword which had risen was flailing around interlocked with his own sword.
“how.”
It was impossible. It was a moment when he was embarrassed and showed his vulnerability. Ronan who adjusted his posture immediately launched a counterattack. bang! He pushed Abel away and attacked her with his sword.
『Pfft…!』
Ronan was already moving at the same speed as him. Abel responded urgently. Kagagak! Invisible slashes intersected and hundreds of sparks flew into the air.
『What tricks did you use!』
Abel shouted but Ronan silently swung his sword. It was the moment when the increasingly violent fighting reached its peak. Kaaaang-! The two people were thrown out with a loud noise and landed on the floor.
Abel’s face was quite serious unlike before. After catching his breath Ronan opened his mouth.
“Whoa…my guess was right as expected.”
“what?”
“It was very sweet. “Your baby’s blood.”
Ronan chuckled. Abel soon realized what she meant and was astonished. Ronan had suddenly bitten the back of his neck to suck his own blood.
『No way you are cursed….』
“Okay…now it seems like all the chaff that was stuck at the bottom is gone. “Thanks to you.”
That’s why he didn’t open his mouth even though his nose was broken. In order to even slightly increase the odds of winning it was necessary to completely extinguish the curse remaining in the body.
Since he healed himself by drinking the blood of the previous giant king the strategy was to promote healing by drinking the blood of Abel who was now no different from the giant king. Fortunately it was successful and now it was time to settle the score.
“It’s over with this one time. “Not twice.”
Ronan took a deep breath and grabbed the hilt of his sword with both hands. With his strength restored to some extent he seemed able to attempt the secret technique he had planned to use against the King of Giants. Abel seeing her arrogant behavior growled.
『Seeing how much you talk I guess the time of death is approaching. Well you know that nothing will change right?
Judging by the fact that he had lost control of his facial expressions he seemed quite angry. Actually Abel was right. Even though all of her curses had been melted away and her skills had reached a boiling point her physical condition was not very good.
‘If I had known this would happen I would have at least kissed you.’
Ronan suddenly remembered Ade Shan’s face and twisted her lips. Why do I now remember the unfortunate saying that when it’s time to die a loved one appears in a ghostly light?
If you lose you die. Even if you win you die. Still I fight because I cannot back down. Abel who was thinking about something about her took the same stance as Ronan.
“good. I’ll hang out with you. I’ll finish it this once.』
“Thank you for that.”
Ronan laughed. When the two people closed their mouths the sound of waves was loud. Ronan and Abel stood facing each other and raised their swords.
『Then let’s meet as one.』
Abel said. Time stretched out as she concentrated her mind. At the same time both figures disappeared from sight. grasp! Two explosions occurred on a quiet sandbank.
The two rushed towards each other. But they couldn’t see each other. All I could instinctively feel was that the other person existed and was getting closer.
Before long a moment crossed. There was no metallic sound. Time began to flow as it should and the two people who had disappeared appeared. It was the moment when the stationary waves collapsed.
Blood poured out of Ronan’s mouth.
“…Kuhuh.”
Ronan stumbled. She ended up cutting her stomach. The blood gushing out from the affected area was unrealistically red. Abel’s laughter was heard from behind.
“haha. Look at that.』
Her vision was becoming blurry. That was the moment Abel looked back at her with her winning smile on her face. Ronan corrected her posture and spoke in a cracked voice.
“You…are the setting sun.”
“what?”
“I’m afraid of losing so I attract the light of the world… That’s why I planned this crazy thing. “For fear of the destruction of those who gave their hearts…to remain forever in the most beautifully burning moments…”
What on earth are you talking about?
Abel asked but there was no answer from her. Before Ronan’s hazy eyes the memory of watching the sunset from the hill of the four seasons with Adeshan was playing. After catching his breath he continued speaking.
“Don’t be such a slut. Let the sun go down. After the night passes the morning always comes. Sunsets are beautiful because there are other times in people’s lives…”
Abel narrowed his eyes at her at the inexplicable sound. He decided that she was just talking nonsense right before she died and was about to deliver the finishing blow. Wow! A blue line was drawn over Abel’s neck.
『…!』
An eerie sensation that came late ran through my whole body. She was completely unaware that the blade had touched her. It had already been cut when we just competed.
“you.”
In fact there wasn’t much difference if it was a secret technique. However she just did what she was most confident about. The simple act of pulling out her sword and cutting her was faster than anyone else’s.
Tuk. Abel’s head slid along her cross section and fell to the floor.
“therefore….”
Ronan trailed off at her. Phew! Blood surged like a fountain and soaked her sand. He dropped the knife and muttered lowly.
“Enough. Abel.”
