WebNovels

Chapter 207 - [207] The True Identity of the Super-Dreadnought Criminal

Yabuki Eishirou's figure flew past Yabuki Bujinzai, not hitting him but crashing into the wall behind. The wall shattered instantly, leaving him hanging on a support column like a grotesque mural.

His stomach churned violently, as if his organs were being rearranged. Yabuki spat out a mouthful of blood.

This injury would require treatment at the infirmary to heal properly.

That bastard Roy had thrown him with such force—did he really think he was a missile?!

Even as he cursed inwardly, Yabuki had no time to mourn his grievous wounds. The next moment, he saw Bujinzai's staff pierce through Claudia's chest.

"...You old bastard, you actually dared to do it?"

Yabuki froze.

So did Bujinzai.

The look in his eyes as he stared at the tip of his staff was almost incredulous.

This… this easy?

After all that struggle, she died just like that?

Genestellars were notoriously hard to kill. Even those who had only mastered the basics of prana manipulation could easily deflect bullets, and the more prana one possessed, the stronger their defenses. Unless their prana was completely depleted, killing a Genestellar in a single strike was nearly impossible.

He had been prepared for Claudia to dodge the fatal blow again, yet this time, it had landed—leaving him momentarily stunned.

Perhaps her prana had finally run dry. Bujinzai saw no issue with that; their battle had dragged on long enough.

The next instant.

A blinding white blade of light appeared before his eyes.

Wrapped around it were ominous black flames, as if dredged from the depths of hell.

Yabuki Bujinzai watched calmly as the blade approached, not moving an inch, his expression utterly serene.

Then, the blade swept past him.

Throughout the entire motion, Bujinzai didn't flinch—not even the slightest hint of defense—as if the blade had deliberately spared him.

But that was impossible.

Because Roy had swung that blade with every intention of cleaving him in two.

"This is… a mental-type ability!"

Roy's expression remained unchanged.

As a magician, he had built mental defenses long ago. Yet, in the instant he swung his blade, his mind had been subtly guided—just for a fleeting moment.

"Hmph!"

Yabuki Bujinzai sneered mockingly.

He pulled his staff from Claudia's chest, its bloodied tip glistening, and thrust it straight toward Roy's heart.

The strike wasn't particularly fast—in Roy's eyes, it was mediocre at best, only slightly quicker than Kirin's attacks and far inferior to his own.

Yet Roy recoiled as if avoiding venomous snakes, retreating several times the staff's length, leaving Bujinzai's thrust to meet empty air.

At the same time, Roy flicked his free hand, completing a series of runes in an instant.

Hum—!

In the blink of an eye, roaring flames surged forth like a vortex, engulfing Yabuki Bujinzai entirely.

Faced with this, Bujinzai's expression twisted in alarm.

He swiftly abandoned his attack on Roy, leaping aside to evade the flames.

Forced back, Bujinzai's face gradually sharpened like a blade. His gaze locked onto Roy like a wolf eyeing its prey, a knowing smile creeping onto his lips.

"So… it's you."

Inside the building, Yabuki Eishiro, who had barely managed to pull himself free from the support column, was stunned by the scene before him. His eyelids twitched violently for a long moment before he could reluctantly accept reality.

"Seriously? The globally wanted super-class criminal is actually right beside me—and my roommate?"

Meanwhile.

After forcing Bujinzai to retreat, Roy quickly moved to Claudia's side.

Upon seeing the blood gushing from her chest, his expression darkened as he swiftly lifted her into his arms, his left hand inadvertently resting against the skin of her neck.

"I really don't understand. Do you have so little faith in my strength?"

"...Roy?"

"I'm here."

"Ah... I'm sorry. It's not that I don't trust you."

Claudia gazed at Roy's face, so close to hers. Whether it was a final surge of vitality or not, she felt warmth gradually returning to her cheeks and strength welling up inside her once more.

Lying in Roy's arms, Claudia wore a blissful smile—one that was entirely different from her usual gentle, trademark expression. This time, it was a smile of genuine happiness from the depths of her heart.

"To think I could die in your arms... This is happiness beyond anything I imagined. Though I longed for it, I don't actually want to die like this. Because for you... it would become a wound, a thorn forever lodged in your heart..."

As Claudia looked at Roy, an inexplicable surge of energy continued to rise within her. Her skin, which had been growing colder, was now warming again... Was this truly her final moment?

"In other words, you planned to die from the very beginning?"

Roy looked down at Claudia, his expression unexpectedly calm. His mind worked with cold rationality, instantly piecing together her true intentions from her words.

"It's selfish... and foolish, isn't it..."

Claudia didn't deny it. Instead, she smiled guiltily.

"I'm sorry. But this was my true wish. After I'm gone... go to Julis or Kirin. Let them take my place beside you..."

"I see. I understand now."

Roy nodded, his face betraying no emotion as he calmly processed her words.

"So, your wish has already been fulfilled, correct?"

"Yes..."

Claudia murmured softly.

But something suddenly felt off.

Even if this was her final surge of vitality, it was lasting far too long.

Moreover, from the moment Roy had held her, the icy, dark sensation of impending death had vanished entirely. Instead, her body was growing stronger by the second... Why?

"I don't fully grasp your reasoning, so I won't comment on it. But I was genuinely terrified earlier. I'll make sure to punish you properly later."

Roy helped her up from the ground, his gaze dark yet simmering with suppressed anger as he glared at her.

"Right now, since you've had your moment, it's time to stand. We still have matters to deal with."

...Stand up?

Claudia was momentarily bewildered.

Wasn't she supposed to be dying?

Roy released his hold.

Instinctively, Claudia steadied herself—and then froze in shock.

Her body was filled with strength, and even her lost stamina had instantly returned. Apart from her prana still being largely depleted, her overall condition was exactly the same as before the battle with Yabuki Bujinzai began.

She instinctively looked down at her chest.

To her astonishment, the heart that had been pierced through was now completely restored, as if it had never been injured at all.

"This is..."

Claudia blankly raised her head, wanting to ask Roy what had happened.

Suddenly, darkness enveloped her vision as a warm presence swept over her. It took her a moment to realize Roy's uniform had been draped over her. She peeked out from beneath it.

Before her, Roy stood with his back turned, raising the Sword of the Black Furnace with its blade pointed directly at Yabuki Bujinzai across from them.

***

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