"Bwahahahaha!"
Roman burst into laughter while clutching his forehead. As his emotions infused with aura, massive waves surged across the river.
"What's so funny?"
Raon frowned at the booming sound of Roman's laughter.
'That bastard, could he have gotten even stronger?'
The current Roman's aura felt even heavier than when they met at the Lable River two years ago.
If it wasn't a mistake, it seemed he had climbed to an even higher level than before.
"How can I not laugh when my stagnant heart has started beating again?"
Roman lifted the axe he had been dipping in the river and slung it over his shoulder.
"As expected, only you lot can stir my excitement."
He curled his lips into a smile as he looked over Raon and Rimmer in turn.
"Prepare yourselves."
Roman caressed the handle of his axe as if signaling the start of a three-round duel.
"I'll gauge your skills in exactly three rounds."
"What's this about three rounds?"
Raon bit his lip as he looked into Roman's seemingly manic eyes.
'It's obvious he'll pounce as soon as the three rounds are over.'
Roman is the type of person who breaks promises so easily that he'd discard his title of Axe King.
There was a high chance he'd attack with full force right after the three rounds, claiming to be excited.
'I'd better save the Sword Domain for later.'
It seemed the best chance of survival was to endure the three rounds in his current state, then use the Sword Domain to end the real fight that would follow in one fell swoop.
Krrk.
Raon resonated the Ring of Fire circling his heart. Entering a state of extreme focus, he drew out the energies of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier to their peak.
Kugugugugu!
The waves that had been surging with Roman's momentum seemed to freeze and then crumble. It meant that his own energy wasn't inferior to that liar's fighting spirit.
"Three-round duel."
Raon stood before Roman while calming his pounding heart.
"Let's begin."
* * *
Rimmer bit his lip as he watched Raon face off against Roman.
'This is even worse than before.'
Considering Roman's behavior up to now, it was obvious he wouldn't back down after the three rounds but would continue attacking.
'Still, it's not like there's no way out.'
Fortunately, Roman didn't bring many subordinates. If they could just kill him, they should be able to leave this place without much trouble.
"Tch."
Rimmer clicked his tongue briefly and approached Siyana's side.
"Oh, brother..."
Siyana trembled, her hands clasped in front of her chest as if worried about Raon. Even this girl who unconditionally trusted Raon seemed intimidated by Roman's vicious aura.
"Get ready to fight."
"Then does that mean Lord Raon will lose...?"
"That's not it."
Rimmer shook his head and glared at Roman.
"That bastard lies as easily as he breathes. Even if Raon wins the three rounds, he'll attack. That's when you and I need to step in."
"Ah..."
Siyana nodded slightly as if she now understood.
"Can you summon a highest-grade spirit?"
"Yes. I'll call one right away."
As she snapped her fingers, the water giant that had been hovering protectively over the boat sank, and a cute little sparrow that seemed to be formed from water droplets spread its tiny wings.
The small bird landed on Siyana's shoulder, mocking with its enormous mana despite its cute appearance.
Rimmer nodded as he felt the immense energy emanating from the sparrow.
'This should be enough.'
Although it hasn't been long since the contract was made, that sparrow is a highest-grade spirit. It will be of great help in the battle against Roman.
"Hah..."
Rimmer exhaled deeply as he placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.
'It's frustrating that all I can do is watch.'
Roman seemed to have gotten even stronger than before, and the one standing before him was Raon, both disciple and subordinate.
His own incompetence stung painfully. It hurt more than when he couldn't fight properly due to his injured energy center.
'If I survive this...'
I'll have to get a prosthetic arm.
I had been considering it since hearing Sterin's words, but now I've made up my mind for sure.
If I make it back to Zieghart alive, I'll beg Ensia to fit me with a prosthetic arm if I have to.
'So please...'
Rimmer swallowed dryly as he looked at Raon's broad back.
'Hang in there.'
* * *
"I heard you can use the Sword Domain..."
Roman tilted his chin while holding the axe in one hand.
"Not using it?"
"I'll use it if necessary, so don't worry about it."
Raon shook his head while meeting Roman's glinting eyes.
"How impudent."
Contrary to his words, Roman curled his lips into a long smile as if he was even more pleased.
Kugugugugu!
He raised his axe to the sky. Powerful aura seeped into the dark red axe blade. Though it was just energy condensing, a roar like the sky wailing resounded.
"First strike!"
With a thunderous shout, Roman's axe fell. The energy blazing on the axe blade flashed with a chilling blood-red color.
Kugugugugu!
Raon gritted his teeth as he watched Roman's axe descend like lightning.
'What the...!'
Even though the axe hadn't fully descended, the pressure crushing his entire body was terrifying. It felt like both his shoulders were being ripped off.
'I can't let myself be overpowered.'
The Axe King Roman is a supreme master who yields to no one in strength and fighting spirit.
If he was pushed onto the defensive from the first strike, he wouldn't even be able to continue the three-round duel. He had to block it even if it meant pouring in all the strength he had.
Kuung!
Stepping forward with his left foot, he raised the Heavenly Drive sword he had tilted downward. He imbued the cold silver blade with the principles of Ten Thousand Swords he had accumulated in his mental image.
Wrapping himself in the will to never yield, he struck at the red-hot axe.
Kuwaaaaaang!
Though it was just a clash between sword and axe, a roar like a mountain collapsing erupted. The river water flowed backward as if frightened, and dark cracks appeared in the gravel shore.
Jjeojeojeojeojeok!
Raon bit his lip as he watched Roman's axe exert increasingly stronger pressure.
'Was it this heavy?'
Roman's axe felt much heavier than when he had seen it before. It was even difficult to breathe properly.
'I need to push it back as quickly as possible.'
He added the principles of the severing sword to the wavering blade of the Heavenly Drive. Cutting through the energy seeping into the axe strand by strand, he raised the cold energy of Glacier to its peak.
Kwaaaaaang!
A dark gray light exploded between the axe blade and the sword, forcing Raon back five steps.
But Roman didn't take a single step back, instead displaying a smile on his face.
"Not bad."
Roman nodded broadly as if satisfied and tilted his axe downward. It was the Howling Destruction, meant to strike upward from the river and shatter the sky.
Raon frowned as he watched Roman's axe glow with an increasingly intense light.
'I can't withstand that in this state.'
He had wanted to save the Sword Domain, but it was impossible to withstand Roman's second strike with his current level.
Raon gripped the Heavenly Drive and Requiem Sword in reverse holds and opened the world of his mental image.
Sword Domain - Divine-Demonic Harmony.
As the Sword Domain opened, the turbulent river water calmed as if the storm had passed, and a golden sun and silver moon rose in the darkened sky.
In this tranquil world that seemed to exist for him alone, Raon raised the brightly shining divine sword and demonic sword.
"So, it's the Sword Domain. I like your quick judgment."
Roman smirked as he raised his axe.
"If you had been arrogant this time too, your head would have been split open."
He spoke as if he had gone easy on the first strike, wrinkling the bridge of his nose.
"Then, here's the second strike - Howling Destruction."
A dark red sphere condensed above the downturned axe blade.
Though smaller than the Astral Ring shown in the first strike, it exuded a chilling aura as if choking him, compressed with even greater power.
Kuuuung!
Roman stamped his log-like leg as if giving it his all and swung the axe upward. A savage will to shatter the sky emanated from the dark red blazing axe blade.
'This is a battle of wills.'
Raon drew in the energy spread throughout his body's mana circuits into his two hands.
As if all the energy in his body had become one, it blazed up the swords, raising blades of flame and frost. He wrapped the unwavering two swords in his will to protect his own sky.
Azure Sky Sword, Second Form.
Azure Sky Slash.
Towards the axe blade rising as if to split the sky, he plunged down his two swords brimming with radiance.
Kuwaaaang!
As the Astral Rings collided head-on, terrifying storms of aura surged one after another. As if the river god was enraged, the river water burst forth relentlessly. It was to the extent that the riverbed was revealed.
Jjijijijijik!
After the collision of the Astral Rings came the clash of wills.
Roman's will to destroy everything and Raon's unyielding will bit and tore at each other, waging a fierce war.
Kwaaaaa!
The clashing auras ground against each other and exploded. An intense light too bright to open one's eyes to burst forth, and the entire river overflowed, spreading in all directions.
Kuuung!
This time, Roman took one step back, and Raon four steps.
Raon looked at Roman while enduring the aching pain in his hands.
'It's certain...'
That bastard has gotten stronger than two years ago.
I know Roman didn't reveal his full power when he had the three-round duel with Rimmer two years ago, but his current martial prowess is on a different level entirely.
The Axe King Roman had climbed to an even higher realm than two years ago.
"Seems you've noticed."
Roman nodded calmly as he lowered his axe.
"It's as you think. I've climbed even higher since that day."
"Did you encounter some kind of serendipitous opportunity?"
"Yes. I encountered a lucky opportunity. The opportunity called 'you'."
He raised his axe, pointing at Raon and Rimmer in turn.
"What?"
"When one reaches Grandmaster, mental stimulation contributes more to raising one's level than physical training. Thanks to the stimulation of meeting you at the river, I was able to climb even higher."
Roman gripped the axe handle tightly and lifted his chin.
"It's thanks to you that I am who I am now."
"Hmm..."
It was the worst situation, beyond expectations. But he had already drawn his sword, and there was no way to retreat. All he could do now was fight with everything he had.
"That was quite a long speech in the middle of our duel."
Roman gripped the axe with both hands and pulled it back behind his shoulder. A massive Astral Ring surged above the dark red axe blade, spinning like a rising dragon. The flashing red light was chilling, as if it contained death itself.
"The last one is the Heaven-Shaking Axe Strike. If you withstand it, I'll declare your victory."
"Stop with the nonsense and come at me."
Raon held his breath and twitched his finger.
"I really do like you!"
Roman stopped halfway through swinging his axe. In that state, he used an explosive footwork technique to close in and slashed down with the remaining trajectory of his axe.
It was an exquisite move that combined an aura attack using the Astral Ring with a physical strike using his body to its fullest.
'I knew it.'
If he had seen it for the first time, he would have been flustered, but this was a martial art he had seen behind Rimmer's back before.
'However...'
Even if I know about it, I can't block it with an ordinary sword.
Surviving takes priority, even if it means showing all my cards. Deciding to reveal everything, he drew out all the aura from his energy center.
Raon stepped forward on the river water. He wrapped the energy of Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier rushing through his entire body around the demonic sword pulled back behind his shoulder and the divine sword held upright at his waist.
Towards Roman's onslaught that blocked his entire view, he slashed down with both the divine and demonic swords.
The tremendous heat and cold blazing from his hands spread like a storm, adding power to the two blades.
A golden radiance flashed across Raon's eyes. Invincible Azure-Red sword. A transcendent sword strike that could rightfully be called invincible pushed back the Axe King's Astral Ring, bursting with auspicious light.
Jjijijijijik!
Black flames and brilliant golden light, each wrapped in their respective wills, engaged in an endless competition.
Kugugugugu!
The condensed energies interlocked like gears, emitting a destructive light.
Everything touched by the eerie purple flash was erased as if it had never existed.
A massive explosion followed, splitting the Peren River, and the pushed-back water scattered in all directions. The river itself collapsed.
"Huff..."
Raon exhaled a turbid breath as he stood on the riverbed. The pain in his hands gripping the divine and demonic swords was so intense it made his head throb.
'Still, I endured it.'
The grown Axe King's attack was much heavier than expected. It was so incredibly powerful and destructive that he felt like praising himself for withstanding it.
But there was no time to rest. He could sense Roman's presence in the white mist of steam and smoke.
'This is where it really begins.'
Knowing Roman's personality, he would surely attack claiming to be excited. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say this was just the beginning.
As he regulated his breathing and prepared for battle, a wind blew, dispersing all the steam and smoke.
Roman had stepped back about two paces from where he initially stood and was smiling in this direction.
Uuuung!
As expected, he raised his axe. Raon was about to hold his breath and prepare, but that axe didn't point at him; instead, it lowered.
'Huh?'
Just as he thought it was strange, a massive energy surged from behind. It was Rimmer and Siyana.
The two, who had been gathering energy during the duel, unleashed intense sword strikes and spirit magic towards Roman.
"Tch."
Roman frowned as he raised the axe he had lowered and roughly deflected Rimmer's sword attack and Siyana's magic.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"It was obvious you'd break your promise and attack anyway, so we just struck first."
"Ugh..."
Rimmer shrugged his shoulders. Siyana bit her lip hard beside him.
"Nonsense."
Roman snorted and slung the axe over his shoulder.
"The three-round duel is over."
He shook his head, indicating he had no intention of fighting further.
"It was a satisfying duel. You're good enough to provide quite some entertainment even in a life-or-death battle right now. However..."
Roman smirked as he looked at the blazing divine and demonic swords in Raon's hands.
"You haven't yet reached the level I desire. If you were to face me next year in your current state, you would die."
As he said this, he extinguished the aura he had been wielding. He really seemed to have no intention of fighting anymore.
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Roman's calm gaze.
"What is it?"
He had thought Roman would fight to the end, given how he had even wagered his title for this three-round duel.
But Roman had put down his axe with an astonishing ease.
'What on earth is he thinking... Huh?'
Recalling Roman's words, a thought occurred to him.
'Could it be that he was warning me?'
That I would die if we met like this on January 1st next year?
Since appearing here, Roman had only been checking my skills, not attacking as if he truly meant to kill.
Considering his final words about dying, it seemed he really had this three-round duel just to warn me.
"Don't tell me you were warning me?"
"Fishermen have a practice called 'release'."
"..."
"It's when they catch a young fish that hasn't fully grown yet, but let it go so it can come back bigger. But that's only done twice at most."
He grinned as he caressed his axe.
"I've said all I needed to say, so I'll be going now."
"Wait."
Raon called out to Roman, who had turned his back, and stepped forward.
"There's one thing I'm curious about."
"What is it?"
"Lector."
Raon frowned as he looked at where the Maritime Market had been set up.
"Why did he break?"
"...I see. So he's dead, is he?"
Roman shook his head as he followed Raon's gaze. For the first time, his eyes held a hint of bitterness.
"He was consumed by talent."
"What?"
"Lector possessed talent that could rightfully be called genius, though not to your level. But during the Mountain Fortress Battle, he was defeated by an even more terrifying talent and was devoured."
"He lost to someone named Beorn?"
"You even know that name."
He smirked and nodded.
"Beorn was Lector's subordinate. He was someone who hid a lot. You'd do well to be cautious. Well, that's only if you're still alive next year."
Roman turned his back again after leaving those words.
"Hey."
As Raon was frowning, Rimmer approached from the side and called out to Roman.
"Regardless of how things turned out, you did give up your title, right?"
"That's right."
Roman nodded as if he didn't regret it.
"Then I'll give you a new title."
Rimmer lifted his chin and twisted his lips.
"Your new title is 'Balls', for being a lying bastard who uses an axe."
With that one sentence, the serious atmosphere instantly dissipated.
"..."
Even Roman, who had said he wouldn't regret it, now had a deep furrow between his brows.
-Oh my...
Wrath shook his head as he looked at Rimmer.
-No matter how you look at it, that guy's just crazy...