SWNOVELXO Chapter 147
147. No Matter Who The Opponent Is…
Thud… ngh.
With a resounding crash, the massive Phoenix fell.
Sarome’s strike finally severed its carotid artery, killing it.
“Phew…”
I sank to my knees on the spot.
A powerful wave of exhaustion blurred my consciousness.
“Haruto-san…!?”
Alice crouched beside me, her face filled with worry.
“I just… used too many skills—or rather, too much defensive magic. I’m just tired.”
I shook my head weakly.
“Urgh…”
My vision blurred.
Activating multiple defensive skills simultaneously takes an immense amount of focus.
What’s more, if the skills dissipated, Rudolf-san would undoubtedly attack in that instant, leaving no room for me to lose concentration.
The overwhelming fatigue and sense of powerlessness hit me hard.
Shaking it off, I turned to face Rudolf-san.
“You dare… take my prey…!”
The red warrior glared at me.
Still, he made no move to attack.
I hadn’t yet released the [Void Seal] binding him.
Even if he attacked, he couldn’t harm us.
It seemed Rudolf-san understood that as well.
With a sigh, I dispelled the skill.
Would he come at us again—or finally give up?
I watched Rudolf-san’s movements closely.
At that moment—
Screeeeeeech!
A high-pitched cry rang out.
The massive flaming body began to rise slowly.
“The Phoenix…!? How—?”
It should have been dead.
“According to legend, another name for the Phoenix is the Immortal Bird—It’s said to have a trait that lets it revive with a certain probability.”
Rudolf-san muttered, his lips curling into a feral smile.
“This time, I will be the one to take it down.”
With that, the red warrior charged forward.
Though it had revived, the Phoenix’s movements were still sluggish.
Perhaps because it had just returned to life—or because revival weakens it.
Either way, Rudolf-san, empowered by his enhancements, swung his spear with brute force, relentlessly tearing into the Phoenix’s massive body.
He didn’t even need me to support him with skills—Rudolf-san completely overwhelmed it.
──And so, twenty-seven times in total.
Each time it resurrected, Rudolf-san killed the Phoenix again.
Until the legendary beast finally ceased to move.
“Hmph, for a so-called ‘legendary beast’, it didn’t put up much of a fight.”
Rudolf-san sneered.
“With power like that, you could surely help many people.”
I addressed his back.
“So why—”
“I’m not interested.”
Rudolf-san turned to face me, his gaze icy cold.
“Protecting people, an adventurer’s duty… none of that matters to me. It’s meaningless. Worthless.”
His voice carried not even a shred of warmth.
“I couldn’t break through your defenses. This is the first time I’ve failed to destroy a target I resolved to crush… I’ll acknowledge this defeat.”
The way Rudolf-san looked at me—it was the same way he would look at a monster,
Like I was a target he needed to eliminate.
His eyes brimmed with hostility.
“But know this—I will defeat you someday. No matter how absolute your defenses are, I will shatter them.”
“What’s the point of adventurers fighting each other? I—”
“I’m only interested in destruction. In annihilation. In wielding power.”
Rudolf-san declared, gripping his spear.
“It doesn’t matter who my opponent is. Be they monsters—or humans.”
“…You…”
Our gazes clashed.
“…I’ll remember your name, Haruto Riva.”
Eventually, Rudolf-san turned his back to me.
He walked away, his steps steady and quiet.
Watching his retreating figure, a bitter taste filled my mouth.
──After that, we returned to the guild headquarters.
The other team members who had been fighting in different areas also came back.
Luca and Lilis showed remarkable skill, successfully driving off all the monsters.
However, some teams were nearly wiped out.
And in the aftermath of the battles, some cities lay in ruins.
While all the teams ultimately defeated the invaders.
The damage was significant.
And more than anything—
“The fight isn’t over yet…”
I muttered bitterly.
It seemed the guild’s radar had detected signs of another Syrega incursion.
This time, on an even larger scale than before.
In other words, this invasion was just the first wave.
The second wave would come soon.
I had a bad feeling.
Maybe this battle was just a prelude.
Perhaps their true invasion—
Was only about to begin.