SWNOVELXO Chapter 101
– 1 –
Evangeline and Lin Xue.
The first clash between the two occurred when they both maximally raised their magic without any preparation, but even that alone was enough to inflict damage on the unprepared abilities surrounding them.
Kwah-kwaang – !!!
The second impact was even faster and stronger.
A dangerously charged attack of “Frenzy” and a terribly gathered “Overlapping Strong Attack” unleashed within a brief moment.
The collision, which far exceeded the system’s evaluation, delivered about five hits in less than a second.
It was a full-power attack, so it was only natural that both of them could not endure the aftermath and were forced apart.
Kudduk…!
‘Wow, that was strong.’
Phew!
‘Truly Evangeline…’
Having exhausted all of her gathered power in an instant, it was time to gather strength again.
However, Evangeline, turning her creaking arm due to the shock, and Xue, who spat blood from her busted lip, were not in a mood for that.
Pah!
Recovering from the shock in a short moment, the two charged towards each other again.
Thud! Thud!
‘Now.’
While Evangeline’s eyes captured the close approach of Xue in just a couple of steps, she stumbled.
At the right moment, she twisted her posture by taking an unconventional step.
For a normal human, that movement would be suitable for a fracture, but for Evangeline, whose body was made of bones and magic, it was a simple task.
Skaak – Kwadak -!
Above her head, the red scything released from Xue’s fingertips grazed past.
A sound of the wall behind them being pierced reached their ears, but even hearing that eerie sound, Evangeline did not stop.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’
Xue’s eyes lit up as she confirmed that the sword was drawing a straight line, twisting her body and slamming her elbow down –
Swack!
– She retrieves it.
The thrusting sword bent at a right angle and soared up again.
Spot -!
Xue jumped to the side and turned her body.
Evangeline, despite her unstable state, had to dodge the sharply emitted blade aiming for her left leg while simultaneously preparing to counterattack.
Bang!!
Kwah-zzik!
Xue’s twisting attack exploded over Evangeline’s arm raised at a right angle.
Not only the primary hit but also the secondary shock filled with magic crumpled Evangeline’s gauntlet.
“Tsk.”
Xue’s expression portrayed her dissatisfaction.
‘That wasn’t deep enough.’
As expected, Evangeline’s posture was awkwardly leaning toward the side opposite to where she was struck, and her left arm was already shielded by the released magic.
In that state, wielding her sword with one hand, Evangeline swung her right hand.
From behind, with her head.
Bang!
Clenching her fist, she struck down to block the attack, but Evangeline’s counter was not easily halted.
Clang! Bang!
Once with one hand, then with both hands.
As she countered what had come down from above, she flew upward, swinging the spirit-made sword from her left hand, then wielding the sword with both hands, thrusting with force.
With joint movements impossible for a human, all actions accompanied by magic were bizarre, and any single hit could cause an irreparable injury.
Of course, neither Xue nor Evangeline were easily taken down by a single severe wound.
‘I will seize the momentum.’
With her eyes sharpened, Xue, who had resolved to endure the risk of small injuries, reacted quickly.
Hoo-!
Taking advantage of the brief opening created by retreating continuously, Xue abruptly crouched down.
Almost touching the ground.
While Evangeline, swinging her sword from above to the left, noticed her, she also turned her sword in an upright angle and chased her.
– Crack -!!
Bang!!
Before the sword fell, Xue’s roar came first.
With a roar filled with magic, she made Evangeline stagger, simultaneously stomping the earth to shatter it.
At that moment, the red power that had been gathering in her left hand exploded forth.
Kwah-rrrgh!!
It burst forth from her fist, akin to an artillery shot.
In both physical and firepower terms.
‘Danger.’
Witnessing the force exploding towards her face, Evangeline calmly stepped back a bit, charging magic into her sword.
In a short time, she performed several sword strikes that flung out like spider silk.
Swak! Kaghak!
Xue’s attack was blocked by the wide spread of Evangeline’s magic, and the trajectory twisted as it split along a narrow surface.
“Take this…!”
Bang!!
However, Xue’s attack was not only that.
Meanwhile, five scything strikes had closed in on Evangeline’s abdomen, accelerated by flowing “Magic Overload.”
– Alright (Good. Fighting with you is still fun).
“How ridiculous…!”
Evangeline assessed the frontal assault and hastily angled her sword.
The fight was reaching its climax.
– 2 –
‘It’s a battle of a swordsman and a warrior.’
In truth, it wasn’t just a sword but a warrior who could handle anything, somehow, deceitfully capable and a firepower freak based on overflowing frenzy and blood with magic that could cover mid-range with scything strikes.
Still, on the surface, it seemed to be a battle between a swordsman and a warrior.
No matter the medium, these two professions almost always appear as protagonists, and there’s always debate about superiority between them.
Of course, the most sensible answer in such a fight is always ‘it depends on the situation’, and the wisest action is to avoid getting involved in the fight.
But, for now, it was a victory for the swordsman.
“Stand at attention. Greet each other, you two.”
– Snap!
“Good job… Evangeline. Congratulations.”
– Alright.
As can be seen from their attitudes under Lan’s commands, Xue continued to press forward with unending stamina and the growing power of frenzy, while Eve calmly chipped away at that advancing strength and created conditions to halt the charge of frenzy.
As the battle continued, Xue grew stronger, so by intermittently breaking the rhythm, they avoided prolonging the combat situation.
“Still devious…”
– Clink.
In the meantime, Eve piled up her power and, in the last moment, delivered a single attack that momentarily incapacitated Xue.
Just before Xue’s ‘Frenzy’ reached its peak and she lost her reason, that brief moment when she froze in place.
『Overlapping Strong Attack – During battle, you can perform an attack with +50% of health and magic for necessary attacks. The increase can go up to 200%, but the additional limit for overlap is 10%.』
It was the power of the trait that had taken the place of “Explosive Force” from a certain moment onwards.
If it had been a real fight, Xue would have died there.
“Good job, both of you. I will promote the winner Evangeline to elite rank; later, discuss what you want to obtain through injuries.”
– Snap!
“Hah… Alright.”
One might say it was a somewhat expected result.
As Xue herself recognized, Eve excelled in ‘all areas.’
If Xue had managed to win in her claimed specialty of guard battles, it might have been different, but moving beyond that into direct combat, her chances of winning were not very high.
Even so, Xue did not give up and did her best.
“Well done. Not giving up is one of the greatest values.”
“Yeah… I know.”
– Grrr…
Xue accepted the gentle touch that stroked her ears, closing her eyes with a pleasant expression, her face showing the frustration of defeat but no excessive jealousy.
Even the gaze of Eve looking down at her was still filled with goodwill.
Although this event seemed a significant desire for both of them, it seemed it didn’t harm their relationship.
The years they spent digging deep like friends.
“You both take a rest. Sonia? There’s no need to change the position. Let’s start here.”
“Yes, Master!”
Eve and Xue were allowed to rest.
The match lasted a little over ten minutes, but during that time, they had truly gone all out, leaving them nearly depleted of stamina and magic.
Eve, being undead, is somewhat freer from the effects of stamina, but her body is not invincible, so she was still affected by magic depletion.
While Xue has better stamina than modern martial artists due to magic influence, having drained all of that magic and fought until she fainted would yield a result not too different.
“This is…”
“Here it is. May I have half? Lady Sonia.”
“Oh, thank you. Yuran.”
“Please call me Lan. If you are Lord’s disciple, you will also serve me.”
“Lord… Oh, got it. Lan.”
“That sounds good.”
I instructed Lan and Sonia to draw the summoning circle for the summon upgrade.
While Sonia knew from me, Lan was drawing that circle quite naturally.
Though the knowledge of Dungeon Lords in the Western and Eastern Continents is not vastly different, she should normally not know it since she hasn’t been rated yet.
It’s either unexpectedly sloppy, or perhaps it doesn’t matter if she’s caught. I have a feeling it’s the latter, but I waited without pretending to know.
Clink.
“It’s embarrassing for me even though you should be receiving a treatment. Eve.”
– Snap.
“It’s not something to apologize for. Just a casual remark. Thank you.”
– Snap!
In the meantime, Eve had somehow brewed coffee and handed it to me.
It was espresso.
Splat.
Before me lay necromancy texts from the Demon World.
While the knowledge was present in my mind, it was my first hitting upon practice, so I was examining various spellbooks to verify the knowledge.
‘Still, in terms of sophistication, safety, and knowledge, mine is far superior.’
While the texts contained the author’s know-how, it conveyed that the knowledge within my head was much safer and more stable.
An elusive sense being transmitted from somewhere told me there’s ‘no failure’ awaiting me.
No further comparisons were necessary.
“Everything’s ready, Master.”
Upon hearing Sonia’s words, I stood up and walked towards the two connected circles drawn on the floor.
It was evident that there were no issues from a quick glance.
‘It was a bit shocking when Eve killed, but… thanks to that, I can use it like this now.’
On the larger circle’s gift was the headless body of a Tigris with its chest punctured from behind.
Though it had been dead for five days, the enormous body showed no signs of decay, and once its head and heart were restored, it seemed it could revive immediately.
‘The performance is good. I wonder if it’ll apply to food?’
Such thoughts arose, reflecting its appearance.
It was the preservative magic of necromancy and the power of the shadowy spaces.
After having prepared the heart pre-treated for preservation beforehand, I summoned my staff and called her.
“Eve.”
– Snap!
Waiting Eve responded with poised posture and gracefully walked over to kneel on one knee in the small circle.
The poised and elegant stance that initially had me doubting her as a knight.
Now, those thoughts were discarded.
Indeed, the knights I’ve seen in action were far more unruly, rude, and absurdly stupid than her.
“I’m looking forward to how you will change.”
– Clink.
The light in her eyes that looked at me radiated softly, holding the emotion of ‘Look forward to it.’
From now on, I wouldn’t need to transmit such uncomfortable feelings from her, but a bit of regret surfaced.
Once communication became possible, this sensation of being connected would somewhat diminish.
“Let’s begin.”
– Snap!
But for now, my worries would only delay progress.
After all, there could be no decision to stop this work here. It would be an unthinkable act towards Xue, who fought with all her might.
“‘Spirit Ascendance.’”
Casting away any hesitation, I quickly incited the magic along with the incantation.
Koooh…!!
Black magic summoned from the two circles bound both bodies, gradually dyeing the Arachne King’s form in black and melting it away.
The greater the strength, the slower the pace at which it dissipated as a sacrifice.
“Eve.”
– Clink.
Holding the staff, which I stuck to the end of Eve’s magic circle to prevent it from falling, I met her gaze as she looked up at me.
In those unwavering eyes directed at me, I could still feel nothing but loyalty and goodwill.
“I wonder what it will look like.”
– Clink.
Maybe because I was raising her higher now?
Or is it because she and I are connected by magic?
Or perhaps it’s because there’s still a lingering worry?
Maybe the reverse scale that Tigris touched hasn’t healed yet.
“I think her eyes will be blue. I can’t imagine you not being that color.”
– Snap.
“Will her hair be black like mine? Or silver, or some other natural color? Maybe blonde as well.”
– Clink.
“Still, in any case…”
And the impulse surged up.
One single impulse that had made my chest feel stifled recently.
“In any case, no matter what form you take. I will have you by my side.”
– Snap.
Even as the impulse and my thoughts grew gradually larger, ‘nobility’ did not restrain me.
Is it that even this impulse is noble?
Or rather, my nobility is not swayed by such things?
Could it be that these people here are allowed to see my unsteady self?
“You will also protect me forever. As long as you and I are alive.”
– Clank!
Even though I still didn’t know the reason, I didn’t stop pouring my heart out.
“So.”
– Snap?
Reaching out, I grabbed her head and pulled her toward me, watching the flicker of her gaze up close.
That gaze, which always swayed calmly, now trembled greatly, making me feel as if I threw a stone into a tranquil lake.
A slight refreshment, mixed with an unidentifiable feeling of guilt, made the impulse boil further.
“Always strive to approach me with all your might.”
– Clink, clank…
I throw that into the lake.
Noticing that emotion which had been surging up upon noticing her always stepping back.
“If you move back any further from me, I will not forgive you. Never.”
Though there were still questions, I issued a command that could cover such small doubts.
With my desires, will, and affection fully packed.
“Yes, Master.”
At that very next moment, her form was immersed in darkness.
“I will gladly do so.”
As she clasped my hand holding the staff, she spoke to me.
“My lord. My master. My one and only ruler.”
With a refreshing smile.