Snap—!
As Akumo snapped his fingers, the fire demon that had unhinged its maw to swallow Finn and Gareth vanished as if its life-thread had been severed.
""!!""
"This is getting more interesting by the second."
CRACK—!!!!!!!!!
Ignoring the shock of the bloodied Finn and Gareth, Akumo buried his fist into Akuo's face. After sending the doppelgänger flying, he spoke to the executives without looking back.
"Take the Elf and Bete and fall back."
"But that bastard is...!"
Grip—!!
"This is my fight."
"You..."
"Know when to quit and get out."
Leaving them with those heavy words, Akumo turned his gaze toward the direction where Akuo had been hurled.
"Attack!!!"
"Everyone, charge—"
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!
"Block him!!!!"
CRUNCH—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The numerous adventurers who thought they had a chance after seeing Akuo take a hit were quickly disabused of that notion. Their faces were crushed and their arms shattered by his fists, their combat strength dwindling at an exponential rate.
Whish—!!!!!!!!!!
'More... just a little more...!!'
"I want to see exactly what I am capable of!!!!!!!!!"
THUD—!!!!!!!!!!
Wearing a refreshing smile devoid of any grand cause or moral weight, Akumo lunged at Akuo and unleashed a devastating punch.
CLANG—!!!!!!!!
He swung his blade with lethal intent.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!
Fist met fist as they exchanged an unfathomable number of blows.
""Gah...!!""
CRACK—!!!!!!!
""Die!!!""
THUMP—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The true meaning behind those words was a pact to fight until the very brink of death.
Their battle continued to escalate in scale.
"""....."""
Finn and Gareth were not the only ones watching. Countless adventurers stared at the combat—or rather, they were paralyzed by the fact that eighty percent of their ranks had already been incapacitated.
"The casualties..."
"Are there none...?"
"Akumo..."
"Akumo-san..."
Ryu, Alise, Ardee, and Naaza, who had stayed out of the fray at the request of Alfia and Akumo, realized the truth. Among the sea of fallen adventurers, not a single one was dead.
'I see...'
"From the very beginning, he had no intention of killing anyone..."
The Xenos, Bell—none of them truly intended to cause permanent harm.
**
"Why aren't you fighting!?"
"Shut it and just watch. This isn't a fight for the likes of ye to interfere in."
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!
Despite the Guild staff's protests, Allen and Ottar stood their ground, calmly observing the battlefield.
CRASH—!!!!!!!!!!
"Heh!"
'Having all the fun by himself, eh?'
CLANG—!!!!!!!!!!!
"Hey, boar. What do ye think?"
".....Regrettable."
'That I cannot join that fray.'
They were captivated by the thunderous roar of the ultimate collision and the spectacle of magic and techniques unfolding before them.
"UWOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"CHYAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
On the opposite side, they smiled at the battle of warriors charging toward each other, resolved for their fated rematch.
CLANG—!!!!!!!
WHOOSH—!!!!!!!!
"!!"
'He's fast...!!'
Even against Asterios's (monster) howl, Bell easily shook off the fear he had conquered long ago. He parried and evaded the massive axe, facing the monster head-on.
"..."
WHOOSH—!!!!
"Thought ye weren't interferin'?"
"Understand that he is still one who needs a proper weapon."
"Hmph! Ye and him both—ye're always soft when it comes to a real fight."
Ottar drew one of the greatswords from his back and hurled it high into the air.
It was a silent command for the boy to stand against his opponent until the very end.
"Sir Hero...!!"
"No, Haruhime."
"Huh? Aisha-san, what do you mean..."
"Those two are warriors."
Slide—!
'Truly...'
Haruhime, who had arrived at the plaza despite her injuries, watched them with worry. Aisha, however, was exhilarated, trying to burn every moment of the battle into her memory.
The joy of combat. A battle where they bared their souls, clashing fists and steel to prove their own convictions.
"I love this so damn much."
Eventually, the fight reached its climax as a figure soared rapidly into the sky above the plaza.
**
CRACKLE—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With Akumo's fist buried in Akuo's abdomen as the epicenter, countless bolts of lightning flickered in every direction. The impact struck Akuo's body directly, launching him across the plaza.
"Strong...!!"
'Is he awakening the more we fight!?'
Akuo wore a savage grin as the records of Akumo's combat experience began to threaten his life.
"You too!!!"
'The things engraved in your flesh... your soul... and your mind!!'
Shiver—!!
Akumo looked up at him, gathering his energy as he gripped a broken sword in one hand and shattered spears in the other.
"[Dance, O Blood; dance, O Weapons. The scattering gore shall be our spotlight.]"
Sssss—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"[Waltz of Death]"
His dance poured over Akuo, a blood-red choreography unfolding in mid-air.
SCREECH—!!!!!!!
FLASH—!!!
THUD—!!!!!!!!
'Using the weapons as footholds...!'
SLASH—!!!!!!!!!!!
Using the opponent's lunging arms and held weapons as stepping stones, the two tangled lines of movement finally ended with Akuo's body covered in countless lacerations as he plummeted to the earth.
BOOM—!!!!!!
"What the...!"
"Is that... Akumo...!!?"
Step—!
"What a Ganesha-esque situation!"
They had landed near the Dungeon entrance, where the citizens had been evacuated.
The shockwaves of the battle had already reached this far. The sight of Akumo and Akuo crashing down was enough to shake the citizens and the Ganesha Familia guarding the entrance.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!
"That's... the black Minotaur...!!"
To make matters worse, another thunderous roar echoed as a massive monster and a boy standing against it appeared in the plaza.
'I want to win...!'
Step—!
"I...!!!"
'I want to be strong!!!'
"Just like those people!!!!"
Bell did not hesitate for a second, despite his aching body and the sight of the fierce warrior before him who looked ready to crush him at any moment.
Asterios felt the sting of the wounds inflicted by Bell's greatsword, even as blood seeped from the stump of the arm he had lost in a previous encounter.
'I am glad...!!'
"UWOOOO!!!!!"
'Just like then... exactly like that time....!!!!'
The two warriors spared a brief glance at the predecessors already in the plaza. They lunged at each other, fueled by the fact that they could fight alongside their idols on the stage of their dreams.
CRASH—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"We must help Akumo and the [Little Rookie] immediately...!"
Stop—!
"L-Lord Ganesha!?"
"Our objective is to protect the citizens!"
Grin—!
"Interfering in a duel between men is forbidden!"
Ganesha watched the battle unfolding before his eyes and smiled at all the warriors illuminating the battlefield.
'Do not stop. Go!'
'Forge ahead, O warriors!'
"For you are not in the wrong!"
'Burn your own flames!!!'
Finally.
"[Fire Bolt]!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
BOOM—!!!!!!!
"UWOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!"
THUD—!!!!!!!!
"Kh...!!"
Bell carved into Asterios's body with the greatsword and blocked his axe. He exploited the opening of the monster's missing arm to land a punch infused with Fire Bolt, dealing massive damage. However, Bell himself was blown back significantly after blocking the counter-swing.
Ding—!
Ding—!
Ding—!
'I want to be strong...!'
Grip—!!
Simultaneously, the sound of a bell echoed.
The boy's hand gripped the greatsword so tightly it began to glow with a brilliant white light.
"Win!!!"
"[Pioneer]!!!!"
"[Little Rookie]!!!!"
It was neither fear nor hope.
"Win!!!!!"
What the crowd saw and felt was the battle-will and determination of the warriors—an emotion they themselves had felt more deeply than ever tonight.
CLANG—!!
"Phew....!!!!!"
THUMP—!!!
'I am...!'
The warriors were filled with an unparalleled exhilaration. Asterios cast aside his axe and, just like their previous battle, dug his feet into the ground and took a charging stance.
Shhhhh—!!!
'I am...!'
Schwing—!
Bell also gripped his white-stained greatsword firmly, leveling it at the warrior before him.
'A warrior!!!'
'I want to be a hero!!!'
The two men took their stances, each envisioning the idol they wished to reach and the warrior they longed to catch up to.
"Seems like the attention is shifting over there."
Grin—!
"Let's end this with a bang."
"..."
Drip—!!
Akuo's arm had been severed by the previous lightning strike, and the numerous lacerations on his body were bleeding so profusely his vision was beginning to blur.
Grin—!
Even so, he laughed.
Step—!
"[Let the feast of blood begin, alongside claws like a beast's.]"
WHOOSH—!!!!!!!!!!!!
"[Together with the fangs that shall nobly drink the blood!]"
'Come!!! Show me yours too!!!!!!!'
Akuo's chant echoed as the blood scattered across the plaza gathered toward his upraised hand, staining the square in a visceral crimson.
"[Blood Moon]"
**
SCREECH—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally, a red moon rose in the sky.
A piercing, scream-like tinnitus rang out, awakening the consciousness of the fallen adventurers and everyone watching from Daedalus Street.
"Akumo... even Bell..."
'Just why...?'
Aiz, who had been lost in the battle, finally felt a surge of revulsion at the sight.
"Finn... why is Akumo doing this...?"
"....."
"Why is Bell doing this...?"
She could not understand the situation—how they could lose themselves in combat, showing respect to one another, and viewing monsters as people.
'A monster's claws wound people...'
Akuo's form now possessed sharp fangs and wolf-like claws.
'A monster's horns and wings plant fear in people's hearts...'
Asterios's massive horns and fierce snorting immediately signaled to anyone watching that he was dangerous—that he was, undeniably, a monster.
'Monsters cause so many people to die...!'
"Walking on the surface... fighting like that..."
"Are you trying to say it's not allowed?"
"!!"
Beside Aiz, a robed Alfia approached and spoke to her.
"Why?"
Alfia looked at the 'Dungeon's Child' trapped in her own contradictions.
Such contradictions were a path of growth that the adventurer Aiz Wallenstein had to overcome, yet Alfia chose to step closer.
"....Monsters hurt people."
"The same can be said for people."
"A monster's teeth and claws wound people...!"
"Then is the weapon you hold merely for decoration?"
"....!!"
"Monsters... put people in fear..."
"Look around you."
At Alfia's words, Aiz looked around. Countless people and Gods were gathered, quietly watching the duel.
"What do you think they are fighting for?"
"..."
She could not answer. Aiz did not know what they desired that drove them to such actions.
"Power is merely a means."
—'Power is inherently just a means. It is the same principle as us using weapons and tools.'
"!!"
But it didn't matter.
The moment Alfia spoke, past memories began to overlap in Aiz's mind.
The words Riveria had told her during the Great Feud echoed in her ears.
"A monster's fangs or a person's weapon—if they can be handled, aren't they just the same tools?"
—'What one does with it, what path one pioneers, is up to the individual.'
"If what they desire is good or evil, it will be used for that. Even if what they desire is mere lust, it is simply used for that purpose."
—'If one uses power to pioneer and pursue their own truth, that is enough.'
"Because that is what strength is."
Aiz looked around again. No one there expressed resentment or fell into sorrow.
"There is no law saying only heroes should be respected in this world."
Those words struck the mind of the girl who had spent her life wanting a hero, her life waiting for someone.
She could no longer see the adventurers and warriors fighting for their ideals, or the monster the boy protected—no, the girl—as something different.
"[Fall, fall violently. O rain of fierce fire.]"
Sssss—!!
"[No, not rain—drop the very stars from the heavens.]"
Against the backdrop of the rising sun's light, Akumo's chant resonated.
"Akumo...."
"Go forth, child."
"Be bound by worry no longer."
Watching quietly, Hephaestus, Miach, and Takemikazuchi waited for the adventure he would show them through the shimmering haze in his hands.
"Akumo-san...."
'As I thought...'
Grin—!
"A smile suits you best."
Naaza, watching him, could see his smile.
A smile of refreshment he hadn't worn in a very long time—the joy of achieving one's ideals.
"Win! Akumo!!"
"Just don't get hurt."
"Do your best...!!"
Alise, Ryu, and Ardee watched his battle until the end, believing in him and wishing for his victory.
"Win."
His close friend felt the same.
"[Bloom, the zenith of the magical path.]"
Sssss—!!
"[Bloom beautifully and fire upon the summit.]"
He performed a concurrent chant of two spells. A haze rose from one hand, while a single spark was held quietly in the other.
"[Meteor Strike]"
A rain of meteors descended from the sky.
"[Full Bloom]"
An infinitely red, shimmering flower blossomed.
**
"[Manus]"
The blood-soaked magic sword in his hand swung down, and the red moon finally bared its teeth.
RUMBLE—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WHOOSH—!
'I'll crush it...!!!'
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!
From the baptism of ten meteors descending toward Akuo, blood-spikes surged to shatter them one by one, beginning to chew through the stars like the fangs of a predator.
CRUNCH—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Furthermore, numerous blood-spikes rose from the air, the ground, and the spikes themselves to swallow Akumo, aiming for his life.
CRACK—!!!
"!!"
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those spikes were eventually incinerated by five bursts of flame directed at Akuo.
"Is this...!!"
'The zenith...!'
Following the memories engraved in his soul, Akuo—who had transformed into a being far superior to what one might call a vampire or a werewolf, the strongest of a world—could feel it.
'I lost.'
Grin—!
"I lost completely!!"
He realized that Akumo had achieved a perfect union of body, soul, and mind.
"Ahaha!!"
'I thought even the Xenos were absurd...!'
Loki, looking down at them from a building, could see it.
Akumo's form had changed.
"He's flowered...!!"
'That's just on a different dimension...!'
"Ah....🖤"
'So this is what you wanted to show me...'
"Ever since I first saw you...!"
Freya could see it.
He bore the unmistakable image of a king who had reached—who was close to—the divine.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!
"KRWOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"CHYAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
As if that were the signal.
The warrior with the white greatsword and the warrior who believed in his own strength charged at each other with a ferocity that would not yield to the light they had shown.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Greatsword and horn collided, a massive impact sound filling the plaza.
'I will win...!!'
"UAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!"
'I win...!!!!!'
"UWOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The two warriors did not let up their strength even as blood flowed freely, as if they had waited endlessly for this moment, ready to break their bones and shatter their swords for victory.
CRACK—!!!
"!!"
'The sword...!'
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"Gah!!!?"
The battle of equal will and equal longing was eventually decided by pure power.
Whish—!!!!!!!!!!
'I'm being blown aw—'
"UWOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
BOOM—!!!!!!!!
"Agh...!!!"
Bell's greatsword shattered under Asterios's strike. Launched into the air, Bell had no time to recover before he was caught mid-fall by Asterios's rough grip and struck by a full-force charge.
BOOM—!! BOOM—!! BOOM—!! BOOM—!!!!!!
"Everyone, get out of the way!!"
Finally, Asterios smashed through the Dungeon gates and leaped high into the air.
'My... victory...!!'
"Hmph!!!!!!"
He slammed Bell, still in his grip, toward the ground. The force was enough to break through the floor, sending them plummeting further down.
"!!"
Bell panicked as the ground rushed up to meet him, but Asterios did not stop, throwing Bell down to be buried in the impact.
BOOM—!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The conclusion of their second match was reached.
**
Step, step—
Akumo walked slowly toward the Dungeon entrance.
"Akumo-san...!!"
Drip—!! Drip—!
'The wounds are deep...'
"The Guild will handle the aftermath, so—"
"It's fine."
His body was covered in puncture wounds and gashes, yet he simply walked toward a child he was proud of.
"Let's go down together, Eina."
"Y-Yes!"
Patter—!!!
"Always so full of worry~"
Eina, seemingly worried about Bell's condition after being attacked by Asterios, hurried down the stairs first. Akumo smiled faintly and followed at a slower pace.
Step, step—!
After descending for some time, he saw Eina standing still, looking at someone.
"Ugh....!!"
'There was no meaning to the fight....!!'
"Urgh.....!"
'Saying it's okay because I lost is a lie...!!'
"I wanted to win....."
There stood the adventurer Akumo knew all too well: Bell Cranel.
A truly pure battle, devoid of good, evil, or grand causes—driven only by the pure will to be strong and the desire for victory.
Drip—! Drip—!
"Gah....!!"
Losing such a battle was a first for Bell.
Step, step—!
That was why he was so frustrated.
He hadn't even been able to save the Xenos properly, leaving that to others and even being saved by them in the end.
He had met his first adventure again, and this time, he had lost.
"Are you frustrated?"
"Father....."
"You lost?"
"...Yeah."
Bell answered Akumo's question hollowly.
"So, how is it? How do you feel right now?"
"I'm frustrated....!"
"And?"
"I feel... relieved...."
Grin—!
"Ahaha!! Right? You're frustrated, but relieved?"
Akumo had no intention of scolding Bell. Nor did he intend to give his usual advice or warnings.
Pat—
"Good job, Bell."
"You did really well today."
He simply spoke to Bell with warmth.
"Good job."
Stroke, stroke—
"You really did well, Bell."
".....Brother."
"Yeah?"
"I... I'm going to get stronger....!!"
As Akumo stroked his hair, Bell spoke with tears welling in his eyes.
"Strong enough to achieve everything I want...!"
'Strong enough to win the final settlement with him.'
"So I can shine like you, Brother...!"
'Strong enough to catch up to the person I admire.'
"So everyone can be together...!!!!"
The boy spoke, thinking not of protecting what was precious, but of everything he purely desired—everything he purely wished to reach.
"Gah...!!"
Tears continued to flow, but they were no longer the tears of a mere boy.
Thump—!
"....."
'Bell.....'
Eina's heart fluttered at the tears shed by the man named Bell—tears shed as a warrior.
"Is that so? Then let's keep adventuring hard from now on."
"Yeah....!!"
Akumo smiled, truly happy to see those tears.
**
Stagger—!
"Urgh... that hurts~"
Drip—! Drip—!
Akuo staggered through Knossos, feeling both frustration and relief.
"Heh!!"
'To think he was that strong~'
"Truly, you never know what the world will throw at you...."
Drip—!
One of his arms was completely gone, and five holes were bored into his body, with cracks spreading around them like fissures in a statue.
Thud—!
"That was truly fun...."
Finally reaching his limit, Akuo's body could no longer hold out. He slumped against the corridor wall.
Click—
"Ahaha.... you're here?"
A girl approached him.
".....Akuo."
It was Ein.