CHAPTER 61: SADDLER TURNES THE TABLES!

Damn it... this bastard’s insane. How the hell did he manage to kill a damn wyvern?

Think, Atheron. The last thing I need is to die in this hole. And Sid... judging by the look on his face, he’s enjoying this.

...I could die.

And I’m afraid of that. I was given a second chance at life. I savor every second I’m still breathing.

People who’ve never seen death can’t even value their own lives.

Why didn’t I study harder at the academy? I could have, but wasting half my time memorizing terms in dusty books for the sake of grades — that was never my thing.

None of that was ever going to help me. I’d rather take care of myself.

The only real experience is the kind you can feel for yourself.

...

PAH!

Saddler kept spamming his magic beam, clapping his hands with relentless rhythm. I rolled aside and counterattacked, the fight morphing from hand-to-hand into a chaotic dance of beams and explosions.

I realized something.

I can’t beat him.

At least, not without knowing a single Supreme technique. Saddler wasn’t revealing his either. I’m afraid that’s his trump card.

Damn... there’s blood in my throat. My mana’s running low. Kagerou is gone, and with it, my ability to endlessly spam spells.

I wonder... what does a Supreme Light technique even look like? Could it heal the souls of the fallen, or restore an entire army from afar?

Those like me, attuned to Light, are called healers or paladins. I don’t want to be either — I feel I’m meant for something else.

Saddler... I’m sorry that, of all people, you had to face me.

Aimer always told me people find me repulsive because of my lack of empathy. Well, her words left me no choice.

I’ve accepted myself. I truly don’t feel compassion or pity the way others do.

And if you die by my hand, Aimer’s words will be proven.

BOOM!!

Saddler was blasted into the air by an explosion. I followed, manifesting blades of pure light and driving them into him. He flinched too late — I’d damaged several of his organs.

He crashed down, blood pouring from his gut. Kneeling, he could feel life slipping away.

I dashed up and kicked him in the face so hard he spun away and skidded across the fog-shrouded ground.

"Just die already. All my wounds are healed. Saddler... you’re low on mana, aren’t you? Stop wasting time with desperate strikes—they’re only delaying the inevitable."

My voice was tired. My eyes, empty. I wiped blood from my lips, but my whole outfit was drenched in his.

Saddler rose again, breathing heavily. He brought his palms together, trying to steady himself.

"How can you fight so desperately to survive? ...Though, I suppose I understand you better than anyone. Right now, you must be terrified, knowing that after death there’s only nothingness waiting for you. I don’t know how I died in my past life, but I have no intention of repeating that song."

Yeah. I’m no hero.

I’m just a bastard, driven by my own ideals.

Saddler clapped his hands hard and closed his eyes. I froze.

"You talk too damn much," he said.

A moment later, a wild grin spread across his face.

Light bloomed between his palms, slowly stretching out. It was the only bright thing in this place. Soon, it spread through his whole body — then vanished.

He exhaled deeply. His eyes glowed with the color of his magic.

...No way.

"Supreme Magic."

The air grew heavy with tension. I stood on guard.

Saddler shifted into a stance.

"Rite of Crucifixion!"

...

Nothing happened.

’I can feel his energy shifting suddenly,’ Sid thought. ’Unlike most high-level techniques, this one’s nature feels different. It doesn’t attack right away — maybe it depends entirely on the user’s actions. Atheron, you’ve noticed it too, haven’t you?’

I didn’t take my eyes off Saddler.

One moment he was preparing to attack, the next — he’d already slammed an uppercut into my ribs the instant I blinked!

Unbelievable speed! Is this the power of his ability?!

He lifted me into the air and unleashed a flurry — ten strikes per second. How the hell did he get this fast...?

"Arghhh—!"

PAH!

He kicked me in the torso so hard I flew back.

Then Saddler stepped forward and—

Brought an axe kick down on me mid-air!

The impact drove me into the ground, my ribs shattering. My heart almost burst from my chest.

A follow-up side kick came instantly — I barely blocked it before he spun into a roundhouse.

This rhino... he’s got to have a weak point!

Weird. I don’t feel any real change in him after using the Rite of Crucifixion. It’s as if... this is just his normal speed.

’Ritual of the Crucifixion, huh...’ Sid pondered. ’He still hasn’t actually used it. He’s probably waiting for the perfect moment. Atheron seems rattled—he can’t keep up with Saddler anymore.

But really, the truth is simple.

Saddler isn’t any faster. Atheron’s just no longer able to keep up like before.’

BOOM!

Saddler clapped again—a beam of blinding speed ripped through me, burning my clothes away.

I slid into a stance, footwork shifting—

And vanished.

Saddler spun, but I was already beneath him.

A glowing dagger formed in my hand, slicing toward his throat.

He barely leaned back. The blade grazed his neck.

His eyes went wide in alarm. He retreated fast.

This is my chance! I can’t let him breathe. I formed light-blades in both hands and lunged like a whirlwind.

Each step crashed against the ground as I closed the distance.

My blades carving arcs of light through the mist. Sparks floating around them made Saddler stumble back!

He crossed his forearms, two fingers pointed on each hand. His gaze sharpened on my right arm.

And when I swung—

...

From the sidelines, Sid’s eyes bulged.

Wh-what...?

Why... didn’t I swing?

Where... is my right arm?

In that instant, I realized.

It was gone. My right arm — gone! But when the hell did he—?!