[Aah! The disguise is undone!]
“Aah, no!”
The audience screamed as the color of Michael's hair began to return to black. Meanwhile, Elijah stood motionless, staring at Michael with shocked eyes.
'What?'
“What kind of trick is this? Why would you agree to a mana drain..."
“You!”
That's when Elijah suddenly shouted and got in his face.
Michael ducked backward to avoid the unwelcome approach, and Elijah immediately lunged at him, swinging his sword.
“What are you doing!”
He spewed out half a dozen words without context, making it impossible to understand what he was saying.
Michael nonchalantly parried his attack.
“Ha, ha, ha...!”
He laughed so hard that it reached the air.
“You have no decency, so I'll hurry up and finish you off before you get any more disgusting.”
“Whatever!”
Elijah's lemon-colored eyes flashed. The mesmerized look of a moment ago was gone.
The maniacal intent and excitement made his movements sharper and sharper. It was as if he had been born a Berserker, one who didn't need a magic stone to be born.
But of course, he was nothing compared to Michael, who was born a King from day one.
Even in the face of a swift attack that would have left only an afterimage, Michael cowered.
“Yeah, go for it. The crowd hates to be bored.”
Michael echoed Elijah's words.
[Although the pink is gone, the tense battle has resumed, and for some reason, it feels like it's gotten more intense!]
Elijah charged with his main gauche. Michael easily dodged to the side and slashed at Elijah's shoulder with his Nightray. Elijah then reversed and raised his dagger to defend.
Bang!
The top of Nightray's hilt clashed with the blade of the dagger. Elijah's eyebrows twitched.
“Your movements haven't been the same since earlier. Have you been hiding your skills?”
“I didn't want the crowd to be disappointed if I didn't finish strong.”
“I thought you said you couldn't deliberately stall and insult your opponent. What are you and Lord Millard?”
Michael didn't bat an eyelash at the accusation.
“Sylvie was dueling as a friend, and you are not.”
At that moment, Michael changed the direction of his force from horizontal to vertical.
Boom!
The tip of Nightray's sword scraped the blade of Elijah's dagger and fell downward.
Deciding that his empty waist was too dangerous, Elijah tried to back away.
But Michael would have none of it. With his arms outstretched, he spun his body half a turn and slashed horizontally.
The rotational force of the attack was powerful and fast, aimed squarely at Elijah's neck. Elijah quickly crossed his main gauche and dagger to block it.
Jaw!
The dull thud of the blow rang in his ears, not the clear resonance of the sword. Elijah panicked and checked what he had blocked: it was not a sword, but a scabbard.
'Aha! It was the left hand holding the scabbard, for it had spun half a circle!'
Now the real sword would come through the gap. With a hunch, Elijah tried to pull himself to the side.
He thought that since Michael had spun his body halfway around with his previous attack, he would have time to use his right hand. But he was wrong.
Pfft!
Michael stretched out his long leg and punched Elijah in the stomach. The attack landed squarely, sending Elijah sprawling out on the ground.
“Ouch!”
“Phew, that's some relief.”
It was a selfless attack.
[Alas, Lord Agnito! He kicks Lord Halsten brutally, with no regard for his dignity! Is it personal?]
“The emcee is quick-witted, so this won't work.”
There's no point in dragging out a boring battle if it can't satisfy one's selfish desire.
Now it was time to really finish the job.
Michael deliberately waited for Elijah to correct his stance before he stomped the ground.
With the distance quickly closing, Elijah lowered his stance and slammed his main gauche vertically. At that moment, Michael leaped into the air.
Using the main gauche's blade as a stepping stone, Michael performed an assisted closing leap and flipped over Elijah's back in a single bound.
Elijah, who was suddenly caught behind, turned around with a cry. His eyes quickly searched for Michael.
Thud.
Landing farther away than he expected, Michael didn't lunge for his next attack.
Instead, he simply stood there with his back to the enemy.
A moment later, Michael flicked the Nightray lightly. A few drops of blood scattered from the tip of the blade.
Only then did Elijah feel a tingling sensation on the back of his neck. A long gash in his neck was oozing blood.
“Ha.”
It was over before he even landed.
Changgang.
In a gesture of surrender, Elijah dropped the swords in both hands.
[Mi, Michaelis Agnito, victorious!]
“Waaaaaah!”
As soon as the verdict was in, Michael slid his Nightray neatly into its scabbard.
He approached the statuesque Elijah and nudged him low.
“Don't you dawdle with your leg loose. I have to help you up."
The mood in the center of the stadium was chilly, at odds with the crowd's enthusiastic response.
[Alas! The eventual winner of this summer's tournament has been crowned: Sir Micaelis Agnito, Knight of the Flower Pink!]
“Blossom Pink! Blossom Pink!”
What a lame title. Micchel made a rare face.
He was then told to retire and wait while the arena was cleared and the award ceremony was prepared.
Michael turned away from Elijah without a second thought.
The back of his figure, radiating cold aura, seemed to melt into the dark hallway and disappear.
With his back to the bright lights and cheers of the stadium, Michael walked down the hallway. For what seemed like an eternity, he followed the endless tunnel-like path into the darkness. Suddenly, his straight back swayed precariously. He stopped and braced himself against the wall.
“Ugh.”
A low groan escaped him. In truth, he hadn't felt well since the end of the match.
The more he absorbed his kin's mana, the closer he came to awakening. There was a catch, however, and that was that it had to be mutual.
'Elijah Halsten... Why?'
During the mana drain, Elijah was more than just defenseless.
He was willing to let Michael do whatever he wanted.
“Have you lost your mind?'
Michael could have asked, given the maniacal grin on his face.
More than that, it was Michael's own physical condition.
This is the third time he's had a near-awakening experience, but this one was unusual. Whereas usually, it was just a slight heat in his heart, he felt his whole body heat up and his breathing become short.
'I only sucked a little...'
After all, that mana too, was bad, just like his master.
Now it's the award ceremony. He couldn't afford to spill the ink on his master's honor by showing off his ineptitude to 100,000 spectators.
Michael chose a secret breath, hoping it would last until the ceremony. That's when he heard the words.
“Michaelis Agnito.”
His brow creased at the voice behind him. Michael quickly straightened up.
Elijah lunged forward, blocking Michael's path.
Despite his aggressive behavior, his face showed that he was hesitant to speak.
Irritated by the delay, Michael spoke first.
“Get out of the way. If you're defeated, admit it cleanly..."
Only then did Elijah hurriedly reveal his business.
“Don't you remember me?”
Michael immediately understood what the counting question meant.
'What the hell, he remembers me too.'
While Elijah felt surprised, Michael rolled his face as if he couldn't stand the short wait.
“Why don't you answer?!”
“... Remembering doesn't change anything. All I've felt lately is regret that I saved you.”
It wasn't a pretty answer, but it was enough. Elijah's eyes widened.
If only because of his condition, Michael wanted to end the conversation quickly, so he added coldly.
“Let's go our separate ways. And don't try to hit on my Princess.”
Michael moved out of the way and walked past Elijah.
“You're alive... Haha... ha ha ha ha ha!”
Left behind, Elijah laughed like he was in the stadium again.
It wasn't a normal laugh, but somehow it was a laugh of joy.
Michael quickened his pace, thinking that the madman's outburst must have made him feel better, but then Elijah caught up to him, laughing.
“I've been a bit of a pain in the ass, haven't I?”
“I guess you know.”
“I won't be anymore. Let's try to get along. Okay?”
“Don't ask too much.”
“Don't be so stiff... Uh, wait.”
“Don't follow me.”
“Where are you going in such a hurry? Come with me, Michael.”
“What, do you want to die, Lord Halsten?”
At the casual, friendly shortening of his name, Michael immediately responded that he wanted to live.
Elijah looked up, startled, and immediately corrected him.
“Brother!”
Support Novellate!
Comments
Post a Comment