Chapter 167: Overlapping Strength
Chapter 167 – Overlapping Strength
The ghosts were flocking around the courtyard .
It was as if they’re here to bear witness to the battle that was about to begin . They may not have proper awareness, but they might feel it through their instinct .
Even I almost felt overwhelmed by the immense pressure that Myne emitted . Although my head kept telling me “Let’s go”, my body was screaming “Don’t go” instead .
It’s the first time I felt this way .
Up until now, I’ve fought enemies stronger than me such as Tenryu and the archdemon . But in my mind right now, none of them could compare to Myne .
Whilst travelling together with her, I always knew that she’s strong .
However… I felt the need to correct that thought now .
『Whatta gal . Even this Me was fooled by her . That Myne… . . she’s actually much stronger than I remember . 』
Just as Greed said, the air around Myne was so much different than what I knew .
I intuitively knew .
Around Myne, small crackles of lightning occasionally could be seen .
『Myne is in serious mode now . Once you step into the courtyard, that will be when the fight begin . 』
In the end, thinking that we could talk things out was too naive .
If that’s all it takes, then we wouldn’t be here now .
I don’t know if Myne would listen or not . But I wanted to say it anyway .
[In the end…it’s coming to this . Is this really the only way…for us to understand each other?]
Aaron once told me .
That when people cannot understand each other, conflict will be inevitable even if they don’t want it . Especially so when one has a reason to uphold .
Before the world goes awry, I need to stop the door to His land from opening .
As for Myne…if what Luna told me was true, then there’s no way that she’ll stop . After all… she’s been waiting for this moment for thousands of years .
By coming here…there is no other way but to fight in order to settle whose belief would prevail .
Regardless of who won, the loser would suffer .
[I don’t think that it’s wrong for Myne to do this . However… I have no choice either . ]
To get her to listen to me, I need to defeat her first .
I sent a glance at Eris who was standing by behind me .
Right then, a gunshot rang .
Eris shot me with a phalanx bullet .
A pale white filmy light enveloped my body . With this, I should be able to survive one fatal damage .
[Myne’s attack is powerful, be careful not to get hit . ]
[Even so, I have resolved myself . ]
Myne jumped and landed right in front of me .
Her posture seemed laid back . But her eyes glowed crimson .
She’s going straight for me .
『Here she comes . Myne’s blow is extremely heavy . Maintain a firm grip on my handle . 』
A dull metal clank resounded .
It was the noise produced from the clash between the black sword and the black axe . As Greed warned, it was a very heavy blow .
So powerful and heavy that my feet sunk into the ground from receiving it .
And it’s just the first blow, I laughed wryly inside .
『Push her back! If she keeps attacking continuously, you’ll eventually be overwhelmed . 』
[I know . ]
Even though I knew, I was in the position of being suppressed . It wasn’t easy to push Myne back when I’m stuck between her axe and the ground .
Therefore, I made a decision to redirect Myne’s axe instead .
The black axe sc.r.a.ped through the length of my black sword, producing sparks in the process .
Raising dirts and debrises when it struck the ground .
Using that as a distraction, I jumped to the right to make distance .
『Fate！』
But Myne immediately charged through the flying dirts and debrises towards me .
Moreover, this move was executed with precise timing and basically no hesitation at all .
Once again, I was forced to defend .
And this time, her blow was twice as powerful as her first .
The dull metal clashing noise resounded, and at the same time a pressure greater than I expected was transmitted to both of my arms .
I could feel the rush of battle in my vein… Even so, there’s also a different kind of feeling unlike how I felt to those I had fought before this .
I just have to do my best to not be overwhelmed . It’s only been two blows since the fight began .
From hereon, her attack would only grow heavier and heavier .
I stayed silent until she raised her axe for another attack .
[Myne . ]
[… . . ]
From the beginning, I knew that she’s someone who rarely talks, especially about herself .
But I also knew .
[I don’t care how . ]
[… . . ]
[But I’ve come this far to stop Myne . ]
My eyes didn’t miss the slight movement of her eyebrows .
[I’ve heard from Luna . ]
[!?]
Right then her expressionless face changed .
Myne who had been calm and collected in battle, somehow looked upset .
[Luna, she…]
And my ears didn’t miss the quiet utterance leaking from her lips .
[Yes, she did . Luna told me . ]
But just when I found a way to talk with Myne…someone else chose to disturb .
Blood red tentacle stretched out, keeping me away from Myne .
I sensed immense danger when the tentacle was about to touch me, so I had no choice but to jump backward to evade it .
[Tsk, you dodged it good . What a shame . ]
Shinn emerged from under the ground . His body looked as if it was made of liquid .
His form looked like one, but he’s certainly no human . Greed once told me that he’s actually collective lifeforms that could take any forms and hide anywhere .
Shinn turned away from me and talked to Myne .
[I have given you enough time . I can’t wait any longer . ]
[… . . ]
[Alright then, let’s get this over with . Let’s kill them . ]
[… . . ]
[If you don’t, the door will never open . If the door never opens, your wish will never be fulfilled . ]
[… . . ]
[You’ve been waiting for this moment like forever, haven’t you? It’s just around the corner now, Myne . ]
Shinn walked closer to Myne, whispering something to her who had remained silent .
[Everyone is waiting for you . Are you going to betray them again?]
[I’m not . ]
[Then fight seriously . They are trying to get in our way… Show them the full extent of your true power . ]
Myne must’ve waited for an unimaginably long time to fulfill this wish .
If what Luna told me was true, even I myself am not sure that I won’t give up if I had to do the same .
Shinn’s whisper touched upon what had driven Myne to stay alive . Using that as a leverage, even the usually immovable Myne could be swayed .
While travelling with me, I always felt as if her heart and thoughts were somewhere else . And that somewhere, is here .
Perhaps, if I was still the me of the past, I would’ve ended up the same way as Myne .
Shinn turned to me with a smile on his face . That look…he’s confident that he has won now .
『Fate, it’s getting dangerous!』
[Get away from there, Fate!]
Eris did a suppressive fire on both Shinn and Myne from behind me to allow me to retreat .
It’s strange to hear both Greed and Eris actually warned me of the same thing .
Myne was the holder of the Wrath skill .
I knew because she told me during the time we travelled together .
And I knew that I’ve never seen the extent of her Wrath skill, as she’s been wielding her axe expressionlessly .
Occasionally she would lash back at me if I teased her too much . But that’s more out of annoyance rather than actual anger .
When the holder of Wrath skill immerse themselves in anger… I wonder what would happen?
It’s exactly what I’m about to witness here .
『This is Myne’s real form . 』
[Ahaha…I actually don’t want to see this again . ]
Greed smirked .
Behind me, it was obvious to me that Eris was upset . She knew that this situation would greatly burden me as she’s the rear guard in our two-man cell .
And for the first time since I met her, I saw Myne’s real appearance .
Repelling aura with similar color to her eyes overflowed from her body .
It might be her surplus of magic power made visible .
The most distinctive feature was that there were a pair of horns sticking out from Myne’s forehead . In addition to that was the markings on her entire body were now glowing in white light .
『Fate, listen carefully . That’s how someone who had immersed themselves in Wrath skill looks like . Once this happens, she won’t be able to hear us anymore . Simply put, it’s like when Gluttony skill took over you . Surely you understand what that entail to . 』
[So she’s unleashing the power of Wrath skill?]
『Yes . And unlike you who could only use semi-starvation state, Myne unleashed it in a full scale . 』
Releasing the Mortal Sin skill at full force, huh…
『Myne will take action soon . And she’s serious now . 』
As Shinn had said earlier, the time is running out .
『Her attacks would be a whole league stronger than earlier . 』
I immediately released half of the Gluttony skill power――entering the semi-starvation state .
Myne also disappeared from my sight . She still had that much speed despite Sloth being twice heavier than usual already .
『We should go all out as well . Otherwise you will not be able to receive her attacks . 』
[Yeah, let’s go, Greed!]
I’ll show them the results of my training in the spiritual world up until now .
[Greed!]
『Fate！』
At the same time when our voices overlapped, the black sword emitted a black glow .
The black light wrapped around me .
[『Crossing！！』]