Chapter 163 : The Will of The Weak

[I am...the weakest person in this world].

*TING*

[The only thing I could do....].

*TING*

[....is to watch everything falling apart].

*TANG*

[Even if I trained my swordsmanship to the fullest].

*TING*

[The result will be the same].

*THUNG*

Those thoughts swirled in Ray's head as he bore witness to the young man who fought against the odds.

*TING*

It was an unbelievable fight.

A fight so unlike anything he had ever seen in his lifetime.

A fight not between humans, but two monsters who had reached the peak.

*TING*

Rei soared in the sky using [Fly] with his weapons floating beside him using [Telekinesis].

While flying, Fafnir appeared on his side and launched his fist towards him.

"Haha—!"

*BOOM*

Rei deliberately stopped and let his fist pass through, hitting the ground and creating a large explosion from it.

The black water splashed around them and blinded Fafnir's sight temporarily.

A rotating spear flew straight past the water streams, to strike at Fafnir from his left side.

*TSSSKKK*

Using the scale on the back of his left hand, he managed to block his spear despite being clad in his black flame.

*TING*

And successfully deflected the spear aside with ease.

*BUSH*

Rei then grabbed his axe with his right hand, then flew towards him with full speed before lifting his axe up to fully swing it downwards towards him.

*SWOOSH*

Fafnir moved aside to his right side and dodged his axe that passed through him, then took a stance to prepare his right fist, launching it towards that side while Rei was still in mid-air and holding his axe.

*THUNG*

In just a second, Rei used his left hand to grab his sword, then clad it with his black flame and striking Fafnir's fist to block it by the tip of his sword.

*TSKKKK*

Fafnir widened his eyes when he saw it, 'Fascinating! Since his left hand couldn't reach my fist, he used his sword to increase the length of his reach and stopped me!'

'But....'

Fafnir suddenly pulled his fist away, pulling Rei forward due to the sudden weight he put on the sword to block his fist.

'I have another one!'

*SWOOSH*

Fafnir launched his left fist towards the right side of his abdomen

'[Gorgon]!!'

With his [Telekinesis], his shield flew towards him and...

*BAM*

Managed to block his attack by inches, but the impact from that fist caused a large wind current and pressure that pushed Rei aside.

*SWOOSH*

'Ugh—?!' Rei suffered some damage from it, but at the same time…

'Heh.' Fafnir received another stack of one of his shield effects, [Gorgon's Gaze] which weakened his strength again.

Rei immediately flipped his body to maintain his balance while still using [Fly] before letting go of his sword and axe.

After that, he grabbed his bow and pulled the string, creating five black flaming arrows.

'[Wind Arrow] + [Fire Arrow] + [Hell Flame] +...'

He let go of the string, and five arrows were fired at Fafnir from all directions.

'[Archery Artillery Arts: Homing Missile]....'

"Such a petty trick!" Fafnir shouted and swung his right fist from down there.

*SWOOSH*

After that, he created wind pressure again from that punch, causing his black flaming arrows to disperse.

However…

"...!"

*SWOOSH*

'Heh.'

Rei smiled because after the flaming arrows were gone, crystallized arrows came out from it, which meant...

'It's not over...[Archery Artillery Arts: Cracker].'

*SHATTERS*

The crystallized arrows immediately shattered into tiny shards that rained down on Fafnir.

"How amusing!" Fafnir lifted his arms to defend against those shards that continuously struck him.

*TSK* *TSK* *TSK*

Those shards managed to leave grazes on his human body, thanks to Rei's shield and from the aura on his arrows.

It managed to tear the Ancient Dragon's defense by this far.

But that didn't make him feel fear, rather...

Excitement.

"HAHAHAHA!!! What a fun fight, Kiritsuka Rei!!" With that laugh, Fafnir released his [Haki], causing all the shards that rained on him to shatter into dust.

Rei wasn't done yet, he was already preparing another arrow in his hand.

A concentrated black flame that swirled around the sharp tip of the arrow that had been created with crystallized aura.

'[Archery Artillery Arts:....'

Fafnir crouched as he grinned widely, creating a strong pressure on the ground and waves from the black water around them.

'Artillery Strikes].' Rei shot his arrow at full speed that was aimed towards Fafnir.

*BOOM*

And Fafnir launched himself straight towards the flaming arrow.

"HAHAHAHA!!!" While laughing wholeheartedly, and swinging his left fist to strike the arrow.

*BOOM*

Their clash created a large explosion that sent shockwaves all over this empty space

Rei was still on high alert, as Fafnir disappeared from his sight due to the smoke from the explosion.

'He's coming.' Rei predicted and true enough, Fafnir emerged from the smoke and prepared to launch his right fist at him, with a big smile.

Rei anticipated that and…

"...?!"

Fafnir noticed something coming towards him at high speed, and he swiftly tilted his head to the left when something went past him.

*SWOOSH*

It was his spear, and it went back to Rei's right hand that immediately set ablaze in black flame.

But that didn't stop Fafnir as he was still swinging his right fist at him.

"COME ON!!!"

"HMMMM!!!"

Rei went straight at him and thrusted his flaming spear towards his fist.

'[Spear Arts: Falling Dragon].'

*TINGGG*

The clash created a blinding light that lit up the empty dark space, and Ray was there watching everything unfolded before his eyes.

*******

While they were fighting, Ray was watching from the side. He couldn't move his body due to the pressure they emitted.

He was brimming with frustration and anger, and he couldn't even catch a glimpse of their movements.

Ray gripped his sword and tried to stand up, 'Come on...move!' As if his body felt like it was being chained down by something heavy and invisible.

*SWOOSH*

Then another wave of pressure pushed him back.

'Ugh—?!' Ray struggled to stand his ground, but he tried to get up.

"I need...to get up..." Ray muttered.

"Why am I so weak..."

"Why can't I set things straight..."

"I am a weakling and I know full well of my limits...."

"But...I cannot stay this way any longer!!" Ray shouted with all his strength while still trying to get up.

He saw them suddenly flying through the air and fought there.

And all he could do was watch.

Ray gritted his teeth,

It started with the word [Weak] and things went downhill since then.

That ugly feeling when he saw other people were blessed with everything he could ever wished for resurfaced

Power,

Status,

And Strength.

[Envy] was the thing he tried so hard to bury. But on the other hand, that emotion could also be called [Desire], and it responded to something that had been hidden inside him for so long.

*ZWONG*

Something he had seen before appeared right in front of his eyes.

[Do you desire power?]

A hologram panel.

"Yes" Ray answered without missing a beat

[Why do you desire it?] The question changed.

Ray widened his eyes when it changed, "Because...I want to protect the people I love."

It was a simple answer anyone could have come up with.

But that led to yet another question.

[Why do you need to protect them?]

"Because....I had lost them once...and, I don't want to lose them again." Ray answered again albeit more carefully, it was a rather unexpected question.

But then…

[If the power you desire might harm others and the people you loved once, will you still desire it?]

"....?! Do I still desire it?..." Ray muttered in surprise as he considered his options and consequences.

A second passed and he gulped as he looked straight at the question again and said, "Yes...I still desire it."

[Oh] The words written on the panel paused for a moment and continued [Why do you still desire it?]

Ray looked at the question for a while. It seemed that whoever sent the hologram didn't expect such an answer, but that's when he realized something.

"Because...power can be good or evil, depending on how you use it." Ray answered.

[And why do you still want to take it?]

The question kept changing as if it was casually talking to him.

"Because...if I take it, no one can have it."

"Which means they won't use this power for themselves and...if the power goes out of control..." Ray muttered.

"I will destroy that power along with me." He spoke as his golden eyes glinted for a moment.

This time, his answer seemed to satisfy whoever it was that was behind this series of questions.

[I like you.]

"...?!"

After that...

*SWOOSH*

A flame came out of nowhere right in front of him.

Ray widened his eyes after he saw the flame.

For a fire, the color was rather peculiar and quite similar to his eyes.

Golden.

A bright golden flame shone in front of him, moving closer and closer as if it was pulled by him.

"What is this..." Ray felt a similar feeling as to when he saw that black unknown flame merging with Kiritsuka Rei.

But this time, this golden flame…

It resonated with him.

Another hologram panel showed up in front of him once more.

[Notice!]

["????" had appeared! Will you accept it?]

[Yes/No]

Ray could tell what this flame was for based on the series of questions he was subjected to a moment ago.

But he didn't want to hesitate any longer and reached his hand to grasp that flame, "Do you even need to ask?"

He grabbed the golden flame.

"The answer is yes!"

Golden flame began to spread out, swirling around Ray's body, and merging into one with him.

He could feel the flame slowly cover his entire body, 'I see...so this is what Kiritsuka felt when he got that power.'

'It's warm.'

[Notice!]

[You have acquired skill "Divine Flame"]

'[Divine...Flame]?'

*******

In the meantime,

*TING*

Rei was still fighting against Fafnir in mid-air, sword clashing against fist.

*TSSKKK*

*TING*

Rei then pushed his sword to deflect his fist away and flew back to gain a distance and let Fafnir fall on the ground.

"Haaa....haaa...." Rei panted as his Fatigue point had reached its peak.

'Damn it...I couldn't hit him properly.' Rei thought while looking at his state

Fafnir's clothes looked ragged from all of his attacks, but he remained unharmed since his black flame couldn't pierce his scale.

'I need to increase the output, but the moment I do that, he will take the opportunity to attack.' Rei thought as he looked at his own HP and MP.

[Level: 185]

[HP: 6750/41500]

[MP: 1150/9650]

[FATIGUE: 100 *orange*]

[Agni] and [Hell Flame] had been used continuously, along with [Telekinesis] and [Fly].

His HP and MP have been reduced into 20%.

'I cannot prolong this fight any longer, I need to finish it before I exhaust all of my MP.' Rei decided as he noticed something.

'....?!' He widened his eyes as he smiled behind his helmet.

Fafnir observed his opponent flying above him from the surface of the black water

'Even though I haven't use any of my dragon skills, who knew a human like him could push me into this state.'

'...is he even human? Using an otherworldly power so liberally like that.'

'But...I'm more surprised that he could handle that many weapons.' Fafnir grinned widely.

'How exciting, a good fight after 1000 years of boredom.'

'Compared to Muramasa who fought in party with his comrade.'

'THIS IS MORE FUN!' Fafnir couldn't even hide his emotion, as he didn't noticed how wide he is smiling now while cracking his fingers.

'Now then, what are you going to show me next?' Fafnir, who was brimming with excitement....

Began to failed to notice something.

"Hahaha!"

"...?" Fafnir blinked in confusion from Rei's sudden laugh, but that's when he finally noticed it.

"Welcome back, partner." Rei shifted his eyes aside, looking at something.

'[Shukuchi].'

*SWOOSH*

A new strong presence appeared immediately beside Fafnir's right side.

"...?!"

A man clad in golden flame on his entire body lifted up his sword.

'[Vertical Slash].'

And swung his sword down with full force.

*TING*

Fafnir almost couldn't react to it in time, and immediately blocked it by lifting his right arm, facing his sword head on.

'[Kagutsuchi no Ken].'

*SWOOSH*

Then his sword was clad in this golden flame

*TSSSKKK*

Fafnir had to back away as his scale got burnt the same way as the black flame that Rei used.

'But it's different.' Fafnir thought while he took a distance, but Ray didn't give him that chance.

'[Shukuchi].'

So he shortened his distances towards Fafnir as he was observing the flame.

'[Horizontal Slash].'

Then Ray swung his sword from his right side.

'.....???'

Then Fafnir finally got his answer when the flaming blade was about to reach his throat, he began to laugh.

"Hahaha!! I see!! You gave it to him didn't you!!!"

.

.

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"Ignia!!!"

Fafnir then released his haki, causing Ray to get pushed back and cancel his attack.

"—?!"

Fafnir took this chance to swing his left fist towards him.

*SWOOSH*

But….

"[Smash]!!"

*THUNG*

An axe approached his left side and hit his body which caused Fafnir to be flung aside and stop him before he could strike at Ray.

*SWOOSH*

'—?! Heh.'

Rei held his axe like a batter who just hit a homerun.

Fafnir, who's currently focused on Ray, forgot his existence completely.

Ray looked at him, "Kiritsuka, I...." but before he start to talk.

"You don't have to say it, right now, our focus is to finish him before the fight becomes even longer." Rei replied to him with full of nothing but trust towards him.

Ray widened his eyes and smiled, "Thank you." And thanked him.

"You don't have to thank me, but how long can that flame last?" Rei asked.

Ray checked the new skill he obtained.

=======================================

[Divine Flame]

Active Skill

MP cost: -10 MP/sec

Cooldown: 0 sec.

A flame that was once the light of Heaven. It was born from the light itself, containing both the power of destruction and purification towards those deemed as [Evil]. When it casted on the user or any other person, it can [Heal] and [Purify] any injuries and debuff.

=======================================

"With our MP now…not that long." Ray replied.

"I see, I guess we can't delay this any longer." Rei muttered.

"So...the only answer is..."

*SWOOSH*

Fafnir released his haki once more, creating a strong wave of aura and mana.

"....let's finish him once and for all!" Rei shouted as he set his body ablaze with the black flame.

"Yeah!" Ray replied as he did the same with his golden flame.

"Don't waste anymore time!!! And use your all!!!" Fafnir taunted and dashed towards the two.

'[Persona]!'

'[Persona]!'

The two used the skill that had been long forgotten, the skill that connected them as partners.

And within this realm where they're not sharing one body, their minds stay connected.

When the two met each other's eyes, they immediately knew what they were thinking.

*SWOOSH*

Ray initiated the fight by dashing towards Fafnir.

"Hahahaha!!! You dare to fight with me alone!!" Fafnir was about to swing his right fist at Ray…

But something followed behind Ray when his fist was an inch away from his face.

*THUNG*

Unexpectedly, his fist was blocked by a black shield that was on Ray's left hand.

"—?!"

Fafnir was weakened for a moment once again, but that didn't stop him.

"Did you think that would stop me!"

Fafnir raised his left fist and swiftly switched it around to strike his other side.

*THUNG*

Ray then blocked it with his full strength while receiving the damage from the shockwave of that punch.

Ray's blood vessels burst out from his body, despite successfully blocking that strike.

Fafnir couldn't help but smile at the sight but...

*SWOOSH*

His golden flame gathered around his wound, and closed it up...

As if it was healing him.

"So it heals you...in that case...I just need to keep hitting!!" Fafnir launched his right fist at him again.

*THUNG*

Rei blocked it once again, receiving more and more damage from it.

Yet the damage was healed once more.

Then another punch from his left.

He blocked it.

Another from his right.

He blocked it again.

Punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch, punch.

Block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block, block.

A barrage of fists raining against an unshakable wall of shield that continued to block each and every single one of them.

The full force of that punch was undeniably strong and enough to destroy his whole body with just one impact.

But everytime he blocked it, the flame healed him again and again, unwavering in front of such strength.

When it started to look like an endless exchange of blows…

Ray took action.

When Fafnir's right fist about to reach his shield, Ray shifted his shield, causing his fist to graze on the side, and then…

*THUNG*

He deflected his fist away.

"...?!"

It shocked Fafnir, he realized, albeit too late that his body had been weakened to the point that he forgot the effect of that shield.

After that, Ray reached out something with his right hand and suddenly...

*SWOOSH*

He thrust it in full swing at Fafnir's chest.

*TING*

Fafnir was caught off guard yet he still managed to block it with his right palm. What's more surprising was the weapon that Ray used...

Was a spear.

'He switched his weapon?' Fafnir thought.

Then Ray took a step and pushed his shield forwards.

*BAM*

Pushing Fafnir away.

"Ugh—?!" Fafnir, with a weakened body, couldn't handle the force from that shield.

"How interesting!!"

But Fafnir released his haki once again, as if he still had enough strength to do so.

Despite that…

*SWOOSH*

Multiple flaming arrows approached him and bombed him down.

*BOOM*

Smoke erupted from where Fafnir was struck down

*SWOOSH*

But he emerged unharmed, "You think that could defeat me?!"

"No, I don't think so."

*SWOOSH*

The spear that on Ray's hand, was flying straight towards Fafnir's face.

"...?!"

The one who throws it, wasn't Ray.

It was Rei who hid behind him all along and also the one who shooted those arrows.

By using [Telekinesis], Rei made the spear flying towards him after Ray let go the spear.

"Such a petty trick!!" When Fafnir about to grabbed the spear.

*SWOOSH*

The spear suddenly shifted its direction towards upward, before he caught it.

"I'm not done yet!"

Rei spoke and already jumped up while gathering all of his aura and black flame into his axe while controlling the spear to spin with his black flame as well.

Upon seeing him from up there, Fafnir become more excited.

"That's more like it!!"

Fafnir then took a stance and gathered his aura on his right fist the same way as him, but it turned into a black swirl.

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As the two finished gathering their strength, Rei slowly fell towards him while lifting his axe.

When he was about to approach him...

.

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They released their skills.

"[Dragon Arts: Void]." Fafnir threw his punch filled with a violent black sphere of aura.

"[Axe Arts: Mountain Cleaver]." Rei swung his axe in full force that was clad in his black flame

*BOOM*

The ground shook, creating a large fissure from the impact of the clash of their skills. Causing the realm to crack bit by bit.

"HAAAAAAAAA!!!!"

As Rei and Fafnir clashed with their force, the differences between these two was very clear.

And the losing side was...

Rei.

*TING*

Rei's axe bounced off from his hand and Fafnir succeeded to fend off his skill with his own.

'It's my win!'

Or so he thought.

"This isn't....!!"

Rei raised his hand and grabbed the spinning spear that was in the mid-air, then...

*SWOOSH*

He threw it towards Fafnir.

"...over yet!!"

'[Spear Arts: Gungnir].'

"—?!"

Fafnir was faced against another attack from above.

"HAHAHAHA!!" He laughed seeing that Rei had prepared for another one final attack.

But...

When Fafnir about to prepared of what he is going to do to respond his attack, he began to felt something.

'Huh? Did I...miss something?'

He thought of it while his eyes was focusing on the flaming spear that is flying towards him.

.

.

.

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.

.

The similar situation that just happened a moment ago.

When one focuses on something what is in front of them, they tend to forget something.

Like when they look at the light and forgot that there's the shadow that lurks behind them.

And now, Fafnir realizes it again, he has forgotten about someone once more.

"....??"

Fafnir shifted his eyes towards his front, but he was too late to notice it.

It was an ordinary man with a sword, who stood proudly as his body was clad in golden flame.

He was called the coward who ran from reality and his own past, he who had lost many things and remained weak for far too long, but now…

He had taken a step forward.

Into a new realm.

Fafnir smiled, '[One with Sword]...the unity.'

Ray Houston had been waiting for this moment. He lifted his sword up and took a deep breath while closing his eyes.

'[Divine Flame].'

He gathered all the golden flame that covered his entire body into his sword.

The same scenery that happened when Rei used that one skill.

'[Kagutsuchi no Ken].'

The raging golden flame disappeared and his sword began to shine bright with the color of gold like the sun itself.

Then he tried to remember, the feeling he had once before, to take down everything that was standing in his way.

The skill that he had developed himself, of all those years.

"...?!"

Fafnir sensed something was off, the moment he set his eyes on him.

He gritted his teeth, grinning with excitement and finally...he decided to use his [Dragon Skill].

'Amazing! Attack from above! And from below!'

In that short moment, he immediately used [Dragonification] to cover his entire body with his dark scale.

'But it won't be enough!!'

*TING*

He immediately fend off the spear with his left arm covered with his dark scales by grazing the spear with his scale and shifted the direction of the spear.

At the same time, he directed his face towards Ray and began to open his mouth.

'So....'

*SHINGGGG*

Then a strong magical power, began to gathered towards his mouth and he done it quickly before Ray could finished his skill.

After that...

'[Dragon Magic: Dark Breath]!'

*ZWONG*

Fafnir fire his breath, that looks like a dark purple color laser towards him.

'....Show me your best shot!'

Fafnir who thought he had the upperhand here, after he shooted his breath towards him.

But...

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.

It was already too late.

*CLINK*

'[Sword Arts: Sky Decapitation].'

Ray swung from his sword down gently.

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.

Before the laser is about to hit him.

*SWOOSH*

The laser dissipated without a trace.

"....??"

While Fafnir's left part of his body was cut in half, unnoticed.

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His eyes widened from the shock as he couldn't even reacted to it.

His scale that is harder than adamantite itself was cut down by something that he couldn't see.

But he knew, that his sword managed to reach him.

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In that moment, Fafnir smiled towards him while his body fell.

"I take those words back...."

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"I admit now, you...are not weak."

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Fafnir finally fell to the ground,

"you are…strong..."

"So be proud...Ray Houston."

On the ground was a line of golden flame from Ray's skill, and carved by his sword.

Ray stood there and let out a sigh, "Thank you...for your teaching."

To be continued...