Chapter CLVII - Rivalry of Two Apex Idiots (part 2)

Everyone watched with both of their eyes widened. They have seen Fran's strength, but not this far. It's like she is pushing herself even further, beyond what she has done in the past.

"Feast your eyes... as the two White ranked adventurers of Mazino rivalling each other in this battle."

Like oil and water…

The two have always been neck to neck with one another, probably ever since Cane became a White ranked adventurer. It's clear to anyone that they are simply impossible to work together.

But after seeing their blonde hairs, I can immediately tell the reasons.

Cane's hair is a regular natural blonde, while Fran's hair is golden. Fran's hair is actually a royalty's hair, the same way Xyphon's great families has unique hair colors. In this case, Fran's hair simply shows that she has Mazino's royal blood.

Mazino's royalty bloodline also works the same way as Xyphon great families' bloodlines. It gives the owners advantages, such as talents and genius abilities since birth.

Cane hated Fran because she was born with a talent he never had. Cane had to work really hard by himself to obtain his Knight tier light magic, all while watching in jealousy as Fran nicely enjoyed her royal blood and got her Knight tier lightning magic much easier and faster.

At the other end, Fran despises Cane because despite not having royal blood or any of sorts, Cane still manages to be able to stand on equal ground with her as a White ranked adventurer, and even getting to King tier even faster than her. He worked much harder than Fran, which gets her jealous and uneasy knowing someone else is working much harder than her.

Understanding that fact, I can only smile.

Because I know for sure… what will happen if the two decide to work together.

Having a rival can greatly increase one's motivation to become stronger. And for Fran and Cane, the two are like two apex predators in the same pack, trying to become stronger by continuously comparing each other.

And if they worked together… there is nothing they can't accomplish.

Once the two had finished powering up, the boss thought it's time to begin. It dashed forward, and surprisingly, it has a really high speed.

"It's coming!"

Emily shouted, but Fran and Cane were more than ready. With the two swords shining on their hands, the two moved faster than light and lightning.

SRINGG!!!

SRINGG!!!

The two sliced the legs of the boss at the same speed, and they stopped just a few meters behind the boss.

This… is the power of two White ranked heroes of Mazino.

.

"See? I cut first."

"No? I cut deeper."

They immediately started comparing one's cut with another… 

S-Seriously…?

"You two are morons!"

A shout came from me who was leaning on the wall. The cuts were both shallow. This thing has a really thick skin, and they were not fully focusing.

"My cut... was shallow?"

"Oh what's wrong, your majesty Swordsaint? Can't get a good slice in with your shiny sword?"

"You shut up… You are nowhere better than I do."

"Look at mine! It looked deeper!"

"How is that-"

BAARRR!!!

While the two are busy bad mouthing one another, the monster turned around and swung its gigantic blade. The blade crashed into the ground where the two were standing, and they got thrown back.

"Ugh... See! It's your fault!"

"M-My fault!? You mocked me for not cutting deep enough!"

Cane and Fran continued their mock battle even after being thrown. Even the monster is confused why aren't they fighting back.

In the walls, I let out a sigh while placing my palms on my face.

"Dear me… I might have to jump in..."

Emily and Rath who were right next to me patted me in the shoulder at the same time. 

Gods… Please help those two…

While Fran and Cane are mocking one another, the boss becomes really annoyed. It finally activates its most powerful form.

"ROOAA!!!!"

The minotaur screamed really loud as its whole body became cladded in red energy. The eyes turned red, and the muscles grew bigger.

With just a leap, the minotaur arrived right next to Cane.

"What the-"

BAARRR!!!

Cane appears right next to Fran after dodging that, while Fran is standing back up. That thing has become faster now. Plus, judging from the damage of the blade slash to the ground, it also became stronger.

"Looks like even this thing had an ultimate mode…"

"I can see that."

Fran and Cane decided to put aside their differences and finally focused on fighting against this bull head monster.

The two dashed forward at the same time. Fran casted a really powerful lightning strike at the minotaur, but it only staggered it a little. The minotaur swung its gigantic blade at Fran, but Fran simply lifted her sword to parry it.

CTAAANGGG!!!!!

The loud sound of metal hitting metal can be heard throughout the entire room. Fran threw the giant blade to the side while she herself moved up. The minotaur was about to grab hold of her, but a light beam quickly made its way from the distance and burned its left arm.

"ROOAA!!!!"

The arm merely got cooked. The same beam would have killed a dragon in one attack, and yet this guy only got a really bad sunburn.

"Tch! This guy is thick!"

"You can say that again..."

Fran moved like the speed devil on the legs, slashing here and there. But every single one of her cuts are shallow, and not even worthy of minding.

But, every bit of drop can become an ocean if it continues for an eternity. The small slash wounds slowly can be felt by the giant boss, and it began to feel pain on the legs.

The minotaur fell to its knees, and Fran used this chance to leap up and slit its throat. 

But she forgot that this guy is also fast.

"Fran!"

BAKK!!!

Fran got smacked away by the minotaur to the walls. She slowly lifted her body from the crater and grabbed hold of her sword again. That smack doesn't really faze her, but it does hurt her pride. The minotaur purposely looked weak and lured Fran in, she was punched because she got outbrained by the damn dungeon boss.

Cane let out a sigh at the fact that Fran is okay, but then he recalled that she was supposed to be his rival. He shook his head and turned back to the enemy.

"Fran! Try distracting it again!"

"Sure thing."

Fran charged like the lightning and quickly made her way towards the giant minotaur. She and the minotaur exchanged some blade hits. Sparks of flames came out every time the two swords contacted each other, and each of them were overpowering one another at every hit.

"Whew… As expected of the Swordsaint."

I mumbled and everyone else nodded. She is fighting on equal terms with that gigantic bull? That's nuts.

That sword was gigantic as hell, and the bull swung it as hard as it could. But Fran swung her sword just as hard, which shows that she also has the raw power to match the bull.

The minotaur became pissed and moved its legs this time. The giant legs tried to kick Fran and stepped on her, but it missed every time while Fran did some quick small cuts in.

Small cuts didn't hurt much, but it did make the beast more angry.

Fran kept on trying to make the minotaur turn its back away from Cane, and she did it.

Now, it's all up to Cane to not miss.

ZIINGG!!!!

A powerful small light beam flew at light speed towards the head of the minotaur. The light beam is condensed heavily, hence becoming more powerful.

And yet, the minotaur moved its head to the side just in time to dodge the light beam. The light beam crashed to the wall and disappeared deep inside the earth crust.

"You missed!?"

"That thing can dodge something from its back!?! It got a third eye or something!!!"

Cane screamed at the fact that the minotaur was able to dodge, but the minotaur had his attention fully on him now. 

Cane leaped away just in time when the minotaur dashing at his position with high speed and crashed into the walls. 

BAAARRRRRR!!!!!!

The crash caused the room to shake and the wall crumbled, causing giant boulders to fall from the sky.

BAKK!!!

Cane didn't see it, but a giant boulder fell to his head, and he fell to the ground. His head is now bleeding heavily.

"Cane! Move!!"

Fran screamed, but Cane was still trying to get back up. 

He didn't realize that the minotaur's blade was merely meters away.

My grip pushed the ground even harder and even made the ground crack.

I was this close to jumping in, when suddenly a light beam came from Cane, hitting the minotaur in the forehead.

ZRIINGGG!!!!

"ROOAA!!!!"

Cane was pointing his fingers up, and he shot a small light beam on the forehead. It wasn't enough to penetrate the skin, but it's enough to throw the minotaur off guard.

"Sad to say… I'm not that easily killed."

From the distance, lightning strikes came striking the minotaur down while Fran moved in to rescue Cane.

"Damn it Cane! That was dangerous!"

"Sorry… I didn't expect the boulders to be so large…"

Cane looked at the size of the boulder that smacked his head. It's at least three times the size of his body. It was cut in half the moment it landed on Cane's head.

The look on his face…

The Minotaur stood back up, looking unfazed, but even more pissed.

While Cane is bleeding on his head, Fran is tired from all the fighting. The situation has gone terribly.

How is it… that they are losing…?

"Hoiii!!! Aim for the damn eyes, idiots!!!!"

Rath shouted angrily from the walls near the door, and Cane and Fran quickly stared at each other dumbfounded.

… Why didn't they think of that?