Chapter 336: The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Ally (2)

Authority was similar to a miracle performed by a god, and also an unfair phenomenon. However, there was no such thing as “absolute” in this world.

As such, some Transcendentals created Divine Arts—a technique that reached the domain of gods and was comparable to Authority—with talent counted among the finest in the world and effort that ground their very bones away. Keter’s Limitless Archery, Hyperion’s Sudden Thunderpalm From The Blue, and Deyal’s Ultimate Nullification were all Divine Arts.

There may be many kinds of strength, but true strength didn’t need an elaborate explanation; the principle of Ultimate Nullification was a perfect example. It was a sword that slashed the world. This was a concept that was one level above space, and it could even cut through time itself. Deyal’s sword could not be blocked, and the only answer was to evade.

However, Keter did not evade. Instead, he threw himself into Ultimate Nullification’s embrace. He ran toward death. It was beyond recklessness—no different from suicide. Any attack was strongest at its starting point, and the farther one moved from that point, the weaker it became.

Warriors called this the interval of attack, and maintaining a razor-thin distance was considered supreme since the closer one was able to dodge an attack, the greater the chance to counterattack. Even if struck, only the tip of the blade would graze them. A mere graze does not reach one’s life. However, if one moved just three centimeters deeper, the blade would end their life. Distance control was everything in battle.

And yet Keter ignored that principle and charged in. It was practically a declaration of death.

It should have been that way...

Deyal looked at Keter. His expression was easy to read; Keter was confident he had won.

Keter’s emotions were so openly displayed that, paradoxically, his true thoughts couldn’t be read.

How does he know Ultimate Nullification’s weakness?

There was no such thing as a perfect technique; weaknesses and flaws always existed. If someone claimed their technique was invincible, they were either ignorant or too inexperienced to have discovered their own weakness.

Like this, Deyal’s Ultimate Nullification also had a weakness: there was a safe zone of one meter. If one remained within a one-meter distance of Deyal, Ultimate Nullification did not strike them. This was because this sword had a long hilt. No matter how short the swing, a gap of one meter inevitably remained.

By that principle, Keter should have been safe; he had approached close enough to touch Deyal. However, this only held true if one’s movement speed exceeded the swing speed of Ultimate Nullification. In other words, Keter was slower, and that was why he was slashed.

Even so... it only cut down to just below his shoulder.

By pure speed, Keter had been far too slow. Half his body should have been severed. Yet what limited the damage to only below the shoulder was...

Was that not Ultimate Nullification?

Deyal himself found it absurd, but he had clearly seen it. Keter had been stretching without any preparation, then suddenly charged. Deyal had been startled. Even if it was unintentional on Keter’s part, Deyal’s sword's weakness was one meter.

But it was too late.

Stacked injuries had slowed Keter’s movements. He would not make it into the safe zone in time... or so Deyal thought.

Whoosh.

Keter swung his right hand as if he had a sword, and from that hand, Ultimate Nullification unfolded. It was far cruder, but it was unmistakably Deyal’s Divine Art, not with a sword but with his bare hand.

Ultimate Nullification clashed with Ultimate Nullification. Naturally, Keter’s version dissipated, but it bought time. It was only 0.2 seconds, but also a full 0.2 seconds. Because of that, even while being cut by Ultimate Nullification, Keter advanced, finally reaching the safe zone within Deyal’s arms.

If this had been real combat...

Keter would have died. In 0.2 seconds, Deyal could have used Ultimate Nullification three more times. But they had clearly agreed on only a single strike. That was why Deyal, even seeing Keter approach plainly, had done nothing.

I said I would not let my guard down, and I did not. Yet Keter won?

A chill ran down Deyal’s spine. He didn’t understand how Keter knew the weakness of his technique. And even if he had known, it wasn’t easy to show the audacity to charge straight toward death like that.

After a short yet long silence, Deyal acknowledged Keter.

“...Impressive.”

* * *

Keter was still smiling, but in the end, he dropped to one knee, clutching his chest.

Deyal stepped back. “I can see why Eslow lost to you. For the Lords of this kingdom to lose to a single man... how absurd.”

Turning away, Deyal sheathed his sword.

“A feat worthy of praise, but you won’t be able to boast of it yourself.”

Keter hadn’t died yet, but he soon would. Half of his heart had been severed. It had already been partially cut when Eslow pierced through his chest. That alone had been fatal, but then Deyal’s Ultimate Nullification sliced it further.

With trembling hands, Keter plunged one hand into the ground and pulled it back out. In his hand was an elixir—a top-grade elixir he had hidden underground before the battle began. This elixir was worth hundreds of thousands of gold per bottle. It was so supreme it could revive even the dead. Keter downed it in one gulp.

Gurgle gurgle!

The moment it passed his throat, the severed shoulder began to boil and regenerate instantly. Elixirs restore damaged organs as well, so his heart should have healed, but...

Drip...

The newly regenerated shoulder tore open again, blood bursting out.

“W-why?”

Henya, watching, was even more shocked. It had clearly healed, and she couldn’t understand why the injury was appearing again.

Deyal placed a hand on her shoulder and explained, “My sword aura is composed of tens of thousands of condensed micro-auras. The moment I cut my opponent, those countless fragments invade their body. It was designed to counter those with infinite regeneration.”

“That’s...!”

Henya tried to rush to Keter’s side, but Deyal held her firmly.

“Henya. Prince Rakan ordered that if you showed any sign of siding with Keter, you were to be executed immediately.”

“...!”

“Do you intend to defy the royal family, like Eslow?”

“....”

She could not say yes, but neither could she abandon Keter. She bit her lip until it bled.

“If you wish to watch Keter die, I won’t stop you. But know that the other two will die as well.”

Deyal jerked his chin to the right. Wid, whom he seemed to have rescued on his way here, lay on the ground. Ryze sat, gasping for breath. They weren’t dead, but they were gravely injured. They needed treatment urgently. Henya did not have the luxury of long deliberation.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

“...I will leave.”

“A wise choice. I will see to it that you formally inherit your direct fief. That, of course, is the prince’s will.”

It was a warning not to resist.

Henya trembled with fury at her own weakness, but she was not Keter. She couldn’t fight recklessly. She knew it herself—she wasn’t as clever as Keter nor as strong. However, she did not resent herself for that.

I will do what I can.

She had survived because of Keter. Even if Keter died, Sefira would remain. If she could not repay Keter, she would repay Sefira.

That’s the best I can do, Keter.

Knowing that delaying further would not help Keter in the slightest, she gathered Ryze and Wid and left the battlefield. Then, Deyal left as well.

Soon, Keter was alone. He continued fighting with himself.

“Ow... one wrong move and I’m dead.”

Fragments of Deyal’s sword aura were destroying his body from the inside. His heart was already in tatters, yet he was still breathing. This was thanks to the troll's regeneration ability in his blood and the elf’s blessing.

“Deyal’s aura is a problem... but my heart’s about to stop first.”

In fact, it already had. It could no longer beat on its own. He was alive only because he was manually compressing it with mana, forcing the blood to circulate. But this was temporary. He needed to repair—or replace—the heart quickly.

“First, don’t lose focus.”

Even losing consciousness for 0.1 seconds would turn him into a corpse. Keter concentrated to the extreme, neutralizing the invading sword aura. Then, someone appeared and stood beside him. He heard footsteps, but he couldn’t turn his head.

“As expected. His Highness was right.”

It was a voice he had never heard before, but Keter knew immediately that this man bore him no goodwill.

Cling!

The man didn’t hide the fact that he was drawing his sword. Then, a long shadow pierced through Keter’s own.

“It is regrettable to meet you here, Divine Bow Keter.”

Whoosh...

As the man raised his blade, a violent gale gathered and condensed into it.

“I am Dust El Luban, also known as the Gale of Luban. His Highness sent me in case Lord Deyal chose not to take your life.”

Dust El Luban was an elder of Luban and a seven-star Prime. He was also a seasoned veteran of countless battles.

He wore a genuinely regretful expression.

“I observed only from afar, but your skill was exceptional. Even I could not guarantee victory. Your composure while facing two of the Four Lords was admirable.”

Though acting under orders, Dust was still a warrior. It pained him to see such a young and brilliant fighter die so meaninglessly.

“Lord Deyal likely felt the same. As a fellow warrior, his competitive spirit and curiosity must have stirred, wondering how one could reach that realm through archery rather than the sword.”

His tone was courteous, but the raging wind grew fiercer.

“However, I am sorry. Unlike the Four Lords, I do not possess such discretion. It pains me that Luban cannot bear the backlash from defying the prince’s command.”

Keter heard everything, but he couldn’t reply as the slightest lapse of focus would kill him, even before Dust’s sword reached him.

Dust seemed to understand this and calmly raised his sword.

“You spared Sir Tesla, commander of the Order of the Storm. For that, I sincerely thank you. And so I make you a promise in return. No matter what happens, I will ensure Sefira’s bloodline does not end. I will see that at least one survives to carry on Sefira’s archery. So...”

The raging gale suddenly ceased. The world fell silent.

“Rest in peace.”

Whoosh!

The sword of the gale descended upon Keter.