Arc | Chapter. 104: The Red Blade

Chapter. 104: The Red Blade

Lars, the Red Blade. He was an S Tier adventurer, one whose fame made him very much recognizable. Or rather, a better word for him was: infamous. An infamous adventurer that was known for seeking challenges, someone who wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Normally, it would be something worth panicking about, but right now Meika was… panicking for the man. He had challenged the Dragon of Wind herself. A legendary creature, and now Meika’s mentor. A being that was at the peak of power in the world.

It wasn’t an exaggeration to say that the man was walking right into his death. Thankfully Faral raised her brow in amusement and confusion. Before finally shaking her head. Then she turned back to Meika.

“We should resume what we were about to do.”

And the ground next to her shattered. Her head snapped in the direction only to see Lars, the Red Blade gritting his teeth with an awful frown. The veins on his forehead seemed to be on the verge of exploding. The man had graying hair and a rather old appearance, but now he looked like an enraged demon.

“You dare disrespect me like that…?”

Meika blinked, realizing that this man had no clue who he was facing. Then, dust exploded as she saw a red streak head in Faral’s direction. Meika had to spare the man; without hesitation she screamed.

“Stop!”

Dust billowed and a blade loomed over Faral’s head, stopping just before hitting her. Faral, the Dragon of Wind did not even react to what happened, but Lars, the Red Blade turned towards Meika.

“What?” he asked in a gruff.

“I heavily recommend you stop what you’re doing,” Meika said, gulping. “Faral is not someone you’d want to fight…”

In response the man sneered. “I’ll choose who to fight.”

And he disappeared, reappearing by Meika’s side.

“Not only am I agile.” He appeared to her other side. “I’m also lethal.”

Meika gulped, feeling the blade loom over her neck. Faral was now frowning but had yet to say anything. The blade was removed as the man let out a breath.

“Let me mind my business, girl…”

With those words, he slowly walked towards Faral, and then teleported. In a single blink his figure formed, his gargantuan blade already swinging down towards the Dragon of Wind⁠— and it exploded.

Lars the Red Blade was thrown, his figure streaked through the air before landing off in the distance crashing with an explosion of dirt. Meika winced from the earth-trembling impact. A cloud of dust loomed in the spot.

Just like that, Lars the Red Blade had been defeated, and to some extent Meika was grateful to Faral who decided to simply blow him away rather than actually fight him. Faral turned to Meika.

“Now that he got his lesson, we should begin.”

Meika enthusiastically nodded, pulling her sword.

“Let’s do it.”

And the dust in the distance cleared with an explosion of red light.

* * * * *

Lars couldn’t believe it.

He had been blown off before he could even register it and now, his mouth tasted of blood. Now, he had a broken rib. Now he had been injured. Lars didn’t understand what kind of powers the woman had used, but he wasn’t planning on underestimating her any longer.

He had consumed his own blood, his own life-force to make himself stronger. It was an S Tier skill. His muscles were filled with power; with the strength to crush any opponent. He had fought Jake the Weapon Master to a standstill, why would a random S Tier woman be any stronger than that?

Lars could feel his blood evaporating as the grass around him seemed to be turned to coal without burning. Almost as if his surroundings were drained of their life. This was his skill.

This was.

[Crimson Life Fury].

A skill that came with his class, [Crimson Swordmaster]. But that didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he could enact his revenge⁠— show the woman that she was beneath him.

Lars looked ahead only to see the red-green haired woman already looking at him. Now her expression had a hint of what he perceived to be warryness; a slight frown was aimed at him.

“Good… that’s what I expected.”

He grinned, hefting the greatsword over his shoulder, and then he leaned forward, his left hand touching the ground.

It was time…

Lars felt his muscles bulge, his legs were ready to explode with all the tensile energy that was being accumulated.

He just had to use all of his strength, and then she would be the one on the losing end.

Lars let out a long breath and his eyes narrowed, meeting the woman’s gaze⁠— now! The ground beneath him shattered, the world around him blurred, and in mere fractions of a second his sword was already swinging upon the woman.

And she⁠— raised her hand, the sword struck her palm and a single drop of blood streaked down.

Lars blinked as he realized he could hardly pull his sword back. Then with a frown the woman pulled⁠— Lars was yanked forward and then was punched in the stomach. He felt his organs shift and he spat blood was he was sent flying away.

His mind whirled.

She had overpowered him?

And he hit the grassy ground, dirt exploding everywhere. Once more he was bleeding, once more he felt something else inside of him being broken. Once more he was injured.

It didn’t make sense.

He was at least fifty-percent stronger than before, and yet he had been dealt with in a similar fashion⁠— both times it had been effortless.

Was this reality?

Lars shook his head only for the woman to turn to him holding his sword.

“This is yours?” He nodded and then white almost invisible streaks passed⁠— flickered all over the sword. A moment later it fell to pieces as if it had been delicately sliced. The metal clanked to the ground as the woman’s eyes narrowed. “Consider that a warning.”

Lars blinked.

He couldn’t doubt his eyes. His A Tier sword had been eviscerated before him in a single second, and yet that made him all the more excited.

He had to best this woman.

He had to prove superiority.

He couldn’t lose…

Lars gritted his teeth seeing the challenge before him. He had to be faster⁠— he had to be stronger⁠— he had to be better.

He stood up, his bones creaking as his body protested from the injuries he had suffered, but he didn’t care. Not when he had a challenge to overcome. In this regard, he was just like Jake⁠— they both saw something to surpass and wouldn’t stop at anything to do so…

“[Berserk].”

The aura around Lars’ body intensified. This was just the beginning but he had to see⁠— he had to test how deep the ocean was. His legs tensed, and then, he used a skill.

[Blink Step].

He appeared behind the woman and threw a kick⁠— she blocked. Dust around them exploded and then without hesitation the woman threw him off balance before kicking him herself.

Lars bled and rolled across the ground as he was launched with supersonic speeds before hitting a rock and shattering it. This hit was much worse. His body wasn’t responding.

The world around him darkened as he asked himself.

Was this the end…?

And then everything went dark, then moments later he saw a red light.

* * * * *

Meika’s heart was rushing.

The ground shook as if an earthquake had passed. The rock Lars had hit had shattered into thousands of pieces. In fact, if the man wasn’t S Tier, Meika was sure he’d be dead. But even then, she wasn’t so sure.

She looked at Faral who was looking in that direction with a frown of annoyance. Her lessons had constantly been interrupted, so Meika didn’t blame her. But even then, she couldn’t help but wonder if it had been too much.

It was rather… brutal after all.

Faral turned back to her. “Now we can resume.”

Meika hesitantly nodded, grabbing her sword as she adopted a defensive stance. But Faral shook her head seeing her.

“This time you will be attacking⁠— land one hit on me and you will win.”

Meika nodded, taking a deep breath of nervousness. This was the first time she would go on the offensive… Her eyes slowly narrowed as her senses sharpened, and she rushed.

No skills were used, no nothing was used. She simply ran to Faral wielding her sword, and swung down. Her mentor effortlessly side-stepped, but it was something Meika had expected⁠—

Tensing her muscles she flicked and⁠—

Red exploded. The atmosphere became the color of blood as the ground itself shook. A menacing aura overcame the land as Meika’s sword struck Faral’s arm. No blood was drawn, no satisfaction was had, no nothing except for the surprise she felt from a gust of wind pushing her away.

Meika went flying as she watched Faral with wide eyes⁠— and the ground exploded around them as another battle began.

Lars was back.

* * * * *

This was it…

This was true strength…

The true ability to dominate…

Lars hit forward and the woman flinched. She was constantly being pushed back, overwhelmed by his raw power. He had done it⁠— he had decided to sacrifice five years of his life for this power, and now it was all paying off.

His wounds had healed. His mind had cleared. And his ambition had been sharpened.

This was the best decision he could’ve made.

Lars made sure to pressure the woman as he screamed.

“Submit!”

Hearing those words she would frown but would abstain herself from doing anything. Lars found it strange but ignored it as the environment around him got razed and destroyed. He felt overwhelming power, and he could even tell.

The woman was beginning to show signs of bruising on her arms⁠— it was working, it was⁠—

And suddenly he felt danger⁠— Lars got out of the way and wind passed.

The earth got split and a ravine was immediately formed as everything in a straight line was sliced right through.

This power wasn’t enough…

“Three more years…”

With a whisper, Lars felt reinvigorated as he felt something within him get lost. His skill grew stronger as did his crimson aura. The green grass was turned black in an instant as he attacked again at the woman, this time she was pushed back with even better ease.

She counter attacked and while he was pushed back with broken bones multiple times, he always came back. He was an indomitable berserker that would wear her down⁠— that he was sure of⁠— and a kick connected.

In an instant, the air was blown off his lungs as the world blurred around him⁠— the wind resistance non existent as he flew for what felt like forever before he hit the edges of the training field. The ivory wall had cracks running along its surface now.

So strong…

Lars let out a very long breath and immediately muttered with spite.

“Five more years…”

At that moment all of his injuries were healed, in a single moment he was stronger than ever⁠— even stronger than Jake the Weapon Master. Using a combination of pure physical prowess and skills he crossed the field in a mere second and arrived at where the green-haired woman was standing.

She wore a deep frown, one that indicated her worry, and yet she simply raised her hand and brought it down⁠—

The ground beneath him collapsed as Lars let out a screech of pain, it was as if the world was bearing down on him. It was different from gravity⁠— rather a force was squeezing him against the ground.

W-What was going on?!

He tried to flail as the ground continued to break, and then a sigh broke him out of his thoughts.

“You really can’t see it can you?” The woman asked. “You never stood a chance.”

“How can you be⁠—” Lars grunted. “So certain?!”

The woman shook her head before meeting his gaze with disdain.

“I’ll give you certainty, but if you choose to keep fighting your life will be forfeit.”

Lars wanted to argue but the pressure got so overbearing that all he could do was glare at the woman who just frowned.

“Human, be grateful I’m kind.”

With those words, she began to shine and a moment later her figure distorted. At first Lars didn’t know what he was seeing but as the seconds passed his eyes widened in horror. Then finally the transformation ended as a creature stood before him.

A dragon.

And not just any dragon but…

The receptionist that had just opened the door to the arena gasped, collapsing to the ground.

“The Dragon of Wind…”

Lars felt the pressure around his body lessen as he made his decision. He closed his eyes and whispered.

“Fifty more years…”

And a system notification appeared.

[ Limits of Crimson Life Fury exceeded: Cannot reach SS Tier ]

[ Skill has forcefully come to an end ]

Lars’ eyes widened for a moment.

“You have to be kidding me⁠—”

And he fainted, leaving the poor receptionist to deal with the dragon on her own.