Chapter 531 - Tanael versus Freya III

Empty scroll?

In a Fable about anthropomorphic animals doing martial arts, there was a panda. To become a legendary martial artist that could stand up against a great villain, it was said he must unlock the secret to ultimate power that was written in the legendary dragon scroll.

After he had trained and been deemed worthy, he received the scroll to fulfill his destiny. Only when he opened it, the scroll was blank.

The panda was dejected, but his adoptive father gave him a life lesson that resulted in the panda’s epiphany.

That very same epiphany was inside Tanael all along.

***

Freya’s head was swirling with confusion. She first thought Tanael was bluffing, but the man seemed genuinely cool and happy. She had never seen a villain that acted like that when their plan fell apart.

“What’s so funny? You failed. Even if you somehow get away, that empty scroll won't give you whatever it is you seek.”

“Oh, you’ll be quite surprised of what I can do,” Tanael pocketed the scroll back. “Besides, if it is so useless, why are you obstructing me so fervently?”

Freya remained silent but Tanael felt he hit the bingo.

Something as great as the Aurora Scroll, even a husk, an empty container without its content, had a lot of value. There were enough Fables about that. Tanael already had a few ideas about how to make use of it.

Freya exploded with power; her power up gambit was successful, apparently. Of course, how could it be any other way? The hero was facing a villain she had to defeat in front of her.

Seeing Tanael’s resilience was greater than she thought and her lack of options, Freya tried to replicate what happened when she obtained the Aurora Scroll.

The traces of power from earlier still lingered.

For the second time, within the hour, Freya achieved the impossible a second time, connecting herself and a version of her future self, drawing power through space and time, thoroughly violating the natural order!

I so want Godzilla to stomp you right now, Tanael thought.

From his place on the top of Cthulhu’s head, he witnessed Freya’s turning into Super Saiyan Silver. However, unlike the complete transformation that resulted in three trashing of Devil God avatars, her form was incomplete.

Her silver aura was no longer grandly absolute. The halo on her back was transparent. Previously, it was both eyes, but now it was only one of her eyes that turned into some sort of silver Sharingan.

Despite the fact that she wielded only a fraction of that state... Freya’s power had climbed to frightening heights. This was Malenia phase 2.

“But, as far as super mode goes, yours is a pretty uninspired design,” Tanael scoffed. “Take the halo on your back for example. I know a place called Kivotos. Even their school students have halos more elaborate than yours... Unless you’re the nameless nobodies.”

Freya was undisturbed by Tanael’s words. She began gathering energy on her sword. No doubt, she had heard plenty of villains trash talk through her career. Her eyes were laser focused; her fighting spirit was razor sharp.

Alrighty then, this is it. The real clash... Focus, Tanael. I’ve got this.

“Absolute... Silver... Slash!!!”

Freya used the big gun as the opening strike. At the same time she released that power, the throne behind her, her whole Domain, crumbled.

Tanael had seen this move from afar but seeing it as it came right at him, evoked a different kind of dread altogether.

A tidal wave of light crashed against Cthulhu who met it head on. The soul construct defended itself using walls of flesh after sending the lesser octo monsters first.

It was like trying to stop a hurricane with a tower shield. Like a painting being erased, Tanael’s Cthulhu was getting obliterated.

Freya’s attack, that's the Holy element. It’s very effective against my soul element. How? Soul isn't particularly evil per se. Tch. Whatever. It’s just another convenience for the hero. Sorry real Cthulhu, I besmirch your image because I’m too weak. Please don't visit my dreams.

When the tidal wave of light hit, Tanael jumped from the head, using the monster as a wall for protection, away from Freya’s sight.

The attack was fierce, very much so. Weaker compared to the real thing, yes, but Tanael shouldn't be able to contend against such power. Not even a Level 5 could take it unscathed. Tanael might be strong but he wasn't a Level 5 yet.

The troublesome giant humanoid sea-dweller had been dealt with. Freya panted repeatedly. Her body hurts all over. Her vision was blurry. She was really scraping her stamina. Her sword turned to dust.

She hoped she got Tanael with that strike. At least wounded him heavily.

What Freya pulled off was a miracle. The effort it took for it to happen, the talent, the luck, were all aligned so perfectly. It wasn't her fault she thought the strike that carried the might to erase mountains would finish it.

From behind the smoke, light residue, and all manner of visual obstructions, Tanael went for her heart. A speedy charge in a straight line, taking the shortest possible route.

Freya couldn't hide her surprise.

While Freya was doing her thing, Tanael didn’t simply talk trash on top of Cthulhu’s head. He was doing his own thing.

Arte - Soulmight Celebration.

The Arte was for eating souls, not for raising cultivation but for short-term power boost. He got a lot of souls from the carnage of the Tower of Remorse on his way out. He made use of them.

When the Cthulhu was destroyed. Tanael would too if he got hit by Freya’s attack and indeed he got hit. Cthulhu’s massive frame couldn't stem the tide of light.

However, before he got hit, Tanael transformed into a monster. Nothing special, only a Rank 2 water-type snake. The snake shared the same fate as Tanael’s Cthulhu.

But the thing about Viers and Tanael’s monster transformation was, even if the monster was destroyed, the human side of him respawned.

This was one of Viers’ closely guarded secret. With such abilities, he basically had extra lives, able to survive live-ending strikes!

It didn't mean he was unkillable. His monster transformation slots were limited and among those slots there were some he wouldn't sacrifice like the Devadom Orca and the Water Dragon. He invested too much on them.

As far as strategy went, this was plenty.

He obfuscated his transformation from Freya as best as he could to preserve the trick. After all, a magician never revealed his tricks or the magic would be lost. He was still in his Imaginary Domain too which helped dull Freya’s senses.

Utilizing the chaos of the aftermath of such a big move, Tanael was about to deliver a fatal blow at Freya. Sure enough, Freya paid a heavy price to unleash the incomplete Absolute Silver Flash. As for Tanael, losing one of his throwaway lives didn’t diminish his fighting capability at all.

Now was the time to take her head!

Freya no longer had her Domain. Tanael’s Sea of Life and Death spread unchecked. The floor Freya standing on turned into the blue sea’s surface.

Arte - Mortal Severing!

A savage sword strike was aimed at Freya’s neck.

It hit.

And it did nothing.

Tanael’s Beam Saber went through Freya like she was a mirage. At first Tanael thought this was a movement technique that left behind a phantom. However, the mirage Freya that he just cut solidified and countered with an Arte of her own.

It was not a movement technique!

Arte - Nail of Mercy!

A nail of light shot toward Tanael from Freya’s palm with high speed. He was too close to evade. Instead of his heart, he sacrificed his arm. It pierced right through but the trajectory shifted so it veered off.

It was a close one. That thing had the penetration power of a magnum pistol. Despite such a wound, Tanael felt painless. Merciful death or not, Tanael wasn't going to let himself get killed.

Water chains coiled on Freya’s feet and spikes of water emerged from the sea. They were fighting in Tanael’s Imaginary domain now. He had a terrain advantage. Even though his water affinity was sealed, manipulating his Domain wasn't a problem. But with this, Tanael possessing soul and water affinity was pretty much confirmed. This was a cost he prepared to pay. His Domain advertised this too strongly to keep hidden.

After the attack from surroundings, Tanael was also prepping to stuff Freya with Shade Soul Arte.

She was surrounded and couldn't escape. If she turned into a mirage again, Tanael was ready. He was going to keep attacking Freya until she couldn't maintain that state. There was always a limit to tech like that.

Eat shit, Tobi! Why don't you wear a swirly mask instead, huh!?

Freya extended a spherical shield around her body, defending against all attacks.

Tanael immediately tried to pierce it with his red laser sword. He pushed it using both hands with all of his strength. After a few seconds of clashing sparks and crackling sounds, the barrier broke.

Freya grabbed the Beam Saber with her bare hand. Tanael widened his eyes seeing that and saw stars and Freya’s other fist decked him in the face.

At least her hand got burned from that. If it wasn't, Tanael was going to accuse her of fucking plot armor. She already demonstrated some degree of control over Tanael’s weapons in light of her element. It was still dangerous for her to get hit somewhere fatal though.

Freya attacked using the silver sword of light that she had conjured. Her real sword was destroyed earlier so she made a new one using her aura.

Now she’s got Ragna’s vibes from Ragna Crimson. Damn it! How thick is the MC factor in you?

Tanael and Freya engaged in laser sword fights. I baffled Tanael how well she fought despite how little her stamina remained. She should have run out of gas ages ago. Then again, the hero pushing through hardship using grit and guts was their bread and butter.

Perhaps it was because of her Super Saiyan Silver, she fought better now. Her technique’s sharpness went up another degree. Tanael was getting pushed back. A deadly slash was about to hit Tanael in their storms of exchange. He mitigated a fatal wound to just a graze by diving into the water on his feet.

He moved underwater and emerged a distance away from Freya, exhaling from the close call it was.

Freya even seemed to be recovering. Her breath wasn't ragged like before. The how didn't matter. He chalked it up as her contingency.

...Even strengthened by my Domain and Soulmight Celebration, I’m still on the back foot? What a monster.

“You’re indeed strong, Tanael,” Freya said with her poker face. During the intense fights she had lost her glasses but it didn't seem to bother her. “Even stronger than I expected... But you’ll never be able to defeat me.”

“This should be good. Okay then, why is that?”

Now that Freya lost her Domain, Tanael’s life-erasure special effect should be slowly working. With that in mind, Tanael was okay doing some talks.

“Because you lack belief,” Freya said, like saying the sky was blue.

“...Oh,” Tanael’s expression was flat like a wax.

“You lack a great cause to wield your blade. Thus there’s no conviction in your sword and Artes. That is why, even though your blows are strong and fast, they are also empty.”

Freya made an attacking stance with her sword. Her silver aura lit up like a bonfire, stronger than before.

“Do you have something you believe in? Someone precious you want to protect? No, I suppose not. Because someone that do, that truly do, would not so selfishly trample the lives of others and bring suffering to their fellow man... Tanael, I can tell after we exchanged blades. You fight for yourself and only yourself.”

“And what’s wrong with that?”

“That is proof of your weakness. Your heart is so weak that you cannot place your trust in others. I’ll tell you now, that all the strength you’ve built up until now, compared to mine that is built by the hopes and dreams of the ones that I made my own, is as different as heaven and earth!”

Tanael obediently waited until Freya finished her tirade. He felt... irritated.

So, that’s the way you want to play it, huh? You’re pulling that hero speech move against me? FINE! If you want to play, let’s play.

Freya saw Tanael turned off his laser sword and lightly stomp on the sea’s surface. A ripple spread far and wide and turning the water as still as a mirror. Freya sensed the air around Tanael had changed. He possessed some sort of solid tranquility around him.

“You said I fight for myself. Here and now, to the gods above and the devils below, I proudly say YES!”

Freya wanted to retort, but Tanael beat her to the punch.

“Now I ask you back. What do you fight for, Freya? What is this conviction you said resides in your sword? Say it.”

“I fight for the world,” Freya said. Simple and without blemish.

In that instant, Tanael saw the flashes of MCs that said the same thing as Freya, and they were legion.

“Elucidate me, then. You fight for the world so the world can...what?”

“Pardon?”

“Well, the world never asked you to fight for it. So it’s your choice, assuming it is not something forced on you. What for? To protect it? To better it? To cleanse it? To purify it? What?”

A few moments later, Freya gave her answer.

“For peace.”

“Ah. But the world doesn't want or need peace. It’s people who coveted it.”

“It’s the same thing,” Freya replied.

“No, it’s not,” Tanael immediately bit. “And not all people want it. But I’ll be magnanimous and let it slide. So, you fight for world peace. Then what does the world needs for it to happen?”

A frown appeared on Freya’s forehead. Tanael pushed the onslaught.

“Even an idiot knows the world is not at peace. Right now, Latias Kingdom and the Harkelan Empire are at open war. Then there are the frequent clashes in the borders of the Human Dominion. The issue of human and other races in this continent is steeped deep in bad blood. There are the places beyond the seas and their own circumstances and culture, unless you don't think they’re part of the world. There are also the cultists that have wormed their way into society like invisible parasites. Beyond between people and people, there’s also the monster species that roam the wilds. Last but not least, the devils and demons that want to burn this world and dance on its remains... The world is not at peace, despite whatever it is you people of the Estellian Church and Silver Legion have done for millennia.”

Tanael let his words seep in for a few seconds.

“So what does the world needs for your peace?”

Tanael’s question descended like a vicious hammer.

“Are you going to use your sword to destroy elements that disturb that illusory peace you so desire? Demons, sure. Destroy them, ‘cause everybody is better off without them. What about the monsters and beasts? Cull them so they can't hurt people anymore? They are part of nature. You’ll dominate nature in the name of your peace? Your world peace is only for a portion of the world, then. Only for those you deem important. And where’s the line between people and demi-humans? Round up the criminals, then put them in jail? Tower of Remorse today shows the futility of that. Even the greatest jail could fall. Reeducate them, make them see the error of their ways? Go ahead. Try it until you’re satisfied. Execute the lost cause? I encourage it. Your name will be written in history books as a great butcher. So what are you going to do, O girl who speaks of peace but fights with a sword?”

Tanael fashioned a staff of fire and stomped one of its ends at the still water floor. A sound of metal striking metal rang out. Such a sound seemed to shake the heart.

“Answer me, Jia Freyu,” Tanael asked again. “What does the world needs?”