Chapter 539


    CHAPTER 539


    FLAMES OF DESTRUCTION (X)


    Limrur and Cadel retreated apprehensively, stopping by E’s side, both their expressions slightly paled . The level of destruction from that singr attack startled them; they were well aware of the strength of the surrounding domain, yet those des of light easily pierced through them .


    "... he’s much stronger than anticipated," Limrur said, frowning . "E, you should stay back and act the role of support . Cadel, while I’m engaging him, try disrupting him from the side . If we aren’t careful... our heads might really roll today . "


    "... he doesn’t seem even a tiny bit weary after that attack," Cadel sucked in a mouthful of cold breath, shaking his head . "Just how strong is he..."


    "I’d approximate he’s at least a Hermit from what he showed so far," Limrur said, flexing his hands slightly . "Don’t drop your guard . Cover our blind spots, E, but never engage him directly . "


    "..." meanwhile, E still stood at the same ce she did from the beginning, bbergasted . She truly believed Lino would, at most, be capable of ying a few rounds with her brothers before falling . Yet, she was once again reminded of who he was – someone who promptly ttened all the expectations and rose above them like a looming mountain .


    Lino, on the other hand, shifted his focus away from the healing tears of the domain and onto the trio who regrouped some distance away . He held back the shaking of his arm and appeared entirely unphased, though the reality was somewhat uglier; after all, he hadn’t been able to ustom his body enough for the past year and a change . Using one of his key abilities so early on put him in a rather downtrodden mood as he worked his energy like mad to repair the shrinking and breaking veins in his body .


    He redirected his gaze back onto E who flinched, suddenly lowering her eyes . This isn’t her... he realized quickly, sighing inwardly . E that he knew would never look away from her opponent, no matter who it may be . No, in the first ce, she would never wager the lives of billions on something as abstract as a cosmic conflict between the ’Creator’ and the ’Destroyer’ . Whoever the person standing in front of him was, she had long since stopped being the woman that effectively raised him .


    He raised his left, free hand all of a sudden, palm open, facing up, as a flicker of me kindled within, turning into a burning sway of crimson and ck . The trio’s focuses sharpened as they nced at the me attentively; the mes weren’t made up of any art but were simply birthed through a somewhatplex cirction of energy .


    Lino slowly pulled his palm over, facing it downward, and let go of the fire that, just as it reached the level of the soles of his feet, exploded into a sea . Though it technically wasn’t a Domain like a sword one surrounding them, its effects were simr . He basked in the warmth of the fire as he felt his pores opening up, his innards quickly replenishing .


    "<Chains of Judgment>!" a cry ensued shortly after as the space above Cadel ripped open on two ends, spitting out behemoths that certainly were not chains – at least not the likes of which Lino had ever seen . Each sported the thickness of a giant defensive tower, shimmering in transparent gold . Two chains interlocked for a moment before being fiercely ripped apart, diving in a full crescent on two ends to nk him .


    Meanwhile, he had noticed Limrur had vanished, racing toward him from the front . Lino took a deep breath and heaved his sword up, in a guard position, as thirty-six pairs of wings exploded out of his back . However, rather than maintaining them, he splintered them into sections whereupon each feather grew alight, churning outwardly like fanning knives, aiming for the chains .


    Limrur, just around then, was right in front of him; weing the descent of the de, Lino once again engaged the man . He pushed forward, holding the dull bottom of his sword’s de to parry the descending attack, causing Limrur to stumble backward slightly . Using that opportunity, he spun in a forward motion and shot the Protector sideways, managing to nibble at the edge of Limrur’s armor . Good reflexes, Lino quickly began assessing his opponent’s prowess . Somewhatcking perception; speed a few notches below mine, general strength as well, though his endurance and defense should be superior .


    While thinking, he didn’t stop with his attacks; using the fact that he had put the man on defensive, Lino pressed onward, shing left and right with seemingly maddened, yet eerily calcted, strikes . I canfortably allow a dozen hits without endangering myself, he continuedying out the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses in his mind . The other guy will be a bit troublesome since he seems to be the control type . I can’t let those chains entangle me . El’ will probably act the supporting role and aim at the openings while covering up their mishaps .


    The logic in him told him that the best course of action was to simply ignore the two men and charge toward E immediately, killing her as to prevent variables from popping up . However, his heart wouldn’t allow him; however much she had changed, he was still unable to let go of his inhibitions so easily .


    Blocking an attack aimed at his neck, Lino took a quick breath and erupted with a burst of speed; even if he couldn’t kill her, he could still incapacitate her . A sudden burst of speed and strength sent Limrur stumbling backward in confusion, but he quickly reeled his mind in and spotted Lino’s trajectory .


    "Cadel, cover for E!" he swiftly called out .


    However, his shout arrived roughly at the same time Lino did; thetter appeared before the unprepared E, his arm locked behind him in a full swing, tendrils of crimson smoke folding over the edges of his body, his entire being beyond imposing .


    E tried to draw back and dodge, yet felt her Willpletely being overwhelmed . This never happened to her before, meaning she was momentarily frozen, unsure as to what to do . The de, however, didn’t wait for her toe to her senses; she quickly realized he didn’t intend to kill her, as the sword was aimed at her right arm, intending to cleave it off, yet she still couldn’t help but feel a part of her heart crack . She hadn’t moved an inch since the battle’s beginning, still hoping, praying, yet he didn’t seem to share the same inhibitions .


    Gritting her teeth, she somehow managed to rip herself off from the constraints and withdraw a couple of dazzling, emerald swords from her void storage, crossing them over her chest and blocking the attack just in time . However, the sheer force of the sh caved her lungs in, forcing her to spit out a mouthful of blood before she was shot backward like a cannonball .


    Lino had no luxury to chase after her, however, as a rain of chains interrupted his advance, forcing him to focus on them, deflecting and evading repeatedly . Limrur also caught up, circling in-between the openings and asionally managing to strike at Lino cleanly, though not dealing nearly enough damage .


    Finally managing to rip himself open from the quasi-cage, Lino pulled back and opened up some distance between them, his mood souring further . It wasn’t because of them or the way they fought, but because of himself . Few could afford to dive into introspection at moments like these, yet Lino hardly cared . There was a knot around his heart, one so tightly wound it expanded into ground-holding chains that held him back . Had he been more decisive, he could have killed E swiftly andpletely avoided the encirclement .


    "... ugh, piss off already..." he grumbled angrily as he swung the Protector sideways, unleashing a gigantic beam of light that ripped open a gash in space and nearly sent Limrur tumbling into it . "I’m in a really, really bad mood, so I’ll give you onest chance," he warned as the trio regrouped, E having already healed her woundspletely . "Leave this ce, and inform your daddy this is no longer his kingdom . If he has a problem with it, have him find me . I’m always open for a chat . "


    "—he’s rattled for some reason," Limrur whispered to the surrounding two, taking in a deep breath . "I’ll need a minute to prepare something; keep him chatting, no matter what!" he spoke thest part to E who nodded silently, turning her eyes back to Lino; the hesitation in them was gone, reced by deep resolve .


    "Think about this again, Lino," she spoke as softly as she could . "You’re not alone . Why would you want to thrust the entire Noterra into a war?"


    "... who’s the one thrusting it into a war?" Lino’s mood worsened once again . It was too quick . Too abrupt . "Besides, nobody there will feel the edge of war . "


    "What? Do you honestly think you’ll be able to protect them all by yourself?" E questioned .


    "Why not?" Lino shrugged . "Look . I’m even giving that idiot enough time to prepare whatever the hell he’s preparing . I never once doubted my victory; it was only the question of whether it would be a calm and calcted one, or a pyrrhic one . I didn’t ascend this far up to back down, El’ . As I said, Noterra is no longer your kingdom . It’s mine . And down below us, the same people you stood by are now fighting with their lives on the line, protecting what you’ve abandoned . What kind of a King would I be if I couldn’t protect their burning hearts? I’d be too ashamed to look them in the eye if I replied to their wills with indecisiveness . "


    "—you had a choice," E said calmly . "Don’t shift the me, Lino . I staked my name on the fact that we wouldn’t touch anyone, even you, if you gave up your moronic intention of reviving the Edifice . Whatever excuses you may unt to yourself and to the world, none excuse that you held onto the power instead of ensuring those you loved were protected . "


    "... your friend seems to be done," Lino said after a short silence, moving his eyes past her to the man behind her who had begun shimmering in resplendent silver . "You’ve bought enough time . "


    "..." E bit her lower lip, partly in frustration and partly in self-loathing . She suddenly felt a warm current transfer into her bones,ing directly from Limrur; startled, she nced back and met a pair of honest eyes staring at her with a faint smile .


    "You have to remove the demon yourself, little sister," he said in a warm and encouraging voice . "Let him be a pleasant memory you’ll look fondly upon, rather than a regret that will eat away at your heart until there is nothing left . Be the Agent you were meant to be . "


    "... I’ll leave them in blissful ignorance," Lino said softly, ignoring the sudden increase in E’s presence . "Better they think you’re in a distantnd, a foe," he spoke into his jaw,rgely to himself . "Rather than dead, forever gone..."