<h4>Chapter 216 - Rally (7)</h4>


    “Henry.”


    “Yes?”


    “If you don’t mind, may I indulge in some personal greed?”


    “What are you talking about?”


    “I’d like you to take this magic armor off of me.”


    “Alright, but if things go south, then I’ll have to...”


    “I know. If that happens, then we’ll move ording to the n.”


    “Thank you.”


    Valhald’s personal greed was that he wanted to take on Bk solely with his own strength. After deciding on when they would fall back on the original n, Henry took off Valhald’s magic armor. With that, Valhald felt his body get a little heavier.


    <i>‘Well, magic sure is convenient.’</i>


    Henry’s supporting magic increased strength, speed, as well as uracy and agility. Even without training, magic could work like a drug, turning a B-ss mercenary into an average knight.


    However, Valhald didn’t like relying on such unnatural powers because he believed that training prevented an unstable future and humbled an arrogant past.


    As Henry stepped away, Bk asked Valhald, “It’s been around what, twenty years?”


    “Yeah, something like that.”


    “How strange. I’ve heard that you relinquished your position as the imperial first sword.”


    “That’s right.”


    “You’re so hard to decipher. What’s wrong with you? Why would you give up your position to someone like Kington?”


    “It was just some rank. It didn’t mean much to me.”


    “I guess...”


    The two seemed simr, but they were also very different. Therefore, given their values and ambitions, Bk epted to rule Killive while Valhald epted the position of the first sword of the Imperial Ten Swords.


    Bk continued, “Anyway, Valhald, why are you with the traitors of the empire?”


    “Traitors? Who are the traitors?”


    “What do you mean? It’s obviously the wizards who have murdered Silver Jackson, the former emperor, and destroyed the imperial pce. You’re not going to tell me that you didn’t know, right?”


    “It’s true that they murdered Silver Jackson and destroyed the pce, but I don’t consider them traitors.”


    “What do you mean?”


    “I only did what I had to do. Also, ever since the empire copsed, treason no longer means anything to us. It’s merely a term that Arthus has arbitrarily redefined.”


    “You’ve changed a lot since Ist saw you. Where did you learn to speak such nonsense?”


    “I’m just stating the facts. And who’s the one speaking nonsense, anyway? After all, it was Arthus who orchestrated this so-called ‘treason,’ not us.”


    “What?”


    “You’re not going to pretend like you don’t know, are you? You’re the one who cares so much about justice, and yet you side with Arthus. Aren’t you just contradicting yourself at this point?”


    Valhald essentially mirrored Bk’s response. He had only been telling the truth, so he had nothing to hide. However, Bk reacted differently than him. He was a bit taken aback by Valhald’s story because it seemed strangely simr to what Hector had told him the other day.


    “...”


    Bk stood silent for a moment, visibly confused. This was not the first, but the second time he heard an usation against Arthus. Moreover, this time it was none other than Valhald who hade up with that allegation.


    This was a very serious problem because Bk, a man with a very strict moral code, had served Arthus purely out of righteousness and loyalty.


    After much thought, Bk shook his head and said firmly, “I trust my emperor. The emperor will always be criticized and ndered, and that will never change.”


    “...What a fool.”


    There was no point in continuing the conversation. Bk would fight to the death to defend his beliefs, and Valhald would do the exact same, and even if this weren’t a matter of conviction, neither of them wanted to miss this opportunity to fight each other.


    The air became stifling in the windless hollow as their Aurasbined with their intense killing intent, stirring the atmosphere.


    Soon, two blue roses bloomed like mes.


    <i>Pnggg...!</i>


    After the roses fully bloomed, gracefully arranging their petals, there was no sign of energying off either of them.


    <i>‘Impressive...’</i>


    However, this didn’t mean that they had no energy. Rather, both warriors controlled their Auras to the extreme, making it almost indiscernible. Only masters that had reached their maximum potential could pull off something like this.


    Valhald raised his sword, and as if he were throwing a boomerang, he swiftly swung it diagonally. The motion itself was quiet, but what his de released was anything but quiet.


    Valhald unleashed Sr Storm, one of his main skills, from his sword. An Aura storm of fiery explosions headed toward Bk.


    However, instead of taking action, Bk merely smirked. He simply stood there and endured the attack.


    <i>Rumble...!</i>


    Throughout the storm, Bk held his ground, and after a while, the storm cleared as if it had never happened in the first ce.


    Dark smoke came off of Bk, but he merely cleared his throat as if to mock Valhald’s attack.


    “It’s gotten hotter since Ist saw it.” Like a gourmet reviewing food, Bkmented on Valhald’s Sr Storm. He continued, “It’s only fair that I return the favor now.”


    Bk walked up to Valhald without the slightest pretense and raised his ck Punisher. Valhald didn’t back away but stood in ce to meet his foe up close.


    “It’s my turn now. Here ites!”


    Bk gave an honest warning. World Shredder was Bk''s signature technique, the one that made him who he was. The ck Punisher, powerful enough to shatter the earth, flew toward Valhald like a meteor.


    Valhald raised his sword with one hand and supported the de with the other, leaning forward slightly to intercept the iing ck Punisher.


    <i>ng!</i>


    It sounded like a hammer striking a metal bell. The vibration traveled through Valhald’s entire body and down into the ground.


    <i>Bzzz...</i>


    Bk’s Aura hadbined with the World Shredder to produce an unimaginable destructive power that shook the hollow.


    However, Valhald maintained his stance, his arms still raised just as they were right before intercepting the World Shredder.


    <i>Smirk.</i>


    Valhald put on a faint smile, and seeing this, Bk’s expression hardened.


    “...”


    Bk called back the ck Punisher.


    Valhald then lowered his arms and straightened his back.


    “It’s gotten a little heavier,”mented Valhald. This was <i>his</i> review. It was the kind ofment that one made at a restaurant when they didn’t find anything good about the meal other than the fact that the portion was slightlyrger than the standard.


    They both took half a step back and then...


    “Hmppp!”


    <i>Zngggg!</i>


    The two swung their weapons relentlessly, aiming for each other’s hearts.


    Each time their weapons shed, a loud nging sound reverberated throughout the hollow.


    It was a fierce duel, with neither man getting the upper hand. Both of them swung their weapons in the mostfortable way in order to retain their bnce, with the ultimate goal of bringing their opponent down.


    Bk didn’t hesitate in the slightest bit, and Valhald had no intention of capturing Bk alive. Thus, the two warriors wielded their weapons in unison with the purpose of sending their opponent to the grave.


    <i>ng, ng, ng!</i>


    Every time they swung their weapons in different directions, their smooth Aura shattered like ss shards, but every time that happened, the two quickly replenished their Aura just like a troll shed its skin.


    <i>‘What an incredible fight.’</i>


    Henry watched their fierce fight intently, his arms crossed to his chest. He considered their duel elegant. It was a true sword duel between the two strongest swordsmen. There were no fancy tricks or intricate tactics, so the oue of this duel would be determined solely based on their strength and their amount of training.


    Their duel was almost like a disy of swordy, but the two fighters were of such high caliber, their movements so elegant, that this was more than swordy; it was art.


    The fight went on. Given the destructive nature of the morning star, one might have expected Valhald to have a tough time against Bk. However, Valhald was handling himself just fine.


    On the other hand, given how heavy the ck Punisher was, one might have expected Bk to struggle against Valhald’s swift sword attacks, but Bk wasn’t falling behind in the slightest.


    It was an intense fight with both fighters’ pride on the line.


    With his eyes glowing red, Bk shouted, “Valhald! Why don’t you stop messing around?!”


    “I’m just matching your efforts.”


    “Let’s see how much longer you’ll be able to say that!”


    <i>Bang!</i>


    Bk’s Aura was now vibrating. He swung his ck Punisher once again, widening the distance between him and Valhald.


    “Enough ying. Let’s put an end to this.”


    Because both of them were so evenly matched in terms of strength, it was clear that this duel would just go on forever at this rate. Of course, if it had been up to them, they would’ve kept fighting for days on end, but they were short on time.


    Bk took a proper fighting stance, and his Aura stopped quivering. However, momentster, the Aura that covered his entire body expanded tremendously.


    “That’s...!”


    Von and McDowell’s eyes widened as they witnessed what was going on, and so did Henry’s.


    <i>‘Ultimate Skill?’</i>


    Ultimate Skill.


    A Sword Master who unlocked their ultimate skill was considered to be among the best. Moreover, those who mastered using their ultimate skill reached the rank of a peak Sword Master.


    In this duel with Valhald, Bk was about to use his ultimate skill, the final trick up his sleeve that he hadn’t used in decades.


    “Very well.”


    Valhald smiled. Witnessing Bk’s ultimate skill was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Thus, Valhald figured he should return the favor. He refreshed his Aura and raised his sword high above his head.


    <i>Tzzzz!</i>


    Valhald’s Aura dispersed into the air from the tip of his sword. Seeing this, Von, McDowell, and Henry suddenly became rmed.


    “T-that maniac... It can’t be!”


    “Oh, hell no! Von, grab Ronan from over there!”


    Valhald continued to release his Aura. After forming into a sphere at the tip of his sword, it started to slowly expand, just like Bk’s Aura.


    “Ha, you too?”


    Seeing Valhald’s Aura form into a sphere, Bk chuckled.


    Valhald’s act thrilled Bk, causing him to expand his Aura at a more intense rate.


    Finally, when Bk’s Aura expanded enough to fill the hollow, it took a different shape.


    <i>Tzzzz!</i>


    His Aura turned into the shape of a man wearing a three-horned helmet and sharp essories on his shoulder. Indeed, Bk had used his Aura to create a giant image of himself.


    <i>‘Giant God Warrior!’</i>


    This was Bk’s ultimate attack: creating the best soldier on the continent, the Giant God Warrior.


    Having summoned the Giant God Warrior, Bk raised the ck Punisher with his right arm. Then, the Giant God Warrior also lifted up the morning star made of aura, which looked exactly like Bk’s ck Punisher.


    <i>Rumble!</i>


    As the Giant God Warrior, who stood as tall as the hollow, raised his hand, his weapon scraped against the ceiling of the hollow.


    Henry quickly cast a spell to prevent the hollow from copsing, but as McDowell saw this, he yelled, “Henry! We need to take cover!”


    “I know! Everyone get behind me!”


    “Y-you, just how...?”


    Von carried Ronan, who was unconscious.


    McDowell, clueless, had called for Henry, who was trying to prevent the destruction of the hollow. However, Henry shook his head and asked everyone to take cover behind him.


    At that moment, the hollow was heated up by an indescribable hot energy.


    “I’ve finally gotten the chance to fight you, Valhald!”


    Bk stared at the tip of Valhald’s sword, his expression ted.


    At the tip of Valhald’s de was his blue Aura, round and hot, reminiscent of a tiny sun, or rather, the sun itself.


    <i>‘The Blue Sun!’</i>


    The Blue Sun was Valhald’s ultimate skill, which used the hottest Aura in the world.