Read Novel Full Chapter 246: Fair Play
Chapter 246: Fair Play
"You are the strongest foe I’ve ever faced, Lor."
Lor grunted and said something incomprehensible.
"Babli to yourself ath ushal, ishon."
But the fury in his eyes conveyed what his jaw couldn’t.
Vale stared at Lor’s blade, which was raised and pointed at Vale’s neck. With no sword of his own at the moment, Vale needed to close the distance without getting bisected.
Lor took a step toward Vale, who jumped back, staying just out of range, but also making sure to keep Vale’s dropped weapon out of reach.
"Come on, let’s play fair. Can I have my weapon back?"
’I know I punched you in the nuts, but let’s have some class and decorum.’
With a powerful kick off the ground, Lor lunged at Vale, moving at a frightening speed.
Vale rolled away, then vaulted over the fallen bike, then came to a stop.
As Vale had hoped, the man chased him, but stopped once he reached the mountain bike.
Vale, standing on the other side, stared him down, using it as a barrier of sorts. Not only was Lor severely injured, which would make getting over the bike difficult, but such an action might allow Vale to make a dash for his sword.
’What a joke this fight is...’
Vale began running in a circle around the bike, switching direction every time Lor did. Lor continued to keep himself between Vale and the sword, not even attempting to step over the bike.
"Come on, Lor. Give me an opening, would you? I kind of need my sword."
Naturally, while things would be easier with his sword, Vale had already made his choice of how to execute Lor. His only goal at the moment was to hide his intentions.
The two continued their odd shuffle, until all of a sudden, Lor scoffed and turned away.
’Seriously, I’m not that easy to trick.’
Vale sneered as he stayed where he was.
’Oh...’
And watched, almost pitifully, as Lor stepped over his fallen sword, then stomped on it, shattering it in half.
’Well, that was always an option, I guess.’
Vale pretended to be unnerved. He raised his hands and waved them.
"Whoa, seriously?!"
Though a part of him was truly scared.
The shards of the sword bounced off the ground and scattered as Lor looked over at Vale, then tossed him the hilt with nothing on it.
Vale clicked his tongue as he swatted it away.
"Now, that’s just bad manners."
Lor turned and lowered his stance. Then, he charged.
’Now or never.’
Vale’s gaze narrowed as he spread all the Aether he could throughout his body.
He had one shot — one opportunity.
Vale turned his front foot as if about to pivot and run. Simultaneously, he grew a few hidden tails coming out of the back of his thigh. On one of those tails, he formed a heavy flesh ball and filled it with all the Aether he could.
’Hopefully this works...’
If not, he’d die.
The man with a loose jaw, blood-soaked face, and hollow eyes cut through the air, his sword sweeping downward.
Vale dropped his hips.
’You better fall for it!’
So far, Vale had only ever ducked.
The tail Vale created revealed itself at the last possible moment. As fast as Vale could manage, he undid his shapeshifting and kicked off the ground. The Aether, forced into a rapid, contained collapse, exploded inward against Vale’s thigh and propelled him upward just enough to jump over the swipe, which was angled downward.
Lor didn’t seem to care, not even making an attempt to catch Vale. He only tried to reposition his sword for an upward counterstrike. And, if Vale wanted to grapple, Lor would win easily. He estimated the knight could rip his head off with his bare hands.
Vale ignored the pain of his exploded leg and latched his arms around Lor’s neck, pulling himself in. Lor quickly held Vale with one arm, not allowing him to escape, and spun his blade around.
The blade closed in on Vale’s side.
Vale engaged [Expand].
The bronze armor shot out in a flash, cutting through Lor’s flesh with ease. Vale could hear the man’s heart stop beating as his organs were sliced open. He could also feel the bloody flesh trapped beneath the armor.
Lor’s sword crashed into Vale’s armor and easily sliced it open. Thankfully, the strike had been slowed down, so it only resulted in a light scratch.
’W-where...’
Vale breathed heavily.
’Where’s the message?!’
Exhausted, Vale let go of Lor and fell to the ground.
From the ground, Vale got a good look at the terrifying result of his tactic.
Lor’s organs were exposed, slithering out from the front half of his body. His arms fell down, swaying at his sides. His blade slipped from his grasp.
’But the message?!’
Vale waited for it, to hear the completion of Level 11.
In a blinding flash of pink, Vale felt like the world was spinning, turned down and up repeatedly. A moment later, he was standing with a sword in his hands as he walked toward Lor.
Alpha was shifting around behind Lor, waiting for the opportunity to strike.
Salome continued to bleed, the pool underneath her growing.
’W-what’s happening?’
Suddenly, Vale felt pain in his side.
Letting his armor deactivate, he looked down to see a gash on his side.
Vale heard a wet, smacking sound of flesh and brought his head up to see Lor’s skin peeling away, his organs falling onto the ground once again.
Alpha’s face contorted in confusion as she lunged forward and rammed her blade through his back, then kicked him.
The disemboweled man fell to his knees.
[You have slain Bloomed Prime, Lorkel Manifold.]
[You have completed Level 11. Congratulations!]
[Pending: +200 bonus Aether]
[Hidden condition for ascension: (4/4)]
[The Flame of Lust burns bright in your soul, Valentin Laurent. Now close your eyes and wake up to the dawn of pleasure.]
[Your Rank has risen to Emergent!]
[Aether can no longer be gained from Nascent Aether Shards.]
[You have acquired a Trait: Fatal Attraction]
[Your Dungeon Core has evolved! You now have access to the second floor.]
[Hidden conditions for ascension: (0/5)]
[+200 Bonus Aether]
The world went black, and all of Vale’s senses were drowned by pain.