As he pours his refined magical power into the DĂĄinsleif, the miasma covering the holy sword explodes and multiplies.
âSword-spell fighting. Jormungandr, the serpent of the apocalypse!â
What Raidorl unleashes out of the blue is his biggest move yet. This is the same technique that was used in the battle that took place in this fortress in the past, when the Imperial troops were swept away.
An explosion of miasma forms a serpent, which rushes towards the Emperor alone. It opens its huge mouth and tries to swallow Zacharias, who is carrying the Holy Sword of Fire.
âHouuuâŠâŠ, not bad!â
Zacharias strokes his chin with his left hand and raises the sword in his right hand wide. The reversing flame stretches out like a heavenly thunderbolt, piercing the clouds that hover above.
âImperial art of the holy sword, Flamma!â
A huge sword of flame is swung down. The jet-black serpent was torn apart by the overwhelming heat, torn into a thousand pieces and scattered.
But when the jet-black serpent disappeared, Raidorl was nowhere to be seen.
âOo!?â
âHu!!â
A sword was thrust out from the side of Zacharias. The emperor quickly tilted his head backwards to avoid a thrust at his neck.
Raidorl repeatedly slashes at Zacharias as he moves into range.
The holy sword in the Emperorâs hand is two times larger than the DĂĄinsleif, so Raidorl will have the advantage if he gets into close combat.
Zacharias was dexterous with his greatsword in taking the successive slashes, but soon he was forced to retreat a step or two by the number of strikes.
As Zacharias tries to keep his distance, Raidorl unleashes a low kick and kicks him in the side of the knee.
âMuâŠ.?!â
âKeep slashing!â
Seeing that Zachariasâs body was slightly tilted, Raidorl slashed him up from the bottom in a reverse kesa.
The blow sliced through the red armour, but as Zacharias drew back quickly, the thick armour was not completely shattered and the blow did not reach the body.
With his beloved armour scarred, Zachariusâ lips lifted in a fang-baring, biting bark.
âHaha! Thatâs what Iâm talking about!â
âUwhoa!â
Zacharias slammed his red holy sword into the ground. The ground split open and flames erupted like a volcano.
Raidorl was frightened and jumped backwards. At the same moment, Zacharias jumped out of the flames and slashed at him with his greatsword.
âGuhhhâ
Raidorl caught the blow of the big sword with his DĂĄinsleif, but could not kill the impact and was sent backwards.
Raidorl rolls on the ground, but quickly adjusts his position. When he got up and looked at Zacharias, the emperor was standing calmly without chasing Raidorl.
Raidorlâs face contorts as he realises that he doesnât need to be chased.
âDamn you âŠâŠ for stopping the flow!â
Raidorl clicks his tongue and snarls.
Raidorl is up against a superior opponent. He would have liked to have won the game in one go without giving them an opportunity to counter-attack, but he was unable to do so and were forced to start all over again.
As Raidorl glares at the enemy in front of him in frustration, Zacharias laughs in amusement and places Durandal on his shoulder.
âYouâre good. Itâs quite entertaining in general! Itâs as fierce as fire and as difficult to grasp as cloud water. Itâs the kind of brawling swordplay adventurers use.â
âHa, Iâm afraid I was not brought up well. Iâm sorry my legs gave out on me so quickly.â
âHaha, youâre the first person to kick the emperorâs ass. You can be proud of that!â
Zacharias, who had been laughing hysterically, suddenly turned serious: âButâŠâ
âThe only regret is that you have yet to embrace your holy sword. If you were fully in tune with the guardian deity that resides in your holy sword, it would be more entertainingâŠâŠâ
âHa?! I donât accept the holy sword âŠâŠ? What do you mean?â
Raidorlâs eyes narrowed at the unintelligible words.
âIt means exactly what I say. You know, Raidorl Zain. YouâŠ..actually donât like DĂĄinsleif, do you?â
ââŠâŠâŠâŠ..â
At the Emperorâs words, Raidorl felt his heart leap. It was as if he had been confronted with something he did not know about himself.
âSo? What of it? I do not know what youâre talking about.â
âItâs a shame. If you could accept and tune in to the Holy Sword, your big move wouldnât be easily defeated.â
While Raidorl was frowning at his words, Zacharias felt a little pity for him.
âThere are twelve holy swords known from the history of the continent â all of them are equal in power and none of them are inferior. Even though there is a difference in skill and experience, there is no way that your technique can be unilaterally defeated by Durandal.â
Raidorl thought it was because of the superiority of the holy swords to each other, but if Zacharias is to be believed, the cause seems to be himself not the holy sword.
Raidorl grits his teeth when it is pointed out indirectly that he did not fully utilize the holy sword. Zacharias, on the other hand, also sighs in annoyance.
âI didnât know. But you canât afford to give advice to yourâŠâŠenemies or am I not even worthy of being an enemy?â
âDonât be so hard on yourself. Iâve got high hopes for you youngsters.â
Zacharias swings his sword away, hard. The flames cover Durandalâs blade again.
The time for conversation is over, and it is time to resume the fight.
âIâll teach you one more thing, kid. The way of the ancient keepers of the Holy Sword who once fought the Six Witches of Doom. The power of the Holy Sword beyond the Wall!â
âNa..!!?â
âOooooooohhhâ
A blade of killing intent strokes at Raidorl, to counter it Raidorl leaps backwards, distancing himself from Zacharias.
A burning magic was released from Zachariasâ body. It was an undirected torrent of magic, but sharp enough to make Raidorl feel like his life was in danger just standing there.
With sweat pouring down his forehead, Raidorl readies himself for the enemyâs attack with his DĂĄinsleif.
Even as he did so, the magic of Zacharias increased. Purgatory-like flames poured out of Durandal and engulfed the emperorâs body.
After a few seconds, Zacharias emerges from the flames.
The emperor, who had reappeared before Raidorlâs eyes, had transformed to such an extent that he could hardly believe his eyes.
âHoly Armour: AáčŁÌa VahiĆĄta the Righteous of Purgatoryâ
âGhhhâŠ.!â
âIâm glad youâre surprised. This is the holder of the Holy Sword beyond the Wall.â
âOh, come onâŠ..â
Raidorlâs voice trembles in horror and he lets out a groan.
The man standing in front of him, Zacharias, has reddened skin and a tattoo of a torch on his face.
His clothes have changed completely, his red armour has been transformed into pale flames that cover his strong body.
He is the god of war himself. If Raidorl let his guard down even a little, he was sure, heâll suffer his knees breaking or worse, his head chop off from his body.
AáčŁÌa VahiĆĄta, the Righteous One of Purgatory â the divinity of justice and truth. It was the manifestation of the God of Heavenly Punishment who shoots and destroys the evil demons and the impure ones.