Chapter 38 - #38 Esdeaths past and beliefs (2/2)
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'...I can't see his entire face. And what's up with this cold wind out of nowhere.' Esdeath thought while she was looking all around with a cautious expression.
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When I heard her question, I immediately imagined such a situation with my current parents, Ichika, Kurome and a few other people from my old world...
”Sorry, I was too busy imagining such a situation.” I finally woke up and started moving once again.
”My family and those close to me are the only people I care about and if I were to lose them because of some crawling insects...I would slaughter the entire so-called ” Northern Tribes” without caring who is guilty or not. No one would be spared.” I said resolutely while my red eyes started to glow at night.
”I see, although our beliefs slightly differ from each other, they aren't completely different. And it's not like I don't want to go on a rampage there but it simply means that I accepted my father's death as his fault for being too weak.” Esdeath replied with a smile after seeing my cold demeanor.
”You can't call him weak or strong...There is always someone higher than you...does that immediately make you weak? You usually say that someone is weak or strong based on your view and not from the view of the other people. You can call someone weak yet he can be called strong by other millions of people. While someone can even call you weak.” I said my thoughts on her view on this matter with a serious expression.
”But that's how survival of the fittest works...What do you believe in?” Esdeath asked with a confused expression.
”Of course I believe in my strength but even above that...I believe in my absolute and unbreakable will and resolve. Someone might be stronger than me right now...and what? I will play to be weak just to grow a thousand times stronger than that person in a few years and then squash him like a bug. You need to adapt to the situation but only those with resolve can become truly strong...like you. You don't have any Teigu to rely on, yet you are on the level where you can easily match those Teigu wielders. You believe in yourself and not in any weapon.” I said with a genuine smile while looking at her surprised face.
Of course, not just anyone can wield Teigu and even that person must be strong enough but if that person succumbs to its power, they will only rely on it and stop improving themselves.
”...” Esdeath was speechless and after a while, she recovered and thoughtful expression appeared on her face.
We didn't talk any further and simply focused on finding a suitable place but Esdeath was visibly shaken by my words. It was obvious that she was thinking about something really hard.
”Finally something decent. We are already a few kilometers away from the camp if that camp gets ambushed by enemy, we will have a few problems with the Empire.” I said with furrowed brows when we finally found some larger place inside the forest, suitable for our spar.
”It's fine, the camp is in a good position and there are still those 2 girls.” Esdeath reassured me with a small smile as we jumped down from the branch of the tree at the open field in the middle of the forest.
”Esdeath, I can see in your eyes that you enjoy fighting strong opponents so I have one suggestion.” I raised my voice a bit since we already took some distance from each other.
”Hm?” She tilted her head in confusion and gestured to me to continue with a curious face.
”How about we both turn off and go at it just with our instincts, simply said we will go crazy and we won't be using any strategy or anything like that. Just the competition of strength and agility.” I said with a smile and closed eyes.
”Haha, I like it, your belief against my own belief! Let's see whose belief is stronger!” She laughed a bit to show how she appreciates my suggestion.
[Defeat Esdeath in a fight and make her doubt her own beliefs. You are prohibited to use any skills registered in the system due to this being competition of pure strength and agility.]
[Bonus: Don't use any cunning strategies to defeat your opponent]
[Reward: +5 Free Stat points]
[Bonus Reward: ???]
We both drew our weapons, my sword, and her rapier.
We stood at the same place for a few seconds, just looking at each other without any emotion in our faces.
*Crack* *Crack* Both of us bolted forward, leaving dust and a few cracks on the ground.
When we were close enough, both of us struck our weapon forward without any intention to defend, both of us wanted to be on offensive side.
”Guh” Both of us ġrȯȧnėd lowly when our front shoulders were pierced by weapons however they weren't totally pierced through our entire body
Both of us looked at each other's face.
”Huheh” On my face immediately appeared a crazy wide smile and my eyes were also wide open which meant that my title was rendered useless but I wasn't even sure if it worked before due to restrictions.
”Heh” She also smiled crazily, similar to me.
We slowly pulled out our weapons with a crazy smile and then Esdeath tried to pierce my stomach which I blocked with my bȧrė hand.
*Splash* My palm was pierced through but her rapier quickly stopped advancing and further and I firmly hold it which greatly surprised her as she tried to take it back but couldn't.
”Hhehe” I released a creepy laugh and she looked at me with a serious expression just to see a sword coming for her head from above.
”Tch!” She let go of her weapon and jumped away from my attack.
*crash* My sword only met ground and rubble flew everywhere and my sword was entirely buried in the ground, only the handle was visible on the surface which was enough of display how strong that attack was...strong enough to split Esdeath into two halves.
[+4 BXP to your special class] x2
Special Class: Yato (Lv. 2, +7 Str, +7 Const, +7 Agi, +2 Int) 6/20 SXP
[Strength: 40 (67)]
[Agility: 40 (63)]
[Intelligence: 32 (43)]
[Constitution: 40 (53)]
[Health: 500/560]
[Energy: 925/925]
[Insatiable Hunger - The more engrossed you are in the fight and the more you fight crazily, you fight harder. You are only becoming stronger and stronger in the course of the battle. Be careful not to let your health drop dangerously low or you might become slightly insane for exchange of enormous power.]