157 Article 156 "The Frustration of Their Heart" (1/2)

The silver formed a line, closing in on my side. The dust was swept away as if it had twisted its body to avoid touching the blade itself. As if in response to the silver flash, the purple lightning ripped through the sunlight.

--Gee, ding!

An unpleasant, ear-splitting sound rang out as the steel bit into each other.

In an instant, the pressure on my wrist was so great that I thought it would break my bones. There was an unmistakable feeling of a muscle about to snap.

I forced my body to twist and kick my opponent upside down, and then quickly stepped back to get some distance. My throat instantly dried up and frustration shook my heart. He grabbed his treasured sword and checked again to make sure his wrist was still intact. I could still feel the numbness in my fingertips.

It wasn't heavy at all.

It reminded me of the time when I had caught the white blade of Heldt-Stanley with my left hand. That time, it had broken my bones so badly. I felt something close to a cold sweat slide down my throat. I had a hunch.

A feeling of dread ran through my hair that if I had just caught the sword and compared forces, I would have ended up reenacting it. Through my fingertips, my wrists, my elbows, my shoulders, I was beginning to understand. He, Kalia...

”Fine, I'll leave nothing to chance. Lugis, you said you were a pebble. Then you may test me to your heart's content.

I mean it. Those are words of unmistakable truth. There was no hesitation in his words.

The silver sword wielded lightly at the tip of Kalia's hand proved its sharpness by splitting the sound. The sharpness of the sword seemed to indicate that Kalia's morale had risen like a flame. I, on the other hand, was still reeling from the turmoil in my heart.

I understand that I made a wrong choice. I want to scream at the top of my lungs, ”What a foolish thing I've done! I am filled with shame at my ineptitude. But still, I didn't expect Kalia to slash at me without hesitation.

Oh, no, no. That's a lie. That's definitely a lie.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I imagined that this day would come. That the day would come when I would be abandoned by Kalia and she would hold a blade to my back.

But still, I had a faint hope that such a day would never come. That's why I'm pretending to be so bewildered right now, shaking my skull and brain marrow with unacceptability. What a shameful thing.

On the other hand, my body seemed to know how to prepare for the clear threat in front of me. The fingers of both hands naturally gripped the treasured sword. The glow of the purple lightning shines as if it were shining back at the sun. The grand name ”Hero Killer” seemed to come to life. He moved his lips, avoiding eye contact with Kalia.

What's the point of trying? Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury to do so.

I let those words slip out, hoping that Kalia's feelings would change, even if only a little. I was painfully aware of the fact that these words were spoken out of weakness.

As if to dismiss my feeble words, Kalia said, ”It's so easy. It's so easy.

”Try to defeat me, Lugis. ”Try to beat me, Lugis. Jump off this sword. If you can do that, you're no longer an ordinary man or a pebble. Your flesh and blood will turn to gold.

The words were strangely unpleasant, yet they stuck in my ear and wouldn't leave. Kalia's silver hair swayed in the wind.

”And what, don't worry. Even if you're nothing but a pebble. ”And what, rest assured, even if you are nothing more than a pebble, I will protect you and shield you from everything. Nothing to worry about.

It was a voice that said he was sure of his victory.

It was as if he was not even aware of the possibility. It was as if he was asserting that it was impossible for him to be defeated. Such a tone of voice.