Chapter 160 Chaos and Ruin I (2/2)
Lanterns, torches, candles, chandeliers, even gemstones embedded in the walls... they all worked in concert to illuminate a rather grandiose-looking hall upheld by dozens of stone pillars that stood at the very edges. Red carpet was unfolded beneath Lino's feet, stretching forth for nearly two hundred meters and ending just beneath the elevated throne.
The throne was extremely flamboyant, with hundreds of differently-colored gems shining in brilliant luster throughout its surface. The throne's splat stretched nearly fifty meters into the air, surrounded by two crimson-dyed banners whose surface was decorated with golden threads, their main attraction being a pair of silver fangs on each of the two.
The man sitting on the throne fit the scenery rather well as he could simply be defined as 'flamboyant'. A crimson robe etched with the golden threads spilled off the throne and onto the stairs leading up to him, with lustrous vest beneath. The man was a painting-come-to-reality of the portrait hanging outside the hall; he had snow-white hair splitting over his shoulders and onto the crimson robe, with extremely extravagant crown hanging above.
It was silver-made with mainly ruby gems adorning its surface, exuding an air of completed royalty to all those who would glance at it. However, as Lino never put much thought toward the concept of royalty, of nobility and of such grandeur, it practically had no effect on him.
The man smiled faintly as he snapped his fingers tenderly; suddenly a large table appeared before Lino, nearly fifty meters long, filled to brim with various exotic foods and drinks. At each side of the table fifty maids now stood, their heads humbly lowered, eyes closed as they seemed to wait for Lino's command.
”It has been so long since I was graced by the presence of another living,” the man spoke out. ”Please, allow me to play the role of the gracious host.”
”...” Lino was truly stunned and at a loss for words; he expected many different reactions, but this certainly wasn't one of them. He'd already confirmed that all of these things -- including the maids -- were genuine and, perhaps even more confusingly, neither the food nor the drinks were poisoned. ”Eh... you do realize I came here to fight you, right?” Lino asked as he glanced at the man with an odd gaze.
”So? A duel is a duel,” the man replied nonchalantly. ”It does not necessitate that we cannot be civil to one another, no?”
”... I guess... not?” Lino mumbled faintly still finding it hard to accept all of this. He fancied himself rather odd, but when compared to the man in front of him... he was completely and utterly normally average.
”This one's humble name is Erkhaan. May I inquire Sir's name?” the man asked with some curiosity.
”It's... Lyonel.” Lino replied.
”Lyonel, is it? I find it rather strange,” Erkhaan said, suddenly rubbing his chin. ”Your vitality is rather meek, yet I still cannot read a single iota of information about you. I am rather curious.”
”...” it appeared as though the man truly didn't care that Lino came here not only to fight him but also to kill him.
”You have come rather prepared, though,” Erkhaan said with a faint smile as he glanced at the scabbard by Lino's waist. ”Even my heart cannot help but cry lowly when I lay my eyes on that wonder.”
”... thanks. I'm rather proud of it.” Lino said, smiling as well.
”Oh? It was you who crafted it? Ha ha, rather impressive! Impressive indeed, human Lyonel! You have piqued my curiosity!”
”Should I be honored or terrified?”
”I am afraid we will have to skip the pleasantries,” Erkhaan spoke as he flicked his fingers yet again, causing the table -- and the food and drinks on top of it -- as well as the maids to vanish just as they had appeared previously. ”You stir my blood, Lyonel. It has been a long time since someone managed to do it.”
”...” Lino remained silent, repeatedly calming his nerves. Though he'd expected it, visualizing it and coming face to face with it were two completely different matters. Just standing before Erkhaan was enough to cause his instincts to scream at him to run away. The sheer amount of heaven-imposing energy that the man exuded simply by being was not something that Lino should be able to contend against just yet... yet all the same he had to.
”Though I had never before dueled inside my Throne Room,” Erkhaan slowly got off the throne, letting the crimson robes slip off and fall down. ”Today I shall make an exception.” he extended both his arms sideways whereupon two blades -- one crimson and one jet-black -- appeared. Both exuded fumes of light, leaving behind trails wherever they moved. ”Erkhaan Forthwit, Eight of His Name, Heir to the Antras' Throne and Servant of the Eldritch God Adabbith challenges Lyonel, First of His Name, the Heir of the Chaos, the Vassal of Ataxia, the Apotheosized Empyrean. Shall thee accept?”
”...” Lino's eyes flickered in dangerous glint for a moment as his hand reached for the sword within the scabbard, drawing it out. ”You know?”
”Alas, the Whispers of the Moon had spoken to me,” Erkhaan smiled faintly. ”There breaths only a single creature within the expanses of creation which can wake the Slumbering -- the Harbinger of Chaos himself.”
”You've given me a lot of titles I do not possess,” Lino said as he smiled faintly, rising his sword and pointing it at Erkhaan. ”But, the duel, I accept nonetheless.”
”Wonderful,” Erkhaan said, his lips curling up into a grin, further revealing a pair of fangs. ”Let it be known by Eldritch's Command --- Chaos and Ruin shall contend on this day.”
The fight that would leave the mark on the world at large commenced quickly, without any wasted word. Beyond simply being a fight between two men, it was a fight between two different ideologies. A fight between two concepts that even the bravest of the brave dreaded the mention of -- the Chaos - father of all and any and everything -- and the Ruin - the end of all and any and everything.