“My, my~ I'm so scared~ Mr. Lynn.”
“I admit, my current state is indeed very poor. If the Saintess were to join forces with you again, perhaps I really might have suffered a setback~”
“But with just you alone—what can you possibly do?!”
Without warning, Alastor stomped hard on the ground.
The flying snow blurred Lynn's vision. In the next instant, every cell in his body began to scream in warning—
Danger, danger, danger!
He forced himself to bend low, holding his sword with both hands to block this heavy, powerful blow.
The irresistible force tore open the webbing of his thumbs, sending him crashing through a low ice hill like a cannonball.
A sweet taste rose in Lynn's throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of dark, stagnant blood.
He looked down at his wrist, where a dark mark was rapidly spreading from the wound to his entire body.
“...Another curse?”
“Correct!” Alastor laughed mockingly.
“This isn't some mild, inferior curse that merely seals your magic. Stubborn fool—make a miserable spectacle of yourself in the agonizing pain of the Heart-Devouring Curse!”
He licked his lips.
In his long life, he had seen far too many troublesome opponents. Some were aloof and proud, others cautious and meticulous.
But without exception—after being struck by the Heart-Devouring Curse, his finest creation that inflicted the constant, excruciating pain of a thousand cuts upon its victim—they could only struggle miserably, making a pathetic spectacle of themselves as they marched toward death.
Lynn von Reinhardt,
how ugly will the struggles of a talented powerhouse like you be?
Surely, it must be a tantalizing spectacle.
Alastor watched the heavily panting youth with anticipation, unwilling to miss even the tiniest detail.
But he was disappointed.
“Heart-Devouring Curse?”
Lynn propped himself up with the hilt of his sword. “If this is all the strength it has... it wouldn't even qualify you to apply as a massage maid at my house.”
His mocking expression was the same as ever.
Alastor narrowed his eyes, accelerating the erosion of the curse.
“...Stubborn fool!”
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Unable to breathe.
A suffocating pressure.
It was a tempestuous flurry of blows from Alastor.
He maintained his playful expression, standing completely still as flesh-fused tentacles extended from his back, flailing to launch a saturation attack.
As the dust filling the air dispersed, he chuckled softly and was about to step forward.
“!?”
His ankles were completely immobile, as if they had taken root.
Unbeknownst to him, blazing golden flames had erupted from the ground, firmly shackling his ankles.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Almost simultaneously, three prepared Explosion spells roared and poured forth.
Head, heart, groin.
With three of his vital points locked onto, Alastor could no longer maintain his composure. He scrambled to raise his arms in defense.
Three fist-sized bloody holes pierced his torso, from which pitch-black blood slowly trickled down. His entire face was scorched black, utterly devoid of his previous calm and ease.
“Hey, what's wrong? Why such a pathetic state?” A merciless jeer drifted from the distant wind and snow.
For the first time, Alastor's mask of 'elegance and composure' shattered. He could no longer suppress the rage in his heart, his eyes glaring venomously at Lynn.
Why? Why was he still standing?
That piercing pain, such a wretched injury... Did they simply not exist to him?!
Alastor even began to doubt his own mastery of curses. Refusing to believe it, he cast the Heart-Devouring Curse on half of his own tentacle.
In just half a second, the agonizing pain forced him to sever the connection between the tentacle and his main body.
He watched the pile of flesh that was the tentacle writhing frantically on the ground, then looked back in disbelief at the swaying but resolutely upright man before him.
Lynn von Reinhardt—
was this man truly unbeatable?
“Are you kidding me?!”
Looking into those indifferent eyes, Alastor felt a sudden wave of panic rise in his heart—one he would never admit to.
The intuition that had saved him countless times in crises was screaming in panic.
He couldn't keep playing around—he had to, he must kill the man before him immediately!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
He roared hysterically as countless tentacles slammed frantically into the ground where Lynn had just been standing.
Yet amidst the tempestuous assault, Lynn stood as unmoving as an ancient boulder.
【Azure Rondo】 was operating at an unprecedented level at this moment.
Thrust, slash, cleave.
Pure sword techniques blended into an elegant waltz as he unhurriedly took control of the battle's rhythm.
Fierce attacks grazed his cheeks, carving bloody streaks, yet he remained completely oblivious.
Like a small boat in a raging storm, every time he seemed on the verge of capsizing, he miraculously stabilized once more.
This mad rondo of dancing on a blade's edge lasted for a full half-ke. Suddenly, as if his physical strength had given out, Lynn's body swayed.
“An opening!” Without time for second thoughts, Alastor's seasoned combat experience made the judgment for him.
His stationary main body suddenly lunged forward, his outstretched left hand curving like a claw as it viciously struck at Lynn's waist and abdomen.
Rip!
Crimson blood flowed down from the hideous wound.
“To have held out for so long, you already have reason to be proud. However—”
“It's over!”
Alastor finally breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the youth's lowered head with lingering fear, he prepared to deliver the final blow.
But his eerie green pupils suddenly froze.
“!?”
The youth lifted his head, his handsome face stained red with blood, his lips pulled back into a maniacal grin.
“Indeed...”
Those golden eyes seemed to be ablaze.
His hoarse yet clear voice declared, word by word.
“It... is... time... to... end... this.”
【Physical contact condition met. Target: 'Alastor'】
【Replicable traits are as follows: 【Servant of Black Mist (Purple)】, 【Lost Lamb (Purple)】, 【Master of Demagoguery (Blue)】, 【Poison Mastery (Blue)】...】
It was a trap!
Panic instantly flooded Alastor's mind, and he tried to retreat in terror. However, the fist that had pierced the youth's abdomen was firmly locked in place by Lynn's arms.
At such close range, Alastor could hear Lynn's low murmur.
“I will seize—”
【Double Emotion Points consumed. 【Lost Lamb (Purple)】 has been seized.】
“What—?!”
Alastor's drawn-out voice suddenly ground to a halt.
His hideous face suddenly fractured.
I can't move?!
Why? Why? Why? Why?!
The incomprehensible situation completely overwhelmed his mind.
“Aaaaaah—”
Amidst his shrill, agonizing shrieks, he rolled around on the ground, completely devoid of any grace.
His massive body fractured into countless pieces.
In stark contrast, the youth standing with sword in hand was high-spirited and triumphant.
Though the shocking cavity in his abdomen was still sizzling and seeping blood, the man's spine stood as straight as an unyielding pine.
Lynn spread his hands, stretching his body freely as he listened to the dragon-like crackling of his spine popping.
“Now, you black mist bastard—”
“It's my turn.”
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