Chapter 89: You Fought Well

Chapter 89: Chapter 89: You Fought Well

Veyra’s smile remained on her face as she slowly raised the flaming blade in her hand. The crimson flames surrounding her sword burned more intensely than before, twisting around the blade like living serpents.

The heat spreading through the forest was enough to make the remaining mist evaporate, revealing the destruction caused by Suldun’s previous attack.

Trees had been scorched black, the ground was covered in burning cracks, and several areas had been reduced to nothing more than charred earth.

"Impossible..."

Suldun’s breathing became heavier.

He had already used three of his five skills before activating Blazing Heart and Heavenly Inferno. His body was still strengthened by the buff, but the energy he had spent during the battle was rapidly decreasing. His arms felt heavier, and his breathing was no longer as steady as it had been when he first entered the dungeon.

Veyra noticed.

"You’ve done well."

Her voice remained calm.

"For a human, your strength is impressive. You managed to push me further than I expected."

Suldun laughed bitterly.

"Push you further?"

He tightened his grip around his sword.

"You haven’t even used your other skills, have you?"

Veyra did not answer immediately. Her silence was enough.

Suldun’s expression sank.

"I see."

His instincts had been warning him from the moment Veyra appeared. He had initially thought that perhaps his instincts were simply reacting to an intelligent monster with an unfamiliar aura. Now he understood the truth.

His instincts had been trying to tell him something much simpler.

He could not win.

Even after using his strongest attack, he had failed to seriously injure her.

And the monster standing before him had yet to reveal the full extent of her strength.

Suldun slowly raised his sword.

"Then there’s only one thing left to do."

Veyra looked at him.

"Fight until the end?"

"Exactly."

Suldun’s eyes became sharp.

"I’ve been an adventurer for a long time. I’ve encountered monsters stronger than me before, and I’ve survived because I knew when to retreat and when to fight."

He took another deep breath.

"But I’ve also learned something else. Sometimes, when there’s no path to retreat, the only choice is to fight with everything you have."

The flames around his body suddenly surged. Suldun’s remaining strength erupted at once.

His sword became engulfed in crimson fire, and the ground beneath his feet cracked from the pressure of his sudden movement.

He charged.

Veyra watched him approach without moving. Suldun’s speed increased with every step.

His body blurred.

In an instant, he appeared directly in front of Veyra.

His sword descended toward her head.

Veyra raised her Infernal Blade.

Clang!

The two flaming swords collided.

The impact created a violent shockwave that swept through the dead forest.

Suldun’s teeth clenched as he poured every remaining bit of strength into the attack.

"AAAAH!"

He pushed forward.

For several seconds, the two swords remained locked together.

Suldun’s arms trembled.

Veyra’s expression remained calm. Then she slowly pushed his sword aside.

Suldun’s eyes widened.

Veyra stepped forward. Her movements were simple, and there was no wasted motion.

She swung her sword.

Suldun desperately raised his weapon to block.

Clang!

The force of the impact sent him flying backward.

He crashed through a dead tree and rolled several meters across the ground before stopping.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. His hands trembled as he pushed himself up.

Veyra walked toward him.

"Your determination is admirable."

Suldun wiped the blood from his mouth.

"But this battle is already decided."

Suldun looked at her. For a moment, neither moved. Then Suldun smiled faintly.

"I know."

He slowly raised his sword one last time.

"But I’m not going to die without making you remember me."

Veyra’s eyes softened slightly.

"Then I will remember you."

The crimson flames around her sword suddenly changed.

Until now, Veyra had merely used infernal blade and flame burst.

This time, the flames condensed.

The enormous fire surrounding the sword compressed into a thin, intensely bright crimson layer along the edge.

The temperature in the surrounding forest rose dramatically.

Even the remaining death energy in the air was pushed away.

Suldun immediately realized that something was different.

His expression became solemn.

"That..."

Veyra’s gaze remained fixed on him.

"[Crimson Flame Manipulation]."

The instant she activated the skill, every flame surrounding her responded to her will.

The fire in the forest twisted toward her.

The flames left behind by Suldun’s attacks were pulled from the scorched ground and gathered around Veyra’s blade.

The entire battlefield seemed to become her weapon.

Suldun’s pupils contracted.

"So that’s your real strength."

Veyra stepped forward.

"I won’t prolong this any further."

Suldun gritted his teeth and gathered what little strength remained in his body.

He charged one last time, his sword burned brightly.

Veyra moved at the same moment. The distance between them disappeared.

Suldun swung with everything he had left, and Veyra’s crimson blade met his.

For one brief instant, their weapons crossed. Then Veyra’s sword passed through.

Slash!

Suldun froze.

The flames surrounding his sword disappeared.

His eyes widened as he looked down. A deep wound had opened across his chest. And his body slowly lost its strength.

The sword slipped from his hand and struck the ground.

Clang.

Suldun fell to one knee. He tried to stand, but his legs refused to move.

Veyra stood in front of him, her flaming sword lowered at her side.

Suldun looked up at her.

"So this is..."

He coughed.

"...the difference between us."

Veyra nodded.

"Yes."

Suldun gave a faint smile.

"I suppose I was lucky."

"Why?"

"I came here looking for treasure."

He glanced toward the materials he had collected from the Gravehorn Reaper.

"I found more than I expected."

His vision began to blur.

"And I even got to fight a monster like you."

Veyra remained silent for a moment. Then she raised her sword.

"You fought well."

The crimson flames around her blade gathered once more.

Suldun closed his eyes.

"I’ll take that as a compliment."

Veyra swung.

The final strike passed through him.

Suldun’s body collapsed onto the scorched ground.

The infernal blade slowly faded.