[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 146
Zeke read the demon world language translated by the system.
[We are separate, yet one. We are separate, yet one.]
As the eerie chant continued, branches and roots began to sprout from the Green Warrior's bodies.
'What's this?'
The branches and roots that sprouted from the Warrior's bodies began to intertwine.
The intertwined trees formed the shape of a giant warrior.
The five warriors merged into one, each becoming an arm, a leg, or the torso of the giant wooden warrior.
Rumble!
The giant warrior made of wood rose.
'What is that?'
Then, the branches in the part that seemed to be the wooden warrior's head moved, and it spoke to Zeke.
[I am the one who upholds the honorable 'Clear Green Aspiration.' I am Arataso.]
Zeke realized that the Green Warriors had summoned the subordinate of the Clear Green Aspiration.
'They were talking about honor, but they immediately summon a subordinate when they're about to lose.'
It didn't make sense for those who worshipped demons to talk about honor in the first place.
Zeke said to Arataso,
"I was in an honorable duel with the five warriors who summoned you. But it's quite disconcerting that another being suddenly interferes. Would you allow me to finish the honorable duel with the five warriors?"
Arataso shook his head.
[The subordinates of the Clear Green Aspiration are separate, but they are as one. The five of them are the same as me, so the honorable duel will continue with me.]
It was an absurd sophistry, but it wasn't strange considering that his opponent was a demonfolk, a subordinate of a demon.
'They say sophistry and lies are the most useful weapons humans learned from demons. It's disgusting to experience it firsthand.'
Zeke, figuring that further talk would only aggravate him, pointed Bahamut towards Arataso.
He thought that whether it was five Green Warriors or one demonfolk, something would come out of it if he just attacked.
Seeing Zeke like that, Arataso stretched his giant body.
Then, he plunged the wooden sword he was holding into the ground.
Rumble!
Tree roots with a green aura began to spread across the ground.
Zeke stepped back and dodged the tree roots.
'W-what's this?'
Woooong!
Vibrations echoed from where the tree roots spread.
At the same time, sparks flew from the Hercyon.
A message window popped up.
[Affected by the barrier magic cast by the demonfolk.]
[System operation is limited within the barrier.]
[Powers and skills cannot be activated within the barrier.]
[Stamina consumption increases due to the barrier's influence.]
'A demonfolk's barrier?'
It was a completely different fighting method from the demonfolk Zeke had encountered so far.
Arataso got up, leaving the sword he had plunged into the ground.
A new sword grew from his hand.
He raised the sword towards Zeke.
[Take up your sword, mortal knight! Prove your valor with your sword honorably!]
Arataso, who had suddenly cast a barrier without warning, spoke grandiose words.
Since the system, powers, and skills weren't functioning properly, he couldn't use the Hercyon, Agamemnon's Mask, or light magic.
'This is a predicament.'
Zeke pointed Bahamut at Arataso.
"Honor my ass. I'll make you crawl on the ground."
Woooong!
Zeke's sword was enveloped in aura.
Zeke, taking the stance of the Dragon Slayer Technique, charged straight towards Arataso.
Slash!
Zeke's sword strike flew towards Arataso.
Crash!
The wooden shield Arataso created deflected Zeke's sword strike.
Wooden fragments scattered, but Arataso wasn't fazed at all.
Only Zeke's wrist, which struck the shield, throbbed.
'It's like I hit a lump of iron.'
Arataso, holding the shield, charged towards Zeke.
Rumble!
The shield swung by Arataso's giant body flew towards Zeke.
"Haaaat!"
Zeke used the Water Barrier to gently deflect Arataso's attack.
Whoosh!
Arataso, whose attack was neutralized by the Wave Sword, tilted sideways, unable to support his own weight.
Zeke didn't miss the opportunity.
"Will of Severance!"
He cut Arataso's shield.
Slash!
Surprisingly, Arataso's shield was split in half and fell to the ground.
Arataso's eyes changed upon seeing this.
[You're no ordinary human.]
Rumble!
Green light flickered in his eyes.
Wood sprouted again, creating a larger and sturdier shield than before.
At the same time, a green aura emanated from Arataso's sword. It felt subtly different from when he cast the barrier earlier.
It looked similar to aura at first glance.
'A demonfolk using aura?'
An aura blade also surged from Zeke's sword.
"Haaaat!"
Zeke's sword and Arataso's sword clashed.
Crackle!
Sparks flew every time the blue aura blade and the green aura collided, and the ground cracked from the impact.
Their swords clashed dozens of times.
Arataso burst into laughter and shouted,
[Human knight! Swing your sword more! And scream! Your despair and fear will become my strength!]
Arataso's sword strikes were heavy and sharp.
'Ugh!'
Zeke swung Bahamut relentlessly.
Even though Zeke had Infinite Stamina, there was a limit to his strength as the battle prolonged.
If he wasn't careful, he could lose consciousness during the fight, which would be the worst-case scenario.
Zeke retreated and blocked Arataso's sword.
Crash!
Arataso's sword didn't stop and continued to pour towards Zeke.
Zeke used the Gale Wind swordsmanship, which had swift sword strikes, to deflect Arataso's sword.
But he was soon overwhelmed by the power.
Crash!
Zeke, hit by Arataso's sword strike, was thrown against the wall.
"Huff... huff..."
Zeke felt his strength draining faster than usual due to the barrier's influence.
He gripped his sword and barely managed to stand again.
Arataso, holding his sword, pointed it at Zeke and said,
[You have decent skills for a human. But it's far from enough to face me, Arataso, who leads thousands of demon world warriors.]
Despite Arataso's arrogant words, Zeke didn't retort but caught his breath and calmly raised his sword again.
Zeke generated an aura blade once more and charged at Arataso.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He swung his sword, using the Dragon Slayer Technique, but his attacks were helplessly deflected by Arataso's shield.
"Huff... huff..."
Zeke, his body heavy, was holding his sword with his stance as low as possible.
It was then.
Crackle!
Suddenly, sparks started to fly from the ground.
Arataso was flustered.
[W-what?]
The roots spread on the ground were being dug up by Zeke's aura blade.
Arataso shouted at Zeke,
[You bastard! Are you trying to destroy my barrier?!]
By the time he realized it, it was already too late.
Zeke unleashed the Dragon's Claw towards Arataso's wooden sword that was plunged into the ground.
Crack!
The already weakened sword shattered, and the barrier disappeared.
[Restoring system functions.]
Whoosh!
Zeke equipped his Hercyon again and put on Agamemnon's Mask.
"Mace of Light!"
Zeke immediately cast light magic towards Arataso.
Crash!
He couldn't give Arataso a chance to create another barrier.
Zeke used the Holy Flame skill in advance to prepare for the possibility of a barrier being created, so he could escape its influence.
He learned a valuable lesson about what to be careful of when fighting demonfolk from his battle with Arataso.
Rumble!
The dust cloud cleared, and Arataso, hit by the Mace of Light and with his bark peeled off in several places, appeared.
His eyes glowed green, and he said to Zeke,
[Human! I admire your courage. I, Arataso, will also do my best to uphold my master's honor!]
Suddenly, Arataso's body, which had been standing on two legs, began to change.
Arataso's lower body transformed into that of a horse, like a centaur, and one arm became a shield while the other became a spear.
As if he were a real horse, Arataso scraped the ground with his hooves.
Zeke activated the Purification Blade.
As a golden aura imbued with the power of purification enveloped Bahamut, Arataso, seemingly surprised, raised his front leg and shouted,
[How horrifying! I fear that my clear green soul, received from my master, will be tainted by that filthy light! Is this also a test as a warrior given by my master?! Weep! Wail! Today, I, Arataso, shall create a warrior's epic with a new verse!]
Zeke, watching Arataso spout embarrassing lines, quietly took the stance of the Dragon Slayer Technique, Rider Style.
Woooong!
A golden aura emanated from Zeke's entire body.
At the same time, a dark green light emanated from Arataso's body.
Rumble!
The green light seeped into Arataso's spear like an aura blade.
The already long spear felt even larger with the green energy infused in it.
Arataso charged towards Zeke first.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
With a ground-shaking sound, Arataso thrust his spear forward.
Rumble!
A green vortex of light flew towards Zeke.
Zeke also used the Dragon Slayer Technique with Bahamut, imbued with the Purification Blade.
Dragon Slayer Technique, True Dragon Swordsmanship Style
Chapter 4 Verse 2
Launch the Full Moon
A giant full moon cut through the green vortex and struck Arataso's body.
Crash!
The full moon, containing a golden aura, cut through Arataso's body.
[Cough!]
Arataso, directly hit by the unexpectedly powerful sword strike, retreated.
Since it was an attack imbued with the power of purification, his wounds, being a demonfolk, didn't heal.
His wooden body was almost split in half, with a long gash from his shoulder to his side.
Green smoke rose from the wound.
[That insolent human...]
Having been defeated, Arataso, who had been so relaxed earlier, now spewed harsh words.
Zeke didn't stop there and launched the Mace of Light towards Arataso.
Crash!
The powerful Mace of Light fell on Arataso's head.
Thud!
Arataso blocked the Mace of Light with his shield.
Zeke took advantage of the opening, activated the Fire Barrier, and unleashed the Blue Flame Dance on Arataso's body.
Whoosh!
A giant spear of fire pierced Arataso's body.
[Ugh!]
Since it was pure fire created with elemental power, Arataso's body, made of malice, also caught fire.
Arataso hurriedly cut off the burning parts and regenerated his body.
On the severed body parts, the Green Warrior lay dead, mummified with his life force completely drained.
Arataso shouted in a voice filled with rage, unlike before,
[For my master's honor! I will cut off your head and offer it to the altar!]
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Arataso charged straight towards Zeke with his spear.
Whoosh!
Arataso skillfully wielded the giant spear and attacked Zeke.
Whoosh!
Arataso's spearmanship was incredibly strange.
It seemed like he was thrusting, but then he slashed sideways, and when it seemed like he was slashing sideways, he thrust.
It seemed like he was just grazing Zeke, but then the spear extended and pierced forward.
'It's unpredictable spearmanship.'
It felt completely different from human spearmanship.
Zeke realized firsthand that when facing demons or demonfolk, he had to consider attacks that defied human common sense.
Bang!
The spear struck Zeke's back from an unexpected angle.
"Ugh!"
If it weren't for the Hercyon, he might have been fatally wounded by this attack.
Zeke deflected Arataso's erratically flying spear, trying to grasp the demonfolk's spearmanship with his body.
Just then, green haze rose from Arataso's body.
'It seems like the summoners' life force is almost depleted.'
Zeke, deflecting Arataso's spear, looked for an opening.
Then, he pulled out a chain from his left hand and swiftly tripped Arataso's leg.
Thud!
Arataso lost his balance and fell as his leg was bound and restrained by the chain.
Then, Arataso abandoned the horse part of his body, separated only the upper body, and created a new body.
His body size was much smaller than before, now the size of a Barbarian.
[For a human to push me, a subordinate of the 'Clear Green Aspiration,' this far... Impressive.]
Arataso suddenly regained his composure.
He created a shield and a sword, pointed them at Zeke, and shouted,
[Before I return to the demon world, I will devour your soul and inflict eternal pain!]
[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]