CHAPTER 74
In Sartores
It's been seven hours since I started fighting Valroth inside this cathedral...
ang tanging nagagawa ko lamang ay iwasan ang kaniyang mga atake.
It's a surprise that I've managed to stay alive this long because Valroth's fighting style is weird.
Hindi siya basta umaatake nang diretso. His movements are unpredictable, and every attack feels like he already knows where I'm going to move.
Ang kaniyang kapangyarihan ay katulad ng akin. May kakayahan din siyang manipulahin ang hangin, ngunit ang kaniya ay mas tuso at mas madilim. Hindi lamang niya ginagamit ang hangin para sa bilis o pag-atake. He uses it in ways that make it difficult for me to predict his next move.
That's why his weapon is a fan.
Mas nagiging natural para sa kaniya ang paggamit ng hangin kapag hawak niya iyon. Every movement of his fan changes the flow of the air around me, making even the smallest opening dangerous.
Habang patuloy kong iniiwasan ang mga atake ni Valroth, unti-unti rin akong gumagawa ng lagusan. It wasn't easy, especially while keeping my attention on him.
I already gave Fenris an order to create another portal for Keisha and the others. I need to get them out of here.
I planned to appear in Sartores with everyone once the portal was ready. Pero kailangan ko munang siguraduhin na hindi kami masusundan ni Valroth.
I just need a little more time...
Ngunit nakakapagtaka pa rin...
Bakit ang isang demonyo ay may kakayahang gumamit ng elemental na kapangyarihan?
"Aero blade!" sigaw ni Russel at mabilis na iwinasiwas ang kaniyang espada. Nagpakawala siya ng napakaraming mana dahilan upang mas lalong humangin nang malakas sa paligid. Mas lumiwanag ang kaniyang espada bago siya mabilis na tumakbo palapit upang umatake kay Valroth.
?Mas lumawak ang ngiti ni Valroth. Muli niyang ginalaw ang kaniyang matutulis na pamaypay at nagpakawala ng malakas na hampas ng hangin to counter Russel's attack.
?Russel was supposed to drive his sword directly through Valroth's heart, but Valroth instantly disappeared from his sight. Sa sobrang bilis ng kaniyang galaw ay bigla na lamang siyang lumitaw sa mismong likuran ni Russel, suot ang nakatatakot nitong ngiti.
Mabilis niyang sinaksak si Russel mula sa likuran gamit ang kaniyang matutulis na pamaypay. Valroth smiled maniacally as he repeatedly impaled the child.
Dalawampu't anim na saksak ang walang-awang tumama sa kaniyang likuran.
Napatawa si Valroth nang makita ang itsura ni Russel na duguan at puno ng sugat. Mabilis na humihingal si Russel habang tinitiis ang matinding sakit ng kaniyang mga natamo.
?Dinilaan ni Valroth ang dugong nasa kaniyang pamaypay. Mabilis na nagkasugat ang kaniyang dila dahil sa talim nito, ngunit tila wala lang iyon sa kaniya. Bagkus, mabilis ding humupa at naghilom iyon.
"My, my... kaawa-awa. Halatang hindi mo na kayang makipaglaban... Just give up and let me eat you. If I manage to consume you, you will live for eternity... hindi ka na mamamatay, at matatapos na rin ang paghihirap mo... you will live through me."
Patuloy na tumutulo ang dugong luha mula sa mga mata ni Valroth habang nakatingin siya kay Russel. There was no mockery in his expression this time. Instead, he genuinely looked sorry for the young captain.
He felt bad for Russel.
Sa isip ni Valroth, iyon ang pinakamadaling paraan para matapos na ang paghihirap nito. If he consumed Russel, the boy would no longer have to fight, run, or fear death. He would simply continue to exist through Valroth.
"Isn't that better?" mahinang tanong ni Valroth. "You won't have to suffer anymore."
Umubo muli ng dugo si Russel. His blank expression remained unchanged as he slowly turned back toward the demon, as if the injuries he had suffered meant nothing to him. Ngunit ramdam na ramdam niya ang sakit sa kaniyang katawan, especially in his lungs.
Bilang isang air mage, mahalaga ang kaniyang mga baga sa kaniyang paghinga at sa pagkontrol ng kaniyang kapangyarihan, ngunit dahil sa atake ni Valroth, nahihirapan na siyang huminga nang maayos.
Every breath felt heavier than the last, and even controlling the wind around him was becoming difficult.
Ngunit sa kabila ng lahat ng iyon, hindi pa rin siya umatras.
Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang kaniyang espada at nanatiling nakatingin kay Valroth, refusing to let the demon see just how much pain he was actually in.
"Are you sure?" mahinang tanong ni Russel. "Maybe it's because you're a monster. You don't know the beauty of mortality."
Ang kaniyang ekspresyon ay nanatiling seryoso.
Para kay Russel, hindi na mahalaga kung mamamatay man siya ngayon.
His father and sister were already gone, and he had long accepted that there was nothing left for him to fear losing.
He had already lost the people most important to him, and if his life had to end here, he would accept it without regret.
"You don't understand that life is precious because it doesn't last forever. Every moment matters because someday, it will end. You think living forever is a blessing, but you don't know what it means to truly be alive."
Mas hinigpitan niya ang kaniyang hawak sa espada at mas lalong lumiwanag ito.
"I'd rather live my own life, even if it's short, than live forever through you."
Natigilan si Valroth nang biglang naging hangin si Russel. Russel disappeared from Valroth's sight, appearing in different parts of the cathedral before immediately disappearing again, as if he were using his speed to distract the demon and confuse him.
Kamangha-mangha... sobrang... sobrang bilis ng batang ito... he is the fastest opponent I've ever encountered...
What a talented child...
"What made you think... that you can kill me and consume me, stinky demon?"
Nanatiling may mga pigura ni Russel na lumilitaw at mabilis ding nawawala sa paligid, bawat isa ay nagsisilbing panlito kay Valroth.
Hindi namalayan ng demonyo na ang tunay na katawan ni Russel ay nakapuwesto na pala sa kaniyang likuran.
Sa isang iglap, mabilis na isinaksak ni Russel ang kaniyang espada sa puso at baga ng demonyo, mas mariin niyang diniinan ito upang mapigilan ang paggalaw ni Valroth.
Agad ding nabuo ang mga kadena ng hangin na umikot sa katawan ng demonyo.
Kumunot ang noo ni Valroth nang mapansin niyang unti-unting bumubukas ang mga lagusan ng hangin sa kabilang bahagi ng cathedral. Agad niyang napagtanto kung ano ang ginagawa ni Russel.
Tumakbo nang mabilis si Russel patungo sa lagusan, ngunit kahit anong pilit ni Valroth ay hindi siya makagalaw dahil sa kadenang nakapalibot sa kaniyang katawan.
Mabilis na nawala ang itim na dugong patuloy na lumalabas sa kaniyang mga mata. His eyes revealed the number of his rank in the Infernov language, glowing as he stared at the portal made by Russel.
Biglang nagpakawala si Valroth ng napakaraming matutulis na pamaypay patungo kay Russel. Mabilis naman itong umiwas sa bawat isa, hindi siya tumigil sa pagtakbo patungo sa lagusan.
Mas lalong nagliwanag ang mga mata ni Valroth habang patuloy niyang pinabibilis ang kaniyang mga atake.
This child...
Hindi lamang siya mabilis para sa isang taong tulad niya... he is smart.
Alam niyang hindi niya ako matatalo nang mag-isa. He created a portal route to escape me while distracting me this entire time...
How clever. Seven hours of fighting me, and instead of wasting what little strength he has left trying to defeat me, he quietly prepared a way to escape. I have to admit, I'm impressed.
But he made one mistake.
He let me see where he is going...
But no... hindi ako puwedeng sumunod sa kaniya. I need to hide, just as she ordered. I only need one strike to finish this kid off.
Mabilis na pinasabog ni Valroth ang kaniyang sariling katawan upang makawala sa kadena na pumipigil sa kaniya.
Tumalsik ang kaniyang pira-pirasong katawan, ngunit mabilis ding bumalik sa dati ang kaniyang katawan.
His wounds rapidly regenerated as dark mana spread across his body.
Ilang sandali lamang ay muli na siyang nakatayo, na para bang walang nangyari.
His eyes remained fixed on Russel as his sharp smile slowly returned.
One strike... that's all I need...
Ngunit bago pa man makagawa ng atake si Valroth, bigla siyang nakarinig ng isang boses na nagdulot ng malamig na takot sa kaniyang buong katawan. The voice he feared the most.
"I am calling upon all demons under my command. Attack. Now."
Her voice was low and terrifyingly calm, yet every word seemed to echo through the darkness itself.
"The Orythea is alive. I will not allow her to interfere with my plans. Bring me every woman you find who possesses strong mana... You, upper demons, remain in my castle. Do not leave unless I command it."
Sandaling natahimik ang boses bago muling nagsalita.
"Valroth... you have encountered the brother of the Orythea. Enter his portal and attack alongside the lower demons. Defeat the Orythea, Valroth. Or I will kill you myself..."
Bahagyang nanginig si Valroth, at muling tumulo ang itim na dugo mula sa kaniyang mga mata. His smile slowly disappeared as fear began to take over him.
Tagumpay na nakapasok si Russel sa kaniyang lagusan.
Malakas siyang bumagsak sa lupa at napahawak sa kaniyang dibdib habang pilit na inaayos ang kaniyang paghinga.
For a moment, he thought he had finally escaped and that Valroth was still trapped inside his air chains.
Ngunit sa isang iglap, nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata nang maramdaman niyang naroon pa rin ang presensya ng demonyo.
Dahan-dahan siyang napalingon sa kaniyang lagusan, and there he saw Valroth slowly stepping out of the portal. Nakangiti na ito habang tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang paligid.
"Magaling, magaling..." mahinang sambit ni Valroth habang patuloy na nakangiti. "Nagawa mo akong lokohin, bata. At dahil sa'yo... marami akong makakain ngayon."
Nanatiling natigilan si Rassia habang pinagmamasdan si Russel.
She couldn't believe that at his young age, he was actually capable of fighting a high-ranking demon.