715 – Duel with Myth (side: Volk)

『Even though I acknowledged you as a great swordsman, I did not expect you to make a fool of me to this extent.』

“I have no intention of fighting you as a swordsman. As long as I can defeat you, that is enough. You have become a puppet of God, and had begun a pointless slaughter.”

『Do not become conceited simply because you stole my sword! You are already at your limit! Even empty-handed, my attacks are more than you can endure!』

Unfortunately, it is as Ares says.

I have been pushing my body beyond its limits to dodge his sword. With each strike I avoided, my body screamed. That stress built up, and led to me having to block Ares’ sword and being thrust to the ground.

I’ve applied enough emergency healing with [Autoregeneration] to be able to move, but my next attack will surely be the last. I will pour all of my remaining energy into it.

I look at the chipped golden sword in my hand, magiatite.

『Guh… Ugh…』

The chipped-off fragments of metal are rolling across the floor to rejoin his core. He’s fortunately somehow still alive. But it doesn’t look like I can push him any further.

“Atlach… I can no longer move properly. I’m counting on you for support.”

『…Got it.』

Atlach’s thread sticks to my body. She has a skill called [Puppet], which allows her to freely move a target she has stuck her threads to. With this, I can count on her to assist my movement.

I extract Ares’ giant sword from the floor and hold it ready with both hands.

“…This is amazing.”

The moment I touch it, I sense an immense magical power. The sword of the ancient Hero… I knew it couldn’t be ordinary, but it far surpassed my expectations. I have held many different swords in my life, but it is the first I’ve touched one so powerful.

An attack with this sword might work against Ares.

“A magical sword this powerful… I regret that I must wield you without knowing your name. Sorry, but I will have you turn your blade against your master.”

I say to the sword.

The sound of a deep sigh comes from Ares’ helmet. From his posture, I can almost imagine him smiling.

『Divine Judge Ascalon[1]… It is my treasured sword that has judged all kinds of demons. Due to its size, there were no others who could wield it. Certainly, now that I have become a demon, it may work against me.』

I face Ares.

『I know you are on the verge of death. I will face your attack head-on. This is your last chance.』

I point the giant sword, Divine Judge Ascalon, at Ares.

“Here I come, Ares!”

Supported by atlach’s threads, I run straight towards Ares.

Thanks to her assistance, I’m able to run faster and with more power than I usually can. However, she isn’t able to see through Ares’ attacks. As I get close to him, Ares will try to punch me with his gauntlet. I will have to dodge that myself.

“Uooooooooo!”

Shouting, I leap off the ground.

Ares’ fist flies towards me. With a loud crash, his heavy fist stabs into the floor, causing it and the opposite wall to shatter from the impact.

I suddenly notice that my vision is upside down.

At first, I think it’s because I had taken a direct hit from his fist, but that’s wrong. I am above Ares’ head. I sensed that his fist was coming, and unconsciously escaped to the air.

Ares’ fist is still in the ground. His head is defenceless.

“Take this, Ares!”

I shout as I swing the Divine Judge Ascalon with all my strength, slamming it into his helmet. The helmet is crushed, and dark red blood scatters.

『Impossible… This… it can’t be… OoooOOOO!』

Ares’ [Telepathy] resounds.

I land on my knees. I poured all of my strength into that swing, and so I don’t even have the strength to stand now.

But that did it. I finally defeated the ancient Hero. If God’s Voice is to be believed, then he was the strongest Hero in all history.

『I am an absolute existence… The strongest swordsman, who will be the king of the world… But I was defeated by a mortal swordsman without even a divine skill…?』

I know why I was able to beat Ares.

Ares is no longer a swordsman. He had become a monster with enough power that he no longer needed to master the way of the sword. And yet, he fought as a swordsman to the last.

From that last clash… I feel like I understood a little of why Ares was so arrogant, and why he felt so certain that he was a chosen existence.

“…In truth, you wanted only to die of old age as a champion of the people.”

However, fate and Ares’ vast strength conspired to prevent that. As he tried to accomplish something, he was made to realise that he was no longer human, and became twisted by fate, or perhaps by the toying of God’s Voice.

[1] – The sword or lance used by Saint George to kill the dragon in Christian legend.

AN: [Manga Update]
The fifth volume of the DoraTama manga is on sale today! It’s the Desert Country Harenae arc! The survival story of the gluttonous ball rabbit and Nina the beastkin girl begins! (2022-03-12)