“…Cain, you’re… no way…”
Seeing the blue aura rising from Cain’s sword, Bianca raised her voice without realizing it. The emotion in her eyes was neither surprise nor bewilderment. The only emotion he felt from her was shock.
“I can’t believe you’re converting your own life energy into an aura form…”
Yes, aura was a power that, after extremely arduous training, transformed the life energy within the body into a material form capable of influencing the present world. In other words, even without awakening an aura, anyone who could harness their own life energy could use a power resembling it.
In fact, in many schools of swordsmanship, there were at least one or two techniques that tapped into the latent power of principles similar to those Cain now employed. What Cain was currently doing was merely refining that method by applying the principles of ‘Flowing Star.’ However, that didn’t mean what Cain was doing was anything close to normal.
‘I’ll be scolded by the princess later.’
The blue aura that Cain was now manifesting was similar to an aura, yet not an aura at the same time. Compared to a genuine aura, it was vastly inferior. It consumed twice as much life energy, yet its destructive power was less than half.
Most importantly, those who awakened an aura did not expend their life energy when using it. However, this technique, which expressed aura in an expedient way, permanently consumed life energy. In other words, it was sheer madness to cut down one’s own lifespan in this manner.
That was why the princess who taught him this technique had gone so far as to warn him never to use it unless faced with a life-threatening emergency.
…But what choice did he have? Without resorting to this desperate measure, the fight between him and Bianca wouldn’t have even reached this point. It wasn’t as though he wanted to use it so recklessly.
“…I couldn’t help it. Unless I use this method, I don’t even have the right to stand on the same battlefield as you. To fight you as an equal, Bianca…”
“Have you really gone mad?”
Interrupting Cain, Bianca screamed at him, her voice filled with rage. Her face now showed nothing but worry and concern for him.
“Do you actually want to die? Why are you doing something this reckless? This is insanity! Do you even know how much of your lifespan you just consumed with that single attack? A day? A week? Or even a year? Does your life mean so little to you? You really…”
Bianca’s hands trembled, and she collapsed onto the floor as though her legs had given out.
“…You could really die from this…”
“…..”
Cain remained silent, and Bianca bit her lip tightly, muttering under her breath.
“You’re so stupid. A complete fool. To stop me, you’d even use your own life as a weapon and shield. And yet, there isn’t even a hint of regret in your eyes now. Cain.”
That man was utterly infuriating. Bianca couldn’t understand him. She didn’t know why he was acting this way or why he was fighting her. What on earth was he trying to achieve, even at the cost of his own lifespan?
“Then, can I take that as a sign you’re ready to stop here? If you’re willing to back down, I’ll stop too.”
But the next moment, Bianca’s anger flared at Cain’s casual words.
“…Are you seriously using your life as a bargaining chip to negotiate with me?”
Cain didn’t respond. His silence was all the confirmation Bianca needed.
“…You b*stard!”
Anger surged from deep within her, hatred bubbling to the surface.
She despised it. She despised him. She hated Cain for standing in front of her like this, and she hated him for not considering her feelings. The man she had once adored now seemed despicable.
“…Bianca, I’m just doing what I can at this moment.”
As those words left Cain’s mouth, Bianca’s reason snapped.
“…You wretched b*stard!”
That man must have been insane. And she must have been equally insane for loving him so much. She felt fed up, overwhelmed by the situation. The person she still loved, even now, was Cain—and she hated him for it. She also despised Aria, the one at the root of all this.
“…No.”
Bianca knew she had to stop. If she pushed further, Cain might genuinely die from burning away his lifespan. Her rational mind urged her to retreat.
…But her heart refused to listen.
At that moment, Bianca understood. There were times in life when you had no choice but to follow your emotions, even knowing you’d regret it later.
Her instincts as a woman whispered to her. Without realizing what she was saying, Bianca opened her mouth and let out a terribly selfish declaration.
“No, no! No!”
“I won’t yield this time. No, I won’t. This time, I refuse to bend.”
“…Very well, Bianca. I respect your decision.”
Despite Bianca’s verbal abuse, Cain agreed to her words without hesitation.
To her, his reaction was utterly miserable. If he had shown anger, she wouldn’t have felt this despondent.
Did she mean nothing to him? The thought cut her deeply.
Misery turned to sorrow, and sorrow gave way to rage. Gritting her teeth, Bianca gathered her mana with ferocity.
“…Fine. Let’s see this through to the end, Cain.”
At that moment, she hated him more than ever.
And Cain, seeing Bianca’s determination, steeled himself once more. It was time to bring an end to everything that had entangled them.
***
Ku-gu-gu-gu-!
Lightning tore through the battlefield.
A searing white flame blazed with unrelenting intensity. Fierce gales howled, and a bitter cold that seemed to freeze the world itself swept through.
Yet, none of it reached Cain.
His immense physical abilities, gained at the cost of his life energy, rendered him impervious. No, it wasn’t that the magic couldn’t reach him.
Even when it struck him directly, he rose again like a tenacious beast and launched another attack.
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