The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 186

Chapter 186: Clash

(Aria’s side)

Running up the stairs to the next floor, the top floor, like the one below, was intricately adorned with elaborate murals reminiscent of a white temple, but there was no sign of any monsters appearing.

The reason became clear from the scattered magic stones everywhere. The monsters on this floor had already been defeated by Lowd.

“You really only think about fighting…”

As I thought while moving forward, Lowd wasn’t simply a brute obsessed with power.

He possessed a rational intellect to employ strategies when necessary, an observational eye to immediately discern spells and techniques, and skill to execute the most optimal moves… Any fighter would realize how much higher Lowd was in these aspects.

With this much power, he could have defeated us, but Lowd had forsaken the advantage of being on the top floor to have an equal fight with Berg.

It was all for the sake of fighting…

(…There’s no time to think!)

To say there was nothing on my mind would be a lie, but if we lost here, everything would be lost.

Berg entrusted us with this. So, we must do what we must.

That’s what it means to live up to trust…

―――――

(Berg’s side)

Clashing swords repeatedly, we both retreated to the wall. Without a moment’s delay, Lowd thrust his sword forward, which I deflected and drove into the wall…

“Ugh… Agh!”

Lowd tore through the wall, sweeping it away. Rolling to evade, I found the sole of his iron boot looming before me.

“Guuh!?”

I caught it with my hands, but as Lowd approached, his momentum weakened, and he shot a crossbow bolt.

“Muh!?”

Lowd caught the incoming arrow, but at that moment, the black lightning emanating from the arrow deflected his hand.

Seizing the opportunity, I struck Lowd’s dove-tail with my fist. My fist, cloaked in wind, turned into a gust, blowing Lowd away amidst the debris.

Immediately, I rushed towards the fallen Lowd, slashing at him with a sword cloaked in darkness. With a high-pitched sound, he parried.

Lowd’s gauntlet turned into a luminous alabaster arm, morphing into a scaled dragon’s arm. The armored gauntlet repelled my sword, unleashing a shockwave of light.

While enduring the shockwave with my sword cloaked in darkness, I intensified the darkness. Swirling like a storm, the sword cloaked in darkness swung down as I landed.

“Black Blade Storm…”

In response, Lowd also imbued his sword with light. It was evident that an immense force and light were contained in the poised sword.

“Storm Bringer!”

“Sky-splitting Dragon Claw Lindblum!”

The storm of darkness clashed with the torrent of light. Darkness sliced through light, and light swallowed darkness. This eerie spectacle ended abruptly with a tremendous explosion, lifting debris into the air with a fierce gust.

Enduring by thrusting the sword into the floor, I braced myself, and as the wind subsided, Lowd lunged. Due to the force exerted, our swords clashed in midair.

Almost simultaneously, we struck each other with fists. As our fists collided and we assumed a grappling position, our fists and legs intersected without a moment to breathe.

Separated by being repelled, we immediately grasped our swords and clashed guards. Sparks flew with each blade scrape.

“This is what a battle should be like after all…”

Lowd said so and laughed from the bottom of his heart…