”Why does it have to be you? Why can’t it be me?” The anguished voice echoed in the tense atmosphere of the final exam.
The duels between students were underway; each confrontation met with eager eyes from the onlooking students.
In the midst of the arena, Ethan found himself face to face with a mysterious opponent, his eyes meeting the hollow black-purple eyes of the other student.
FLINCH!
A shiver ran down Ethan’s spine as an unsettling feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. Of course, he knew who this person was.
It was the gloomy student who never talked with others. After all, he was quite famous for being the last ranked in the academy, and Ethan had heard his name quite a few times.
“What do you mean?” However, Ethan was having a hard time comprehending his words.
“What do I mean? Of course, you wouldn’t understand.” His response didn’t explain much as well, as the student just looked at him.
As the two locked eyes, it was as if time momentarily stood still. The purple hue of the student’s eyes seemed otherworldly, but within that vibrant color, Ethan detected a small but distinct blackness, as if something sinister lurked within.
Ethan continued to study the person before him, attempting to understand the cryptic words and the unsettling gaze. However, the young man remained silent, offering no further explanation.
The judge raised his hand, signaling the commencement of the duel. “Ethan Hartley versus Astron Natusalune. Begin!”
The judge’s words hung in the air as Ethan and Astron Natusalune prepared to face off. The tension escalated, and the onlookers leaned in, their eyes fixed on the impending clash.
Ethan tightened his grip on his spear, a determined glint in his eyes. Astron, on the other hand, wielded a pair of gleaming daggers, his expression unreadable. The arena crackled with anticipation as the duel began.
SWOOSH!
Ethan lunged forward, his spear cutting through the air with precision. Astron swiftly dodged the initial strike, showcasing agility that contradicted his low rank.
‘Hmm?’
However, Ethan continued his relentless assault, pressing Astron back with each calculated move.
CLANK!
The clash of metal resonated as Astron desperately parried Ethan’s spear with his daggers.
The power and skill gap between them was evident, with Ethan easily overpowering his mysterious opponent. The onlookers exchanged glances, surprised by the one-sided nature of the confrontation.
Astron’s movements became more erratic, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Despite his best efforts, he struggled to keep up with Ethan’s speed and strength.
“Tch.”
The hollow black-purple eyes betrayed a hint of frustration, a stark contrast to Ethan’s focused determination.
Ethan’s spear danced through the air, its movements fluid and controlled. He anticipated Astron’s every move, exploiting weaknesses in his defense. It was clear that Ethan had the upper hand, and the arena buzzed with murmurs as the disparity in skill became more apparent.
‘I don’t know what is his deal, but I will end it with this.’
「Spear of Hartley. Tiger’s Thrust. 」
CLANK!
With a powerful thrust, Ethan disarmed Astron, sending one of the daggers flying across the arena.
“Wow, he did it.”
The spectators gasped in amazement at the sheer dominance displayed by Ethan.
However, instead of reveling in his victory, Ethan hesitated for a moment, his gaze fixed on Astron’s remaining dagger and his face.
“In the end, I couldn’t even do this on my own.”
His eyes were locked on his hands as he mumbled to himself. The aura surrounding himself started to change as well, as Ethan started to feel that sinister aura emanating from him.
“I don’t know what your deal is, but I won’t let you do whatever you are doing.”
Ethan’s internal conflict fueled his determination as he refocused on the duel. With a newfound resolve, he charged at Astron, his spear poised for another strike.
CLANK!
As Ethan lunged forward with the Spear of Hartley, Astron effortlessly parried the attack with his remaining dagger.
“Huh?”
Ethan let out a surprised exclamation as he looked at his parried dagger and shaking wrists.
SWOOSH!
Following that, Astron unleashed a surprising punch. The blow was delivered with such speed and precision that Ethan had little time to react—the punch connected, sending Ethan hurtling backward through the air.
CRASH!
The spectators gasped as Ethan crashed to the ground, the impact causing a cloud of dust to rise around him.
The dust settled around the arena as Ethan struggled to rise from the impact. Astron stood calmly, the remaining dagger in hand, a cold expression on his face. The spectators watched in anticipation, unsure of what would unfold next.
Astron’s disdainful gaze fixated on Ethan as he spoke with a voice filled with bitterness. “You think it’s that simple, don’t you? Just train hard and get stronger. But talentless people like us tend to drown in their own pit of mediocrity.”
Ethan, still catching his breath, shot a determined look at Astron. Now, the aura surrounding him has already changed.
SWOOSH!
But at that moment, Astron, with an eerie calmness, disappeared from his original position, only to reappear right before Ethan’s face. His hands were shrouded in eerie and dark energy, an unsettling sight that sent a chill down the spines of the onlookers.
THUD!
Before Ethan could react, Astron unleashed another punch with ruthless precision. The blow landed squarely on Ethan’s battered form, preventing him from standing up.
The force of the punch echoed through the arena, and Ethan crumpled to the ground once more.
The spectators watched in horrified silence as Astron, consumed by an unseen darkness, continued his assault. Each punch was delivered with a mixture of anger and frustration as if Astron was unleashing years of pent-up emotion with each blow.
As Astron beat Ethan mercilessly, he spoke with a voice filled with a bitter resonance that reverberated through the arena. “I hated myself at first. I thought it was my fault for being weak. I blamed myself for everything, thinking I could change all of those. But I realized, no matter what I did, this world was never going to let me stand.”
Ethan, struggling to endure the relentless assault, listened to Astron’s words with a mix of confusion and pain. The dark energy surrounding Astron intensified, casting an ominous glow on the scene.
“The god himself abandoned first ‘her’ and then me,” Astron continued, his voice carrying a deep sense of betrayal. “No one cared for me, even while everything was happening right in front of their faces.”
“Burghk-!” Ethan spitted blood from his face as he couldn’t bear the blows.
“Even after trying to achieve my revenge in the pursuit of the very beings that made my life hell, I learned the enemy I deemed had never been the ones I sought.”
SMASH!
“Do you know how desperate I felt? How empty everything was?”
SMASH!
“It was then I realized it’s not the weak’s fault for being trampled, nor the strong’s fault for using their power. It’s this world’s fault for giving power to the wrong people.”
He looked at Ethan with a face that was spiteful. “People like you who can afford to live in their own fantasies and make them reality just because they were gifted from the start…..This is what I hate the most.”
With each word, Astron’s punches became more fervent, a manifestation of his inner turmoil.
“And, now, I sold my very soul to the devil so that at least my very being could mean something to this world. You may call it a stupid protest against this shitty place, but at the end of the day, it will never matter at all. The world had taken everything from me. And I will make sure I at least contribute to its destruction.”
BOOM!
At that moment, a sound of explosion filled the place where the final exam had been happening.
SCREAM!
Screams surrounded the place as people ran around like their lives depended on it.
As Astron’s punches intensified, a realization dawned on Ethan. It wasn’t Astron’s power that caused his emptiness; it was the very essence of his being, scarred by the world that had turned its back on him to the point where nothing had left. The empathy for Astron’s suffering swelled within Ethan, and a straight determination filled his eyes.
Inwardly, Ethan realized that there was only one way to save Astron from the abyss of despair. It wasn’t through defeating him in a physical battle; it was by putting an end to his suffering. A deep understanding surged within Ethan – only by ending Astron’s life could he bring an end to the anguish that had consumed him.
The determination etched on Ethan’s face became unwavering. His battered body seemed to draw strength from an uncharted reserve as he pushed himself up, his gaze fixed on Astron.
‘There is only one way.’
At that moment, Ethan knew what he had to do, not just for himself but for the tormented soul standing before him.
As Astron prepared to deliver another devastating punch, the atmosphere hung heavy with tension.
THUD!
However, at that critical moment, Ethan summoned a surge of strength from within. With newfound determination, he intercepted Astron’s incoming punch, blocking it with an unwavering resolve. ᴡ ᴏᴠʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛʀs ᴀʀ ᴘᴜʙʟsʜᴅ ᴏ Novl ꜰir.nt
“I’m sorry,” Ethan mumbled under his breath, the weight of his words carried by the gravity of the situation.
He felt the surge of strength coursing through his body as if drawn from an untapped source.
THUD!
Following that, Ethan threw a kick to him, sending him crashing to the other side of the arena.
SMASH!
There were already explosions occurring everywhere around, and Ethan knew he needed to help. But it was going to be a lot more dangerous to let this person go.
Feeling the newfound power, Ethan spat to the ground, a symbolic gesture of defiance against the impending darkness that threatened to engulf them both.
The air crackled with tension as Astron, consumed by the dark energy surrounding him, prepared to unleash his daggers.
“You are sorry for what?”
Astron’s hands gripped the daggers tightly, the black energy swirling around him like a malevolent storm.
“…..”
“You can’t answer, can you? Just like your motives, even your apologies are shallow.”
“No matter what I give you as an answer, you will never see it as honest.”
“There is no honesty in this world.”
Ethan, fueled by a mix of sympathy and determination, readied his spear. The arena seemed to hold its breath, the chaotic sounds of panic and destruction fading into the background.
SWOOSH!
The clash between the two students, now armed with their respective weapons, was imminent.
Ethan, scarred and battered, knew that he had to bring an end to Astron’s suffering, even if it meant sacrificing a part of himself in the process.
“YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING!”
With a primal scream, Astron lunged forward, daggers gleaming with ominous intent. In response, Ethan met him head-on, the clash of weapons resonating with a melancholic melody.
The black energy surrounding Astron intensified, creating an ethereal display of darkness.
Despite Ethan’s determined efforts, the battle took its toll on both fighters. Each strike left its mark – scars etched into their very beings.
As the clash reached its crescendo, Ethan was able to get the feeling.
“I am sorry, you lost soul.” He mumbled as he closed his eyes.
「Spear of Hartley. Derived form. Gentle Farewell. 」
With a surge of determination, Ethan executed the technique, a manifestation of both strength and mercy.
The spear, bathed in an otherworldly light, moved with a grace that contradicted the brutal nature of the battle.
It pierced through Astron’s dark energy, reaching his very core with a gentleness that seemed out of place in the chaos.
Astron’s primal scream was silenced as the ethereal display of darkness dissipated, leaving only the fading echoes of their clash.
“Kurgh-!”
SILENCE!
The arena fell into an eerie silence as Ethan withdrew the spear, ending Astron’s life gently.
THUD!
As Astron fell to the ground, the last thing he saw was the face of the very person he yearned for.
However, the victory was not without its cost. As the spear of mercy fulfilled its purpose, Astron’s dagger, fueled by the last vestiges of his dark energy, pierced through Ethan’s shoulder. The pain was intense, and a scar marked the spot where the dagger had made its impact.
Yet, Ethan’s face didn’t even grimace at all.
“I am sorry…..for failing everything and seeing such a person turning in this way….”
He bowed his head, leaning on his spear with one.
“May the lord bless your soul…..”