It was too much even to follow with one’s eyes. Could it be because of the 10 years?
No.
Even if he were in his prime, it would be impossible for Claude Rain to keep up with the movements that Clooud was showing now.
However.
Even if he couldn’t catch up, it was possible to respond.
The pattern engraved on Hasan Kurshe’s forearm shone brightly, exploding the air.
Interference was applied to the movement that flowed like water, causing Cloud’s body to sway for an instant.
Click! He snapped his fingers. Despite not even touching his body, a heavy impact struck Cloud’s abdomen.
The pain of his organs contracting. If he were a normal person, he would have been suppressed by coughing immediately, but Cloud swung his elbow sideways and thrust it at Hasan’s face.
Bap!
“You’ve gotten stronger, Cloud Rain!! And your rank has advanced to captain!!”
“Stop babbling.”
Creak! The sharp metallic sound of a blade splitting rang through the trench.
The precise attacks targeting vital points without a single flaw since just now seemed like watching a legendary swordsman from long ago.
However, there are no sword masters now. In this era of mana and gunpowder, the talent with a sword was not so important.
Bang!
A gunshot echoed. Was it fired by the reinforcements? Cloud hurriedly dodged, but his muscles did not listen.
In his field of vision, an old man’s pistol appeared, hidden in his chest.
“Guh…!”
He barely avoided it, but a burning sensation as if a torch were being held to his side rose up his nerve.
Cloud put his hand on the bleeding wound and released mana.
Paralysis! The muscles stimulated by purple electricity swelled up, forcibly closing the wound.
Even for Cloud Rain, the pain was so intense that tears welled up reflexively. However, it was something he had to do to continue the battle.
Before his eyes is the lifelong enemy he has been waiting for.
Destroying muscle tissue, he didn’t know what effect this battle would have when it ended.
“I’ll pay Liliah’s share before I d*e.”
There was no reason to think about the future or worry about tomorrow anymore.
Bang!!
Tang─ Klang!!
Quickly pulling out a pistol and pulling the trigger, but the muzzle was pushed upward by Hasan Kurshe’s accurate counterattack.
At the same time, with the other hand holding a dagger, he deflected the b*llet shot by Hasan.
Movements that a normal human could never see. It was no longer simply a fight. It was a ‘bl**d battle’ where both poured out all their strength.
Bang!!
Peeeng─!
It grazed his ear. The tingling sensation from the peeled skin was too faint to reach his nerves.
Pfoom!!
Pak!!
bl**d spurted from the cut wrist for a moment, but his vision spun from the impact striking his jaw.
Bang!!
This time, it hit. His thigh. Just before the sensation between muscles was severed, Cloud stood up and rushed toward the old man.
Hasan Kurshe, unable to react in time, was overwhelmed by the weight and fell to the ground.
Cloud Rain did not stop there. Immediately deploying mana,
Chit, Chitchit.
The incantation protection barrier surrounding his entire body was shattered by the refined lightning mana.
“Clouduuu!!”
He grabbed and twisted the old man’s wrist. Crack, the terrifying sound of a joint twisting.
Klang! Bang!!
Thrusting a dagger to alter the trajectory of the g*n barrel, he wrapped around the old man’s body like a constrictor snake.
His thigh felt like it was going to burst. bl**d gushed from the wounds whenever he moved, soaking his pants.
Seeing Cloud’s face distorted by anger, hatred, and resentment, Hasan Kurshe laughed loudly.
His wrist was twisted. bl**d still flowed from the wound that had grazed his neck, and the protective barrier that protected his body was gone.
What was so funny?
“Shut up, you b*stard!!!!!”
“Hahaha, hahahaha!!!! Yes, yes, this is what I wanted! This is exactly what I wanted!!”
Perfect.
He was truly a beast, a vengeful spirit. After 10 years, the moment the rage that Cloud had harbored finally exploded.
“How beautiful. This is what a human looks like when they are trapped by all negative emotions. If this is not a blessing, then what else could it be!!”
“Shut up, you b*stard…!! I’ll k*ll you here, and I’ll d*e with you!!!”
“Liliah. Don’t you wonder what she said just before she died?”
Thud.
His heart sank.
That name should never have come out of his mouth.
“I did not r*pe her. Yes, she died a virgin.”
“…What kind of nonsense is this!!”
“If you are a ritualist of Alamoot, you should know that sacrifices used in rituals should be clean and pure.”
Now, this story was useless. Just stick a kn*fe in that babbling mouth and fry his head to toe with electricity.
But Cloud couldn’t move.
“Do you know how clean her soul was? She protected her comrades until the end. She could have escaped, but she didn’t. She was braver and stronger than any Okhraine soldier I saw back then.”
“Shut up.”
“At the very last moment, when she was finally caught by us, she said this.”
“Shut up!!!”
“I’m sorry.”
Memories buried deep inside surged up. Bright days. Beautifully flowing black hair. Her pink lips smiling brightly at him.
Unconsciously, Cloud reached out toward her.
Her hair fluttered gently as Liliah’s head slowly turned.
From the hole in her chest,
Black bl**d, the same color as her hair, gushed out.
“And her heart. It was like the heart of a king in ancient legends. A lion’s heart.”
Thump thump.
The sound of his heartbeat echoed all around.
“It’s such a waste to just offer it as a sacrifice. So I used it. Yes, my heart… is the heart of someone else’s wife!”
With those words, his concentration wavered.
One word, one second.
His consciousness blurred, and his mana weakened.
Though it was a short moment, it was enough to reverse the outcome. Just before Hasan Kurshe’s lips curled in triumph,
A voice reached his ear.
Move.
It was Liliah’s voice. Whether it was a hallucination or if he really heard it, Cloud couldn’t tell.
He only moved as if entranced.
Just as he slightly twisted his body, the old man’s chest bulged and a black thorn shot out.
Zzzz.
The sound of flesh being torn. Sensation in his left arm disappeared. It was an attack aimed precisely at his heart.
bl**d splattered in front of his eyes.
But Cloud did not look back. He decided not to think about what happened.
“Gulp!!”
With his still intact hand, he thrust it into the old man’s heart. Even the spell protection barrier, which had been thin but strong, shattered under the one-hit strike that drew out all the mana from the depths of his core.
Then, thorns sprouted all at once to protect the heart. Skin ripped, bones broke, muscles tore, but at the end, Cloud found one quivering heart.
Pouring out his utmost concentration,
He activated his last remaining magic.
Chit.
Spark.
A flash of lightning.
“Ah, d*mn.”
“….”
Spitting out his final words, the lightning extended and pierced the old man’s heart.
Puff! As the heart was torn apart, bl**d splattered like rain over Cloud’s head.
But it wasn’t enough yet.
After pulling out his shredded arm, Cloud picked up the dagger stuck in the puddle of bl**d and slashed the old man’s neck.
The shallow wound widened, and the head fell off cleanly. It was a confirmation k*ll.
Not leaving even a small possibility.
Because he had to.
“Liliah.”
Muttering the name he can no longer hear or see.
Claude Rain stood up.
“Hasan!!”
There was commotion not far away. Similarly, the island’s scavengers, covered in disgusting tattoos, were drawn to the bl**d.
Alamoot’s old man is dead, but the evil sprouts he nurtured still remain.
Claude’s duty was not yet over.
“Is this not enough to send him to hell…?”
Although his left arm was gone and his right arm barely moved,
Behind him is Hilton, and his comrades he believes in.
He killed Hasan Kurshe.
The fierce battle still rages on.
He sighed. Forcedly shaking his arm, he bit down on the dagger and picked up the fallen pistol.
How many more can he k*ll?
Probably not these guys.
‘I should have eaten the liquor the colonel entrusted me with.’
Ending his message with that, the finality felt somewhat unsatisfactory, but there was no other way.
Although his life was filled with regrets,
Now, there are people he can leave it to.
For Cloud Rain, that was enough. After all, he lived as a wanderer and a rebel all his life. Meeting his end alone was not so bad either.
“There, that guy!!”
“The slayer of thunder! How dare you desecrate the guardian of Alamoot!!”
“Don’t think you’ll d*e peacefully!”
Facing a group of babbling ritualists, he started accelerating again.
Boom!!!!
A direct hit on the trench sent the ritualists vanishing from sight.
Reflexively turning his head, he saw a massive battleship leisurely sailing above him.
“…?”
Moreover, the commotion was not limited to where Cloud was.
“There, there he is!!”
They were all familiar faces.
“We came to support upon the order of Captain!!”
“There’s also our platoon leader! Medic, medic!!”
“Luckily, he’s breathing! Let’s start with the severely injured commander!!”
“Hmm.”
Caught off guard by this unexpected situation, Cloud finally burst into laughter.
One arm was gone.
The other was in tatters.
Internal injuries on his side.
Gunshot and stab wounds.
Covered in bl**d, in a condition that would collapse at any moment,
Cloud laughed.
He had no choice but to laugh.
