Your Commander-in-Chief – Chapter 177

As soon as Jupiter finished speaking, I charged forward.

With a powerful stomp, the dust kicked up from the ground engulfed the sky behind me.

“Kaaang-!”

Fast and precise. Our swords clashed with a crisp sound as we both aimed for each other’s vital spots.

A second felt like a minute. Our gazes locked, moving in a tangled dance.

I read every movement of the body, every expression that flashed across the face.

“Kang! Tang! Kang!”

As the Demon Sword unleashed a jet-black aura aiming for Jupiter’s neck, the Holy Sword effortlessly swept in to intercept.

Thirty seconds—such words slipped from her lips right in front of me.

And with an audacity that was almost impressive, she even shouted a technique name: “Limit Release!”

“Haah!”

“Hiyaaah!”

Our shouts blended naturally into combat. The sound of our swords clashing rang out, as if cutting through the air.

We had exchanged ten blows so far. All of our attacks were quick and lethal, but neither had landed a successful hit yet.

Thus, we continued our futile exchange of moves.

As time passed, I could see the anxiety creeping onto Jupiter’s face.

In contrast, I was full of confidence. Unlike her, who had to control her powers while trying to create a technique like Limit Release, I had no such restrictions.

I could accelerate my thoughts to any point in time, as long as I could endure the searing pain in my brain.

So, this fight was mine to win.

“Haah!”

You cocky little sparrow—today, I will settle this once and for all.

The searing pain amplified. As I swung my sword, I felt the prickling agony spread across my head.

“Kaaang-!”

The sound of our swords clashing echoed like a prolonged streak.

Ten seconds passed—

I felt a surge of delight seeing the smile fade from Jupiter’s face.

Wait a second, wasn’t I supposed to be her benefactor? Hadn’t I provided something necessary to control her talents?

“You ungrateful brat…!”

“W-what…?!”

I hadn’t intended to say it, but my words caused Jupiter to hesitate in her stance.

Now’s the time. I can’t let this chance slip away.

“Yap!”

With a short shout, my sword shot forth. It moved in a straight line—like a flash of light, it dodged Jupiter’s blade with twisted serpent-like movements.

Even though Jupiter was incredibly talented, she couldn’t easily deflect the swordsmanship I had honed for so long.

“Kuuuk-!”

It aimed directly at her chest, but she twisted her body, deflecting it towards her shoulder.

The Demon Sword pierced through the thick gloves and struck her shoulder.

“Crgh!”

In that instant, I saw a peculiar smile creep onto Jupiter’s face.

Realizing what was happening as our eyes met. This was all part of her trap.

Feigning vulnerability, she had exposed her shoulder, allowing me to attack.

It was all part of Jupiter’s cunning plan.

I hurriedly moved to retrieve my sword.

But—

“Kaaak-!”

Her thick gloves tightened around mine, trapping the blade.

I grasped that fact instantly.

From afar, a swift arc of platinum flashed before my eyes.

“Huuaah!”

Jupiter’s full-power strike. But it merely grazed my cheek.

It was because I had ducked down, letting my sword fall.

Had I not made that decision, my neck would have been severed.

“Huh, Blood Demon King…!”

Jupiter’s wide swing left her upper body exposed.

I glanced up at her from my crouched position.

The look of horror in Jupiter’s eyes hinted at an ominous future that loomed ahead.

That foreboding was indeed correct.

“Haayaaah!”

My left leg extended for balance as my right leg spun into action.

Starting from my legs, the power surged through my waist, amplifying the rotation and sending that strength through my shoulder and arm.

“Kwaaaang-!”

The moment my fist impacted against Jupiter’s sturdy armor, the spot buckled inward, unleashing a thunderous shockwave.

Non-weapon attacks deal damage based on the character’s strength stats.

Right now, my strength far exceeded that of a typical user.

In other words, a single punch from me was equivalent to a slash from an average user’s sword.

Even without the Demon Sword, I am the Blood Demon King.

You cowardly, insolent sparrow.

You will never defeat me.

Jupiter swayed dramatically from the powerful blow. I seized the opportunity without hesitation.

Retrieving my extended right hand, I swung my other hand.

“Shuugak-!”

My punch sliced through the air like an arrow.

The heavy weight contained within struck Jupiter directly.

“Kwaang!”

I did not relent. I didn’t even think of picking up my sword. In this stance, I drove my fist into her abdomen.

I imagined her soft belly. The heavy full plate mail protected her, but surely it couldn’t shield her from every shock transmitted inside.

From below, upward—

“Achoochoochoochoo!”

An onslaught of merciless punches rained down, disregarding her state as my fists continued to batter her.

“Kuh, heeeng!”

No matter how cute she looked or the adorable sounds she made, I had no intention of showing mercy.

Die standing, Knight of Light, Jupiter.

“Achoo!”

The final punch—

As my fist stretched out towards her lower belly.

Boom-!

The most focused and swiftest attack made contact.

Yet Jupiter did not falter.

Her face scrunched up in pain as blood seeped from her lips, and she opened her mouth to speak.

Despite her contorted expression, her gaze shone with a strange light.

“I acknowledge you, Blood Demon King. As I stand, I cannot defeat you.”

“What…?”

“My remaining time is ten seconds. That’s how long I can keep up with your speed.”

“W-what are you talking about…!”

“From now on, I will use a partial refund.”

“Partial refund…?”

“I will compress that ten seconds and, from now on, I will surpass your time.”

As Jupiter’s voice slowly faded—

Her body began to trace a bizarre trajectory.

-It’s my time now.

Jupiter slowly distanced herself, her lips moving.

Though I couldn’t hear her voice, I knew that’s what she had said.

But—

Thud-!

Jupiter’s body collapsed to the ground.

“Ugh…”

I looked down at fallen Jupiter with a puzzled expression.

A partial refund? My own time? Surpass my time?

What on earth was she talking about?

“Jupiter. Do you check your health before fighting?”

“Huuh…”

With a dazed expression, Jupiter lay face down, her arms and legs twitching.

Indeed. After absorbing my ferocious punch rush to her abdomen, she had depleted her health.

Even for a sturdy Paladin, accepting my attacks dozens of times would inevitably drain her health, even if her body appeared unharmed.

The duel was my victory.

I picked up the Demon Sword that lay on the ground and raised it triumphantly.

It was the victory pose.

“Wa- Waaah~”

“Heavens…”

Only two witnesses observed this duel.

Turning to those two spectators, I flashed a grin.

I had schooled the cocky sparrow. How could that not feel satisfying?

“Did you see? Merlin, that the Demon Sword is stronger than the Holy Sword.”

“Well, that… it wasn’t finished by the Demon Sword… It was a punch…”

I showed my clenched fist to Merlin, who rambled on about unnecessary things.

Merlin’s shoulders flinched, and he shook his head with a panicked expression.

“Th-this is impressive… I will acknowledge it. The Demon Sword truly surpasses the Holy Sword…!”

I smiled contently and nodded.

Jupiter, who lay flat, must have heard this as well.

“Get up, Jupiter.”

“Huh…”

However, Jupiter showed no intention of rising.

Frowning, I propped her up into a sitting position.

She would soon be disconnected due to the duel system’s penalty.

I could grant her at least one last word as the loser.

“Jupiter, you insolent sparrow. You have lost to me.”

“I-I have…?”

“Yeah.”

It seemed she was still tangled in her thoughts.

I pinched her soft cheeks, stretching them.

In that moment, Jupiter’s form vanished before my eyes.

The duel penalty, a one-hour connection ban, had been activated.

The annoying sight of Jupiter disappeared.

I moved near Merlin and sat down.

“Sh-she’s gone…”

“That’s because of the duel penalty.”

“Huh…”

“So, are we continuing?”

“W-what do you mean?”

“The story of the Holy Sword. I also know how Jupiter obtained it.”

“But… that must come from the person’s words…”

“Merlin, Jupiter won’t be back for about an hour. It’s better if I tell you.”

“But…”

“You need to hear the unembellished truth without any lies mixed in.”

In the end, Merlin nodded with an unwilling expression.

I maintained a composed face and told him everything about what Jupiter had done, how she had obtained the Holy Sword.

“Yeo, your story contains some parts I cannot understand…”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“In your tale, Jupiter was a terribly inept knight, yet the way she fought against you just now was entirely different…”

“Ah… that’s…”

I nodded at Merlin’s question and recounted what had transpired at the offline event.

How a slight accident there had altered Jupiter’s appearance.

“Is that really the truth?”

“Yes.”

“From a fake appearance… to a true self… all the powers that had been sealed…”

Merlin began mumbling to himself with a look of immense excitement at my words.

Even when I tried to engage him, he didn’t respond. It seemed he had fallen into his own world.

At that moment, Arthur, who had been watching nearby, cautiously asked a question.

“Um. Yeo.”

“Huh?”

“Is it okay if we upload the footage we just recorded to the Internet?”

“Uh… you filmed that?”

“Yeah.”

Well then, that’s a relief. I nodded.

If Arthur uploaded the video, everyone would find out.

That Jupiter was beneath me. That the true owner of the Deron Gallery isn’t some sparrow but this Blood Demon King, and everyone would acknowledge that.

I smiled at that future.