Chapter 899: Clash Of Royals [Pt 2]

>WHOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHH<

Blades with intense energy all lunged at Kuzon, desiring nothing but to end his life—no, more like severely injure him until he could offer no more resistance.

'I doubt this guy would be so merciful as to let me die like this...' Kuzon's thoughts trailed as he smiled.

He glanced at his opponent, the 9th Prince, and saw nothing but absolute fury.

They were currently in the air, and while they were still within wasteland territory, the Shelter was no longer within their immediate vicinity.

'Should I push him a little more?'

"Original Magic: Marionette]" Kuzon whispered, weaving invisible threads until they wrapped around each golden blade.

And then—

>CLANGANGANGANG!!!<

In no time at all, every single blade turned into mere shards instead, broken into pieces by the invisible threads he weaved.

'Did he detect my strings, or...?' Kuzon stole a glance at Kendrick, and from the surprised expression the prince made, it was most likely safe to assume he didn't.

'Since we're away from them, I should settle on a decisive battle here.' Spotting an appropriate place to conclude the battle, Kuzon landed in a vast area within the open wasteland.

'I'll end things here once I find out what I want. It shouldn't take too long.'

A rain of golden blades greeted him as the sole of his feet touched the ground, but they only took a sigh from him.

'It's pointless.'

All of them were broken like glass.

There was, however, one presence that lunged at him with immense velocity. He had to give at least some degree of attention to it.

>BOOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!<

Kuzon felt Prince Kendrick's killing intent as he struck, though he had his invisible barrier of strings protecting him from his strike.

'He is really pissed off, isn't he?' The fact that the Prince still hadn't touched him despite all of that big talk he rendered earlier showed how frustrated he must have been.

It wouldn't be long until he would be forced to go all-out.

'Using Magic might be unavoidable in the future. If they'll be able to detect my use of it, I'll need to know how powerful these people are.'

If this was the 9th Prince, leading the 15th Division, and they operated in a hierarchical system, then he expected him to be among the strongest in the Midas Empire.

'Allowing him to draw out his full strength should help me figure out the power level of this place...'

Considering his Arcanas seemed to be malfunctioning, Kuzon didn't particularly have the luxury of being careless.

'I just want this to end quickly. Should I aggravate him more?' He thought to himself.

"Tch! You..." Kendrick's voice interrupted him.

The Prince leaped backward, finally standing on the same ground as him.

'Looks like I won't have to anymore. That look in his eyes... is he finally ready to go all-out?' Kuzon braced himself.

It wasn't going to do him any good to be defenseless against the power of a Midas Royal.

"I believe this is enough of a warm-up. I don't know why you decided to move away from that settlement. You've doomed those people to death already."

"Is that what you think?" Kuzon smiled.

"My subordinates are already extinguishing their lives, no doubt."

'Can he not sense their presence from this distance? That's disappointing...' Kuzon's thoughts trailed.

"I'll make you experience the worst of pain. And while you suffer, you'll remember the people you doomed to death, and the more horrid fate that you will encounter when I take you to the Midas Empire for the appropriate dispensation of your punishment."

After hearing the things Kendrick had to say, Kuzon had two thoughts.

'He sure talks a lot.'

Something he had noticed since coming to this world was the lackluster style of battle.

'Too much talking. Is this a custom here? To talk while having a serious fight? I understand it makes you feel good, but...'

If it was up to him, he would just finish off his enemy as soon as possible. A conversation was possible before or after the fight—not during it.

'Oh well. He provided me with good information, so it's fine.'

And that led Kuzon to his second line of thought.

'Should I allow myself to be caught? That would take me to the Midas Empire, where I can learn more about this world.' he mulled over this option well.

However, just as one would suspect... he had to dismiss it.

'I can't guarantee my safety there. Plus, that would mean having to sacrifice all those people in the village for something I'm not certain will work.'

There were a lot of factors to consider, but he couldn't engage in elaborate thought with his enemy already releasing some dangerous Mana.

>WHUUUUUSSSSSHHHHHHH<

Kendrick was currently covered in golden light, far more intense than earlier.

The bright golden surge of energy ascended into the sky, revealing a transformation that increased his already powerful state.

His armor took on an even grander style—something Kuzon hadn't thought was possible.

His cape became bright golden. Glitters danced around him, like butterflies, and a staff appeared on his hand.

Finally, the crown on his head grew way longer and grander than before.

It was like he was a cross breed between a battle-hardened general and a prime ruler.

'Looks a bit too much, though. I suppose that's his Mage Mode?'

Was he going to stack it with Fusion State? What else was he going to use.

Perhaps it would be—

"[Original Magic: True Domain]"

The moment he heard this, Kuzon felt something suddenly shift in his atmosphere. It was no longer the same as it was a second earlier.

"I should have done this from the start. It'll make things a lot simpler.' Kendrick muttered, pointing his scepter at Kuzon. "I guess I didn't want to have to go all-out."

Kuzon's eyes widened the moment he heard those words.

'This is him going all-out? Finally! Let's see the effects and wrap things u—'

"Why are you still standing in my presence? Kneel!" Kendrick's loud, imposing tone surged through the air as his scepter lunged forth.

'T-this is...!'

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[A/N]

Here's the link.