Chapter 72: The Whale of Oblivion (3)
As I moved deeper inside, the stench grew unbearable—an acrid mix of blood and rotting corpses assaulted my nose.
Wherever I looked, skeletal remains littered the area. My stomach churned, and I had to fight the urge to vomit.
I thought I had seen my fair share of horrific sights… but nothing prepared me for this.
“Phew…”
If there was one small mercy, it was that my sense of smell had dulled—or at least, the odor seemed to fade with time.
Otherwise, I couldn’t imagine how many times I might’ve dry-heaved on the spot.
『Are you okay?』
Sylphi asked in a worried tone. I forced a smile and nodded.
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
I was here to rescue Yuruf. This much, I could endure.
With that in mind, I kept moving forward, stepping over the squelching remains of flesh.
There seemed to be mist even inside, clouding my vision, but retreat wasn’t an option.
I still had enough energy to suppress the inhalation effects of the fog.
After walking for a while, I spotted a familiar face just barely visible through the haze.
A slender girl with jet-black hair lay peacefully asleep. Her delicate arms and fingers were unmistakable—it was Yuruf.
Just as I was about to run to her in relief, Sylphi suddenly blocked my path.
Startled by his abrupt action, I stopped in my tracks.
‘What is it?’
With a furrowed brow, Sylphi chided me:
『Stay sharp. Look around you—there’s someone else.』
I followed his gaze and saw a red-haired man sitting beside Yuruf.
He sat there with eyes closed, as if waiting for someone. The sight sent a chill down my spine.
『Don’t rush in like that next time. Be cautious.』
‘I understand.’
He was right. If I had charged in recklessly, I would’ve walked right into an ambush.
That man clearly wasn’t waiting there out of concern or goodwill.
I nodded, and Sylphi sighed before returning to my side.
‘That guy... I’ve seen him before.’
Crimson hair that fell to his shoulders. A body twice my size.
His face, arms, legs—his entire frame was covered in vicious scars, each one screaming danger.
As I focused on him, recognition hit me like lightning.
‘...Katra.’
The man who fought Abel on the train bound for the harbor city of Arc.
The one who shattered Abel’s magic circle with a single punch—who could go toe-to-toe with him like a monster.
I remembered him rushing forward, surrounded by a red aura. The memory made my skin crawl.
“You’ve come,” Katra muttered as he slowly rose to his feet.
When he opened his eyes and saw me, his expression immediately twisted into a frown.
He looked genuinely puzzled as he crossed his arms, studying me closely.
“I thought Abel would be the one to show up.”
With a click of his tongue, he began walking toward me.
Despite the distance, his massive frame cast a shadow over me.
Reacting quickly, I raised my rapier and pointed it at him.
Katra smirked, as if amused by my reflex.
After staring at me for a moment, his brow furrowed again.
“You… Have we met before?”
“…”
“I swear, I’ve seen you somewhere…”
Even though I said nothing, Katra tilted his head, lost in thought.
Could he possibly remember the train incident?
I checked my pendant—the disguise magic was still active.
My hair color and eye color were completely different now. And yet… he still sensed something familiar?
He’d only seen me for a brief moment.
To recognize me from that—his instincts were unnervingly sharp.
“…Whatever. That’s not important right now.”
It seemed he’d given up trying to remember. With a sigh, he looked at me again.
I tightened my grip on the rapier.
Biting down on my dry lips, I met his gaze.
“Interesting. You want to fight me?”
Katra asked, amused.
“Hand her over.”
“Hmm? You mean her?”
He motioned lazily toward Yuruf, then chuckled, eyes never leaving me.
“You really thought I’d stoop so low?”
Even as he spoke, a gleam of anticipation lit his eyes.
It wasn’t malice—it was thrill. The joy of battle.
Those crazed, combat-obsessed eyes. The same eyes I’d seen when he fought Abel.
『Get ready.』
‘I am.’
I swallowed hard and summoned the power of wind to my feet.
In the next instant, Katra kicked off the ground and lunged—his fist hurtling toward me with brutal force.
A terrifying sonic boom rang out as the fist hurtled toward me.
I twisted my body, channeling Sylphi’s wind to deflect the blow and swung my rapier in response.
But as if he’d anticipated that move, Katra’s opposite fist came crashing in, aiming directly for my abdomen.
Whoosh—
I used the wind to launch myself into the air, narrowly avoiding the strike, then used the rebound to deliver a kick of my own.
Katra blocked it with one hand as if swatting away a leaf, grinning as he wound up for another punch.
“Guhk?!”
Even though I had layered myself in a wind barrier to absorb the impact, a jolt of pain shot up my arm.
It didn’t break—but it definitely felt like something cracked.
Thank god I hadn’t used my dominant arm to block.
“You’re full of openings. You came to fight me with that level of skill?”
“...Shut up.”
I knew.
I knew the difference in power between us was overwhelming.
Unlike me, who had to draw out every ounce of power from my spirit, he wasn’t even using aura.
If he weren’t such a battle maniac, I would’ve already been flat on the ground.
But dragging this out would only worsen Yuruf’s condition.
“Phew... haah...”
I tried to steady my breathing, glaring at Katra who stood there with infuriating ease, smiling as if this were all a game.
Just looking at him made my thoughts scatter.
How could I possibly fight someone who was a match for Abel?
“What’s the matter, little miss? Scared?”
Katra taunted me, casually beckoning with his finger.
Instead of anger, a wave of helpless fear came crashing down.
Scared? Of course I was.
This man had broken through Sylphi’s power without using any aura.
He ignored my wind barrier entirely and nearly shattered my arm with a single blow.
And I hadn’t even taken the punch directly—just the aftershock.
The taste of death crept up my throat.
Who wouldn’t be scared, facing a monster like that?
I wanted to run. Turn around and bolt without a second thought.
“…Bullshit.”
But I couldn’t back down.
If I fled in fear and left Yuruf behind, I’d never be able to forgive myself.
Even if I used regression to erase this moment, the regret would haunt me for a lifetime.
The very reason I wanted to grow stronger in the first place—
Was so I would never have to live with regret again.
“Heh. That’s the look I like.”
Katra laughed, cracking his knuckles with a sound like breaking branches.
His eyes lit up red—burning with excitement.
“Fear… mixed with courage in your eyes. Not bad.”
No need for hostage games.
He muttered under his breath, then raised both arms once more.
‘Sylphi… Can we do it?’
『You’re going to use that?』
‘If I don’t, I won’t stand a chance.’
When I conveyed my resolve, Sylphi hesitated briefly, then gave a small nod.
『...Alright.』
A sharp gust began to swirl around my body.
The mist around us scattered as the wind took form, swirling in powerful bursts.
Watching it unfold, Katra let out a surprised hum. “Hoh.”
The wind encased me like armor.
It became a booster, enhancing my physical abilities beyond their natural limits.
It was a technique that consumed tremendous energy—
But in return, it temporarily multiplied my physical strength severalfold.
“O wind.”
The wind armor wrapped tightly around me.
From Sylphi’s nose, blood began to trickle out. His face contorted with strain.
He hadn’t used this power in a long time, and it showed.
『Go. We won’t be able to hold this long.』
‘How long do I have?’
『Five minutes, max. Finish it before then.』
I nodded and lunged forward.
Dodging Katra’s wild punch, I swung my rapier with all the wind-backed force I could muster.
Slash!
The sound of flesh being cut rang through the air. Blood gushed from his fist.
In a blink, I had delivered six consecutive strikes—
Each one slicing through muscle and even splitting bone.
Even with his wounds, Katra didn’t flinch—he just kept smiling.
“Oh? So it wasn’t just talk after all.”
Blood poured from his sliced flesh, and yet that grin never once left his face.
He looked… entertained. Like pain was part of the thrill.
“In that case, I suppose I’ll stop holding back.”
A red aura began to surge around Katra.
With a searing hiss, his torn arm began to regenerate—muscle, tissue, skin, all knitting itself back together.
So his aura had regenerative power?
What an infuriating ability.
No wonder he threw his punches so recklessly. With regeneration like that, he didn’t need to guard.
『To your right!』
“Hngh!”
A split second warning from Sylphi—and just barely, I twisted my body out of the path of a vicious punch flying in from the right.
I spun, retaliating with my rapier.
Clang!
His red aura collided with my wind-infused blade, the clash ringing out like metal on metal.
Even Katra looked surprised, eyes widening.
Did he really think I wouldn’t be able to dodge that?
Honestly, if not for Sylphi’s warning, I wouldn’t have.
“Well, looks like I don’t need to hold back at all.”
A crooked grin split his face as the crimson aura around his shoulders surged, burning even fiercer.
Gritting my teeth, I swung again.
The blade cut across his body—but again, the aura instantly regenerated the wound, sealing it before it could even bleed.
Whoosh!
Another sonic boom—another monstrous punch.
I barely managed to evade it, lungs burning from the exertion.
Even Sylphi sounded rattled now.
『What kind of insane bastard is this guy?!』
And honestly… I couldn’t agree more.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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