Chapter 1715: Final Choice and One Book

A silence hung over the great library, to which only a few people in all of the Hollow Lands had access.

The reason for this was not Kaerno himself, but his request.

Es’aha frowned, her gaze piercing the carefree man standing before her.

"I thought that after all these years, I had learned to understand what goes on in your head, what your mind is capable of. This young man, Adam Vinter, I decided you liked him, or was I mistaken?"

Kaerno tilted his head with a sly smirk.

"What makes you think that?"

A cold gleam flashed through Es’aha’s eyes.

"Because that would be the only explanation for why you want to destroy him. I see no other reason why your request would make sense."

"Well, the judge won’t let the fighters kill each other anyway."

Es’aha waved her hand. "I didn’t say he’d kill Adam Vinter. I used a different, more appropriate word. You want to pit a talent against another talent? That’s fine, but why pit a talent against an abyss?"

Kaerno didn’t answer that question. He had already made up his mind, and nothing could make him change it.

"So..." Kaerno ran his finger along the books on the shelf. "Are you going to try talking to him? If you miss this chance, who knows how many decades we’ll have to wait for the next one."

He waved his hand casually, as if he were talking about something trivial.

"Who knows? Maybe this fight will help them both. Isn’t that what you’ve wanted for so long?"

Kaerno’s deep black eyes rested on Es’aha.

"Neither your brilliant mind, nor your strength, nor even your status has any effect on him. You’re too high up, you live in different worlds, you have no common ground, but... Adam is a completely different case."

Es’aha clenched her fists tightly. It was hard for her to make a decision. For her, starting a war between the factions would be no problem if she wanted to, but now she was having second thoughts.

"Fine, I’ll do it."

Kaerno smiled contentedly. "Great, that’s what-"

"But! I have one condition!"

Whooosh!

Before Kaerno could answer, Es’aha threw something at him.

With ease, Kaerno caught an old book with frayed edges. In some ways, this book resembled his clothes.

"You must read it," Es’aha said sternly.

Kaerno smirked, took the book, and headed for the exit.

"I can’t promise anything. You’d better hurry. There are only a few hours left before the battle begins. The other unranked monsters mustn’t get ahead of him if you want this battle to change anything!"

A short while after Kaerno left, Es’aha sighed deeply, touching her temples.

"Tsk. I suppose I should have expected this. In fact... I had hoped this problem would resolve itself before the World Wipe, but it would be foolish to rule out that possibility."

Collecting her thoughts, Es’aha nodded and, with the majestic stride characteristic of her, headed toward the stairs.

Very soon, she left her pillar, atop which stood the tallest spires and the great tower, as well as her entire pillar.

In all the Hollow Lands, there was no blade pillar larger or more majestic than hers.

Schl.

With a rustle, Kaerno turned to the second page, raising his gaze. He sat on the edge of a cliff not far from Es’aha’s pillar, watching her receding figure.

"I’m sorry, Adam, but this won’t be a simple battle, far from it. However, whether you win or lose, you’ll return home either way."

Then, a sly grin formed on his face.

"Although it’s obvious to everyone that you want to win, but... I’m not sure your opponent will have the same desire. That’s a problem that needs to be solved."

...

Bam. Bam. Bam.

Batar and Narha continued to fight. They didn’t stop, trading blows.

"Good!" Batar exclaimed excitedly. "This will be a great warm-up before the real fight!"

Narha narrowed her eyes as her body trembled.

Several dark shadows surrounded Batar as Narha and her clones simultaneously unleashed five attacks on him.

He could block or dodge her bone katana thanks to his sturdy body and quick reflexes, but not now. She was attacking him from all directions.

However, no fear appeared in Batar’s eyes as he smiled widely, anticipating the next turn in their battle.

"RGGGHHH!!!" He roared, crossing his arms over his chest.

His golden flame enveloped his massive frame, becoming as dense as armor.

Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut! Cut!

The five slashes rained down on him, as blood gushed out, flying past Narha’s calm blue eyes.

Had any other monster been in Batar’s place, this attack would have turned it into chunks of meat sliced with surgical precision.

"Agh?" Narha’s hand trembled.

But Batar hadn’t sustained a single serious wound, causing Narha’s eyes to widen in disbelief.

"Hah," Batar grinned as the four shadows dissipated, leaving only the real Narha before him.

All five bone blades passed through his barrier and slammed into his body, but the sharp edges pierced his skin no deeper than a finger’s width.

Batar’s body was too sturdy for such an attack to leave a deep cut, let alone sever a limb.

"It seems you’ve overestimated yourself, haven’t you?" Batar said before swinging his arms to the sides.

Narha’s pupils narrowed as she raised her katana to defend against the energy blast.

"ARGGHH!!!" Batar roared as the shockwave knocked Narha aside, tearing the fabric from her left arm.

Deftly, she somersaulted through the air and landed firmly on her feet, holding her katana in a tight grip, a glint running along the sharp blade.

"Gha." Batar exhaled hot steam, clenching and unclenching his fist. "That wasn’t bad, Narha, but I’m afraid it’s not enough."

The woman in the white robe stood off to the side, watching their battle just as she had before. Even though she was stronger than both of them, she didn’t know what the outcome would be.

’Narha is fast and agile. She’s perfect for assassinations and covert missions, and Batar is her complete opposite. But... Unfortunately for you, there’s a chance that the outcome of your fight won’t matter at all.’

Batar and Narha were just two of many, but only one fighter could participate in the Grim Court - the chosen one.