Chapter 462: Conflict

Chapter 462: Conflict

Rael spent a few minutes silently inside his Mind Realm before finally closing his eyes and leaving the Mind Realm as well.

Soon enough, he reappeared in his seat in the Depths as the loud clanging of metal resounded.

Clearly, Melina’s attacks weren’t working no matter how many she threw. It was to the point where she used skills that split apart the ground in a cone several dozen kilometers wide, yet Zarkul remained unfazed.

All of a sudden, Melina thrust her blade forward and released it, letting it fly toward the confused Zarkul.

He tilted his head, letting it zip past him as he took a quick step forward, arriving in front of Melina.

Yet it wasn’t to attack her. It was more so to intimidate her.

Almost as if this was exactly what Melina had been looking for, a large grin appeared on her face as she snapped her fingers.

For a moment, no one understood her actions, not even Rael.

But that quickly changed when the ground began to shake, and several dozen spears came flying in from behind Rael and the other sitting Supreme Monsters.

All the spears were aimed toward Zarkul, who effortlessly dodged. Now, for the second time since the fight began, he was left amused.

Rael’s brows twitched in realization as he swiftly turned around.

Immediately, he saw a horde of 1,010 armed crystal constructs heading their way at a speed that, although not as fast as Rael or Melina, was still very impressive.

Within a few seconds, they arrived, circling Zarkul.

Zarkul chuckled. “This sure is an innovative way to deal with me. But since you broke your own rule of only using the sword…”

He tossed his blue blade onto the ground, which surprisingly shattered on impact.

“You wouldn’t mind if I were to do the same, right?”

The moment he finished his words, Zarkul vanished from sight.

Rael was able to just barely spot his afterimage with foresight, and he was dashing all around the crystal constructs, disarming them without Melina even being able to act.

Or so Rael had thought, when all of a sudden, the sword she had thrown earlier came flying back into her grasp.

Melina grabbed it firmly, and then, with all her strength, swung downward, causing another giant cone to hit the ground and form another massive crater. Thankfully, she narrowly missed the constructs.

The attack was nowhere near Zarkul. In fact, it was laughably far away.

And yet, for some odd reason, that attack made Zarkul freeze long enough for one of the crystal constructs to latch onto his leg.

Only a few seconds remained before he could attack and kill both her and the constructs. But until then, he could do nothing but wait as the constructs immobilized him.

Melina seized this chance to appear in front of him and slash her sword at his neck.

As the blade was mere millimeters away from slicing Zarkul’s neck, the blade froze, as did Melina.

Rael stared at the sight, but then he quickly spotted that Zarkul’s crimson eyes had turned completely black.

Even with his enhanced fear resistance, Rael felt a shiver run down his spine, so he could only imagine what Melina and the constructs were feeling.

After a single second, the constructs let go of him, falling to the ground and passing out.

Melina’s sword fell, and a moment later, she staggered back, horror clear in her gaze.

Zarkul brushed the dust off his clothes, then stepped closer toward Melina.

“Space God’s swordsmanship, and an army of constructs. To say I am surprised would be an understatement,” Zarkul said. “But I’m more curious about how you learned that swordsmanship. I’m sure that old man had not been around the Depths as of late… Unless…?”

He closed one of his black eyes, and in turn, Melina was finally able to move again.

“I…” Melina stammered. “I found his inheritance chamber.”

Zarkul tilted his head with a warm smile.

“And on which continent did you find this secret stash?”

“…”

Melina lowered her head. “Valheria…”

“I see…” Zarkul nodded to himself with a strangely distant look.

He approached Melina and, to everyone’s surprise, gently grabbed her hand before thrusting it toward his abdomen, thus landing the hit that would decide the entire match.

“She passes,” Zarkul announced plainly. “But that is only because what she owns is property of my continent.”

Rael’s eyes widened. That seems a little… Just for knowing some technique?

But it seemed like it wasn’t so simple.

“You can’t do that, Zarkul,” Kareth said, his expression cold. “Throwing matches like you just did is not allowed.”

Zarkul shook his head. “Believe it or not, Kareth, a rule is in place for this exact occasion.”

He raised a single finger and smirked.

“If, during a succession trial, a successor reveals mastery over a technique, ability, or inheritance belonging to a continent not their own, the guardian of that continent is granted the authority to recognize the successor’s qualification and bring the battle to an immediate end, regardless of whether they are the opponent in the trial or not.”

With those words, he glanced over to Vatyra, whose frown had deepened further.

“You should know best, little bird. You are the one who created this rule.”

“Tsk… You know full well why I suggested that,” Vatyra replied, her voice slightly cracking.

For some reason, the surroundings turned silent, but almost as if Zarkul didn’t notice it, he continued.

“Your husband’s death was his own doing, Vatyra. He challenged me… He tried to kill my daughter. And yet, you expected me to spare him despite your many pleas?”

He reopened his black eye and began walking toward her, causing the ground underneath his feet to turn into molten magma.

When he arrived, his body grew slightly, to the point where he was a head taller than Vatyra.

Because of that, he was able to look down on her as if she were an ant.

“Despite your age…”

“You act like a fool, Vatyra.”

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