Chapter 30: Settle with the past
{TL: By Creed}
This sword is incredibly sturdy, but its sharpness is just average. So, I was worried about whether the blade would cut well or not...
"Guah!?"
I succeeded in cutting through Sigurd's side.
Blood flowed, and he let out a groan of pain.
"Ooooh... Woooooah!!!"
"What!?"
As if nothing had happened, Sigurd rushed forward, like a cannonball. I hastily jumped to the side to evade.
To avoid further attacks, I stepped back to create distance.
"Damage seems to have been dealt, but... I wonder if he even cares about that."
How troublesome. Perhaps due to doping, some kind of endorphins were being released in his brain, and he seemed to feel no pain at all.
In this state, ordinary attacks would likely be useless.
Breaking his legs to render him immobile... or perhaps cutting off his head to end his life. It might take something that extreme to stop him.
However, could I even do such things against the current Sigurd?
He was like a rampaging siege weapon, quite formidable.
"Dieeeeeee!"
"Is this a joke!?"
Sigurd grabbed a nearby bench with one hand and threw it forcefully. I hurriedly dodged, but...
"Ooooooh!!!"
Aiming for that moment, Sigurd closed the distance and thrust his sword at me.
"Kuh."
I narrowly managed to avoid it.
Then, a counterattack.
I held my sword straight and thrust it into Sigurd's knee.
"Gua!?"
Apparently, he couldn't ignore this one, as Sigurd dropped to one knee.
He still seemed not to feel the pain, but the damage to his knee affected his mobility.
"I, in a place like this!!!"
While slamming the broken sword, he swung his other fist.
The power was tremendous, but...
Due to the damaged knee, his speed had significantly decreased.
I thought this was my chance, but now I hesitated.
"...How should I end this?"
It was completely under my control. I could break the knee of his other leg, sever the nerves in his arms, rendering him unable to move.
But there was another option.
Now, I could... kill Sigurd.
I had dominance in this battle...
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I held the power of life and death over Sigurd.
"..."
When I realized this, a murky and dark emotion welled up inside me. Memories of being oppressed by Sigurd and others for five years resurfaced.
I was forcibly made into a slave.
I experienced countless near-death situations.
I shed tears and spat blood not just once or twice.
"Now is the time."
I can finally settle the five years of resentment.
It won't be considered excessive; I can say Sigurd, enhanced by doping, possessed incredible strength, and I couldn't hold back.
Even if I killed him right now...
Even if I decapitated him, achieving revenge...
There wouldn't be any problem.
Rather, the situation seemed to demand it, as if it was the only option.
"..."
While avoiding Sigurd's attacking onslaught, I countered.
I forcefully struck his temple with the belly of the sword.
Though his power and speed were increased, his physical resilience seemed unchanged.
A powerful impact transmitted to his brain, and Sigurd fell to the ground.
Consciousness remained, but he seemed unable to move, twitching his fingers and groaning.
"Guh... I, in this state of incompetence beacuse of you, a useless..."
"As a person, you still..."
"...Kill me. I won't let someone like you show mercy..."
"..."
I raised the sword in silence.
Reversed my grip.
Then aimed the tip of the blade at Sigurd's head.
All that was left was to bring it down in one swift motion.
This way, revenge could be achieved.
The five years of resentment could be cleared.
There was no need to hesitate.
Sigurd had done only that much.
Even if he were killed, he wouldn't be in a position to complain.
He would fall into purgatory, consumed by the flames of karma.
Thud!
I swung down the sword.
"...You."
The blade, without piercing Sigurd, grazed his cheek and embedded itself in the ground.
"Why... not kill me? What kind of mercy do you...?"
"It's not mercy."
"Then..."
"If I killed Sigurd here, I would descend to the same level as you. Solving displeasures with force, killing when necessary, becoming a tyrant who believes he is absolutely right. I don't want that... That's why I won't kill you."
"..."
"I won't become like Sigurd. I am me. Fate Stuart."
"Damn... arrogant brat..."
Seemingly reaching his limit, Sigurd slumped and released consciousness.
Not only physical strength but also his heart yielded at that moment.
I have now definitively settled the past.
"...It's over, Sofia....it's finally over..."
TL Note: Is Sigurd' story finally over? and about Ash Ketchum soft reset in pokemon anime it's to prevent him from becoming too op as the anime was created to let nintendo sell more pokemon games...
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