The World's Ego (Book 2)

Multi-Battle

Third Person POV

Guy clicked his tongue as his longsword's blade slid off Ivarage's. By his estimate, it has been two hours since their battle started and so far, they were only exchanging blows with their weapons.

"This asshole..." Guy grinned at Ivarage, "No matter what I try, it's holding back its skill to see mine."

"Huh, you're more annoying than before." Guy commented offhandedly as he caught Ivarage's blade and pushed it away, "And regrettably smarter. If we knew how to kill you back then, it wouldn't be this troublesome now."

Ivarage grinned, "Then it was your loss. Had I been killed back then, things would have been different for you."

"Yeah." Guy huffed, "By this time, I would be lounging in comfort. I still want to do that, so let's end this as soon as possible."

Ivarage's lips curled further upward, "Just what I wanted."

It lifts its sword into the air, holding the hilt with both hands, tilting the blade behind its head and assumes an attacking stance. Guy notices a surge of energy gathering into the blade and takes up a defensive stance, pulling back his longsword and similarly gathered magicules into it. Their auras clashed against each other, creating a shockwave around them as they silently stared each other down. He couldn't let this fragment of Ivarage get away and the battle was drawn out for far too long.

"... I'll end it..." Guy sharpened his gaze at his opponent and concentrated, "... with this one strike."

The magicules in his blade turned into blazing dark crimson flames and in the next second, the two of them made their move. Ivarage swung its sword down at Guy without hesitation. Guy, in response, maneuvered his longsword in front of him with a wide swing. The force of the collision sent even larger shockwaves that the barriers covering Guy's already damaged castle wavered. After what felt like seconds that passed, Ivarage's eyes widened as the force in Guy's blade threw it back but Guy was unrelenting, turning his defensive strike into an attacking one, diagonally slashing upward at his opponent.

"<Demonic Style> - <Hell Inferno>."

His flamed blade made contact with Ivarage, sinking deep into its skin like melting flesh as he continued the upward slash while black crimson flames marked its scorching path before finally dislodging from Ivarage through its left shoulder. Soon, it was split in half from the diagonal slice as the parts fell to the ground before exploding into pieces. Guy narrowed his eyes before opening a communication line with Velzard.

"Velzard. What's happening around the world?" Guy questioned

"Nothing big yet." Velzard answered easily, "Honestly, doing this is vexing to me. So what happened at your side?"

"I defeated the Ivarage clone but it was too easy." Guy frowned as he checked his surroundings again, "I'm not sure if I should be happy about this. That guy's desire for destruction should be stronger than this."

"... That is troubling." Velzard sighed, "I will make another cycle around the world and come back to investigate as well."

"Mm, okay."

Guy took another glance at where Ivarage fell before returning to his castle to get some rest.

...

Testarossa frowned as her whip was swatted away again but getting closer to Ivarage with the Black Abyss wasn't an option with Shion charging into the fray whenever there was an opening.

"We have different thoughts. It's creating an unintended discord." Testarossa concluded, "Still, Shion-dono's healing won't last for long if she keeps this up."