Arise From Weakness (OC/ Male Reader x Arifureta)

(S3) Chapter 82 Cowardice Of The Strong

No one's POV

Currently, Nhazul was still sanding off against Kouki, who had fused with his Negative Copy, and was more hellbent on killing him.

Nhazul: You two fused?

Kouki: I don't like it, but yeah. It's the only way I can beat you. But I'm taking this guy down next.

Upon hearing this, Nhazul would simply sigh and shake his head.

Nhazul: Moron. You've already lost to temptation.

Kouki: Bark all you want. You can't beat me anymore. With this new power, I'll take back everything that belongs to me!

Nhazul: It truly boggles the mind on how you haven't you figured it out yet? It's because you're like this that you ended up in this sorry state to begin with.

Kouki: Enough talk. Have at you! [Overload]!

Kouki's aura skyrocketed to massive proportions. He'd used [Limit Break]'s only derivative skill, Overload, which multiplied his stats tenfold old. That, combined with the fact that he'd fused with his copy meant his stats had passed 50,000. He was just as much of a monster as Nhazul now. Kouki raised his twin swords, then vanished.

A second later he reappeared behind Nhazul and swung his twin swords down diagonally with a battle cry. He was so fast that Nhazul didn't even get to turn around.

Kouki's thoughts: I've got him!

A sick sense of satisfaction welled up within Kouki, but then a second later, his swords were blown out of his hands, and something hard hit him in the stomach. The air was driven out of his lungs and he flew backward. Gasping for breath, he somehow managed to right his stance in midair and land safely.

Kouki's thoughts: I thought he didn't have enough time to react!?

Holding his stomach, Kouki looked up in confusion. The answer to his question was right in front of him. His daggers were pointed at him via [Ruler's Authority]. Nhazul had more than enough time to react. He just hadn't needed to turn around to stop Kouki.

Kouki: Don't fuck with me!

Seething with rage and humiliation, Kouki once again charged Nhazul and swung his swords down.

Kouki: [Celestial Flash: Storm]!

Finally, he started using the abilities Hajime had endowed his sword with. Kouki no longer had any pride left. He'd been reduced to a beast acting purely on rage. Countless blades of wind assailed Nhazul from all sides. They were all invisible, attached to the shockwaves of light he'd released. With his upgraded stats, Kouki's [Celestial Flash] was powerful enough to annihilate all of Nhazul's [Knight] Grade and below soldiers without a thought.

But Nhazul just swayed each and every attack, dodging the majority of the barrage. The few attacks he couldn't dodge he cut down or deflected. Even if something was invisible, so long as it was magic. Erasing his presence with [Stealth], in an instant, Nhazul had appeared in front of Kouki, punching him square in the face, sending him crashing into the wall once again. Before he even thinks about his next move, Nhazul was already on top of him, pointing his dagger at him.

Kouki quickly activated [Aerodynamic] to get out of the way, but Nhazul had already predicted the spot Kouki would end up in. Expression stiffening, Kouki watched in slow-motion as Nhazul instantly closed the gap, preparing to cut him down. However then momentarily he hesitated.

Nhazul: ...

Nhazul was debating whether to cut him down or adjust his aim slightly to go for the head. His instincts told him to put an end to things here and hit Kouki with a lethal attack. But at the same time, he recalled how Shizuku had been pleading with him to spare Kouki's life. How desperately she'd tried to save her childhood friend.