Chapter 410: The Battlefield (4)

Chapter 410: The Battlefield (4)

At that point, the memory proceeded to become a bit fragmented.

Having been swallowed by the Demon King of Destruction, Agaroth did not die immediately. Instead, he wandered through an abyss that seemed to have no end and continued to slice apart the overflowing torrent of dark power and colors.

In the face of such destruction that could render all efforts at resistance meaningless, gods and humans were rendered equal. That was just how things were. However, Agaroth managed to survive within Destruction for a very long time. Even with the dark power trying to drive him crazy, he managed to retain his sanity. He refused to forget who he was.

Many of the voices within him had already disappeared, but a few could still be heard coming from very far away. Those were the voices of the believers devoted to Agaroth.

Along with these voices, Agaroth also thought of the believers who had already perished for him. His long-time friend whom Agaroth hadnt even been able to see in his final moments. The evil witch who had died after he broke her neck with these very hands. All of the comrades who had fought with him in one long war after another and always emerged victorious. And all of his other bonds, too.N♡vεlB¡n: Where Every Word Sparks Wonder.

Then there was himself.

As the fragmented memory continued to play, Agaroth was gradually dying. He wandered through the endless abyss, swinging his sword again and again and again.

His last memory was that of embedding his Divine Sword down in an empty place.

He had forced his body to walk all this way, but in the end, it finally gave in. He held himself up on the Divine Sword that he had been using as a cane

He died, Eugene realized as his eyes opened up.

He stared down at the Divine Sword that he was holding out in front of him. The Divine Sword he was currently wielding looked very shabby compared to the sword he had just been looking at Agaroths Divine Sword.

But more than that, Eugene could not stop his face from twisting into a scowl.

His displeasure came from the fact that, while it was fortunate he had been able to recall Agaroths memory, the memory wasnt complete. He hadnt even been able to draw upon all of Agaroths memories, only remembering the memory from Agaroths literal last moments.

His war with the Nur, the descent of the Demon King of Destruction, and his death.

..., Eugene frowned silently.

Despite his success, it was only natural that Eugene was not happy recalling Agaroths memory. After all, within that memory, he had embodied Agaroth.

All of the emotions that Agaroth felt and the death of his believers, all of that had left an undeniable emotional residue on Eugene. Especially at the end, when Agaroths Saint had died, and the emotions that Agaroth had felt at that moment.

I at least know this much, Eugene muttered with a click of his tongue as he lowered his Divine Sword. Im different from Agaroth.

Eugenes closest past life was as Hamel. Influenced by the environment, education, experience, and such that he had gone through from when he was reborn as a baby to the present day, Eugenes personality wasnt necessarily the exact same as when he was Hamel. However, despite that, the current Eugene Lionheart couldnt also be said to be a completely different person from Hamel Dynas.

However, in Agaroths case, Eugene couldnt help but feel various incongruities with the God of Wars memory.

What would Eugene have done in that situation? Eugene felt that he probably wouldnt even have chosen to fight with the Demon King of Destruction. If possible, he would have tried to retreat and make plans for the future, or well if someone did have to be a sacrifice to stop it, then.

I feel like I would have chosen to stay there on my own, Eugene decided.

He didnt think he would have ordered his believers, who were begging him to run away, into a merciless advance. In fact, there hadnt really been a need for that.

In the battle against the Demon King of Destruction although that couldnt really have been called a battle Agaroths believers had been of no help when confronting the Demon King of Destruction. To put it harshly, their deaths had been more like a ritual sacrifice meant to accompany Agaroth in death.

So why had Agaroth made such a decision? Even considering the era that they were in, Agaroths identity as a human, and the fact that he had ascended humanity to be a god Eugene still couldnt fully understand Agaroths choice.

Though in the first place, it would be ridiculous and arrogant of him to try and understand the mindset of a person from not just tens or hundreds of years but thousands of years ago.

I also dont understand why he kept that Saint by his side until the very end, Eugene thought with a frown.

The Twilight Witch who became the Saint of the God of War. She might not have been a black wizard, but she wasnt much different from one. She had used a kingdom as a testing ground for her magic, and in the end, she attempted to become the God of Evil by exterminating all of the kingdoms citizens. In other words, the Saint had done something similar to what Edmond had attempted when he tried to become a greater Demon King through his ritual.

If it were Eugene, he would never have allowed such an insane person to live. No matter how capable they might be, he would have definitely killed them. He wouldnt have kept them by his side even if they swore eternal loyalty to him.

But what about Agaroth? He had accepted that witch as his servant and had kept her right by his side. It wasnt like he didnt keep an eye on her, but he still left that witch with a relatively free rein, even hoping that she might one day pull her tricks on him.

..., Eugene tried to think why Agaroth had done so.

And in her final moments, that woman had died, not as a witch, but as a Saint. Even though she had had several opportunities to betray Agaroth along the way, she still ended up serving Agaroth faithfully.

Eugene just couldnt understand all of that. This was partly because Agaroths memories werent complete and partly because their personalities as a whole were different.

Even after seeing Agaroths memory, questions still remained.

In the Darkroom under the Lionheart manor, Eugene had seen a vision of a man walking through a wilderness filled with corpses, his shoulders slumped in despair.

That figure should have been Agaroth, but there was no point at which the vision and Agaroths memories overlapped. In his last moments, Agaroth hadnt despaired but had instead felt enraged and hateful. He stood face to face with the Demon King of Destruction, and instead of running away, he stepped forward to meet it. Then, in the end, he was swallowed by the Demon King of Destruction and killed.

...Even though he was a god, Eugene mused.

Hamel, what reason do you even have to fight with Molon? Sienna demanded. Molons mental state isnt in a strange state any longer.

Kristina nodded, Sir Eugene, I also feel the same way. Does it really matter whether you won or lost last time?

Similar to Kristina, Sienna also had a worried expression.

She had yet to see Molons current power firsthand. However, if the Molon had truly been active for the past three hundred years and, far from being lazy, had spent his days hunting the monster known as Nur from what she knew of Molon, it was almost scary to imagine what sort of level he must have reached by now.

Of course, Molons time here was marked by his madness, so he hadnt been able to devote himself to his usual ascetic training, but the power Sienna sensed from him was incomparable to that of Molon from three hundred years ago.

Will you really be fine with losing like that? Sienna asked worriedly.

I have no intention of losing, Eugene stubbornly insisted.

Sienna frowned, Well, if you use the Moonlight Sword, the Holy Sword, and the Divine Sword, I guess you might be able to win. But Eugene, wouldnt that bother you? If youre fighting Molon with those weapons, it would mean that youre fighting him with the intent to kill, but theres no way that Molon will fight you in the same manner.

Im not going to use the Moonlight Sword or the Divine Sword, Eugene said as he pulled the Holy Sword out of his cloak. The only weapon I will use is the Holy Sword. I wont use Ignition or Prominence either.

...Arent you being too arrogant? Anise muttered. Hamel, I know just how strong you are. However, compared to when you fought with Molon last time I dont think that you will be able to have the upper hand under those conditions.

Anises words were accurate.

Throughout the battles following the Knight March against the Death Knight, Edmond, Raizakia, and Iris Eugene had undoubtedly grown stronger with each battle.

However, Eugenes increased strength came from the changes in his White Flame Formula, along with the combination of Ignition and Prominence. That was also supported by the Moonlight Sword and Divine Sword.

That would usually be the case, Eugene conceded.

Eugene was also aware of all of that. In his last match with Molon, Eugene had been completely overwhelmed. Rather than being able to exchange equal blows with Molon, Eugene had been thrown around by Molons strength, and he couldnt even get a complete read on Molons moves.

Thats why I want to test it out, Eugene said, turning his head to the side as he propped the Holy Sword onto his shoulder. It feels like something in me has changed, but Im not exactly sure about it myself. I cant really confirm it yet either.

Having returned as Eugene was speaking, Molon was looking right back at Eugene.

Eugene continued, I want to confirm what it is by fighting it out with someone, but its rare for me to find someone I can really test myself against. Its even rarer to find people who I can clearly tell are stronger than me.

Is that so, Molon murmured as he wiped away the Nurs blood from his cheek with the back of his hand.

He stroked his bushy beard for a few moments as he was lost in thought.

I understand what you mean, Hamel. If you truly want to test yourself then in this world, apart from me, who else would be able to really put you to the test, Molon said with a grin and a nod of his head. Hamel, if thats what you want, Im willing to spar with you at any time. After all, that is what I have always wanted, even back then, three hundred years ago. However, for this match I also have to make a personal request.

A request? What is it? Eugene raised a brow.

To think that Molon would actually ask for something in exchange for a spar. Since no one could ever have imagined Molon saying such words, they were all staring at Molon in surprise. Even while being on the receiving end of such stares, Molon kept up a serious expression that showed no signs of wavering.

If I win, Hamel, you have to shout Ive lost five times, Molon demanded.

Eugene was struck dumb, ....

Molon continued, You also have to write down, I, Hamel Dynas, lost this match with Molon Ruhr.

..., Eugene stayed silent.

And finally, you have to swear that you wont make up any other excuses for your defeat, Molon finished with a nod.

Eugenes lips twitched in anger as he listened to Molon speak. Anise and Sienna, who had been listening in rapt attention as Molon laid out his terms, burst into laughter and started slapping at each others arms in amusement.

Eugene growled, You you son of a bitch. You really have been holding such a petty grudge, havent you?

Molon blinked innocently, Hamel, I dont understand what you mean by that. I have never once been accused of being petty.

You youve been keeping a grudge buried within your chest because I said that I would have won if wed been holding weapons! Eugene accused.

Of course not, Hamel, Molon muttered in denial while attempting to avoid eye contact. Also, in my opinion, the one being petty is you, not me, Hamel. It was a fair fight, man to man, but who was it that had to go and make up some kind of excuse afterward?

Molons voice was quieter and faster-paced than usual. Such words seemed uncharacteristic of Molon. However, Eugene couldnt come up with any way to refute his words.

You.

Even so, Eugene couldnt just sit still and continue listening to this, so, with trembling lips, he shouted, You youre stupid! You big idiot!

Sometimes, when people really couldnt find an appropriate response to make, they would start making some extremely ugly personal attacks instead.