01x12 - Malice the Master Swordsman

[bunniefuu]

I'm sorry.
- It's okay.

I'll show you the skill of
a Master Swordsman!

Cold-As-Steel Cutter!

A skill associated
with Master Swordsman

that unleashes lightning-fast
consecutive attacks!

Did I somehow manage to survive?

One more blow...

Sir Elymas!

This...

This is just so one-sided!

Hmm?

I can't break through
when you're on full defense, huh?

Still...

It looks like a slow,
losing battle for you.

Shall we... put an end to this?

♪I held my breath in
this labyrinthine city♪

♪Hey, let's go find♪

♪Our real voices now♪

♪Gathering up those nameless days♪

♪Behind the scarred, invisible shield♪

♪Lies a wish known only to me♪

♪As long as I can keep walking
with it in my heart♪

♪I'm sure I won't be afraid♪

♪This is my story♪

♪No time for sorry♪

♪I have no doubts;
this is the path my heart has chosen♪

♪No chains can hold me♪

♪As I reached out♪

♪To a closed door, a new world♪

♪Awakens♪

♪The heartbeat that
had been dormant awakens♪

Sir Elymas!

That's enough! Let's stop!

Malice.

I had three tasks to do
in this battle.

The first task is to check
the Cold-As-Steel Cutter.

Cold-As-Steel Cutter!

The second task is to spot
a critical opening against you.

Did I somehow manage to survive?

One more blow...

The third task is...

...to adjust my HP to 40% or less.

You want to scare me by bluffing.

The stats of Watercrow, the Magiblade...

I've just completed Lifeforce Transfer
and reached level 45.

...and your current level.

Everything is going
according to my calculations.

Now, I can finally allocate points to
the Fang of Smoldering Insanity.

I got this skill at the right time
with Ruche's help.

I can't leave you with such
a distressed look!

I can stay calm when fighting
due to her encouragement.

You, little girl!

A commoner like you
dares to speak up to us?

It must have been frightening for her
to speak up to a count.

That's why, this battle is...

The Fang of Smoldering
Insanity has reached level 5.

Unlocked special skill:
Dragonrage Deathgaze.

This is our win!

Nonsense!

Dragonrage Deathgaze is...

...a skill that can only be activated
when the HP is at 20% or less.

It increases the attack
and speed by 100%.

It boasts overwhelming effectiveness.

Even when you just try to activate it,

a single mistake could k*ll you
before it takes effect.

Although it has a powerful effect,

the process of adjusting the HP
is extremely difficult.

So it was deemed a less-than-practical
skill in the early days of the game.

But the Heavy Knight has a skill
that overcomes this weakness!

Life Shield!

Life Shield!

Life Shield in such a condition?

Skill: Life Shield.

Sacrifice up to 20% of
your HP to activate.

Have you lost all hope?

Using HP as the activation cost,
Life Shield is perfect for adjusting HP.

Not only does it trigger
Dragonrage Deathgaze consistently,

but you can also carry
a powerful shield.

It's a devastating combo
that basically overturns the risk,

and instability of Dragonrage
Deathgaze effects into immense stats.

Let's finish this all at once, Malice!

Dragonrage Deathgaze!

I'll show you!

This is the true power
of the Heavy Knight class!

You activated some kind of skill, huh?

And you think you can
oppose me with that skill?

Dragonrage Deathgaze!

His speed and power stats
rival a Master Swordsman like me?!

Because of the effects of Dragonrage
Deathgaze and The Upsetter,

my attack and speed have
now increased by 115%!

I've overcome the stat disadvantage!

You really are interesting.

Do you know the fable
of the wax-winged angel?

An angel born without wings
was cast down to earth.

It dreamt about the homeland,
took flight with wings made of wax.

But the sun's heat melted the wings.

So the angel fell and died.

That's how the story ends.

I quite like this story.

Watching people punching above
their weight and breaking down...

...I loved it!

Especially if it's you whom I've always
admired, it truly feels exquisite!

Parry!

Sorry, but that's not going to happen.

Even the Parry you're so fond of,

is really just an inferior
version of my skill!

Flowing Waters.

He messed up my attack's timing?!

How did I end up being
the defensive one?!

You failed to corner me,
even with our huge stat gap.

That's all there is to it.

In that case...

How about this?

Cold-As-Steel Cutter!

Malice.

There's a huge opening in your
Cold-As-Steel Cutter attack.

When you forcefully
unleash the fourth blow,

it messes your stance up,
leaving you wide open.

Cold-As-Steel Cutter is
a split-second physical boost skill.

The number of consecutive blows
depends on the user's skill.

You really should have limited it
to three blows at most.

I'm impressed that you still have such
tenacity after losing your weapon, but...

Shield Bash!

You won...

You won! Sir Elymas, you won!

Hey! What's wrong, Ruche?!

I'm relieved! I'm really relieved!

I tried to trust Sir Elymas, though.

But your opponent
was awfully terrifying.

She was coming at you
with the intent to k*ll.

It made me anxious.

This is all thanks to Ruche.

Sir Elymas, is she...

She's fine, just unconscious.

T-That's impossible...

It can't be...!

Malice...

A Master Swordsman
was defeated by a Heavy Knight...

Count Aizas.
With this, will you acknowledge it?

I acknowledge it.

There was no wrongdoing in this guild.

Elymas.

You indeed have the strength
to defeat the Dreamlord.

We, as nobles,

must never fawn over or
be friends with commoners.

Absolutely never show
them any sentiment.

Upholding our dignity

is exactly what leads to the protection
of the people and territory.

It's not as if I blindly believe in
or respect my father anymore.

He's a heartless, obstinate,
tyrannical, and selfish man.

However...

These words remained in my heart.

The one who lived as Elymas Edvaughn,

who sought to protect the county
as the next family head...

Yes!

...was still undoubtedly me.

Father!

Thank you very much for raising me

all those years!

Ah, excuse me!

Please wait, Count Aizas!

Please apologize to Sir Elymas!

After you shouted
and berated him that much,

then realized that you were wrong,

you ended it by just
walking away in silence?!

Ruche, it's fine.

But!

He's your real father, isn't he?

Hasn't the misunderstanding
already been resolved?

It's just too sad to part ways like this.

Hey, little girl!

Please look after Elymas.

The next day, after resting our bodies,

we decided to leave Rondalm City.

But are you okay with this?

You're leaving your hometown, you know?

Of course, I'm okay with that!

Your father has entrusted
Sir Elymas to my care!

Father?

In the end, that person...

...didn't apologize at all, huh?

He's in a position where
he can't apologize easily.

He wanted to be considerate of
those around him in his own way.

If you're okay with it,
I suppose it's fine.

It's the end for nobles
if they are underestimated.

In that sense, not bowing their heads
is practically part of the job.

It's tough in its own way,
but I just can't make myself like it.

Please don't be like that, Sir Elymas.

If anything happens, I'll apologize
right along with you. Okay?

I won't. Or rather, I can't anymore.

Huh?

After all, I'm just a person who was
cast out and stripped of my family name.

Ahem.

I'm sorry! I'm sorry!

I didn't say it as sarcasm!

Erm...

I'm quite surprised that
a man as proud as he is

said something like
"Please look after" to you.

Maybe he's acknowledged you, Ruche.

I'm glad I've left that house.

Even though I said that,
I'm just putting on a brave front.

But it's true that the current situation
is more suitable for me.

In any case, I doubt Aizas will try
to set me up from here on out.

The problem is Malice, though.

I quite like this story.

Watching people punching above
their weight and breaking down...

...I loved it!

She wasn't like that before.

What's wrong, Sir Elymas?

No, it's nothing.

I bade farewell to Aizas,

and presumably received
encouragement from him.

If Ruche hadn't pressed
Aizas for an apology,

I surely would've had some regrets.

With this, the matter between
the House Edvaughn

and myself has been settled.

The raid quest this time...

Isn't that a rare drop from a dungeon
that recommends level 50 weapons?

Wait for me!

We have arrived!

I know a great store.
- I'll take you there.

This is Lacoryna, City of Adventurers.

♪[Find your way]♪

♪[Come whatever may]♪

♪Shall we make some noise?♪

♪Shall we try everything?♪

♪Do you value life?♪

♪Let's do one or the other♪

♪Capacity overload
Not enough memory♪

♪Is there still room for growth?
Is it more a yes or a no?♪

♪Arrivederci
I want to run away at once♪

♪Survival instinct, afflictions, impulse♪

♪I've had enough
being surrounded by them♪

♪Failure, disgrace♪

♪It pained me a lot,
made me like a corpse♪

♪Can't you do something about life?♪

♪I want to be stronger♪

♪It's okay to be a bit weak♪

♪I want to live well♪

♪It's okay even you're being clumsy♪

♪[Find your way]♪

♪[In the night, stars will sway]♪

♪Can't live my life well
[Find your way]♪

♪[In my heart, I'll light the way]♪

♪[Find your way]♪

♪[Life is Canvas, draw your day]♪

♪Ah, I want to be known someday♪

The sparring against Malice.

The parting with my father
and House Edvaughn.

Thanks to Ruche,
one problem has been solved.

And then, we arrived
at a new land

known as the Holy Land
of Adventurers, Lacoryna!

In a game or not,
a new city is always exciting.

Well now, we have
a lot of things to do.

Next time:
"The City of Adventurers, Lacoryna".

But first, let's start by
acquiring some equipment.