Deus Necros-Chapter 216: Heart

Haku's swings became heavier, each strike landing with the force of a hammer against Ludwig's scythe-turned-sword. The sheer weight behind the blows sent tremors through Ludwig's arms, his parries growing slower and more labored with each passing moment. A realization dawned on Ludwig, cutting through the haze of battle: though he was growing stronger, so was Haku. The second-year student wasn't just holding his ground—he was evolving, adapting, and pushing Ludwig to his absolute limits.

[Your Tyrant Blade Swordsmanship proficiency has increased!]

Another notification flashed in Ludwig's mind, but he dismissed it without a second thought. There was no time to dwell on progress when every second felt like a fight for survival. Haku's attacks were relentless, each blow faster, stronger, and more devastating than the last. Ludwig's guard was breaking, his feet skidding backward with every clash. What had started as half-step retreats had turned into full strides, and now Ludwig was being forced back two steps at a time. The arena floor bore the marks of their battle, deep grooves carved by Ludwig's boots as he struggled to hold his ground.

It wasn't just the force of Haku's strikes that Ludwig had to contend with—it was the intent behind them. Haku wasn't using the refined techniques of a master swordsman. There were no elegant flourishes, no calculated feints, no intricate footwork. Instead, Haku had abandoned his hard-earned skills, his years of training, and his impeccable form. He was fighting Ludwig on Ludwig's terms: raw, brutal, and unrelenting. It was a test of pure strength, a battle of endurance rather than finesse.

Ludwig understood immediately what this meant. Haku could have ended the fight at any moment if he had used his full arsenal of techniques. He could have dismantled Ludwig's defenses with precision and skill, exploiting every weakness in his novice swordsmanship. But he didn't. Instead, Haku had chosen to meet Ludwig where he was, to fight him in a way that Ludwig could understand. It was a gesture of respect, a challenge that Ludwig couldn't ignore.

A smile crept across Ludwig's face, his eyes blazing with determination. "Fine! SO BE IT!" he roared, his voice echoing across the arena. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, his muscles coiling like springs as he channeled every ounce of his strength. With a hundred points of stamina fueling his body, Ludwig struck back with everything he had.

The clash of steel was deafening, a symphony of sparks and fury as Ludwig's sword met Haku's in a flurry of blows. Once, twice, thrice—and then a dozen times more in the span of a single breath. The arena was alive with the sound of their battle, the air crackling with energy as their weapons collided again and again. Each strike was a testament to their strength, their will, and their unyielding resolve.

No one dared speak as they could only watch with held breaths as the symphony of swords was the only music that accompanied this epic battle.

Haku's body began to glow, an aura of power radiating from him as he finally let loose. Against most students, he had always held back, careful not to cause harm. Against his teachers, he had been forced to defend, to learn, to grow. But here, in this moment, he had found someone who could match him blow for blow. Ludwig was different. He could take Haku's full strength without faltering, without breaking. It was exhilarating.

Unlike Haku's peers, where their arms would shake from the first blow, or their fingers break from the second strike, Ludwig matched him in power. Treuly, Ludwig the Undead! where others would have already dropped their weapons from the sheer power and weight behind Haku's greatsword. Ludwig fought back.

With a thunderous roar, Haku's foot slammed into the ground, the impact sending shockwaves through the arena. His hair crackled with electric energy, his clothes fluttering wildly as the sheer force of his power began to tear them apart. His muscles bulged, veins popping as he unleashed his full strength. The sword in his hand seemed to hum with anticipation, as if it, too, had been waiting for this moment.

Ludwig saw the incoming blow and knew he couldn't take it head-on. If he tried, he would be obliterated. There was no time to think, no time to strategize. Instinct took over.

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"Galvanize!" Ludwig shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. The spell surged through his body, enhancing his strength and speed. But he wasn't done. "Vengeance!" he roared, activating his second buff. His undead body burned with power, his senses sharpening as he prepared to meet Haku's strike.

For a moment, time seemed to stop.

Haku's sword, Baltak, gleamed in the light, its blade humming with a newfound energy. The weapon had been with Haku for years, a faithful companion for many, many years. But now, it seemed to come alive, responding to its wielder's emotions. A blue sheen enveloped the blade, a manifestation of Haku's will, his Heart , his very soul. This wasn't just a sword—it was an extension of Haku himself.

The teachers in the observation booth froze, their eyes widening in shock. Joana, who had been sitting calmly among the spectators a moment ago, was already on her feet, her body a blur as she sprinted toward the arena. She knew what was coming. Haku had tapped into his Aura, a power far beyond what most students could achieve anytime soon, Haku, who was thought to become the second youngest person to achieve Aura after the Urbaf was apparently achieving it even earlier!. The blade descending toward Ludwig wasn't just a weapon—it was a force of nature, a strike that could cleave through steel and stone alike, And Ludwig was neither.

Ludwig saw it all: Haku's determination, his joy, his unbridled passion for the fight he saw Haku's Heart in his hands. He felt the weight of the moment, the significance of what was about to happen. If he dodged, he would avoid it. But it would be a betrayal—An undermine of Haku's effort and will. This was a battle of Hearts, and Ludwig wasn't about to back down.

So he tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes locking onto Haku's as he prepared to meet the strike head-on.

[You have achieved one of the conditions needed to partially unseal some of Durandal's weight!]

[Cursed Sword-shard of Durandal has been partially unsealed!]

[Weight of the Universe has been partially unsealed!]

[Weight of the World!]

The two swords collided before Joana could reach them.

The impact was cataclysmic, a shockwave of energy erupting from the point of contact. The arena trembled, the ground cracking as the force of the clash rippled outward

Haku felt the weight in his hand immediately drop by more than half as the two swords seemed to cross against each other.

That moment that felt like an eternity seemed to end right there.

Joana, Olim and Master Van Dijk were already in the arena, all three of them completely stupefied at what they just saw.

Haku's sword, Baltak was cleanly cut in half, while Ludwig's sword shard didn't seem to have any damage to it.

Haku stared at the broken remains of his sword, his body still crackling with electricity. For a moment, there was silence. And then, he laughed—a deep, genuine laugh that echoed through the arena.

"It's my loss!" he said, his voice filled with admiration and respect.