Reborn As The Villain-Chapter 344: SS - 26: The Final Battle

[Forbidden Art – Sword Tribulation] was still active in the sky even as night came.

Not paying attention to the thousands of golden swords above that his opponent could throw down at any minute, Ko continued attacking Arnold.

Neither martial was out of breath even though they had been fighting for several hours with no signs of stopping.

"You should be proud—" Arnold deflected a punch thrown his way, "—This power you obtained through some shortcut is allowing you to survive this long."

"You have truly become childish, taunting me in hopes of making me act recklessly." Ko dodged all of Arnold's punches before throwing a kick to Arnold's face, which was blocked.

"You haven't shown me much of what you've learned, old friend. Where are all your martial arts you have such an inflated pride for?"

So far, Arnold has only seen the cloud serpent martial skill, and that fire-based skill he used before.

"The land is already devastated by our physical blows but if you are so interested in what else I learned since our last clash—" Ko jumped back and put his hands in a praying gesture. When pulling them apart, a black cube of pure energy manifested between his hands, crackling like lightning.

"You are not the only one capable of using a forbidden art, old friend."

With a blur, the cube shot straight at Arnold.

"Wha—" before he even blinked, he found himself surrounded by the same cube that had expanded in milliseconds and swallowed him.

But he didn't lose composure. He breathed deeply before trying to put his hand through the cube's wall. A lightning bolt shocked his hand but he continued pushing.

"Tch, what is this thing made out of that not even [Void Phase] works against it?"

Void Phase was the name he gave the technique Mian Xi taught him. Just like her, he had to keep his mind clear or any thoughts that could interfere with the skill and also keep himself calm under any circumstances.

A sharp bell rang out and the walls of the black cube quickly shrank once.

"I was saving this technique for when I eventually face off against the Dragon Lords." Ko descended from the sky and landed in front of Arnold.

"...What? You want to fight the Dragon Lords? Why?"

Naturally this piqued Arnold's interest. What possible reason could he have to fight those monstrosities that are worlds away from this shadow world?

"I need their souls... I have come to learn that not all souls are equal and number don't matter when it comes to them."

'Did Ladiath order this guy to fight the dragons? No, then he would've told me in advance to cooperate with this guy.'

Also, he didn't mention a specific Lord, but all of them instead. This could mean he's looking to fight them all.

But why?

He said something about souls just now.

"The Death God... Are you looking to trade their souls to him for power?"

"I am. That power which will be used to challenge him."

"...Are you out of your mind?"

"On the contrary, I am ready to face whichever challenge awaits me so that I can revive Zhoming and Sing."

'The empress and princess? Aren't they...' Arnold's eyes widened when he recalled something that happened back in the tournament.

Zhoming didn't have an energy signature, meaning she had no lifeforce as if she was an undead monster. She was clearly not a vampire or any other humanoid undead.

So what could the explanation be? Well, the only logical explanation is that both Zhoming and Sing are homunculi.

"—Did you kill them?"

"No... Now that I think about it, I've always wanted to tell you the truth of what happened five years ago. Enemy troops stormed our camp one night and kidnapped my wife and stepchild.

"During all of that, I was unaware since I left the camp's protection in the hands of my disciples and was trying to negotiate with the Five Sect Elders to surrender 1000 humans who will be slaughtered in Thanrion's name. Only after that would I have left them in peace. But they were not all too willing to go through with it so even if I wanted to avoid conflict, a massacre would have taken place regardless."

Going by what he just said, his clash with the empire started long before that war. A sect doesn't just order the capture of children at a whim. It was definitely to use the two as bargaining chips.

"...."

"When neither of us were willing to go through with negotiations, they brought out their trump cards—my wife and stepchild. I wanted to kill everyone in that room and cut out the hearts of the scum who dragged them so roughly in front of me. I was given a choice—swear an oath that I will leave and never return or lose those I hold precious. I was not strong enough to save them in time. The martials burned them alive at the stake. My wife and daughter's bodies were charred beyond recognition. With every soldier slain, I grew stronger and stronger until I gave the elders the fate they deserved. What is so difficult about sacrificing the lives of worthless commoners to avoid a massacre at my hands!? Why did they lack such conviction!? Why did they hesitate when the lives of a thousand could have spared countless more from my wrath?! I offered them the courtesy of telling them the reason for my appearance in their empire and they spat in my face!

I begged them. I offered them mercy in exchange for a single, cruel act—an act that would have ensured peace, no matter how fleeting. But they clung to their so-called righteousness, their self-imposed moral chains, and in the end, they paid the price for their hypocrisy!

Do you know what it's like to hear the screams of your loved ones as the flames consume them? To watch their skin blacken and crack, their eyes melting from the heat, while your limbs refuse to move fast enough to save them? I felt their agony. I heard my wife's last, desperate cry for me, and I failed her. I failed them both!

And when I finally cut down those bastards who used them as bargaining chips, when I ripped out their treacherous hearts with my own hands, I realized—what was the point? What was the point of all that bloodshed if the ones I fought for were already gone?

So tell me, what is difficult about sacrificing a thousand faceless, nameless lives for the ones who truly matter?! Why do we pretend that human life has value when it can be snuffed out so easily?! Why did they choose to make an enemy of me, when all I wanted was to protect what was mine?! WHY?!"

"Protect what was... yours? No one goes to these lengths unless they have the desire to kill others." Arnold spat back.

"What do you know!? You were born special, grew up in a country ruled by one of the most prominent sect elders, learned your martial arts before 10, had riches at your fingertips, a territory even royals wanted. You have never sought for anything in life, never needed to, in fact—and you think you can preach to me about desires?"

No, Ko was wrong. Funijji did seek something—a friend. Growing up the heir of a large sect was a path filled with danger—assassins, poison, corruption, damnation. Funiji survived all of that using his own strength. All of this before he even turned 15 years old. He became the most powerful heir the sect has ever nurtured and he showed the elders he was deserving of that seat of Head.

And when it was finally over, when he killed the ones that wanted his blood whether family member or lovers, he was alone.

And it was then when he met Ko—both seeking a different purpose on a battlefield filled with corpses.

The two of them were different even if they chased the same thing—Ko wanted strength to triumph over everything that threatens him or his family and Funiji wanted the strength to trample over others.

Forcing down that past he would rather forget, Ko clenched his fists, "One final push before I am on his level... Just one more and I can revive you, dear." He then looked up at the black barrier, "This will work... it must..."

"You want to kill the dragon lords just over two people! You fool blinded by your own desires!"

"I will leave one alive after taking its soul. The Dragon Lords are humanity's protectors so I cannot simply have all of them die. One should be enough to continue the bloodline."

"Are you out of your mind!? Releasing a dragon lord without a soul into the mortal realms will have consequences! Their purpose is to defend the world against threats that can doom humanity—an order given by the Dragon God—if they lose their souls then their memories go with it and the remaining dragon will seek a new identity!"

Naturally this would be troublesome for Arnold as well. Five demigods were protecting their world from threats that can threaten even the Great Nobles and Archmage. Their lineage as the Dragon God's children is enough to scare off any existential threats looming outside their world or creeping around in the Mountains of Wails.

"Hoh? You have travelled across the realms same as I and know this much?" Ko narrowed his eyes.

As expected, Ko needs to die. He's not someone that can be allowed to go through with his deal with Thanrion. Rather, doesn't this mean Ko will become a threat to Thanrion? Then why isn't the Death God doing anything about it? Will he really give Ko what was promised?

Ko lifted one arm, his palm facing Arnold, "Enough talk. This is where we say farewell. I will be taking the Sovereign of Blood book after I hold your funeral, old friend."

In an instant, the cube shrunk again, this time moving quicker than before. But suddenly, the cube stopped moving. A bright radiance came from inside. Even though he put more energy into its crushing power, the cube wouldn't move.

The sound of glass shattering resounded and something tore out Ko's eye in an instant, sending pain through his brain.

He held his hand over his face with gritted teeth as he jumped back.

"What...! Kuh!" not having enough time to be surprised or retreat to regain his composure, Ko deflected a lightning-fast strike that aimed for his heart. The power behind that blow was so devastating that he was thrown back a bit further.

Even though Ko was using his Aether, Funiji was able to overwhelm him this much!?

Before he could even catch a breath, he felt the cold presence of death at his neck. Sensing that, he held his sword over the back of his neck. A powerful blow pushed him down, cracking the landscape like an earthquake.

Where did this sudden boost of power come from!?

Funiji's next blow managed to hit but using a cheap trick, a piece of wood was left in his absence. He was now standing on the edge of a cliff, about 5km away from the earlier location.

"[Shin'ei Kyō] (Divine Avatar Sutra) Heed my call!" Ko lifted his arms and did several hand signs that spelled the full chant for summoning the spirit, in Godorin. Spoken chants don't seem to work for most martial arts so martials in this world found a way to use the aforementioned martials arts by utilizing hand signs.

A golden light erupted from Ko's back, illuminating the battlefield like a second sun. The radiance expanded, swelling into a towering, divine form that seemed to transcend the physical world. From Moon Plum City, 100km away, citizens gasped as they gazed upon the impossible sight—a behemoth of golden light, standing with such majesty that even the clouds bent around its presence.

The entity's features were serene—bald head, eyes closed in quiet wisdom, long earlobes heavy with jeweled ornaments. Eight arms folded in prayer, radiating a tranquil power that belied the devastation they could unleash. A gentle smile graced the spirit's face, but its presence alone caused the very air to tremble. The pressure it emitted was suffocating.

This was clearly a being that could take on a Dragon Lord.

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The colossal being slowly unfolded its arms.

Before sound could even register, one of its hands had already struck. The force was incomprehensible—the earth split apart, the cliff Arnold stood on crumbling instantly. The delayed shockwave blasted through the air, tearing through the surrounding landscape with divine force. A mountain in the distance—one that had stood for millennia—was reduced to rubble in an instant.

But Arnold had moved.

The Avatar's colossal palm, meant to flatten him where he stood, was parried.

Before the echoes of destruction could fade, another palm shot forward—faster than the last.

Arnold twisted his body, his sword intercepting the strike with a flawless counter. The force sent him skidding back, carving deep trenches into the battlefield.

One blow. Two blows. Three.

Each parry sent another wave of destruction across the land.

A chain of mountains collapsed in on themselves, their peaks reduced to rubble and the sky itself trembled under the relentless exchange.

Ko, standing amidst the chaos, felt his pulse quicken.

Funiji... was keeping up with the martial arts Ko was saving for his clash with the Dragon Lords.

The golden behemoth unleashed a flurry of strikes—eight arms moving at speeds imperceptible to the human eye.

A thousand blows per second.

A hurricane of pure destruction—one an avatar of Martial God Sutra—harboring a tenth of its original's true power—and the other a simple human. Not even a Demon Lord, besides Oriel of course, should be able to withstand this power.

"!!!!" One of Sutra's hands were parried to the side and torn off by Arnold's blade, making its horrific scream echo throughout the lands. Its face twisted like a toddler's.

"Get off him so I can kill him, bastard." Arnold lifted his arm. The clouds parted ways.

Looking up, Ko noticed that the golden swords were gathering at a single point but was unable to see what it was since a divine light was brightening the sky.

The light scattered once all the swords gathered at that single point and in its wake—a giant golden sword measuring hundreds of kilometers in length.

"I... Impossible... To think a human could control this forbidden art to this extend...! Even users of Pure Martial Arts cannot do so!" A horrified expression appeared on Ko's face as he looked back at the Empire.

His wife and stepdaughter were there.

For their sake, he had to win this.

"Descend, [Giant Killer]." Arnold casually swung down his arm. The behemoth of a sword travelled at breakneck speeds and before long its shadow appeared above Ko.

"[A Million Palms of Su'yern]!" the Sutra avatar made several handsigns upon Ko's command.

Its fists were then covered in a golden light. Steeling itself, the avatar pulled back its arms then in less than a second, it threw countless punches through the air, its fists becoming a blur. Upon closer inspection, it looked almost as if the next flurry of punches were sending the previous punches forward like some kind of force pushing something.

Even the Dragon Lords—demigod beings—would stare in awe at this destructive display of power that belonged to just two humans.

...

Unfortunately for Ko, the Sutra avatar's technique barely registered in the giant sword's path. In fact, the sword went right through the flurry of punches.

That's right—Arnold has mastered Mian Xi's martial art to such an extent that not just his blade, but even his martial arts could not be stopped.

"...No... No...! Ahhhhh!" the moment the behemoth weapon dug into the avatar's shoulder, a piercing howl erupted from its fat belly, and a large gash appeared on Ko's shoulder, spewing a fountain of blood.

"Don't rest yet." Arnold raised one arm.

-[Leviathan Storm] has been activated.

The system's window popped up for a second.

Strangely, when Arnold thought of [Storm of the Water Dragon], the skill that activated was his evolution skill. Unlike when he was in Failed King Oriel's demon factor form, he could now control which of the two he wants to use but right here and now he was unable to control it since he was driven by pure murderous intent and subconsciously sought to use the greatest power in his possession.

He wanted to end Ko. He won't let "that" person have the courtesy of doing so.

A roar shook the heavens, the clouds parted way and coming from the sky was a gigantic head of a dragon. In a split second, its full body manifested once it showed itself, stretching for hundreds of kilometers.

The sky split as the dragon roared, its voice a shockwave that flattened mountains and ignited the air. The Sutra avatar struck back, fists blurring, each impact shattering the earth and hurling molten rock skyward.

Then the dragon fell.

A hurricane of destruction followed, its claws shearing through golden limbs, its maw snapping shut with pressure beyond comprehension. The avatar's body crumpled, torn apart midair before being slammed into the ground. The impact shattered the land—mountains crumbled, biomes vanished, and the sky itself darkened as the dragon's final wrath consumed all the sun's light in its overwhelming power.

The avatar's screams began to sound more distant as its form began to fade away, too damaged to even stay manifested in the material world.

Left behind was Ko, face upward toward the sky and on his knees.

Arnold approached the man who was near death. An Aether blade appeared around his arm again, ready to chop off Ko's head.

"P... Please... No..."

"I will not extend mercy to someone like you—"

"—I... I'll... a... accept... my death but.... One last time.... Just once... I want to see them... My Sing and Z-Zhoming... I need to... tell them... the truth..." tears streamed down Ko's face.

The only sound that followed after his plea was the howling of wind.