Chapter 69: [Bonus chapter]Chapter 30: he difference between a Hero and Demon!
Each sword trembled as a warm pulse enveloped Lancelot; the Ether around him drained into the ground from their absorption!
*Fu~Fu~*
Mordred swung his heavy crimson sword before stepping forward; the two giant warriors faced off, Lancelot's beast-like silver hair waving and his wings expanding as far as they could with a terrifying size of a 4m wing span.
Each giant took deep breaths before a shocking sound was heard behind Lancelot!
*Buzzzz~!*
The ground erupted as his wings beat, and Lancelot disappeared as a blur! Mordred was shocked as his sword raised, a dark claw striking the flat part of the sword as a loud metallic bang sounded, his eyes flashing with seriousness!
His armoured fingers and hands clenched tightly before his strength overpowered Lancelot's dark Ether, pushing his sword outward and blocking Lancelot's attack from landing before him.
*Ka~Shh~!*
Lancelot stabbed Lusia forward, Mordred quickly and adeptly blocking with his heavy crimson sword, causing sparks as Vellan slashed sideways.
*Ca-cha-cha~!*
But a metal chain wrapped around the sword, pulling it back as Mordred's strength stopped Vellan, Lancelot gritting his sharp teeth and glaring at Mordred!
'Fast'
Lancelot disappeared again, his wings blurring as a storm of Ether formed behind his foot, kicking forward and creating a small crater while Mordred defended against his rapid attacks!
*Zhengg ZhennZhenzzhen~!*
*Creak Creak Creak Creak~~!*
Mordred's crimson armour began to crack and bend slightly, with Lancelot and him evenly matched! But this only lasted a moment before Mordred smiled behind his helmet, Lancelot's brows raising!
*Hueng~!*
Behind him, a black chain-clad knight appeared; as his crimson armour reflected Lancelot's shocked beast-like eyes, a powerful Ether shockwave blew him backwards, landing 10 meters away.
His swords danced, and Vellan and Lusia blocked 3 chains as 7 others lashed forward and attempted to restrain Lancelot!
Mordred disappeared, now appearing before Lancelot and striking his fist forward, knocking his black dragon-scale-covered cheek and sending him flying again!
*Swosh Swosh Swoosh~!*
Lancelot landed 3-4 times, skidding across the floor and kicking off the stone, Mordred appearing each time with 6 black chains lashing towards his swords!
But with his movements increasing and skill steadily improving while his body adapted, the chains missed. Lusia stabbed forward, cutting Mordred's armour and even causing a bit of blood to spray, shocking the crowd!
'Stronger!'
Arthur had an interested gaze in his eyes; this level of strength was on the edge of Demonic Becoming. Lancelot's true form showed some signs of weakness, but his body could handle the intense strain, unlike many others.
*Swosh~!*
Each chain struck forward again, forcing Lancelot to fight Mordred while 2 of the black chain knights attacked him, Vellan blocking the chains as the long black sword attacked Mordred, the 3-weapon combat happening all at once!
*Zhenng Cara Crack*
Lancelot's black sword cut deeper into the heavy crimson plate armour, causing Mordred to grit his teeth as he fought harder and attacked faster. But he began to panic and was slightly scared as Lancelot's movements, strength, and Ether control increased... Each slash and chain is blocked!
'It seems his demonic form has limits; how long can he keep this up?' Arthur thought silently.
As a chain cut Lancelot's arm, causing a spurt of blood as 4 illusory black knights attacked, the crowd gasping as another golden ray shot into Excalibur, restoring the defeated knights, now both Mordred and Gawain defeated... A smaller male with a long thin sword stepped forward.
"Percival..." Lancelot coughed up blood as his back, heart, and lungs ached from using his summon drive and Dominus for so long.
'Heavy.. so heavy...' Lancelot was filled with painful pressure; his demonic body wasn't enough, not strong enough... his movements becoming slower as each slash Percival made became more fatal and faster.
'I'm not strong enough!... Why why? Why did I live!? Why!? Was my life pointless in my past life and this one?'
[My husband does not think such weak thoughts. Hold your head high; you have been back for 1 week. Look at what you have achieved. 2 knights of the round were defeated, and Arthur has existed for over a year in Avalon!]
Morgana's loving voice stopped the dark voice in his mind. Instead, his eyes shone as Percival's sword was about to slice through his Visor.
*Tuang~!*
He was blown upward, Percival shocked as a dark, evil smile formed behind his black Visor... Lancelot's body began to grow stronger, even his Ether capacity rising exponentially with his demonic form having the ability to absorb large amounts of Ether.
*Kabang~!!
'Absorb more... break your limits! If I lose my humanity, so what! Let me show you the difference between a Hero and a Demon!' Lancelot roared as his swords shook, and a bright dark star formed at their tips, creating a powerful Ether shockwave!
[Ah... that's my husband... I fell for you because of this side of you. Fight until you feel satisfied. I will save you no matter what should happen!]
Percival and each Knight, including Arthur, became nervous, Lancelot hovering with black-red veins popping up along his muscles, his scales shining beautifully as he looked like a Demonic Angel.
*Pssst~*
His long wings fluttered, a great power filling him as each muscle group and nerve tightened and strengthened,
*Shua~!*
His swords spun together like a dark blue and red lotus before exploding!
*Craka Kabang~!!!*
Creating a bright black-red flame cloud, the explosion covered Lancelot before slowly settling; Percival and each knight had their eyes hidden beneath their helmets.
*Shhhh*
Before Arthur, Lancelot's figure blurred and disappeared as the ground erupted and the arena shook; only dust and rubble were left from the explosion, causing Arthur to raise an eyebrow and laugh loudly.
*Teng~!*
Excalibur shined as a great wave of golden energy, 4 beams of light scattered in 4 different directions, with a golden wave forming in the air, creating a giant dome and shield.
*Booommm~!*
As the debris slowly settled, revealing a massive crater 3 meters deep and 7m in diameter, Lancelot floated in the air, holding Vellan and Lusia. At the same time, the golden dome was cracked, a wild smile on Lancelot's face.
Arthur's eyes shook before Lancelot disappeared with a large wind wave blowing along the golden shield; a bright golden slash from Excalibur created an explosion, and Lancelot appeared 5 meters in the air with Arthur now holding Excalibur as a sword, the golden dome behind him destroyed, his armour cracking and even a small amount of blood leaking out!
*Shh*
His wings danced, and a great Ether flame formed along Vellan before his swords began to burn a brilliant blue and black.
"Little Ant! You dare to attack me directly... Enough! I will end your pathetic existence!" Arthur bellowed as the knights protecting him vanished, or rather... all of them, including those defeated, began entering Arthur's body through Excalibur as his strength and abilities increased sevenfold.
"Those wings cannot protect you. Filthy rat."
"Those swords cannot block me. Pathetic little demon!"
*Shh Shuu~!*
Both Arthur and Lancelot appeared in mid-air, his speed and strength reaching an absurd level, Excalibur's glow becoming brighter as the golden blade clashed against Lancelot's swords, Vellan and Lusia attempting to evade and resist Excalibur's devastating and overwhelming slash!
*Crra~Craka-Crakk~!!!*
Lusia's tip shattered as dark Ether flames erupted, and Vellan was nearly sliced in two, cracking and bent inward. Lancelot's armour shattered, and his demonic dragon scales broke, causing a rain of broken scales to fall below as the arena shook and cracked even more.
'RETURN!'
Before any damage could be done to the girls, he sacrificed both, his body falling to the ground; unlike his, Arthur couldn't fly, but his sword's tip pointed downwards as he fell, chasing Lancelot.
*Zhenng*! *Bang~!*
Arthur landed, crushing Lancelot into the ground, a giant sword mark with a 2m deep indent and cracks spread around. The golden sword's tip stuck into the ground as his arm covered Excalibur, his strength overpowering Lancelot.
"Enough, Demon... Return!" Arthur coldly spoke, Lancelot coughing up a great amount of blood and struggling, his black-dragon scales barely left and the demonic Ether no longer covering him; the pain from his near-death experience with the Black Dragon caused a mental backlash.
'If I fail the girls... they will be lost and can no longer reappear.'
'But the worst thing....'
"Morgana...."
His weak and low voice rang out in the silent crowd, his head laying on the ground while his back ached and lungs struggled, as the pain was worse than when he died.
*Rrrrng*
Arthur became stunned!
"SWORD!"
Lancelot cried out, his arms bloody and weak, as two purple swords slowly formed in his hands, the trembling of his right arm as was hanging low; his body climbed from the deep crater, his eyes now a mixture of silver and golden light as it seemed to leak out, like a popped balloon slowly.
Holding his two purple swords, countless small blades began to form around Lancelot's body, his last attack as just Lancelot, the human swordsman!
"Watch me, Morgana... The man you love. Isn't pathetic enough to go without wounding his enemy."
[(Fool... I can't possible fall for you more... Then you go and prove me wrong... Ah~ chaos... unwilling to lose... determined to crush everything....Lancelot~ My Lancelot~~ Fight!))]
Her sweet voice filled his head; Arthur was shocked before Lancelot's movement blurred, and Excalibur's grip tightened before the surrounding Ether was absorbed into Lancelot's twin purple blades!
*Hueng~!*
Each small dagger exploded like millions of small missiles, and a great storm of thousands and thousands of small dark and purple Ether slashes flew towards Arthur; each blade was 5 cm long and filled with deadly power, and each blade filled with Lancelot's Ether aura!
*Hss~*
Arthur gritted his teeth as Excalibur created an absolute Ether barrier, each small slashing missile exploding against the golden barrier, shaking and crumbling; Arthur's strength was over 5-10 times stronger than before, but he was still shocked and afraid. Yet the barrier did not lessen the power from each explosion and could injure him!
*Fu~Fu~*
Arthur gritted his teeth, his hands grasping Excalibur, each slashing missile striking and tearing apart Excalibur's golden Ether and the arena, cracks spreading rapidly before the ground beneath was blown apart and a massive storm formed.
However...
A hand suddenly grasped his sword, demonic blood oozing as Excalibur's blade sliced through his hand, leaving the barrier open for a moment as a dark sword entered Excalibur's blade range.
'You fool....'
"AHHHHH!!!"
*SHRIIIIIIII-KACHAANNN~!!!!*
The arena exploded in a golden and white flamed explosion! The arena was blown apart and crumbled to bits, the surrounding area destroyed, each blade Lancelot created being so small, as they sliced through Arthur's body and face.
He lost his eye, and one of his legs was maimed; Lancelot dropped his swords and lost strength as the arena exploded, with only one small piece of stone standing!
'Was my second life... so much worse...'
'If I die again... Will I become a Demonic beast... and destroy everything....'
These thoughts swirled as his eyes faded and a beautiful smile formed on his face... his bloody and scarred hands raised upward as he felt the warm, calming embrace of someone special... His last thought before his consciousness slipped was the name... Morgana.
*Pss~Shu~*
With his final breath, he sighed... Before a beautiful woman enveloped his body, her long black hair and eight black and white wings flapping gently, as the man stood facing her fell to his knees, a large gash from his neck to his chest from the last attack of Lancelot.
[You damned fool... why are you playing dead when you managed to make him look this pathetic?]
[Wounded so badly against a first student after 1 day in Avalon... Ah.... my master... I cannot believe how you make my heart race...]
[You truly are the man I was looking for...]
[Our King]
Her body was shrouded in dark Ether, blocking all sight as they vanished on the spot; breaking all world laws, she brought him to Avalon.
[Queen's order. All units who have healing skills report to the throne room Immediately!]
"I won't let you be so close to him next time, girls...." Morgana's motherly smile added to her beauty as she looked at Lancelot laying on his throne, with Vellan and Lusia hugging his sides... The right eye of Lancelot is now blinded with a deep blade mark from Excalibur.
"Yet he's still just as handsome..."
She smiled gently before slicing her wrist... feeding it into her mouth, and moving towards the sleeping face of Lancelot.
"This will make you less human; forgive me. But I cannot let you die."
*Plop~!*
Her soft red lips touched his, his throat instinctively swallowing and not coughing from the sudden blood that trickled into his mouth; Morgana kissed his gentle and bloody face as her body became weak, Lancelot's wound closing and becoming fresh, no trace of his injuries besides his eye and lost scales...
"Ugh... so much hunger... why can you devour my Ether... so much... what is inside you... Ngh....!?" Morgana covered her mouth as she stumbled away, slowly towards her private room, her stomach aching.
Lancelot's bloodline must be stronger than hers or had the potential to surpass her greatly...
"I'm happy, though... hehe.. a strong master for a Queen... hmm... you will marry me, correct?"
Her blushing face appeared in a hidden mirror, the image fading as Morgana returned to the private rooms in her palace...