Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 120: You give up?

"You give up?" Vale asked.

Alyndra was sitting on the ground, her sword in front of her like a discarded toy. Dejection was written on her face, but as Vale spoke, her face hardened and lit up with the same arrogance she always wore. But it was a pale imitation, an echo.

She forced herself to her feet, gripped her sword tightly, and raised it. "No, never."

Vale made his fire sword again. He had about a quarter of essence left in his core, but it would be enough. He’d make it be enough. "Let’s finish this then."

Fire ignited around him, flaring up in tiny sparks that scattered around him.

She whipped her sword up and down like a bladed rope. The air hummed and cracked, bolts of golden light flying at Vale.

But then she held her sword with her left hand and covered her right hand with essence. The essence in her hand twisted like a whirlwind at high speed.

Following that, she slammed her right hand against the butt of her sword, slashing down at the same instant. The golden arc that followed came out as a twisting storm of golden light, but it was narrower, compressed.

It tore into the air and ground, cutting jagged lines.

But it was all for nothing because her opponent wasn’t there anymore. Instead, she felt a presence behind her, and the heat that followed told her who it was.

Vale had used one of his sparks to replace himself.

She whirled fast, but Vale was faster, and the three-bladed sword punched through flesh and muscle, cutting through her spine and straight into her heart from behind.

She gasped and choked, trying to say something, but it was held back by the blood that spewed out of her mouth. She staggered but used her sword as a stand. Then she finally managed to turn. She looked at him with eyes filled with shock and surprise...

As if she never expected to die.

Vale looked at her and chuckled dryly. He looked up at the still cloudy sky. Ash and dust floated around him. The smell of cinder and scorched ground filled his nose.

And in front of him stood the dead body of his deadliest opponent so far, held standing by a sword given by the Sword Saint, with a three-twisting-blade sword stuck in her back.

He chuckled again. "What a bloody red sky I’m going to be."

☆☆☆☆

They knew the fight was over when they didn’t hear the sound of blades clashing and buildings collapsing anymore. The tension only tightened.

And the Knights sent looks at them, undisguised hatred and disgust rolling off them. Slya moved closer to Tiber.

’If Vale did not... no, he will! ...but... if he doesn’t, then we’ll have to fight our way out of a mass of Knights intent on killing us... he will! He’ll return! ...’

The waiting Knights began to whisper among each other. Their reactions were varied. As expected, almost all of them wanted Alyndra to win. They expected her to win. While some of them used indirect ways to say they wanted Vale to win, especially those from the Steelclaw Alliance.

And then there were some who just wanted the whole thing to be over with so they could know what happened to their base.

Suddenly, the whispering stopped. A figure staggered into view down the street. The first thing they all saw was the sword,long and silver, gleaming with remnants of golden light.

Slya sucked in a sharp breath as alarm blared inside her head, and fear made her body stiffen.

Restless whispering began immediately.

The rest of the figure followed, and the silence that followed was so thick only a sword might cut it.

Vale was almost naked from the torso down, his face rough and lightly covered in blood, his black hair covered in dirt and hardened by dried blood.

He walked with a limp, but his back was straight. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

In his right hand was the three-twisting-blade sword, and in his left was the sword he took as his spoil of war.

The Knights looking at him felt as if they were witnessing the beginning of something, but they couldn’t put what they were seeing into words.

Everyone stood rooted in place until he got close. Then he said to Tiber and Slya, "I’ve avenged Xan."

They stared at him without speaking for a while. Then she bowed to him. Tiber followed moments later.

One of the Knights closest to them bowed as well, and the one close to him followed. Like a ripple effect, they bowed one after the other.

It was acknowledgment and something more, something better not put into words.

☆☆☆

Dlodus, up in his office, saw the scene below and felt a chill run down his spine. He turned to his vice in a solemn voice that was so unlike him. "Can you see that? He actually killed Alyndra."

Liam shook his head. "It should be impossible. She is... was so strong."

"Stronger than me?" He smiled.

Liam paused. "That’s a question only you can answer, right?"

Dlodus rubbed his head in frustration. He scratched it, then frowned.

"What’s wrong?" Liam asked.

"Everything! This will change a lot of things. But really, I’m curious how Steelclaw will react to this," he said, sounding amused.

"Won’t he be happy that he’s got a strong one on his side?"

Dlodus shook his head. "Maybe. Or not. He’s like a chained artifact. In time, no one will want him but will seal him away. But then again... huh? Oh... see! Even the Forsaken Tribes, who are known for their reservation, are keeping an eye on him!"

☆☆☆

Indeed, on the other side, atop a building, stood a tall man, Manefor, Rank 5.

"What do you think now, Elder?" Algar asked.

Manefor grunted. "There’s no doubt about it. That fire... but we still don’t know for sure."

Algar sounded smug. "But sure enough for the Chief to make a move soon."

Manefor rubbed his face and mumbled, "But he’s only a mere human. Even we, the descendants of the great true Blightfur... Anyway, we’ll subtly give him our support till the Chief decides."