Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 94: But?

Vale threw his right hand up, and Slya screamed as she was thrown high into the air. At the same time, he condensed fire into a sword as big as himself.

Everything slowed.

Vale raised his sword and slashed, creating a sword arc that rippled with red fire, filling the space between them in a zigzag pattern.

Alyndra had been moving as well. She bent slightly and got into position, then drew her sword—just inches of glinting metal. Suddenly, faint golden light connected everything to her as if she were the center of the world.

His sword arc was cut into pieces, and at the same time, the line that connected Vale to her sword from the neck suddenly disappeared.

But he had already moved his head to the left.

Just as it started, everything returned to normal. Only it wasn’t normal—a thin slice dripping with blood appeared on Vale’s neck, and the ground between them was melted.

"AaahhhhAaaaahhhhAAAhhhaaaaa!!!"

Slya was snatched out of the air before she could fall to the ground. Vale grinned down at her. "Didn’t know you had such strong vocal cords."

She hissed like an angry cat and squirmed out of his hand, only to jump back when she saw that the ground was melted. She grumbled, "That’s just like you!"

Alyndra was staring at Vale with narrowed eyes, her smile gone. She had meant to kill him with a single strike to the neck, but not only had he counteracted, he had also dodged her. ’He’s far stronger than I thought—so far stronger. He’s dangerous to the second layer and must be gotten rid of’

For his part, Vale smiled. With Slya still in his hand, he bowed. "You sure are impressive, Rank 1 Alyndra. You can even kill without fully drawing your sword. But you should see a healer for your right hand. My fire’s a little difficult to heal from."

Alyndra finally smiled. "Thank you, Vale of the Steelclaw Alliance."

Vale nodded. "So, how about the team I’m going to create?"

She used her sword like a stick and took a step forward. "The creation of teams is already set at thirty-four, but I quite like the number thirty-five. Of course, you will be ranked based on your current power."

"But?" Vale asked.

She smiled. "But I want to really know your strength, so this will be your test. Go deep into the Veilwood and crush the outlaws, all of them. Only then can you create a team."

Vale paused, digesting her words, then shook his head in disappointment. "I really thought you were straightforward. Alright, I accept your test."

He turned, and with Slya in his hand, he used a blast of fire from his legs to raise himself to the staging stand. He surveyed everyone much as he did when he first arrived, but this time there was no mocking or disgust on their faces.

There was forced respect. Even Fell couldn’t help but admit that he was strong.

Vale chuckled as Slya finally made her escape. ’You haven’t even seen anything yet’

"Tiber, Xan. Pick up our prize. We’re leaving."

Still in the pit, Alyndra lifted her hand and checked it. Her right hand had been burned not badly, but ever so slightly. She whispered, "Just when did he do this? When I was trying to cut him. And the way he did it...as if saying he could have done more.

"Impressive. Really impressive. It makes me want to fight him all the more!"

☆☆☆☆☆

Vale checked his left hand, where the black ring sat on his middle finger, and nodded in satisfaction. "You really did well today, Slya."

She grunted from where she sat in the corner of the room. In front of her on a table was a bottle of wine. She took another long drink, licked her lips, and pouted. "Vale, why’d you pick one with so little alcohol in it?"

"Because you might still need to fight later. Anyway, that’s the best my money can buy for you at the moment. Unless you want those hot, distilled..."

"No, no, thank you!"

Xan turned from one to the other. He couldn’t keep it in anymore and shouted, jumping up from his seat. "Just what did you do, Vale? What happened back there? Alyndra was this close to killing you, us, and you still stood up to her. Aaaaand that fight with Mawion!"

Tiber chuckled. "Calm down, Xan. Everything turned out well, right?"

Xan took a deep breath, opened his mouth, but closed it with a click when he saw Vale begin to speak.

"Yes, Tiber’s correct. Everything turned out well. Even the trap we predicted was set, but it was layered."

"Are you talking about fighting the outlaws?" Tiber asked.

"Yes. I’m sure the outlaws are aware by now. She’s trying to kill two monsters with one swing. She’s either sure the outlaws will kill me...or I’ll kill them. There’s also the option of us killing each other," Vale said.

"But either way, both sides will suffer damage," Tiber said.

"Then how do we deal with this? Just what—are the three of you going to try to kill all the outlaws in the Veilwood? They’ll be coming for your head with the heads-up they’re sure to get!"

Vale sat there, admiring the ring again, frowning slightly as he thought about the best move. "Tell me about these so-called outlaws."

Xan sighed. "Mostly, they’re those who didn’t make the cut for the teams."

"Mostly?" Tiber asked.

"Yes. But some of them just don’t want to submit to the rule of the Ten or the Flagbearers. They don’t want to pay the tax collected on each ruin-clearing. They want the whole thing to themselves."

"So we shouldn’t expect much from them in terms of power? Only some of them would be powerful, right?" Vale asked.

"Yes," Xan answered. He was trying to talk Vale out of this, but somehow he knew the man was only digging deeper. His fears were answered by Vale’s next words.

"Come on, Xan. Don’t you have revenge to take? What’s the name again...Blackened Blade?"

Xan blanched when he saw the smile on Vale’s face. His smile was like a knife in the night.