Chapter 49 - Regenerators and Last Phase

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VIP Hall....

15 minutes have passed since Rey and Eleanora Dragulia had close combat.

During those fifteen minutes, the audience watched the two of them fight closely and show their abilities in their mastery of their respective weapons, namely spear and greatsword. Also sometimes added by elemental attacks using magic or similar abilities.

In that close combat, Rey looked more dominant because he played offensively. Meanwhile, Eleanora fights with her expertise style, namely defending and counterattacking.

Such a tight and exciting close-range battle is something that can make anyone who witnesses it excited and entertained.

"Hoho~.... This is very interesting."

"I didn't think that kid could survive this long."

"It seems like he really is Ultimate-class."

"I think he has quite promising prospects indeed."

"Yes."

"""...."""

The guests present seemed to express and discuss their respective impressions of Rey and his abilities.

The guests consisting of the Devil Kings and their relatives also discussed with each other.

"Rey-chan is really strong!"

Serafall crossed her arms over her chest and said with a smug face and nodded few times as if the one being praised was herself.

"Yes. He is indeed strong. But, have you noticed anything odd about him?"

Sirzechs gave a small nod to Serafall's words but then he asked with a sharp gaze at Rey who was fighting.

"Yeah. That was a bit strange."

Ajuka also stared sharply at Rey.

"Hm.... I'm curious about that too."

Falbium also gave a small nod while holding his chin.

"Ah! I noticed that too!"

Serafall exclaimed confirming that she also realized what her three friends meant.

"Did you guys noticed that too?"

Serafall looked at her father and the others.

And the adult men nodded slightly.

Meanwhile Mephisto just smiled a little and Sakuya just kept quiet because they already knew about the anomaly and its cause.

But the five girls actually seemed confused by what the adults meant so they shook their heads, frowned, or looked more intently at Rey to try to figure out what they meant.

""""....""""

But even though they tried to observe Rey more closely, they still didn't understand what the oddity was. So in the end they gave up and one of them took the initiative to ask.

"Hey, what are you guys talking about exactly?"

Wennyxa tugged a little at her father's sleeve and asked with a frown and a slightly rude tone.

"Behave yourself...."

His father glanced at her sharply.

"Tsk!"

Wennyxa clicked her tongue.

Seeing his hard-headed daughter, Lord Dantalian frowned deeply.

But in the end he gave up after seeing the other four girls looking at him as if waiting for an answer.

"Hah~.... You might not realize it because you still lack of experiences.... But, we who have been involved in various battles and even wars, realized that there's something odd with that boy after observing his fight."

Lord Dantalian answered while looking sharply at Rey in the Arena.

"And I'm sure of all the people present here and watching this fight, he was the most shocked."

Lord Dantalian said as he glanced at a blonde-haired adult man who was among several other guests.

The girls looked at the man Lord Dantalian was referring to.

"That's...."

"Lord Phenex?"

"What's it got to do with him?"

The five girls were increasingly confused.

"Hmph. Of course there is.... That's because that boy apparently has abilities similar to those of the Phenex."

Lord Dantalian answered.

"Ability similar to Phenex?"

"Fire?"

"Regeneration?"

Lord Dantalian chuckled and answered.

"Haha.... Both of them more exactly.... That boy also many times received wounds from Lady Dragulia's attacks. But because his wounds were only scratches and were immediately healed in an instant by his «Flame», the people who were lacking experience like you girls didn't really noticed it.... That's why I also said that boy have similar abilities to Phenex."

Lord Dantalian finally explained about the anomaly that happened.

And the five girls looked a little wide-eyed after understanding it.

Because they realized that with that abilities, Rey is once again become a stronger person/rival with each of what he has shown and known to them.

""""....""""

They are frowned in silence.

And then Rias asked with a slightly frowned face.

"Are you saying he also has Phenex blood?"

Lord Dantalian shook his head.

"No. I don't think it goes that far, Princess Rias.... And besides, the «Flame» that the boy has is clearly different even though they are both regenerative flames. From the color alone it is very different. The boy's flame is purple-black. While, Phenex's flame are orange-red."

Lord Dantalian explained to the five girls.

But he didn't say that he felt the «Flame» possessed by Rey is stronger than the flame of the Phenex clan.

And that's why then he's back to watching sharply to the Arena.

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*clank!!!*

We both swung our weapons at each other and after our weapons clashed because we were trying to fend each other off, we were both pushed back by the strength of our respective attacks.

"Hahh.... Hah.... Hah.... Hah...."

I breathed hard as I knelt on one knee and gripped my spear with one hand to keep myself from falling.

"It's been more than 20 minutes.... Are you tired, Young Master Rofocale?"

Dragulia-san asked while smirked slightly and in a stance of pointing her greatsword forward with only one hand.

Honestly, I didn't think we would engage in close combat that fiercely and for that long.

But it also further proves that Eleanora Dragulia is indeed a strong figure who cannot be underestimated and is not easily defeated.

I chuckled wryly at that.

"Hahaha.... I think now I understand why you're called "Grinding Sword" after experience fighting against you myself, Dragulia-san."

I said while the small wounds I got from Dragulia-san's attacks were quickly burned, or rather healed, by my «Infinity Star Flame».

"Fufu.... Thank you for the compliment.... You are truly good too in your spearmanship, Young Master Rofocale. And I'm also curious about that Purple Flame of yours."

Dragulia-san chuckled with the one hand that wasn't holding the sword adjusting the position of her glasses and then looking sharply at me.

"Ah~.... So you noticed that."

"Of course.... After all I'm certainly no stranger to regenerative flames. But your «Flame» certainly isn't from Phenex, right?"

"Yes. But I won't answer any more than that."

"Oh? Such an unfortunate then...."

Dragulia-san seemed a little disappointed with my answer.

"And I'm afraid I'll unfortunately have to disappoint you again, Dragulia-san."

I said as I stood back up.

"Hm?"

Then I chuckled wryly again.

"Hahaha.... Honestly, this kind of tiredness and cuts like this is nothing to me. Because I experienced things like this.... No, even much worse than this, almost every day for the last two years."

"Hoh~.... I'm sure with that kind of unique ability, I'm sure you can heal yourself for sure.... But I'm curious about what you mean exactly."

Dragulia-san said with an impressed yet curious expression.

"Hahaha.... Quite simple actually.... I was just "forged" to half-death almost every day by a Battle Maiden. Hahaha...."

I said and laughed in a gloomy tone as if in despair and felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up because I remembered those critical moments.

Yes. Eleanora Dragulia is indeed very strong. But compared to my killer master, she's still quite far away.

And this fight is still could be considered as just half-assed when compared to the training with Extreme-difficulty mode that I previously received.

"Interesting.... Is that the reason you were able to developed this far and became this strong at such a young age?"

"Well, you could say that."

"I see.... Is the one you called Battle Maiden your master? I'm interested in getting to know her and fighting her if she's willing."

Dragulia-san said with a slight smile.

"Aahh~.... I don't know if she wants to be "friends" with you. But if you want to fight, I don't think she will refuse. Besides, she herself likes to fight and she happens to have a lot of free time for now.... But, you have to be mentally prepared if you want to challenge her. Seriously."

I said my latter sentences with a sharp gaze at Dragulia-san.

Because my master, Scathach, is a Godslayer Goddess.

So she had to be mentally prepared so she wouldn't be too shocked if she fought against her.

"Then I'll wait for that time to come."

"Sure.... But the fight against me isn't over yet. So.... «Staff»-mode."

I asked Kulshedra-san to change into «Staff» form and the black spear in my hand quickly turned into a black staff.

Then, using Rune Magic, I created a medium-scale barrier that was enough to cover the perimeter of the battle arena.

"«Dome Barrier»...."

"Hm? Why did you create this barrier?"

Dragulia-san asked in a slightly confused tone and looked up slightly to see the barrier I had just created.

"Sorry, Dragulia-san.... Maybe this will make you lose some face.... But, you will lose here."

I said with a slight grin.

And then, I asked Kulshedra-san to use one of her elements.

"«Darkness»...."

I then stomped my black staff on the ground and then darkness spread from the point where I was standing until it covered the entire space inside the barrier I had created and make it pitch black.

And then ....

"«Hidden» ...."

I am one with the darkness.

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