Chapter 673

Still, the rain was falling.

Antares' expression had already hardened.

"Again, it's happening."

He watched as Ludwig, who had managed to withstand the surge of spirits again and was staggering, somehow got up again.

Ordinary people would collapse just by being touched by these evil spirits, but Ludwig was able to withstand their attack and get up again, even though the flames of darkness that had been flickering on his right arm had gone out and he was drooling with a bruised mouth.

Even though he knew that his existence was worth no more than buying time, he did not fall.

Does a steel soul really exist?

Does an unbreakable human really exist?

Once again, the surge of spirits overwhelmed Ludwig.

-Kururung!

At first, Ludwig screamed as if he was going to suffocate, but now he didn't even have the strength to scream in pain.

He wasn't just enduring it.

He didn't even have the strength to scream anymore.

But he still managed to get up.

This time he will fall.

To the monsters, this was no longer fun.

If the boy who managed to endure somehow doesn't fall, then he must be killed by his own hands, and that would be his defeat.

Break him, step on him.

Isn't it necessary to kill the boy who can no longer get up?

If there really is an unbreakable existence, I want to see it with my own eyes.

If such an existence exists, I want to know that it exists.

That was Antares' long-standing curiosity.

I have to make sure he breaks.

If he doesn't break, it's amazing.

If he does break, it's a confirmation of the truth that existence is always swallowed up by despair.

So now, killing him directly is the monster's defeat.

At that moment, when he tried to see if the boy would get up again.

-Shwiik!

"!"

-Kwagang!

The dark greatsword that flew through the surge of spirits broke through the barrier the monster had put up and grazed his right ear.

Antares' right ear disappeared along with the surge of dark magic.

"Ha... Ha... Ha..."

In the place where the surge of spirits disappeared, there was a boy who was gasping for breath with his mouth open.

"Did you still have that much strength left?"

Antares saw the boy's expression of despair as he waited for the monster to let his guard down and saved his last bit of strength.

It must have been a surprise attack.

But it failed.

Antares smiled as he looked at Ludwig's face, which had failed to take advantage of the one chance he had.

The boy wasn't trying to endure.

He had a goal in mind.

"What a good expression you have."

There is no unbreakable existence.

Isn't that what that expression is telling us? "Is that right arm your hope?"

Ludwig's right arm, which seemed like it had been transplanted from another being, did not reach Antares' ear as it was not important. It was something dark and ominous that was probably related to immortals. If he endured with that arm to aim for a reversal, then that arm must have been everything to that boy. Antares flicks his hand and a sharp gust of wind flies. The foundation of the boy's strength that he had endured with so much effort is cut off too easily. Ludwig, who had lost his arm twice, groans while holding onto the arm that is pouring blood. There is no longer any power to aim for a reversal. The toy's sting has been removed. "Now, all that's left is to suffer." The monster's hand is once again intertwined with the storm of spirits and rushes towards Ludwig. Hope is broken, so now he will break. Since he can no longer aim for a reversal, all he has to do is enjoy seeing the expression of despair. However... "Why do you keep getting up?" "As a non-existent being." "Knowing that you can't do anything." "Without any basis." "Why do you keep getting up?" Even though he has no power, he keeps getting up just to buy time. Is it because he believes that there will be some kind of variable when the Demon King awakens? Ludwig, who has become a wreck, speaks with almost no strength left in his two legs. The boy with eyes that are losing their light mumbles blankly. "All I can do is this." "I don't know anything else." "So I have to do this..." "I'm not even sorry that my right arm is gone." "It wasn't mine anyway." "Yeah..." "Falling down but getting up again." "This is all I can do." "My only advantage is my stamina as a stupid subject." "I keep running and holding a sword, thinking that if I do something, something will happen... that's how it was..." "In the end, I couldn't become anything." "I could only become something by attaching someone else's arm." "Yeah... I'm nothing." "I have no power." "This is probably my true self..." "I could kill you anytime, but if I keep playing with you like this... do something more."

"As much as I can, I will keep getting up..."

"Play with me a little more..."

"I will keep getting up."

"I am nothing, but that's what I do best."

Despite being beaten to a pulp with fear, despair, and pain, Ludwig kept getting up, determined to buy time. Antares, a monster, was feeling a strange emotion for the first time in his life. It was discomfort. Is there really an unbreakable being? He wanted to see it. But when he faced a human who didn't break, he felt unbearable discomfort. Perhaps because he was so foolish and knew his own insignificance. Ludwig's fading eyes told him that he would lose consciousness due to bleeding, not because his spirit was broken. "I am nothing." He didn't know who was in front of him, but why was he so persistent? "This old man has lived for an unimaginable amount of time and has seen many great humans as well as insignificant ones. There were also incredibly strong beings and noble bloodlines that begged more than the heavens. I have seen countless despair and countless hope. All of it ultimately ends in the inevitable emptiness of death. There were countless great beings and countless insignificant beings. But a being as insignificant and tough as you is the first I've seen. Yes... How can I not call that great? Among all the humans I know, you are the most special and great being. How can I call you nothing?" The boy is not strong enough to surpass the old monster. But he doesn't break. He doesn't break from the pain that can't kill him. He just keeps getting up. Knowing that he can't do anything, he only wants what he wants. Not because it's the right answer, but because the death of the Demon King is an absolute wrong answer. He must do what he must do. It was the first time Antares had seen such determination. "I lost." Antares said, clenching his right hand this time. There was not only the power to torment and cause pain, but also the wind's blade. Since he couldn't break it, he admitted defeat and took his last breath. Since it didn't break, he would destroy it. That was the best compliment and respect Antares could give to the unnamed human in front of him. -Woohoo! Ludwig looks at the wind blade on the monster's right hand. It was a fight with no chance of winning. All he could do was get up, but even that had become meaningless. The opponent lost interest in an enemy who wouldn't fall and wanted to take his life. Next would be the turn of the Demon King and Ellen, who were already lying down. He didn't even know what was in front of him or what was happening. He just wanted to protect the Demon King in the end, but even that failed. It was like despair, like emptiness. Ludwig had done his best, but it was painful and frustrating that his best was not enough. However, he couldn't ask for more. He had done everything he could. Wasn't that enough? He thought of a conversation he had with the Demon King a long time ago. The Demon King was a being who was determined to protect what he wanted to protect. Even if he knew he would lose, he still fought. Ludwig asked him how he could fight knowing he would lose, and the Demon King simply said he had to believe. Even if he knew he would lose, he had to believe he could win. In every fight where he expected to lose, there was only defeat. But he had to believe he could win, no matter what. The Demon King denied Ludwig's mindset itself. Translation: "Giving up by saying that you did your best is just an excuse for yourself. Even so, I did my best. I'll do better next time. Aren't you creating a corner to run away for yourself who lost? The Demon King said that you have to make a determination for victory, not an excuse for defeat. Because there might be a different result, even if it's just a possibility. The Demon King gained something through an impossible determination in an impossible fight. Who can say for sure that they cannot achieve such a victory? Why am I giving up? Saying that I did my best. This is my limit. Why am I accepting death quietly? Rather than ending up as a worthless loser who only loses and can't do anything, I want to achieve a victory just once. I'm not dead yet. Life is not over until my breath completely stops. Even though my right arm, which gave me an indescribable power, is lost, my body is still here. My legs are stumbling, and I don't have the strength to stand properly anymore, and my consciousness is getting blurry, but I feel like there is still a drop of power somewhere. If death is approaching, I won't just wait for it vaguely. I'll try to reach it, even if I can't. That's the driving force that brought Ludwig here, even though he failed and lost every day and fell asleep. Not giving up. Going forward ignorantly. That was his only weapon and the most absolute weapon, and Ludwig finally realized it. That's why, before the blade of death approaches, he takes a step forward. -Growl! He draws magic that may have remained somewhere in his body and strengthens his body. Even though it was an enemy that couldn't be defeated even with the transplanted Grandmaster's arm, if death is approaching, he still has to try to fight. Even if it's impossible, he always walked forward with the thought that maybe it's possible. With the determination to use the obsession that he has had for his whole life until the end. "Are you afraid... to fight?" The old monster's expression showed a more than unpleasant expression. It was astonishment. The boy, who should not have had the strength to move even a finger, takes a step forward with a faint blue magic surrounding him. It's nothing special, but there is still some strength left. Even if it's a light that seems to go out right away. It's definitely light. It drives away the darkness to some extent. He puts strength into his weakened body. "Yes. I have to fight." If it's a fight that he will die anyway. If an unbeatable enemy tries to kill him. It's scary. It's desperate. Even if he dies like this or that. -Growl! "And if I fight." "Where is the reason not to aim for victory as a milestone of the heart? Even if the heart for victory does not bring victory. So... why should we give up, broken and resigned, waiting for death? Therefore, I wish. I am the declaration for victory. I will defeat you here. Come on. -Kurrurung! Part of the cloudy sky opened up, and a beam of golden light descended on the ground. -Kugugung! Something was thrust in front of Ludwig with a fierce shock wave. It was undoubtedly in the form of a spear. 'Oh... that is...' The old monster stared at the spear that appeared in the sky with a flash and exclaimed. It was always the weapon of the weak. The simplest form and the most deadly shape. It was always the weapon of the weak. With a simple form and a simple blade end. That's why that straight line, the most deadly one, is the shape that a weapon for the weak, which should be able to confront what the weak cannot resist, should have. The old monster knows the name of such a weapon. The weapon of the weak. The relic of courage. Holy Spear. 'Alixion...' It certainly had that name."