◇ Kai’s Perspective

With all my strength, I swung my fist. The remnants of the 『Lightning』 wrapped around my fist as I put my all into the swing from the perfect angle.

It was the most powerful punch I could possibly throw.

Shockwaves from the impact sent rubble flying around Arnold, who I had punched. A dull sound echoed around us as Arnold was thrown into the crater that his punch had made.

This was a hit at the weakest part of a shaken Arnold, whose magic power had wavered. It was a blow that I struck with all the strength and power I could muster.

Even if the opponent is an S-Rank, or a transcendent, it’s a blow powerful enough to threaten their life.

Kai: “Heh…heh…heh…”

I watched Arnold fall to the ground in front of me. Blood was flowing from his mouth, there was no doubt that I had inflicted damage.

Kai: (Please… lose consciousness… I can’t do any more than this…)

I prayed. I couldn’t manage another blow like that. I literally gave it everything I had. I’m out of energy, my brain is about to fry, I can’t push anymore.

So…

Arnold: 『HAHAHA… That actually hurt. It’s been a while.』

Don’t stand up.

Arnold’s eyes, and only his eyes, glare at me. He slowly gets up, completely disregarding my punch, spitting the blood in his mouth onto the ground.

I had definitely inflicted damage on him, but it was already healed. The bruises I had inflicted disappeared completely, leaving no trace, amidst white smoke.

Arnold: 『When was the last time I bled… Since the collapse of the S-Rank Cube in California… I was just trying to play a bit…』

Arnold stands up straight and looks at me.

My blow didn’t reach him.

The summit that I thought I had reached, the summit that I thought I had just managed to see.

Beyond the thick, ash-colored clouds, it stretched endlessly. The lofty summit, the peak of the world, is hazy and hard to see, even for me now.

The weight of the phrase “world’s strongest” was not so light as to be overcome by the strength of will alone.

Kai: “!?”

Suddenly, magic power that dwarfed what Arnold had released up until now gushes out from him.

Instinctively, I retreated with all my strength.

I could feel the hair on my body standing on end. It was as if I had a gun, or a sword pointed right towards me.

But it wasn’t something of that level. Because a monster that can destroy even a country was seriously focusing its power on me alone.

His magic power was blazing up. A sinister pillar of purple magic power, blazing around Arnold, looked as if it would reach the heavens.

Arnold: 『Hope you’re ready, kid. Ready to die, ready for this country to be destroyed…』

I saw the despair-inducing status of the world’s strongest.

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

 

Name: Arnold Alteus

Condition: Good

Job: Berserker 【True Awakened】

Skills: Healing Inhibition, Super Healing, Beast God Transformation

Magic Power: 1,753,000

Attack Power: Reflectance ▶ 75% = 1,314,750

Defense Power: Reflectance ▶ 75% = 1,314,750

Agility: Reflectance ▶ 75% = 1,314,750

Intelligence: Reflectance ▶ 25% = 438,250

Equipment

・None

 

−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−−

Before my eyes, Arnold’s appearance began to change.

He looked like a beast, like a lion. That was probably due to the skill called Beast God Transformation, which enhanced all stats. His job had ‘True Awakened’, which was likely an advanced version of Awakened.

Seeing the ridiculous magic power and the intense pressure that seemed to crush me, I was lost for words.

He was truly stepping into the realm of gods.

My intuition told me so. I didn’t stand a chance against him. He recovered from my blow instantly.

No matter what strategy I come up with, no matter what trick I play, I can’t inflict any more damage.

There’s no way he’d lose consciousness, not even if the world were to turn upside down…

I almost took a step back.

Kai: “Ahhh!!”

But I shouted out to overcome my fear. I raised my voice and spurred on my desire to run away.

Kai: “I can’t run away!! I will defeat you and… Help Sophia!! Reina!!”

I can’t back down here. Reina and Sophia are waiting. They’re waiting for me to win.

So, I won’t run away. Even if it’s a pipe dream, even if my ideals are ridiculed, I want them to see the future once more. The future where the loving mother and daughter are together, which I can’t have again, but I should still be able to grasp if I reach out.

Just as I was about to grab my sword again with trembling hands…

Tendou: “That’s enough, lad.”

I was grabbed from behind and held tight by Tendou. I hadn’t noticed him behind me until now, but I couldn’t escape his vice-like grip. Tendou had nearly twice my magic power, so there was no way I could escape if he was serious about restraining me.

Kai: “Te, Tendou-san!! Please, let me go!!”

And then another one, standing between me and Arnold.

Chairman Kagetora: 『I’m sorry, Arnold. Despite you taking the trouble to come here, we have continued to be disrespectful. Please forgive us.』

Arnold: 『Ah?』

It was Chairman Kagetora. Kagetora walked slowly between me and Arnold and stood in front of Arnold.

Chairman Kagetora: 『This child is distraught because his friend’s mother is dying… His grief and anger have blinded him. Surely, you can understand him a bit. He is truly a kind child, just still immature. But he can really get angry for the sake of others… Young people tend to act without thinking, but I will certainly punish him later, so please, could you forgive him? 』

Arnold: 『Do you really think I’d forgive him after he punched me? You old piece of shit..』

Chairman Kagetora: 『I don’t think so. I understand that you won’t forgive the God-Destruction Cult. So…』

Chairman Kagetora was holding Tendou-san’s sword in his right hand. Tendou-san was watching it from the side.

Then the chairman took the sword in his right hand and, with all his might, cut off his own left arm.

Kai: “!?… Chairman!!”

I screamed. Then I understood what the chairman had tried to do.

Chairman Kagetora: 『…I hope this will do, please forgive us. If this is not enough, I’ll offer another one. Please, Arnold, for old time’s sake.』

Blood gushed out, and Chairman Kagetora’s left hand was placed in front of Arnold’s eyes. Then the chairman bowed his head deeply.

Kai: “No, chairman!! Please stop! I did it all on my own!! Why do do you have to do this!!”

Chairman Kagetora: “Kai-kun…I understand the situation. I understand…but still, you have to bear it.”

Kai: “No way! Chairman! Your arm! Why! If we defeat him, everyone!”

Chairman Kagetora: “I said I know, so shut up!!”

Tears were overflowing from the chairman’s face. Pain? That can’t be, because the chairman has pain blocking. So, those must be tears of heartache, accepting the death of Sophia.

For the first time, I was shouted at by the chairman, and I closed my mouth. It was the real voice of the usually gentle chairman. Understanding the situation must mean that the chairman knows about Arnold’s recovery inhibition.

Yet he told me to give up. We should give up because we can’t make the strongest one faint.

Then Chairman Kagetora looked at Arnold again.

Chairman Kagetora: 『…What do you think? This old, shriveled hand may not be satisfying, but can’t you accept it? If not, feel free to snap my neck…I want you to forgive the kid.』

Then the chairman, while losing a lot of blood, knelt down and offered his neck.

Chairman Kagetora: 『Please, forgive him with this one neck. Kai-kun is still needed in this country.』

Arnold, looking at this, seemed to weaken his magic power a little.

Ring ring ring

Arnold: 『Tsk!』

Arnold took a phone from his pocket and answered the call. His custom-made smartphone that won’t break with a little motion, encased in steel.

Bosch: 『It’s me. Bosch.』

Arnold: 『HEY, what is it, Mr. President.』

President Bosch: 『Arnold, I’m watching the broadcast now, Japan is an allied country, we want to avoid war. Our mission to exterminate the God-Destruction Cult is complete. We will take care of the treatment of that boy, Kai Amachi, so can’t you forgive him somehow?』

Arnold: 『Are you ordering me?』

President Bosch: 『No, just a proposal and a request. Please… we have a suitable reward prepared. 』

Arnold: 『…Tsk』

Then Arnold hung up the phone.

Arnold: 『Hey, I don’t need this wilted arm. Reattach it quickly, it’s unsightly.』

Arnold turned his back on the chairman.

Arnold: 『100 servings of the finest sushi at the embassy within an hour. That’s the deal for today.』

Chairman Kagetora: 『…I appreciate it. Arnold.』

Arnold: 『Tsk! Still can’t eat much, old man. Hey, shitty brat! You’re lucky to have him protect you! I’ll let you go!!』

“Shit…Shit!!!!…*sob*… *sob*…”

I couldn’t stop my tears. It was so frustrating, so frustrating, I was frustrated with my powerless self. Sophia and Reina must be waiting. They must be waiting for me to defeat him.

And I even made the chairman clean up my mess.

I couldn’t defeat him. Held back by Tendou-san, I wept helplessly.

Tendou:  “Is Sophia-san…dead?”

Kai: “She’s still alive. If we can still heal… If we can knock him out!! The three of us can!”

I struggle desperately. If Tendou-san helps us, I’m sure… yes, he knows Sophia-san, so…!!

But Tendou-san’s response was different from what I had hoped.

Tendou: “Give up. This is no longer… a fight, kid. If we did it, it would be a war.”

Kai: “Tendou-san!! Even if… Sophia-san dies…?”

Suddenly, I was released from being held back. And to protest to Tendou-san, I turned around.

But there was…

Tendou: “I understand… I understand… but give up. Please. I understand…”

Tendou-san, shedding tears with a strained voice, was there. His fist was clenched too hard, blood was flowing. Biting his lip, blood flowing from his mouth, he glared at Arnold as if ready to kill him at any moment.

Still, he was desperately enduring.

Tendou: “Please… Kai. Please back down. I know how you feel, but… It’s no good. Not anymore. We can’t win, and there will be many sacrifices. The old man understands that too. And that Arnold will never forgive the God-Destruction Cult.”

Still, he strained his voice.

Kai: “Tendou-san…”

I was a fool. Tendou-san and Sophia-san know each other, and Reina is like Tendou-san’s little sister. The chairman too, they care about Reina more than I do.

The two of them are in much more pain than I am.

Yet, they endured it, gritting their teeth.

Seeing their expressions, I gave up everything and shed tears.

Kai: “*Sob* *sob*… Damn, damn…”

I couldn’t save Sophia-san. I couldn’t reach the strongest one, I couldn’t extend the time for Reina and Sophia-san.

Kai: “Aaaaah!!!!!”

I cried out, not caring who saw me.

Arnold: “HAHAHA, make sure to discipline him. I’ll remember his face. It wasn’t a bad punch. I felt it, for the first time in a while.”

Seeing that, Arnold left satisfied. There was no trace of the damage from my attack, he was completely unharmed.

It was frustrating. I felt like rushing to hit that Arnold right then and there.

But I had to bear it. If he went on a rampage with the power he had earlier, Japan, this country, would be in danger.

Besides, there are people who are suffering more than I am, enduring it.

I can’t cause any more trouble.

Right now, there’s something I have to prioritize more than anything else.

I rush towards the severely injured chairman, whose blood has stopped due to natural healing.

Kai: “Chairman!! To the hospital right away!! If it’s that doctor, we still have time!! Lightning!!”