I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 25. Three Techniques (4)

Ralph, looking at his grandson, wore a slightly surprised expression.

‘Mucci, that rascal…’

The time Ralph spent with Mucci, from the moment he was a newborn baby, was longer than the time Mucci spent with his own parents.

But this was the first time Ralph had ever seen such an expression in Mucci’s eyes.

Even from a distance, the frustration was palpable.

‘Could that child have ever made such a face?’

Mucci was a simple child who followed orders without a single complaint or grumble.

He never showed strong will toward anything.

Even when he first started learning the Magic Body Technique, it seemed like he did it reluctantly, but later, he seemed to enjoy it, which made Ralph feel relieved.

However, Ralph was a bit concerned about Mucci’s excessive consideration for others.

Still, he thought it was enough that Mucci didn’t say he didn’t want to learn the Magic Body Technique.

That’s what Ralph thought…

“Was it a wrong thought…?”

Johan chuckled inwardly at Ralph’s dazed face.

‘Even a tough guy like you can’t help but falter in front of your bloodline, huh.’

Ralph’s son was born weak, taking after his mother.

So, Ralph took on a disciple to ensure his secret technique wouldn’t be lost.

Even though he treated his disciple like a child, he wasn’t his real child.

In the midst of this, his real bloodline, who could fully inherit his secret technique, appeared, so it was natural for Ralph to cherish him dearly.

‘Excessive affection became poison.’

Ralph, being a master, wouldn’t have failed to recognize his grandson’s nature.

But his excessive overprotection clouded his judgment.

‘It was Yuri, with his objective view as an outsider, who first noticed Mucci’s true nature.’

Yuri was originally perceptive, and having spent the past few months closely with Mucci, it was impossible for him not to notice.

‘A cunning rascal.’

When Yuri suddenly suggested having a real sword duel, Johan wondered what he was up to…

‘So this is what he was aiming for.’

Johan, convinced of Yuri’s ploy, clicked his tongue.

‘The difference between a wooden sword and a real sword is vast.’

The lethality and the potential for incidents and accidents that could occur at any time.

In the urgent crisis and continuous pressure, Mucci’s true nature must have surfaced.

Johan, looking at Yuri’s sly smile, clicked his tongue inwardly.

However, outwardly, he remained indifferent.

He spoke to Ralph.

“Your grandson seems very enthusiastic. As Yuri said, we can start right away.”

“Sigh…”

“Go on. We need to devise a final winning strategy among ourselves.”

Johan gave Ralph a gentle push on the back.

Unable to resist Johan’s push, Ralph took a step forward.

He stood in front of Mucci.

“Grandfather…”

At the sight of his grandson calling out to him, Ralph let out a chuckle.

“Pfft!”

Mucci’s voice was low and dejected.

His eyes were slightly filled with tears of frustration.

Although it was the first time seeing such an expression on his grandson, Ralph thought this appearance was rather pleasing.

It made him seem more like a child.

Ralph smiled and asked.

“Are you upset about losing?”

“…”

Mucci didn’t answer.

But his heavy breathing sufficed as a response.

Ralph’s smile deepened.

“Mucci.”

“Yes…”

“The Magic Body Technique isn’t inherently bad. Whether it’s used to harm people or to save someone, the value of the Magic Body Technique is determined by the person using it.”

“…”

“Do you think I, or even Yuri, use the Magic Body Technique just to harm people?”

Mucci shook his head firmly.

“No.”

“Right. Deciding how to use the Magic Body Technique you’ve learned is up to your will. But if you wield it without a clear purpose, it’s meaningless.”

“…”

“What value do you want to place on your Magic Body Technique?”

At his grandfather’s question, Mucci recalled Yuri’s words.

[I’ve set a goal.]

[I want to become stronger. Stronger than anyone else so I don’t lose. That’s why I do it.]

[If you want to get stronger, you just train every day.]

[It’s tedious, but… I don’t get tired of it.]

[I’ll show you today why I practice the Magic Body Technique, why I swing my sword as if my life depends on it!]

Mucci finally seemed to understand a bit.

The desire to become stronger and the will to not lose was the value Yuri placed on it.

That’s why he swung his sword as if his life depended on it.

At first, he couldn’t understand Yuri’s words and actions at all, but now he began to understand them bit by bit.

With a determined look, Mucci responded to Ralph.

“I still don’t know what value to place on my Magic Body Technique. I’ll think about it slowly. But…”

“…”

“Right now, I don’t want to lose. Just for now… I’ll place value on that.”

At Mucci’s response, Ralph smiled gently.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

Placing his hand on his grandson’s shoulder, he spoke in a low voice.

“Then, let this old man teach you the winning strategy.”

“Really?”

At his grandson’s expectant gaze, Ralph’s eyes gleamed slyly.

* * *

Worried that Johan might overhear, Ralph created a soundproof barrier with mana and whispered to his grandson.

Johan muttered in disbelief.

“Do you think I can’t hear you through that?”

Such a mana barrier could be penetrated easily if Johan wanted to.

But there was no need to do that.

Johan turned his gaze to Yuri.

“By the looks of it, you can only use Thunder Wing once more, right? Your arms and legs must be trembling.”

Yuri widened his eyes in surprise at Johan’s observation.

“How did you know that? Are you a ghost?”

“I’m the one who taught you Thunder Wing, you brat!”

Thunder Wing, unlike Cloud Step, couldn’t be used recklessly.

It was a technique that required gradual mastery.

At Yuri’s current level, using it more than two or three times was the limit.

“If you don’t want to be bedridden for a week, avoid overusing Thunder Wing.”

“Does it hurt a lot?”

“Why do you think I got constipated?”

“…?”

“It hurt so much that I couldn’t even go to the bathroom. Overusing it in my youth caused chronic constipation.”

“…I’ll stick to using it twice, no matter what.”

Yuri, with a determined look to never end up like the old man, replied.

Then he shrugged his shoulders.

“Well, it’ll be over in two uses anyway.”

“Yes, it will be over in two uses.”

The reason Johan didn’t need to eavesdrop on Ralph’s strategy was simple.

No matter how great the strategy was, at Mucci’s current level, he couldn’t withstand Yuri’s Thunder Cloud.

Ralph’s Magic Body Technique and Redner’s Thunder Cloud were the worst possible match.

Johan and Yuri were full of confidence.

Five minutes later.

Facing each other for the duel, Yuri and Mucci were observed by Johan and Ralph, who exchanged words.

“Did you finish devising your strategy?”

“Of course.”

“If you’re going to lose anyway, why drag it out?”

Knowing that Yuri could use Thunder Wing, Ralph was well aware that this duel was unfavorable for Mucci.

Yet, he seemed strangely confident.

“Isn’t it only fair to test the length and breadth of the strategy?”

“Won’t you be embarrassed if you lose after all that?”

“Hmph!”

Ralph and Johan, exchanging a peculiar tension, watched the training ground.

Inside, Yuri noticed a change in Mucci’s demeanor.

‘Oh? What’s this?’

Something about Mucci’s atmosphere had changed.

Yuri smirked and spoke.

“Did my smack hurt that much? Looks like you’ve come to your senses.”

“Yuri hyung…”

“What?”

“This time, I’ll win.”

“Uh-huh, that’s just your wishful thinking. And didn’t I tell you to call me hyungnim?”

Mucci didn’t respond to Yuri’s scolding.

Instead, he gripped the end of his spear and raised it high.

Thus began the final round of their best-of-three duel.

This time, Yuri didn’t charge in immediately but watched his opponent.

“Quite tall.”

With Mucci nearing 2 meters and holding a 4-meter spear, he looked like a small tower.

But more intimidating than that was the intense aura emanating from Mucci’s body.

Crack, crackle.

The rain that had started falling a while ago had now grown heavier, hitting Mucci.

But the raindrops bounced off the rough mana waves swirling around him.

That showed how much mana Mucci was pouring into this attack.

Yuri stared straight ahead, slightly surprised.

‘Chilling.’

The mana and killing intent flowing through Mucci’s spear made his skin tingle.

If he were to get hit by that, it wouldn’t just end with broken bones.

‘At least split in half and die.’

Or, get smashed into a bloody pulp upon impact.

The attack was terrifying, but the countermeasure was simple.

‘The preparation time is too long.’

With such a lengthy preparation, Yuri could just move out of the attack range.

Or rush in immediately and beat him up.

‘No need to use Thunder Wing.’

Since he didn’t need to wait for the attack, Yuri was about to charge at Mucci.

But then, Mucci’s loud shout stopped him.

“Yuri hyung! If you withstand this, grandpa will make you a sword out of pure white steel!”

Screech.

Yuri’s legs, ready to charge, halted abruptly.

“…What?”

“Eh?!”

A shocked Yuri and an even more shocked Johan.

A brief silence fell over the clearing.

Realizing what he had just heard, Johan grabbed Ralph by the collar.

“You crazy bastard! Using such a dirty trick in a duel between kids?! Do you want to win that badly?!”

“Hehe, didn’t you teach me that the loser can’t sleep but the winner laughs in their sleep? How’s my winning strategy?”

“You… you despicable…”

Though shameless, it was all true, leaving Johan speechless.

Back when they were at the Cradle, Johan had laughed at Ralph, who was crying in defeat, and said just that.

‘Ugh, still holding a grudge from back then… But how did this guy figure out Yuri’s personality so well?’

The past half-year spent face-to-face hadn’t been in vain.

As dirty and disgusting as it was, it was a perfect strategy that targeted Yuri’s nature and weakness.

And it was working perfectly.

‘Look at that!’

Yuri’s eyes were practically spinning with greed.

Indeed, Yuri was deeply contemplating.

“…Pure white steel? Really?”

During his time wandering the continent, he’d met a mercenary who boasted about a sword with a speck of white steel mixed in.

That memory was unforgettable because of how much the mercenary bragged.

‘White steel, which is more than five times stronger and more elastic than regular steel? White steel, which costs three times more than the same weight in gold?!’

Would they really make a sword out of that?

Just withstand that attack?

‘Really? Reallyyyyy?’

As Yuri’s golden eyes wavered like an earthquake, Ralph’s voice drove the final nail in.

“I’ll make you a pure white steel sword with no mixed metal!”

Yuri’s deliberation ended there.

He adjusted his stance.

Swoosh- step.

The right leg he had extended to charge backtracked, and he firmly planted his legs, ready to withstand any push.

Yuri patted his sturdy thighs and shouted loudly.

“Hey! Mucci, you rascal! What are you doing, not coming at me? Bring it on! I’ll take that attack any time! Bring it!”

Not just steel with white steel mixed in, but a pure white steel sword?!

How could he resist that?

Seeing Yuri smirk, Johan’s face turned red.

“That, that, that crazy guy!”

It was a situation where a single punch to the solar plexus would end it!

Johan shouted angrily.

“If you lose, I’ll hang you upside down and throw you off a cliff!”

As if waiting for Johan’s shout, Mucci’s spear turned red.

Holding an immense amount of mana, the serrated spearhead seemed ready to explode.

“Haaaaargh!”

With a loud yell, Mucci swung his spear.

It was a simple vertical slash.

But the problem was Mucci’s strength.

Creak, crack.

The immense force caused the spearhead to lag, bending the shaft as if it might break.

And at that moment.

Boom!

An explosion erupted from the spearhead.

The serrated blade, driven by the mana explosion, gained powerful thrust.

Shwoosh.

It descended at a tremendous speed.

Schnell Axe Spear Technique – Ice Wall Splitting

The extreme spear technique that Ralph Schnell once used to split part of the Ice Wall Mountain Range materialized in front of Yuri.

Facing it, Yuri felt a sense of impending death.

The raindrops, now heavy, seemed to slow down, making the surroundings clear.

The red trajectory of the rapidly approaching serrated spear.

Even in the face of inevitable crisis, Yuri smiled.

‘Old man, who said I’d lose?’

Though he succumbed to the temptation of the pure white steel sword, Yuri had no intention of losing.

‘All I have to do is withstand that and win, right?’

What’s so difficult about that?

As Yuri’s smile deepened, his sword moved.

Swish-.

Following the flow of the pouring rain, a silver trajectory began to form beautifully.

Just like that day…

Shwaa-.

Like the ‘illusion’ Johan had shown in the rain.