1336 By His Own Words

Prince Merov's eyes were sunken and bloodshot, like someone who hadn't slept for days.

Interestingly, his cheeks were also hollowed out and his body which was muscular just a while ago was suddenly a bit skinny.

'Did the soul transfer have so much impact?'

Varian tilted his neck and dodged the punch.

The space beside his neck broke and the sharp irregularities sliced his skin. Despite dodging, his skin was decorated with several large red lines.

"You took my teacher away!" Merov was raging, his killing intent was never higher. "Give him back! Now!"

Varian glanced at the Prince's scary face and crossed his arms. "How about no?"

Boom! 

The punch that replied nearbly broke his jaw. Thankfully, he dodged it and ended up getting punched in the shoulder.

His shoulder dried up as the hostile life force wrekced his body. As if that wasn't enough, the dried up part of his shoulder exploded.

Bam!

Varian's face and torso were covered in his own blood. His right arm was missing and he didn't look so well.

'The old bastard was fighting well but he couldn't use the power of divine path to its fullest! But Merov can!'

Prince Merov would be stronger than the old man!

Varian's lips twitched and he called out using his soul power.

'Baldur, isolate the fortress completely. And get out of here!'

The forgotten prince who was hiding in a defensive formation, his face mixed with fear and admiration.

'Y-Yes!'

As he escaped to another formation, a black barrier enveloped the fortress.

Most of the structures in the fortress, except for the central building protected by the core defense formations were destroyed.

All that really remained was a castle on a platform and two powerful beings that quickly drove it to destruction.

Merov noticed the barrier activating. Even though he was full of anger, he couldn't help but sneer.

"You're so brave, aren't you? Hacking this fortress is enough to warrant death sentence to your entire tribe. But you went ahead and blocked it. Why? Afraid that I'll call for assistance?"

Varian shrugged.

If only he knew…

"You made a big mistake. You can't get out of here." Merov said with a predatory smile.

"You got it wrong."

The space around Varian began to vibrate, as if in tune with some rythm and waves of spirit power began to eminate from him.

"I'm not locked in with you."

Varian's eyes flashed silver and a beam of invisible power stuck Merov. His eyes went blank for a moment as his soul struggled to get out of the shock.

Without giving him any respite, the power of time acted on him, slowing him down from getting out of the shock.

"You're locked in with me."

Varian swung his sword and unlike every other time, Merov wasn't prepared enough.

Even though he broke out of the shock and dodged at the last moment, the sword cleaved through his shoulder and split his chest in a diagonal line. The sharp blade, reeking of death stopped just above his throbbing heart.

An explosion blasted away Varian, the green life force hastily trying to injure him and failing.

Merov decided to create some distance and fight safely but with a swipe of his hand, Varian caused a string of explosions around the Prince.

None of them were enough to impact him by themselves, but when they worked together, he had to swallow his pride and retreat.

The dynamics of the battle shifted.

Varian's seven powers swept the area, targeting the Prince without any mercy. Merov tried to counterattack but was repeatedly pushed into the defensive.

Once Varian started using all his powers, the dynamics of the battle shifted.

After trying to destroy Varian's life force for so long, Prince Merov grasped something hard to believe.

"You…You're less than a century old? No, half of that?"

"Half of that half!" Varian laughed and rings of silver glowed in front of him.

Merov deftly avoided the spirit attack, though he couldn't stop the matter making up his arm freezing against his will before exploding.

To make things worse, a space crack appeared, devouring those vitality-filled remnants.

Another space crack opened near Varian and delivered him the remnants which he assimilated smoothly.

"I'm 19." Varian's aura continued to climb.

"No way…" Merov's eyes widened and his face paled. He had always prided himself in being the brightest genius.

The man standing in front of him crushed that very belief.

"Then teacher…teacher…" Merov's lips trembled and a horrowing anguish filled his voice.

"Yes," Varian lied without blinking. "You don't exactly remember what happened, do you? He saw my talent and decided to be my teacher. You are trash, he said."

The old voice in the sword screamed. "No! You shameless bastard! When did I want to be your teacher!"

Ignoring it, Varian continued to provoke the prince. "He said that if not for him, you'd still be picking garbage. Or maybe you'd selling your body? Some depraved old ladies of the kingdom have a thing for young boys, don't they? You'd have been in one of their hands."

"Shut up!" Merov yelled so hard that blood spilled out of his mouth. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"

He screamed like a broken record and his body glowed with a blinding green light. Giving up all thoughts, he jumped at Varian with fury.

"Die!"

The dark green light enveloped the fortress and began to destroy everything. Even the great formations couldn't withstand the destruction and exploded.

Boom!

The fortress went out with a bang, giving off brightness that rivaled a large star.

When the light receded, Merov was standing blankly, the green sword in his hand that was supposed to stab Varian was cutting through a perfect 'illusion'.

"Don't underestimate me too much," Varian's voice rang from behind and a tremendous force stuck Merov from behind.

His soul froze first and then his body began to break down, bit by bit.

Watching Varian's indifferent eyes, Merov remembered the words he said not too long ago.

'If I had to face someone much younger than me and nearly as strong, if not, stronger than me despite me growing up in a better place since childhood, I'll just fucking kill myself.'

"Hah…" 

The favorite candidate died with a smile, laughing at his own fate.