LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 51: Chapter 51
What else Brent wanted to say, perhaps in an effort to further persuade Ethan to reconsider, was never spoken. Ethan wasn't going to give him another chance to continue his arguments. Without hesitation, he swung his longsword, striking first and forcing Brent to raise his greatsword in defense.
Brent blocked the blow, but Ethan didn't stop there. He immediately followed up with a horizontal slash, intending to force Brent to retreat. If Brent gave him even a little space, Ethan could quickly shoot Keno with an arrow.
This wasn't a personal grudge between Ethan and Brent—it all boiled down to Keno. As long as Keno was dead, there would be no reason for this fight to continue. Brent had no deep connection to Keno, no reason to avenge him.
But Brent was more stubborn than Ethan anticipated. The man stood his ground, refusing to back away. He absorbed Ethan's relentless strikes without budging an inch.
Seeing this, Ethan raised his left hand and fired a Frostbolt at close range.
Brent, having seen the Frostbolt's power earlier, recognized it immediately. The magic stone equipment in Ethan's hand clearly had ice-based abilities, capable of freezing on contact. At this distance, dodging was impossible.
But Brent had already prepared himself. His greatsword, despite its size, moved with surprising agility. Just as the Frostbolt streaked toward him, his blade intercepted it with precision, redirecting the projectile off to the side.
Crack!
The Frostbolt struck the ground and exploded, unleashing a burst of frigid air. Even the distant spectators could feel a sudden, chilling breeze wash over them.
Brent advanced cautiously, his brow furrowing as he assessed the weapon's destructive potential. He was surprised that something as small as a short arrow carried such immense power. At the same time, he found himself growing increasingly disapproving of the young man before him. To Brent, Ethan's attacks seemed excessively ruthless, showing no restraint.
Ethan, however, couldn't care less about Brent's opinion. He had no sympathy for his enemies, and Brent had repeatedly interfered with his revenge. In Ethan's mind, that alone was enough to categorize Brent as an enemy. He had already steeled himself to fight this man, even if it meant turning Brent into a lifelong adversary.
The Frostbolt failed to achieve its intended effect, but it served its purpose as a distraction. Ethan seized the moment to press the attack. When it came to real combat, Ethan was on an entirely different level compared to the sparring sessions he'd had with Arthur.
In training, his focus was purely on improving his swordsmanship, intentionally limiting himself by avoiding other abilities or weapons. But real combat was a matter of life and death. Even if Brent had no intention of killing him, Ethan couldn't afford to take that for granted. A single misstep could result in severe injury or worse.
Fully focused, Ethan shifted tactics. Recognizing that arrows were ineffective against a prepared opponent, and knowing his supply was limited, he pulled out his electric rod, a weapon he often used for auxiliary attacks.
Rather than activating the rod's lightning ability immediately, Ethan opted for a two-weapon approach. Armed with his longsword in one hand and the rod in the other, he launched a furious barrage of strikes at Brent.
Caught off guard by the sudden change in pace, Brent found himself forced into pure defense. His greatsword spun like a propeller, expertly deflecting Ethan's chaotic yet relentless attacks.
"Watch out! That iron rod can release lightning!"
Keno, still cowering behind Brent, shouted a warning. He had noticed that Ethan wasn't using the rod's lightning ability and correctly guessed that Ethan was waiting for the perfect moment.
Unfortunately for Keno, his warning came too late. Ethan had been biding his time, waiting for Brent to become fully preoccupied with deflecting his strikes. In that instant of opportunity, Ethan unleashed the rod's full power.
A violent burst of electricity erupted from the rod, coiling around it like a living serpent. The intense flash of lightning lit up the battlefield as the baton connected with Brent's greatsword. The resulting explosion sent shockwaves rippling through the air, forcing both combatants backward.
Brent slid several meters across the ground, his feet carving deep grooves into the dirt. Even Ethan, despite being the attacker, was thrown back by the force of the explosion. He managed to steady himself, though his wrist throbbed painfully from the recoil.
As for Brent, the damage was more severe. Lightning danced across his body, causing his muscles to convulse involuntarily. For a moment, he was completely immobilized, his movements sluggish and his mind clouded.
"Defend!"
Brent's years of battle experience kicked in, allowing him to react even in his dazed state. A brilliant white light erupted from his chest, breaking through his clothing and enveloping him in a radiant glow.
The white light pulsed outward, dispelling the residual electricity clinging to his body. At the same time, the burns inflicted by the lightning began to heal rapidly, his wounds closing until not even a scar remained.
"Magic stone equipment!"
Ethan instantly recognized the effect. Magic stone equipment was a rarity in this world, each piece imbued with extraordinary powers. The only piece of magic stone gear Ethan had encountered before was Sean's flame-controlling glove, which had earned Sean the nickname "Hand of Fire" in the Sea of Calm.
But Brent was in an entirely different league. Having carved a path through the Sea of Calm and made a name for himself in the Sea of Storms, Brent undoubtedly possessed multiple pieces of magic stone equipment. And judging by the power of his "Guardian" ability, the quality of his gear was exceptional.
The use of "Guardian" marked a turning point in the battle. What had already been an intense and dramatic confrontation now escalated further, drawing even more attention from the onlookers.
At first, most of the spectators had assumed Ethan was overestimating himself, either ignorant of Brent's reputation or desperate for recognition. Some believed he was merely a reckless fool biting off more than he could chew.
But as the fight unfolded, those assumptions were repeatedly shattered.
This young man wasn't just capable, he was extraordinary.
He wielded magic stone equipment, a rarity in its own right. His swordsmanship was precise and lethal, far beyond what most of the gathered crowd could hope to match.
And astonishingly, he didn't just have one piece of magic stone equipment. The rod he now wielded, capable of unleashing devastating lightning strikes, was clearly a second piece and one even more powerful than the Frostbolt-equipped weapon he had used earlier.
At this moment, most onlookers still favored Brent. After all, he had been famous for years and was a seasoned adventurer. His strength was undoubtedly greater than it had been in the past.
Moreover, Brent's reputation preceded him. Everyone knew what kind of man he was, steadfast, moral, and not the type to kill someone like Ethan. On the contrary, a clash with Brent would only make Ethan famous without putting him in real danger. This fact sparked envy among many of the spectators. They wouldn't dare challenge Brent themselves, but Ethan's battle seemed to bring him a golden opportunity.
"Lucky brat," someone muttered with a tone of disdain.
Many of the crowd dismissed Ethan's skill entirely, attributing his abilities to the two pieces of magic stone equipment he wielded. Some even grumbled to themselves, thinking, If I had gear like that, I'd challenge Brent too.
Brent's use of his magic stone equipment to activate the "Guardian" ability—a feat nearly unheard of in the Sea of Calm—marked the beginning of a rare confrontation. Two powerful figures, each armed with magic stone equipment, going head-to-head was a sight few had ever witnessed.
It was precisely this spectacle that many had secretly hoped for. Whether driven by admiration for Brent or darker desires to see Ethan punished, the crowd wanted Brent to teach the young man a harsh lesson.
Brent, now fully healed by the "Guardian" ability, no longer carried the gentle expression he had at the start of the fight. His face was set in a firm, disapproving frown.
"Young man, isn't your approach far too ruthless?"
Ethan curled his lips in disdain. He had suspected Brent possessed magic stone equipment, though he hadn't expected it to be defensive and restorative in nature. He assumed Brent also had offensive gear, after all, the adventurers of the New Sea were on a completely different level than those of the Sea of Calms.
"I've never gone soft on my enemies," Ethan replied bluntly, already exasperated by Brent's character. Even after being electrocuted, Brent merely voiced his complaints instead of losing his temper or seeking immediate retribution. To Ethan, it seemed as if this man was too virtuous for his own good.
He continued, "If we keep dragging this out, I'll only keep escalating. It'd be better for you to step aside now. This has nothing to do with you."
Brent's response was unexpected. Instead of showing anger, he once again donned the same friendly smile from earlier.
"Young man," Brent said warmly, "it seems you still have a good heart. You don't really want to kill me." He had picked up on Ethan's reluctance. After all, someone who genuinely intended to kill him wouldn't bother explaining themselves or offering warnings. It was clear to Brent that Ethan wasn't a bloodthirsty individual who indiscriminately harmed others.
"But," Brent continued, "I still won't step aside. Young man, you don't understand enough about the world. You don't know what it truly means to be a good adventurer."
Ethan was caught slightly off guard. He hadn't expected Brent to veer into a lecture about morality and adventuring, especially in the middle of a fight.
A part of him was tempted to listen. Yet the countless empty sermons he'd seen in his previous life served as a warning. He couldn't allow himself to be distracted or swayed from his original plan by pointless chatter. Hesitation would only lead to failure.
"I'll admit I don't know much about this world yet," Ethan said calmly. "I don't even know what lies beyond the Sea of Storms. But what I do know is this: someone like Keno doesn't make this world a better place. In fact, his death might just be a blessing for most adventurers."
As he spoke, Ethan lowered his longsword and planted its tip into the ground, resting both hands on the hilt as he leaned slightly forward.
"Brent, you keep urging people like Keno to abandon their wicked ways, as if their past crimes can simply be erased the moment they stop committing them. But have you ever asked the victims? Have you ever considered the innocent lives destroyed by these so-called reformed criminals?"
***
Bonus chp for 100 PS, thanks for your support :)