Reborn Regress Return: I Am the Heir of Shadows!-Chapter 72: Striking Back!

The moment Kana's aura exploded, and she vanished from his sight, Julian's eyes narrowed and became serious; if she wanted to beat him, that was fine.

However, this was a clear killing blow.

Whether he felt guilty or loved her, it didn't matter.

'Sena... this is too far.'

He hopped on the spot, while breathing in quick bursts, his fists raised defensively as if ready to strike at any second.

'She's fast.'

As the air shifted around him, Julian could feel an oppressive force pressing against him like razor-sharp leaves blowing across his cheeks, creating small cuts.

Sena's fierce Aura struck him first before she dashed 8 yards, before unsheathing her blade rapidly.

"I love you, but I am not perfect...!"

—Shadow's Grasp!

The instant before she entered the perfect range to attack him, Julian clenched his fist, as dark shadowy hands gripped her thighs, anchoring Sena to the ground.

"Y-You?!"

*Woosh!*

Sena stepped back and swung her sword in a wide arc, creating a gust of wind. The blade glistened with a faint shimmer of power, creating a blade of aura that flung towards him.

If she couldn't attack with the blade, this was her second choice.

'Impressive, Sena... this is how you should fight when the world falls apart.'

Julian had to jump back and cross his arms to defend himself from her strike, but the impact slammed him against the wall, cracking his ribs and knocking the breath out of his lungs.

However, after the first gasp, he didn't display any injuries; instead, his right hand pointed towards Sena as a bolt of shadowy energy lanced towards her.

"Shadow Bolt!"

A different style compared to his usual attack—it was stronger and more concentrated.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

"Shit!"

With her blade in one hand, Sena slashed diagonally to deflect the bolt, but the force caused her eyes to widen, flung back by the power and breaking the shadows grasping her body apart.

"Ugh!"

To fight Sena... to hurt her was something that pained Julian, but he couldn't back down both Maria and Sena. Neither of them could be abandoned, one who chased him from his first life... the other that supported him after he became broken.

"SENA!"

She rolled along the ground, pushing herself up, only for a purple blade of energy to cut across her face. A low hum vibrated past her ears as she gazed up at Julian in complete shock.

"If I am to become a scumbag, then let me do it properly!" He scoffed, almost mocking himself as he pointed his left claw towards Sena and allowed his mana to seep from all his flesh, creating a swirl of purple aura.

Similar to the black aura of Sena... but the thing that concerned him most was how much the current Sena resembled Umbra.

"I love you, Sena."

The mana coiled around his hand, forming a dark sphere that glowed with a sinister light. "So I will defeat you, and listen to your complaints when I have you pinned beneath me!"

"Huh?! Are you fucking crazy?"

'Hmm?'

Sena's response sounded normal... no longer distorted, and filled with anger... almost embarrassed or shameful.

So he would go with it!

"Ah! I am crazy for you!"

*Swoosh!*

He started dashing towards Sena, his left hand condensing another shadow bolt, while the right condensed a Shadow bomb.

"You're not getting away from me, Kang Sena!"

"Y-You! Are you stupid...?"

Sena shouted in response to his stupid words, but Julian didn't care to be judged, mocked or hated. Maria knew everything and accepted it all. So, if he carried enough worth for her to believe that it was worth sharing him.

Then he could convince Sena, too.

No matter how selfish and self-centred it might be, he refused to let her collapse like this.

"Fight me as many times as you wish! I will surpass you in magic, martial arts and swordsmanship if needed!"

His words were arrogant, but Julian believed them to be true.

No, he would make them true!

He would achieve anything he needed to... to protect Maria and Sena. To keep them at his side, no matter what foul words others might call him, hypocrite, scum, a loser... none of those things mattered.

"You're such an idiot!"

*Swoosh!*

Sena swung her swords, creating a large blade of aura that cut across his chest in a wide arc.

However, Julian used the momentum and dropped to his knee, sliding across the floor with a squeak, pointing his left hand at Sena's unguarded abdomen and releasing another Shadow Bolt!

*Thud*

"Ugh..."

Sena coughed as the bolt slammed her against the wall, creating a crack where her head hit the surface.

"Damn it..." She grunted... the black aura around her faded slightly, becoming a vibrant mix of blue and pink swirling around her, as she glared at Julian with her beautiful opal eyes.

"Sena..."

Julian took several long steps towards Sena, but she refused to look him in the eyes.

Though he wanted to win, it wasn't like he desired to kill her...

So he pulled back, waiting for her next move.

"Why did you do it, am I not good enough? Are you already throwing me away?" Sena's words came out strained as if holding back tears, her eyes glistening with emotion.

"I would never..."

But Sena didn't listen and rushed forward, slicing across his chest and diagonally with her second blade, the elemental dual blades almost overwhelming him.

He clawed the diagonal strike with his right hand, flicking the blade upward to knock her off balance and pushed forward.

Julian gritted his teeth, feeling her main blade cut through his flesh, leaving a deep red line along his collarbone as he grabbed her neck, pushing her against the wall.

Sena coughed and spluttered...

Julian slammed her against the wall with his right arm raised, ready to strike, while Sena's left sword pressed against his rib cage, a faint blue aura on its edge.

"How did you get so strong...." Sena's voice quivered... she watched the energy blades flickering before they faded. She looked at Julian, his face full of passion as he gazed into her eyes.

Julian's hand released her throat and let her slip to the ground.

"I promise to tell you everything."

A low, flat voice, but Sena found herself unable to move.

His voice made her spine tingle, and more of the dark aura vanished, revealing her lovely face covered in tears as she dropped her blades.

*Swoosh*

As his hands drew back to his sides, she felt his body arm tremble. "I will explain everything, so please, don't hate me, Sena..."

"..."

"How can I hate you? I am this angry because I love you!"

The moment Sena spoke those words, she lifted her arm and slapped his face, which created a loud echo ringing in his ears as a burning sensation spread through his cheek.

"Ugh!"

He felt an ache in his chest and heart...

Until another slap came... and again, and again and again!

Sena's hand slapped his cheek, then she snapped it back, hitting him with a backhand, her face twisted in rage and sorrow with tears in her eyes.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."

Her voice quivered and collapsed as her slaps lost power.

But she still grabbed his chest until noticing the sticky, wet sensation and realised she had cut through his body... and gasped.

"Blood?!"