The Villain's Retirement-Chapter 21: Fight the Sword Hero (2)

Ard knew he was in for something, but to think that would be this?

"Huh?" The hero complained, but he almost shouted. But immediately stopped. Ard could tell immediately from their faces. That insane mage was talking directly into his mind and probably even threatening him.

Of course, naturally, if he could invade his thoughts, it was totally plausible he could speak through the Hero’s mind too. Ard wouldn’t be surprised if he was also an unwilling captive here.

’Who exactly is this guy?’ This was the only thing Ard was thinking at that time thinking about Sileus.

After all, the Hero although does not seem to be happy had now grown quiet and was even listening to him. His face was so transparent anyone could tell he was being coerced but he can’t do anything. Can the Demon King do that? Ard do not think so.

Then Sileus’s icy blue eyes flicked toward Ard. His voice slipped into Ard’s mind, cold and effortless.

’I’m afraid you don’t have any choices.’ Sileus told him calmly in his mind, ’Or do you want to fight the Sword Hero right now?’

Hearing him, Ard froze.

’I didn’t even say anything.’ He thought.

Also, he was no fool to even entertain that.

This was the closest he had gotten to the Sword Hero and he could see it. The mana surrounding the Sword Hero was overflowing.

It was clearly one of the largest pool of mana he had seen. It was like he could drown the whole mountain with it.

In comparison to the mana of others, it was also refined, sharp, which was a testament to his genius in battle. Plus, Ard had already saw the Sword Hero fight in numerous instances in the background and his firepower was off the charts. It wasn’t even fair.

Only fools and the blind would dare go against such a real monster.

Ard would dare say the Sword Hero was probably the strongest being he had seen.

Especially when he has the Holy Sword.

Ard’s eyes darted around looking for the holy sword.

Where is that shiny dangerous thing?

He wore no armor—only a loose, sweat-darkened tunic clinging to his frame, its sleeves rolled up past his elbows. Simple leather straps crossed his chest to keep the fabric from getting in the way, and a worn practice belt hung low at his waist, holding a plain scabbard scratched from countless drills. But clearly, there was no Holy Sword.

However—

Ard couldn’t help but glance at the Mage who had now flew on top of the Giant Dead tree as if ready to watch already.

He had to admit he was getting really annoyed with SIleus.

He does not know what this man was trying to do and to make him fight the hero himself was like courting death itself.

The only thing he was counting on was that he does not seem to want him to die at least. Compared to the hero finding out what is his kind, staying silent for now was much better, was it not?

Ard had also noticed that the Hero was wearing a similar bracelet on his wrist to the bracelet he had received from the mage. Whether he had worn that long before, Ard do not know, but he just had to count on his intuition was what he guessed.

"Good," Sileus said lightly. "Looks like everything’s settled." His gaze flicked to a rack of weapons along the courtyard wall. "You’re going to fight each other—but without Physical Reinforcement Magic."

"Huh?" the Hero snapped. "Then what’s the point?"

It looked like the rumors of him being a battle maniac was the truth.

"You’ll each choose a weapon. A simple swordfight," Sileus continued. "But you’ll use your attributes."

"That’s not a normal swordfight then," the Hero shot back.

"Our attributes?" Ard raised his hands politely, which for some reason, made the Hero click his tongue in irritation and in turn, made Ard wonder what he did wrong as he waited for the answer to his question.

"Good question," Sileus said. "It’s to awaken a dungeon beneath this dead tree." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Hearing Sileus sitting casually on top of the branch of the tree, they went silent and looked at the tree.

"Only the clash of Light and Shadow can do it," Sileus continued calmly. "With you both being swordmages in your respective attributes, you need to fight."

’A dungeon?’ Ard thought. He has to admit he was now curious what kind of dungeon it was. Anyone would. Yet no matter how much he thought about a dungeon that required a Light and Shadow attribute to clash in order to open, he could not think of any.

"You still haven’t answered my question!" the Hero barked. "Why do we need to fight? Why not just release our attributes?"

Sileus wagged a finger, then started patting the branch he was sitting.

"You see, this tree is special and obviously also old. It was around even way way before you guys were born. And in ancient times, Light and the Shadow mages battled before this tree every day."

He continued.

"Their clashing powers were so vibrant, so full of life and emotion and so intense, that the tree soaked up that energy and bloomed into something magnificent. However, for some unknown reason, the two mages apparently never came back after one battle. It was said that the score was a tie and the tree never got to witness the true victor as it eventually "died" of loneliness, turning into silver wood and waiting for the day those two specific "frequencies" of power would meet again."

Sileus spoke like a story-teller.

"That is why you both need to fight it out and when you emerge it will grow back again."

Then the sword hero said something he hadn’t expected.

"So, I only have to beat up this guy?"

’Has he always been this type of character?’ Ard thought to himself. The killing intent from him. He looked insane as the way he was acting was like that of a wild animal. He started rolling his shoulders like a predator stretching before a hunt, cracking his neck and knuckles, boots scraping the stone as he grinned wide and sharp.

Then he was like a wild animal itching to pounce, every movement radiating hostility and confidence.

Sileus then hummed but then nodded.

Sileus hummed, then nodded. "You may interpret it that way."

Then he smiled faintly.

"But I should warn you Sword Hero—this ’guy’ is not an ordinary swordmage. He is a very powerful person who recently defeated a Demon Lord."

Ard hissed internally. ’You absolute bastard.’

Suddenly, Sileus was hyping him up and Ard could tell it was deliberate. He could totally see through the grin Sileus was hiding and for whatever reason, that simple statement seemed to have made the hero angry.

"So what? I defeated the Demon King!"

He said. And while that was a pretty legendary feat, it seemed so little now because of the way he was behaving.

’Is he a child?’ Ard thought to himself.

The worse?

As Sileus started clapping, Ard was clapping too but it was against his will. While he was doing that, Sileus was laughing without care to the world while speaking onto his mind, ’That’s right, that’s right, do as I command.’

Seeing this, the Hero snapped. Veins stood out along his neck as he snatched a sword from the rack.

Ard did too. There was not much variety of weapons. Just plain ordinary swords and for some reason, the hero is glaring at him as if he owed him a large deal of money.

Soon, they stood on the opposite ends of the courtyard under the large dead tree.

"I don’t know who you are," the Hero said coldly, "but your face pisses me off almost as much as that lizard."

Without another word, the Sword Hero stepped forward, broke into an orthodox battle stance, and with just one more step, advanced.

The sound of his footsteps was like thunder.

Then steel rang.

Against his speed, Ard barely had time to raise his arm and parry. But he was able to do so. Only that the impact sent a shock through his body, his feet carving shallow lines into the stone beneath him—but he didn’t break.