Return Of The Strongest Player
chapter-232

Arthur released Skofnung, tossing it in Hatake's general direction. Coated with an evil aura, the Demonic Blade screeched, bursting into hell flames–a pre-prepared spell Arthur attached to the blade–before utterly decimating the surroundings.

Hatake immediately clenched his teeth, encircling the Legion Of Hatake with a protective spell before swinging his sword in Skofnung's general direction. Sword Aura burst from the collision, dying Hatake's surroundings in a dark red hue.

Skofnung immediately spun like a boomerang, returning to Arthur's hand following the collision.

"We shouldn't fight here," Arthur suggested. Webs of Sun Energy encroached his forearms, assuming the appearance of shackles. A blinding glow exuded from the webs, stopping Hatake in his tracks.

'What the fuck is that…' Hatake muttered internally, unable to pierce the white-yellow light with his mighty gaze. However, he wasn't perturbed. He extended an arm, allowing water to spill from his palm.

Immediately, the water transformed into vapors, floating up into the sky. Hatake's eyes glowed a faint cyan, while his expression turned into confidence. Arthur was unaware of the man's plan, and simply unleashed a barrage of sword strikes upon him.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Hatake promptly defended, allowing his shoulder to be pierced by Skofnung's tip. Arthur reached an arm forward to activate [Judgment Regeneration], but Hatake noticed something amiss.

He twirled his body, evading the crimson-eyed man's hand and instead landing a kick to his head. Arthur's neck was on the cusp of twisting as he stepped back, utterly shocked by the turn of events.

His gaze suddenly shot toward the water vapor, which seemed to be condensing in the sky.

[The Demonic Blade 'Skofnung' is perplexed by the turn of events.]

[The Demonic Blade 'Skofnung' wonders what the water vapor is capable of doing.]

Arthur wasn't any better, but he could sense a form of 'danger' within the formation of clouds up above. 'A weather manipulating spell? If it works, that could put Diamond and Matthew in danger…'

'It wouldn't affect me, but they aren't encompassed by any protective measures other than Diamond's weak spells.'

Arthur clenched his teeth, calmly staring at the clouds. They were now an ashen color and seemed to be rumbling, threatening to release a downpour. 'Is it just a form of rain? That shouldn't hurt anyone…'

Arthur hadn't witnessed such a spell before. If it were merely rain, there would be no consequences.

Suddenly, however, a deafening roar emerged from the clouds, while the skies darkened significantly. Hatake's body began deteriorating, but a few men dressed in black suddenly approached him.

The entirety of the Legion Of Hatake placed their hands on their leader's body, pouring their mana reserve towards the spell.

Arthur immediately sensed the approaching danger–much clearly, this time. Performing a few complex movements, he allowed the Mana Stone to maintain a steady flow of mana while he conjured a barrier.

"Diamond, Matthew, run!" Arthur yelled, raising Skofnung.

Once the two had escaped the vicinity, the crimson-eyed man prepared to unleash Heaven's Echo Strike. He quickly entered the State Of Mushin before coating Skofnung in Sword Aura, preparing to unleash the attack.

'I need to reduce the intensity and destructive properties a bit, but it should be fine.'

Those were his last thoughts before entering the State Of Mushin.

The clouds roared yet again, allowing a single raindrop to seep through.

Plop!

As soon as the raindrop collided with the ground, a downpour began, followed by what could only be described as, "Demolition."

A streak of lightning rushed to the ground, followed closely by the deafening screech of thunder. The yellow streak faded, revealing the formation of a massive crater only a few meters away from the crimson-eyed man.

"Hold on!" Hatake screamed, his eyes bloodshot. The spell consumed an incredulous amount of mana, and even with several dozens of players supplying it with power, it still ate away at Hatake's entire existence.

Hatake was scared.

As soon as his eyes fell on Arthur's Sun Energy, he was aware of his impending doom. However, before he perished, he wished to watch Arthur fall before his eyes. He didn't care about dignity or honor.

He simply wished to watch his foe grovel before his feet.

Several lightning strikes fell to the ground, resulting in the formation of a smokescreen. Arthur professionally evaded the strikes, preparing Heaven's Echo Strike simultaneously.

After a few seconds, it was finally time.

Arthur swung Skofnung, releasing particles of unknown density or origin. It was a tiny, silent slash, yet it echoed unparalleled power and dominance, splitting the clouds in mere milliseconds.

Skofnung trembled, unable to contain such destructive power.

[The Demonic Blade 'Skofnung' squeals in excitement yet again.]

Arthur dropped Skofnung, brushing his fingers along his hair. The State Of Mushin wore off, and a new dawn approached the tiny town on the First Floor. The streaks of lightning faded, while the warmth of the Sun surfaced yet again.

'Fuck,' Hatake muttered internally as his body began fading, only leaving behind particles of dust. The spell he casted was named, 'Advent Of The Weather God.' It was a forbidden spell initially cast by the Raos Emperor several centuries ago.

When casting the spell, the Raos Emperor reported a searing pain in his chest. And it was only a few months following that when he collapsed, dying in a matter of seconds due to a "curse."

'I thought a higher mana supply would dispel that consequence. The Raos Emperor had less mana than any mage.'

'But I guess not.'

Those were Hatake's last thoughts, as within seconds, his body was reduced to mere dust.

The men dressed in black were unable to contain the explosive energy and perished as a consequence. The woman was dead long before that. The village seemed so desolate at that moment as if it were abandoned.

Arthur stood before a scene of mass destruction.

"What happened here?" Diamond and Matthew approached the area, their eyes wide and disbelieving.

Arthur turned around, de-activating the State Of Mushin. He glanced at the scene before scratching his head.

"Nothing… Nothing happened."