I’m Here to End This Fight

Chapter 158. Growth Verification (5)

Yuri caught the crystal of power in midair with his lips, like a dog snapping up a flying bone.

Soon after, his tongue reached out to pull the crystal of power into his mouth.

Those watching let out dumbfounded sounds.

“…Huh?”

“…What?”

But the confusion only lasted for a moment before astonished voices erupted from all sides.

“That, that crazy bastard?!”

“Why are you the one eating it?!”

Despite the shouts echoing from every direction, Yuri’s expression didn’t change.

‘So what?’

In truth, Yuri hadn’t planned to go this far.

Although it seemed like he was shattering the mold and approaching the quest in a completely unconventional way, even Yuri had his own boundaries.

The line Yuri wouldn’t cross.

That line was justification or legitimacy.

In other words, an excuse.

No matter how much Yuri spouted sophistry like “Is there a rule that the princess can’t escape from the Demon King’s castle?” or “Is there a rule that says the princess can’t steal the Demon King’s treasure and run away?”

Yuri hadn’t consumed the crystal of power immediately; he intended to find Theresia and finish the quest, precisely to secure that justification.

His actions hadn’t strayed beyond the quest’s scope.

This was merely another way to complete the quest, a process to demonstrate to the Cradle that his approach was just another valid path.

Had he seized the crystal of power and consumed it outright without any pretense, that would have been an act outside the boundaries set by the Cradle’s quest.

How would that be any different from simply raiding the Cradle’s storage room?

And there was no way the Cradle would tolerate actions that went beyond the quest’s parameters.

Therefore, Yuri had planned to go through the hassle of finishing the quest properly and claim rightful ownership of the crystal of power. But…

‘The situation has changed.’

Or more accurately, it was a case of a new excuse presenting itself.

‘This is an act of God.’

The Demon King’s eyes were bloodshot red, a sight that was clearly abnormal.

It was likely a power that exceeded the capabilities set for the Demon King in the quest.

A kind of sudden event, a glitch in the quest, so to speak?

‘Well, even if it’s not, it doesn’t matter… I can just say that I felt compelled to eat the crystal of power because of it.’

And now, there were plenty of witnesses around to confirm the Demon King’s abnormal state.

This was the perfect justification and excuse.

With that thought, the crystal of power melted completely in his mouth.

Yuri’s eyes sparkled.

‘That pervert was right.’

Goetz Röthen had said it.

The crystal of power might look solid, but it would melt like candy once inside the mouth.

It was just as he had described.

Though it was a candy that dissolved instantly.

Gulp—

The liquidized crystal of power slid down his throat.

Sssss—

A hot energy that had risen from his chest quickly flowed into his heart.

Thump thump.

Amid the strong heartbeat, Goetz’s words echoed in Yuri’s ears.

[The crystal of power enhances the innate physical capabilities of humans. Hmm… Let’s put it this way. Someone who could only ever lift 100kg, no matter how much they trained, could lift 110kg, 120kg after consuming a crystal of power.]

With the strong pulse of his heart, the intense heat spread throughout his body.

Through every vein, down to the smallest capillaries in his fingertips and toes.

It was as if lava was flowing through him, an overwhelming heat.

Sssss—

Actual white steam began to rise from Yuri’s body.

And then…

[Moreover, since it also increases current capabilities, consuming a crystal of power can yield the effects of years of physical training. And it’s not just a temporary effect but a permanent increase.]

As Goetz had described, the effects manifested immediately.

Sizzling—

Snap— Crack—

Amid sounds like heated metal plunging into water, the sounds of bones and muscles tearing and breaking echoed continuously.

Crack—

Crunch—

Sounds that might seem chilling or painful.

But Yuri, the one experiencing it, felt not pain but a refreshing pleasure.

A sensation as though vitality was being injected into every corner of his body.

Sssss—

Yuri’s eyes snapped open as his lungs filled with air.

Haaa—

A golden breath softly escaped through his slightly parted lips.

And at that very moment.

“Yuri!”

With Theresia’s scream echoing like a cry, Yuri pushed off the ground.

Bang!

Pa-chik—!

Soaring through the air, Yuri, transformed into a lightning bolt, hurtled forward.

Ahead of him was Theresia, barely holding her own against the Demon King.

No, it was hardly a stand-off; it was more like she was desperately evading the Demon King’s attacks.

Swish— Swish—!

Red trails slashed through the air, with Theresia’s shadow weaving through them.

Then, golden lightning pushed Theresia’s shadow aside and took its place.

At that moment, Yuri and Theresia’s gazes locked.

‘Oh? She’s still alive?’

‘You’re late! You said ten seconds!’

‘I got it, now switch!’

If he had been even a little slower to gain momentum, Theresia wouldn’t have been safe.

Of course, it was because it was Theresia that he entrusted the task to her.

He trusted that she could divert the Demon King’s attention and hold out, even if just for a moment.

Had it been anyone else but Theresia, they would have long been torn into dozens of pieces and strewn across the ground.

Taking Theresia’s place, Yuri entered the Demon King’s attack zone.

Swish swish swish—

Crackle—

As his rapid sword strikes unfolded, his reddened blade snaked between the Demon King’s frenzied attacks.

The process didn’t seem much different from when he had blasted the Demon King away earlier.

But the events unfolding within were on a completely different level.

‘The Holy Sword is dangerous.’

Yuri remembered clearly.

Greta’s Sacred Fist, which had sent the five-meter-tall Poppy flying.

Judging from its terrifying power, even a graze from that Sacred Sword could mean his end.

Thus, Yuri wielded his sword even more cautiously than before, gathering the flow with care.

Perhaps because the attacks were being executed through the Sacred Sword, the flow of the frenzied strikes was far more erratic than before.

Trickle—

Sweat dripped from Yuri’s forehead as he carefully maneuvered his sword, guiding the flow.

Sizzle—!

Owing to the still-absorbing crystal of power, faint steam continued to rise from his body.

Then finally.

Thunk—

A silence descended, as if time itself had stopped.

‘It’s… done.’

The gathered flow of frenzied attacks weighed heavily on the tip of his sword.

Yuri gritted his teeth and planted his feet firmly.

Boom—

His right foot stamped into the ground.

Swish—

The sword tip, positioned in the upper right, tugged at the tangled mass of the flow.

The weight that came along with it.

Creak—

As if he had tied a massive boulder to the tip of his sword, even moving it a single centimeter felt like an arduous task.

Yuri’s eyes sharpened.

‘Move!’

Drawing all the mana from his body, he swiftly channeled it through his mana rods.

A thick steam of a much denser concentration than before erupted from Yuri’s entire body.

Sizzle!

And then.

Crackle—

Yuri’s sword, carrying the massive flow, began to move.

Bit by bit, inch by inch.

As clearly as ever.

Yuri’s sword, which had started from above his head, began to slash the Demon King diagonally.

Just as Yuri’s sword reached about halfway down.

Swish—

The Demon King’s Sacred Sword suddenly appeared, blocking Yuri’s sword horizontally.

Screeeeeech—

A clash between the Sacred Sword and the Flame Sword.

Even though the Sacred Sword was overwhelmingly dominant to the point that a fair match was impossible, Yuri’s Flame Sword didn’t budge an inch, defying all expectations.

It was essentially a battle between the Demon King’s Sacred Sword and the flow that Yuri had channeled.

The intense standoff continued for quite some time.

Finally, the moment came when the balance of power broke.

Creak—

The sound that came from his right arm made Yuri’s eyebrow twitch.

‘Damn it!’

The crack in his bone widened even further.

Because of that, Yuri’s Flame Sword, which had been holding steady, was pushed back slightly.

Crack—

Hearing the sound of the crack widening again, Yuri grit his teeth.

‘At this rate… it’ll break.’

Even knowing this, Yuri didn’t withdraw his sword.

Instead, he gripped it even tighter.

‘Bones will heal anyway!’

If he were to withdraw his sword out of fear of merely breaking his arm, it would be an irreparable disgrace.

If his arm was going to break anyway, then he would break it boldly and secure his victory.

“Haaaaah!”

With a mighty yell, Yuri squeezed out every last bit of mana he had.

Yuri’s Flame Sword, which had been pushed back, advanced once more.

Crunch—

Then, with a grotesque sound, Yuri’s arm finally broke completely.

But it wasn’t just Yuri’s arm that made the grotesque sound.

Creak—

The Demon King’s Sacred Sword caved in significantly.

Simultaneously, a massive explosion shook the ground.

Boom!

Rumble—!

The earth trembled as if struck by an earthquake.

——!

Whoosh—!

As if kicked by a giant deity, the Demon King’s body bent like a shrimp and was flung back.

Crash— Crash— Crash—!

Snap— Crack— Crunch!

Every time the Demon King’s body shot through the forest, trees snapped and fell.

It was only after about thirty trees had met their demise that peace returned to the forest.

Yuri, his face hollowed out, gazed at the forest where the Demon King had flown.

“……”

An unbroken silence stretched on.

With firm conviction, Yuri’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“Demon King defeated… successfully.”

With those words, his body finally collapsed.

“Yuri!”

Theresia, startled, rushed over and caught Yuri.

Puff—.

Dust rose from the forest, accompanied by countless fluttering leaves.

The eyes of the 49th batch watching were filled with confusion.

‘What just… happened?’

‘Is this… even possible?’

None of them had expected Yuri and Theresia to win against the Demon King.

And the process had been beyond imagination.

The Demon King had suddenly seemed like a completely different person, his eyes rolling madly as he wielded the Sacred Sword, a symbol of the Official 6th Rank.

And in response, all Yuri had used was the Official 2nd Rank Flame Sword.

Anyone with common sense would say that the Official 6th Rank would win.

But defying that common sense.

In a completely irrational manner, Yuri had sent the Demon King flying.

None of them could grasp what Yuri had done during that battle.

No, they were so shocked that they couldn’t even think to consider it, their minds going blank.

But one thing was clear.

Imprinted deeply into the minds of the 49th batch was the realization that Yuri Holland was not just a rising star from the Hundred Steps Ceremony…

‘A monster.’

He was a monster with a huge maw, approaching from behind them.

Theresia laid Yuri down with a worried expression.

“Are you okay?”

She asked, but even a glance revealed that Yuri’s condition was not good.

Having expended all his mana and energy in an instant, his cheeks and under his eyes were hollowed.

Not only that, his skin and lips were dry, as if all the moisture in his body had been drained.

Add to that his dangling broken right arm.

The fact that he was still holding his sword in that state was astonishing.

“Ugh…”

Yuri, lying with his head on Theresia’s lap.

He fought to keep his consciousness from fading.

There was something he absolutely had to tell Theresia before passing out.

“Te…re…sia.”

At the sound of Yuri’s raspy, cracked voice, Theresia leaned in to listen.

“What is it?”

“De… Demon King…”

“The Demon King? Oh! Don’t worry, it still hasn’t reappeared! This time, it really seems like we defeated it for good.”

At her words, Yuri gave her a frustrated look.

“De… Demon King…”

“Yes?”

“I… caught… the Demon King.”

“I know, you caught the Demon King. Not just me, everyone saw it.”

“So… the ratio… fifty-fifty…”

“……”

Theresia had leaned in to hear what he wanted to say, but all Yuri was talking about was restoring the ratio she had set at eight-to-two.

Theresia let out a light chuckle.

Yuri was just so like himself.

She nodded.

“Alright, I got it. We’ll do fifty-fifty.”

And as soon as she finished her words, Yuri grabbed Theresia’s hand with his unbroken left hand.

Clap—!

“Again… I’m saying this… Demon King… I… caught it.”

“Okay, I got it. I’ll really set it to fifty-fifty, so don’t worry.”

At her words, Yuri shook his head slightly, as if to say that wasn’t it, and gripped Theresia’s hand tightly.

At the same time, a determined light shone from his eyes.

“Those bastards didn’t do jack. All the points are ours. Protect them… no matter what…”

It was as if witnessing his final outburst of energy; his words fired off like a machine gun, causing Theresia’s eyes to widen.

“Ah!”

She realized what Yuri was trying to convey.

‘The quest reward for defeating the Demon King!’

The quest’s completion condition stated that upon defeating the Demon King, all princesses would be freed, and each hero would receive 750,000 points.

That was exactly what Yuri was talking about.

Having caught the Demon King himself, he wanted to ensure that none of the worthless lackeys got their hands on the points.

Seeing the determination in his eyes, Theresia nodded resolutely, feeling a sense of duty.

“…Don’t worry. I’ll definitely protect them. Your and my points!”

With Theresia’s assured response, Yuri finally relaxed his grip.

Swoosh— Thump.

Yuri’s arm fell to the ground.

As if to say, ‘I’m leaving the rest to you,’ he smiled comfortably and closed his eyes.

Recalling how his arm had broken in response to Segyung’s question, Yuri chuckled and replied.

“Oh, this? It’s nothing. Just got hurt playing princess.”