CHAPTER 59: DRAGON AND SOVEREIGN
Bay X aimed his spear. There was a seriousness in his eyes that had never been seen before.
"Know this, Impernos. I will fight you with all my strength. You'd better be prepared."
Impernos rose from his throne. His eyes were fixed on Bay X. On his lips was the shadow of a memory he took pleasure in recalling.
"I've fought one of you before." He paused for a moment, adding challengingly: "Come then."
Bay X drew the spear from his back. The spear instantly began to glow. Patterns resembling dragon scales appeared on it.
"DRAGON SPEAR! "
Bay X, along with Jinn, launched an attack. Both advanced toward Impernos at incredible speed.
Impernos's eyes locked onto the spear. "Hmm... Interesting. This spear carries a legendary aura. There's a mystery in it, I'm sure."
Bay X shouted in anger: "Hey, look here, you damn bastard!"
He began making horizontal and vertical attacks at Impernos with his spear. Every move was lethal, every strike as powerful as a dragon's claw.
Jinn was supporting him. He joined his hands, gathering yellow energy.
"RAY BALL! "
Three slashing strikes and one ray ball hit Impernos simultaneously.
BOOOOMMMM!
A massive dust cloud rose. Stone fragments flew through the air.
Jinn rejoiced as if victorious: "That's it! We got him!"
Bay X didn't take his eyes off the dust cloud. "Fool! He's a Sovereign. Do you think he'd be defeated that easily?"
The dust cloud began to dissipate.
And the scene that emerged surprised even Bay X.
Impernos, far from taking damage, hadn't even received the slightest scratch. There was nothing on him but dust. He stood calmly, looking at them.
Jinn's joy died in his throat. "I-Is this what you meant, sir?"
Bay X narrowed his eyes. "I knew he would block the attack. But I didn't expect this much either." He called out to Impernos: "Hey you! What did you just do?"
Impernos grinned faintly. "Nothing."
Bay X's brow furrowed: "Nothing? That's impossible."
Jinn shouted in anger: "You liar, you bastard! It's impossible to stop that attack without doing anything!"
Impernos's grin widened: "Since I'm alive, it seems it's not impossible."
Jinn's eyes rolled. "You damn bastard!"
Without thinking, he launched an attack.
Bay X tried to warn him: "No, stop Jinn! Don't let him provoke you!"
Jinn didn't stop. "Too late, sir! I'll avenge Andre!" He turned to Impernos, death gleaming in his eyes: "Hey Sovereign scum! Now I'll show you how powerful a hunter can be!"
Impernos gestured dismissively: "Come, come, show me!"
A sword of yellow energy formed in Jinn's hand. It shone, resembling a piece of the sun itself.
"YELLOW LIGHT SWORD – YELLOW CLEAVE! "
He swung the sword horizontally with all his might. A massive wave of yellow energy advanced toward Impernos.
Impernos didn't move again.
BOOOOMMMM!
This explosion was bigger. Yellow energy scattered everywhere. A dust cloud rose to the sky.
Bay X's eyes gleamed: "You did it! You got him!"
Silence.
Two seconds passed.
The dust cloud began to dissipate.
And from within, Impernos emerged. Arms crossed, standing tall. Still not a single scratch on him.
Jinn's eyes widened like saucers: "WHAT? HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?"
Bay X was also astonished: "This is impossible! I'm sure the attack definitely hit you! How are you taking no damage? What kind of technique is this?"
Impernos answered calmly: "I told you. I'm doing nothing."
He paused, a dangerous glint appearing in his eyes.
"But now... it's my turn to attack."
And he immediately moved.
"SOUL SEAL! "
Bay X sensed the danger: "Run Jinn, run!"
Jinn didn't give up his stubbornness: "No, sir! I'll fight!"
With the yellow sword in his hand, he lunged at Impernos. He began making coordinated sword attacks. But every move was too slow in Impernos's eyes.
Jinn gritted his teeth: "Damn it! I can't touch him!"
Suddenly, Impernos appeared right before him.
Jinn's eyes widened: "How can you be this fast?"
With the technique he had formed, Impernos touched his finger to Jinn's heart.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Jinn's eyes instantly emptied. He lost consciousness and fell onto Impernos's shoulder.
Bay X shouted in horror: "W-What did you do to him?"
Impernos slowly laid Jinn on the ground. "I don't have to tell you." He paused, then added mockingly: "But since you're curious, I'll tell you. I sealed his soul in the deepest part of his heart. He's now a living dead. He can never regain consciousness or do anything ever again. His business is finished."
Bay X's fists clenched. There was an anger in his eyes that had never been seen before.
"You... you're a bastard! I'll make you pay dearly for this!"
Impernos raised his eyebrows. "I've always heard you described as a 'jester.' Someone who constantly makes jokes." He tilted his head slightly: "What are you angry about? That I didn't kill him? You were the ones who attacked me first, have you forgotten?" His voice rose: "And this is war! People die in war! There's nothing to be angry about!"
Bay X took a deep breath. He was trying to control his anger. "I haven't forgotten that you attacked the Holy Lands ten years ago, Sovereign Impernos." He fixed his eyes on him: "And I've wanted to encounter you ever since then. I've only seen you on wanted posters. But now we're face to face." His voice became threatening: "A ten-year-old debt will be settled here today."
An unreadable expression appeared on Impernos's face. "I fought one of you before. I think he had yellow hair." He pretended to think: "What was his name? Saro? No no... Savo? Hmm, that's not it either... What was it?"
Bay X said through gritted teeth: "Sabo."
Impernos's eyes gleamed: "Hah! That's it!" He paused, grinning: "I guess he told you about me." His voice lowered, taking on an insinuating tone: "Well... did he also tell you how he begged me not to kill him?"
Bay X's eyes widened. "That's impossible! He never begs anyone!" The anger in his voice increased further: "I don't believe you! I won't believe anything you say!"
He gripped his spear tightly.
"This conversation is over! Now fight me!"
At the tip of his spear, red energy began to gather. It glowed, heating up like a dragon's breath.
"DRAGON BREATH! "
The massive red energy wave that shot from the spear tore through the air toward Impernos. Stones melted where it passed, the air sizzled.
Impernos didn't move again.
BOOOOMMMM!
A massive explosion. The dust cloud covered the sky.
Impernos clapped his hands together. SLAP! The dust cloud instantly dispersed.
Impernos stood again, without even a scratch.
Bay X's eyes widened like saucers: "You didn't even take damage from this attack! What the hell is this?"
Impernos explained calmly: "This isn't a technique. This is my innate impenetrable defense. "
Bay X froze for a moment. Then, he spoke as if understanding: "Now... I understand how you managed to leave the Holy Lands without damage ten years ago." He fixed his eyes on him: "Tell me! Why did you attack the Holy Lands?"
The expression on Impernos's face changed. His voice hardened: "That's none of your concern."
And for the first time, he attacked himself.
"ATOM FIST! "
His fist gleamed with gray energy. It advanced toward Bay X, compressing the air.
Bay X didn't step back. He clenched his own fist, gathering red dragon energy on it.
"DRAGON FIST! "
The two fists met in the center.
BOOOOMMMM!
The sound that emerged was disturbing. Both stepped back two paces.
A spark of interest appeared in Impernos's eyes. "Interesting... So you can keep up with my power." A dangerous smile appeared on his lips: "Now this fight has become entertaining."
Bay X spoke challengingly: "You think I'm weaker than you. But you're very wrong." His voice hardened: "And that's why you'll lose this battle now!"
He raised his spear into the air. This time, different energy was gathering. The spear glowed with red light, as if burning.
"DRAGON RIFT! "
He swung the spear vertically. The energy emanating from the spear advanced toward Impernos in the form of a massive rift. As the attack progressed, the old castle began to collapse with it. Walls cracked, stones fell, pillars toppled.
Impernos's eyes widened. "I guess I can't stay still for this one." He gathered his energy: "The whole castle is collapsing, but that doesn't matter. If I can stop the attack, that's enough."
He joined his hands. A transparent energy trap rose from the ground.
"TRAP! "
The energy trap stopped the attack before it reached Impernos. The two were locked together.
Impernos suddenly jumped. He skillfully passed through the collapsing castle and reached the outside.
BOOOOMMMM!
The entire castle collapsed with a great roar. A dust cloud rose to the sky. Bay X's attack had completely leveled the castle.
Impernos stood at a safe spot outside the ruins. There was slight mockery on his face.
"Fool. He destroyed the castle himself with his own attack. It's impossible for him to come out of there in one piece."
He turned his back and began to walk.
He took two steps.
A sound came from behind him.
The sound of rubble being moved.
Impernos slowly turned around. His eyes widened.
Bay X was emerging from the rubble, in one piece, without even the slightest scratch.
Impernos exclaimed in astonishment:, "How? Oh, that's right, you were immortal!"
Bay X brushed the dust off himself. There was the pride of a victorious warrior in his eyes.
"Do you think you're the only one who doesn't take damage?" A cold smile appeared on his lips: "I am immortal. You cannot kill me."
These words ignited the anger within Impernos. His eyes darkened, his fist clenched.
"Is that so?"
He immediately attacked. His fist gleamed with gray energy. He gathered all his strength.
"ATOM FIST! "
The fist struck Bay X right in the chest.
BAM!
Bay X was torn apart down to his atoms. His pieces scattered everywhere.
Impernos took a deep breath. "That's it."
Exactly two seconds passed.
And Bay X, without even a single piece missing, instantly reformed. In one piece, standing tall.
Impernos immediately stepped back. For the first time, unease appeared in his eyes.
"Your regeneration... is much faster than that yellow kid's." He composed himself, his voice becoming threatening again: "But that doesn't change anything. The outcome of this battle is already decided."
His eyes darkened. The air around him grew cold, his energy rose.
"If you can regenerate..."
He joined his hands. A terrifying energy began to gather on him.
"...then I will cancel that regeneration."
He fixed his eyes on Bay X.
"ULTIMATE TECHNIQUE... "