—Clang! Clang! Clang!
Dust filled the battlefield as shattered stones scattered in every direction.
Far away, the challengers gathered at Redmane Castle now stood along the walls, watching the battle unfold.
From their vantage point, they could only see the towering figure of Radahn wildly swinging his two massive greatswords into the clouds of dust.
Occasionally, flashes of golden light flickered within the smoke.
Aside from that, they could see nothing.
As for why none of them had forced their way past the spirit ashes to join the fight?
Just look at the blood on those spirit warriors' blades.
And the unfortunate bodies lying on the ground nearby.
Those were the examples.
Even Iron Fist Alexander had refused to collect their remains into his jar.
Which said a lot.
Thinking about it carefully—
Did they even need to stay here and watch the festival any longer?
If that Tarnished couldn't defeat Radahn, then going themselves would only mean certain death.
So a challenge with ten chances of dying out of ten…
Better leave that to the truly fearless.
Several of the more sensible challengers exchanged glances before silently turning around and leaving.
Once the first person departed, a second and a third quickly followed.
Before long, most of the gathered warriors had left in disappointment.
Only a handful remained to watch.
Among them were some who recognized the Tarnished, and others who simply wanted to witness the outcome.
Yet among everyone present, the most stunned person was the lord of Redmane Castle—
The Witch-Hunter Jerren.
"…He… he's actually fighting General Radahn on equal footing…"
Jerren felt as though this scene alone would remain etched in his memory forever.
No one knew Radahn's strength better than he did.
In the past, Jerren had served as a knight of the Caria Royal Family.
Later, he came under Radahn's command.
He followed Radahn to Caelid, where he was entrusted with the responsibility of governing Redmane Castle.
Then came the Shattering, when Radahn clashed with the Goddess of Rot, Malenia.
At the time, Jerren had believed that battle would remain the most awe-inspiring fight he would ever witness in his life.
But now—
He had changed his mind.
That Tarnished was the true hero.
A human challenging a demigod and fighting him to a standstill—
Such a thing had never been seen before.
Even Godfrey, the first Elden Lord and champion of the Erdtree, might not have done better.
However—
"…At last, Lord Radahn may finally rest."
Jerren murmured softly, gazing toward the distant battlefield with deep emotion.
Meanwhile, inside the chat group.
Fujiwara Chika:
"Wow… no wonder they called this the strongest battle! General Radahn can actually fight Mr. Tarnished for this long!"
Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor:
"Hmm… Chika, you're not wrong… but something about this feels strange…"
NorthNorthNorth:
"Exactly.jpg"
In truth, they weren't the only ones who felt that way.
Even Otto Apocalypse and Aizen, who had carefully studied the Tarnished's combat abilities, sensed that something was off.
Up to this point, the Tarnished had not used any of the terrifying techniques capable of shaking the heavens and the earth.
He was simply responding to Radahn's attacks, occasionally landing a seemingly harmless strike.
Even Gilgamesh, seated on his throne with his head resting on one hand, stared intently at the livestream.
"…Tarnished. What exactly are you planning?"
Gilgamesh had never personally witnessed the Tarnished's full power.
But he had watched many streams and heard Quetzalcoatl describe his strength.
This performance did not match that description.
Quetzalcoatl had once said:
"If my little Master were to get serious… I doubt I could last even five rounds."
Even if she only manifested with a fraction of her strength and often behaved like a carefree comedian, she was still a true Sun God of Aztec mythology.
For a supreme deity to give such praise—
There was no way the Tarnished's ability stopped at this level.
Just then, a new message interrupted Gilgamesh's thoughts.
Fujiwara Chika:
"Look! That General Radahn looks like he's about to use a big move!"
Everyone immediately focused on the livestream.
On screen, the Tarnished's radiant greatsword deflected Radahn's two Starscourge Greatswords.
Radahn retreated several steps on his tiny horse.
But then—
Purple lightning suddenly flickered across his body.
The crackling energy intensified as it gathered around him.
Soon the lightning completely wrapped around Radahn like divine thunder.
"Oh? So it's finally coming?"
Seeing Radahn's stance, the Tarnished smiled beneath his helmet.
He casually swapped the Golden Order Greatsword for the Astrologer's Staff.
After so many cycles of fighting these demigods, he could tell what move they were about to use just by watching their posture.
Radahn was preparing that attack again.
The one capable of destroying Stormveil Castle.
And it also meant Radahn was nearing exhaustion.
"ROAR—!!!"
Radahn roared like a feral beast.
He slammed his greatswords into the ground, and violet lightning surged outward.
The earth trembled violently.
Then Radahn shot into the sky like a rocket.
In an instant, he disappeared from sight.
Fujiwara Chika:
"Eh?! Did he just run away?"
Aizen:
"Unlikely. From my observation, General Radahn has no rational thought left. He is driven entirely by instinct. Retreating would not be in his nature."
Aizen:
"This is most likely a technique."
Fujiwara Chika:
"Wow… Mr. Aizen is amazing…"
The Tarnished, however, paid no attention to the chat.
He simply stared at the crimson sky in the distance.
So far, everything was proceeding according to plan.
As long as he survived this next attack—the meteor strike—Radahn would likely reach his limit.
After that, the battle would be entirely under his control.
"Oh, here it comes!"
Watching the distant sky, excitement surged within him.
Although this was far from the first time he had intercepted the meteor Radahn became—
The thrill never faded.
He gripped the staff tighter.
Then he shouted toward the empty desert nearby.
"Asimi!"
From the sands, Asimi suddenly revealed herself.
After exchanging a glance with the Tarnished, she immediately understood.
Holding a staff identical to his, she sprinted in the opposite direction.
Fujiwara Chika:
"Eh? What is Mr. Tarnished doing now?"
Aizen:
"…Perhaps preparing a finishing blow for General Radahn."
That was Aizen's guess.
And most of the others agreed.
On screen, the Tarnished was gathering magical energy.
A massive azure magic hammer slowly formed in his hands.
He rested it on his shoulder while staring into the sky.
To the audience, the sky beyond the crimson clouds appeared empty.
But the Tarnished could clearly see it.
A blazing red meteor streaking toward the battlefield.
The hammer in his hand was a glintstone sorcery taught at the Academy of Raya Lucaria.
Gavel of Haima.
A spell said to be wielded only by the academy's adjudicators.
A magic meant to settle disputes.
Suddenly—
A roar of wind echoed through the heavens.
A burning meteor pierced through the crimson clouds, trailing a long tail of fire as it descended toward the battlefield.
"Ah, finally."
The Tarnished muttered quietly.
He had experienced this attack countless times.
Every time Radahn crashed down, the battlefield would shatter apart.
Seawater would even flood into the land.
The mere shockwaves had once nearly killed Blaidd, the shadowbound beast.
And yet—
Radahn's tiny horse always remained unharmed.
A mystery that had never been explained.
As the meteor drew closer, the Tarnished suddenly sprinted forward.
He kicked off the ground with tremendous force.
Wrapped in purple gravity magic, he shot upward into the sky—
Like a violet comet colliding with the crimson meteor.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion thundered across the entire Caelid plain.
Redmane soldiers patrolling the region turned toward the castle.
In the distance, a brilliant light shone like the Erdtree itself.
The collision of two "stars" unleashed terrifying power.
The battlefield—
No, the entirety of Caelid trembled.
The shockwave dispersed the crimson clouds that had blanketed the sky for countless years.
The stars above were revealed once again.
The blast swept across the battlefield like a hurricane, clearing away every grain of dust.
Dark red rocks, stained like dried blood, emerged from beneath the sand.
Even they cracked under the pressure.
Even distant Redmane Castle was affected.
Under the combined force of wind pressure and seismic shock, cracks began spreading across the once-unbreakable walls.
The entire fortress trembled.
"So this… is the war of demigods?"
The spectators clung tightly to the battlements as that thought crossed their minds.
They had once dreamed of granting General Radahn an honorable death.
Now it seemed absurd.
What a foolish idea.
"Aaaaaa!"
Hidden at the edge of the battlefield, Tima shrieked sharply, canceling the incoming shockwave.
Beside her, Ogha gazed toward the sky with a serious expression.
He couldn't understand it.
In previous cycles, his master had killed Radahn swiftly and decisively.
So why this time—
Why allow Radahn to unleash this attack?
Meanwhile, high above the battlefield—
"Take this!"
The Tarnished swung the Gavel of Haima, smashing Radahn—still in meteor form—away.
As Radahn fell through the sky, the Tarnished shouted:
"Asimi!"
"I've got it, Master!"
Seeing Radahn flying toward her, Asimi also formed a Gavel of Haima.
She leapt high from the ground.
As Radahn passed beneath her—
She swung.
BOOM!
The hammer struck the back of Radahn's helmet with perfect accuracy.
The impact was so powerful that cracks spread across the helmet.
Radahn crashed into the ground again.
BOOM!
A massive crater formed in the battlefield.
Yet somehow—
His horse was still unharmed.
This time, however, Radahn finally released the reins.
"ROAR—!!!"
"Wait—he's still not unconscious?!"
The Tarnished quickly turned toward the crater.
Radahn was climbing out.
Dragging his battered body.
Using all four limbs to crawl forward.
He looked like a feral beast.
That blow had been carefully measured.
Not too strong.
Not too weak.
Yet—
Radahn still wasn't unconscious.
Seeing Radahn's condition, the Tarnished sighed.
"…Sigh."
He raised the staff again.
"Asimi! Let's hit him again!"
"Yes!"
Both figures vanished.
Using Bloodhound's Step, they instantly appeared beside Radahn.
Another pair of massive Gavels of Haima formed in their hands.
They swung down simultaneously toward the back of Radahn's head.
BOOM!
"Still not unconscious? Again!"
BOOM!
Another strike.
Even just hearing the sound made people's heads ache in phantom pain.
The scene resembled pounding rice cakes.
Strike after strike.
Turning soft glutinous rice into sticky dough.
Fujiwara Chika:
"..."
Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor:
"..."
The Oldest King:
"..."
Forever Seventeen:
"..."
Otto Apocalypse:
"..."
Aizen:
"..."
NorthNorthNorth:
"Speechless.jpg"
Originally, they had been preparing to praise the Tarnished for stopping a meteor.
But after witnessing this scene—
Everyone quietly deleted the messages they had been typing.
Even Aizen felt slightly uncomfortable watching.
Tony Stark:
"Uh… quick question."
"Does the Tarnished have some kind of personal grudge against this demigod named Radahn?"
Tony had just finished working on his anti-Tarnished armor concept and had no idea what he was witnessing.
All he saw was the Tarnished repeatedly hammering Radahn's head.
Fujiwara Chika:
"Well… it's hard to say. But judging from what he said earlier, Mr. Tarnished probably wants to knock General Radahn unconscious so he can do something afterward."
The Oldest King:
"..."
Seeing that message, Gilgamesh became even more speechless.
If the goal was simply to immobilize the opponent—
Why not borrow the Chains of Heaven from him?
Why torture the poor demigod like this?
Even if it was his friend's Noble Phantasm, Gilgamesh was still generous enough to lend it.
Fujiwara Chika:
"But seriously… this General Radahn is like an unkillable cockroach. After all that, he still won't pass out."
That joke was painfully cold.
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