Chapter 30 - Soul!

"It feels like my head is getting crushed. Where am I? Am I falling? It's all dark.."

What is your name?

"My name is Arth-no-I reject that name. I have no name."

"Everybody has a name. What is yours? Your name.

Your name?

Your name? Your name?

Your name? Your name? Your name?"

"Who are you?"

"My name is Arthur."

"Liar. You are lying. Your name cannot be Arthur! You must have no name."

"Why can't my name be Arthur?"

"Because my name is now Arthur." Arthur saw a white silhouette of himself. It was his body, with no face. Only a mouth. It had his voice but with no emotion.

There was a plain floor. Arthur didn't know when it appeared or when he began standing instead of falling.

"..I see. Then. Who am I?"

"I don't have an answer for you, Arthur."

"My name isn't Arthur. I refuse to be called Arthur."

"Why do you refuse to be called Arthur?"

"That name was given to me by a demon."

"Then what is it you wish to be called?"

"..."

"What is it that you wish?"

"..I don't know!" Arthur's head started to become in pain, he clutched his hair as he gritted his teeth. He fell to his knees. The white resemblance of himself loomed over him. It placed its hands behind its back and started grinning.

"Do you desire strength?"

"Yes. Strength to kill the demon that gave me a name."

"That demon raised you. It named you. It kept you alive. That demon was your father, no? You want to kill that demon, doesn't that make you a demon?"

"...maybe. But that demon wants to die and I want to kill it. Sedah's evil. Whether that makes me evil or not doesn't matter."

"Stand up."

Arthur began to step backwards, letting the no-named man get up on his face.

Arthur unsheathed his blade at the man who seeks revenge.

"Fight me."

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"Ah! This is bad! This is bad! Is he dead? Wait, I'm still alive. That means he's still alive, right? Right?!" Chronos was floating in the sky, panicking. "Someone, please help!! Ahhh!"

"Be quiet, boy."

Chronos hadn't noticed this man at all!

"Who are you?!"

"Haha! Worry not. My name is Kagekawa. You see, I know this boy very well! Haha!"

"...Kagekawa?" Chronos looked at the old man. Long crimson hair. His body was brutally burnt, his eye was missing and he only had one arm. "Go away! You don't look trustworthy. He's my partner and I won't let you harm him!"

"Partner huh? He has still yet to overcome the contract, isn't that right boy?"

"...how do you know about-"

"I've also formed a contract with a god before. However, that god is gone now. Haha! You need shelter, don't you? Let's get you and Arthur somewhere better." Kagekawa wore a friendly expression, then he threw Arthur over his shoulder. Chronos had no choice but to follow. He was too powerless to do otherwise.

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The man with no name was gasping for air, narrowly dodging all of Arthur's swings.

"Haah! Haah! I don't even have a weapon, goddammit!" He was exhausted and exasperated.

Arthur gave no space, giving no chance to conjure spells. Arthur never drew short of breath. He then swept the man with no name's leg off the floor, then he stabbed, aiming for the head. Narrowly missing, stabbing right through the ground as no name turned his head. He kicked his feet up, pushing back Arthur.

"Tch! Stop running away, I have the perfect name for you! Chicken! Haha! How does that sound, chicken?!" Arthur was making fun of him.

"Chicken? I never knew how annoying my voice could be!"

Arthur had dashed towards Chicken, swinging for the throat. Chicken pulled back just in time! However, Arthur curled his other hand, compacting and releasing his power onto Chicken's gut! It sent him flying into the air and then crashing onto the floor.

"Gah! Shit!" Chicken could feel his ribs broken.

"Don't give up on me yet! Haha!" Arthur gave a sadistic smile.

"Shit! Shit!" Chicken knew if he didn't do something fast, he would most certainly die!

He reached out his hand.

「Огонь, принеси мне свою величайшую волю. Гори ярко и быстро. Цепной взрыв!」

"Haha! What the hell do you expect to do with such a tiny ball of fire!"

"Good! He thinks it's weak! I can use that!" Chicken thought to himself.

"...Did you really think I wouldn't know how much power that shit packs?! Your really stupid, aren't you? You just used most of your magic too! Haha! You couldn't make things any easier, could you?!! Hahaaa!" Arthur felt exhiliarated.

Arthur slowly walked towards Chicken, who was lying on the ground. Arthur got closer to the ball of fire, towards Chicken. Making sure to walk around, carefully.

Chicken gave a smirk, pointed his finger and aimed towards the small ball of fire. "Go to hell!"

"Huh."

A single sharp beam of magic pierced the small ball fire, setting off an explosion and then chained with another even bigger explosion.