Absolute Choice

“It may be so, but you are too adamant when it comes to the pursuit of power. It makes it overly perilous.

“It’s indeed perilous, but This King believes it’s the final strike, so peril doesn’t matter.”

“In short, why should it be the final strike?”

“A last-ditch effort can raise your courage to its limit, but Excalibur does not only have one goal. Most of it is will, the will to attempt a desperate final attempt just for victory.”

“Although it’s great to use all your strength for victory, a method that does not allow any leeway for defeat would appear too stiff and inflexible, if you were to use all your strength every time. I believe that a sword technique with a multitude of transformations while it being a combination of forcefulness and yielding is necessary.”

“Yes…what you say makes sense. Indeed, transformations with a combination of forcefulness and yielding will be more flexible. However, a sword technique with extreme might should not be abandoned. It is critical for the reversal of a dangerous situation. It looks like there is a need to seriously consider the trade-offs between forcefulness and yielding.”

“That point needs to be perfected in actual combat through trial and error. Let us discuss the next problem. The theory behind the compression of energy actually has its limitations. As the limit to the amount of energy compressed depends on the sword’s hardness, not everyone would have a holy sword like Lucifer’s Sword. We can’t guarantee that we won’t be disarmed or have the holy sword snatched, so there is still room for improvement for the usage of Excalibur.”

“What about changing the conduit’s energy node?

“That’s not a simple matter. It requires further research.”

“Compared to the limitations of the sword, This King is more concerned about the speed at which energy can be compressed, as well as letting different energies merged together perfectly.”

“Hey, aren’t you being too greedy? This sort of problem is not one that can be solved overnight!”

“It’s because it can’t be resolved that’s why we need to discuss it, isn’t that so?”

“Well, that makes sense. Then let’s continue discussing…”

“…”

The boy and girl ignored the monsters that were everywhere. They treated the roars and yelling around them as thrilling background music as they engaged in an intense debate regarding ‘Excalibur’.

With the passage of time, they gradually managed to perfect ‘Excalibur’ to as far as it could go from theorizing. Although there were still many problems that could not be discussed, they had already enhanced ‘Excalibur’ by several stages. Furthermore, they had determined the basic direction in which it could be enhanced.

Shi Xiaobai was extremely excited to the point of him forgetting that he was being pursued by monsters and that he was in a world fraught with danger at every turn.

It was probably because of the vigor that filled Dawn’s voice and how she did not seem exhausted in any way. Furthermore, her footwork was getting smoother and more natural, as if she was as light as a feather. This finally relieved Shi Xiaobai.

He was planning on forcefully changing the setup they were in at the moment Dawn showed any signs of fatigue. He would flip around, and carry her on his back, as the proper script would go.

But from the looks of it, Dawn’s stamina and endurance had really far exceeded his imagination. She did not seem affected at all despite running while dodging constantly for more than ten minutes.

As she promised, she could last a very long while.

If this world truly had an end, they might very well be able to reach the ends of the world.

After the end of the discussion, Dawn said softly, “Although I’m a bit unwilling to admit it, your ‘Excalibur’ is the most beautiful sword technique with the most possibilities. I look forward to its future.”

Her voice exuded anticipation, but she was feeling a bit bitter as she probably realized that she no longer had a chance to see the boy she liked very much to produce Excalibur again.

When Shi Xiaobai heard that, he shook his head and said, “You are wrong. This is not This King’s Excalibur, but…our Excalibur!”

Dawn’s eyes widened as she could not help but ruminate over the words that made her heart stop.

“Our…”

Really?

Is that really so?

She had already left traces of herself in that technique?

That technique was one they possessed together. Furthermore, it was a sword technique that only the two of them had.

Then, when he produced that technique, would there be an instant when he would recall her name, and think of how she had once existed in his life?

At that moment, the girl could not help but laugh. Her laughter was as melodious as a wind chime. It sounded like heavenly bells ringing amid the monsters’ roars.

Then, without the need to muster her courage, the girl shouted out to the sky in a very natural manner.

“Shi Xiaobai!”

“I like you!”

A direct confession which was filled with deep emotions was mostly pure and innocent. It was a part of her heart that she had never revealed to anyone. She finally took the first brave step of revealing the purest and most real emotions of a young girl.

Shi Xiaobai was somewhat dumbfounded, but he could not help but feel happiness from the bottom of his heart.

Shi Xiaobai had received three confessions in the past. The first time was when a school belle who he did not know very well suddenly confessed to him before he crossed worlds. Back then, he was somewhat confused and did not think too much about it.

The second time was when facing Sen Senyuan’s Demon Calamity Gun. The heavily injured Sunless stood by his side and whispered “Like” to him. Back then, he was extremely touched. It reaffirmed his intentions of protecting her, but he did not plan on responding to her affections.

But this time, Dawn’s proclamation was still echoing in the sky. Even though it was drowned by the din of roars, he simultaneously felt a joy and horror from the bottom of his heart.

He knew that he could not face it in silence this time!

He had to respond!

That was because the monsters that surrounded them could tear them apart at any time. And she was still running towards the ends of the world that might not exist.

She had given all that was beautiful and happy to him, so how could he be so cruel as to remain silent?

However, just as Shi Xiaobai opened his mouth and was about to respond, he heard a soft voice enter his ear like a gentle breeze.

“Promise me, you must live on.”

Shi Xiaobai felt like he was struck by lightning as a strong sense of foreboding filled his heart.

“Slam!”

Just as he feared, the girl’s running posture collapsed finally when she said her last sentence. Her momentum caused her to slam to the ground ahead of her.

Shi Xiaobai, who was pressing down on the girl, was immediately consumed by horror. He called out the girl’s name as he turned the girl’s head.

He saw that beautiful face that was filled with fatigue. Her eyes were tightly closed and her eyebrows were deeply knitted. Her nose was moving slightly as she maintained a very weak breathing.

The girl had fainted.

Just a second ago, the voice was still filled with vigor and it did not show any signs of fatigue. Nothing seemed amiss about the girl that was running at full speed forward. But now, she had fainted and she looked completely exhausted.

Shi Xiaobai’s pupils dilated as hot tears streamed down his cheeks.

Fool!

Idiot!

Her energetic and relaxed behavior of her not looking exhausted at all was all faked. It was just to make you feel at ease.

Why did you not notice it at all?

After having used the power of her Sword Soul for three consecutive times, her mental energies were definitely nearly drained. To focus her mental energies, observation, judgment and improvisation for such a long period of time, to the point of dual-tasking, don’t you know how much mental energy was consumed?

Why didn’t you think of such a simple logic!?

It was unknown when she had reached her tipping point, but she had forcefully pretended to appear relaxed. Do you understand how much pain she had endured?

Why did you not realize your stupidity until the moment she collapsed?

Even the strong and determined Shi Xiaobai had his weak moments. At that moment, his reason was shattered by the girl’s sentiment. He fell into an abyss of remorse. His heart was in pain.

“Promise me, you must live on.”

Suddenly, that voice that was more gentle than a breeze echoed softly in his mind.

Shi Xiaobai was jolted awake as he looked up to survey his surroundings. He returned to the harsh reality from his despondent fantasies. The monsters that continuously surged at him had surrounded him once again. They bared their fangs that stunk and flashed their sharp claws. They approached in a ferocious manner.

Shi Xiaobai immediately wiped the tears off his cheeks and reached out to carry Dawn.

Now was not the moment to wallow in remorse.

That was because he had told her to live on and head to the ends of the world.

That was because he still owed her a response to her confession.

That was because the girl was still tied tightly to him using the crudely made rope she spent half a minute to make.

Shi Xiaobai carried the unconscious girl in his arm as his eyes were firm and gentle.

“This time it’s This King’s turn to protect you.”