Wain stopped, looked at Virion, and said, "Well, what now? Soon only one of us will be left here, won't we?"
Virion was silent for a while until with a calm look he replied, "Yeah... You're right, apparently, we really have finally reached the end. Honestly, I didn't think our fight would be this long and hard, but that just means it's very important, right?"
"Hah, I was coming here for a completely different reason!" Wain spoke with a sly smile on his face as he pointed towards the monster behind the barrier, "I just wanted to get the shard to recover my sword, but all of this ended up happening! Just look around, it's like we've become the center of the world!"
Virion looked around as his eyes went wide for a moment. He knew that Alucard and Gael were here as they had come almost in the beginning, but he had absolutely not expected to see three Arkans here, unique in the history of their world.
'Well, well, Sven Hellem, Marlis Layre and Osvald Heid... Three of the strongest Arkans that ever existed. Damn, they've been my idols for a while, but times change... It's a good thing I was prepared for something like this or I'd be dead already...' Virion inwardly muttered with a complicated expression as a slight smile appeared on his face.
The tension gradually increased and no one wanted to disturb them as for a few seconds it became very quiet that only the flow of wind could be heard until Wain stepped forward. He pointed his sword at Virion and said with a deadly serious look, "Come on. Show your last trump card."
Wain knew that as soon as Virion did so, their fight would enter a phase of no return. He might have escaped now or before, but now they would definitely have to fight to the death. Wain could have easily taken the other's life, but this was one of the few moments when he realized that his opponent could do the same to him.
"Sure, I'll show you my last trump card that I tried to save until the very end." Virion nodded slightly as he touched his ring, "However, I won't do it now. I want to sword-fight you first!"
Virion's ring glowed brightly, and a bright white flash blinded everyone for a moment, then Virion swept through the white veil, heading toward Wain at breakneck speed.
Whooooooooooooosh.
Virion plunged on Wain, swinging his sword at him. Wain's pupils narrowed as he reacted instantly, fending off the attack. The impact was powerful as their stances were unstable, so the shockwave threw them several meters away from each other.
'Hmm? Why was the attack so weak?' Wain inwardly muttered as he looked at his hand. He didn't expect Virion to suddenly decide to attack this way, so used more force than usual, but now he realized that it was for nothing as it was very easy to repel Virion's attack. Then, Wain's gaze went to Virion.
In Virion's hand was a simple silver sword that emitted a weak aura. Although Virion had used many incredible artifacts before, this sword wasn't even Ascendant Rating. It was a very high-quality but primitive weapon that any master blacksmith could make.
"You seem surprised, don't you?" Virion asked with a calm look as he placed the blade of the sword on his palm, "Well, you're thinking in the right direction. It's really just a simple sword and there's nothing I can do to you with it, but I just have to use everything I have. I want to know that I've done everything I can to win, that's the only way victory will be as valuable as it can ever be."
Wain was puzzled for a while, then a smirk appeared on his face, and waves of dark energy departed from it, among which lurked creepy jaws, slowly floating in it like a river at Death Shore, "Fine! If that's what you want, go ahead! Do it! However, don't be surprised if after a few attacks there's nothing left of your sword as my jaws will simply destroy it!"
Virion sighed slightly before stepping forward. He ran pretty fast as his feet barely touched the ground, but then for Wain that speed was pretty average.
Clang.
A moment later their swords clashed as a small shard of metal flew from Virion's one, as Gladius was infinitely more durable than a simple sword.
"Hah, that's too slow! At this rate, you'll just die!" Wain exclaimed with an excited expression as he swung his sword.
The blade left a long cut on Virion's chest from which a stream of dark blood gushed forth. Virion frowned in intense pain, but a moment later his face was icy as he continued his attack.
Each of Virion's attacks was aimed at important points as his gaze was completely serious, but his motives did not match his actions at all. In reality, he failed to leave a single scratch on Wain while he himself was already covered in many deep cuts.
'Agh... I can't take much, but not yet... I must do it right... otherwise, this victory will be worthless...' Virion uttered to himself as he swung his sword once more.
Wain reacted instantly, blocked the attack, and punched Virion in the stomach with his fist, throwing him back several meters.
Virion struggled to stay on his feet as he vomited a mouthful of blood, and given his numerous wounds, his condition seemed terrible. If he had not been an experienced warrior, he would have died long ago.
"What is this? Did you just decide to die? I don't know what ideals you're pursuing, but did you really fight this long to end up like this?" Wain frowned as his aura intensified.
"Hah... No, don't worry, it won't happen again. I will not attack you with this sword, however, I will make another one move." Virion said before gripping the hilt of his sword tightly and pointing the blade toward his chest.