MTL NOVEL Chapter 54: Good Vs Evil
The Ice Continent stretched vast and empty, its surface glistening under the pale light of the sun, an eternal frozen wasteland ruled by the dreaded Demon Lord, Guy. Sitting upon the balcony of his grand fortress, Guy swirled a goblet of deep crimson wine between his fingers. His piercing crimson eyes flickered with amusement as he enjoyed the tranquility of the moment. Beside him, Velzard, the Ice Dragon herself, sipped elegantly from her own glass, her frosty gaze distant yet aware.
Rain and Misery stood nearby, ever dutiful, when suddenly the atmosphere shifted. An overwhelming presence surged through the skies, closing in at incredible speed. Guy felt it first—a force familiar yet not entirely unwelcome. He smirked as he turned his gaze toward the horizon.
"Velgrynd," Velzard murmured, placing her goblet down. "What is my sister doing here?"
Guy leaned back, chuckling. "She's probably under the impression that I kidnapped you and has come to rescue you."
Velzard scoffed, a smirk playing at her lips. "As if you could."
Then, a great shadow cast itself upon the ice-laden castle grounds. The enormous form of a crimson dragon descended, its scales gleaming like molten fire against the cold blue backdrop of the Ice Continent. With a mighty gust of wind, Velgrynd landed, her claws cracking the frozen surface beneath her. Then, in a flash of light, she transformed, her form shifting into that of a striking woman with blazing red hair and fierce amber eyes.
Yet, it was not only Velgrynd who had arrived.
Beside her stood a man, regal and unwavering, his golden hair shimmering like the dawn. His sharp blue eyes held an unwavering resolve as he took a step forward, his long cape billowing behind him. He radiated power, confidence, and an unshakable sense of purpose.
He spoke, his voice carrying across the frozen land with the authority of a king.
"I am Rudra Nasca, Emperor of the Eastern Empire and the first True Hero. And I presume you are the Demon Lord who has been terrorizing the people of this world. Well, today marks your end. I will send you back to the depths of hell."
Guy smirked, a low chuckle escaping his lips as he set his wine aside. "Well now, that's quite the declaration. Very well, Rudra... bring it on."
Velgrynd sighed, stepping to the side, letting the confrontation unfold. She turned to Velzard, her expression softening slightly. "Sister, it's been a while. I hope this... tyrant hasn't been treating you too badly."
Velzard gave a small, knowing smile. "He's annoying, but entertaining. What brings you here? Surely, you didn't come just for me?"
Velgrynd crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "Rudra believes he can bring peace to the world by eliminating all threats—including Demon Lords. And Guy happens to be one of the biggest threats in existence."
Velzard chuckled, shaking her head. "If he thinks he can defeat Guy, then he's in for quite the surprise."
Meanwhile, Rudra and Guy stood face-to-face, their battle about to begin.
Rudra unsheathed his sword—a brilliant blade that gleamed with holy radiance, humming with power. Guy, in turn, conjured his own—a dark crimson blade wreathed in ethereal energy. Both warriors exuded killing intent, but neither moved just yet. The tension between them was palpable.
Then—
Swoosh!
Both vanished, their forms blurring at speeds beyond mortal comprehension. A deafening boom echoed across the frozen wasteland as their swords met in a collision of raw power. Shockwaves exploded outward, fracturing the ice beneath them as they clashed again and again, their movements a dazzling spectacle of skill and precision.
Rudra struck first, unleashing a flurry of rapid slashes. Guy deflected them effortlessly, his expression never shifting from amusement. "Not bad, Hero. But you'll have to do better than that."
Rudra's eyes narrowed. He pivoted, sidestepped, and unleashed a horizontal slash imbued with divine energy. Guy barely leaned back in time, the blade whistling past his chin. He countered with a powerful downward swing, his crimson sword colliding against Rudra's with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
The impact sent both warriors skidding backward, their feet digging into the icy ground. The air between them crackled with unrestrained energy. Neither showed signs of exhaustion, both grinning with exhilaration.
"You're strong, Demon Lord," Rudra admitted. "Stronger than I expected."
Guy chuckled, twirling his sword. "And you're more entertaining than I thought. This might actually be fun."
Once again, they vanished—clashing midair, moving faster than the eye could follow. Each strike was executed with perfect precision, each parry met with equal force. The ice beneath them shattered, creating floating platforms of frozen debris upon which they battled. It was a duel of pure skill, raw power, and unrelenting will.
Rudra's sword flared with divine light as he unleashed a devastating arc of energy. Guy countered with a slash of his own, their attacks colliding in an explosion of radiance and darkness, illuminating the sky in a brilliant display of opposing forces.
The battle raged on for what felt like eternity, neither warrior willing to yield. Then, as both prepared to unleash their strongest attacks, a powerful voice rang out.
"Enough!"
Velgrynd stepped between them, her eyes burning with frustration. "This is pointless! If you two keep going, you'll destroy the entire Ice Continent!"
Velzard sighed, nodding in agreement. "She's right. You both are equally matched. This fight is going nowhere."
Rudra hesitated, then slowly lowered his sword. "Tch. This isn't over, Demon Lord."
Guy smirked, dismissing his weapon. "Looking forward to the next round, Hero."
With that, the battle ended—not in victory or defeat, but in mutual respect. The rivalry between the Demon Lord and the True Hero had only just begun.
Rudra smirked as he gazed at the crimson-haired demon before him. His golden eyes flickered with amusement as he crossed his arms, still gripping his sword. "Tell me, Demon Lord, what is your name?"
The crimson-haired man, standing with an air of dominance, his piercing gaze locked onto Rudra, replied in a low, amused tone. "I'm Guy."
For a moment, there was silence. Then Rudra let out a loud, hearty laugh. "Pfft—what kind of name is that?" He shook his head, his expression shifting to one of intrigue as he examined Guy more closely. His long, fiery red hair, the deep, almost glowing color of blood under the sunlight—it was as if flames had been woven into his very being.
Rudra took a moment, as if lost in thought, then suddenly smirked. "Hmph. From now on, your name will be Guy Crimson."
The second those words left Rudra's mouth, Guy felt something surge deep within him. A strange power, a force far beyond his understanding, wrapped around his very essence. His soul burned for a brief moment, and he clenched his fist as an unseen energy inscribed the name into his very existence.
He took a deep breath, allowing the feeling to settle within him. "Heh… Guy Crimson, huh?" He rolled the name over his tongue, tasting its weight, its significance. A slow smirk stretched across his lips as his aura flared slightly. "I like it."
Velzard, who had been watching from the sidelines, narrowed her icy blue eyes at Rudra. "Giving names to demons… you really are reckless," she muttered.
Rudra simply chuckled, completely unfazed. "He's strong, but he lacked something. Now he's whole." He turned back to Guy, his expression filled with confidence. "You're welcome."
Guy let out a low chuckle, tilting his head slightly as he eyed Rudra. "Interesting… I don't know what just happened, but I do feel a bit stronger." He stepped forward, gripping his sword tighter. "And since you've given me this name, Emperor, it's only fair I show you my gratitude in the best way possible."
With that, his aura flared to life, the ground beneath him trembling as a crimson light surrounded him. The battle was far from over.