Versatile: Alternate World

Chapter 365 - The Temper Of A Blacksmith

I tilted my head when I heard the word "Hero who defeated the Demon Lord." As marvelous and epic that sounds, in Alternate World, that doesn't sound so big. After all, demons are always on the prowl all around Gaia. The only time I would find that very impressive is that you have defeated at least a dozen or more since that would indeed be a big feat. But with the achievement of killing one demon lord, that doesn't sound so appealing in the ears. Even the NPCs in the capital don't view you as a very special person if you just defeated one demon lord. Just like my achievements, before I got to be well known by Queen Tanya and the others, I needed to be worthy enough for their eyes to view me as someone worthy to be hailed like that.

And yet, this elf seems so proud of himself for killing one demon lord. It was indeed hard but anyone can do it just fine, especially if the demon lord is not that strong just yet.

Just like my reaction, it seems Almira is not even slightly impressed and just raised one of her eyebrows and crossed her arms. "So? Am I supposed to be really impressed by that?"

"What?" the elf hero was not expecting Almira's reaction.

"Demon lords are plenty all around the world. Killing a single demon lord doesn't mean much even for me. And if you think you are a bigshot already for becoming a demon lord slayer, then kill a few more, around a dozen or more, and maybe I would have some respect for you."

"Huh? Did you just look down on my achievement?" the elf is getting arrogant.

"Cassius, I know you are upset but don't even bother-" the elder tried to stop the hero who was named Cassius.

"I can't just afford for someone to just look down on me! After all, I am a proud hero who has killed a demon lord with my companions! I am not going to let this go! I need to teach this woman a lesson and tell her who she is messing with!"

"Oh? You want to fight against me?"

"Heh, you look like you have something you can even use. Of course, the only way to prove myself is to win and show off the power I used to defeat the demon lord!"

"Tch," Almira clicked her tongue. Clearly getting annoyed by the antics of the guy who proclaims to be a hero.

Almira then handed her leather apron and her toolbelt to me.

"Disciple, hold this for me, I will get it back later."

I nodded and received her items and let her get into the mood.

"Where is your weapon?"

"Shut up. You are too green to handle weapons and if I did, there is nothing good happening to it in the end. My bare fists are enough for you. Now, show me what this power of yours then."

Cassius seemed offended by this but he didn't complain as he saw this as an easy win for him. He pulled out his weapon and I realized it was a Magic Sword. Which means he is a Magic Knight. Still, it seems Almira didn't even give a sh*t whether he pulls out something or not. She looks pissed and bored at the same time.

"Let's go, partner! Burn and show us the light!"

The magic sword started to ignite in flames and Cassius started to imbue the weapon with more mana, igniting the sword further. Seeing this, the Elder then ordered everyone to cast a defensive shield. to everyone. Seeing this, it was clear he is intending to burn everything in the path so to minimize what damage he was about to do, I pulled out a scroll and tear it out, activating the skill inside it which reveals to be the Isolation Domain, a skill that meant to trap anything inside it for 3 minutes or under depending on how short the duration the user wanted to do. Any attacks activated inside the domain would be isolated to that place and will not be pierced. It was a good skill that allows containing some monsters that are too fast and hard to handle if not contained. It is also a good skill to aid in taming as it has the potential to act as a temporary cage.

The elder was surprised when I did that but he didn't say anything just yet and observed what is happening in the battle. Almira already noticed what happened but Cassius did not. He just continued to charge up the whole thing with his power, increasing the power output of the flaming sword.

"Cassius! What the f*ck are you even doing?! Are you planning to kill?!" the elder finds it worrisome that the flames in the Magic Sword are no longer something meant for a duel. It was meant for a fight to the death.

But Cassius seems to have gone deaf and continues to increase the flames. He then raises the sword up in the air, revealing a flaming giant sword ready to mow down any enemies. With a grin, he proceeds to attack.

"BURN!"

Cassius then brought down the flaming sword towards Almira. Even I would not do that in a duel like this. He is not just intending to defeat Almira, he is also intending to eliminate her. However, Almira did not even look like she is bothered and as the flaming sword is about to land on her, she yawned before flicking the flaming sword's flame.

BOOM!

A shockwave occurred and despite the Isolation Domain present, the shockwave can be felt outside. Thankfully, all the damage that it has caused is all contained in the Isolation Domain and as for the flaming sword, it was immediately disintegrated and the Magic Sword of Cassius was reduced to ashes despite being made from metal. It seems the flame and the impact of Almira's counter were too much for the weapon to handle, reducing it to dust.

Cassius was stunned and baffled by the result and the sword that he so-called "Partner" was reduced to ashes, with only the handle left behind that Cassius is still holding tight. His body was shaking from what just happened and seems to be at a loss for what just occurred before him.

"You wasted a good sword for a measly attack like that? Pathetic. And here, I thought you would show me something worthwhile. You are wasting my time, "MR. DEMON LORD SLAYER." All bark and no bite at all."

Seeing the battle was over, I deactivated the Isolation Domain and their battlefield was totally broken. The road they were standing was reduced to ashes around the area where the sword should have landed and around Cassius as well, but around Almira, you can see nothing else in there but just a normal road. Nothing was destroyed past on Almira's back.

I handed Almira her toolbelt and leather apron as she wipe her hands using the towel in her apron.

"I apologize for the behavior of Cassius. He just got too full of himself and thought he was very strong due to him killing a demon lord."

"It's nothing. But be sure to tell him that showing off like that on another person would be the death of him. He just got lucky since it was me who he faced off with. If it was someone else, not only the sword who will retire but also him as well. Now, please excuse us.. I am quite tired, my disciple and I will be going home."