My left hand went flying through the air.
Glancing down instinctively, I saw it—my left arm, severed cleanly at the elbow.
I understood then. My arm had been hacked off.
An instant later, agony lanced through my entire body. Blood geysered from the stump, drenching the carpet and forming a dark pool.
Wait, no... what do I do? What do I do!?
Verdict slapped a hand to his forehead and howled with laughter at my confusion.
"Perfect! That’s it! That look! Such panic is truly fitting for a lowlife. Show me more of your pathetic self!"
Regardless, the blood loss was critical. I had to apply pressure, stop the flow! Desperate, I clamped my right hand over what remained of my upper arm. I didn't know if it would help, but—!
"Honestly... you have no grasp of the way of things. So thoughtless, so shallow. How utterly unrefined."
Squelch.
The sound of something hard sinking into something soft echoed in the room. Verdict’s blade had pierced my right shoulder.
The man was absolutely merciless.
Another jolt of agony forced a scream from my throat, making me lose my grip on my mangled arm. Simultaneously, Verdict swept my legs out from under me. I collapsed onto the carpet, splashing into the widening pool of my own blood.
"This is a lesson," he said.
"A... lesson?"
"In the hidden mysteries of Blood Magic."
Verdict brandished his deep red blade. "This sword is forged from my own blood."
"—!?"
"At my level, I can manifest it without a fresh wound, but for a novice like you, a visual aid is likely for the best." He leveled the crimson blade at my throat as I knelt on the floor. "You don't want to die yet, do you? Then forge a weapon! Show me you have the spirit to resist!"
He wanted me to make a weapon from my own blood? He'd severed my arm just for that? This went way beyond "tough love."
In that moment, I was grateful for the nature of Albert von Kronstadt. In my previous life in peaceful Modern Japan, fear would have paralyzed me in a situation like this. But the owner of this body was arrogant and prone to bouts of intense passion.
I was currently beyond pissed off. I wasn't about to stay here whimpering after being trampled on this much.
"Fine. I'll do it. Just don't start whining when I win."
I thrust my hand into the pool of my own blood. Seeing my reaction, Verdict’s mouth twisted into a twisted grin.
That said, although I’d talked big, I had no idea what to do. Even if I was suddenly told to forge a weapon using my own blood, where was I even supposed to start? While I struggled to think, the blood continued to spill, carving away at my life. My thoughts wouldn't coalesce through the blinding pain.
But perhaps that was for the better.
Inside my hollow mind, the details of the Bloodline Inscription of the Pure Conqueror surfaced—the text I had been pouring over until mere moments ago. It wasn't the literal words that came to me, but the underlying mechanisms of Ancient Magic hidden beneath them.
That’s right—I’d studied it that deeply. I’d devoured it, carving it into my brain. I’d been obsessed with making that Ancient Magic my own.
I was still far from a complete deciphering, but I had certainly glimpsed the possibility. That was why I was here. I could do this! No, if I couldn't even do this much, then everything else was for nothing!
I deployed my mana.
In that moment, as if a gust of wind had blown, the pool of blood grew still. It felt like a single fragment of hope. It wasn't impossible. My mana had the power to make it happen.
Logic was out the window. I simply kneaded my mana according to pure instinct. With every second being vital, I repeated a desperate process of trial and error. I likely wouldn't be able to do it again; I was simply chasing a fleeting sensation in the moment.
However, I succeeded.
The pool of blood solidified, taking on a physical form. It was a crude, Crimson Short Sword.
"Haa... haa... haa... haa...!"
I'd managed it, but at the cost of a massive amount of mana. Combined with the blood loss, my entire body felt heavy as lead. But I couldn't afford to whine. I had to fight! Even if my opponent was the Absolute Strongest, my ambition was too heavy to let me die here!
I gripped the short sword and forced myself to my feet.
"Hmph. What a tiny, pathetic thing. Its shape is beyond saving. You’d be better off having a third-rate blacksmith forge your steel!"
Despite his insults, Verdict readied his sword. His blade was elegant and long—it was an entirely different class of object compared to mine.
But that didn't matter.
"...I just have to drive it into your throat. The shape is irrelevant."
Wringing out my last bit of willpower, I lunged at Verdict.
"Fuhahaha! Your spirit is running in circles!"
Verdict brushed off my offensive as if he were playing with a child. Part of it was my half-dead state, but more than that, Verdict was simply overwhelming. There was no waste in his movements; they were perfectly refined. Even if I were in perfect condition, the result likely wouldn't have changed.
Is this the strength of an Absolute Being!?
"Dammit!"
I just needed one hit! I swung with everything I had, but Verdict evaded the strike with minimal movement. His hand shot out, tightening around my neck.
"Ugh!?"
"Are you disappointed in yourself? Don't be. I've taken a liking to you. To think you would actually create a weapon! Hahaha! I like it, I like it very much. I shall give you your next lesson."
"—!?"
A sharp pain lanced through my throat. Verdict's fingernails had torn into my flesh. However, a sensation other than pain began to spread through my body.
Excitement... exhilaration.
Vitality began to surge through my dying, sluggish limbs. What was this?
"Blood is a carrier of energy. What if you increase its flow rate? What if you increase the amount of oxygen transported? A human can perform movements that exceed their natural limits." Verdict chuckled. "Frenzy—you are but dregs now. Show me your final spark of pride."
Verdict shoved me away. I scrambled to regain my stance and readied my short sword. My heart was thumping so hard it felt like it would burst. In this moment, I could definitely fight with more power than I’d ever had in my life, but...
It was abnormal. There was no way I could maintain this.
...But that didn't matter. Not if I could land one hit on this bastard!
"Ooooooooooh!"
I gripped the short sword and charged.
The clash lasted only an instant. My slash, unleashed as we passed each other—
A series of sharp snaps rang out, and the tip of a broken blade flew through the air. The deep red steel pierced the carpet. The front half of my short sword had vanished.
"Fuhahahaha! Not just its length, but even its durability is disappointing! You'll never satisfy me with something like that!"
...As expected, the gap in our power was undeniable.
I turned back to see Verdict’s composed, mocking expression.
"Guh."
Blood spilled from my mouth. I thought tears had suddenly welled up, but when I wiped my eyes, my hand came away red.
My heart, which had been racing like an alarm bell, now radiated nothing but pure agony. My legs gave out, and I fell to my knees. My vision rapidly began to darken.
"Your heart gave out from that measly amount of strengthening? How unexpectedly frail. Is that all you've got? How disappointing, lowlife."