Who Designed This Underworld Dungeon?
Chapter 210 - 180 Artorias (8000-word Double-length - )_4

Chapter 210: Chapter 180 Artorias (8000-word Double-length Chapter)_4

He quickly scrambled to his feet, relentlessly charging at Artorias with the stance of the Undead Team.

Yet, the latter was puzzled.

Artorias had never seen him before, and it was even less likely for Shif to have seen the other party, so why were Dal’s swordsmanship and Shif’s fighting style so strikingly similar?

This was definitely no coincidence. As Shif’s companion, Artorias knew every move of it intimately; the Fran Undead Team’s fighting posture was exactly like Shif’s, even down to some of the fine details!

Moreover, Shif was still young at this time, and its fighting style was just beginning to take shape.

Yet Artorias could see that Dal’s combat stance exhibited what Shif’s combat techniques would look like at their peak.

How could this be possible? Shif had not yet developed these techniques, let alone that Shif was still under the protection of my Big Shield...

Wait.

Artorias suddenly lifted his head, with one strike sending Dal flying away. Watching the other party endure the severe pain to stand up, he suddenly thought of a possibility.

This land was a place where time and space were in chaos; therefore, it was possible, though not uncommon, to encounter people from the past.

So, if the person he was encountering now came from...

After being afflicted by the Abyss, Artorias had, in his delirium, slaughtered monsters here, naturally filled with violence and negative emotions.

But today, he felt an unprecedented sense of joy.

Why joy?

Because he saw hope in Dal’s swordsmanship.

Since this young man, suspected of being in this place due to the time distortion, used swordsmanship that imitated Shif’s.

Didn’t that imply that Shif had safely escaped the Abyss in the future and even left behind a legacy!

Artorias also sensed a familiar aura on Dal; it was the essence of Wolf Blood, albeit faint, but enough to detect a trace of Shif.

What could be more joyful than seeing a companion safe and sound in the future?

Besides Shif’s safety, Artorias saw something deeper.

The Barrier Shield he had left could only protect Shif from the corruption of the Abyss; escaping the Abyss solely with the power of a lone wolf would be impossible.

This meant that Shif was likely to be saved in the future!

But who could it be? Kiaran, Goff, or Ornstein? No, none of them had the strength to defeat the Master of the Abyss.

Could it be the exiled firstborn of the king? If it were him, perhaps it was possible.

Memories of the past surfaced one by one in Artorias’s mind, surprise at his own condition showing slight improvement.

He knew this was only temporary; he would soon succumb again to the torment of the Abyss.

But what did that matter?

Artorias suddenly felt an unusual calmness. If someone in the future was destined to defeat the Master of the Abyss, then his efforts had not been in vain.

His decision to guard this arena was the right one; he had to continue to endure the pain until the arrival of the one who could slay Manus and suppress the Abyss.

Everything, all for suppressing the Abyss!

After the long years, a group of people sharing the same dream would continue on, fighting bloodily to eliminate the Abyss.

Artorias hoisted the Great Sword onto his shoulder, assuming his classic stance, locking onto Dal.

He could see the young man before him appeared to harbor a special sentiment towards him, sparing no effort in trying to relieve his suffering, even at the cost of self-harm.

To face such a warrior without giving it his all would also be a disrespect.

Artorias gripped the hilt tightly, but then he loosened his hold again.

To fight with all his might meant that he would be corrupted by the Abyss, losing his mind completely, just like the transformed residents of Ulashiro.

He couldn’t do that; he had to maintain sanity until the one destined arrived, even if it meant escaping the torment in his mind.

Sorry, but for the sake of the mission, he had to play the role of the discourteous.

Artorias stared intently at Dal, intending to bestow upon him a dignified end with the swiftest of strikes.

Looking back on Dal’s side.

Despite his best efforts, he couldn’t even touch Artorias, and shame and rage made him clench his teeth to the point of breaking.

His anger was not directed at Artorias, but at himself; he was furious that he was so weak that he couldn’t even help the hero break free.

Even if the Fran Undead Team was here, they likely wouldn’t be able to vanquish a wounded Artorias.

Just how grand must the Wolf Knight have been in his prime, and what kind of horror was the Master of the Abyss.

Dal was like a silver player who had mistakenly entered a game with deities, where even the shock waves of their battles could kill him.

"It can’t end like this."

Dal suddenly pounded his chest fiercely, pushing his body to the limit once again to trigger the amplified Combat Skill [Ghost Man Rampage]; his body turned crimson red, skin oozing blood.

"Damn it, body, I command you to give me power!"

Maybe bouncing back and forth between life and death did indeed have benefits for training, as Dal suddenly felt strength surging through his body.

Not much, but still enough for one move!

Throwing caution to the wind, he rushed forward, leapt high into the air, spinning his body and swinging his final blow at Artorias.

Wolf Jump!

Concentrating all his power in this one strike!

"Swoosh—"

The sword light flashed by, and blood splattered everywhere.

"Thump..."

Dal’s upper body rolled several times on the ground, the hilt of the broken Fran Greatsword clutched tightly in his grip.