Endless Debt Chapter 1101 - 118: Blood Duel V

Red Dog’s antagonist, from the start to the very end, was continuously Lebius, whereas Bologue was never truly considered a threat by him. The Immovable Sword, with a decisive slice, cut through Lebius’s protective armor and plunged deep into his body, passing through the majority of his chest cavity. Bologue observed as Lebius, struck and falling like a withered leaf into a crimson pool, was met with Red Dog’s heavy, panting breaths followed by a burst of triumphant laughter. "I still won, didn’t I!" Red Dog bellowed, raising his sword in a victorious cheer. However, Lebius, who had fallen, rose once more, abruptly silencing the laughter. Noticing the blood-soaked Lebius, Red Dog displayed a hint of confusion, inquiring, "Do you desire victory this intensely as well?" Red Dog recognized that the figure rising was not Lebius himself, but rather the Wolf Spirit possessing his form. Lebius’s physical body had reached its absolute limit; he was entirely dependent on the Wolf Spirit’s will to pilot his frail vessel. A raspy voice then uttered, "What else is there, Red Dog?" Lebius tore off his helmet, finding it unbearably suffocating, and a significant amount of blood cascaded out. "You laid waste to all that was mine," Lebius whispered, his voice laced with anguish, "rendering me utterly desolate." With his mangled arm, he struggled to raise the Bone-breaking Knife. This formidable blade, though marred with countless nicks and precariously close to shattering, was, in Lebius’s estimation, still sufficient to see the conflict through to its conclusion. He had already paid an immense price to arrive at this very moment; he had absolutely nothing left to give. Lebius made a concerted effort to shed his cumbersome armor, understanding that every ounce of its weight was a drain on his precious Ether. Red Dog assumed a deadly posture, the Immovable Sword poised for a devastating thrust. Across the arena, Bologue, likewise struggling to remain upright, once again clasped his characteristic Sword Axe. The three combatants formed a volatile triangle, and in the very next instant, they charged towards one another with guttural roars. Steel clashed against steel. Red Dog, his Ether and mental fortitude depleted beyond the capacity for sustained, intense combat, disregarded Bologue entirely. His sole focus, his unwavering aim, was fixed upon Lebius. The Immovable Sword descended in a lightning-fast arc towards Lebius, who neither dodged nor possessed the ability to evade the strike. He managed to raise his left arm, bending it sharply in an attempt to parry the Immovable Sword. The sheer power emanating from the Immovable Sword effortlessly severed Lebius’s flesh, embedding itself into the bone. The blade then swept across, cleanly lopping off Lebius’s entire left arm. In that same critical moment, Lebius drove the Bone-breaking Knife deep into Red Dog’s chest. Blood erupted from Red Dog’s throat; he knew he had secured victory. Just as he prepared to exert further force, to bisect Lebius completely, a searing pain lanced from his side. The Vengeful Saw Axe had severed Red Dog’s calf, forcing him to his knees. Red Dog’s momentary stupor gave way to a chilling realization as the fury in Lebius’s eyes vanished, replaced by a calm, almost watery, lucidity. He understood then that he had been profoundly deceived. Lebius’s rage had been nothing more than a carefully orchestrated ploy; he had manipulated Red Dog into finalizing their duel, while the true, lethal blow was orchestrated by Bologue, the Negative Power User whose arrogance had led Red Dog to gravely underestimate him. "Protection·Soul Sucking and Essence Stealing." Red Dog suddenly felt an invisible force seize him, akin to the grip of a malevolent fiend, peeling away his skin and hollowing out his very insides. It was as though an abyss had opened within him, from which a surging tide of Ether was being inexorably drawn out and pierced through. Bologue’s strained voice echoed, "The Defender’s Rectangular Soul Critical is truly tenacious..." To fell Red Dog, Bologue had conspired with Lebius, executing a series of coordinated assaults that had merely succeeded in creating minuscule fissures within Red Dog’s Rectangular Soul Critical. These tiny openings provided Bologue the critical opportunity to execute a cross-tier kill. Red Dog’s features contorted in agony, his consciousness seemingly lost in an infinite void, with only piercing howls resonating incessantly in his ears. The unbridled, malevolent force gradually consumed Red Dog’s mind, draining him of every last drop of Ether and blood. Bologue released his grip, and the Defender’s Ether flowed into his own body, momentarily extending Bologue’s combat endurance. Red Dog collapsed heavily onto the ground, his Ether utterly depleted, siphoned away by Bologue’s Secret Energy and Protection. The Hand Axe lodged within his body continued its relentless bloodletting, functioning as an insatiable leech. The unexpected conclusion to their brutal battle left everyone stunned. Lebius, staggering back a few paces, also succumbed to the ground, his breathing shallow and weak. After a considerable pause, a dry, rasping laugh broke the silence. Gazing at the hazy sky, Red Dog murmured, "How utterly dull, Lebius." Lebius offered no reply, instead retrieving several syringes and injecting their contents. Even with the aid of Etherealization, his grievous injuries continued to fester and spread under the assault of foreign Ether. His entire left arm hung limply, held only by a fragile shred of flesh. "Truly tiresome…" Red Dog lay prone, his voice barely a whisper as he spoke, a profound despair and exhaustion etched into his eyes, "No matter our struggles, we are but mere pawns, reduced to playthings for their amusement." A faint sob escaped his bloodied face, as if he were weeping. Red Dog continued to mutter to himself. "Where do we go from here?"

Facing the summons from Red Dog, Lebius offered no immediate reply. He made an effort to rise once more, but his body refused, causing him to tumble back down as if he were a toddler just beginning to walk.

Bologue approached, remarking, "You should rest now."

"It hasn't ended yet," Lebius retorted.

"I am aware," Bologue replied.

Lebius gazed upward at Bologue, firmly grasping his hand. "Continue," he urged.

A moment of hesitation crossed Bologue's face. Perhaps due to a certain resemblance between them, there was no need for lengthy explanations; Bologue understood Lebius's unspoken request.

A sensation of being drawn inward surged from Lebius's core. He could feel his Ether being siphoned away by Bologue and then channeled into the opponent's Alchemy Matrix.

Bologue did not completely drain Lebius's Ether, leaving just enough for him to maintain his Etherealization.

Following another sickening sound of flesh tearing, Bologue withdrew the Sword Axe from Red Dog's form. The wound, now unobstructed, remained open to the air, yet no blood spilled forth.

Red Dog grew increasingly listless. As Bologue stepped away, Red Dog resumed his peculiar, maniacal laughter.

Little by little, Red Dog's laughter faded into silence.

When stillness once again enveloped the scene, Lebius's awareness began to dim. He heard approaching footsteps and lifted his head. Standing beside him was a familiar figure, clad in blue pajamas, with a face etched with a multitude of expressions.

Belphegor delivered a kick to Red Dog's lifeless body, clapped his hands together forcefully, and flashed a satisfied grin at Lebius. "Congratulations, Lebius. You have won," he declared.

In the blink of an eye, Belphegor vanished as if he were merely a figment of Lebius's imagination.

Lebius slumped into the pool of blood. Vaguely, he heard Red Dog's mocking laughter echo once more. Lebius let out a scream of derision, "What a dull, boring game."