The Strongest Dull Prince’s Secret Battle for the Throne

Chapter 706: The SS-Level Stage

“Is your mouth the only thing that's skilled?”

Raphael easily blocked Chloe's attack as he spoke. Chloe wanted to break Raphael’s composure, but she couldn’t.

“I heard you were the former captain of the Tenth Imperial Knight Guard?”

“I wasn’t serious back then.”

Chloe swung her twin swords.

It was a simultaneous attack with no delay yet Raphael deflected it with a single sword. He was overwhelmingly faster than Chloe.

“Well, it looks like I’m going to get scolded.”

Muttering, Chloe exhaled deeply.

≪I am the usurper, one who has stolen black from the depths of the underworld. Rise, Dark Black, and engulf all in darkness. The black that is the king of darkness, the master of the abyss. The primordial darkness, the final black. Everything emerges from this black and sinks into it. Gather and dye everything—Darkness Force≫

“Ancient magic… It seems that it’s not a mistake now that you’re Silver’s disciple.”

“I'm on a different level now!”

With that, Chloe instantly moved behind Raphael. She aimed to deal as much damage as possible while Raphael still underestimated her and without hesitation, she targeted his neck.

However, Raphael blocked the attack without even turning around.

“The moment your speed increased, you took my back and aimed for the neck. That’s standard procedure. You’re still inexperienced.”

“Damn!”

Chloe quickly distanced herself since her surprise attack was completely seen through and she quickly realized that it was dangerous to stay within Raphael’s range. However, Raphael didn’t pursue her.

He glanced at the former and current No-Name that were fighting.

Both were masters of swordsmanship. The former hadn’t stepped down because her power had waned, but because she wanted to operate in the shadows, leaving the public face to the current one. They also both wielded almost identical magic swords.

And although the pure power of No Name’s magic sword was better than the former’s, the former’s mastery over her own magic sword was far superior.

Thus, they were evenly matched.

“Do you need help there, No Name?”

“There’s no need for your interference.”

“Alright. Then I’ll play with her a bit more.”

He exuded confidence, looking clearly able to end the fight at any moment. Chloe could sense that Raphael’s words weren’t a bluff and that he could finish her off whenever he wanted.

There was a significant difference in their abilities.

However,

“If you’re going to underestimate me, then that’s to my advantage…!”

Chloe charged straight at Raphael. Even if there was a gap in their abilities, there were times when the weaker could win.

When the opponent wasn’t being serious or was underestimating them. The victor isn’t always the strongest.

So Chloe charged directly at him.

Raphael swung his sword while appearing bored. He aimed not to seriously harm her, but just to end it quickly and avoid getting more bored.

He wasn’t serious at all and this provided Chloe with a gap.

Chloe suddenly increased her speed, becoming faster than when she took his back earlier. She dodged Raphael’s attack and closed in.

If he was careless, her attack would get through. She swung her twin swords in a flurry from both sides, yet Raphael blocked them without moving an inch or even his sword.

Chloe’s swords were stopped by something that was unseen before they managed to reach Raphael.

“No way…”

“I may show off, but I’m not that careless. If you can’t see the difference, then you’re not ready for this stage.”

With that, Raphael kicked Chloe and sent her flying. She blocked the kick, but the force couldn’t be entirely absorbed.

Chloe crashed into a barrier near the temporary capital, then fell to the ground.

Raphael narrowed his eyes as he saw this.

“The Celestial Princess’s barrier, huh? She’s being quite diligent despite being worn out.”

The only ones left in the temporary capital were either injured or exhausted, yet Chloe and Orihime seemed to have already recovered more than was expected.

Perhaps they had a more capable healer than what was anticipated.

“I didn’t expect much resistance, but this seems to have been a miscalculation.”

While muttering to himself, Raphael watched Chloe get up.

“You should stop. You can’t beat me.”

“Even if I can’t, I can’t just lie down…”

“You’ll die. You should have brought another SS-ranked adventurer or Elna to stop me.”

“Don’t underestimate me… I’m still Silver’s disciple…!!”

Chloe’s magic power surged and Raphael raised his sword, preparing to take her attack. By the time he noticed, Chloe was already close to him.

Now much faster than before, she was using her enhanced ancient magic at full power.

Previously, she had managed her magic to be used for prolonged battles, but now she had stopped doing that.

This was her original form, a one-shot, all-out attack. While moving at high speed, Chloe slashed at Raphael as she passed by.

But her attack didn’t get through to him.

“Wind barrier…!”

Chloe realized that something invisible was blocking her attack and she recognized it as a wind barrier, though its strength was unusual to her.

Her strikes, while enhanced by Darkness Force, should have been powerful enough to break through even Silver’s barriers.

Yet, they were effortlessly stopped here. It was less like magic and more like...

“An Authority…?”

“Your time is almost up, isn’t it?”

Her speed had already decreased and Raphael then swung his sword at Chloe.

It was fast and sharp.

Seeing the blade being thinly wrapped in wind, Chloe thought that she understood a bit more about Raphael’s unique power.

But understanding wasn’t enough.

Getting blown away again, Chloe crashed into the barrier once more.

“Oof…”

While groaning, Chloe staggered to her feet. She had already used her trump card and didn’t have the strength to use it again. Yet she stood up, determined not to give up.

She still looked at Raphael with an unwavering resolve.

Seeing this, Raphael began to walk towards her, looking annoyed.

“Those eyes are annoying.”

Raphael brandished his sword while now emanating killing intent.

He was no longer playing around.

“I didn’t think it was necessary to oppose Silver but you’re too much of a nuisance, so you’ll die here.”

“If you don’t want to oppose my master… It's too late. You’re the type that he despises the most…”

“If that’s the case, then I won’t hold back.”

With that, Raphael swung his sword at Chloe. A high-pitched sound rang out as it was blocked.

“So you finally showed up.”

“You should be dealing with me, Raphael.”

“Elna…”

“You did well, Chloe.”

Elna said while deflecting Raphael’s sword. Raphael smirked and readied his sword.

“Good timing. I wasn’t keen on killing you by deception anyway.”

“If you think you can kill me with deception, you’re quite the dreamer. Have you forgotten that you lost the last time?”

“That was then. And I wasn’t even serious.”

With that, Raphael lunged at Elna.

TL's Notes:

Sorry for the late chap... I just finished TL'ing the main story.... WE DID IT!!!

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