#1157 Summit of Wisdom

Before I knew it, the best-of-three showdown had been decided.

The Farm Team vs. Mountain of the Sacred White Maiden Team.

The first match, which happened between angels, went to Horkosfon, who made full use of her vast experience.

And now, the second match...
The world's most terrifying face-off: a Lifeless King duel.

The Farm Kingdom’s planned trade fair had brought a special guest from our farm, our very own Sensei.

"Sorry to call you out so suddenly, Sensei...!"
"Think nothing of it, Lord Saint. If it is for your sake..."

I'm so glad Sensei is such a good guy.

To be honest, I have absolutely zero obligation to humor Songokufon’s nonsense. But after that angel fight, the crowd was hyped.

"Show us the next match!"
"This is getting good!"

The people who stayed behind after the festival are starving for more legendary battles.
...Then again, the afterparty itself kinda just started on its own.

Now, standing as Sensei’s opponent is another Lifeless King—the Butler.

"It is an honor to face one of the Three Wise. A rare opportunity, indeed. Allow me to make the most of it."

An immortal king who chose to serve Alexander... a rather peculiar existence.
I only met him today, so I have no clue what kind of person he is.

Thus, the Lifeless King showdown begins.

"Butler, was it? I've heard of you. They say you're quite the fighter."
"Compared to you, one of the Three Wise? Hardly. You, the Professor, and the Sage stand as the ultimate limit, beings beyond even death itself. You are absolute, greater than death itself."
"No need for such grandiose words. This is just for fun, so let’s not take it too seriously."
"I thought the same at first. But knowing I get to fight you, I can’t help but be excited. That reckless angel has done it again... but fate is unpredictable."

Huh. The Butler is surprisingly eager.

Meanwhile, Sensei just looks exasperated.

"They say the immortal kings who serve Alexander were all adventurers once. Always chasing the unknown. Even in death, your blood still burns with the thrill of battle. What a fate."
"Unlike you, I am not enlightened. I am a being of worldly attachments."
"A Lifeless King who chose to serve in death, yet still holds onto personal desire... Not bad."

Sensei’s hollow eye sockets glow ominously.

This isn’t the first time he’s fighting another Lifeless King.

He once battled the Emperor, and apparently fought another one called the Earl.
Each time, he utterly crushed them.

But, of course, Lifeless Kings vary in strength.
And this Butler... he’s clearly different from the ones who got steamrolled.

This fight isn’t going to be an easy one.

"Shall we begin with a little warm-up?"

Sensei spreads out a glowing blue space.

That’s Deathlight Aura!

The ultimate, most dangerous ability exclusive to Lifeless Kings.
Apparently, by permeating the area with that aura, Sensei can instantly erase anything within a radius of dozens of kilometers.

The Emperor Lifeless King who faced it before didn’t stand a chance and was completely erased. Though he did revive later.

Now, faced with the same dreadful fate, the Butler...

"HAAAAH!"
"Oh?"

He just... brute-forced his way through it?!

Then, in a single bound, he lunges straight at Sensei?!

"Ryaaaaahhh!!!"

Where did that come from? He pulled out a giant sword as tall as he was and swung it down!
That thing’s way too crude to be called a sword; it’s basically a slab of iron!

"Hoho."

But Sensei slips away effortlessly.
His movement is fluid, like pressing against a curtain.

"How naughty. Even as an undead king, you favor such flashy moves?"
"I have always been a man of action. If I wish to do something, I must move both my arms and legs."

The Butler is unexpectedly aggressive despite looks.

But how did he repel Sensei’s Deathlight Aura?
I always thought that move was absolutely unavoidable.

"I am but a humble Lifeless King with no special talents. Normally, I could never stand against one of the Three Wise. However, I have been blessed by a great master."

His master?
He means... Alexander?

"As Alexander’s sworn Lifeless King, the Butler receives a portion of the great dragon’s power. It’s only a fragment, but considering the source, it’s still the largest power in existence."

Oh great. He’s one of those guys who go, "I draw my strength from the world itself," the type of villain with infinite power and zero weaknesses.
And yet, the Butler wields that power not for himself, but for Alexander.

That basically makes him an unstoppable force.

So that’s what it means to be blessed by Alexander...

"You figured all that out in just one exchange... As expected of a true Wise King."
"Well, your approach is simple power, so it’s easy to read. With Alexander’s power, you surpass all other Lifeless Kings."
"A meaningless throne. This power is Alexander’s, not mine. It exists only to serve him."

Then why is he fighting Sensei now?

"You stand far above me as a Lifeless King. You have everything I lack. I wish to learn from you. And with that knowledge, I can serve Alexander better. That is my desire."
"Diligent one, aren't you?"
"How does one stand against the overwhelming power of Alexander himself? Sensei, one of the greatest of the Three Wise, show me your wisdom!"

And with that, the Butler swings his massive blade once more.
But if that’s Alexander’s almighty power... even Sensei can’t stop it, right?

An impossible, unfair battle. Surely, even Sensei has no way to counter that...

"...Hmph."
"GWOAAAAHHHH!"

Wait. The Butler got blown away?!
What just happened?!
Did Sensei actually overpower Alexander’s strength?!

"No, no… It’s unthinkable. Someone like me could never hope to contend with the power of a super-dragon that can create and obliterate entire universes. The instant we collided, I’d be pulverized beyond any possibility of recovery. That’s all there is to it."
“Ridiculous… Then how…?"

The Butler staggers back to his feet.
Good. He’s fine.

That’s one thing about Lifeless Kings: they’re ridiculously durable.

"The only thing that can counter a super-dragon’s power... is a super-dragon’s power."
"You don’t mean...!"
"The moment we made contact, I borrowed Alexander’s power from you. And then, I used it to push you back."
"You—! In that split second, you hacked into my mana circuits, analyzed my exclusive link with Alexander, intercepted it, and extracted his power?!"
"Your security was a little lax."

Apparently, in just a few seconds, something crazy had happened.

The strongest power can only be countered by itself.
And Sensei, in an instant, exploited that logic to turn the tables.

That takes a millennium of knowledge, skill, and magic.

Sensei really is incredible!

"...I concede," says the Butler.

He drops down to one knee and bows deeply.

"I am in awe. This is the pinnacle of Lifeless King combat. Pure strength alone cannot break it."
"You were plenty impressive yourself. Your loyalty to Alexander is admirable. I respect it."

And so, the battle ended with mutual respect.
The moment the fight concluded, the crowd erupted in applause.
Everyone had just witnessed a legendary match between two masters.

Is this what happens when warriors push their craft to the absolute limit...!