A single perfectly executed strike is not a guarantee of success. Emeric would even add that if you "shake the dust" off an opponent who is accustomed to winning all the time, get ready to experience all the "enthusiasm" in return.
Emeric's right hook, charged to the limit with various forces, smashed into the Emperor's cheekbone. As it turned out, not without result, judging by the knocked out teeth. But that was Dichaucher's intention, for in this way he himself was letting Emeric up for a close-range strike. So Emeric's answer came at once. This time Emeric lost his teeth and flew tens of meters away.
Yeah, no missed punch is going to change the Emperor's style. Even if those very same blows were somehow doing some damage to him. But he was relentless, that is, first he tried to fully "neutralize" someone else's technique, but even if it failed, he took it on his chest. And then he fought back. A real endurance contest.
Emeric knew in his mind that a few missed kicks were no guarantee of success, but in practice he was still dissatisfied.
So far, the Emperor was crowding him. He had more stamina, plus the Emperor made him fight at close range, which was his main specialization. No, Emeric often sent various spells at him, which he "twisted" in various ways.
For example, lights that burn with magical energy rather than oxygen.
Lightning bolts that with their principle looked more like some kind of static sledgehammer.
The rams utilize a host of third-party principles.
But in practice, none of this turned out to be the most practical.
Magic directly in close contact, meaning the various layers he covered his limbs with, was more effective. Something remotely could not live long without his close contact, because the world itself could not accept so many different ways of doing the same thing. Reality didn't like being spit on in so many ways at once, as it turned out.
That's why it's hand-to-hand combat, hardcore.
And here, Dichauser already has the advantage due to experience, and, as it turns out, a more powerful potential that he taps into everything.
The method of trying to "overload" uselessness is not new. A great many people have tried to find a way to overpower the Champion, and mostly the Champion shattered their dreams against the wall of harsh reality. Dichauser was too brilliant, so he used "uselessness" on all sources at once. Therefore, this method was deemed impractical.
Until Emeric started using it, of course. His 'gift' gave him an advantage in creativity and speed of thought, but the Emperor himself was no idiot, plus hundreds of years of the most active battles against various forces had given him the necessary skills.
So he could kind of hit Deehausser, but he was like a tank, carrying him and fighting back. An answer that hurt a lot more in Emeric's body.
Dichauser no longer had such a calm gait. Emeric nearly broke his legs a couple times before the Emperor began to dodge his low-kicks. He, limping slightly, approached the lying Emeric. The man wanted to give himself a little respite. Emeric had never been beaten like this before, and by all accounts the fight was far from over.
«You, uh. ha-ah... - The Emperor breathed heavily. - Do you think it gives me some vindictive pleasure? Beating up an innocent you like this?!
«No need for slander here... - He replied stiffly, rising to his feet. Fractured, by the feel of it. - It's not such a one-sided battle... I punched you pretty good, too...
Dichauser only snorted at his bravado. He knew roughly how it was going to end. So far, the Emperor was still winning, and by a wide margin.
«Huh," Belial grinned, some of the blood coming out of his mouth. - Under other circumstances, the entire Underworld would be screaming with ecstasy. A young, fledgling demon who had done the Emperor himself! There would be no shame in losing!.....
Emeric could not immediately respond to such statements. Hallucinations began to appear before his eyes, as if from some concussion. Suspiciously similar in style to his visions. Dark phantoms that began to appear in places in the clearing. Busy doing various things, but not paying any attention to them.
«Is that so," he said, wiping the blood away with his sleeve. - Are you that disgusted with the present you...?
«What?" the Emperor asked in bewilderment.
«The idol of all Hell. Inspirer of young demons. I understand you were proud of that... - Emeric gave Dichauser a hard stare. - And now? Is revenge really worth all this? All the successes of your life?!
The Emperor didn't answer immediately, apparently Emeric's words had hit his inner doubts too hard.
«Yes," Dichauser replied grimly. - That's the one... - His voice trembled. - Worth it!
With the last word, he moved closer once more and struck at Emeric's crossed arms. Magical defenses, a layer of the power of destruction, small rudiments of toou-ki... It was all swept away in one blow.
The next moment Emeric found himself facing the ground again.
He was close to his limit. Emeric felt it with every broken bone in his body.
Emeric, as if in a trance, reached for the most ordinary rock that was right in front of his eyes. His fractured fingers struggled to hold on to the very ordinary piece of ground. An unaware observer would have thought he was just crazy from his wounds, but in fact Emeric....
Seen it.
Seen it all.
The Great Flood, which caused the tectonic plates to shift. More specifically, the Pacific, Eurasian, Philippine and North American plates.
Volcanic activity caused by subduction and magmatic eruptions contributed to the formation and growth of the Japanese islands.
And this little pebble was a witness to all these events. There was no way, not even magical, to know all these details from one measly piece of stone.
But he could.
The locket with which he was able to learn the details of Cleria's death did not have any charms behind it that could carry 'memories'. But nevertheless, he had gotten it from somewhere.
Understanding of all magical phenomena.
Knowledge in things that those very things by definition could not carry.
His true understanding of the streams of Destiny.
It was all part of the same gift he had been endowed with since birth.
Not "knowledge" as he had earlier assumed, but something more. Wisdom. An understanding of all things.
It was the near-death battle that finally made it possible to fully utilize this ability. To understand its mechanisms and principles.
And now he's putting it to full use. To defeat his opponent.
The new "boost" in abilities didn't give him a so-called second wind. The multitude of bones kept reminding him of themselves. His breathing was wet and ragged, probably because of the blood in his lungs. There wasn't much demonic energy left.
Still, Emeric felt an unprecedented confidence.
He rose and leaned on the more recoiling leg. Wisdom told him that the other leg, though deceptively quiet, was more damaged and could betray him at any moment.
He looked around the neighborhood.
The little girl's phantom was picking flowers until her mother called out to her. At that time, Kuo wasn't that big yet, and there was a small village in this place. The little girl wouldn't even live to be ten, dying of tuberculosis.....
That's enough.
Two samurai of the Sengoku Era fought within a meter of her. A time of turmoil and multiple rulers. The swords are made of hideous steel because in those days...
That's enough.
Too much unnecessary information in this situation. So far, Emeric couldn't use this power properly.
Dichauser was still approaching him despite his wounds as well.
He feels self-loathing and guilt towards Emeric, but is determined to exact his revenge. Hates Zekram and believes that only Aldis can destroy him. Hates Aldis because she gave up his sister for concessions from the Great King. Wants Aldis to feel as much pain as he does. He is ashamed. Hopes deep down that you will kill him and put him out of his misery, but will never admit it. Will never give up...
Too many contradictions. But that's the thing about life, isn't it? It's never that simple.
Wisdom tells us that right now Emperor is going to throw a right punch. The best route is to drop to a knee and then get up immediately to take an uppercut.
Even his special reception for the Emperor had turned out better. Now there weren't dozens of concepts, but hundreds. It was as simple as breathing. The knowledge of all the phenomena of the universe was ready to open all the secrets before him.....
Stop! If you give in too much to this power, you may never regain your sanity!
Emeric shook his head, chasing away the fog, and looked at Dichauser. He stood up again, very surprised at his new feint and his increased skills, but he chalked it up to luck.
He was wrong.
In the following exchanges of blows, Emerick reached his full potential.
All of Immerator's feints clicked in one or two. He dodged at the right moments, sometimes in advance. He took something on the block, which had increased dramatically in strength because of better "understanding" than Dichauser's. Now the Emperor couldn't use uselessness so successfully. Emeric had seen 'further' and 'deeper'.
At times, Emeric even managed to "destroy uselessness", though it's kind of impossible to do that, given all of Dichauser's experience. But the fact is, Emeric could.
Now this resembled a beating. Emeric skillfully dodged the blows, but delivered his own in full force. Wisdom told him that the Emperor had never been beaten so thoroughly.
A right hook once again struck the Emperor's cheekbone. The force of destruction filigreed through all barriers. Dichauser fell to the ground.
Emeric immediately piled on top of him and began to systematically punch the Emperor in the face. If at first he was still trying to defend himself, then later he had no strength left. His face was now a mess of wounds. A normal person would have died from such a thing.
Impact. The bridge of his nose nearly pierced his brain with shrapnel. The interference in the form of Emeric's arms resolved them with a fracture.
Another one. The hematomas almost completely hid the eyes.
And a few more. Already on the exhausted and barely breathing Emperor.
Such a painful sight of his childhood idol, who couldn't even fight back normally, sobered his mind.
«I... - Breathing heavily, Emeric spoke. - I have won, Emperor....
The bloody mess shifted slightly to the side. The features of his idol's face turned into some kind of ugliness.
«Yes... - Barely audible, he replied.
The blast of demonic power threw him away from Dichauser's body. But Emeric wasn't worried, for it was only a minor obstacle. Dichauser would literally burn his demonic energy just to buy himself a measly second. They both realized that. This flash wouldn't be able to hurt Emeric in any way.
Emeric, keeping a distance of a few meters, began to shout through the roar of burning demonic power:
«Enough, Emperor! You've lost! It's not too late to replay it!
Honestly, Emeric didn't understand what the Emperor wanted to accomplish with his last action. An extra couple seconds wouldn't do anything. It would literally drain all of his remaining stamina to keep him at bay for a little while.
Dichauser did not answer at once. It was evident that every action was not easy for him.
«I'm sorry, Emeric. But I'm no longer the Emperor you admired....
He reached for his spatial pocket with a trembling hand. He didn't see what the Emperor pulled out, but Wisdom immediately reported the hidden burden....
A royal figure. Created by Ajuka Beelzebub...
«Stop, Dichauser! YOU'RE GOING TO DIE! I'M TELLING YOU, WE CAN WORK THIS OUT!
«I'm just a weakling, Emeric... - A red glow formed between the Emperor's arm and chest. Bitter tears could be heard in the Emperor's distant voice. - ''But I will no longer rely on the will of others...'' I'm sorry, but I intend to see this through to the end...!...
Dichauser Belial used the Royal Figure on himself.
Emeric didn't manage to find any countermeasures.
In the next second, the brightest flash completely filled his vision.
His whole world had become a cacophony of pain and futility.....
***
patreon.com/posts/124888009