This time, he had finally been able to draw them out: his four best swords.
Phantom Bane which was best at attacking enemies who didn't have a corporeal form, and exceeded at inflicting paralyze and fatigue statuses on the ones it cut.
God Slaying Emperor Blade which had cut down the proud warriors of the Lizardmen tribes and was sharper than any blade that humans or even the dwarves of this world could craft.
Blade of the Niflheim King which was counted amongst the strongest blades with an ice attribute. It caused frostbite to the wounds that it made, thus making it even more dangerous. It was shaped in the form of a European broadsword of which the blade emitted a chilling frost of air.
And his own master's blade that Ainz had given to him for his work in the lizardmen village. The lightning attribute blade, Takemikazuchi MK-8, thus completing the dual wield that his master once used.
To be able to use it against an opponent like his creator did filled Cocytus with an indescribable amount of joy. If he could cry he would have if his master was not here as well.
He finally got ready as he prepared to charge at Sylvan. The real battle began now.
….
…
"[Piercing icicle]!"
Sylvan jumped to the side as a wave of icicles as sharp as spears flew past him.
If he got hit by so much as a single one he was certain that it could penetrate his armor and end the fight there and then.
Only through the use of his martial skills and experience had he been able to evade or block all of Cocytus' attacks thus far.
On the other hand, he himself was still lacking. Even though his basic abilities were at a comparable level to his opponent, his attacks were not. The power of the martial skills that the humans of this world used was far below that of the skills, spells and passives in YGGDRASIL.
A single real attack from Cocytus that could use strikes from the wisdom king series could wipe out entire villages. The only reason that he did not use them thus far was because his opponents' attacks were also much weaker and he was still under orders to try and take Sylvan alive.
A continuous amount of attacks and spells had launched at Sylvan and Cocytus had already seen through this evasive kind of battle tactic where Sylvan would wait until Cocytus attacked so he could make use of the opening to counter. this hit and run style of fighting could only carry him so far.
Cocytus had grown tired of Sylvan dancing around him. Though it was praiseworthy enough that Sylvan could keep up with him to this extent, it was time to end this game.
Just as Sylvan went in for another hit-and-run attack, Cocytus activated his trap.
"You. Won't. Get. Away. [Ice Ring]!"
Icicles instantly sprouted from the ground and encircled Sylvan and Cocytus.
With a radius of just under three meters an arena of ice enclosed Sylvan and Cocytus. The ice itself was magically hardened and would be able to withstand up to three attacks from even a level 100 warrior character from YGGDRASIL.
"You. Can't. Run. Anymore."
"You are mistaken, I did not attack you with full force because I know full well you can dodge if you want to. But now I have you nice and tight inside this arena. I'll let you taste the full force of my spear!"
Sylvan had held back his strongest attack as dodging it was fairly easy for someone of Cocytus' caliber, but in this place, at this moment, with his strength increased and his opponent trapped it was time.
Sylvan guided all of the energy he had gained into the tip of his spear, making it glow with a brilliant shade of golden luster as it shone brightly and lit up the icicle arena.
This would be the deciding strike. Even if he could not kill Ainz Ooal Gown he would take one of his men with him and maybe that would persuade him to call off the attack. With this faint hope in his heart he charged.
"Oh. Looks. Like. You. Want. To. Finish. It. As. Well. Then. I'll. Greet. Your. Resolve. With. My. Best. Skill. Activate. [Ashura Sutoraiku]!"
This skill was not the most damaging of the skills that Cocytus possessed, but it had the special power of increasing the level of special effects that his weapons did to his opponents. Combined with Phantom Bane it upgraded the level of immobilizing effects that the weapon did and gave it a potential chance of inflicting instant death magic upon them. Because his sword itself had an armor penetrating effect it would activate the magic even if the armor normally shielded one from it.
With this attack Sylvan had a seventy percent chance of survival. For the sake of his master's orders but true to his warrior spirit this was the best chance of mercy through death that Cocytus could give to his opponent.
"Now martial skill [Tenfold Demon Spear Thrust]!"
Sylvan activated his greatest martial skill that he knew. Even in practice he had only pulled off this skill one out of five times. Following a special movement pattern it became possible to launch ten heavy spear thrusts that would seem almost simultaneous to the naked eye.
Now combined with his newfound power this was the limit of Sylvan's strength.
The two charged at each other, although it was just one step it felt as if they jumped a kilometer. Their weapons roaring with power, they flung themselves at each other. This exchange with each holding their own burdens and determination, they hit and…
"Take this!"
Ten booms that carried a clear metallic sound could be heard followed by a single whoosh that seemed to erase the sound from the world as the battle fell silent after it.
Shortly afterwards the ice arena disappeared and the winner of the battle became known.
As expected…
Cocytus stood strongly over the unmoving body of Sylvan. The power that had been granted to him at the eleventh hour and the weight of the burdens and determination that Sylvan carried…
In front of Cocytus it had been rejected and crushed into tiny bits. The power of comrades that Sylvan believed he had received to beat his foe… had failed.
"Splendidly done, Cocytus. You finished off a strong opponent in the name of Nazarick. But I have to ask… is he still alive?"
Cocytus did not turn around as he answered his master in a calm if not somewhat distressed voice.
"Yes. Ainz-sama. He. Is. Still. Breathing. But... there. Is. A. Problem."
Cocytus slowly turned around with great reluctance like a child that was about to show his parents a bad report card. He was very unwilling to disgrace Ainz-sama but he had no way to hide this.
As Cocytus turned around Ainz saw it even from a distance.
Cracks?
Over Cocytus' entire body there were cracks leaking out with a green substance. Although the cracks were minor and did not seem to be lethal they were numerous.
In total there were ten places where the seemingly impenetrable exoskeleton of Cocytus had been breached. Two cracks on his shoulders, five on his chest, two on his abdomen and one right in the center of his head between his eyes. Each one was dealt with pinpoint accuracy and was visibly meant to either incapacitate or kill the opponent.
"Please. Give. Me. Punishment. Ainz-sama. I. Have. Brought. Shame. To. Nazarick. Yet. Again."
From the tone of his voice it was clear that Cocytus was about to break down from frustration. If he had not used up the skill which nullified physical damage earlier in the fight then he would have been able to get out of the battle flawlessly. Instead he had allowed his opponent to injure him and had brought shame to every warrior of Nazarick, himself included.
"Ah, don't worry about it, Cocytus. You were able to capture a high level opponent alive and only sustained minor injuries. Even I myself would have had trouble doing so without getting injured. Consider this your victory."