BUILDING MY OWN EMPIRE - My Journey from Nothing to Overwhelming Power-Chapter 101 - 100 – Attrition
"Damn you…" the Fourth-Rank Lord snarled, finally realizing the scale of the dilemma he had fallen into.
His overwhelming defense and absolute stability… had become the very engine of his own exhaustion.
Within mere minutes, the entire crystal armor was shattered.
His body remained without armor… but it didn't end there.
The threads of flame… were not satisfied.
After severing my connection to them, they began to grow without resistance, feeding endlessly on the Lord's accumulation.
For the first time, fatigue was clearly visible on his face. He couldn't stop the massive drain.
In less than an hour… he had lost more than 30% of his accumulation.
The flame threads had grown enormous—sparks bursting wildly from them.
If they had possessed even a trace of awareness or intent to attack… they would have become an immense threat to everyone present.
Then—
The Fourth-Rank Lord closed his eyes.
His aura began to shrink drastically… until it seemed as though he had suppressed all his power.
Even so…
It was impossible to completely conceal accumulation.
To those threads… even the faintest leakage—barely perceptible—was enough for them to continue feeding.
He opened his eyes again.
Searching for a solution.
The answer was right in front of him… simple, efficient, and costless.
Destroy the barrier… distance himself from the threads… and they would shift toward the outside environment to draw accumulation.
I smiled.
Cold. Mocking.
That solution… would be his downfall.
No attacking. No retreating.
Those were the terms of the contract.
Break them—and he loses.
The following minutes were heavy… decisive.
The Lord found no answer.
He couldn't stop the drain.
Then—
He exhaled sharply in frustration.
And suddenly—
He dashed backward.
At terrifying speed.
Step by step, he neared the edge of the barrier.
Then—
BOOOOOOM—
He burst through it violently.
A massive opening formed—
And in the next instant—
The entire barrier exploded.
"Hah…!" I exhaled sharply. "That means…"
{The contract… has been broken.}
I smiled.
A surge of overwhelming joy flooded through me.
Did I… win?
I couldn't believe it.
I defeated a Fourth-Rank Lord?
What an achievement…
My eyes turned toward him.
He was gasping—thick blood spilling from his mouth.
Then—
He dropped rapidly toward the ground.
CRASH—
He hit hard.
Kneeling.
In pain.
Blood continued to pour from his mouth.
He could barely stand.
His body looked frail… as if struck by a fatal blow.
He kept vomiting for several seconds.
Unable to rise.
Then… slowly… he began to breathe deeply.
Recovering.
I narrowed my eyes.
"What's going on…?" I whispered.
"Wasn't he supposed to die when the contract broke?"
Nothing made sense.
But then—
The Lord raised his head.
A smile appeared on his face.
Amid ruin.
"I allowed myself to be careless again…" he murmured.
Then he slowly stood.
His body trembled—but he forced it steady.
"How…?" I said angrily. "How is this possible?"
"Was the contract a trick?"
He laughed.
"Do you think a mere trick would cost me over half my accumulation? Don't be stupid."
I said nothing.
He was clearly damaged… but still—
"Wasn't breaking the contract supposed to kill you? Not just injure you?"
"Again," he mocked, "you seem to have forgotten the contract's terms."
"Attack… and evasion."
He paused briefly.
Then continued:
"My agreement had two clauses. Yes—if both were broken, it would've killed me."
"But I never attacked."
"I only broke half the agreement… so the damage is halved as well."
"Hah…!" I exhaled sharply. "What kind of nonsense is that…?"
Then—
His aura began to rise again.
A dense, milky-white energy surrounded him.
Then condensed—
Around his arms… and legs.
Around his feet—it formed gleaming white footwear.
Around his hands—it extended into long, blade-like edges.
The energy rippled around his legs—
And he lunged toward me.
"Damn it—"
I raised my hand.
He arrived instantly.
"This is someone who could barely stand…?" I whispered.
He raised his arm—like a blade.
Then brought it down violently—
BOOOOOM—
"AAAH!" I screamed.
My body was slammed downward.
The sky spun—
I barely stopped myself before crashing into the ground.
My eyes widened.
That strike… was heavy.
Terrifyingly heavy.
Without the protection of the Flame Art… my body would have been torn apart.
He rushed again.
His milky-white steps carried him with monstrous speed—like an eagle diving on prey.
He raised his arm—
Struck again—
SWOOOOSH—
I forced my body aside.
I was blasted dozens of meters away.
The Flame Art protected me again—but—
"Just two hits…?" I muttered.
"Two hits… and I've already lost over ten segments of the Flame Art…"
"Come!" I shouted.
He was already coming toward me.
He smiled—
Accepting the call.
Then—
A massive flutter echoed across the sky.
A gigantic eagle burst through the clouds—
Diving toward him.
The Lord halted.
Milky energy surged across his arms—
Crossing into an X over his chest.
He braced himself.
Then—
Impact.
BOOOOOOOM—
He was pushed back.
Dozens of meters.
The eagle soared upward again.
Preparing another strike.
"Beautiful beast," the Lord murmured calmly.
"I've been waiting for you to use it again."
Then he looked at me.
"So… you're losing accumulation rapidly while defending."
"That's why you called your bird."
"No matter."
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Thirty percent of my power… is enough to defeat everyone here."
Then he charged again.
I raised my hands—
Flame energy surging.
At the same time—
The eagle descended.
He reached me— 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
SWOOOOSH—
I shifted again—
Barely retreating.
He turned—
BOOOOOM—
The eagle struck him again.
Driving him back.
He raised his arm—
The milky blade extended—longer, denser.
I charged.
At full speed.
In one hand—
Dozens of relaxation butterflies.
In the other—
Flame energy blazing.
He struck the eagle violently—
The eagle shielded with its wings—
SWOOOOSH—
A piercing cry tore through the sky.
One wing—
Severely damaged.
Even in defense.
The Lord closed his eyes briefly.
Shook his head.
Dispelling the drowsiness.
Then—
He opened them.
And I was already there.
"You bastard!" I roared.
My left arm drew back.
Fist clenched.
Focused.
Loaded—
With fifty segments of Flame energy.
BOOOOOOOOOOM—
My fingers pierced his flesh.
Reaching his jaw—
He was hurled back—
Dozens of meters—
CRASH—
He slammed into the ground.
"Heh… first hit."
"Well done!" Monali shouted.
Nearby—
Everyone stood watching.
Louis and Joe were fine—
Though too weak to fight.
The sky began to darken—
Clouds gathering.
"He's matching him blow for blow…" Soman whispered.
The Lord charged.
The eagle dove.
I rushed in as well.
For a time—
The battle was equal.
Then—
His dominance returned.
Even at under 30%—
It was enough.
He rose into the sky—
Then descended toward the eagle—
Forming a massive ten-meter blade.
I moved—
SWOOOOSH—
"Damn it—!"
A devastating slash tore into the eagle's wing—
It crashed to the ground.
I raised my fist—
Flame energy gathered—
BOOOOOM—
I struck.
He sidestepped effortlessly.
Raised his blade—
Extended it—
Sharpened—
SWOOOOSH—
"AAAH!"
I was thrown back.
Sweat poured down my face.
My accumulation was draining rapidly.
For every unit he lost—
I was losing ten.
At this rate—
I would lose.
20% remaining.
Can I win like this…?
Damn it…
The contract was supposed to kill him.
"Don't overthink," he sneered.
"Experience decides victory."
"You're talented… your composure proves that."
He formed two long blades—
And charged.
Closing in—
Preparing a dual strike—
Then—
BOOOOOM—
Thunder roared.
Hundreds of glowing arrows rained horizontally.
He barely looked up—
BOOOOOOOM—
A massive explosion erupted.
I shielded myself with the Flame Art—
Yet—
The arrows struck me—
Surrounded me—
But caused no harm.
Instead—
They merged.
Layer by layer—
Forming a golden barrier around me.
Meanwhile—
The Lord was struck repeatedly.
Arrow after arrow.
His eyes shifted toward me—
Then—
Toward the others.
His gaze sharpened.
Even under the storm of attacks—
His focus shifted.
Then—
His body trembled.
Slowly—
He began to move.
Breaking through the barrage.
Then—
A foot stepped out.
And suddenly—
He dashed.
"Too fast…" I whispered.
He was already near them.
His blade extended—
Two meters—
Sharp enough to cut anything.
Just meters away from Monali—
"You won't touch the princess!"
A massive figure stepped forward.
A giant shield raised.
SWOOOOSH—
The Rock Warriors' leader blocked the strike.
The shield—
Was heavily split.
"What kind of power is this…?" he said in shock.
His defense—empowered by thirty warriors—
Was nearly cleaved apart in a single strike.
"Oh…" the Lord murmured.
Raising his hand again.
"Do you enjoy targeting my people?" I said coldly.
I was already near him.
I struck with a powerful flame blow—
He raised both blades—
Widened them—
BOOOOOM—
He was pushed back.
Then—
Dozens of massive light arrows struck him from behind.
Driving him further.
His hands trembled slightly.
He smiled.
"Good cooperation."
"A pack of pups… facing a lion."
His smile widened.
The milky energy softened—
Flowing like liquid.
He took a few steps.
My eyes tracked him.
"Something's coming…"
"Everyone—be careful."
Then—
He vanished.
No—
Not vanished.
Just too fast.
I barely saw him—
Right beside me—
"AAAH—"
Before I could finish—
I collapsed.
Blood exploded from my body.
My eyes turned toward the others—
Before I could react—
Another body was sent flying.
A scream echoed elsewhere.
Then—
He stopped.
"I only attack those who attack me," he said arrogantly.
I never imagined he could be this fast.
"He's still holding back…" I shouted angrily.
My eyes turned toward Monali—
She was injured.
Then—
To the side—
The Rock leader lay wounded as well.
"Ah—!"
I gasped.
A burning pain spread through my chest.
A deep slash—
Pierced through the Flame Art—
Into my body.
My arm…
Wouldn't move.
I tried again—
Nothing.
"Don't," he said calmly.
"Your body won't respond… after being struck by Liquid Milk."
"You bastard…" I muttered.
I tried again—
No use—
"AAAH—"
A new surge of pain.
Then it faded—
I tried to move—
"AAAH—"
Worse.
Every attempt—
More pain.
It was forcing me—
To remain still.
"My accumulation…" I gasped.
"It's gone… damn it…"
