Building My SSS-Rank Universal Empire: From Trash to Cosmic Overlord-Chapter 273: He’s dead

Contrary to Vale’s expectations, Thrain didn’t come out immediately. It seemed he was also using the opportunity to rest.

"Hey! Are you really going to hide like an animal in a hole? The great clan leader? What will your army say if they find you like this? The one who will save the clan! What a joke. You can’t even save yourself!"

Vale laughed. It wasn’t fake laughter. It was real, genuine because it was actually funny to him. "Ah! I bet this isn’t how you planned things in your head.

"Somehow, you thought you were going to sweep the ground with me and kill me. By this time, you were supposed to have my head in a bag. But look at you now, running like an animal. No shame! You are a disgrace to the Athrimir clan name!"

Vale was telling the truth. What was the use of all the posturing if one couldn’t back it up with action? Thrain was the one who wanted to fight, yet he was also the one running.

It made Vale angry, but he found it funny at the same time. He shook his head. "You are not worthy of becoming the clan leader."

Vale thought his words wouldn’t get to Thrain. After all, taunts were a classic battle strategy to destabilize an enemy’s mind. But even taunts could be ugly truths that stabbed at the heart.

Especially for someone like Thrain, who thought he was above everyone else. And he was, in his own tiny world. Wasn’t he the one who created the faction that killed the clan leader?

Wasn’t he the one who took the seat of clan leader? Wasn’t he the genius? The one who would raise the clan to its highest glory?

But then Vale came and ruined everything. He turned it all upside down and made the whole world watch as Thrain was made a fool. And then, the idea of defeating Vale in a duel came to mind. It was the perfect plan.

Not only would he be solving the issue of internal war, but he would also be laying the foundation for his own legendary story. Instead of defeating an army, he would challenge the leader of the rebels to single combat and he would win!

It was all so perfect in his head. So why? Why had things gone horribly wrong? Why was he running?

Everything, combined with Vale’s taunts, made him explode.

Suddenly, the shadow beside the tree where Vale stood thickened. A face glinted out of the darkness, and Thrain raised his head to look at Vale laughing in the tree.

Thrain gritted his teeth. He raised his hand and touched the tree, a green glow appearing between his fingers. It was an ability he rarely used because it lacked the brutal offense he favored. What was controlling trees compared to hurling fireballs?

But then Vale stopped laughing and said, "Everything around me should slow down!"

Thrain frowned, not understanding. But he felt a slight disturbance in the air, as if something was using essence—very faintly.

Vale looked down, and to Thrain, the speed was too fast. His head was a blur of after images that was left in the air. "Hello again, Thrain!"

Then he leaped down. Thrain hadn’t completed what he was doing with the tree, but he didn’t continue, he couldn’t. He panicked and tried to withdraw into the ground, but his movements were slow, sluggish. His heart beat sluggishly, and it felt as if he were submerged in thick liquid, struggling to fight his way out.

He didn’t get the chance because Vale wasn’t affected by the law’s application, maintaining his normal speed, and he was suddenly in front of him. The sword, which looked like rusted metal, came down like judgment.

It was fast, but Thrain’s eyes could track it. He even saw different ways to avoid it, but the problem was that his body wouldn’t respond.

The sword met his armor right where his shoulder connected—and cut through with ease. It rose and fell again, severing the other arm as well.

A blood-freezing scream tore from Thrain’s mouth as his body shuddered and jerked with pain. His severed hands flopped onto the ground.

Not only was it painful, but the sword was so hot that the pain overloaded Thrain’s mind. His eyes glazed over, and his head slammed into the ground, foam spilling from his mouth.

Vale frowned. "Pathetic. Wolf did worse than this to me. Well, he did cut my hands, but the other things he did were just as painful."

He dragged Thrain out of the hole. "I wanted to make you suffer."

Vale spoke, but his eyes were watching the sky, where flashes of golden light burst with brilliance. The clouds were heavy with rain. No, it was actually raining in some parts, but the water never touched the ground.

Terrix was fighting seriously now, and Vale didn’t want to deal with him if he managed to free himself from Pomora.

"No... you can’t... I’m the... clan leader."

Vale looked down at his brother and shook his head. "Not anymore."

In the end, it was a fast and easy death. Vale’s sword parted his head with ease. Thrain’s shocked eyes locked onto him in absolute surprise before their light faded.

Vale frowned. "An easy death is too much of a gift for you. Even my anger is not satisfied. But this will have to do for now."

He called the tower over to absorb the body and head. Then, he entered the tower himself and floated up into the sky, closer to where the two Master Knights were fighting.

"Thrain is dead!"

Terrix froze. He was inside a storm of golden light, and he just froze like that. Very slowly, he turned toward the tower and asked, "What?"

Vale repeated the words. "I killed him. The one who set the duel. My brother. Thrain Athrimir. I killed him." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

The light around Terrix dulled immediately.