Volume 8
Chapter 44
What is an "other person"? If asked this, I would probably say, "My one and only retainer, or a challenger." According to Rugato, it's different for others; the answer is more diverse. Parents, siblings, relatives, friends, comrades, lovers, enemies... I don't really understand that. I have no parents, no one I share blood with. I have no friends, nor anyone I could call an enemy. There was, however, one who gave birth to me. But I don't know if I could call them a "parent." The one who was there when I first awoke. The one who wished for me "to be thus." But I will never see them again. Because I killed them with my own hands.
『You are the masterpiece of our clan, and our final
destination. You will reign over this land and fight for our people. 』
The day I met them,
the day I first awoke, they declared this, and challenged me to a fight. And I
killed them easily. Without giving me time to even feel anything. What remained
was a castle frozen by my magic, a raging blizzard, and... that "parent's" single retainer. Left
behind, I licked the blood of the one who was my parent from my hand and sat on
the throne. And that was the beginning of my long, boring days. In a castle
sealed by a blizzard, I drank the blood my retainer brought, and occasionally
fought off challengers. I just repeated this. There was no real meaning to it.
It was just... there was nothing else to do, nor did I want to do anything
else. The stagnant days just passed. Amidst all that, my only pleasure, so to
speak, was the arrival of a challenger. They were different every time, but
each time, I felt an indescribable elation. According to Rugato, it's an
emotion called "curiosity."
An emotion born within me whenever a challenger appeared. Even if it vanished
quickly, I had, at some point, come to look forward to the arrival of this
"other person." That is
why, when I heard Rugato had failed, I felt that same "curiosity" in that person. Nozomu
Bountis. The one who defeated my only retainer. At the time, it was just the
same "curiosity" I felt for
other challengers, but the story brought by that shady crow who came to my
castle fueled it.
『Dragonslayer』
How could I not be
excited upon hearing that name? The one who gave me my only wound 150 years
ago... This person was connected to that. In that moment, "curiosity" became "fascination." And then I came to
this city, I met him, and my fascination accelerated. Furthermore, I saw many
other humans besides Nozomu Bountis who sparked my "curiosity." This is a human? This is one who truly resists?
Many "others"
(challengers). Accelerated, increasing emotions. Combined with drinking his
blood, my desires, which I thought I lacked, surged, and my frozen, rotting
heart was reborn. But it's not enough. Still not enough. I want to see more,
feel more, want more. Give me more heat. A boiling heat. Hurl your feelings at
me.
***
The advancing battle
line. The swarm of Thin Robes,
filling his vision, closed in on Nozomu, pulverizing the rubble of the Francilt
mansion. The magic that he had countered with his greatest annihilation
technique, 『Annihilation Light
Impact』. And now, multiple
layers of it were attacking in formation.
"Shh..."
Facing the gradually
approaching, thin giant walls, Nozomu quietly exhaled and readied his katana.
There was no panic on his face. His pupils narrowed, staring only at the
approaching "Thin Robes."
(She's higher in
output. Her deployment speed is also on another level. But...)
The Soul-Sealing Chains coiling around 『Mumei』 unraveled, and five-colored elemental
essence erupted. Like a geyser, the elemental
essence overflowed from the blade, raging, but the rings of chains dancing
with it instantly pulled it back to the blade. The chain-wreathed 『Mumei』 now housed the power of destruction, scattering five-colored,
glittering scales. And then, the dragon's strike, which annihilates all
existence, was unleashed.
『Dust Severance』
An infinitesimally
thin blade flew along the slash-line, tore through Vitora's "Thin Robe," and exploded. The elemental essence, which had become
countless blades, gouged out a large chunk of the hyper-dense magic cloth. The
power of the Dragon King of Destruction
unilaterally negated even Vitora's abnormal magic. Nozomu reversed his blade
and unleashed another 『Dust Severance』 at the next robe.
"Hah!"
He slammed 『Dust Severance』 after 『Dust Severance』, tearing through the "Thin Robes" one by one. He cut down the first, then the
second. He shattered the second, then the third. Despite continuously producing
blades capable of tearing through Vitora's magic, Nozomu showed no signs of
fatigue. He was now in a state of complete control over Tiamat's seemingly
infinite elemental essence. As long
as his concentration held, he could unleash this clear, sharp technique
endlessly.
"Tch. As I
thought, I can't cut them all down!"
But despite being
unharmed, his mouth twisted as if enduring his impatience. In the corner of his
vision, he could see the "Thin Robes"
he couldn't cut through slamming into the "City Isolation Barrier" surrounding the mansion. The "Thin Robes" and the "Barrier" annihilated each other and
dissipated. And each time a layer of the barrier was shattered, a section of
the city within that range was turned to ash.
"Kuh!"
The 『Thin Robe of the Absolute Ice Demon』 was a magic that could only be completely countered
by his 『Annihilation Light
Impact』. 『Dust Severance』 simply didn't have the range.
"Come, come. If
you don't hurry, this city will be completely... Oh?"
Vitora's mouth was
twisted in a mocking smile, but her expression went slack at the sight before
her. The moment the third "City
Isolation Barrier" was shattered, the first, which should have been
destroyed, regenerated. Vitora tilted her head, puzzled, but then looked down
at her feet and nodded in understanding.
"I see. You're
drawing the elemental essence
directly from the Dragon Vein. In
that case, as long as the function that deploys the barrier isn't destroyed, it
can be rebuilt any number of times. You were prepared for it to be broken,
then..."
The defining feature
of Arcazam's isolation barrier, more than its strength, was its superior
regenerative ability. A physical castle wall, if it's breached or destroyed,
repairs are a nightmare. But this "Isolation
Barrier" could be rebuilt any number of times, as long as the
deployment function itself wasn't broken. Furthermore, it could be used to
divide invading hordes of magic beasts so they could be defeated one by one. It
was tactically and strategically versatile.
"In that case, I
need not hold back! I shall add another 'serving'!"
Even more magic power
was drawn out. An amount that "torrent"
could no longer describe raged within the barrier. The moisture in the air
froze, and the crystallized snow created a localized blizzard.
"Ha... haha...
You've got to be kidding me."
"Just how much
magic power does she have..."
Mars, who had been
cutting down the aftershocks, had a strained face, as did Irisdina. The
pressure they could feel even through the barrier... It was like being crushed
in the deep sea. Not just Irisdina, but even the newly strengthened Mars, let
out a dry-throated sound. The battle line of "Thin Robes" was formed again. Perhaps because her magic had
risen, the number of new robes was even greater than before.
"This is my full
power. Now, how will you... Gofo!?"
But before Vitora
could give the command, something pierced her stomach. It was a single, sharp,
thin, five-colored blade. The next moment, the blade of elemental essence that had pierced her exploded.
『Core Pierce』
The exploding elemental essence blade pierced through
the ten-plus "Thin Robes"
and, at the same time, blew a massive hole in Vitora's abdomen. Her gushing
magic power, along with the "Thin
Robes" she had deployed, dissipated.
"Like I'd let you
keep doing whatever you want...!"
Nozomu, who had fired
the "Core Pierce," kicked
off the ground, closing the distance through the hole in the ice. And, as she
was regenerating, he thrust 『Mumei』 into her stomach
again.
"Guh!?"
"Your magic is a
threat. Its power, range, and speed. 'Abnormal'
isn't enough to describe it."
Every element of
Vitora's magic was insane. She could continuously fire off spells at a speed
equivalent to Irisdina’s instantaneous deployment, but with power that
surpasses Tima’s.
"What the...!"
She tried to use magic
in response to the pain, but the next moment, Nozomu's fist slammed into her
temple.
"Gah!?"
The impact on her
brain shook her consciousness, and the magic she was about to cast dissipated.
"But... it's
still 'magic.' It can't escape the fundamental components of magic."
There are several
things necessary to deploy and maintain magic. First is magic power. Without
energy, it won't activate. And there is one more, absolutely essential thing. That
is...
"To maintain
magic, a clear 'image' and the 'will' of the caster are indispensable.
Especially for the primitive magic you use..."
"!"
As her consciousness
wavered, she tried to step back. Nozomu stomped on her foot.
"Guh!?"
"Hah!"
Her body stiffened in
pain. An elbow strike slammed into her stomach. The blow, from the arm that had
let go of 『Mumei』, ruptured her liver. Her body bent into a 'U' shape,
and fresh blood spilled from her lips.
"Gasp..."
Magic is a feat
accomplished using the power of the mind. Therefore, the caster's "image" and "will" become absolutely essential
components. And that was the weakness of Vitora's magic. Because she had no
"formula" to maintain the
spell, the moment her consciousness was disturbed, it was instantly canceled.
"So, all I have
to do is shake your consciousness, find the gaps, and your magic is
useless."
Before Vitora's
emotions could flare in pain, before her magic could react, Nozomu's fist
snapped her chin up, rattling her consciousness again. A concussion. A
disturbance of consciousness caused by the brain being shaken. A normal blow
couldn't have shaken the brain of Vitora, who was always clad in high-density
magic. But for the current Nozomu, who held the power of the Dragon King of Destruction, it was
possible.
"This seems more
effective than just cutting or blasting you."
"Gu...
Aaaaaah!"
With his superior
martial arts, Nozomu kept her from regaining her focus, relentlessly pummeling
her. She was a powerhouse in her own country, without peer. The last time she'd
even felt pain in battle was 150 years ago. For that long, no one had been able
to even scratch her. In terms of power, she was a rarity. But the flip side
was, she had no experience fighting an equal. Nozomu, on the other hand, had
been fighting those stronger than him ever since his "Ability Suppression" was
emerged. That difference in experience was now showing clearly.
"I won't let you cast
magic. I won't let you focus. I'll seal your limbs, and just keep beating
you."
Nozomu used every
means to disrupt her. He blinded her with a knife-hand, disjointed her joints
to restrict her, and crushed her lungs to dull her reflexes. Of course, Vitora
healed all of it instantly with her magic and regeneration. But the pain, the
sensory loss, the confusion... that she couldn't avoid. His martial arts, even
as she regenerated, were slowly, steadily, breaking her down. Like a poison,
bit by bit. It seemed she would be swallowed by his storm. But...
"Just like
this...!"
An intense chill ran
down his spine. Nozomu reflexively pulled back the fist he'd been about to
drive into her stomach. The next moment, sharp wings burst from her abdomen.
The wings, tearing through flesh and grinding bone, shallowly sliced his fist.
"Are those... bat
wings!? Tch, a vampire's Ability!"
He swung at her
temple, trying to knock her out. But the leathery membrane of a wing that had
sprouted from her shoulder blocked his blow. Changing her body into that of a
bat. This, in itself, was a common vampire Ability. Rugato used it as well. But
this transformation was different. She was only changing parts of her body.
"Ku... haaaaah...
That... hurt..."
Nozomu's assault
paused, and Vitora's consciousness instantly recovered. She raised her right
hand, which swelled, transforming into a giant arm made of multiple bat wings,
and swiped at him.
"Kuh!"
He reflexively ducked,
but the wings sprouting from her body moved independently, attacking him from
above. Their surfaces were as sharp as steel swords. He slid, his body nearly
flat to the ground, dodging the wings, and grabbed 『Mumei』, which was still embedded in her chest.
"Hah!"
Slash! He ripped the blade
from her stomach to her side.
"Gasp! ...Haahaa!"
Even as her guts
spilled, Vitora's eyes gleamed with an irrepressible excitement, and she
transformed her body further. Her left arm also became a giant, winged limb,
and two pairs of even larger wings burst from her back. And then, the countless
wings attacked Nozomu from all directions.
"Tch!"
Faced with the
countless wings, Nozomu retreated, cursing. At this rate, the tide would turn.
He wouldn't let that happen. He unleashed a full-power 『Dust Severance』, shredding her wings, and tried to close the distance again.
"Haaaaah!"
He slipped into the
opening he'd created, but the wings regenerated instantly, filling his vision
once more. Faced with a mountain of blades, Nozomu drew out Tiamat's power and
poured it into his katana. His five-colored blade flashed, mowing down the
wings, but their pressure was only increasing. Vitora's magic was now affecting
the outside world, her aura alone freezing the air, creating physical pressure.
"Guh!?"
"Yes, more!
More!"
It was literally
bottomless. The feedback from his blade was getting stronger. The power of the Dragon King of Destruction cut through
her magic and her flesh, but the increasing resistance made him grit his teeth.
He'd just lopped off her right arm again. But the blood and magic gushing from
the wound instantly reattached it.
"Just how much
magic power do you have!?"
"Hahaha! I don't
know! I've never drawn out this much of my own power! Not even this physical
transformation! I never knew that going all out... could be this
exhilarating!"
Vitora swung her
massive arm down again.
"No one has ever
made me get serious! It was rare for anyone to even wound me! They all just
kneeled, and never appeared again!"
The magic-infused blow
shattered the ground, creating a crater. The shockwave forced them apart.
"How far can you
go? How much more will you excite me? Show me! Show me everything you
have!"
Her transformed left
arm thrust at the retreating Nozomu.
"Out of my
way!"
Nozomu shattered the
giant arm with "Core Pierce"
and closed the distance again.
"Shiiiii!"
"Haaaaaaah!"
Blade and winged-arm
clashed. 『Dust Severance』 and her strike collided, and the shockwave sent
pulverized flesh and chunks of earth flying. The battle, balanced on a knife's
edge, continued to scatter destruction, only growing more intense. Like a rock
tumbling down a steep slope, accelerating toward destruction.
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