“…Soul Thorn…”
The moment I muttered that “activation word,” I felt a black flame surge up within me.
That black flame entwined around my pale, bloodless skin like “thorns,” and the inner flame began to overflow as magical power.
【Karla Lester】【Race: Human ♀】【Rank 6】
【Magical Power: ∞/660】20 Up【Stamina: 17/48】
【Total Combat Power: 2376 (Special Combat Power: 6472)】
【Divine Protection (Gift): Soul Thorn Exchange/Life Time】
“Snow!!”
Aria’s anguished voice echoed. Is she angry? She must be angry, right?
If I defeat this guy and I’m still alive, she can be as angry at me as she wants… So, just let me kill him!
“—Chase Lightning—”
The lightning, boosted by infinite magical power, assaulted Klein with far greater might than before.
“Hahahahahaha! What is that! Is that your true power?!”
Klein let out a boisterous laugh at the swarm of lightning bolts chasing their prey, and the Demon Sword in his hand intercepted them.
“—Vorpal Blade—!”
A Level 5 one-handed sword Battle Art. That Battle Art, which unleashed multiple slashes in an instant, struck down all the lightning, scattering dazzling sparks.
Battle Arts of Level 5 or higher boasted a level of power and range superior to those of Level 4 or below. It was said that these were not Battle Arts created by humans, but by spirits for the “Hero” and their companions to fight great enemies.
But you know…
“The post-use recovery lag doesn’t change, does it?”
Gogyu!!
“Ngh!”
In that instant… the kick I delivered after closing the distance in that brief moment sent Klein flying and snapped the bone in his left arm.
Because it’s a Battle Art made for the Hero, the recovery time is probably short, and the reuse time is reduced too. However, the “black thorns” wrapped around my body forcibly manipulated it according to my will, granting me the physical ability and strength to react in that fleeting moment.
Even so, the force exceeding my limits also broke my right leg, but I’m used to pain, you know?
“—Freeze—”
“—Tch!”
Klein, recovering from the lag, swung the Demon Sword in his right hand to dispel the freezing air. But the Level 6 ice magic, imbued with ample magical power, still froze half of Klein’s body without losing its potency even after being deflected.
“Damn it!!”
With a shout, Klein shattered the ice that had frozen him skin-deep from the inside.
Dogoon!!
In that instant, I lunged in again and smashed Klein’s right cheek with my left fist.
Klein’s cheekbone and the bones in my fist shattered simultaneously, making a sound like giant rocks colliding as we were both sent flying back.
Aiming for that moment, I pointed my fingertips at Klein. But Klein grabbed the hem of my skirt with his broken left hand and, tearing it, pulled me towards him.
“It’s over!”
Klein swung his Demon Sword. Without avoiding it, I moved even closer and caught it with my thorn-wrapped arm.
Giin!!
The thorns, which had even stopped Aria’s knife, were slashed, and the blade bit halfway into my arm.
“Haaaaaaa!!”
In that instant, I released magical power from my entire body.
The infinite magical power pushed back the Demon Sword, and as we clashed with magical power at such close range that our faces were reflected in each other’s eyes, my hair, as if absorbing the magical power, turned black.
Baaan!!!
With a sound like the air rupturing, this time I was blown back a considerable distance.
“…Fuhahahaha! Your power seems to have increased, but you’re still just ‘Hero-Class’! It seems it wasn’t enough to kill me, the ‘Hero’!”
Klein, who had landed some distance away, pointed the tip of his Demon Sword at me and laughed boisterously.
As light enveloped Klein’s entire body, his broken left arm and his shattered, swollen cheek healed and returned to normal before my eyes.
“…I know. Something like that.”
When I replied thus and demonstrated my broken bones and lacerations healing in an instant with a chantless All Cure, Klein openly scowled.
I can put up a good fight. Still, my disadvantage hasn’t changed.
My combat power has exceeded 6000, and the difference in our strength has narrowed, but as long as Klein has the Divine Protection of the Light Spirit, I can’t inflict significant damage.
I can’t use Level 8 magic yet. Level 7 magic might involve Aria and Kitty-chan, and I don’t think Klein would allow me the time to use such grand magic in the first place.
“…Koff.”
Still, what I have to do doesn’t change.
After a small cough, spitting out the blood that welled up, I further increased my magical power, my blackened hair fluttering.
…Notice it, Aria.
＊＊＊
— Side Aria.
“Snow!!”
That child used her Divine Protection (Gift).
I feel anger at that. More than Snow treating her own life carelessly, I was angry at myself for letting her do it.
It was my “softness” that allowed it to happen. I gained power and became strong. At the same time, I, who had lost everything, gained precious things.
People who took care of me. Trustworthy companions. A kind family. Precious friends…
Black thorns wrapped around Snow’s entire body like tattoos, and in exchange for her life, an enormous amount of magical power erupted.
With that power, having reached Rank 6, her combat power exceeded 6000.
Still, it’s reckless. Snow attacks bravely, but she’s only able to inflict damage by sacrificing herself in mutual strikes. Perhaps that’s the only way for Snow, a Magician, to fight alone, but the Divine Protection of the Light Spirit heals even that.
Snow’s hair, turning black as it absorbed her magical power, looked as if her very life was being drained away.
“Kuh.”
Pain shot through my entire body as I tried to stand up. Even so, as I forced myself to rise, I felt like Snow glanced at me for a moment.
“Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!”
Putting all my spirit into it, I stood up and slashed at Klein with my Black Knife, as if to interrupt their fight.
Giin!!
“Hahaha! Still defying me, huh! Come at me together! I’ll slaughter you both!!”
Klein swung his Demon Sword in a sideways sweep, easily sending me flying as I blocked it with my two weapons.
Klein and I are both light warriors using one-handed weapons. The difference in combat power and Status directly translates to a difference in strength. How can I bridge that gap…
“—Paralyze—”
In that instant, Klein’s movements stopped for a moment due to the paralysis effect. Seizing that opening, I lunged forward, emitting particles of light from my entire body, and aimed for his eyes with my Black Dagger.
“Tch!”
However, Klein, once again enveloped in light, dispelled the paralysis, and the dagger’s strike only managed to shallowly slash his eyelid.
Dogon!
In that moment, a kick swung from the side shattered Klein’s shoulder, and Snow’s leg also snapped.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaargh!! You’re in the way, you!”
My attacks are dodged, but Snow’s attacks land. Why is that?
Even though she’s enhanced by the black thorns, Snow’s speed doesn’t surpass mine when I use “Iron Rose.” So, what’s the reason?
While fighting, Snow glanced at me for just a moment. What did that mean?
…I’m sorry, Snow.
I won’t hesitate anymore.
“…Hah!”
I headed towards Klein again. The moment he noticed and threw a kick, I hurled my Black Knife at him.
“Gugah!?”
The instant Klein’s attention was drawn to the dagger for a fleeting moment, my palm strike, delivered as I lunged in despite my side being gouged, smashed into his jaw.
Because I was soft, Snow had no choice but to shave away her life.
My companions… my family… Elena-san… I hesitated, worried that killing the “Hero” would cause trouble for someone important to me.
But, that didn’t matter.
If I let this guy live, he’ll become a disaster for my important people.
If it causes trouble for my important people, then I can just die at that time.
In place of me, who had forgotten the resolve to die, Snow risked her own life.
I won’t hesitate anymore…
Snow reminded me how to fight.
“Youuuuuuuuuuu!!”
As Klein roared, seemingly having taken almost no damage, I dangled the Black Dagger before him, and using it as a feint, my kick, delivered as I stepped in, caught his jaw.
This probably didn’t do much damage either. But that’s fine.
“You will die here.”
With the resolve to put it into words, a blade-like “Killing Intent” erupted from my entire body.
In that moment, I felt like something within me, which had been stagnant until now, was starting to change.
This time, I’ve also mixed in Aria’s perspective.
The next book, volume 10, will feature not only Snow’s perspective but also Aria’s, with more than half of it being newly written material!
Though it’s not finished yet lol