Episode 161: The Strongest Net
It hadn’t been that long since I last saw Rui in the Red Dungeon, but he gave off a much more mature impression.
I thought it hadn’t been that long, but shook my head, realizing this wasn’t the time to dwell on it. Yuma hurriedly tried to escape.
“There he is! Taizen!!”
“Got it!”
Taizen readied his Magic Enchanted Armament, the “Electromagnetic Throw Gauntlet,” and fired without a moment’s delay. A cannon shell wreathed in Lightning exploded at Yuma’s feet.
“Whoa!?”
Dust billowed up, obscuring the surroundings. He tried to get out of the smoke, but something flew and wrapped around his body.
“What’s this?”
Chains entangled his hands and feet, immobilizing him. As the smoke cleared, he could see what was happening around him.
The Seekers of “Roar of the Raijuu” stood in all directions, holding the chains.
He tried to tear them apart, but they seemed surprisingly sturdy. They must be Magic Enchanted Armaments imbued with Mana.
–If I pull too hard, the people holding them might get hurt…
As he hesitated, a woman screamed and charged at him with a sword.
–Misaki Bluewell-san!
The Scorching Blade was swung down.
Yuma raised his left arm, blocking the strike. A fierce shower of Ember scattered, but even when struck by the burning sword, he felt no heat.
So, I haven’t lost my fire resistance.
Misaki deflected the sword and leaped back. At the same time, Taizen’s cannon roared. He tried to dodge, but the chains hindered his movement.
The Lightning cannon shell struck Yuma’s abdomen directly, flashing and exploding.
He was about to be blown backward, but the chains clanked and held him in place. The Seekers holding the chains were desperately holding on.
Yuma looked at his abdomen. Even with the cannon shell exploding, there was no particular pain.
Perhaps Albert’s magic is special after all? Without a pause, Tennoji ran towards him. This is no time to be thinking idly.
Yuma dissolved his body into a viscous mass. By becoming ‘Liquid Metal,’ all the chains came loose, and he turned into a black puddle.
Tennoji, who was about to step forward, stopped in astonishment.
Still in Liquid Metal form, Yuma moved across the road.
“It’s that black puddle! He’s trying to escape by changing form!!”
He glided smoothly along the road. It looked like he could escape like this. Just as he thought so,
“It’s alright. I won’t let him get away.”
A flame sword slashed across the road. “Whoa, dangerous!” Yuma exclaimed, dodging the slash and transforming back into a humanoid Metal Armor.
Standing before him was Rui, wielding a blazing Katana.
Holding the Katana at mid-level, he charged straight at him.
He dodged the fiery slashes repeatedly. Was it just his imagination, or had Rui’s skill improved?
Just as Yuma was about to block Rui’s descending Katana with his left arm, Rui’s eyes gleamed sharply. The flames that struck his arm burst and exploded. Surprised, he quickly pulled his arm back, but a burning heat remained on his arm.
–Ouch!?
They both took distance and faced each other. Yuma looked at his own reddened, heated arm in astonishment.
–This is the same magic as Albert’s… Why does Rui have it!?
“Rui!”
Tennoji and the others rushed over. Rui glared at him, then lowered his Katana to a low stance.
“It seems this Katana is effective after all. I’ll keep going!”
Rui stepped forward, attacking with an arcing fiery slash. He dodged to avoid being hit, but each strike became increasingly sharper.
Unable to dodge one of the descending blows, he raised his left hand. The moment it collided with the Katana, a violent explosion occurred.
◇◇◇
Rui leaped back, observing the situation.
The area was covered in smoke, and the Black Armor was no longer visible.
–It felt like I hit him… But what? What’s this strange feeling?
Rui focused his eyes intently, holding his Katana ready. As the smoke gradually cleared, Rui’s eyes widened at the sight of the Black Armor.
His left arm was glowing blue, and he stood there unharmed.
Surprised and hesitating to attack, the Black Armor fled. Rui stood there dumbfounded.
“Rui! Are you alright?”
Tennoji rushed over, worried about his injuries. Rui looked at the Scorching Blade and opened his mouth.
“That last strike… It felt strange.”
“What? What do you mean?”
Tennoji frowned.
“I think… he used Water Magic? It felt like the flames were being pushed back.”
“Oh come on, give me a break!”
Taizen, who had approached, said with a disgruntled expression.
“He’s already a terrifyingly strong Monster, and now he’s using magic on top of that? You’ve got to be kidding me! Tennoji, did you sense anything?!”
“…No, with my sensory abilities, I can’t distinguish differences in Magical Power. Anyway, let’s focus on chasing him for now!”
Rui replied, “Yes!” but he was still bothered by the blue light the Black Armor had used. If that was Water Magic…
With a sense of unease, he followed after Tennoji and the others.
◇◇◇
As Yuma ran between buildings, someone jumped down from above.
“Whoa! What is it!?”
There were more than ten people. They threw something at him, and he twisted his body to avoid it, but several hit him anyway.
Looking at them, he saw the chains he had seen earlier, wrapping around his hands and feet.
“What is this! Is it some kind of trend!? These chains?”
Yuma transformed parts of his hands and feet into ‘Liquid Metal,’ shaking off the chains.
“Ah! He shook them off!!”
“Don’t let him get away! Chase him, chase him!!”
They seemed panicked. However, once he had distanced himself, ordinary Seekers wouldn’t be able to catch up. He tried to escape as he was, but–
“He went that way, Tennoji! Stop him no matter what!!”
Yuma reacted to the shout of the Seeker he had left behind.
Tennoji? He had shaken him off and escaped earlier. He didn’t think he had caught up already. Looking back closely, he recognized the Battle Suits of the Seekers behind him.
“Those are, if I remember correctly, Fameel’s…”
At that moment, a voice came from above.
“Guess I have no choice. Looks like I’ll have to do it after all.”
Someone fell in front of him. He landed on the ground with a thud, then stood up as if nothing had happened.
A male Seeker wearing a hooded cloak over his Battle Suit, carrying a large white bag.
He had seen that distinctive blunt-cut hairstyle many times. His narrow eyes caught Yuma’s.
“That’s… Akito. Is he a high-ranking Seeker too?”
Yuma stopped in surprise. Seeing that, Akito grinned.
“Hey, Black Armor. How about you play with me this time? Don’t worry, I won’t let you get bored.”
Akito lowered the white bag he was carrying and took out a “Spear” from inside.
It was longer than a human’s height, with an unusually large spearhead and butt cap.
He held the shaft of the spear with both hands, pointing the tip towards him.
Akito raised the corners of his mouth and looked at Yuma.
“This is the strongest Magic Enchanted Armament in history, the Lightning Spear Gae Bolg! I’ll pierce that tough body of yours for sure!!”