Episode 378: An Extra-Large Magic Gem
Having released his Giantification, Yuma walked across the desolate land in his Metal Armor.
At Yuma’s feet, where he stopped, lay a glittering stone. It was a Magic Gem, as beautiful as a diamond.
“That’s huge… I’ve never seen one this big before.”
Yuma crouched down, picked up the Magic Gem, and stared at it intently. It was a gem that emitted a dazzling brilliance, but it possessed a terrifying amount of Magical Power.
Compared to the Magic Gems of the other 【Kings】, both its size and Magical Power were on a different level.
“So, the 【Yellow King】 really was in a league of his own, huh?”
He was an opponent that couldn’t be defeated without giving it your all. Without a doubt, he was the strongest monster he had fought so far.
As Yuma was pondering this, a voice came from behind him.
“Hey, Yuma~!”
It was Akito’s voice. Turning around, Yuma saw Akito flying towards him on Gae Bolg.
Rui was also running across the plain. He was glad that both of them were safe. It had been a fierce battle, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if they had been caught up in it.
And if the two of them were safe, then Albert must be too…
As Yuma shifted his gaze, Albert, wreathed in flames, flew in from behind Akito.
The three of them gathered around Yuma.
“You did it, Yuma! You finally defeated the 【Yellow King】!”
Akito approached and slapped Yuma on the shoulder. However, since Yuma was Metallized, Akito said “Ouch!” and shook his hand.
“Is that the 【Yellow King】’s Magic Gem?”
Asked by Rui, Yuma nodded.
“Yeah, it’s got an incredible amount of Magical Power. If I eat this, I should be able to use a considerable amount of “Thunder Magic”.”
As Yuma answered, Albert, who was behind Rui, spoke up.
“Amazing. The “Mana” in that Magic Gem must exceed 200,000. Can you really absorb even such a Demon Ore into your body?”
Yuma stared at the Magic Gem he was holding.
“I think I should be fine. I should still have quite a bit of my “Colorless Mana” left.”
“Then eat it! The only magic you can’t use is “Thunder”, right? Now you’ll be able to use all magic, so hurry up and eat it, eat it.”
Urged on by the pushy Akito. Looking at Rui and Albert’s faces, they were smiling just like Akito. Yuma lowered his gaze to the Magic Gem once more.
“Alright… I’ll try eating it.”
Yuma opened his fanged mouth wide and swallowed the shining Magic Gem. It passed down his esophagus and into his stomach.
Yuma stopped moving and waited for a reaction.
Immediately, a shocking sensation, like being electrocuted, surged up. Yuma clutched his stomach and hunched over. This was a sensation he had never felt before.
He felt more heat in his stomach than from any of the colored 【Kings】 or even the Demon Ore from the 【Boss Varlin】 in the Black Dungeon.
“Ugh…”
As Yuma was suffering, Rui asked with a pale face, “Are you okay?” Yuma couldn’t answer.
Rui, Akito, and Albert all stared at him with worried expressions.
Yuma almost fell to his knees, but after about a minute, the pain subsided.
“Phew… I think I managed to pull through.”
Yuma straightened his back and rubbed his stomach. It felt like power was overflowing from his body.
“So you were able to absorb it. Why don’t you try using it right away? “Thunder Magic”!”
“Yeah… I guess I will. Let’s give it a try.”
Urged on by Akito, Yuma focused his mind. Rui and the other two stepped back as a precaution.
It was his first time using “Thunder Magic”. He thought it would be alright, but there was a possibility of involving those around him.
Putting some distance between himself and the three of them, Yuma took a deep breath.
He put strength into his body and circulated Mana throughout his entire being. Golden patterns emerged on his black armor. Plasma crackled around him, and the stones rolling on the ground shattered.
“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
The thin plasma transformed into thick Lightning, rising towards the sky. The Lightning overlapped many times, becoming a pillar of light.
Yuma was astonished by the enormous amount of “Lightning Magical Power” being released.
Just using it was causing his body to tingle with pain. The Magical Power was so strong that he might be getting electrocuted.
–Can I really control this kind of power…?
Yuma was filled with anxiety, but Rui and the others were even more bewildered than Yuma.
Even though they had kept a considerable distance, they were pushed back by the tremendous release of Magical Power.
“That’s the 【Yellow King】’s Magical Power… it’s way too outrageous!”
Rui agreed with Akito, who was squinting his eyes as he muttered.
“Indeed, it might be difficult to control if it’s that strong. Even so, there’s no denying that you’ve obtained otherworldly “Thunder Magic”.”
Behind the two who were rejoicing, Albert wore a wry smile.
“Good grief, that’s some incredible Magical Power.”
Albert hesitated. He had been told by the upper echelons of the military to keep Mitaka in check, but he was far beyond that level.
He was now an existence far surpassing monsters.
Yuma, who was in front of the three people staring at him, released his Magical Power and quietly exhaled.
The surrounding ground had evaporated, creating a crater with a radius of about twenty meters.
Yuma looked at his clenched right hand. He was overflowing with confidence and power, as if he could never lose to anyone.
Yuma opened his hand, raised his face, and walked towards Rui and the others.
◇◇◇
Mia and the members of “Prometheus” had hurriedly gathered at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
It was because they had received information that Albert was coming to this base.
There was no doubt that the 【Yellow King】 had been defeated.
Mia was only worried about whether Albert was safe.
Mia, who was waiting in a facility at the air force base, paced around the waiting room with a restless feeling.
Mia wasn’t the only one in the waiting room. Seasoned Seekers who had fought alongside Albert as members of Prometheus were also present.
Everyone was happy that the 【Yellow King】 had been defeated, but at the same time, they were disappointed that they couldn’t fight on the front lines.
Then, they received news that Albert had arrived.
Mia and the others immediately left the room and headed to the command center where Albert was.
Along the way, they could see the aircraft on the runway through the windows. The Dornier 328 that Albert was using was parked there.
Mia’s pace quickened.
Mia violently opened the door to the command center and caught sight of Albert, who turned to face her.
He was unharmed and had returned safely. Mia was relieved to see Albert, but she and the other members of Prometheus were distracted by something else.
Mitaka Yuma was next to Albert.
He was emitting an abnormally strong Magical Power that was terrifying.