Avangarde Royal Capital?
With one arm lost, Lesser Than unleashed her fury, moving into her next attack. As she swung her remaining arm down, Lord Daigami’s feet vanished, leaving a gaping hole in the ground.
“Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, casts Darkness Hole!”
Just when I thought the ground beneath us would give way, Lord Daigami floated effortlessly in the air, gazing coldly at Lesser Than as if to say, “What of it?” But Lesser Than’s assault was far from over; she raised her arm again.
“Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, casts Black Scyller! Damage cannot be inflicted on Silver-White Guardian Deity Daigami!”
A swirling black mist erupted from the hole, enveloping Lord Daigami. What would happen if he got caught in that? I couldn’t even begin to guess, but there was no way that could defeat him. As expected, the mist surrounding him vanished in an instant. Absolute Divine Territory—true to its name, it was absolute. No skill or existence could breach it. If I hadn’t unconsciously wielded the Power of Destruction, I wouldn’t have been able to escape it either.
“Are you holding back?”
“Why is this fox so strong? It’s infuriating!”
“Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, casts Blackout!”
Suddenly, everything was plunged into darkness. Lord Daigami, Kurinka beside him, and even Rutna, who lay defeated, all vanished. It felt as if I was isolated in this void.
“Scary, isn’t it? Darkness unconsciously evokes feelings of loneliness. That’s why we want to hold hands in the dark, and knowing someone is there brings comfort. Enjoy the true essence of darkness that shakes your instincts!”
“Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, casts Amplifier!”
“It had no effect on Rua!”
“It had no effect on Kurinka!”
“It had no effect on Silver-White Guardian Deity Daigami!”
What was going to happen now? Was she planning to ambush us from the darkness? Monsters in the shallow parts of the Abyss Cave used to do that. But this wasn’t a status ailment of darkness, and this skill that sealed our vision and everything else was incredible.
“Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, attacks! Rua dodged skillfully!”
“Wait, wait! I’m not your target!”
I was startled by an attack from behind. Even without sensing it, I could dodge this much. I had trained hard after all.
“Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, casts Blackout Illusion!”
Suddenly, I felt my body float as if turned upside down. Just as quickly, I was flipped back, leaving me feeling nauseous. What could I do in this state where I couldn’t even walk?
“Rua-chan! Help me!”
“Ugh! This divine being can’t even move…”
“Rua, can you hear me? It’s your mother! The villagers are all safe for now!”
“It’s father. We’re trapped in this darkness. But don’t worry about us; you need to focus on defeating her.”
Voices echoed around me—Kurinka, Lord Daigami, and my father and mother. Amidst this swirling chaos, they reached out from somewhere.
“Hehe, did you hear that? Of course, your beloved ones are precious to you. So, you know what you must do, right?”
“I understand.”
“Good girl, then—”
“Silver-White Guardian Deity Daigami’s tail strike! Inflicted 18,957 damage to Lesser Than! 200,820/265,200”
“Guhah!”
In the midst of her speech, Lesser Than suddenly let out a pained scream. My vision returned, revealing her slammed to the ground. One of Lord Daigami’s white tails had struck her. It looked fluffy and soft, but it must hurt more than it appears, considering she’s twitching.
“I had some interest in what you would unleash, but this was a farce. You cast darkness to instill fear and amplified the shadows of the heart with nonexistent voices… that’s about it, isn’t it, Lesser Than?”
“How cruel… there’s no way I, the great one, could be so helpless… you say that, don’t you?”
“There’s no way Kurinka would ask me for help now, right?”
“Yeah. Because we promised to fight together!”
Lesser Than managed to stand, but it was clear she was nearly out of options. I had thought she was terrifying, having brought the Wizard Kingdom to ruin, but she was nothing special. With a name like “Absolute Darkness,” I had expected her to unleash skills akin to Eeks’ Bad End, but she was just a disappointment.
“I am Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness! Everyone feared and revered me! So, this should not be happening… it shouldn’t be, right? Hehe…”
Suddenly, she burst into laughter and began to wiggle her fingers. Then, a hole similar to the one Lord Daigami had tried to create appeared beside her. But this time, it wasn’t a dark hole; something was visible beyond it.
“Is that… Rash?”
“Probably just another fake…”
I wanted to believe that. There was no way Rash would be here, especially in a place like this, surrounded by monsters in a dire situation.
“This time, it’s not a fake. She wanted revenge for her beloved, and when she came running, I simply captured her. If you’re from the Wizard Kingdom, you should know just how formidable I am… how touching, isn’t it?”
“Rash…!”
“Even if you try to save her from here, it’s futile. This is merely a display. Are you going to search for her? I hope you survive until then.”
“…Hmm. This one certainly seems to be the real deal.”
If Lord Daigami said so, it must be true. I didn’t want to believe it, but Lesser Than had captured the real Rash. Knowing Lesser Than’s power, Rash was fighting there, seeking revenge for Rutna. He might die. No, he was definitely stepping into a fight that could lead to his death. Had Lord Hast not stopped him? Or had he slipped away at an opportune moment?
“Oh dear! Look how well that child dodged! But this time, it’s impossible; that Shield Demon’s defense is absolute!”
A demon resembling a shield charged at Rash. Just then, its movement halted, frozen in place.
“Oh, surprisingly resilient, aren’t you?”
Resilient? That was an understatement. Next, a blindingly bright flame spell was unleashed, followed immediately by another ice spell that froze the demon solid. Then, as if mocking it, Rash kicked the frozen Shield Demon, shattering it effortlessly.
“Lord Daigami, what was that?!”
“Ah, quite impressive knowledge for one so young. But explaining it to you would be pointless, Rua.”
“Is that how you talk?”
Fine, fine, whatever.
“Hmph, what a futile struggle. That Insect Demon is a troublesome creature that doesn’t rely on sight… oh?”
It was being roasted by flames.
“The remaining two are on a completely different level in terms of power and toughness! A mere child magician wouldn’t stand a chance against them!”
“They ran away…”
A rather grotesque demon with numerous horns and another with about ten wings seemed to have been deceived by an illusion and fled, leaving Rash behind.
“Indeed, facing those two would be an uphill battle. Exceptional magical power and adaptability; he has a promising future. It’s no wonder Rutna fell for him.”
Lord Daigami glanced at the fallen Rutna with a hint of sadness. Yes, Rutna was already dead. It was crueler still because she didn’t even realize it. But if possible, I wanted to let Rash see her one last time. The regret that lingered was all because of that grotesque demon over there.
“Ugh… so infuriating!”
The moment Lesser Than unleashed her power, the golden scenery shattered. A Dark Aura erupted from her body, shaking the very air of this dimensional space. True to her title as the Queen of Absolute Darkness, black stains spread across parts of the space. They appeared in spots, threatening to engulf the entire world in darkness.
“I just picked up this world by chance, so I don’t care anymore. This worthless little world has no value, right?”
“You picked up this world?”
“Vandalsia seemed to value my ability to traverse dimensions, but how foolish. Who do you think this Lesser Than listens to?”
Perhaps Vandalsia thought he could force her to obey through sheer power. Or maybe he had confidence in something else entirely.
“I can’t believe a mere human thinks they can strut around just because they’ve gained a little power. I was planning to toy with you and kill you at the right moment, but that can wait… for now.”
【Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, Dark Shoot!】
Lesser Than laughed in anger, her movements swift. Her target wasn’t us; it was that hole where Rash was standing.
【3019 damage dealt to Rash! Rash has fallen!】
“R-Rash!”
“He’s dead, dead, dead! He was just a child born to close his miserable life without even being able to protect his loved ones! So, Guardian! Are you going to go mad with rage and kill me? Even if you do, that boy won’t come back to life! Ha-ha, isn’t that right? Hyah-ha!”
While Lesser Than was gleefully reveling in her chaos, Lord Daigami did nothing but watch her with a look of disbelief. She was so caught up in her own excitement that she didn’t even notice Rash was no longer there. There was no way she could realize that the one she thought she had killed was standing right behind her. Honestly, I was just as confused about what was happening.
“You are Lesser Than, aren’t you?”
“Hyah-hah-hah! Hyah…?”
A child cloaked in sharp magical energy, from the tip of her pointed shoes to the end of her hat, showed no fear against the calamity. The flickering orange magic around her looked like a blade that could slice through anything. How could Rash, who had been somewhere else just moments ago, be here now? What had happened to that earlier attack? The answer, of course, lay with the Divine Being who was snickering at Lesser Than.
“W-why?! I just killed him! Ha?! Yes, it must be the work of that filthy Divine Being over there!”
“Half of that is correct, and it is not my fault that you failed to kill him. You were too busy celebrating to notice that you attacked an illusion created by Rash.”
“An illusion, you say…”
“I’m not foolish enough to walk around in this unknown space in my physical form. It’s only natural to stay vigilant against an enemy that could strike from anywhere.”
Lesser Than staggered, but it wasn’t because she was overwhelmed by Rash’s power. Her confidence was shaken because the opponent she had underestimated had dodged her full-strength attack. On top of that, the murderous magical energy emanating from Rash was more than she had anticipated. If he had unleashed that power when we first met, I might have struggled a bit more.
“Why is that brat here?! Damn it, answer me!”
“If I were to borrow the words of humans, it’s a skill called ‘Divine Concealment.’ As long as I recognize something, I can manipulate its position at will.”
“W-what is that… That’s cheating…”
“Have you finally realized? What you lack is reverence for the Divine.”
If she had used that skill while fighting me, it could have been quite dangerous. It’s natural to think that the battle ended before it could be used since it was a close match with Lord Daigami. In any case, as Lord Daigami said, trying to fight was a mistake. To put it another way, provoking her by involving Rutna was also a blunder. It was only natural that I would face punishment for such actions in front of a Divine Being who loves humans. I doubt Lesser Than even knows the meaning of ‘punishment.’
“This is a bad dream… For the Queen of Absolute Darkness, Lesser Than, to be overwhelmed is something that must not happen… It cannot happen!”
【Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness, Dark Future!】
The black stains that had been scattered throughout the space suddenly expanded. True to her declaration, Lesser Than intended to end this world.
“Nobody has ever survived this! This is my ultimate technique!”
I couldn’t even begin to imagine what kind of skill it was, but Lesser Than still didn’t understand. The battle had already been decided long ago.
“Nobody has ever, huh?”
Lord Daigami’s tail swirled, and around it appeared countless orbs of lightning. There were so many that the term ‘countless’ didn’t even begin to cover it. From large to small, they threatened to engulf the entire space.
“What era are you talking about?”
【Silver-White Guardian Deity Daigami’s Divine Lightning Storm! 492017 damage dealt to Lesser Than! Lesser Than has been defeated! HP 0/265200】
The divine lightning unleashed from the orbs struck Lesser Than relentlessly. Even with her eyes closed, the blinding light was overwhelming, leaving no time to think about dodging or defending. She couldn’t even register that divine lightning had been unleashed. By the time she opened her eyes, Lesser Than was barely holding her form.
“A-Ada… Sh… Ha…”
Lesser Than, nearly charred black, crumbled like charcoal. She couldn’t even comprehend the concentrated bombardment of lightning; that was the power of Lord Daigami. Even the formidable opponent that the great mages of the Wizard Kingdom had struggled to seal was easily dispatched by him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t give you the finishing blow, young Rash.”
“…It’s fine.”
The furious magical energy that Rash had been radiating had vanished without a trace. Now, he wore a cold expression, looking somewhat defeated.
“If I had let her do as she pleased, it would have been a disaster. I’ve realized once again that I can’t do anything. I don’t have power like the Fox Deity, and I can’t even protect what’s important to me. Not even my beloved…”
“Why are you about to cry?”
Rash snapped back to reality as Rutna appeared behind him. He pinched his cheek, as if doubting whether he was dreaming.
“You came for me.”
“Y-You’re alive? Is this the real you?”
“Huh? What are you talking about…?”
“Because you…”
“Rutna, we need to leave now. We can’t afford to linger here.”
Lord Daigami glanced toward the dimensional beings. They were clearly different from before. They walked like zombies, their limbs stretching and contracting.
“Did you all walk here?”
“I don’t know if we walked or ran; why don’t you just say we walked?”
“I was just stretching my fingers. Tomorrow, I might try rolling around.”
“W-what are those guys…?”
Rash seemed more frightened of them than he had been of Lesser Than. But Rutna was the only one who shielded him from view. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but he felt like a boy.
Now wasn’t the time to be impressed by that. Those dimensional beings could be dealt with, but the real issue was how to get out of here. Just as I was contemplating using Lord Daigami’s Divine Concealment, I noticed something behind the dimensional beings.
“Get out of the way.”
With no hint of mercy, the dimensional beings were flung aside by whatever it was. As they scattered through the air, that figure approached confidently, the black cloak billowing behind them.
“That person…”
“Finally, I meet a familiar face.”
“The Demon Lord! And…”
“Rua! Are you safe?!”
Behind the Demon Lord were the people of Ikana Village. It was an unexpected reunion, and I could piece together what had happened. The Demon Lord and the others had been trapped here by Lesser Than. I didn’t know what her intentions were in doing so.
“That devil has been a real nuisance.”
“Demon Lord, Father, Mother. Were you all trapped by Lesser Than?”
“We were confined in that dark space in the sky and boundary. I suspect she enjoyed watching us wear ourselves down rather than seeking a direct confrontation. Hmph, she’s an opponent that should be easily dealt with…”
“Complaining about lost opportunities won’t change anything.”
I just noticed Elmera was there, but she seemed to lack her usual sharpness. She looked somewhat dejected, like a shy child. I wondered what had happened to her.
“The fact that the dark space has cleared means Lesser Than is dead.”
“We can catch up later. Everyone, let’s get out of here.”
“…What’s with this fox?”
“Are you planning to leave this Shinn behind?!”
From far behind the Demon Lord, Shinn came flying in. She immediately leaped onto the Demon Lord, crying and using his cloak to wipe her nose. How disgusting.
“I see, you were wandering in the dark space as well.”
“That’s not the point! Why didn’t you worry about me?! Demon Lord, Shinn… Shinn is hated by you…”
“I would never leave you behind. Now that the dark space has cleared, searching for you should be easy.”
“D-Demon Lord…”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Shinn’s eyes filled with tears. It was not the atmosphere to admit that I had completely forgotten about her until just now.
“It seems everyone is gathered. We will escape this world. Discussions can wait until after… including the matter of Rutna.”
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital, Hatra’s Mansion ◆
Before I could even ask how we would get out, everything was already over. Lord Daigami’s Divine Concealment surpassed even Lord Hast’s One Move. In fact, with this, we could have left at any time.
“What in the world are these guys?! Where did they even come from?!”
I finally managed to escape, but this is hardly the time for a conversation. This golden hall is exactly the scene that Lesser Than had shown me. The girls are seated, looking bewildered, while Shidge, clad in black tights and wielding a whip, stands ready to strike. Hatra, with her skirt torn to shreds, looks just as shocked.
“I see, the positions overlapped. I didn’t expect that place to coincide with here… Well, it’s just a minor mistake. There shouldn’t be any problems.”
You can’t just wash your face and pretend everything’s fine, Lord Daigami. The atmosphere is already thick with murderous intent. That strange tights-wearing figure is clearly ready for a fight.
“R-Rash!”
“Heh, don’t worry. If you’re alive, we can handle anything!”
“You should really fix that habit of rubbing your nose. It’s pretty lame.”
“Huh?!”
Sorry to interrupt your cool moment, but I’d rather you save that for later.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Shin Report! Revival!
Revival! Revival! Revivaaaaal!
Just when I thought the dark clouds had cleared and I finally found the Demon Lord, Daigami was there acting all cocky, and those guys from the village were around too. Thanks to the fox, I managed to escape, but now I’m stuck with these weird tights-wearing folks. The girls are even more troublesome than that guy.
Well, with the Demon Lord on my side, this will be a piece of cake. Come at me!
It’s been so long that I’m too excited to think straight.
Monster Compendium
【Lesser Than, Queen of Absolute Darkness HP 265200】
A supreme demon that suddenly appeared in the Wizard Kingdom several hundred years ago. She sealed the hearts of the people in darkness, pushing the nation to the brink of collapse. Rather than fighting directly, she prefers to enjoy watching her opponents weaken.
Under her influence, diligent farmers would cease their cultivation, scholars who dedicated their lives to research would succumb to sloth, and even those who inherited the blood of heroes would abandon their duty to protect the people.
While it’s true that the Wizard Kingdom had few means to combat such an elusive force of darkness at the time, even taking that into account, this demon’s power is overwhelming. No matter how vast an army, she could make them vanish from this world in an instant.