Activity Report: “The Tyrannical, Inviolable King” seems to have no end in sight with this update. Next time, surely. Surely.
◆ Avangarde Royal Capital – Arena Ruins ◆
【Alcist has appeared! HP 275,000】
“My fiancée! That one is a woman! Are you being deceived, or what?”
“It’s true we’re both women, but we are married! Besides, I don’t like you at all!”
“I see… So that’s how it is!”
【Alcist’s Earth Peruga! Gravity Fall attacks Rua and her companions!】
It felt as if I were weighed down by something incredibly heavy, making it hard to even stand. The very air seemed to press down on me, pulling me toward the ground. It was similar to the gravity magic used by Glaive from the Comet Wolf Brigade, but this was on a whole different level. If I let my guard down, I would be stuck to the ground, squished flat.
“Rua…!”
“Kurinka!”
“Wow, you can withstand Earth Peruga? You must be feeling a load equivalent to dozens of times normal gravity!”
It was tough, but it wasn’t the end of the world. There were similar floors in the Abyss Cave where I couldn’t move for half a day. Compared to that, I was still able to move now, even if it was limited.
“I won’t forgive you! Not only did you brainwash my fiancée, but you also took her by force and made her your betrothed! You’re a despicable scoundrel!”
“Then tell me! Since when did Kurinka become your fiancée?”
“Since the very beginning! She and I were destined to be together, even through reincarnation! I know this isn’t fate; it’s inevitability!”
“Rua-chan… That person may understand words, but they don’t understand conversation. It’s pointless to keep talking…”
That was true. With this gravity pressing down on us, we didn’t have time to chat. I might not be able to move as freely as usual, but it was enough to take down that guy.
【Rua unleashed the Sonic Ripper! No damage dealt to Alcist!】
My full-force slash passed right through Alcist. Ah, I see. My Sonic Ripper is inconvenient for Alcist’s “self-righteousness.” I could touch him now, but everything else was a no-go. What a troublesome opponent.
If that’s the case, I had no choice but to punch him directly. Against an opponent of that level, I couldn’t take him down in one hit, but I could still win. However, I realized something important. Alcist could ascend into the air endlessly, but I was limited by gravity, even if I jumped. Kurinka couldn’t fly in this gravity either. And just as I feared, Alcist was escaping higher and higher.
“Are you frustrated? You must be! But the sin of stealing my fiancée won’t just disappear!”
【Alcist’s Melancholy Call! A fierce acidic rain assaults Rua and her companions!】
The painful rain fell under the intense gravity. Alcist’s widespread attacks could soon threaten the Royal Capital. This rain was dissolving the rubble at an alarming rate, and if left unchecked, it would even damage my clothes.
【Rua takes 500 damage from Melancholy Call! Rua’s defense has decreased! HP 42,512/43,012】
【Kurinka takes 500 damage from Melancholy Call! Kurinka’s defense has decreased! HP 28,800/29,300】
Since Kurinka was in her Dragon form, this rain wouldn’t be fatal for her. My clothes were made from a special fabric that could withstand monster attacks, but I doubted it would last even a few minutes against this rain.
“Kurinka! Speed—”
【Kurinka cast Speed Force! Rua’s agility increased!】
【Kurinka cast Might Force! Rua’s attack power increased!】
“Thank you!”
As I expressed my gratitude, I leaped fiercely at Alcist. I couldn’t afford to take my time; my clothes were at risk, so I had to finish this quickly.
【Rua’s headbutt! 306,109 damage dealt to Alcist! Alcist has been defeated! HP 0/27,000】
“Ugh!”
I had so much momentum that I broke through Alcist’s abdomen. His body split in two, falling toward the ground. The intense gravity and rain ceased, and peace returned to the area.
“Ugh!”
“He’s still alive… but the battle is over.”
Alcist, now only a torso, looked at me with vacant eyes. He shouldn’t have been able to speak anymore, yet he moved his arms and crawled closer. This movement reminded me of Undead monsters, and it was genuinely unsettling. Kurinka flapped her wings once and retreated significantly.
“Fi-an-ce!”
“My only love is Rua-chan!”
“That’s a lie! Don’t lie to me!”
“It’s not a lie.”
“My love for her is genuine. I can assert that there’s no way she wouldn’t accept this. Just by walking through the Royal Capital, any woman, from child to adult, would be captivated and unable to suppress the urge to propose. At this point, anyone can see that my worth as a man surpasses that of any ugly commoner. Next is how I treat women. Women inherently seek nurturing, not just physically but also economically stable. On top of that, they desire consideration; women have a strong desire for self-affirmation. They want men to notice even the smallest changes, like a new hairstyle or accessories. I won’t pretend to be a man who doesn’t understand that. If I always show consideration for women, like saying, ‘Did you change your hairpin?’ that alone would make them ecstatic. They would feel acknowledged, and their fashion would be recognized, leading to uncontainable joy. Of course, they wouldn’t literally dance, but you get the sentiment.”
Alcist continued to speak without a hitch, even in his half-body state. I couldn’t afford to be dumbfounded; as he spoke, Alcist’s body was changing.
“He’s going to complete himself!”
【Rua’s attack!】
“There isn’t a woman who doesn’t love me.”
What just spoke wasn’t Alcist’s upper half. The lower half stood up, and from the place where it had been cut, a viscous liquid oozed out, and something emerged. It was Alcist. He was naked from the waist down, and as if he had sprouted, his arm muscles twisted grotesquely. His muscles contorted into free forms, and both arms transformed into wings.
The upper half that had been here slid over to the newly emerged Alcist, as if being absorbed. Flapping his winged arms like Nerva’s Harpy, he sprouted more wings from his back. One, two, three.
“I am all things.”
【The self-righteous, elegant, plague prince Alcist has appeared! HP ??????】
He picked up some rubble nearby and absorbed it into his palm. It was unfathomable; Alcist could freely change his body and absorb everything. The true strength of his self-righteousness was now revealed.
“To Vandalsia and his party! The Royal Capital is already surrounded by my Kashiram Nation, Beastkin, and Giant Alliance!”
“Try it if you can get close.”
“That’s the King of Kashiram! We can’t let him near!”
Even the Demon Lord and Elmera couldn’t handle Vandalsia. In that battle, the Demon Lord was already on his knees, and Elmera, missing her forearms, was wobbling. In contrast, Vandalsia floated slightly above the ground, his expression cold and devoid of emotion, as if he were showing off his power without wings.
There’s no way we could match Vandalsia. The King of Kashiram should understand that much. The Kashiram army, with their orderly formation, rushed forward, but as Vandalsia had said, the situation unfolded as expected. The soldiers riding the Pasiv fell off one by one as it stopped running. The Pasiv, appearing to be exhausted, flailed its limbs.
“Before my power, even gravity becomes nothing. Wind, fire, and water all become powerless. Naturally, leg strength as well.”
The Divine Nature of Vanishing. All means of resisting Vandalsia were erased. No matter how strong or fast, everything was futile before Vandalsia’s true form.
“Your Majesty! The current Vandalsia can nullify both arm and leg strength! So if anyone can win, it’s only me with the Divine Nature of Destruction! I’m really glad you came to help, but for now, stay back!”
“Rua, to reunite in battle once more… It seems we are fated to meet on the battlefield… But enough with the jokes. The answer is one! Leave it to me!”
“Y-Your Majesty! Are you serious?! You can’t possibly believe such absurd claims?!”
“Weiss, believe what you see right in front of you.”
Following the silver-haired knight Weiss, the soldiers surrounding the King were also voicing their discontent. However, those soldiers were crawling away from the fallen Pasiv. They were straining with all their might, but if Vandalsia were to erase them next, it would be the end. Yet, those people would vanish in an instant—ah, I see. A glance ahead revealed Lord Daigami.
“Demon Lord! Demon Lord!”
“Shin…”
Shin, who had jumped out of the tool pouch, flitted around the Demon Lord. Even with Vandalsia so close, he paid no mind.
“It’s fine! Just having the Demon Lord here makes Shin happy… If you die like this, all battered and bruised…”
“Get out of the way; this doesn’t concern you.”
“I don’t want to!”
“If you don’t move, then you too…”
“Y-you’re going to kill me…?”
I knew the Demon Lord was all talk. Even while panting, his gaze was fixed solely on Vandalsia.
“On that day, when it was so cold I thought I would freeze… the Demon Lord gently wrapped me in his cloak when I was all alone… Even when Getou and the others mocked me as useless, the Demon Lord never abandoned me…”
Shin clung to the Demon Lord’s arm with his small body. His grip was so weak that a slight shake would send him flying, yet the Demon Lord did nothing.
“I don’t want to be alone again…”
“…I never thought I’d be underestimated by you.”
“Th-that’s not what I meant! It’s not…”
“If I retreat here, he will trample everything and toy with it, effectively closing the curtain on human history. Do you accept that?”
“I don’t! So we should rely on a strong one. That person can easily defeat Vandalsia!”
“Oh? And who is this person?”
“Flash Strike Girl Lua! She will defeat Vandalsia! No, please defeat him!”
With tears welling in his eyes, Shin shouted my name. It wasn’t just hope; it was certainty. For the first time, I realized that Shin had been watching my battles more closely than anyone else besides Kurinka. Always hiding in the tool pouch, mocking me, and now I finally understood his true feelings.
“Indeed! I agree! You are the only one who can defeat him! Isn’t that right, Beast King Balbus?”
“What do you think, Nice?”
“I share the same sentiment as Balbus-sama.”
“I see. Then I have no choice but to leave it to you.”
“I, too, believe that only Lua can do it, uho!”
“We, the Beastkin, have recognized you as a strong one for the first time, aside from Balbus-sama and Nice-sama! You better do something about it, or we’ll chew you to bits!”
“Go for it!”
“Balbus and Nice… the Beastkin…”
It wasn’t just the wildly excited Beastkin; Weiss, too, lowered his spear while remaining on Pasiv, seemingly resigned. The soldiers, though hesitant, began to sheathe their weapons one after another. It could be interpreted that they were following Weiss’s lead.
“I, Aslat, representing the Giant Race, ask you! Defeat the vengeful Vandalsia!”
“Though he is a hated foe, I am not foolish enough to overestimate my own power in this situation!”
“Hmph, I didn’t realize the conclusion was still pending.”
The pressure and rumble that shook even the Giant Race came from the Dragon God. He held Glare’s horn in his mouth, his head drooping lazily. His vacant eyes rolled around, bloodshot.
“D-dragon god. That’s Glare…”
“If you claim to be a monster, you should be able to witness your own clan’s demise, even if only your head remains.”
“Damn it, damn it! Uwaaaaaah! Damn it all!”
The sight of Glare’s head, spinning wildly as he screamed, was terrifying. The Dragon God, calmly holding it, was merciless. I thought I could never do something like that. Even if they were enemies, I couldn’t bring myself to make them suffer.
“Glare.”
“You! If you’re here, the Evil Nobility will be immortal!”
“Such things need not be spoken. Just watch.”
“Hyahahahaha! So you’re Lua, huh? Everyone’s expecting you, but do you really think you can win against Vandalsia and Alcist? Are you out of your mind?!”
I couldn’t help but wonder why Vandalsia married someone like that. His foul mouth made me think so. Every time he laughed, Glare’s severed head swayed grotesquely, amplifying that thought.
“Win for me!”
“The Flash Strike Girl can win!”
“Everyone, cheer her on!”
““““Lua! Lua! Lua! Lua! Lua!””””
The soldiers of Kashiram began to chant my name in perfect unison. Vandalsia looked on, puzzled by the scene of them raising their hands in excitement.
Yes, I was incredibly happy. From the moment I first entered the Adventurer’s Guild until today, I had never been recognized by so many people. During the Poison Salamander hunt, no one acknowledged me, and I felt frustrated and sad, but now so many people recognized me. Not just humans, but Beastkin and Giants too.
“I’ll give you Momol Marron, so you must win!”
Even the Demon Race.
“If I were to butt in here, I’d become the villain. Now, finish this quickly with your Sonic Ripper.”
Even the Elves. It felt as if the once fragmented races had united as one.
“Silence, you insignificant pests. Disappear.”
“That won’t happen.”
When Vandalsia raised his hand, countless Catastrophes were set to strike the Kashiram army and the Beastkin. Or so it should have been. This dazzling light was Lord Daigami’s Absolute Divine Territory. A thin white wall arched toward the sky, enveloping us and Vandalsia and Alcist entirely.
“You…!”
“To cross the Absolute Divine Territory and wield your power is hundreds of years too soon.”
“You! Erase all of that, now!”
“That would be a troublesome task. Hmph, oh God of Azuma. You truly care for humans. Then come at me with that momentum.”
“I am the God of Azuma, and I do not guard this nation. When those two came to plead with me, I initially intended to refuse.”
Glare, who appeared to be dancing with his head while spitting, was too noisy for me to hear well. Lord Daigami kept his eyes closed, maintaining that white divine realm.
“Lending my hand to save this nation would be easy. However, if I do so, the people of this nation will worship me and beg for my help at every turn. That cannot be allowed, neither for Azuma nor for this nation… Humans must forge their own history, even if calamity stands in their way.”
“Not realizing your intentions, I…”
“Do not worry about it, Koto-hime.”
Next to Lord Daigami, Karein was regaining her human form. Her limbs were still spider-like, but her body was mostly human.
“However, I suppose I do like humans after all. I cannot say whether it’s similar to a parent’s heart that finds the troublesome child most endearing… but it seemed foolish to suppress my feelings of affection. Especially in front of those two.”
“W-we?”
“Same-sex marriage is something no one has accomplished in the long history of humanity.”
With a mocking laugh, Lord Daigami turned to us. It wasn’t just Kurinka whose face turned bright red; I was sure mine was too. Wait, did we even tell Lord Daigami that we were getting married?
“I intend to lend my strength in my own way. Even if it means facing something fearsome.”
That fearsome thing’s face was in a terrible state. Its mouth was split open, fangs protruding, and a long, thin tongue lolled out. That beautiful visage was nowhere to be found; the angel atop Avangarde Castle was no longer an angel. It had become a demon. And it seemed that its gaze was fixed on Lord Daigami.
“I see, so you, as a god, have chosen to let humans die here.”
“What nonsense. Rather, this is to allow you to witness your end, humans. Look at the eyes of those gathered here.”
“What…?”
Some wore anxious expressions, but most had determined looks. Thankfully, these people believed in my victory.
“Lua-san, I’ll be watching from here too!”
“Old man Hast is safe! Don’t die from some weird worry!”
“T-Tiferia! Eeks! I thought you weren’t here, but you’re with those people…”
I didn’t want to ask about the circumstances; right now, it was those guys.
“Ku, kukukuku… So it really was you at the very end… little girl!”
“Papa! That guy is trying to steal my fiancée! Let’s kill him together!”
“Kurinka.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
Without saying a word, Kurinka stepped beyond Lord Daigami’s Absolute Divine Territory. She did so to ensure she wouldn’t be a hindrance, allowing me to give it my all.
“I will bring it all to an end! Humans, Beastkin, Giants, Elves—every last history will be erased! I am Vandalsia! The tyrannical, inviolable king!”
His declaration was the signal for battle. Now that I think about it, I had fought alongside him the first time we clashed, wielding the Demon Sword Disballade. I had come to understand its power, and I wouldn’t hold back for anyone.
“I’ll show you what I’m truly capable of, Vandalsia, Alcist. Prepare to witness my full strength!”
◆ Shin Report ◆
Rua here! It’s Katsu!