◆ Ruins of the Village Near the Borders of Noibranz ◆
“I never expected a day would come when I would taste such bitterness… Life truly is unpredictable.”
As soon as I finished speaking, Aboro appeared in the air, multiple figures materializing around him. If this was Eerlich’s doing, it would be troublesome. He didn’t seem to be shapeshifting like that guy, but this was far more dangerous. A yellow aura outlined Aboro’s form, signaling that this was the real deal; the ground beneath us trembled once more, unyielding in its state.
“I’ll say this in advance: I’ve never reached this state before. Therefore, I can’t predict the damage it will cause.”
“Then I guess we have no choice but to stop everything.”
Aboro’s Meteor Drive Boost! Lua deftly dodged!
My instincts screamed at me to evade. But as the split Aboro charged straight at me, I regretted my decision the moment I dodged. The ground where Aboro crashed opened up like a gaping wound, and it all happened in an instant. It was as if something buried deep underground had exploded, sending a deafening shockwave that ravaged the area.
Lua deftly dodged!
“You’re dodging this too?! Nuhahaha! This is so much fun! I’m getting pumped up!”
From behind, diagonally, and from the sides, Aboro charged at me, enveloped in his aura. He was moving at a speed that made it feel like he had passed by me countless times in just a second. The ground around us had completely vanished, obliterated by Aboro, even the color of the soil beneath was being uprooted. At this rate, it felt like everything would be turned to mush down to the very depths of the earth.
If the range expanded, the human nations would be easily erased along with the land. This was no mere tornado; from this perspective, everything humans had built would be nothing more than vegetables being shredded on a cutting board. If I couldn’t stop him in a few minutes, there might not be a single place left in the vast Noibranz for anyone to live.
Lua’s attack! She dealt 4,251,935 damage to Aboro! Aboro has been defeated! HP 0/???????
“I saw that coming!”
Aboro’s Meteor Drive Boost! He dealt 4,726 damage to Lua! 35,588/44,115 HP remaining.
“Guh…!”
That hit was rough; it hurt a lot. I had anticipated the charge from my blind spot, but I couldn’t dodge any longer. I had to make him think I was still in control, or else the damage would reach the border far away. No, with Aboro rampaging like this, the shockwaves might already be wreaking havoc. Just his wild thrashing had enough power to erode distant mountains. After all, Metallica’s attacks had already decimated much of the area, and I didn’t want to see it suffer any further.
“I understand! I get it! If I unleash my full power, I could erase this continent in just a few days! And if I ramp up the output… Big Baaaang! Raaaash!”
Aboro unleashed the Big Bang Rush!
Lua unleashed the Sonic Ripper!
Surrounded, the remaining Aboros launched their Big Bang Rush. I wondered if anyone could survive this onslaught. Even at the initial stage, each rush was cutting through the air, aiming for me. The pain of direct contact would be unbearable, which is why I unleashed the Sonic Ripper while surrounded. It was the same circular slash I had used when I shattered Rash’s illusion.
The Aboros deftly dodged! Lua unleashed the Sonic Ripper! She dealt 3,502,157 damage to the Aboros!
“Nuh?!”
The Aboros have been defeated! HP 0/???????
I considered the possibility that they had seen my attack coming. From there, I relied on my instincts, predicting where they would dodge and striking again. If I kept hitting them like this, even if they could see it coming, they wouldn’t be able to respond. I was simply faster.
“Not done yet…!”
It seemed that only one of them managed to escape, albeit barely. Still, he was panting heavily, and that splitting technique must have taken a toll on him.
That aside, I wondered just how far Aboro’s foresight extended. Initially, he must have seen a future where I lost, but now it didn’t seem that way. If it were, he wouldn’t be so flustered. How much could he see, and how much was certain? Perhaps even Aboro himself didn’t fully understand.
“You can’t catch me…?”
It wasn’t just the exhaustion from splitting; he was simply fatigued from exerting himself to the limit. It seemed that he truly had never gone all out before. This was the result of unleashing everything without thinking ahead.
“Heh… To think the feared harbinger of calamity and hero-slayer would fall so easily…”
“Aboro, let’s stop this. You’re strong enough; stronger than anyone I’ve fought so far. It’s no surprise that no hero has ever defeated you.”
“I’ll take that as a sincere compliment. But I was once a man who led the Demon Race; if I don’t stand my ground here, I might as well not have started!”
Aboro’s Meteor Drive Burst!
Once again, he enveloped himself in energy, taking a combat stance. A powerful gust erupted from his entire body, just as potent as before, radiating strength. He still had plenty of power left and was eager to challenge me.
“I understand you’re angry about Noibranz’s destruction, but…”
“It hasn’t been destroyed yet! I have been doing everything in my power to protect it from that bombardment! Even while you were rampaging, I was fighting to defend it!”
“So, there are still people alive?!”
“Yes! That’s why I must eradicate them before the Metallica forces detect them!”
Now I understood why Aboro had been hiding. He had been protecting the Royal Capital from that light. More accurately, he was protecting the Neue left behind by the Demon Race.
“I can’t overlook even the smallest seed! That’s why I must take down that girl over there!”
“Then we’re the same!”
“The same?!”
“We’re both trying to protect something! Aboro, you’re different from Getou; you’re not just about destruction, you’re trying to protect too!”
He closed his eyes, seemingly deep in thought, remaining silent while still cloaked in energy. Then, he slowly spread his wings, hovering at a height that made me look up. He brought his arms together and thrust them forward, taking a stance. From there, he opened his fists, palms facing me.
“This will settle it.”
The energy Aboro had been gathering suddenly erupted in a massive wave. A golden light illuminated the area with such intensity that it felt like it was swallowing the very air. The dust from the chaos caused by Metallica’s attacks and Aboro’s rampage swirled into the air, as if everything was drawn to Aboro’s overwhelming power.
“I will unleash my ultimate technique. Its power… will reach the sea beyond me. The surface will vanish, and for hundreds of years, the land will be barren and unable to grow crops.”
“…You mean you’re serious?”
“Indeed. If you lack the means to stop this, you understand what will happen to humanity.”
I didn’t know the direction, but this continent housed the nations of Avangarde, Kashiram, and Normitz. Aboro’s ultimate technique could not only destroy lives but also obliterate the land itself. If I didn’t stop him, everyone would perish.
“Alright. Then I’ll respond with my ultimate technique as well.”
The ground trembled, the air quaked, and the entire space shook. Aboro’s technique, which aimed to consume and end everything, was about to be unleashed. Of course, I would counter with my own technique. Back then, it was the Bastard Sword, and against the Dragon God, I couldn’t fully deliver the finishing blow. I had been immobilized by the recoil then, but now it would be less of an issue. Though, I did faint when facing the King of Six-Six.
“The most powerful technique crafted by the Demon Race… and at the same time, a technique that stakes our very existence. If this doesn’t work… it means there will be no tomorrow for us demons! Armageddon Buuuuurst!”
Aboro unleashed the Armageddon Burst!
“There will be!”
Lua unleashed the Sonic Impact!
The clash of our techniques occurred in less than a second, not even half that time. It was immediately clear which was stronger. A deafening explosion silenced all sound, and upon contact, destruction ensued. The quality, scale, and power of my technique completely overshadowed his.
“As expected…”
It was a fleeting moment, but I could confirm it slowly. The Armageddon Burst, capable of ending the land, humanity, and the future, was engulfed by my Sonic Impact. Its momentum remained unyielding as it reached Aboro.
— We have lost.
I dealt 100,624,533 damage to Aboro!
I distinctly heard that. Just before it, his expression seemed oddly satisfied, but perhaps that was just my imagination.
“Aboro…!”
Aboro has been defeated! HP 0/???????
I moved to do what needed to be done.
“…Ugh.”
“Thank goodness, it seems I made it just in time.”
If I had been even a moment later, Aboro’s body might have completely vanished. His limbs were torn apart, leaving only his head and the torso still connected.
“Wow, you’re still alive. You might be tougher than the Dragon God.”
“But Lua-chan, back then, your Bastard Sword was in tatters, wasn’t it?”
Shooting the Sonic Impact and chasing right after was a close call. By the time I arrived, Aboro’s body was nearly on the verge of disintegration. I had realized during Schwelm’s fight that if I charged straight ahead, I could surpass the speed of light. That understanding led to my decision; otherwise, I might not have had the courage to try.
Even for Aboro, he couldn’t withstand that kind of power. But perhaps if he had multiplied himself like before, he could have escaped. Eerlich had done the same, but I wondered if that was something he could do indefinitely.
“Am I… still alive?”
Thanks to Kurinka’s healing magic and the Power of Regeneration, he had recovered to some extent. His head and torso were still separate, but with Aboro’s vitality, he shouldn’t be dead.
“I’m glad, but you should have split and run away, Aboro.”
“Even so, there was no chance of victory. The gap in our abilities was that clear.”
“Oh, come on…”
It was true that he hadn’t used the Power of Destruction. But that wasn’t because he underestimated me; he simply thought there was still hope.
“You haven’t even used half of your strength. On top of that, you held back to prevent me from causing more destruction around us…”
Aboro was crying. I couldn’t tell if it was because he lost or out of frustration for being saved. He showed me that even a member of the Demon Race could shed tears, a simple truth that was nonetheless profound.
“Why did you save me?”
“Because I want you to protect what remains.”
“…What do you mean?”
“The only one who can protect what the Demon Race has left is you, Aboro. I don’t understand its importance because I’m not a member of the Demon Race. That’s why you’re the only one who can do it…”
I felt it. Despite my desperate efforts, I didn’t feel much sorrow when I learned that Noibranz had been destroyed. Perhaps it was because it didn’t truly matter to me. Yet, I had claimed I wanted to save the people of Noibranz. If my father, mother, or the people of Ikana Village had been in that position, I would have fought much harder. Kurinka had managed to mask her feelings well, but maybe she had realized my sentiments. That’s why she seemed so unenthusiastic.
“What do you gain from this…?”
“I don’t know…”
That was my honest answer. Elmera had sheltered Beastkin, Giants, and members of the Demon Race, surviving until this era. Her actions were likely a result of having lived through a time of persecution. It wasn’t about gain or loss; it was a matter of feelings.
“Even your feelings, Aboro, don’t seem to yield any gain.”
“…Enough. I admit defeat.”
With a resigned expression, Aboro closed his eyes and continued to receive Kurinka’s treatment. If he were to rampage again, I would have to defeat him for real this time. If Getou and the others had known about Neue’s existence, they might have acted similarly to Aboro. I thought it was merely a coincidence that Aboro had ended up in Noibranz.
That’s why it was sad. I had let slip a potential future where he might have acknowledged his defeat. I wondered if Aboro’s foresight could grasp such nuances.
“The outcome of our battle… became unclear to me halfway through. My foresight can sometimes see far into the future, while at other times, it can only glimpse the near future. I have no idea why or under what conditions this happens. But perhaps I finally understand now…”
As if he were seeing something again, Aboro opened his eyes and fixed his gaze on the void. He seemed so dazed that he didn’t even notice his hands had finished regenerating.
“The future I have seen has always been correct. The defeat of the human army, the fate of the heroes… I had grown arrogant. I believed I could not lose to anything. That’s why I couldn’t believe it when I saw the future where the Demon Race would be defeated…”
“Even though the Demon Race, including you, is incredibly strong, why…?”
“No matter how superior we are, we were not allowed to thrive on the surface. The Demon Race can starve, and humans will not remain weak forever. As our numbers dwindled… When I glimpsed the future of the Demon Race’s extinction, I gave up. It was meaningless for me to struggle alone. It was then that I met Elmera.”
Because he had seen the future, he had given up. That was a shock to me. Of course, I couldn’t see the future. But if I had known the outcome like Aboro, I might have felt the same way.
“Despite her circumstances, that girl was not in despair. The fragile elf girl I had looked down upon had grown stronger and was calling for a resurgence. Looking back, I should have realized then. The power to struggle against the unseen darkness is far more incredible than merely seeing the future.”
“I see… Elmera is amazing…”
“You are too. If you have such will, the future can change. I can only see the future as it is predetermined. It was through this battle that I came to understand that.”
I didn’t say it out loud because I knew he would get cocky, but I wanted to praise him. Thanks to Elmera’s connection, I was here now. Thank you, I silently expressed my gratitude to Elmera in my heart.
“Elmera has also reunited with her sister. I too have reunited with Kurinka, and here I am now. If this is all predetermined, I would have been filled with anxiety. But thanks to Aboro, I found courage.”
“Yes, there is no such thing as a predetermined future… That’s why Madias is so desperate.”
“You know Madias?!”
“Yes, even the Divine Being cannot see the future… It seems I have indeed grown arrogant.”
Aboro said nothing more. He surrendered himself to Kurinka’s treatment for a while, and a few minutes later, he finally spoke again.
“I will protect Noibranz.”
That meant he would no longer fight against us. It was the moment when a member of the Demon Race finally found peace.
“Um, Aboro. In the Nation of Kashiram, Beastkin live alongside humans. There are still some issues, and it seems there are troubles… So please, don’t hate humans too much. If possible, please stop attacking! I beg you!”
“Do not worry, daughter of the Dragon. Even if I were to act again, my life would surely be forfeit.”
He meant that I would kill him, and that was an unpleasant way to put it. He wasn’t wrong, though. As Kurinka said, it seemed they were getting along quite well in the Nation of Kashiram. So it was strange to assume things weren’t going well.
If truly understanding each other required a genuine clash like mine with Aboro, that would be a bit troublesome. But if we could become friends, then assuming differences in thought or strength was the wrong approach. You wouldn’t know until you tried, just like the results we had now.
“Is it over?”
“Shiny?! Where have you been until now…?”
“Geez, I thought I was going to die in that intense battle! I was hanging onto that dragon girl’s tail the whole time!”
“I-I didn’t notice!”
Now that I thought about it, I had completely forgotten. Somehow, she had followed us and was staying at the same inn. Even Kurinka was surprised.
“You guys really have it rough. Noibranz was trying to fight something like this? That’s just laughable!”
“Y-Yeah. Thank you.”
Thanks to Shiny, who had popped up from somewhere, the somber atmosphere lightened a bit. I wanted to keep quiet until Aboro’s treatment was finished, but it couldn’t be helped. For a little while, I would rest here too. I was just so tired.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Well, even Aboro turned into a monster, and that saved me.
Now I can walk around openly.
I want to clear my name from all the insults I received as a failure.
After all, I have Rua, the one who killed the Hero Slayer, in my bag.
Anyone who dares to oppose me will face the Sonic Impact!
Hehe, things are getting fun!