◆ Holy Nation of Uzei, Near the Holy Capital Martis, Above the Skies ◆
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Perfect Knuckle! Lua deftly dodged!】
“Take this…!”
Branburm’s body had become metallic, yet he still gritted his teeth with a vivid expression. If he were still human, his veins might have been bulging.
“My physical abilities should be evenly matched… that much is certain… Is it the difference in experience, perhaps?”
“Maybe?”
“If I don’t win here, I won’t be a Metalican! I refuse to be toyed with in such an incomplete manner!”
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Perfect Laser! Lua deftly dodged!】
I analyzed his attack patterns, trajectories, and what made him angry enough to disrupt his movements. Just like in the Abyss Cave, one must understand the personalities and quirks of monsters to break through. Branburm was constantly thinking of outsmarting me, often using his initial attack as a decoy to land a decisive blow with the next or the one after that. While that strategy wasn’t wrong, it was likely just part of Branburm’s nature.
He seemed to have been scheming behind the scenes, maintaining a calm facade while sneering at me. Perhaps I had a similar quirk myself. Well, when things get tough, I usually stop thinking and just cut through with sheer force. I don’t tend to dwell on complicated matters. It was only recently that I began to understand my fighting style in such a logical way. So, I believe my body moves instinctively in that regard.
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to fight someone like you.”
“What?! I’ll kill you!”
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Perfect Vulcan!】
He fired an attack called Vulcan from his mouth, using it as a decoy to try and flank me. I suspected that Branburm hadn’t fought much back when he was in Metallica. Perhaps only during the battle with the Garden of Beasts when he helped me.
【Lua deftly dodged! Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Perfect Elbow! Lua deftly dodged!】
“Take this!”
【Lua’s attack! She dealt 165,405 damage to Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm!】
“Ugh! Damn it!”
So close, I almost obliterated half of his body. With an opponent this fast, it was certainly a struggle. But I had completely severed his left shoulder, which should have halved his attack power. It was a hassle since even my Sonic Ripper wouldn’t hit him normally.
“What the hell are you… If you’re that strong, you could achieve anything, even become a Divine Being!”
“What about you, Branburm? What have you done to Metallica… And what exactly is going on with that form of yours?”
“This is the ultimate body, infused with the pinnacle of Metallica’s technology! A fusion of metal and flesh… You wouldn’t understand if I explained it to you, fool.”
I had grown accustomed to such insults, so they didn’t bother me. It was typical for someone like him to belittle others. Just as I was feeling exasperated, Branburm braced himself. It seemed he was about to do something.
【Eternal Spirit Emperor Lurudo’s Divine Blade Slash! Dealt 544 damage to Branburm!】
“Can’t cut me.”
“I told you, my specialty is self-evolution. A skill that couldn’t finish me off just moments ago… is nothing but trash!”
With a roar, Branburm lunged at Lurudo from his braced position. I considered intervening, but I still didn’t trust him.
【Perfect Human (Metalican) unleashed the Perfect Knuckle! Dealt 25,700 damage to Eternal Spirit Emperor Lurudo!】
“Ugh…!”
“Let your followers down there take care of you.”
Branburm’s fist struck Lurudo, sending him crashing down. A scream of despair erupted from the Holy Capital, echoing the extent of Lurudo’s significance. Those people could no longer live without him. In this situation, even if Lurudo had malicious intentions, could I truly defeat him?
“Now then… I bet that big angel over there is furious. Right, Zaniel?”
I looked up at Branburm with anticipation, but as usual, Zaniel remained expressionless. Why did he seem so uninterested? He had been angry with us.
“Well then, download… completed.”
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm downloaded Lua’s skills and combat data!】
The atmosphere shifted. Just moments ago, he had been spitting with rage, but now he was calculating victory. Such composure.
“Come.”
He beckoned with one hand, and I accepted the challenge. I launched my first strike.
【Lua’s attack! Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm deftly dodged!】
“Oh, you’ve gotten stronger.”
“I see. I lacked respect for your initial strike. You anticipated my second strike while I was focused on hitting you with the first.”
“You figured it out.”
“I copied your combat data, considering how you fought.”
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Sonic Ripper! Lua deftly dodged!】
I barely managed to evade with a single leap of Sonic Boost. Branburm was mimicking Eerlich’s style now, and unlike Eerlich, his execution was likely more refined.
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Perfect Knuckle! Dealt 1,305 damage to Lua! HP 42,810/44,115】
“Ow…!”
“I can see your habits. You always stay one step ahead, considering your opponent’s movements, habits, and skills… all while moving almost instinctively toward victory. It’s terrifying how quickly you grow in the midst of battle… This could serve as a reference for Metalicans.”
Even with just one arm left, he was still full of energy. I hadn’t let my guard down, but he was clearly surpassing me now. If that was the case, I needed to rise above him at an even greater speed to win.
“Adaptability at the speed of light in any situation! This is what humanity needs! Curing incurable diseases and vanquishing all enemies! Humanity will continue to grow! And eventually, we will bring prosperity even beyond this world! Yes, after I kill Madias, the Underworld will be next! If we defeat the King of the Underworld, who stands alongside Madias… we can eliminate the very concept of death!”
I couldn’t understand what he was saying, but I could tell it was madness. I wouldn’t allow my power to be used for such purposes. Besides, even if he claimed to have copied the Power of Destruction, he was far from it. I had to surpass his technology. No, I needed to outdo everything about Metallica for humanity’s sake.
“It’ll all come to an end, you know. If you keep following your own words.”
【Lua’s attack! Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm deftly dodged!】
“Idiot… Do you not understand what I’ve said? You’re no longer a threat.”
【Lua’s attack! Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm deftly dodged!】
“Such theatrics. It’s pointless no matter how many times you try.”
【Lua unleashed the Sonic Impact! Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Sonic Impact!】
“What a tremendous technique, but you always found a way to avoid collateral damage, didn’t you?!”
At the same time, he unleashed a Sonic Impact he had copied from me. Unlike Eerlich, he mirrored my stance perfectly. Ignoring the Holy Capital below, we both unleashed our shockwaves, creating a thunderous explosion that scattered the people below. Some may have been injured, and I felt a pang of regret.
“How about this?!”
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Sonic Impact Rain! Lua unleashed the Sonic Impact Rain!】
A single shot from this skill was already devastating, and unleashing so many in this area would surely leave the Holy Capital in ruins. I had no choice but to counter.
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Sonic Impact Rain!】
“Huh…?!”
“You’ve never experienced the exhaustion of continuously unleashing such a powerful technique until your body gives out. You always saved your big moves as a last resort. To surpass you, I just need to fight in a way you’ve never done before.”
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed the Sonic Impact Rain!】
Cracks appeared on Branburm’s body, clearly showing the toll it was taking on him. He was pushing himself beyond limits I had never dared to reach. If I didn’t stop this barrage of Sonic Impacts, not only the Holy Capital but the very terrain and living beings around here would vanish. In what felt like an eternity compressed into a single second, I thought while my body moved on its own.
【Lua took 39,889 damage! HP 2,921/44,115】
“Ugh…!”
【Lua unleashed the Sonic Impact Rain!】
As the Sonic Impact surged toward the Holy Capital, I had no choice but to shield myself directly with my body. Just barely managing to activate Sonic Boost, I felt an excruciating pain as I unleashed my most powerful technique upon myself. It hurt so much that I felt like screaming, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. But I gritted my teeth, refusing to cry or shout. I had to overcome this pain. If I didn’t, Branburm—no, I couldn’t let him win.
I never imagined that the combination of Branburm’s treachery and my own strength would lead to such unbearable agony. While enduring the pain, I took another action.
Lua unleashed Sonic Impact Rain!
“It hurts, haah, haah… Damn it!”
I simultaneously canceled the Sonic Impact aimed at directions other than the Holy Capital. Just that alone felt like it would drain almost all my strength. Branburm was in the same boat, cracks spreading across his body. Destroying his regeneration ability had been the right choice; the situation should now be evenly matched.
“Ha, ha ha! You’re already on the brink of exhaustion… but that’s why I’ve won! Your body, infused with the Power of Destruction… hmm, then why does it still retain its form? Could it be that you’re using destruction to counter destruction…?”
Lua fired Sonic Spear! Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm dodged effortlessly!
“Whoa!”
My last desperate shot, fired amidst the chaos of Sonic Impact, was skillfully evaded. Incredible, as expected of me. My arms and legs were losing their strength. He had to be at his limit too. Back in the Abyss Cave, I never had to worry about anyone else while fighting. I had no experience battling against someone who copied my strength, especially not in a situation with others around. This was my first time, and it felt nostalgic. I used to end up like this often in the Abyss Cave.
—No, it was probably worse back then.
“Not yet… I’ll finish this!”
Lua’s Sonic Boost!
“…! A charge?! I see, a last-ditch effort! I’ll intercept you!”
Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm unleashed Sonic Impact!
Without hesitation, he unleashed his most powerful technique, disregarding his own body. With that, his remaining arm was completely shattered. He stood in mid-air on one leg, laughing.
“I’ve won. Your reign was short-lived, Flash Strike Girl.”
My last desperate shot, the Sonic Spear aimed with precision, missed. Sonic Impact struck my battered body, sealing Branburm’s victory.
“Wah—”
Lua collided with Branburm! Dealt 4,867,811 damage to Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm!
“Ha—gyaah?!”
I succeeded in making him think I was finished.
“Ugh… why…?!”
Branburm’s torso was completely shattered, and cracks began to spread violently across what remained of his head.
“Now, about that Sonic Spear you dodged… I didn’t fire it just to hit you. I did it to create a path for me to get through more easily. You know the power of that attack, yet you thought it would dissipate immediately after firing?”
“What do you mean…?”
“Sonic Impact is a grand and powerful technique, but Sonic Spear can penetrate a part of it. I opened a hole with the residual force.”
I could have broken through with just my collision, but I used Sonic Spear to create a tunnel as a precaution. Underestimating my simple charge was his downfall. No one would normally think that my body slam would be weaker than my Sonic Spear.
“You… you little brat… how dare you… what are you?!”
I had taught him during our first battle. I was merely pretending to be cornered. I had intentionally taken one of his Sonic Impacts to set this up. If he had realized my act back then, things might have turned out differently. No matter how much he copied, it was meaningless. In the end, he never understood what this fight was about.
“I don’t want to die here… if I do… humanity will—”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”
“Right, let’s cooperate… even with Madias, we’ll definitely—”
“I refuse. You tried to kill innocent people and haven’t shown any remorse.”
As Branburm opened his mouth to respond, he finally reached his limit. His head, now all that remained, began to shatter from the edges, leaving only his eyes and mouth intact.
“B-back… aah…”
You have defeated Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm! HP 0/405,000
Branburm’s final moments scattered him like sand in the air. Despite claiming to be perfect, he was far from it if he couldn’t defeat me.
“Lua-chan!”
“Kurinka… thank you.”
Even with Kurinka’s support, her power would only hinder me against Branburm. She understood that, which is why she had been defending the Holy Capital. Kurinka desperately shielded against the aftermath of Branburm’s rampage. And she caught me as I nearly fell from the sky, landing on the back of a Dragon.
“I’m so tired…”
“I have a lot to talk about, but we should probably escape…”
As I lay sprawled on Kurinka’s back, I glanced up. Zaniel’s expression was twisted with rage, just like that time.
“W-what’s he so angry about now…?”
“Maybe he was waiting for you to get this battered…”
“That’s pretty underhanded…”
“Let’s return to Avangarde. Branburm is dead, but we don’t know what’s happening with Satanakia.”
The Judgment Ray of the Death Angel Zaniel!
Kurinka cast Enhancement Magic to speed up and barely managed to carry me away. I couldn’t see Zaniel’s face anymore, but I imagined it was even more terrifying than before. I regretted ever trying to protect him.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Hey, where the hell did those guys go?
Satanakia is in serious trouble, you know?
Something’s wrong with the beautiful structure of Shin.
Seriously, what’s going on?