Chapter 18: Imperial Capital – Martial Arts Tournament – 47
The battle had already begun between the large Angel Skeleton and the adventurers.
Members of “Soul’s Guidance” and Princess Marishielle were also participating. Numerous spells were unleashed towards the Skeleton, while frontline adventurers targeted its legs. The soaring spear belonged to Lady Somyule, and I could see Jaze, wielding a great sword, joining the fray.
However, it seemed that victory was not guaranteed for anyone. Although weakened by Freinir’s “Divine Light,” the Angel Skeleton proved to be a formidable foe beyond our expectations.
I walked towards one that was approaching me. A massive sword swung down, but it was effortlessly blocked by my “Immovable Fortress Wall.” While it was a strike as powerful as Princess Marishielle’s swordsmanship, it meant that even at a height of five meters, it could only deliver equivalent force.
I raised “That Which Equalizes All Things.” The “Shockwave” aimed at the upper body of the Angel Skeleton was blocked by a massive round shield, but it shattered the bones from the waist up along with the shield.
“…I see, it feels like something invisible is protecting it.”
From the impact of my attack, I made that judgment.
It appeared that the Angel Skeleton was enveloped in some sort of transparent magical armor. Just now, Princess Marishielle had struck its knee, but indeed, something was preventing her from dealing sufficient damage.
“Soushi, I need your help over here!”
Larni shouted as she dodged a massive blade with a jump. It seemed she had been drawing the attention of one on her own.
I sent a “Shockwave” in that direction, crushing the upper body of the Skeleton.
“Seeing Soushi’s strike makes me feel a bit less confident,” she joked with a laugh before heading over to support Shizuna and Sakurahime.
In the meantime, one Skeleton fell after having its leg severed. That was Jaze’s doing. As expected of a Grand Master-level adventurer.
Another Skeleton lost its head to a concentrated magical assault. This was the work of Sfenia and Geshura.
Delayed, yet another head was pierced and shattered by Lady Somyule’s thrown spear.
Karma and Sakurahime were also taking down one. There seemed to be no issues on that front.
I continued to run, using “Shockwave” to smash the Angel Skeletons. It was a chaotic melee, but the height of the Skeletons ironically made it easier to use “Shockwave.”
By the time I finished off the eighth one, only five remained. Some adventurers were injured, but Freinir was using “Life Magic” with “Range Expansion” from the back, ensuring everyone was still standing. At this rate, it could be said that the tide had turned, but when I glanced over, I saw Isunani preparing to raise his staff again.
“I never expected the ‘Skull Angel Legion’ to be taken down so easily. But I won’t be satisfied until I turn you into a corpse!”
“Not a chance! Mariane!”
“Leave it to me!”
“What!?”
Using her “Stealth” skill, Mariane had snuck behind Isunani and swiftly struck with her dagger, “Dragon Tail Cutter.”
The expression of Marquis Fulcrum was one of shock as Isunani’s head flew off, blue viscous liquid spilling from the severed neck.
“Kuha! Did I underestimate you? But this is still going according to plan! This body has a few tricks up its sleeve!”
Isunani’s body crumbled, turning into a puddle of blue liquid. Within that puddle, a pattern resembling a magic circle began to emerge.
“Something’s coming!”
As I shouted, a black oval appeared about three meters above the puddle. It resembled a portal to another space, similar to when an “Item Box” is opened.
And I had an intense sense of déjà vu regarding that “something.”
“Soushi-sama, could it be!?”
“Without a doubt, it’s the ‘Gate to Another World.’ Everyone, get back!”
I restrained Freinir, who was about to approach, and stepped back myself. What had appeared before us was unmistakably a “Gate to Another World” leading to the realm of “Demons.”
After defeating the last remaining Angel Skeleton, Princess Marishielle rushed over.
“Count Okuno, what on earth is this?”
“This is the ‘Gate to Another World,’ a passage leading to the realm inhabited by ‘Demons.'”
“The ‘Gate to Another World’… I recall the Grand Master mentioning it. So, those grotesque monsters will come from here?”
“Indeed. They will emerge into our world through this ‘Gate to Another World.’ However, I never expected the ‘Candlestick of the Netherworld’ to be involved.”
“It sounds like a terrifying tale. But first, we must defeat the ‘Demons’ that will emerge from here.”
“That is indeed the priority.”
The members of “Soul’s Guidance” gathered around me, all watching as the “Gate to Another World” gradually widened.
“Kuha! Success, success! We have successfully opened the door to the Netherworld through our hands! The time to welcome the ‘Lost Princess’ is drawing near! Kuha! It was wise to set up this experiment!”
That voice belonged to Isunani’s severed head, which I had not been paying attention to, but it seemed the head still retained its shape.
“Though the original objective was not achieved, if this succeeds, I have no complaints! Now, the ‘Demons’ that emerge from here will be formidable. After all, they come at the cost of many lives!”
“Shut up, you annoying head!”
Larni kicked the grotesque head with all her might. “Kuha!?” it exclaimed as the mangled head flew off the stage.
The “Gate to Another World,” which continued to expand in the center of the arena, reached a height of 20 meters and a width of 10 meters before finally stopping.
“Something is… coming out!”
Princess Marishielle readied her sword once more.
At that moment, a massive face suddenly burst forth from the “Gate to Another World.” Behind that face was a grotesque body the size of a tanker truck, and beneath it were countless human legs—the rampaging Demon we had seen before.
I instinctively raised my “Immovable Fortress Wall” and activated my “Provoke” skill.
“Leave it to me!”
But to my surprise, Princess Marishielle stood in front of me and swung “Fate Whisperer” before the rampaging Demon.
The moment the blade made contact, the enormous rampaging Demon flipped in the air, soaring over us and crashing face-first into the ground behind.
It seemed its neck had snapped under its own weight, and the rampaging Demon fell, convulsing all over. Larni, Karma, and Sakurahime rushed in to deliver the finishing blow.
Two more rampaging Demons appeared in quick succession, but they all met the same fate as the first. Truly, they were the strongest adventurers in the Empire.
The problem was that alongside the rampaging Demons, numerous smaller Demons emerged. Flying types with two heads and wings instead of arms and legs, as well as insect-like creatures with two heads and six legs, swarmed out in droves.
Their numbers exceeded a hundred, spreading towards the surrounding adventurers.