“GWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
The Shugyu, its one eye slashed, lets out a tormented scream. But I don’t have time to focus only on you.
[Aria (Alicia)] [Rank 4]
[Mana Capacity: 107/270] [HP: 159/210]
[Overall Combat Strength: 916 (During Special Body Enhancement: 1769)]
[Combat Art: Iron Rose /Limit 107 Second]
Combat Art, Iron Rose—the Spirit gave a “name” to the technique that enhances me with pure Mana Particles, which I couldn’t control, and it became a [Combat Art].
And the name of that Combat Art is also an “inscription” that reveals me, whom the Spirit has acknowledged.
First, I’ll go support Viro, who is holding off the Blue Ox alone.
The moment I dash, the surrounding scenery flashes by in an instant. For better or worse, it’s not as extreme as that technique I couldn’t control. But compared to that technique, where the enhancement balance was a mess, all my stats have increased, and I can control it now.
“Viro!”
Good, he’s still alive. But he, who was holding off the power-type Blue Ox alone, is already battered.
I increase my speed even further, trailing a light afterimage like a comet, and kick the Blue Ox’s head with the blade on my heel as if flying.
Gaki! A violent sound rings out, and the blade on my heel is deflected by its horn, but the Blue Ox’s head shakes greatly.
“Bumo!?”
“Aria!?”
“Heal up, Viro.”
While landing, I throw him a spare potion that I had in [Shadow Storage], and then slash at the Blue Ox with my knife as if leaping out.
“BWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
As expected, even with increased speed, my light weight means the damage is low. The Blue Ox immediately notices me and swings down its greatsword, which I parry with my Black Knife and Dagger crossed, using both strength and skill to deflect it.
My strength and endurance are also enhanced to about double. Even if my stats rise to values close to the Blue Ox’s, my bones creak from the physical difference. But I don’t intend to fight the Blue Ox with strength.
“Bwo!?”
I vanish from the Blue Ox’s sight in an instant, instantly circling behind it and stabbing my Dagger into its neck with both hands.
“BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
How thick is its flesh…? I jump off the Blue Ox’s back, which is rampaging in agony, scatter light afterimages as I leap out, slash the Blue Ox’s exposed wrist, and knock the greatsword from its hand.
Even I, who originally had the strength of an average person, can parry the Blue Ox’s greatsword if I’m enhanced. If that’s the case, then if I can double my agility, which was originally on par with the Blue Ox, I can even toy with Rank 5 Blue and Shugyu.
I immediately kick the greatsword that I dropped, and the Blue Ox, which had fallen into a state of excitement, lowers its body as if going on all fours and charges at me with its two horns.
I respond in kind, stepping forward. I ready the two Hidden Weapons I took out from [Shadow Storage], and while scattering light afterimages, I charge straight ahead at maximum speed.
The distance of several meters closes in an instant, and just before we collide, I stab both Hidden Weapons into the Blue Ox’s eyes, and just as its distorted horns are about to pierce me, I leap over the Blue Ox’s massive body.
“BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
The Blue Ox howls in agony, rolling across the stone floor as if collapsing.
“Support the Adventurers!”
At that moment, the knights who were still able to move catch up.
“I’ll leave this to you.”
I immediately leave the Blue Ox to them and Viro, and leave the place to support Dolton and the others.
[Aria (Alicia)] [Rank 4]
[Mana Capacity: 82/270] [HP: 159/210]
[Overall Combat Strength: 916 (During Special Body Enhancement: 1769)]
[Combat Art: Iron Rose /Limit 82 Second]
My Mana Capacity is decreasing considerably. Normally, Body Enhancement consumes 1 Mana per 100 seconds, but this technique consumes a hundred times that.
In a perfect state, I can use [Iron Rose] for 270 seconds, but considering magic and Combat Arts, it’s better to assume that I can use it for much less than that.
Before that, with my underdeveloped body, my bones and muscles all over my body are starting to creak after using it for only a few dozen seconds.
“Even so, there’s no reason to stop here.”
I increase my speed even further and dash, approaching the Black Ox fighting Dolton and the others from behind, holding a Black Dagger in each hand, and then pierce the back of the Black Ox’s knees, all the way through the kneecap.
“GWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?”
The Black Ox roars in sudden agony.
Glaring at me, the Black Ox swings its massive fist at me. I release the Daggers and push off the ground to distance myself, spreading the scattering light afterimages like wings and leaping into the air, kicking the Black Ox in the face as it loses its balance from its pierced knees.
But the Black Ox immediately tries to sweep me away with its massive horns. But one of those horns has already been broken off by Dolton and the others.
“BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
The blade on my heel pierces the Black Ox’s brow. But the Black Ox’s battleaxe, unleashed immediately, howls as it attacks me.
“—Dark Mist—”
The Dark Mist I unleashed on the spur of the moment clings to the Black Ox’s face, and I kick the battleaxe, which slightly misses its mark, and distance myself from the Black Ox, and the moment I land, I can’t help but kneel.
[Aria (Alicia)] [Rank 4]
[Mana Capacity: 43/270] [HP: 159/210]
[Overall Combat Strength: 916 (During Special Body Enhancement: 1769)]
[Combat Art: Iron Rose /Limit 43 Second]
My Mana is decreasing considerably. I used [Dark Mist], but it’s not a magic that consumes this much. Maybe the consumption of magic is high while I’m using [Iron Rose]…
“Well done, Aria!”
Dolton, who had jumped in without missing that opening, swings down his warhammer, smashing the Black Ox’s right arm and knocking away the massive battleaxe.
“Leave the rest to me!”
Feld, who had jumped in, slashes off the Black Ox’s left arm with his greatsword as it tries to protect its neck on the spur of the moment, and Mira’s arrow pierces the Black Ox’s face.
“BWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Even so, the Black Ox was still alive, but seeing that, I also felt my limit and deactivated the “Iron Rose” state. My hair returns from iron-colored to its usual pink, and I can’t help but kneel from the sudden heaviness I felt in my body.
But the battle is not over yet.
“Gaaaaaa…”
The Shugyu, its one eye crushed, glares at me with its remaining left eye, dragging its halberd as it approaches.
Blood ceaselessly spills from its deeply slashed right eye, and the Shugyu, which has been slashed all over and lost blood, no longer has its former brilliance.
But its fighting spirit has not yet disappeared, and its eyes, filled with hatred, now only reflect “me.”
“…………”
“…Gaa.”
I also put strength into my creaking body and stand up, holding the Black Knife in both hands and facing the wounded Shugyu head-on.
Concentration erases the surrounding noise and unnecessary scenery. We both ready our weapons with both hands, and the moment the sweat running down my cheek and the Shugyu’s dripping blood bounce off the stone floor, we dash out at the same time.
Thud!!!
The Shugyu deflects the blade of the halberd as if colliding, and the Shugyu uses its horn to deflect my blade, which I unleashed as if leaping over it.
The speed of me, who is putting a strain on my body, and the current Shugyu is about the same. Even so, I, who still have the advantage in instantaneous power, slash the Shugyu’s wrist, and the Shugyu, which instantly gave up on its weapon, aims for my heart with its horn.
Gakin!
Without fear, I receive that sharp horn strike without avoiding it, aligning the tip of the Black Knife, and I feel something fitting into place deep within me.
As I am blown high into the air by the reaction, I change my posture by kicking off the empty air, and swing the knife back greatly while upside down.
“—Critical Edge—!”
That blow, unleashed almost unconsciously, slashes the defenseless Shugyu’s neck halfway through.
“Bumo…”
As it spits out a large amount of blood from its neck and mouth, and its massive body sways unsteadily, I hear a familiar “voice” from a distant location.
“—Soulthorn—”
“Carla…?”
The patterns of “black thorns” wriggled like living things on her white arms and neck, where she had discarded her magician’s robe and donned a simple, unadorned white dress, and an enormous amount of mana overflowed from them.
“――ッ!!”
The fire magic that Carla unleashed licked across the arena floor, engulfing the dying Shugyu in a massive blaze and burning it to ashes in an instant.
“There!”
With a cheerful shout, a dozen or so enormous fireballs, each large enough to embrace, floated around Carla.
Those are [Fireballs]!? It’s the same level 5 fire magic that was contained in the Magic Tool Viro used, but I realized that the mana contained within was extraordinary, and I shouted to them, who were in Carla’s line of sight.
“Feld, Viro, get out of the way!!!”
The moment my companions and the knights, sensing the abnormality, retreated as if fleeing, a large number of [Fireballs] released from Carla rained down, engulfing the still barely surviving Black Ox and Blue Ox in flames, turning the surrounding area into a sea of fire.
Furthermore, sensing an increase in mana from Carla, I ran towards her.
“――[Iron Rose]――”
My pink hair once again turned to an ashen iron color like scorched ash, and I shot through the air like an arrow, dragging the afterglow of light scattering from my hair like a comet, and I kicked Carla, who was about to cast magic again, with my heel as if pouncing on her.
“Carla!!”
At that moment, a large amount of mana burst out from the “black thorns” wrapped around Carla, and Carla, forcibly manipulating her body with mana, avoided my kick.
While dodging the [Ice Spear] released from her hand with high-speed movement, I swung my Knife at Carla’s neck, and Carla avoided it by flying away. My kick, chasing after Carla, and Carla’s kick, manipulating her body with mana, crossed in mid-air.
Bash!!
The sound of flesh striking flesh echoed, and I landed on the rubble after changing my posture in mid-air, and Carla, who had landed in the flames, faced me in the fire.
Carla, who had frowned slightly at the pain in her leg, smiled at me when she saw me.
“Oh, Aria. That hair color is also lovely.”
“Is that your [Divine Protection]…? Didn’t it heal your body?”
As I thought, Carla was also invited by that Spirit. If she wished for longevity instead of Divine Protection, she would be able to live as long as Elena-san.
But Carla probably wished for more “power” instead of “longevity.”
[Soulthorn]… That word I heard must be the activation word for the Divine Protection. In exchange for the overflowing amount of mana, Carla’s “life” is being lost in seconds.
The black petals scattering from the “black thorns” wrapped around her body looked to me like Carla’s disappearing life itself.
“I don’t need it… I don’t need just a life.”
Standing in the flames with an enormous amount of mana, Carla nonchalantly fiddled with her black hair with her fingers.
“To heal my body, I have to do something about the Magic Stone in my heart… If that happens, what’s the point of my life, which I’ve trained while spitting up blood?”
“Carla…”
“I will move forward until my life is exhausted. I won’t let anyone get in my way until I engulf this country that drove me mad in flames. Even you… Aria.”
A look of madness floated in Carla’s eyes, and she smiled a gruesome and radiant smile.
At that moment, the Spirit Altar in the back disappeared as if sinking, and the door that appeared after it quietly opened and leaked a little light.
“That Spirit is surprisingly kind… It seems that the way home opens when you defeat the last enemy. Well then, farewell, Aria. Let’s wait for a ‘stage’ suitable for us to settle our score. I’m looking forward to that time.”
Carla, who reached the exit without being burned in the flames, disappeared into the exit alone without even looking back at her fiancé, Elvan.
Burn this country… Still, if it’s her personality, I think she’ll prioritize settling things with me.
“I see…”
I, standing alone in the flames, stare intently at the exit where Carla disappeared.
Okay… Carla. I will grant Carla’s “Desire.”
“Carla… I will definitely kill you with my own hands.”
The first part is finally over. It’s gotten quite long…
I was able to continue because of everyone who supports me.
It ended on a subtle note, but I emphasized the “hook” to continue to the next part, so I made it this ending.
What will happen to Aria and Carla’s showdown? Will she be involved with Elena-san again? What will happen to Clara and the capture targets? What will happen to Carla’s other Divine Protections?
Please look forward to the second part, “Academy Arc.”
Please enjoy the wild tiger state mixed in with the kittens.
The first part is the Wandering Arc [Ash-Covered Princess of Slaughter]
The second part will be the Academy Arc [Iron Rose Princess].
Also, it’s my lack of explanation, but the lifespan cost of Divine Protection is only for the amount of ability used. The weaker the will, the more the lifespan decreases. People who are too responsible are also in danger.
The Spirit thought that the lifespan of the human race was 100 years, and used a metaphor that it would be reduced to about half, but I’m sorry that it was difficult to understand.
Then, see you in the second part.
The second part is scheduled to start on Saturday the 19th, after a short break.
Thank you for many comments and support. If you could give us your comments, bookmarks, etc., it will be a motivation and encouragement, and the author will be very happy.
Thank you for your support in the second part as well.