“Feld, why…”
I had asked everyone in the Rainbow Sword, including Feld, not to interfere. There was my score to settle with Karla, but more than that, a battle with someone having a combat power of 5000 could mean instant death if you didn’t have a way to evade their attacks.
It was for the same reason that Dolton had made the Rank 4s fall back during the battle against the Rank 6 Minotaur Murderer when we conquered the dungeon three years ago. That’s why my comrades had agreed to my selfish request. Feld should have agreed too.
“It’s alright, Aria.”
Feld spoke in a calm voice, keeping the demon in his sights without letting his guard down.
“Don’t fight ‘alone.’ I’ll get stronger too.”
“Feld…”
I used to think that as adventurers, those who were best suited for the job should be the ones to fight. But I was wrong. Chigau.
Feld… and my comrades in the Rainbow Sword, they were “warriors” before they were adventurers. Feld said he would get stronger to fight by my side, me with my abnormal power.
He would risk his life for that. It was the same as what I had been doing to resist fate, and stopping him would mean denying my own convictions.
“…Alright. Fight with me.”
“Leave it to me.”
A strong voice replied from beside me, though our eyes didn’t meet. But it was good we weren’t facing each other… because despite this situation, I think I’m probably smiling right now.
“Here it comes!”
Just as Feld warned, we felt a surge of magical power from the demon (Collette) and jumped back. The spot on the temple roof where we had been standing moments before was blown away by a Miasma Bullet.
“…”
Collette’s earlier smirk twisted into a look of displeasure as she looked down on us from the night sky. Silently, she fired Miasma Bullets from That Woman growing on her left arm.
I dodged them, while Feld sliced through the Miasma Bullets he couldn’t evade with his greatsword.
Even Miasma Bullets that would corrode ordinary weapons if not imbued with magical power couldn’t even tarnish the greatsword made from the Dark Dragon’s horn.
Collette’s face, as she attacked us, contorted with displeasure.
Was it because Feld had interfered in her fight with me? Was it because Feld’s strength was greater than she had imagined? But no, that wasn’t it. It was because Feld wasn’t afraid of the demon.
With Feld’s arrival, the “panic” I had felt inside me had vanished. The demon (Collette), who fed on negative emotions, found this unpleasant.
“…Disappear.”
Collette’s figure vanished from sight. Moving at a speed that even my and Feld’s eyes couldn’t follow, Collette lunged, targeting Feld, the root cause of her displeasure.
“Kuh!”
Feld, sensing it purely by instinct, swung his greatsword, but due to the sword’s weight and the difference in their combat power, he was slightly too late.
“Hah!”
“Tch!”
Seizing the momentary opening when Collette was distracted by Feld, I slashed at her from the side.
“Uoooooooooooh!!”
In that instant, Feld’s greatsword, matching our speed, swung through Collette. She reflexively used That Woman as a shield to avoid a fatal blow.
The Dark Dragon Greatsword could damage even a high-ranking demon. Whether it could actually defeat one wasn’t the issue. Collette could no longer ignore Feld’s presence, and that slight opening had produced a result.
Feld will get stronger. Until then, I won’t let him die.
“Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
That Woman shrieked from the intense damage, and Collette leaped back. But it seemed the Magic Stone of That Woman hadn’t been shattered, as it regenerated in an instant with the demon’s magical power.
But—
“Feld, be careful! Something’s wrong!”
All expression vanished from Collette’s face. Sensing something amiss, I stopped in my tracks.
All traces of mockery and displeasure were gone. Collette, who had begun to ascend silently into the sky, thrust That Woman growing on her left arm towards us.
She should know that Miasma Bullets wouldn’t be decisive against us. So, her rising into the air must mean she intended to use some trump card. Wary, I increased the magical power within me to use Iron Rose, but…
“Now, it’s your turn, Contractor-sama.”
Thwack!
Collette’s magical power poured into That Woman, and then Collette severed it with a hand-chop.
What was she thinking? A demon’s strength should depend on its magical power. To pour magical power into That Woman, even lowering her own combat power, and then discard it?
That Woman, having received the bulk of the demon’s magical power, began to fall under her own weight.
“Here it comes, Aria!”
Just as Feld and I turned our attention to That Woman, wary of it, Collette, who remained in the sky, spread her arms like wings and began to sing her Devil’s Chorus sonorously.
“—————————————————!”
Zawari… The night trembled. A chill ran down my spine. Straining my eyes, I could see something like Magical Element gathering towards Collette from all over the Royal Capital.
Was Collette planning to do something more? I felt her diminished magical power begin to increase again.
“Feld, I’ll leave That Woman to you. I’ll take the demon—”
“Aria!!”
Feld stepped forward, cutting me off, and swung his sword as if to protect me as I was about to leap into the air.
Gigii!
“Kuh!”
“Feld!?”
Feld, having deflected “something’s” attack, winced slightly.
“Don’t lose focus!”
At Feld’s shout, I braced myself. The upper body of That Woman, made of Worms, which had fallen, was trying to stand up while regenerating its lower half.
“Kihaha.”
Cracks appeared on That Woman, who cackled with a grin. As she shattered, a small human-like figure leaped out from within.
“Kyahahahahahahahahahahahaha!”
As that Shadow lunged forward with blurring speed, this time I stepped in front of Feld to protect him, thrusting my dagger out in a counter.
Gagin!
“Kuh!”
Wincing from an impact like striking a rock, I dodged the Shadow’s arm-swinging attack by leaning back, then kicked out with the heel of my boot.
Her weight seemed to match her appearance. As the Shadow and I were repelled by the force of the kick, Feld, seeing an opening, stepped forward and swung his greatsword down.
But—
“—[Cure]—”
A black flash erupted from the Shadow, which cackled with a “familiar face.” Feld’s arm, bathed in that light, was torn open, and blood spurted out.
“Feld!”
I instantly stood in front of Feld, blocking the strange black light with my Magic Shield (Shield) while brushing away the Magical Element with the hem of my black dress. What was that attack? No, more importantly…
“What is that…”
Feld muttered in a stunned voice, clutching his arm. I, too, frowned upon seeing it.
A very familiar face… That face is.
“…It’s ‘me’.”
“Kihaha!”
Seeing my expression, That Woman laughed with a bright “face.”
A phantom illusion, created by the demon’s power with That Woman’s obsession and tenacity as its core… Black hair. Pitch-black eyes. Black skin. The face, clad in a tattered dress made of Worms, bore a striking resemblance to me.
However, she was smaller overall than I am now, with younger features and a different hairstyle. But I recognized that appearance.
It was from the “knowledge” of That Woman within me—the appearance of the “Original Alicia,” the heroine of the otome game.
But, what was that power? I have almost no knowledge of the original work. But I know the general outline. In it, the “me” of the game gained special powers and was called a Saint.
“…’Holy Magic’…”
“What?”
Feld’s presence wavered at my muttered words. It seemed he knew of it too, but I had also heard about that kind of special magic from my master.
Holy Magic is a technique closer to Primordial Combat Arts than sorcery, ‘sacred magic’ that can only be wielded by those acknowledged by spirits. Even with That Woman’s obsession, it’s unthinkable that That Woman, created by a demon’s power, could use such a power… However, I, who possess That Woman’s “knowledge,” arrived at a certain possibility by combining it with my master’s teachings.
“Be careful, Feld!”
Feld leaped back at my shout, and Black Alicia chanted “it.”
“—[Detox (Treat)]—”
Once again, a dark-colored flash was released, and the air it touched became mixed with a black mist.
“Get back!”
“Aria!?”
Sensing what it was, I jumped down, and as Feld’s movement was a fraction too slow, I kicked him in the chest, forcibly making him fall back by kicking him off the temple roof.
That black mist swirled up as it touched the flames, and the corpses of the former believers it touched instantly discolored and rotted away.
As I thought, this power isn’t Holy Magic. This is—
“…’Dark Magic (Black Magic)’…”
Holy Magic, by being acknowledged by spirits, bestows a holy attribute upon light-attribute sorcery, expanding its range and effect. Past Saints used it to save many people, and the Alicia of the otome game also used it to fight the Evil Race and Karla.
Then, what becomes of a power acknowledged not by “spirits” but by “demons”?
The [Detox (Treat)] that Black Alicia used to eliminate poison, instead created poison upon contact with the air. The [Cure] she used first, instead of healing wounds, injured Feld.
A reversal of effects— [Detox (Treat)] becomes [Poison], and [Heal] becomes [Wounds].
The answer to that is “Dark Magic.”
“Kyahahahahahaha!”
That Woman, mimicking “Black Alicia (the original heroine),” lunged at me, her face contorted in a sneer.
Even a clumsy attack can become a fatal blow if it has enough speed. As Black Alicia, using Physical Enhancement fueled by immense magical power, closed in with the speed of an arrow, I dodged her with a somersault and kicked out with the heel of my bladed boot.
Clang!
Still hard. I think a Level 5 Battle Art could cut through it, but can I land a hit at this speed?
But if I create distance, the Dark Magic will come. I can dodge it with World Rejection, but if I use Iron Rose, I can’t use Battle Arts.
The sense of security I had when the large Feld was here vanished, and a slight unease settled in my heart. But I gently pushed those feelings deep into my heart and murmured, narrowing my eyes.
“Fine…”
Clang!!
As Black Alicia charged again with terrifying speed, I slammed my black dagger into her in a counter-like move.
“Kii?”
Black Alicia, the dagger embedded between her brows, made a puzzled face. Without even consciously thinking, moving purely on reflex, I stepped forward and slashed at Black Alicia’s neck with the knife in my right hand.
“Kihah!”
As if in response, Black Alicia threw a punch. I dodged the fist, which thundered from point-blank range, by a hair’s breadth, closed the distance further, and kicked her jaw upwards from directly below.
“Kihah!?”
Yes, this is about settling things. Seven years ago, when you attacked me, I learned the truth and gained the “knowledge” to escape my fate.
I won’t let anyone say that even Mom and Dad’s deaths were just part of the “story.”
I reject the otome game. I reject you, who sought it. I won’t use my trump card on someone like you. I’ll kill you with my power, the power I gained from your “knowledge.”
“Kikaka!”
Black Alicia flailed her arms wildly. In speed alone, she’s not inferior to Collette. Tracking only the movement of her magical power with my “Eye,” observing only her movements with detection, and sensing the approaching wind pressure with my skin, I dodged her attacks and thrust out my black dagger.
Clang!!
If I hit it head-on, my arm would take damage. But, in that instant, I twisted my wrist, and the moment it connected, I dispersed the impact with my arm joints and muscles, driving only the shock and magical power into the enemy.
“Kihah!?”
Black Alicia, her face contorted in confusion at my sudden change in movement, kicked out.
Sharpening my nerves, predicting the speed and power with my entire body’s senses, I moved before the attack was even launched, vaulting over the kick by placing a hand on it and slamming an elbow into her face.
“Kika, kaka, ka!?”
With no external wounds but damage steadily accumulating, Black Alicia leaped back in confusion.
“—[Cleanse]—”
A flash of darkness spread, and the Dark Magic [Cleanse] scattered a vast amount of Miasma, causing the burning temple roof to collapse.
I observed this with my newly acquired “Mind’s Eye,” dodged it with the Light Magic [Cleanse] I had been chanting, and slashed Black Alicia’s face with my knife, now imbued with it through Mana Control.
“Kiiiih!?”
The reason Collette gave That Woman this power was because Black Alicia is my natural enemy. If we fought head-on, even with World Rejection, I’d struggle, needlessly exhausting myself and wasting time.
This is a stalling tactic. Collette’s trump card wasn’t Black Alicia, but the “negative emotions” gathered from all over the Royal Capital.
High above, Collette noticed my gaze, and her twisted smile seemed to say, “It’s too late.”
To her right arm, raised to the night sky, all the “negative emotions” from across the Royal Capital—anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, hatred, suspicion—were gathering, about to generate an immense amount of Miasma.
The power of an “Incubus” that manipulates nightmares. If that mass of Miasma, tens of meters in diameter, were to fall on the Royal Capital, the Miasma would defile the land around that point for decades.
If it were just me, I could escape. But the residents who couldn’t escape in time, and the soldiers and knights guiding the evacuation, would all be annihilated. If things went badly, the damage could even reach Elena-tachi at the royal castle.
Collette’s smile deepened as she looked at me. She was saying that if I didn’t want to increase the casualties, I should prepare to die and take it with all my strength.
“Goodbye, Aria-san.”
A voice came from the night sky, and she aimed the Miasma Bullet at me.
But… Collette.
“You demons underestimate those who have life too much.”
Doshu!!
Just as Collette tried to retreat, a bloodstained white arm pierced through her chest from directly behind.
To the black-haired girl with a morbid smile, who had appeared out of nowhere, Collette screamed with a beast-like expression.
“Karlaaaaa!!”
The enormous Miasma Bullet slipped from Collette’s hand, falling towards the Royal Capital without being fired.
Even if it wasn’t fired as an attack, the damage would be the same. With my abilities, focused on single-person combat, even if I used Iron Rose or World Rejection, I couldn’t have destroyed a Miasma Bullet of that size.
But, I had bought time until it fell.
From the moment I awakened my Mind’s Eye, I had felt a “connection.” He’s nearby. I can tell he’s fighting. “You” can tell too, right?
—Nero—
To the “voice” I called out in my heart, a “will” responding from afar reached me.
“Graaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
Dogoooooooooooooooooooooooooooon!!
From beyond the burning temple, a “Claw Strike” unleashed with a beastly roar sent the destroyed temple and a giant Worm flying into the air.
The Worm, scarred with enormous claw marks, danced in the air like a dead branch, and the moment it touched the Miasma Bullet, it exploded in the night sky.
A shockwave scattered, shaking a section of the Royal Capital centered on the temple, and crumbling houses collapsed.
There would be Miasma damage, but it was better than a direct hit. Conversely, the raging flames until now had been carrying the Miasma up into the heavens.
“Graaaaaaaah!”
Nero leaped into the air and shattered the “Magic Stone” of the giant Worm as it fell, tattered… In that moment, I thought I faintly heard Amor’s scream.
“——————————————————”
“Aaaaaaaah!?”
Was it its final cry, or did she have some attachment to his existence? Black Alicia, who had been blown from the temple roof to a nearby building, let out a shriek-like cry, and dark-colored Magical Element erupted from her entire body.
“—[Remove]—!”
Dark Magic’s [Remove]—given its reversing property, its effect must be [Curse]!
The wide-range curse, as if wringing out all her magical power, began to encroach even upon my evasion space, who had also been blown to the same building.
But… I didn’t even think of evading; as I leaned forward to lunge, a large Shadow leaped in from behind me.
“—[Hell Slash]—!”
Feld, having fallen from the roof yet returned, unleashed his Dark Dragon Greatsword, which tore even the curse apart, scattering it with the power of his Battle Art.
“Aaah!!”
“It’s about time you died.”
In that instant, I lunged forward in a leaning posture, closing in on Black Alicia.
“—[Dancing Reaper]—”
A furious eight-hit combo unleashed from left and right tore through the limbs of the magically depleted Black Alicia, sent her head flying, and my dagger pierced the “Magic Stone” of That Woman I saw within, shattering it to pieces.
“—[Cleanse]—”
When I cleansed the Miasma remaining in the Magic Stone that had turned to dust along with the space around it, That Woman’s scream echoed like an auditory hallucination, and Black Alicia’s face, made of Worms, reverted to That Woman’s before vanishing as if annihilated.
All that remained was the demon Collette, alone—.
“—[Holy Flame]—”
Karla’s voice came from the sky, and an immense flame erupted, centered on the arm that had pierced Collette.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah…”
Collette, her magical power depleted, was burned with no way to resist… But, this is Chigau!
“Karla!”
Sensing that, I took to the sky. The flames of Karla, who smiled sweetly at me, not only incinerated the demon but were also unleashed towards the Royal Capital.
Karla finally makes her move.
Next time: Clash!