Episode 10: vs Guardian of the Third Layer of the Sealed Labyrinth (Part 2)
In the smoke generated by the simultaneous beam barrage from the Mechanical Wings—
“ᛁ (Isa)”
The solemn voice of Sensei echoed.
ᛁ (Isa) represents the concept of “Stagnation.” Multiple symbols of ᛁ floated in the air, each emitting a dull light. As the Mechanical Wings touched that light, they ceased to function, one by one, clattering and crashing to the ground.
“ᛜ (Inguz)”
With a dagger, Sensei traced the symbol of abundance, ᛜ (Inguz), in the air and chanted it—at that moment,
“Guuuh!!!”
The anguished cry came from the Angel Alter. Vines erupted from the ground, binding the Angel Alter with fierce intensity. Don’t underestimate those vines. No matter how much the Angel Alter tore at them, struggling and thrashing, they regenerated each time, wrapping tighter around its limbs, completely restraining its arms and legs. The growth and binding of the vines showed no signs of stopping, extending from just its limbs to its waist, shoulders, and even its neck, ultimately enveloping its entire body.
“ᚹ (Unjo)”
As Sensei inscribed another pattern—ᚹ (Unjo), which signifies “Joy”—and chanted it, she clapped her hands together. In response, the vines exploded in growth, rapidly increasing in volume and wrapping around the Angel Alter multiple times.
“Truly impressive, Sensei—”
Eventually, the mass of vines transformed into an egg-shaped cocoon, exceeding three meters in length.
“This will settle it.”
When Sensei clapped her hands again, the cocoon began to shrink, compressing and crushing down—at that moment, a brilliant light burst forth from the center of the cocoon.
Though the light was brief, something began to rain down. It was the remnants of the vines. Where the cocoon had been, the Angel Alter stood unharmed.
The Mechanical Wings, which had been rendered inactive by Sensei’s ᛁ (Isa) and were supposed to be lying on the ground, had vanished and returned to the Angel Alter’s back. It seemed she could teleport those wings back at will; otherwise, it wouldn’t make sense. And that light that dispelled the cocoon was none other than the full barrage from the Mechanical Wings.
I felt as if the Angel Alter smiled at me. From that smile, I sensed an unspoken will: “If you can, try to take me on.”
Even if we engaged in close combat, it was easy to imagine the interference from the inevitable shooting from the Mechanical Wings behind me. I should step in to assist—
“Hmm.”
Sensei let out a troubled voice.
“I’d rather not use this, but this is indeed a boss monster prepared by the Sealed Labyrinth. I can’t afford to hold back.”
Her brow furrowed.
“九禁∶一縛∴解 (Nine Seals: One Bind: Release)”
As Sensei chanted some kind of spell, an overwhelming power surged from her—its aftershock pressed down on Ash and me, causing beads of sweat to form on our foreheads. Sensei must have released her restricted abilities.
“浮礫 (Floating Rubble)”
Without missing a beat, Sensei chanted, and an absurd number of beautiful crystal shards began to float around her. The rubble flew at speeds that rivaled the Mechanical Wings—just as the lasers were fired from the Mechanical Wings, they were completely neutralized by some force released from the rubble.
The Mechanical Wings and the rubble—both sides refused to yield, darting around each other, swiftly maneuvering, erasing each other’s space, suppressing each other’s attacks, and protecting their master in a high-speed aerial battle.
“With this, there’s no more interference. Come at me.”
As soon as Sensei said that, the Angel Alter charged forward. I knew all too well the speed of that monster’s successive strikes. In the past, I had been completely overwhelmed, my guard shattered, nearly facing death.
“炎の右手 (Flame Right Hand, Es)”
Sensei swung her right arm and declared. At the same time, a massive flaming left arm manifested in the air.
“氷の左手 (Ice Left Hand, Id)”
Next, Sensei swung her left arm, casting a spell, and a gigantic right arm capable of freezing everything appeared.
Without flinching, the Angel Alter lunged at Sensei. The speed of its relentless strikes seemed too much for even Sensei to handle—
“I’m sorry, but I can’t hold back.”
As Sensei swung her fist, the massive arm moved in perfect sync with her punch. The Angel Alter kicked at the flaming giant arm, trying to regain its footing and create distance, but it was met with an uppercut from the ice giant arm, sending it soaring higher into the air.
The two giant arms pursued the Angel Alter, instantly moving upward. There, Sensei unleashed a ridiculous barrage of punches using both arms.
“Come on, come on, come on!”
The immobilized Angel Alter was left to take the brunt of the onslaught from the two giant arms, each infused with different attributes.
“Come on, there’s more!”
As a result, the once elegant appearance of the Angel Alter was utterly tattered—but as expected, the fighting spirit of that monster remained unyielding. In an instant, it re-equipped the Mechanical Wings on its back, and the wings glimmered ominously. Signs of a full barrage were evident. But—
“それは大変でしたね (High society is all green)”
Before Sensei, that was nothing more than a trivial resistance. At her murmur, a massive tornado erupted. The vicious vortex swallowed the Angel Alter without a word. A scream—one that had always been silent—burst forth from the monster’s throat. It was a localized disaster.
After a while, as the storm subsided, the Angel Alter lay defeated—but its fighting spirit was still evident.
“Impressive. I commend that fighting spirit.”
Sensei smiled with a chuckle.
“ああ、やっぱりね (bend, bend by authority)”
The fallen Angel Alter, attempting to rise again, was forced back down to the ground with sudden force, as if obeying Sensei’s command. The monster grasped the dirt, desperately trying to stand, but was held down by overwhelming power, thrashing wildly.
The force keeping it down was undoubtedly a powerful gravity. But to think that such a creature could be brought low by gravity—? I shuddered at the thought.
“That was quite something.”
Sensei praised. She opened a black hole in the air once more, tossed in her dagger, and reached in to retrieve the Scarlet Fan.
“This is simply named, the Scarlet Fan.”
She snapped it open with a flourish.
“我の意志の元に流転せよ (Flow under my will)”
As Sensei commanded, the Scarlet Fan transformed into a scarlet sword.
When Sensei snapped her fingers to release the gravitational field, the Angel Alter gasped for breath and stood up. Despite being battered and bruised—undeterred, it launched the Mechanical Wings again, showering Sensei with beams from all directions.
“It’s futile!”
Emerging from the smoke, Sensei brandished the Scarlet Fan.
However, the Angel Alter was a manifestation of violence. It prepared to counter with its own physical prowess—its hand, infused with Mana, poised to strike as Sensei and the Angel Alter crossed paths. After a fleeting moment—Sensei swung the scarlet sword wide, and it transformed back into the fan.
And then—the Angel Alter crumbled, disintegrating into particles of light, completely vanishing.
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This is the second episode for today.
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