NOVEL WEB Chapter 34: The Clash of Fates
The attack that had been looming in the air finally descended, igniting a series of massive explosions across various attributes.
If one were to distinguish the real Misako from her simulation, the difference lay not just in power but also in battle awareness.
As an ancient black demon, even a fox who once feared the sight of blood and trembled in combat had evolved into a seasoned warrior. Misako did not let her guard down; she continuously held talismans in hand, ready to unleash her demonic magic at a moment’s notice.
"…Over there!"
The talisman in her left hand was incinerated, and an explosion erupted behind her left side. Through the smoke and debris of the blast, a young girl emerged.
Although the explosion's range and power appeared limited, magic often defies conventional logic, especially when it involves specialized black demon arts. The girl was severely burned, her new white dress blackened by flames. Curiously, her regeneration was hampered; wounds that should have healed in less than a second now took several seconds with little improvement.
'This won't do.'
With her healing abilities suppressed, the girl knew she couldn’t engage in a protracted battle. She had to end it swiftly. Battles between powerful beings differ from those involving lower-tier entities; unless there is an enormous disparity in strength, they often drag on for an extended period.
Did she and Misako have a significant strength difference? Just barely—Misako was stronger. The girl assessed that her current level of strength was just sufficient to potentially defeat Misako.
In other words, she was trying to turn the tide against the odds.
She had a vague sense that perhaps she had always been this way before.
Following her instincts, she channeled a vast amount of magic to enhance her body, making the immense energy flow through her veins like blood. Instantly, her physical capabilities soared to new heights.
However, such extreme enhancement came with drawbacks. The high-density magic damaged her body like a container with rising internal pressure. Her veins ruptured, blood spurted from her skin.
Surprisingly, she felt little pain, as if accustomed to such suffering, which did not affect her combat performance.
"Even though I've seen this before, seeing it in action is still mind-boggling. This fighting style is absolutely insane."
Most people would be incapacitated or even faint from such pain, but this girl not only endured it but also continued fighting unperturbed.
'But if you want to defeat me, this is the simplest method.'
Misako had intended to have the girl fight her while she was weaker. This was a trial. If she couldn’t defeat someone stronger, then leaving the Abyss would be impossible. Powerful beings throughout history often possessed such abilities.
Misako burned through several more talismans, unleashing a torrent of emerald green wind blades towards the bloodied girl.
This time, however, the girl evaded them with a speed that even Misako couldn't perceive.
Dust and debris flew as her movements generated explosive sounds and shockwaves. The wind pressure from her speed scattered the wind blades, and the ground along her path was upheaved.
There was no doubt that her speed had far exceeded the speed of sound.
While Misako could see and even achieve sound-speed movement with her magical expertise, the girl’s speed was beyond her visual capacity.
'Symbol Array: Infinite Phenomena'
Misako arranged a stack of talismans in a specific pattern around her. Unlike the previous single-use burn, these emitted light, rapidly transforming into points of light and merging with Misako's body.
Instantly, her sensory perception greatly improved, allowing her to detect every speck of dust floating in the air.
This enhancement allowed her to vaguely sense the girl's movements.
'Symbol Array: Water Mirror Platform'
Another array appeared—a clear, transparent mirror made of water materialized before Misako. Almost simultaneously, the girl attacked the water mirror.
Unlike the water shield from their first encounter, the girl’s powerful attack only caused ripples on the mirror.
Then, a shockwave from the mirror propelled the girl backward, crashing into the ground and stirring up another cloud of dust.
This defensive spell reflected attacks back in their original form, and the girl’s strength alone was insufficient to break it.
Amid the smoke, the girl stood up. Her enhanced physical capabilities not only improved her attack power but also her defense, rendering the reflected damage insufficient to affect her.
After adjusting, she crouched low and launched another assault on Misako.
"Not learning your lesson, are you?"
Misako used the water mirror again to block the girl’s jab, rebounding the attack. Due to the angle, it even drove the girl into the ground, once again kicking up dust.
"You can’t just charge in recklessly; you should learn from your older sister!"
"If I could dodge, I’d learn."
"What…!?"
Suddenly, from behind the swirling dust, an overwhelming barrage of magic spells surged toward them.
Boom! Boom!!!
The explosions continued for a full ten minutes, transforming the already desolate land into a pit-riddled wasteland. In some ways, it was less monotonous now.
"Cough! Cough!!"
A small figure covered in dirt from the explosions sat on the ground, coughing.
‘Didn’t expect her to even blow herself up… No, if she's willing to inflict self-damage to enhance her power, a little madness isn’t much…’
Despite her efforts to evade and hide, as a mere 'mage,' her physical strength was insufficient. Even though she had forcibly increased this weak point due to her power, she was still overwhelmed by the relentless bombardment. Her shrine maiden attire was now in tatters; if the people at the shrine saw her, it would be a 'river of blood.'
"…How are things?"
Behind Misako, a battered girl, covered in injuries, stood and asked.
Given the extent of her injuries, the girl was clearly in worse shape. Misako's damages were limited to torn clothes and a few wounds, while the girl was covered in blood.
However, in another world, there's a saying: 'The higher the elevation of the head in a duel, the greater the likelihood of victory.' By this logic, Misako had lost. Moreover, the girl could have taken advantage of Misako’s momentary lapse but chose not to.
"Alright, you win."
As these words were spoken, the scenery changed. The barren wasteland transformed back into a serene, beautiful grove. They had returned to the shrine.
