NOVEL WEB Chapter 277
Chapter 277
Kwa-Kwang!!!
Separated by Cecili’s barrier, Retee and Styx found themselves in a predicament as Styx was trapped with the target, Seere von Debata, while Retee appeared troubled.
“I wanted to deal with this quickly, but at this rate… ”
Outside, someone was continuously trying to break the barrier they had set. Some attacks were not even worth paying attention to, but every now and then, a massive shock rattled the barrier, making it unstable.
────────!!
Especially the end-time massu right before their eyes. It wasn’t threatening compared to Retee’s memories of size and strength, but it was difficult to shake off.
‘Tough.’
If Retee couldn’t shake it off, they wouldn’t be able to help Styx. Raising the sword with the intention of striking down the massu, Retee slashed horizontally.
「 Decapitation 」
Cheek!!!
Retee struck Leviathan once more. With precise, unembellished movements, the sword cut through the air. Leviathan didn’t even try to evade and seemed utterly defenseless against the attack.
However, Retee lacked the power to tear through Leviathan’s uniquely tough skin and thick subcutaneous fat. Leviathan remained unharmed and began to rage.
“Boo!!”
Maintaining a smaller form was reaching its limits. In a fit of anger, Leviathan began thrashing about, prepared to destroy everything.
Then, magical energy surged. A colossal amount of magical power erupted from the end-time massu. Seeing this, Retee smiled slightly.
“Feeling determined now?”
As Leviathan’s magic manifested, the area was enveloped in black fog. Genuinely intrigued, Retee put the previously wielded weapon back into its sheath.
Holding the remaining sword in reverse grip, Retee aimed at Leviathan.
────────────!!
Kwaang!!!
Leviathan roared and slammed its tail down fiercely, causing an explosion of water to erupt from the black fog that had covered the area. Streams of water burst out like towering waves, threatening to sweep away the surroundings, including Retee.
It was a massive volume of water powerful enough to be considered formidable, but although it looked like ordinary seawater, it was, in fact, all powered by the massu’s colossal magical energy.
If swept away, one could suffocate under the pressure of the magic, resulting in death; it was a simple yet tremendous attack. Facing this, Retee grinned slyly.
“Indeed.”
「 Inverse 」
“It’s weakened.”
Tu-Kwaaaang!!!
As a small magic circle unfurled on the blade, Retee swung her sword upwards. The massive wave that almost engulfed her split apart to either side.
“Outside of its own territory, it weakens significantly, huh? With this, I can help Styx without worrying about it.”
“Boo! Boo!!”
Leviathan, furious and thrashing its tail down again and again, found its attacks effortlessly being split by Retee’s swift movements. With her other hand, she pulled out the sword she had just sheathed.
“And now, I’ll let you out, Styx.”
Leviathan flinched and slightly raised its head. The eerie and massive magical energy gathered around Retee’s weapon. Leviathan instinctively realized that Cecili’s barrier would not withstand that blow.
「 Inferno Blade 」
As the immense magical energy transformed into flames, Leviathan tried to widen its body and move its tail to block the attack at that moment.
Tu-Kwaaaang!!!
The barrier shattered on its own. Both Leviathan and Retee stared blankly ahead.
“… Styx?”
Then she saw it. Styx, not with a dagger but with the halberd—their true weapon—was pitifully pierced by a grotesque black sword that was broken.
“Next…”
With crimson eyes glinting fiercely, the Demon King drew forth the black sword that dripped with blood. Slowly, she turned her head.
“…it’s you.”
Retee was honestly shocked.
‘…Wasn’t she just barely in her twenties?’
An immense killing intent. The kind of overwhelming presence that a Demon King with a similar appearance had exhibited once, not inferior even to the Great Demon.
Underneath her, Styx, who had collapsed moments before, lay, and nearby…
“Don’t expect to return unscathed.”
The fallen Rea and Cecili lay there.
#
Having drawn the halberd and revealed her true power, Styx had changed drastically. With the change of weapon, her combat style shifted dramatically.
Chaeng!!!
Styx’s strength was equal, but with the longer reach of her weapon, Seere couldn’t escape her troubles. The advantage of ancient magic was failing to make an impact.
“Shatter.”
『』
Though not ancient magic, Styx utilized techniques that activated almost as quickly.
「 Target Elimination 」
Kwaaang!!!
This magic, which didn’t fall behind Seere’s ancient magic activation, was unique to demons and utilized their inherent magical power. Most demons preferred this over the inefficient magic used by the demon race.
However, because it was easy to omit incantation, the actual power was weaker than the ancient magics of the past… but the activation speed more than made up for that.
As magic ensured mutual cancellation, they found themselves clashing and forced into close combat, where the disadvantage of weapon reach would come into play.
Of course, that…
“Your Majesty!”
“Gaia!”
Kwaang!!!
With the support of Rea’s summon and Cecili’s magic, there was no sense of effective magic hitting Styx. She was evading everything.
Even though Rea and Cecili were hidden combatants specifically chosen and placed in the castle by Seir von Debata, that was still the case.
This showcased just what kind of fighter Styx truly was. Seere narrowed her eyes slightly and drew forth more magical power.
“Isn’t this still your limit?”
“Half of it hasn’t been shown yet.”
The gathered magical energy in Bloodstream’s sword was immense, swirling outwards around as if out of control. It seemed chaotic but was actually all the energy Seere was containing.
“Right.”
Styx responded as well. Absorbing magical power, her halberd began to tremble violently. True to the status of being one of the infamous, her power was tremendous.
“I will entertain you.”
The chaotic magical energy quieted in an instant. Then Seere recited a very brief incantation.
“Annihilation.”
『 Cătástrŏpha 』
The muscles in Seere’s body contracted and expanded in an instant, slamming the floor with tremendous speed. However, before her rapid strike could land, Styx completed her own attack.
“Critical Breakthrough.”
「 Zero-breakthrough 」
Thrusting the halberd forward, Styx dug in her feet. Like a rapidly fired arrow, she charged at Seere with astounding speed, clashing with Seere’s sword strike.
Kwaaaan!!!
An incredible impact rattled the area. However, gradually, Seere was being pushed back. Styx’s rush showed no signs of stopping. Ultimately, Seere’s red hair lost its color as she drew forth the magical energy stored from outside.
“It’s useless.”
“…!”
Kuwaaaaaang!!!
Yet, Styx pressed on. Seere’s arm, holding the sword, trembled, and just as she began to be pushed back, something occurred.
“Gaia! Slam down!”
“Your Majesty, step back!!”
Rushing in with a sword, Cecili and Gaia, Rea’s summon, descended with enormous fists.
No matter how strong Styx was, she couldn’t be indestructible and not get hurt by a sword strike; thus, she had to react.
“… You are definitely not an ordinary maid.”
Cecili’s sword technique, as well as her strength, was neither excessive nor lacking. It was simply appropriate. Her skill was undoubtedly good. Surely, she could serve as a strong asset under a Demon King.
However, that was all.
“Yet it falls short.”
Not even a Demon King could match the strength of Styx, a subordinate of a Great Demon. The moment Seere momentarily retreated, Styx immediately swung her halberd at Cecili and Gaia.
Her speed was so immense, the blade of the halberd was upon them in the blink of an eye.
Zhoeerck!!!
While Cecili managed to respond by lifting her sword, Rea was unable to react in time, resulting in her summon getting hit squarely.
As Gaia’s body was cut and collapsed, Rea, who was riding her, tumbled forward but fortunately was not seriously injured. Instead, Cecili, who had blocked Styx’s halberd with her sword…
“Ugh…!”
As the sword shattered, she was cut deeply. Seere’s eyes widened as she saw Cecili bleed profusely.
“Cecili!”
In the moment Seere was taken aback, Styx initiated her second attack. Seere hurriedly adjusted her stance and charged, but Styx was considerably faster.
Zhoeerck!
And this time…
“…Ah.”
Rea took the sword strike intended for Cecili, getting hit squarely in the back. In an instant, she attempted to minimize the damage with magical energy, but Styx’s strength exceeded her expectations.
“Cough…!”
“Rea!!”
Seere, arriving a beat late, swung her sword at Styx, but Styx effortlessly parried it with the halberd.
“Emotions should not intertwine with a sword. Being swayed by feelings in battle is the gravest mistake.”
Styx said.
“If you didn’t know that, then like this.”
Seere quickly swung her sword, losing her balance. Styx, fully aware of her unsteadiness, changed her defensive action into a counterattack immediately.
“You’ll have to accept it.”
“… Who’s the one to accept?”
Seere’s magical power surged. Though temporarily emotionally driven by Cecili and Rea being injured, she was rational enough to feel disgusted with herself. Gaining her cool composure in an instant, she swiftly changed her grip on the sword and swung it to the side.
“Counterattack.”
『 Repúlsĭo 』
Chaeng!!!
Though she hadn’t put much power into it, Styx’s halberd was deflected. Despite having seized a perfect opportunity, Seere turned the tables instead. In a fleeting moment that barely lasted an instant, Styx displayed confusion.
In that moment.
“Rage.”
『 Rábĭes Manus 』
Magical energy gathered with incomprehensible speed compared to before. Seere’s sword brought the halberd’s shaft crashing down.
No matter how strong Styx was, the shaft of the halberd was a colossal vulnerability. No matter how sturdy the halberd’s handle might be, enduring a blow filled with Seere’s immense strength and magical power was utterly absurd.
Kwaang!!
In a booming sound, the head of the halberd splintered. Styx hurriedly retreated and withdrew a dagger, but Seere exhibited why she was known as the Demon King’s heir.
Zhoong!!!
In an instant, she closed the gap and slammed her fist towards Styx’s lifted dagger. Mixing hand-to-hand combat into her swordsmanship was a fighting style often used by Seir von Debata, the Demon King.
Seizing the opening created by her slam, Seere wouldn’t miss the opportunity. From Styx’s vacant left side, she thrust the sword, while Styx simultaneously plunged the dagger into Seere’s neck.
Thud!!
Both blades connected with their targets simultaneously. However, while Seere’s sword penetrated deeply into Styx’s body, the dagger merely grazed the nape of her neck. The magical energy she had hastily gathered had protected her.
It occurred in an instant.
“…”
“Master… your… orders… were not in vain…”
Styx, impaled in the chest, coughed up blood.
“… Were they not?”
As Seere finished Styx off, the barrier crumbled. Cecili, who had suffered grievous wounds, barely held on to stabilize the barrier before finally collapsing.
“Rea, Cecili… just hold on a little longer. I’ll finish this quickly…”
Seere extracted her blade. And beyond the now shattered barrier, she saw Retee alone.
“… I’ll rescue you.”