episode_0471

A deep sense of tension flows down the spine, spreading throughout the body.

Unfathomable.

The extent of the opponent’s skills.

Even the presence or absence of substance among those numerous shadows cannot be discerned.

It’s due to the dense navy blue magic laid thick in this place.

By maximizing the density, suppressing the natural flow, and firmly anchoring the magic in place, it blankets this area entirely, impairing senses.

To unravel this, one unfolds a certain move.

[Activating the Dominator’s Domain.]

A boundary drawn over the black darkness.

Attempting to forcibly strip away the surrounding magic through this but—

Shwack-!

“….”

No response.

When reaching out with intangible hands to strip away the magic, it is repelled with a rough reaction.

A will so strong that it can even resist the absolute influence of the ‘Dominator’s Domain.’

There has been only one such case until now.

“…Domain.”

The power of the gods.

The unique ability granted to the apostles by that power.

In a place where the breath of the gods is strongly felt, the domineering ability of the Dominator’s Domain is limited.

As if refusing domination decisively, as if unable to accept the dominion of a mere human, just like me, who has received power from the gods.

I inquire towards one of the countless shadows before me.

“What kind of apostle are you?”

In response, the shadows all around fragment the words, tearing them apart.

“No obligation to answer.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

An unnecessarily taciturn youth.

The intuition placed amidst the navy blue magic and vitality screams warnings.

One might lose their life here today.

Feelings of unease, tension, fear appropriately constrict the throat.

“Well, alright.”

Not bad.

This sensation that tingles at the fingertips and toes.

At some point, I started embracing moments like this with a good feeling, where life and death hang in the balance with a single small action.

“It’s all messed up, isn’t it.”

It’s not just me.

If you were to peek into the minds of hunters who have survived for years, decades, they would all probably be similar.

As the pressure mounts, the chances of survival diminish.

It’s a pitiful struggle, choosing madness to live, opting for the lesser evil instead of the worst, to survive.

Slowly warming up the body while scanning the surroundings.

“….”

Hundreds of shadows surrounding me.

Dull figures without much individuality all simultaneously brandish their arms.

Squelch…!

A faint sound of blades cutting through the air.

Simultaneously, a chilling premonition pierces through the air, reaching the skin, penetrating through the void.

Focusing on my eyes, I finally see it.

From the hilt to the blade, hundreds of jet-black swords are pointed towards me, rushing fiercely with their sharp ends aimed in my direction.

“….!”

Momentary panic.

Calmly raising the magic, I erect a massive defensive barrier around me.

“Aegis.”

Kugugugu…!

An icy wall, harder than steel, rises to block the surroundings.

Thunk!

The sharp swords strike the ice wall, the sound faintly audible.

Everything feels feeble.

Due to the space enveloped in darkness, vision is compromised, sounds muffled, even movements felt faint.

The senses that should feel sharp barely break through the thick wall.

The reason is clear.

The dense, powerful magic present here suffocates even the slightest sound or movement, killing them off.

“…This won’t be easy.”

For me, it’s all weaknesses; for the opponent, it’s all strengths in this space.

Creating a domain in an instant is undoubtedly not an easy task.

They must have prepared in advance.

Knowing that I always pass through here, they meticulously built up the domain very securely, solely intent on killing me.

Pashsh

Unable to withstand the downpour of swords, the ice wall crumbles one by one.

Shooshoo

The suffocating sound and ominous premonitions felt as if ears were filled with water.

There is one fortunate aspect.

Sight, sound, smell.

Amongst all that’s abnormal, the sensation flowing through the skin remains normal.

However, one cannot keenly feel the surroundings through this sensation.

Only an abstract feeling like being targeted from somewhere.

Relying solely on the sense of touch is suicidal.

Instead, it is used as a supplement.

Enhancing the lack of hearing, sight, and smell to sharpen the enemy’s approach towards me.

I can’t just stand here forever blocking incoming attacks.

Even if I have to disrupt the enemy’s formation, I must find some clue.

After deflecting another round of flying daggers, I bend down to pick up a fallen dagger.

“Hmm.”

Compared to the sword I often use, it may be excessively short, but it doesn’t matter.

As long as it has a good grip and a blade, it’s sufficient.

Clang!

Infusing magic, the blade elongates above my hand.

This length will do.

“The weight is a bit disappointing…”

It might be overly light, and the balance differs from a sword, but there’s no other choice.

Now is not the time to be picky; I need to swallow whatever comes my way.

“Phew.”

Taking a deep breath calmly.

Thud!

I launch myself forward.

The target is the closest shadow.

In the blink of an eye, I approach and vertically split the figure.

Ah.

That guy doesn’t have eyes, indeed.

Swish!

Without hesitation, it splits in half and loses its form, flowing onto the ground.

The taste of cutting isn’t pleasant.

It feels like slicing through flowing water.

Continuing the motion, I swiftly cut down the surrounding shadows all at once.

Swish! Swish!

As soon as they are cut, the figures disintegrate like water, dispersing instantly.

As I try to catch my breath, a barrage of daggers comes straight at me.

“Useless.”

“Tantrum.”

Mockery from the shadows follows.

“Geez, why can I hear voices clearly when nothing else is clear?”

They have a mind of their own, truly.

Blocking the daggers with both hands, I simultaneously create a shield in the blind spot where the sword can’t reach, preventing potential blind attacks.

“Ugh…!”

The daggers shatter into pieces with each swing of the sword.

Just having a sword won’t cut it.

Let’s serve them a proper blow before moving on.

I gather my magic.

The suppressed magic in the bluish aura approaches me as if waiting.

I convert all of these into psychic magic.

Zap!

Flashes of lightning shoot out from the darkness.

Thinly drawn out like threads, I sharpen the ends after pulling them out like a whip.

“Chain Lightning.”

Chains of electricity spread widely.

Piercing through the surrounding shadows, they extend further to penetrate more shadows.

Crackle!

Zap!

Sizzle-

Shadows disappear in an instant.

A vast open space created by magic.

The shadows that were tightly packed together fill the space again.

Though it still seems meaningless, the gap between the shadows has noticeably widened.

Perhaps that’s why.

The shadows, now with room to move, seem to come alive.

“Sigh.”

With space freed up, the shadows now act on their own.

Swish!

Boom!

Cutting through the charging shadows, I constantly expand my senses.

Yet, I don’t sense any foreign presence anywhere.

It’s as if what you seek doesn’t exist here, mocking your futile efforts.

“Futile, all of it.”

“You.”

“You will never.”

“Reach me.”

“Ever.”

The mockery of the shadows continues.

After splitting them into pieces, I raise my index finger in the middle.

“You’re still far away, you brat.”

Give up?

Now that’s a laughable notion.

Even if I wanted to give up at this point, I couldn’t.

Because I have survived.

“Even in situations worse than this.”

Ignite.

The strong determination to carve out the essence of the bastard as many times as there are shadows.

Slashing through the remaining shadows, bursting them with magic, repeating the process.

Swish!

Crash!

Fwoosh…

Diminishing magical power and stamina.

No matter how much I conserve and cherish, my stamina depletes faster than the shadows diminish.

It can’t be helped.

Chaeng!

Kagak!

These shadow bastards.

As their numbers dwindle, their movements become noticeably more intricate.

Even the weapons in their hands have diversified.

Daggers flying like arrows, spears thrusting long, shields blocking my attacks, and more.

With various weapons tracing their paths, my senses become entangled.

And accidents usually happen at times like this.

Pshoo!

Every time I miss a weapon’s path, a red line is inevitably drawn on my body.

Not deep wounds.

Even so, I shield the attack area with a hastily conjured shield.

“Haha, quite something.”

It’s incredibly frustrating.

When there are many, I push people back with overwhelming attacks.

“When they’re few, I apply pressure with precise control, that’s it…”

Somehow.

It was strange that the shadows weren’t replenishing.

I was trying to pressure the opponent by varying the tactics like this.

But it’s fine.

I didn’t expect to collapse this easily.

“No way.”

Despite losing stamina and sustaining injuries, I gained a lot in return.

I’ve grown accustomed to the opponent’s movements for now.

No matter how sophisticated they’ve become, they still move according to certain rules.

Of course.

Even if they’ve decreased, they can’t individually control close to dozens.

“From now on, it won’t go your way…!”

Boldly shouting, I transitioned into the next phase.

Shrrrr-

As the ground squelched, new shadows began to appear in the vast space.

Gradually refilling the numbers.

Lost in thought while observing the shadows numbering in the hundreds once again.

“Damn, this fight is a real pain in the ass….”