Ch.119119. Inverted Tsunami (3)

As I put on the mask, the inverted tide’s giant form collapses before my eyes.

Just like I did to the water dragon earlier, white slashes finely dice and shred its massive body.

Despite surviving my previous strike with remarkable vitality, it’s now neutralized in one blow, disintegrating and falling into the seawater below.

“…”

But I’m in no state to react to that right now.

This is difficult.

No joke, I genuinely feel like I might die.

As I take rough breaths, sweat pours down my entire body like rain.

It feels like I’ve spent all my energy just throwing that one punch.

‘…Just imitating it caused this much trouble…!’

I think to myself while catching my breath.

No.

It’s good that even a clumsy imitation produces this level of power.

But if there’s this much rebound, I can’t even imagine the strain on my body if I were to perfect this technique.

< System Message >

[ Fantastic spell operation! ]

[ Proficiency in ‘Trait: Spell Operation’ greatly increases. ]

< System Message >

[ You’ve crudely imitated a technique of unfathomable level! ]

[ Completion of ‘Trait: Martial Arts – Standing’ greatly increases! ]

“…”

There’s a bright side at least.

So all this suffering wasn’t completely in vain.

I scan the system window that appears before my eyes.

< Mastery Info >

[ Trait: Spell Operation ] [ Grade: Proficient ]

[ Current Proficiency: 0% ]

[ You can handle ‘spells,’ abilities based on the subject’s willpower. ]

[ ■ Output is determined by the ‘willpower’ of the caster. ‘Willpower’ is calculated based on the degree to which the subject desires or wishes for their goal. ]

[ ■ You can now integrate spells with other abilities. ]

Huh.

Being able to integrate spells with other abilities is a function I’ve never heard of before.

In the game, there wasn’t even a branch where Elia could handle spells directly, so there’s nothing to compare it to.

And as I’m thinking about this…

[…What are you looking at, Darwood?]

Bone-chilling ‘text’ appears in my field of vision.

As always when approaching the limit of going berserk, it’s Yuria communicating through text rather than voice.

When I turn my head slightly, there’s Yuria standing on a massive rock from who knows where, emitting streams of white energy.

“…”

No, that’s not it.

She’s cut a house-sized coastal rock clean through and dragged it all the way here.

The cross-section is so clean it’s as if she cut paper—it’s almost ridiculous.

“Thanks for saving me.”

[I didn’t save you, I just cut it because it was in the way. I have so many things I want you to explain—]

Before she could finish speaking.

-…

-…!!!!

The Inverted Tide—now a hideous mass of flesh that can barely be called a “body”—begins to move again.

What tenacious vitality. Even Yuria, who reduced it to this state, is dumbfounded.

[…Impossible. It’s still alive?]

That makes sense.

These things are under the “Curse of Invincibility.”

I didn’t pound them with my bare fists for nothing.

No matter how powerful a strike from a blade infused with demonic fragments might be, as long as it’s a “weapon,” it can never truly end their existence.

Because of that…

—!!!!!!!!!!

From its body, curses pour out once again.

It’s a grotesque black wave that feels several times more malicious than what I crushed earlier. It feels like any living being caught in it would surely die.

< System Message >

[ A ‘Curse Wave’ targeting you has been detected! ]

[ ‘Anti-Magic’ stat resistance roll… ]

[ Resistance successful! ]

Even though I easily avoided a direct hit using the Holy Shield for mobility, the attack is so malicious that resistance checks appear even at a considerable distance.

This is something I’ve seen in the game too. The final pattern that emerges when health drops to near zero.

At this point, it’s not worth getting close to smash it with that technique again.

With instant-death attacks spraying in all directions, approaching is already difficult, and considering the rebound from using “Sky Breaker” just now, I can only use it once more on each of the remaining two.

So to “finish off” this one, I need to use Yuria.

That’s why I deliberately brought her here after pushing her to the brink of going berserk.

And I have one more thing prepared for this.

“…”

I carefully track the area ‘below’ the sea with my eyes.

I can feel energy stirring down there.

‘It’s about time.’

While the other ‘two’ would require mobilizing all the technology of the Crucible of Struggle to summon, this one should naturally emerge after all the commotion we’ve caused here.

-!!!!

Just as I think that.

The ‘Water Dragon’ reveals itself, causing a massive tidal wave.

It seems furious, as if wanting to see who dares cause trouble in its territory.

However.

‘…It used to look more majestic.’

While it’s certainly impressive in size, it seems modest compared to the overwhelming bodies of the Inverted Tides.

And what I’m about to do will further trample its dignity and majesty.

One more maneuver using the Holy Shield. I leap up to the Water Dragon’s vicinity.

Its eyes immediately lock onto me, and it holds a growling roar in its mouth.

The problem is that it also spotted Yuria following behind me.

-…

< System Message >

[ ‘Fear Imprint’ effect activated! ]

[ The ‘Water Dragon’ freezes in terror upon seeing target ‘Yuria’! ]

With its large body come large eyes, making it easy to read the emotions within them.

It freezes stiff from the fear deeply imprinted in its consciousness from being slaughtered by Yuria before. It’s like a debuff that prevents it from doing anything for several seconds.

And that’s enough.

“…Hup!”

Reaching near its jaw, I immediately throw a punch.

‘Strike.’

‘Send it flying.’

The scene would look like an ant sending an elephant flying with a punch. That’s how great the size difference is between us.

‘…Really.’

I’ve really gone far beyond human scale.

Even with martial arts stat bonuses and EX-level Crisis Mode, this is truly absurd.

[…Insane.]

Even Yuria involuntarily lets out such a groan at the sight.

-…

-…!!

The Water Dragon, sent flying by my punch, collides directly with the Inverted Tide’s body.

And for an instant.

Through that contact, the Curse of Invincibility is ‘stripped away.’

‘…That’s right.’

I watch the scene with a slight smile.

This is something I often saw in the game too.

The antithesis to curses is holy power, but there’s no means here to handle an ancient god-level magical beast. Even the Holy Maiden couldn’t do that.

However.

While not at the level of an ancient god, at least an ‘elite’ level ‘elemental being’…

Can ‘neutralize’ that curse, if only for a very brief moment.

Just as I’ve done now.

Of course, without the Fear Imprint, I couldn’t have so easily sent the Water Dragon crashing into it like in a game of pinball.

Which means…

I need to quickly utilize this precious ‘opportunity’ I’ve created.

“Yuria.”

[…What?]

At my sudden words, Yuria flinches.

I smile broadly and throw out a sentence.

“I’ll be honest.”

I continue speaking calmly to my expressionless opponent staring at me.

“You said earlier you had a lot of things you wanted me to explain.”

[…So you do know—]

“But this isn’t the first time, and I’m tired of explaining myself.”

“…”

“I won’t make excuses, so simply put.”

“…”

To Yuria, who’s gaping in disbelief, I throw out words with a bright smile.

“Try to catch me~”

[…]

After a long silence hearing my words, Yuria finally smiled broadly.

[If I catch you, you die?]

“…”

Of course, only her mouth was smiling—her eyes weren’t smiling at all.

I’d really die if she caught me, wouldn’t I?

-!

And then.

The next movements all happened in an instant.

[ Activating ‘Skill: Holy Shield.’ ]

[ Due to ‘Trait: Holy Power Operation,’ 2 shields are created simultaneously! ]

Creating Holy Shields in mid-air, I immediately step on them and charge toward the tattered body of the Inverted Tide.

Seeing this, Yuria kicks off the sliced coastal rock she was standing on and follows me.

“…!”

And as I perform an acrobatic maneuver to pass over the two of them…

The Water Dragon and Inverted Tide in our path are ‘split’ in half with a single strike.

Both are cleaved in two without even a chance to scream.

While the Water Dragon can revive later as an elemental being, the Inverted Tide turns completely to ashes, confirming its death.

“…”

This is amazing.

Though it was a strategy cobbled together to fit the situation, I didn’t expect it to work this well.

Yuria on the verge of going berserk is seriously strong.

[Darwood.]

As I’m thinking this while looking at Yuria…

She’s smiling broadly, covered in the Inverted Tide’s fluids and the Water Dragon’s blood.

Her expression is like that, but…

The light in her eyes is dead.

[If I catch you, will you really die?]

“…”

I get it, man.

But.

‘…Two more to go.’

I look at the two remaining giants.

And I also visually confirm the ‘Fire Demon’ and ‘Ice Tiger’ gradually taking shape nearby, as requested from the Crucible of Struggle.

“…”

To my eyes, both of them look like disposable grenades right now.

Ones that can momentarily dispel the Inverted Tide’s curse.

They should all have Fear Imprints carved into them, so they’ll be easy to use that way.

“…”

I smile slightly as I organize the routine.

Strip away the outer shell with martial arts, stuff the Lord of the Demon Realm inside, and finish with Yuria’s sword.

Simple work. Just repeat like a worker on an assembly line.

“…Let’s finish this quickly.”

I’ve prepared a lot for this until now.

I’ve worked hard.

So.

For now, let’s keep it simple and easy.

“…”

So that…

I can quickly clean this up and prepare for what comes ‘after.’

‘…He’s not here, that guy.’

Thinking about it, it’s quite strange.

He summoned the beings he serves, even deploying Allan, that big talker…

Yet where is the summoner himself, and what is he doing?

“…”

I have a rough idea of where he might be.

So, let’s hurry and chase after him.

With that thought, I immediately launched myself toward the second giant.

●

Elnore Erinarise la Tristan strongly prefers full-body pajamas with polka dot patterns.

She’s been wearing them since childhood so they’re comfortable, and more than anything, she’s grown so attached to them that it’s hard to switch to something else.

Of course, she knows this isn’t the most appropriate attire for a grown woman, so she tends to avoid showing it to others.

That’s why she was irritated to the extreme when she heard someone knocking on her door just before falling asleep.

Ah.

How annoying to have to change clothes.

“…”

Again, the sound of knocking on the door.

Elnore sighed with an expression showing irritation rising to the top of her head.

Looking at the clock, it’s well into dawn. Who could be visiting at this hour?

‘…As if the outside wasn’t noisy enough already.’

Darwood is nowhere to be seen. The whole academy is inexplicably busy.

Unwelcome visitors keep coming lately, which is annoying.

And again, Darwood is nowhere to be seen.

It seems like her body has been lacking that man’s elements lately, making her easily irritated.

Ah, this won’t do. Next time she sees Darwood, she should demand at least a hug and a kiss—

“Lady Tristan. Are you in there?”

The voice from outside the door interrupted Elnore’s thoughts.

Although she had received many unwelcome visitors recently, even considering that…

Without a doubt.

It was the voice of someone she never imagined hearing in this place, at this time.

“…High Priestess Tatiana?”

“It’s been a while.”

“What brings you here at this hour?”

“…Nothing much. Just.”

Tatiana continued with a grinning expression.

“There’s someone I’d like to introduce you to.”

With those words, immediately.

A massive explosion occurred in the room where Elnore was staying.

●