Chapter 197

Ｒҽａɗ ο​ṅ Ｋ​атＲｅａⅾіṅｇＣα​ｆе

Eugene’s supernatural ability is highly unusual.

His ability is ‘borrowed power’.

He copies the supernatural abilities of others and makes them his own.

Even Pyrokinesis, which he had naturally used and thought of as his own, had its roots in his deceased younger sister. 

It was a supernatural ability inherited from Yui. The ability to control fire was Eugene’s, yet it wasn’t truly his. 

In this way, Eugene is nothing on his own. As a supernatural, he may have superhuman physical abilities, but he possesses no unique powers of his own.

However, to put it another way,

if there are other supernaturals from whom he can borrow abilities,

and if the number of abilities he can use increases,

Eugene’s combat power rises exponentially, beyond comparison.

“…Sun Sword.”

Swirling flames compressed onto the blade.

Accelerated once more with Leo’s supernatural ability.

Enhanced further with Alice’s supernatural ability.

“Flash.”

A crimson light blooms.

In the blink of an eye.

A flash of light focused entirely on ‘severing’.

The ultra-high-temperature blade cut through everything within its range.

“Ugh…”

The branch, not even a proper weapon, was severed in a single strike.

Though it looked fragile, it had withstood dozens of slashes from the sword. 

But even its sturdiness had limits. The branch broke helplessly, unable to protect its owner, and turned to ash. 

Another scar was carved into Belial’s body. The heat cauterized the wound, preventing bleeding, but it was far from a minor injury. 

For an ordinary human, it would have been a fatal wound.

“Ehe, it hurts.”

Belial twisted her lips and let out a laugh.

As if the bitter pain was someone else’s problem.

Mimicking Lucia’s laughter, she spoke softly.

“That’s too much, Eugene. Weren’t we friends?”

“Shut up!”

Eugene shouted through gritted teeth.

If he could have covered his ears, he would have.

He didn’t only because blocking his ears mid-battle would be foolish.

In Lucia’s voice.

With Lucia’s tone.

Acting like Lucia.

The devil who had taken Lucia’s body whispered.

After her scheme was exposed, she didn’t even try to hide it. She didn’t dodge when she could. 

She didn’t block when she could. She deliberately let herself be hit, gnawing away at Eugene’s sanity. 

At least the mask hid Lucia’s face, but it still weighed heavily on Eugene’s mind.

Even if it’s to save her, he’s causing her pain.

If Lucia’s consciousness was asleep, it might be different, but she’s still resisting Belial.

Does that mean she’s feeling the same pain as Belial?

If that was why the devil suddenly changed her strategy?

If the intention is to weaken Lucia’s resistance by causing her pain?

‘…I have to aim for the heart.’

End this as quickly as possible.

If Belial’s core is truly in the heart,

destroying it could bring Lucia back.

At first, Eugene suspected it might be a trick, but he could sense an unusual energy coming from Lucia’s heart. 

As the battle continued, the source of Belial’s power, shrouded in mystery, was gradually revealed. 

At the very least, it was clear that something was there. Judging by Danger Sense, targeting that area was the right move.

‘But…’

It’s not easy. Belial was definitely protecting her heart. The only reason Eugene had been able to wound her several times was because Belial had deliberately left openings.

Eugene hadn’t reached the level of a ‘captain’. 

By mobilizing all his supernatural abilities, he could come close, but he couldn’t surpass it. 

Naturally, it was impossible for him to defeat a devil by himself. Eugene understood that better than anyone.

But that didn’t mean there was no chance.

Because Eugene wasn’t alone.

‘Now, while Lucia is suppressing the devil, this is the only chance for me to strike.’

The fight will become even more grueling if she creates another forest and summons more monsters.

Eugene recalled the moment he broke through the horde of monsters: If there’s no way, make one. The means were already in his hands. 

He didn’t need to worry about injuries. He had Hardening, and even if that failed, he also had Super Regeneration, which had saved his life countless times.

If he could endure the pain, he could fight like Lucia. And Eugene had already proven he could endure it. Even through the continuous, mind-shattering pain, his unwavering resolve pushed him forward.

[Acceleration]

Eugene’s movements became dramatically faster.

The resistance of the air slammed into his body.

With Hardening, he endured all the impacts and accelerated even further.

“…Heh.”

Belial sneered. It seemed her taunting had worked. Look at this. He’s not thinking straight. All he’s doing is exposing more openings.

Belial didn’t dwell on whether that was truly her intention.

She stamped it as undoubtedly true and turned her head away.

Otherwise, she couldn’t explain her own actions.

Her tingling head grew hazy.

Belial watched the sword strike coming at her in an instant.

A brutal, unrefined slash focused more on speed than technique.

To be swayed by emotions in the middle of a battle was truly foolish.

A chaotic sword path.

A flickering light that couldn’t even handle its own speed.

She could block it. Deflect it. Parry it. Counter it.

Dozens of methods rose and fell in Belial’s mind.

The thin branch in her hand trembled.

The green leaves fell, swallowed by the whirlwind.

The branch coiled around the sword like a snake, undulating softly. It was a technique lacking in finesse, relying solely on strength and speed. 

A slight touch would be enough to break it. Belial twisted her wrist slightly to alter the sword’s trajectory. The red flash veered off course and surged in the wrong direction.

“Ah.”

Belial muttered blankly.

A faint smile hung on her lips.

I forgot about the durability of my weapon.

I made a mistake.

A real mistake.

Yes, that’s right.

Suddenly, the perfectly intact branch snapped.

With the guide leading the sword gone, the red flash instantly regained its original trajectory.

Swoosh.

From the shoulder to the left rib.

From the right flank to the pelvis.

From the left head to the right thigh.

The crimson light drew clean lines.

The red afterglow sliced through her body.

Cutting deep and sharp.

Even with her life force protecting her, her body burned.

Like a setting sun, the red grew darker, staining her body.

Part of the Green Wolf Mask shattered, revealing a portion of her hidden face. 

For a moment, Eugene flinched. All he could see were her pink eyes. 

His reflection was visible in her teary eyes. Eugene hesitated briefly at the sight of Lucia’s face. 

Belial calmly reached for the broken mask. As her fingertips touched it, the missing part of the mask was instantly restored. 

The wounds also disappeared without a trace.

“Why are you hesitating, Eugene? Didn’t you want to save ‘me’?”

“…”

Eugene’s blue eyes narrowed at her mocking voice. 

Though her tone was sarcastic, she wasn’t wrong. He had known from the start whose face lay behind that mask. 

It was foolish to hesitate now just because he had seen her face. Eugene swung his sword again. 

The firmly gripped blade summoned a crimson tidal wave. In response, Belial created another branch and leaped into the wave.

Dozens of explosions overlapped, unleashing a massive shockwave. The sword mercilessly pierced Belial. 

The leaves of the branch were stained with Eugene’s blood. Both of them fully utilized their super regeneration. They ignored their own injuries, focusing solely on cutting each other down.

A stalemate. But that was only at a glance. 

Upon closer inspection, the situation was slightly different. While Eugene had no room for error against Belial, Belial still had some mental capacity left to organize her thoughts even amid the fierce battle.

‘…Ah, yes.’

Belial smiled brightly.

A beautiful smile, like a blooming flower.

This is it. This is what I’ve been waiting for. A battle where blood splatters and flesh scatters. 

Where both sides pour everything they have into killing each other. That’s how the fight was that day, and that’s how this battle is now. Belial couldn’t hold back the laughter spilling from her lips.

It hurts. But it feels good.

It’s agonizing. Just like back then.

My heart is racing. My body is hot. My heightened senses amplified even the slightest stimuli. 

Battle. Fight. Struggle. War. 

Everything I once thought was meaningless exhaustion now felt unbearably delightful.

Every time the sword dug into her flesh and burned, Belial felt sparks fly. 

Her head buzzed and melted. Thoughts and concepts lost their shape and crumbled. A sense of crisis flickered and then faded.

I thought about a lot of things, but now none of it matters. 

For some reason, I feel good~♡ So good that I don’t want to think about anything else.

I had been looking forward to recreating that day this much.

I had longed for a moment like that fight so intensely.

My heart feels like it’s broken.

But does it matter?

Even if it’s broken, I can just regenerate it.

A little more.

Carve more wounds into me.

Like Jin did to me.

Don’t stop.

Let’s fight more.

I’m still not satisfied.

The thirst doesn’t end.

Like pouring water into a bottomless dam, the thirst only grows.

‘…Ah, but.’

Something’s annoying. This is strange. Why am I even counterattacking? Can’t I just take the hits? 

Eugene’s fire is so hot, it feels good~♡ It’s so hot it burns me to the bone. 

Why am I pretending to block? Is there even a need? What I wanted was the sensation of being alive, right? The pain reminds me that I’m alive…

‘Huh…?’

Something’s off with my thoughts.

No, is it? Why am I like this?

Belial felt confused but continued to move diligently. Blocking and dodging Eugene’s attacks, she deliberately let wounds form on her body as the battle continued. 

She whipped herself to keep counterattacking, driving herself forward. A sticky heat flowed through her veins, spreading throughout her body.

‘I want to fight Jin again and win…’

Did I want to win? Can’t I just lose? Losing feels better than winning. 

Being broken feels much better than breaking~♡ 

Is that it? Did I want to see Jin again so badly because I wanted to be broken more thoroughly this time? 

Rolling miserably on the ground, being trampled under dirty feet… ugh? What? My lower abdomen just twitched a little…? I, well, uh…?

Despite her thoughts, her body continued to move, and gradually, her thoughts began to invade her actions.

The more that happened, the more Eugene’s sword carved into Belial’s body.

The wounds increased. The more they did, the faster Belial’s thoughts raced.

‘Defeat… do I want to lose…?’

Belial imagined. 

The moments when she would win and lose against the boy before her.

If she won, it would just end with the thought of victory.

She would swallow her thirst while searching for her next prey.

But if she just lost.

If her limbs were severed and she rolled on the ground with only her torso left.

If the boy looked down at her with cold eyes…

Wouldn’t this thirst continue to be quenched?

‘Yes, let’s just lose.’

No need to make more branches.

Let’s stretch out my arms and let them be cut off.

Let’s sever my legs and become defenseless.

Let’s give up my most important heart.

Then, if that happens.

My long wait and thirst will finally be quenched───

‘No, that can’t be!’

Belial snapped back to her senses.

She was horrified by her own thoughts just now.

What was I about to do?

Defeat? Does losing feel good? I wanted to win! To win more decisively and cleanly this time! That’s why I wanted to recreate that day!

What’s going on? Why was I having such absurd delusions? A mental attack? Could it be Lucia’s doing again?! Invading my mind to pull this kind of nonsense───

“One shot, loaded.”

Belial’s thoughts didn’t get to finish. She was too bewildered to react in time. 

By the time she realized, it was already too late. A woman with tanned skin lunged into Belial’s embrace. 

Lowering her stance, she thrust out a glowing fist. 

For a moment, Belial’s eyes met hers.

A familiar face.

A face remembered from records and photos.

“7th Division Captain…!”

Jin’s successor.

“Fire!”

With a thunderous shout, the fist shot forward.

A small fist, but the power it contained was earth-shattering.

A strike unmatched in sheer destructive power among the captains was unleashed.

Boom!

Kaen’s punch slammed into Belial’s stomach.

Immediately after, a deafening explosion shook Belial’s body.

Blood, flesh, and shattered pieces of internal organs scattered as her abdomen burst open.

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Belial is also a Devil in name!

He can’t resist or be swayed by Lucia’s masochistic body!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
You gotta feel bad for Belial, imagine being scammed and thrown under the bus by your dumb teammate like that. 

Heh.