Ch.271Entry (2)

Following my instinct, I turned my head to see ten different black magic spells entering my field of vision.

Each one appeared to have been cast by at least an intermediate-level black mage, and all ten were devastatingly lethal.

Among the gluttony-type black magic alone were six spells: “Curse of Famine,” “Flesh Devouring,” “Biting Maw,” “Feast of Gluttony,” “Skin Maggot Curse,” and “Beast Predator.”

The general black magic included “Hellfire Sphere,” “Soul Extraction,” “Devil’s Grasp,” and “Corrosive Venom”—four in total.

As these ten spells—which could only be described as deliberately targeted—rained down upon us, I calmly activated the power of my “Magic Eye.”

The “Eye of Cessation”—completed through the combination of various visual abilities and magic eye lineages. This ability, which could stop anything perceived through visual information, seized the incoming spells. Meanwhile, I heard Gretel’s urgent communication.

“Camille, throw it!!”

As soon as her telepathic message through the headband ended, I took the crystal carved in the shape of a skull—which also served as her familiar—from my back and threw it directly toward the black magic attacks.

And just as the skull stopped right in front of the frozen black magic attacks—

—CRASH!!

The power building inside the skull-shaped crystal suddenly leaked out and shattered, catalyzing Gretel’s witch spell that disrupted and collapsed the air around those magic spells.

The incantation being cast was none other than “Strange Wind”—an area-of-effect spell from the Witch School with the effect of “Magic Casting Interference.”

Originally, it was closer to a counter-type spell that disrupts spells in their casting phase with minimal mana consumption, quite different from full-fledged spell nullification.

But… what if what was being disrupted wasn’t a spell being cast, but the magical form of spells suspended in mid-air?

Those completely frozen spells were, strictly speaking, not spells in the process of being cast but rather the completed results of casting.

They were meant to persist until fulfilling their purpose without anyone’s interference, but paradoxically, it was this independent existence that made them vulnerable.

Energy like a strange wind painting over space brushed past the spells and disrupted their balance. With their original forms completely collapsed, the spells soon vanished, scattering into fragments of magical energy.

“….Phew.”

Having barely survived this critical moment thanks to this intervention, I quickly turned my head again, not ignoring the advice of my instinct.

Naturally, in the direction I looked, there was a human-sized demon floating in the air, commanding four massive flying demons—most likely the one responsible for casting those ten spells.

Though its entire body was covered in something like a robe, concealing any demonic features, my instinct sent powerful warnings… presumably a magic-specialized demon.

In this situation where everyone was on guard against its eerie presence and unsettling atmosphere, I launched my blade shields toward it without a moment’s hesitation—

—THUDUDUDUDUDUDUDUDUDU!!!

Suddenly, dozens of magic circles appeared, enveloping its entire body. They glowed brightly and began firing magical projectiles—commonly known as magic bullets—in all directions.

Typically, magic bullets are small concentrations of magical energy fired rapidly to increase lethality against human targets… similar to firearms using gunpowder. Since they’re condensed magic energy releasing physical force, they’re actually closer to material attacks.

Magic bullets are particularly basic general-purpose magic that any magic user can employ, while also serving as the foundation for various other spells, making it possible to gauge someone’s capability by observing how they cast them.

Sensing that this being’s magical capabilities were not to be underestimated, I hastily recalled my intercepted shields to use them defensively—

—TIDIDIDIDIDIDIDIDI—!!!

As the fragmented shields moved ceaselessly through the air, somehow blocking the downpour of magic bullets, Hannah stepped onto the battlefield, albeit a bit late, after receiving my telepathic communication.

This was made possible by the equipment I had gifted her.

[■■■■—!!]

At the very moment Hannah’s unique high-speed transformation occurred, she let out a short roar, activating the magical power bestowed upon her and accelerating her physical movement to the extreme.

Chukji. A term referring to short-distance leaping techniques for high-speed movement, an almost essential skill for those specializing in high-speed combat.

The “technique” of Chukji, which requires a light body and considerable physical ability, is simply a fancy way of describing rapid leaping.

It’s just a technique where one kicks off the ground forcefully to move using the rebound.

While intermediate practitioners can move at speeds comparable to short-distance warping, it’s actually a skill that anyone meeting the conditions will eventually discover through footwork training.

However, inspired by Hannah’s rapid acceleration technique, I was able to devise certain equipment—which is the basis for the modified “Chukji” she just deployed using the power of her anklet.

The principle is extremely simple.

During transformation, shapeshifter species’ bodies become almost immaterial before changing form. At this moment, the magic imbued in the anklet naturally propels her beyond the normal Chukji distance.

It’s a technique impossible with a material body but feasible when that physicality briefly blurs. And the maximum range of this equipment-assisted technique exceeds a remarkable 50 meters.

So now, as this technique I had hoped to save was unleashed by her hand, I watched quietly before signaling to Corin, who had been sweeping away lesser demons, to support her.

And immediately after Hannah’s claws slashed through that robed demon, I… could only be shocked by the appearance of the being that emerged from within the robe.

‘…Huh?’

What burst out from inside the robe might appear at first glance to be an amorphous mass of mixed green and purple, but my exceptional vision revealed its true identity… flies.

Countless green and purple flies occupying enough space to form a human-sized figure, solidifying their positions to constitute a swarm-type demon.

And this demon was, simultaneously, a notable named demon that existed even in the knowledge that damned being had forcibly injected into my mind.

Once a third-rate wizard of a magic tower who eventually succumbed to demonic temptation, became a black mage, and finally “ascended” to demonhood by sacrificing his master and the master’s family.

After ascending, he was transformed into a swarm of countless demonic flies, unable to maintain not only his original appearance but even his sense of self.

Thus named, “The Sage of the Swarm.”

In exchange for discarding material existence, his original ego and self-awareness disappeared, leaving only spell-casting ability in the form of a swarm of flies.

This creature is particularly rare among demons for its ability to cast spells in parallel due to its swarm nature, capable of casting dozens of spells simultaneously—

“—Back!”

“Okay!”

As soon as my command was issued and Hannah retreated using Chukji, that monstrous creature, no longer concerned about being discovered, began spreading its body and computing dozens of spells simultaneously.

And naturally, I found myself deep in thought with my drastically increased reaction speed.

Even if individual units are weak, the swarm regenerates instantly as long as even one remains, so defeating it requires area-of-effect attacks—but no one here can display the wide-area firepower needed to take it down.

The Chimera’s flames have too narrow a range. My extended slashes are linear and difficult to control over an area. Additionally, being a magic user itself, it can deploy multiple layers of defensive magic simultaneously.

Even if I tried to call in bombardment support from beyond, I seriously question whether this space could accommodate such support.

Therefore, judging that we couldn’t mount an offensive while simultaneously dealing with the endless demons approaching from all directions, I thought:

If that’s the case—let’s flip the board entirely.

I attached blade shield parts to my full-body armor, extending them in various directions outward.

“—Gretel!”

“Yes!”

Next was ensuring others wouldn’t get caught up in this. Following my instructions, Gretel sent Hannah and Corin somewhere else and deployed a magical barrier using her familiar. In this atmosphere, I channeled power into the blades extending from my entire body—

—KWAGAGAGAGAGAGAK!!!

Immediately after, thirteen aura blades extending from my body moved in all directions, instantly dismembering everything in their path.