Ch.2828. The Purifier (2)

●

I drank two Low-Grade Recovery Potions.

[Item: Consumable]

[Price: 1,000pt] x2

[Recovers minor injuries.]

[Remaining points: 0pt]

[!WARNING!]

[Boss battle against ‘The Purifier’ in progress. Recovery effects are reduced due to the demonic energy emitted by the opponent.]

Damn expensive for a low-grade item.

In Sera’s world, potions are supposedly rare items. But having reduced effectiveness during a boss fight is crossing the line.

In reality, despite spending all my remaining points, the pain from my twisted joints only subsided slightly.

But right now, even that little relief is desperately needed.

“…”

I dodge the attack flying toward me, gritting my teeth.

The “chapter bosses” in Sera’s world each have unique characteristics.

They’re loaded with utilities you’d never see in ordinary opponents.

And that’s precisely why Marquis Riverback is called the Purifier.

-!

The demonic energy released by Marquis Riverback collides with the barrier surrounding Elnore’s body, then bounces off with an eerie sound.

A barrier made from the bones of a saint. The same one that protected Elnore and me during the rockslide accident on the train.

“This is absurd!”

But the barrier that had effortlessly deflected such massive boulders was completely shattered by Marquis Riverback’s next attack, fragments scattering everywhere.

Yes, this is his ability.

He can “erase” part of the original performance of any defense or attack.

Like purifying it.

“…Ah, this is bullshit.”

Even by those standards, this is a bit much.

That barrier shouldn’t break so easily no matter what. It must have been strengthened when enhanced with mana.

[Crisis situation detected.]

[Threat level assessed as directly life-threatening.]

[Skill: Desperate Situation applied at EX rank.]

[!WARNING!]

[Enemy’s unique skill ‘Purification’ detected.]

[Skill: Desperate Situation downgraded to C rank.]

This is a perfect example.

The difference between EX-rank enhancement and C-rank enhancement is roughly the difference between someone who could take down a future hero in one blow and someone who just exercises regularly.

It’s a world of difference!

I roll to the side while screaming internally. It’s such a violent movement for my severely injured body that bile rises in my throat.

[Proficiency in ‘Trait: Breathing Technique – Floating Grass’ has increased!]

The only reason I’m holding on is thanks to the trait I recently received from Elnore. Without it, I wouldn’t even be able to think about moving my body like this.

My skin prickles as a black beam pierces through where I just was.

It’s just a casual attack, but it creates a massive crater with a sound like a missile explosion.

And this is just his basic attack.

‘Is this difficulty level for real…!’

Even while thinking that, I give precise instructions at the exact right moment.

“Elnore, left!”

Elnore strikes through the opening created while he’s attacking me.

Her sword tip is fierce. It’s a strike from someone whose talent was described as reaching the heavens, someone even Elia admitted hitting a wall against.

And yet, despite the perfect timing of this guaranteed hit…

“Ha!”

It’s blocked as if it were nothing.

Elnore is thrown back by the shockwave created just from Marquis Riverback expelling a bit of demonic energy, rolling to a stop beside me.

She doesn’t look to be in good shape either.

The future final boss is now on the defensive.

Covered in dust and dirt. The dress she carefully put on is soaked with blood from wounds all over her body.

It’s an image I could never have imagined for someone who always appeared perfect and immaculate in the original work.

Looking at my watch, it’s been barely a minute since the battle began.

And in just that short time, we’re already about to lose everything we have.

To Marquis Riverback, who’s casually overwhelming us without even showing his true power.

‘My memory of the strategy is correct.’

While Elnore grabs me and throws herself away from the next attack, I think with my dizzy mind.

The timing is right. The methodology is right. All the chances to attack Riverback have appeared exactly at the timing and routes I remember.

But.

While the method is correct, we lack the ‘capacity’ to execute it.

A Mein’s body is a monster that can crush rocks and fly through the air. Even bestial creatures with atrophied intelligence and all stats focused on physical abilities can’t compare.

And even if you manage to wound them, they quickly recover with demonic energy supplied from their core.

“…”

This is bad. The situation is the worst.

Both Elnore and I are needed simultaneously for this battle. I can’t inflict direct damage because of his nullification, and Elnore doesn’t know ‘how to fight’ him.

I’m the one who knows all his patterns and attack methods. Without my instructions, it’s difficult to defeat him.

“Come and fight, you vermin! Stop just running away!”

Marquis Riverback shouts as he floats toward us, but that’s exactly what we’ll continue to do for now.

‘First, the important thing is to lure him out of the barrier.’

If the barrier gets damaged by stray demonic energy during the fight, it would be disastrous.

If I were Marquis Riverback, I would prioritize destroying the barrier regardless of interference, but he’s already a bundle of vanity and arrogance.

In other words, he’ll prioritize getting revenge on Elnore and me who cornered him earlier.

And that tendency would be amplified by the influence of the demonic energy from the core.

The fact that he’s using angry informal speech instead of his usual pretentious formal speech shows that. His rational judgment is gradually being clouded by demonification.

Considering his usual behavior of maintaining his pretentious concept no matter what, this is even more apparent.

And what does that mean?

It means he’s perfect for falling into a trap.

“…We need to lure him into the academy.”

I whisper to Elnore, who’s carrying me like baggage.

Due to the Lunar Festival and the emergency situation there, the outskirts of Elphante should be completely empty now.

The headmaster and principal would all be focused on the inner city. We can’t expect support, but that also means I don’t have to worry about collateral damage if I try something inside.

My strategy is focused on that.

With that in mind, I continue repeating the routine we’ve been doing.

Getting a little hurt, giving what needs to be given. Buying time.

Keep luring him in, and then hit him with one good shot as planned.

We’re somehow holding on despite our lacking specs.

I’ll do the same this time.

Dodge his attacks aimed at me, maneuver Elnore around for a counterattack, then evasive maneuvers to minimize the ensuing damage-

“…But you know.”

When those words flowed out during the exchange of attacks and defenses,

A feeling that something was wrong crawled up my spine.

First of all, it’s not the rage-filled voice from earlier, but the voice he uses when maintaining his rationality.

This bastard.

He’s been pretending to be led by me all this time.

“Do I look like an idiot to you? So much that I wouldn’t notice such an obvious attempt to lure me away?”

As he speaks, Marquis Riverback’s chest heaves. The darkness inside begins to surge.

As if all the demonic energy he’s been spewing at us was merely what remained after gathering this.

And seeing that, my body freezes with the most intense sense of crisis I’ve ever felt in my life.

Just as I’ve been continuing our exchanges while hiding a “trump card” from him.

He’s been responding to me while hiding something too!

“If I leave you alone, you’ll just come up with something else.”

Following that, from Marquis Riverback’s chest.

A sticky darkness that seemed to repel even the smallest light, clearly visible despite the evening darkness, scattered outward.

[I should deal with you properly.]

Then.

That rising “curtain of darkness” plunges down toward me.

[Soul Linker activated.]

[Receiving magical power.]

[Using skill ‘Asceticism’.]

[Using skill ‘Divine Shield’.]

That was the last thing I remember.

●

The first thing I feel as consciousness returns is:

Excruciating pain tearing through my entire body.

“…!”

I open my mouth, but not even a scream comes out.

It’s like having electrodes directly inserted into my brain. My whole body convulses involuntarily.

“…Kuhak…!”

I examine my body while coughing up blood.

My left arm is completely crushed.

Both my lower and upper body are completely scratched, torn, and burst open. My entire body is grotesquely impaled with lumpy stones, glass shards, and branches.

My whole body is in tatters.

How am I even still alive?

That thought naturally comes to mind with injuries like these.

“…”

I try to force myself up.

“…Ah, ugh…!”

My vision turns red.

My entire body trembles uncontrollably.

Sparks fly through all my nerves from a sensation I’ve never experienced before.

“…”

I collapse back to the ground, gasping for breath.

Moving is completely impossible like this.

“…Fuck.”

I mutter a curse while supporting myself with my only intact right arm.

First, I pull the Ultrima that I spot at the edge of my vision with my right arm.

If I hadn’t generated a shield with this at the very last moment, I would have died instantly.

Demonic energy is particularly vulnerable to holy power. Thanks to the good compatibility, it reduced the power more than its original performance would have.

“…Are you kidding me, seriously.”

Meanwhile, a sight that makes me laugh bitterly comes into view.

The academy building is not far away.

Considering where Elnore and I were facing off against Marquis Riverback, I must have been blown hundreds of meters by that single attack.

Seriously, I’m lucky I didn’t die from one hit.

“Did you withstand that?”

Judging by this voice coming from nearby, I’m not that fortunate after all.

When I barely manage to twist my body, I see Marquis Riverback walking toward me.

Even through his body transformed by demonic energy, I can clearly see the sneer directed at me.

“You’re much more tenacious than I expected. The Luminary would be pleased.”

After saying that, he extends his hand toward my face.

“This time, it seems you’ve used up all your cards.”

Then demonic energy gathers in his palm.

“To be honest, you were a formidable opponent. You can boast about it if you meet friends in hell.”

“…”

There’s no way to escape.

The downgraded Desperate Situation can’t withstand this. Even if it went up to EX rank, my body is in such a state that I can’t even move.

But there’s still one thing left…

-!

-!!!

A sword slices through the air and strikes Marquis Riverback’s nape.

It was a fierce blow that could cut through steel, but it merely penetrates Riverback’s body slightly before bouncing off.

And even that small wound heals immediately.

However, thanks to that, the attack heading toward me was thwarted.

“…You’re both persistently annoying. You’d make a good pair.”

While he grumbles, Elnore, who struck Riverback, quickly retrieves her sword and approaches me.

“Are you alri-“

Elnore, about to say something, closes her mouth upon seeing my condition.

Deep sorrow appears on her face.

“…We’re both in terrible shape anyway.”

I force a smile and deflect her concern.

Though not as bad as me, Elnore’s body is also covered in wounds.

Broken ribs and arm. Terrible lacerations on her legs that she’s barely patched up with torn pieces of her dress to keep moving, and a penetrating wound running from her waist to her back.

These are serious injuries that make even standing difficult, let alone continuing combat.

The fact that she can move at all must be due to superhuman willpower, nothing more or less.

But why is she worried about me?

She should be concerned about herself.

“…”

After silently looking at me, she removes the necklace she was wearing and throws it to me.

I catch it with my right arm, and a new window appears before my eyes.

[‘Necklace of Vitality’ has been equipped.]

[Durability and health increase slightly.]

“It should help you move a little. Go.”

“…What?”

“Didn’t you say we need to lure him into the academy? Riverback said he’ll keep me alive to use for ‘the plan.’ He won’t take my life immediately.”

“…”

“Move to the target location first. It’s not far, I’ll buy time.”

“…Elnore.”

“I believe in you. Until the end.”

As I stare at Elnore, lost for words, she smiles.

Today, at the start of the Lunar Festival.

It was the same shy smile she had when she took my hand.

“…I’ve only been receiving until now, it’s about time I gave something back.”

“…”

I’ve never done anything to deserve such gratitude from this person.

It was all just struggling to get through each situation.

But this person…

“Are you done with your strategy meeting?”

Marquis Riverback, who had been watching us with a sinister smile, uncrossed his arms and spoke.

An attitude that says he’s already won, so do whatever you want.

It’s typical of his vain and arrogant self, but this time it’s not wrong. Elnore and I are already nearly incapacitated.

But Elnore, undeterred by that, steps in front of me to face Riverback.

“Let me ask you one thing, Marquis Riverback.”

“What is it?”

“How well-matched a pair do you think this man and I make?”

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s an important question, so answer properly.”

Riverback looks at Elnore with a momentarily speechless expression, then laughs as if dumbfounded and continues.

“You’re a perfect match in terms of stubbornness. Why don’t you settle down together if you survive this?”

“Good answer. I might show a little mercy then.”

As Elnore smiles and raises her sword, demonic energy surges from Riverback.

“Darwood, go!”

There was no time for more words.

I’d just be a burden if I stayed here.

I turn my back on Elnore and walk toward the academy building.

“…Huff, huff…”

My stamina is already garbage, and I’m in an unspeakably injured state.

With each step I take, it feels like my entire body is being stabbed with red-hot iron skewers. My entire vision flickers, and my body keeps trying to collapse against my will.

I grit my teeth and endure.

Even now, there’s someone enduring pain worse than mine.

I lean against the building wall and crawl forward. I want to rest even for a moment, but I keep pushing my body forward, feeling like I might never get up again if I stop.

After crawling like that for several minutes.

Finally, I see it.

The outer wall of the academy.

“…”

Have I arrived?

I barely stand up, holding onto the wall. Due to the commotion in the city, even the usual security forces are gone. I can’t expect any help.

As I painfully walk toward and enter the entrance…

-!!

Against the wall to the side.

Someone’s body is embedded.

“…”

It’s Elnore.

The injuries are beyond what could be described as “battered.”

If it weren’t for the completely tattered dress, I wouldn’t even be able to recognize who this was originally, the condition is so horrific.

“That was troublesome. Even after breaking all her limbs, she crawled over and clung to my ankle. The word ‘persistent’ is absolutely no exaggeration.”

“…”

“So, what’s your remaining plan? Do you have anything else hidden?”

Marquis Riverback kneels in front of me, who can barely stand, and meets my gaze.

The expression on his face is still a smile that seems to mock me.

I turn to look at Elnore.

When I meet her eyes, Elnore, who was barely breathing shallowly, painfully looks back at me.

It’s a gaze that seems to say, I’m sorry.

‘…No.’

You did well.

Without that, I couldn’t have made it this far.

“Nothing more?”

“…”

“How boring.”

After saying that, Marquis Riverback extends his hand.

Demonic energy gathers there.

“…!”

Elnore, embedded in the wall, struggles to move somehow. But it’s all futile. She’s already at her limit just to be breathing.

-!

A black beam pierces through my chest.

My death is confirmed.

A faint cry escapes from Elnore’s lips.

“After coming all this way, I thought you might have something hidden… but there’s nothing.”

As such words reach me through my fading vision…

“…”

A smile forms on my lips.

Nothing hidden, my ass.

“…Hey.”

Even as my body collapses, I stare at him with all my might.

“I… win.”

From the moment this guy set foot ‘inside’ the academy.

My trap begins.

“…What?”

I faintly hear Riverback’s voice, confused about what this madman is saying.

Beyond my flickering gaze, I see something ‘condensing’ in Elnore’s body as she screams toward me.

And.

[Skill: Fatal Charm activates.]

Beyond my fading consciousness, I see a window with such text appearing.

Yeah. Nice to meet you.

Honestly, I really didn’t want to meet you even if it killed me, but given the situation, I should at least say hello.

[Target C̵̡̹̖̙̭͖̈́̓̐̈́͐¾̸̧̥̬͈͇̹̘͕̠̮̩̙̎ð̸̞͖̋¾̶͕̻́̊̇î̸̙̪͎̥͎͍̲͔̔̈́̀̃͗́̚̚͠͠͝͠ ̷̨̨̣̭̭͓̱̼͚̮̼̭̟̱̾̄͑̈́̋͝¼̸̢̛̞̟͓̗̙͗͊̆̓̈͘͜͠Ǫ̵̛̠̟̲͔̟̀̔̍͛̈́°̶̨̙̠͆͋̔͛̒̀̾̆̉̏̕³̶̟̝̙͔̥̖̯̠̒̈̋̃̇̾̃̽̆̅͊͆̋̋ has ¡̛̰̖̲͉̜̿͑̈̍̕̚͟͝Ą̷̦̘͉̹͓̝́̾͂͂̂͂̅͡͝ø̵̧̡̜̲̗̳̟̀̒̽̊͆̃͒̎̚͟͟ͅ Ç̳͈̟̯̻̾̿̔͆̃̋́͌͘̕Ḁ̷͉̞͎̯̥̫̳̻́͆͊̉̀̾͘͞·̴̢̥̱̝̘̟͎͊͐͌̿̎̋̕͜͟͝͞Î̶̻̙͓͓͎̫͛́͌̀̆͊͒͆̚±̦͖̺̗͎͍̰͊̏͒̉̍̉̚͟͠×̵̢̯̥̟͖̞̔̈́̃̚͘͞·̶̛͈̪͚̹̺͖͉̪̇̎̃̏̃̎̚͡ͅ¡̴̹͉̤̭̥̒̇̎̅͘͝ͅ¹̖̯̰̰̦̝͐͆̿̌̃͂͟͠Ö̵̩̭͇̹̭̤͌͆̔̀̆̚ ¾̨̻̩̩̰͖͇̈́̊͐̃͝ͅ]

With that message.

The world faded to gray.

●