episode_0176

CLXVIII.

People have a sixth sense called intuition or intuition.

It is said that as the level rises, it becomes more specific and that a superhuman’s premonition can be considered a premonition.

Although I am not to that extent, despite the outstanding skills of the Arcana, I could not shake off a sense of unease.

And when space collapses, is it any consolation to see the demons—whose names I don’t even know—who the witch’s defensive magic didn’t include turned into pieces of rags and scattered around?

It was at that time that I looked around.

When I was holding back the urge to punch the face of a guy who had been mumbling nonstop while his head was still intact.

Dddd.

The fragments of space that resembled the black universe began to vibrate in earnest.

Oh my!

In the aftermath, some of the knights summoned by May were the first to turn to dust and disappear.

“Wake up!”

However, at May’s command and shout of encouragement, the knights who had disappeared reappeared in the same place they had first appeared, making a ‘clank!’ sound and raising their shields again.

Kukukukung―.

It doesn’t collapse from the top down, like a cave or a labyrinth.

As if out of the law, the floor collapses and shoots up into the sky, and the ceiling in the same place collapses and falls to the floor.

It’s coming soon,

“This kind of thing.”

The holy land summoned by Huang Yi was disturbed. As the holy land was broken and collapsed,

“Ahhh!”

Temple Oden, summoned by May, loses its power and collapses.

And the only remaining witch’s magic,

Swish. Bang. Crack!

When things started to feel out of control, with cracks appearing everywhere, I saw.

The guy who was mumbling something with his head banging opened his mouth wide and looked at me with a wide-open laugh and said this.

I couldn’t hear the sound, but he was saying short words one after another.

-Anyway, it’s the end.

I wanted to get angry. I wanted to say no, that it was a mistake.

But I couldn’t do that.

Another groan escaped the witch, and Huang Yi and May were hastily preparing another spell.

But I had a feeling that maybe, just like he said, this might be the end.

So I lowered my head, and a particularly shiny ring caught my eye.

I usually wear two rings on my hands.

One is the artifact wall-mounted ring that May made for me.

And the other one is,

“Skintilla?”

It was a beautiful ring set with a gem reminiscent of a red ruby.

Gifted by the Fire Spirit King,

“Skintilla!”

The divine relic of Ifrit that Nitas coveted so much.

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『The Primal Flame – Scintilla』

This is a sacred item passed down from generation to generation to Ifrit, the King of Fire Spirits. This special ring, made from the gemstone Skintilla, was created when the sparks left behind when ‘fire’ was first born hardened, and it is said that the power of the King of Fire Spirits is contained in it.

1. Flame

Just holding it increases your affinity for fire, and your fire resistance and fire immunity increase over time. As a result, your abilities against fire increase. Affinity, dominance, resistance, immunity, etc.

2. Properties

If the holder wishes, the divine power attribute can be changed to fire, and through training from there, it can evolve into flame attribute. If another attribute is being used, it allows the use of fire and flame attributes without conflict.

3. Sympathy

It allows you to briefly communicate with the fire spirit king Ifrit and summon Ifrit.

The first 20 seconds.

4. Qualifications

The owner is limited to those chosen by Ifrit, and rejects the touch of unworthy beings. If an unworthy being touches this ring, they will turn into a handful of ash in the black flame, the fifth of the six fires possessed by the Fire Spirit King.

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“Ifrit!!”

“Huh? This is it!”

embrace.

me too.

Even if he were the Fire Spirit King, there would be no way out at this moment.

But at least I can’t die without doing anything!

Also, I wanted to at least give May and Huang Yi some time to prepare something.

Even if it’s only for about 20 seconds.

“You’re in a difficult situation.”

“Yes. So, can you help me quickly?”

“Don’t worry. You’ll be able to last at least 20 seconds or more, because you can smell the spirit’s scent.”

“Yes?”

“Let’s see… …. What method would be best?”

Ifrit was pondering over several options. The moment I opened my mouth to say something at her relaxed attitude, she raised her hand to stop me.

“First of all, I guess we should take the safest and fastest method?”

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have something like that?”

“There he is.”

In response to my answer, Ifrit looked at one of our group without hesitation and called out.

“Me, me?”

“Yeah. A child who is loved by light and darkness. Can you tell the remaining one to come out too?”

“Who, who… … .”

“The guy hiding in your shadow right now.”

“Oh, brother… … .”

The person Ifrit pointed out was Catherine.

Catherine ran to me and grabbed my hand, terrified, either because she didn’t understand Ifrit’s one-sided words or because he was talking about something she didn’t know.

“It’s okay. It’s okay.”

While comforting Catherine, I turned my gaze to Ifrit, demanding an explanation.

“As with all spirits, the moment you make a contract with a dark spirit, the surroundings will be consumed by the dark attribute as if it were an explosion. Of course. As a result, there are cases where the contract holder or the people around them are harmed. But there.”

In the place that Ifrit pointed to, there was a spirit of light, Luminare, shining holy light on the witch who was blocking the invasion of the space fragments.

“If you first open the spirit of light, the contract is a completely different story. The safest way to make a contract with the spirit of darkness is to make a contract with the spirit of light first.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Just as shadows naturally appear when there is light, if you make a contract with the spirit of light first, the contract with the spirit of darkness will be made safely.”

So, why didn’t the inspiration use this method?

“Oh, there’s one important prerequisite here.”

Did you follow my gaze as I looked at the shadow inspiration? Ifrit’s further explanation continued.

“Light and shadow. You have to be loved by the spirits of these opposing attributes at the same time. They are more picky and reluctant to reveal themselves than the four major attributes.”

“I see.”

“Yes. Moreover, not only is the spirit of light here, but I am also here. The king of spirits. So I think now is the best time.”

I understand Ifrit’s explanation. He says that to break this situation, we need the spirit of darkness.

“Hey, that old man also handles dark spirits?”

“Oh, yes. I know. He smells like a dark spirit. But no.”

“Huh? Why… … .”

“Over there. Because of that kid.”

Then, Ifrit pointed at the light spirit Luminare, whom he had pointed at with his finger before.

“If spirits that are not in a contract with the same spirit master use powers of opposing attributes at the same time, the powers will cancel out or repel each other.”

It was said that because of Catherine’s Luminare, the spirit of the dark spirit of inspiration could not use its power or it was useless even if it did use it.

“And to get out of this situation, a combined operation of light and darkness is needed.”

Ifrit then turns his gaze back to Catherine with anticipation.

I followed her gaze and looked at Catherine, carefully stroking her frightened head.

What emotions are contained in my gaze right now?

Could it be that there is a feeling of urging in the will to live?

I don’t know.

When all kinds of thoughts are spinning around in your head,

“Ha, I will.”

Catherine looked straight into Ifrit’s characteristically haughty gaze, which was naturally looking down at her with a trembling voice, and folded both hands in front of her chest.

Like a praying girl.

“… … Phew. Tebebelle!”

Was that the name of the dark spirit?

At Catherine’s delicate but earnest and firm call,

– shit.

Catherine’s shadow rises with a groan and takes the shape of a human being.

– Why of all people! (You called me when the Destruction Witch and the Pasa gang were there!)

He mumbled what he said afterward, biting his teeth, but I already understood.

In the first place, where would a spirit have teeth, and their communication system was closer to a kind of telepathy rather than vocal cords.

Of course I can hear it all.

“Oh my~? Destruction Witch? You’re not referring to me, are you?”

Even though the situation was tense, Ifrit responded calmly. He burned the gap in space that was about to break through the witch’s defensive magic with black flames.

“You’re not referring to me, are you, Pasa’s thug? How many of you?”

As punishment was added, the dark spirit that had just been summoned closed its mouth.

Instead,

― I’m a bit busy right now. I’m not avoiding you, being scared, or running away because I don’t want to tell you the number of riders…

He sank to the floor, proud of himself.

– There. Descendant of the original witch. That’s enough.

Tenebele’s tsundere tone is clearly etched into everyone’s ears. Before the witch can even ask what she is talking about,

– Luminare. Let’s start.

– is it so.

Luminare rose into the air and emitted an intense light, as if to make the darkness of the Dark Spirit disappear.

But the stronger the light, the darker the shadow. Our shadows, illuminated by Luminare, became clearer.

A dark shadow that makes it seem like I’m being sucked in without realizing it if I just look at it.

– Don’t be surprised, and don’t ever struggle. It’s okay to move a little bit.

After the warning was heard, I looked.

The shadows of the witch, May, Santa, and Hwang before me devour their masters.

“What…?!”

Me too.

The first thing I felt when I calmed down and recognized my surroundings was,

“It’s dark.”

It was dark. It was dark all around. The darkness was so thick that I couldn’t even see my hands. It was enveloping me and us.

Yet the reason it is not ominous or unsettling is because this thick darkness does not block the sense of smell.

My party, including Arcana, the superhumans, and Catherine’s family.

It felt like everyone was safe. Except for Ifrit, the fire elemental lord.

Perhaps the summoning time has come and he has returned to the spirit world.

When I had just finished assessing the situation.

– Brace yourself for shock.

― Intermiscĕo se nocti… … .

Suddenly, my body falls as if the ground has suddenly collapsed.

No, I wasn’t falling. It just felt like that.

Moans mixed with playfulness and a ticklish feeling in the lower abdomen can be heard here and there.

It feels like riding an amusement ride, it’s thrilling and scary, but it doesn’t feel dangerous.

After about 10 minutes, it felt like it had passed.

– Arrived.

The thick darkness that had surrounded us disappears along with Tenevelai’s unique, chic voice.

When I opened my eyes after frowning for a moment at the sudden bright light that hit my eyes,

“Huh? What is it?”

I could see the knights surrounding us, swords drawn and breathing life into us.