episode_0241

Mutual Annihilation

“Stop it, Kate!!!”

“Hahahaha…!! As expected, you’ve figured out my intention, Arvina…!! But… with so much food here, why would I stop!?”

Kate saw Arvina, who had grasped her intentions, rushing towards her. She spread her palms and began to unleash several tendrils of divine power. As she tried to ensnare the surrounding people indiscriminately with her tendrils, Arvina desperately poured her strength into her spear and threw it directly at Kate. Kate then used one of the captured devotees like a shield to block the spear, then seized other people with her tendrils, greatly disconcerting Arvina.

‘How can this be… to even use her own devotees as shields…!! No… she had already used other devotees as consumables from the first place, so it’s only natural…!!’

“Using these comrades isn’t bad either…. but it feels a bit lacking for use as shields~!” “Arghhh!! L-let me go, you damn saint…. ” “Ah… I should silence that filthy mouth quickly. Don’t worry, I’ll put your life force to good use in the right place~!” “…?! Arghhhh!!! My… my strength is draining… Arghhhh!!”

Feeling discomfort from the resistance’s defiance, Kate began to drain the life force of the people she had captured with her tendrils. The resistance fighters, whose life force was being sucked away while trapped by the tendrils, began to writhe in immense pain. Arvina, in her haste, quickly picked up a spear and a sword from her surroundings and charged directly at Kate.

“Stop it!!! How dare you use others in our fight…!! You’re truly cowardly, Kate!!!” “You seem to be misunderstanding something, Arvina…!! This isn’t a battlefield where only we are fighting… but a battlefield where everyone else is fighting alongside us!!! So, wouldn’t we have to use everything for victory!!! Holy Blast!!!” “….!! Arghhh!!”

Just as she desperately rushed towards Kate to save the people, Kate stretched out her palm towards her, firing a powerful orb of divine power from it. Arvina was struck in the abdomen by the orb and was thrown back. At that very moment, one of the resistance fighters captured by Kate’s tendrils desperately cut the tendril with a dagger and broke free. Kate felt her tendril being severed and turned her head to the man, saying:

“Oh my. This food is quite resistant. How dare you sever my tendril like that.” “Ugh… Th-this crazy woman… no… this crazy monster…. *Gasp*….” “Hehehe…. To spew hostility when you can’t even stand up because your life force has been drained… How truly pathetic, I can’t even watch…. Oh?”

As the man cursed her as a monster and raised his dagger towards her with trembling hands, Kate laughed as if finding the resistance fighter laughable and tried to grab him with another tendril. However, Arvina, who had instantly rushed to the man’s side, deflected her tendril with her sword. Kate was surprised that Arvina had already recovered, and the man urgently asked Arvina:

“You… you were hit by that monster earlier… Are you okay…?!” “You were captured by Kate and had your life force stolen; is this the time to worry about me…?! Can you move?!” “Uh… I think I can crawl…. Damn it… the others are now…!!”

Arvina felt a strange sensation that the human man was worrying about her, yet she worried about him in return. The man then said he was fine, but expressed concern for those caught by Kate’s tendrils, who were slowly losing their life force and could no longer resist. Arvina continued to deflect Kate’s approaching tendrils with the sword and spear in her hands, then shouted at Kate:

“Kate…!!! Release those people immediately…!!” “Hehe… Seeing you so desperate makes me want to hold onto them even more, you know? But… hmm… I’ve already drained almost all their life force anyway~! Fine! I’ll let them go~!” “…!!” “Ugh…. Damn it….”

Kate threw them onto the ground, stating that she had already drained almost all their life force anyway and would release them as requested. The man, who had escaped from Kate and Arvina, was greatly shocked to see the horrific state of his fallen comrades. Kate then giggled as if mocking the two, and unleashed divine power from her entire body as she spoke:

“My divine power, you see? It can absorb the life force of other living beings and convert it into divine power, just like this? But because the quality of my divine power is a little weaker than Saint Aria’s, Goddess Camilla has been constantly searching for Saint Aria. Anyway… thanks for the meal~! Your comrades~!” “Kate…. You….!!” “Oh my. Don’t get so heated~! Isn’t the law of the jungle always like this~! And… thanks to your comrades, I’ve managed to gather this much power!!!” “…!! Damn it…!!”

Kate radiated divine power from her entire body, transforming into a complete radiance of the holy ring, with orbs of light swirling around her like Aria. The man was greatly enraged upon seeing Kate’s appearance. However, unlike him, Arvina looked with a pitiful expression at the fallen resistance fighters around Kate and the people who would have been forcibly converted into devotees due to the influence of Camilla’s divine power. Then she pulled a fang from her pocket and spoke:

“You are truly beyond redemption. Lady Viola is reflecting on her past mistakes and fighting against the cult like this… but you, who willingly condone destruction and slaughter… are absolutely beyond redemption…” “Then what will you do, Arvina? Now that I have transformed into the complete radiance of the holy ring, you have no chance of winning!! Holy Thrash!!”

As Arvina spoke with a serious expression, saying she couldn’t forgive her, Kate scoffed at her and began to unleash a barrage of divine power orbs from both hands. Arvina moved aside to prevent the man next to her from getting involved, and began deflecting Kate’s divine power orbs. However, under Kate’s relentless powerful attacks, the spear and sword she had just been using to block Kate’s attacks broke, and eventually, Arvina began to take the full brunt of Kate’s fierce assault.

“Arghhhhh!!” “You have nothing else you can do but act defiant, Arvina…!! If you’re provoking me like this to drain my strength, I’ll just defeat you and replenish my divine power from the surroundings!!” “Ah…. Chief Arvina!!!”

The man was greatly alarmed upon seeing Arvina continuously being overwhelmed by Kate and shouted at her. At that very moment, Kate, who heard his shouts of concern for Arvina next to her, turned her head towards him and stretched out her palm, saying:

“Be quiet. Food like you just needs to be quietly eaten….” “Where are you looking away…? You just saw me rush over in an instant…” “….!!”

Just as Kate was about to attack the man who was worrying about Arvina beside her, Arvina, who had managed to escape the attack because Kate was distracted, instantly moved to Kate’s side and spoke. As Kate turned her head back to Arvina, a powerful energy burst forth from the fang in Arvina’s hand, and a transparent, spherical barrier appeared, encompassing both Arvina and Kate. Kate then felt a powerful energy gathering at the center of the barrier and was greatly perplexed.

“W-what is this energy…?!” “This is the last resort passed down through generations of Kartun’s chiefs…!! A type of bomb imbued with the moon’s energy, designed for mutual annihilation with the enemy’s leader…” “A b-bomb…?! Then I just need to escape…?!”

Realizing from Arvina that she was inside a bomb barrier, Kate frantically shot orbs of divine power, trying to destroy the barrier. However, no matter how much she struck it, the barrier remained intact, perplexing Kate. Arvina chuckled and explained to Kate:

“A fang with dangerously condensed moonlight, created to ensure the complete elimination of an enemy within a barrier cast from the user’s center… This barrier is designed so that those with special powers like you and me can absolutely not escape… It’s a lump of energy gathered for at least a thousand years, so most strong individuals can’t break through it…!! Well… beings weak enough to be pure aren’t affected by the energy, so they can get through… but you’re not like that, are you?” “W-what did you say…?! Usually, the caster has to be inside the barrier too… Are you seriously… planning to die with me?!”

“I was going to die young anyway, due to the Paranedia poisonous herb…!! If it’s my destiny to die early, then I’d gladly do so if it means eliminating a monster like you from this world…!!” “….!! Th-this damned long-eared race…!!” “Oh dear… it’s thanks to those ears that I was able to quickly detect your movements and get this close… That’s why arrogant races are no good, you see?” “Arghhhhhhh!!!”

Kate, who had tried to curse Arvina even before dying, was instead struck by Arvina and screamed within the barrier, where energy was slowly gathering. Afterward, the inside of the barrier, where the energy had gathered, began to turn hazy, and then a massive explosion occurred, along with the barrier. The resistance fighters watching this scene from outside were horrified.

“Ah…. Chief Arvina…. Chief Arvina…!!” “Cough cough…. Ugh….”

The resistance fighters, who were despairing greatly that Arvina had sacrificed herself with Kate for their sake, heard a coughing sound from somewhere and frantically began to crawl towards it. They saw Arvina standing blankly, holding a scorched red scarf in her hand. The man urgently crawled towards her, relieved.

“Chief Arvina…!! Thankfully you’re alive… Did you secretly escape from the barrier…?” “S-sob…. Sob… Why…. Why for me, who will soon die….”

As Arvina suddenly buried her face in the scarf in her hand, mourning, the man was dumbfounded, unable to understand what was happening. In fact, just before the barrier glowed and exploded, at the moment Arvina was accepting that her end was near, three hands suddenly pushed Arvina out of the barrier. Arvina then looked inside the barrier with a bewildered expression. When she saw three humans, who had just been struggling after almost all their life force was drained by Kate, smiling at her from outside the barrier, Arvina frantically shouted at them:

“W-why…. Why…?!” “For gratitude… and atonement…. We are sorry and thankful, Chief of the Beastfolk. For risking your life for us.” “….!!!”

The three humans, deeply impressed by Arvina’s charge at Kate for their sake, and simultaneously seeking atonement for the harsh treatment humans had inflicted upon the Beastfolk, sacrificed their lives to save Arvina. Due to the barrier’s characteristic of imprisoning all strong individuals, Arvina and the humans were not strong enough to be trapped and could pass through the barrier freely. Thanks to this characteristic, the humans were able to save Arvina just before the explosion. Thus, Arvina, pushed out of the barrier by the humans’ hands and able to survive, clutched one of their red scarves, left behind in the explosion, and mourned their deaths.

“To receive direct help and even apologies from humans…. And I was going to die young anyway…” “It’s because humans… humans have learned about everything they’ve done to the Beastfolk… and while we couldn’t fully know your emotions, we’ve come to understand them, Chief Arvina….”

Arvina could not comprehend why the humans had saved her, so the man crawled to her and began to convey the feelings of those who had sacrificed themselves for her. Although he didn’t know all their thoughts, witnessing Arvina’s reckless act for their sake made him believe they shared his sentiments, so the man spoke their minds to Arvina on their behalf.

“Especially because you… even risked your life for us… to save us… We were moved by your spirit… and wanted you to live… because you, who must have hated humans, saved us…” “…” “We wanted you to live too… as comrades fighting alongside us…”

“….Many things will change after this, won’t they… So many things….” Hearing their sincerity, that they wished for her, who was destined for an early death, to live, Arvina mourned the deaths of the humans who had sacrificed themselves for her. Yet, she also sensed that the relationship between humans and Beastfolk was slowly growing closer, to the point where they would fight alongside each other. With a strong intuition that many things would change thereafter, she rose to her feet, harboring the thought of doing more for the Beastfolk before her death. And so, through the efforts of Arvina and the other humans, Kate died. Meanwhile, Esti continued to unleash crimson-black energy beams, attacking Okute.

“Ugh… This damn armor… He’s wearing ridiculously sturdy armor…!!” “This isn’t equipment that will be damaged by a slime’s attacks…!! This is a sacred artifact imbued with His blessing!!”

Okute not only blocked her attacks with his hammer but also began to slowly approach her, taking the hits directly with his body as if to display his strength, showing that he was unharmed. Esti began to grow increasingly anxious as her attacks had no effect on Okute. Even after using the power Rezef had taught her, she couldn’t even defeat Okute; instead, she was slowly being pushed back. From Esti’s perspective, it was a truly difficult situation. At that moment, Iruvan attacked Okute, spewing fire from both hands.

“Your opponent isn’t just that Slime Noona, you damn steaming pot!!!” “…!! How dare you compare this sacred equipment, blessed by Him, to a steaming pot…!! How dare this impure spirit….!!” “….?! Whoaahh!!”

When Iruvan indirectly called the armor Okute was wearing—imbued with Camilla’s blessing—a steaming pot, Okute bristled at the remark and immediately charged at Iruvan. Iruvan frantically dodged Okute’s hammer and began to flee, while Rubaea hastily flew to Esti and worried about her.

“S-slime…!! Are you alright…?! You’ve been shooting energy at that giant ever since earlier…” “Ah…. I’ve trained my energy before… so I still have some left… But how am I supposed to win against that thing…?! Armor that’s completely impervious to fire and my energy….!!” “Arghhhh!! How about you save me first before we talk…. Whoaahh!?”

Whether Okute’s armor was incredibly sturdy or their own powers were too weak, Esti and Rubaea found themselves in a difficult situation, unable to penetrate Okute’s armor. Then, Iruvan, who had been dodging Okute’s hammer, shouted for help. Esti immediately extended her arm, grabbed Iruvan, and pulled him towards her. Okute then rested his hammer on his shoulder and looked at Esti, saying:

“A slime that can shapeshift into a human, you say. Even if you’re a monster influenced by His divine power, you are still a creature that shouldn’t exist in this world.” “Shut up…!! Why do you keep presumptuously judging why I exist in this world…!!”

“Hmm… Seeing you reminds me of something from a long time ago. I distinctly remember sending soldiers upon hearing there was a wizard raising a slime….” “What did you say…?”

Okute stared intently at her, then mentioned that he had previously sent soldiers to a wizard who raised slimes. Esti flinched in surprise upon hearing this and asked Okute with a bewildered expression. Okute then touched his helmet with his hand and began to explain:

“Before, there was a wizard said to be raising a slime, so I sent soldiers. Raising a monster… that was not only against His will but also a sacrilegious act that should not have existed in this world. So, the soldiers said they killed that wizard…”

As Okute explained everything he had done in the past, Esti became certain that the wizard Okute mentioned was none other than Rezef, who could have been her benefactor and lover. She was stunned into a daze by the profound shock. Then, quickly regaining her composure, Esti clenched her fists and said:

“….So the resistance fighters’ words about you possibly being involved were true…. And now, the one who killed Rezef is right in front of my eyes… This… is quite a twisted coincidence…!!” “Ah… his name was indeed Reze…?! Wait… then you…!?” “You should have known that a long time ago…!! I won’t leave a single bone of you behind….!!”

Esti, realizing that Okute was her sworn enemy, gathered energy from her entire body, no longer displaying mere hostility but rather murderous intent towards Okute. She glared at Okute with eyes that glowed with a crimson-black light.