episode_0318

Episode 318

What Ian took out was fruit.

It was about the size of an apple. But I knew right away that it was definitely not an apology.

Because it was a dirty, hideous green color, as if it had rotted away.

It seems to have condensed the ominousness I felt.

People who were intoxicated with the excitement of the game were looking at Ian with suspicion.

No one could understand why he had such an item and why he was taking it out in this situation.

“For the great old ones!”

Ian shouted, opened his mouth so wide that his jaw dropped, and swallowed the ominous fruit in one mouthful.

In an instant, his appearance becomes grotesque. First, his entire body turned black, and his size gradually swelled, becoming much larger than Wihart.

Ian, who had grown so large, became like a tree with black bark. Bright red muscles were visible through cracks in the rough bark. It seemed like a beast disguised as a tree, or a cross between a plant and an animal.

‘The great old ones… the great beings…?’

Tree of Knowledge or Escarade. Could it be that Ian has become just like them?

However, they seemed to be much more deteriorated than the fallen ones. Rather than being worthy of the name of God, it is far below that, closer to a monster.

The fruit he swallowed must have been the object that exercised the transcendent power of magic reflection. Then it occurred to me that it might be something that contained the power of a forgotten old god, perhaps even a part of that god’s body.

“Sera, this is…!”

Carmel and Juliana, who were watching the game from behind, also looked shocked. Almost reflexively, I was preparing magic to counter that monster.

“No, mother, you can’t use magic on that…!”

I told them that the fruit Ian had just eaten might be the source of his magic reflection powers. The basis for this was only my intuition, but the two people nodded obediently.

“But why is it that only you have such an ominous feeling? No matter how much magical power you have…”

“Well, I guess that’s because I’ve already had contact with him several times, right? That fruit was probably provided by Escarade.”

“But that’s the same for me. In terms of period, I’ve been seeing him longer than the princess. Still, I didn’t feel anything.”

“Hmm…”

Only Ian himself and the Escarade who sent him know the exact details. But Ian didn’t seem to be in a state where he could answer anything right now. It seemed like he was gradually losing his sense of self as a human being.

I don’t know if he had planned to do this from the beginning, or if he just gave in to the anger of the moment. The only thing that was certain was that he had now turned into a monster.

“Hahahahaha! die! Die!”

The voice sounds like it has already lost its mind. At the same time as he shouted in a crazy voice, black strands that were either vines or tentacles flew towards Wihart.

However, the black bundle, which was like a mace, could not reach Wihart. Someone blocked his path and cut down all the flying tentacles. Of course, it was Pilgret who was right next to him.

“What a pointless meddling.”

“You were injured.”

“Injury, what is this?”

“If yes, please join us.”

“Hmm!”

Wihart and Pilgret’s swords are aimed at Ian at the same time. Not only were they the closest, but they were the ones who made him the most angry, so Ian’s attention was mainly focused on them.

“Soon the sea submerges! I will go without a word! Black vinegar and mushrooms! I hate spiders! Forgive, forgive, I don’t want to be forgiven! I, I am…!”

Now even speaking was becoming incoherent. However, in proportion, the attacks were gradually becoming more intense. As if his senseless killing intent was eating away at his consciousness as a human being.

“Haaa!”

Wihart’s exciting sword strike clears a path by cutting off tentacles all at once. Pilgret jumped inside and split Ian’s bark.

Push shoo!

A sticky red liquid, unknown whether it is blood or sap, gushes out. Ian screamed in pain.

“Ukkgigigigigeek!”

The sword seems to have an effect. But it wasn’t the final blow. Crying in pain, Ian slapped the ground with his huge arms.

Several soldiers who clumsily got close ended up in blood stains. Wihart scolded his subordinates.

“Do not approach carelessly! Fire arrows, prepare fire arrows!”

At first, the soldiers were confused by the appearance of the monster and the mutation of their adjutant, Ian, but Wihart’s voice seemed to wake them up. Some of the personnel lined up neatly and ran towards the weapons warehouse.

“Isn’t that thing getting bigger?”

It was just as Carmel said. Now Ian has grown taller than the surrounding buildings. The two legs had lost their human form and had become solid roots dug into the ground.

Pilgret and Wihart were each fighting against Ian, showing off their almost magical swordsmanship.

Flying tentacles, tree roots rising from the ground, and even a blow from two arms that shakes the earth. By dodging all the attacks, he was creating cracks in Ian’s skin.

But even so, Ian was getting bigger and bigger. There wasn’t even a sign of falling. I didn’t know how far I would grow.

I can’t just watch like this. I had some thoughts on how to deal with magic reflection just in case. It’s time to put it to the test.

“Outtra.”

I summoned the Book of Enekra. Carmel looked at me with a puzzled look.

“Wait a minute, magic doesn’t work! What are you thinking?”

“I have a little test to do.”

“What?”

Ian’s magic reflexes weren’t very precise.

Even when I reflected Aela’s song, I did not understand and reflect exactly what magic it was. The effect was also limited to sleep.

I shot mana towards Ian from a distance.

“Bastika.”

The moment I activated the magic, I felt as if Ian’s consciousness was focused on me. The chunk of my mana that was flying towards Ian disappeared at some point and reappeared inside me.

“Tsk…!”

Vastika is not a harmful spell. The effect was lightening. The Bastika reflected inside the body greatly strengthened that effect. It is a strange sensation, as if the brain is being washed directly with soda.

However, there is no harm either. Nevertheless, the magic reflex was activated. I continued to activate Bastica.

“Bastica, Bastica, Bastica, Bastica…!”

Fireworks explode in my head one after another. I’ve never tried it, but is this what it feels like to take opium? But I didn’t stop and continued.

Soon the mana stored in the Book of Enekra ran out. I shouted to Carmel, who had a worried look on her face.

“Mother, please supply mana…!”

“Huh? Ugh, yes!”

Carmel placed her palm on my back like she always did. After seeing the reflected Bastica several times, my body became extremely sensitive.

“Hiuuu…!”

“What, what is it?”

Carmel sounded embarrassed, but Mana conveyed the message clearly. Even though I was shaking, I stretched out my hands forward. And once again, Bastika was activated.

“Bas…Tika…!”

But this time… there was no reflection.

Magic reflection has its limits. Even if its effect was strengthened compared to when it was a sacred object, its essential limitations would remain the same.

The recovery cycle would also have sped up. There was no time to hesitate. I cast a spell other than Bastika.

“Panomia!”

It is the magic of fear. A spell that simply instills endless fear into the hearts of those affected. It is a spell filled with clear hostility. Nevertheless, the magic reflex did not activate as I expected.

Ian’s movements, which had been sweeping around like a storm, became noticeably slower. No, it was completely still. It was even shaking its huge body like an aspen tree.

Even if it’s a monster or a god, as long as it has a heart, it will have at least some fear.

“Now, Pilgret, Wihart!”

The two also seemed to have already sensed an opportunity. Using Ian’s irregularly sprawling vines and branches as a stepping stone, the two flew towards Ian’s head.

Like a scared child, Ian covered his head with his arms. Wihart’s great sword cut off Ian’s wrist at the same time. Pilgret dug into it and cut Ian’s head, which was dwarfed compared to his huge body, in half.

“Ah, ahhh!”

As soon as Pilgret landed on the ground, the crossbows brought by the soldiers were fired all at once. As soon as the bullet landed, large and small explosions erupted from various parts of Ian’s body. Ian’s body was soon engulfed in flames.

Pilgret, Wihart, the soldiers, and myself, Carmel, and Juliana all looked at the burning Ian without letting down our guard.

Ian, who was making an unintelligible but painful sound, soon turned into a huge lump of charcoal and stopped moving.