NOVEL NEXT Chapter 37
Chapter 37
—–CROW—–
Alexios, who was bombarding the area nearby, started to pick a fight, as if annoyed.
“By the way, you bastard, just what were you fighting?”
I didn’t like his attitude, but he *was* helpful, so I decided to be honest.
“Hades King, Thanatos.”
“I know that much, idiot. I’m asking why that bastard is glaring at you like he wants to kill you.”
“Oh, is that what you meant? You should have said so from the beginning.”
I was already breaking out in a cold sweat because of the approaching [Hades King], and he was speaking in riddles. I needed to be brief.
“I provoked him.”
“Figures…”
It was good that he understood immediately, but it still stung a little. Didn’t it make me sound like a reckless person? But come to think of it, that impression was accurate. I was acting as the arrogant and aristocratic Oz.
“By the way, I’ve been wanting to ask this, what was that strange, crude magic?”
“Magic necessary for the plan. Don’t worry about it.”
“The plan, huh…”
It was the only effective magic I could use at the moment. And there *was* a reason why this magic was necessary.
“But plan or not, we can’t stop him like this. You can see him getting stronger in real time, can’t you?”
“…”
The Hades King’s body was evolving from its skeletal form as its magical energy increased. Now, metallic armor was starting to form over its bones. A weapon would probably appear soon.
“Hey.”
“Wait.”
Unlike me, Alexios had no penalties, so he must have realized how dangerous the opponent was. Of course, there weren’t many beings that *weren’t* a threat to me.
“Do we have to buy time until Arieta arrives?”
“Yes… I need Arieta’s help to defeat him.”
The Dragon Emperor wouldn’t come near the [Hades King] just to fulfill my request. To resolve this situation, I needed not only Arieta’s power but also Eleanor’s, but that much information would suffice.
“That’s a pretty sloppy plan for you.”
“It’s your fault…”
I originally had a different place in mind for using the guaranteed SSR-rank magic from [Mana Dominator]. In the end, Alexios had twisted the core of my plan. I was grateful for his help, but I wished he wouldn’t criticize my plan.
“You’re saying the plan went sideways because of me? I like that.”
“What?”
“Then I’ll buy you some time.”
With that, Alexios left the area of his [Flame Cloud Thunderclap Fist] and charged towards the [Hades King].
“He’s definitely strong.”
He was on a completely different level compared to when he fought me. The power of the [Fist King] without penalties was beyond imagination. The [Hades King] was now clad in armor, but it wasn’t a cause for concern.
“Like you’d get hit by that kind of attack. Huh?”
『Insolent!』
Although Alexios possessed powerful ranged attacks, he was fundamentally a warrior, specializing in disrupting enemy formations. Naturally, he was stronger in close combat.
“Hah…!”
*Bang!*
[Great Collapse], used at close range, disrupted the [Hades King]’s balance and knocked him down. Alexios immediately began to bombard the vulnerable [Hades King]. But…
“Tsk! As I thought, my attacks can’t penetrate his magical energy.”
『Time’s up.』
*Clang*—!
“Ugh?!”
A giant sword materialized in the [Hades King]’s hand and sliced Alexios’s ankle. That was bad. Anywhere else would have been better, but his ankle, the foundation of his movement, was injured. Alexios could no longer fight aggressively.
[Mana Dominator Lv. 2]
[2/100 until guaranteed SSR-rank magic]
I used [Mana Dominator] to help Alexios, who was exposed to the [Hades King]’s fierce attack. A large chunk of my rapidly depleting mana disappeared.
[Azure Flame Fan]
Luckily, a high-level spell appeared, blocking the [Hades King]’s follow-up attack. He retreated with surprising speed for his size.
『Hmm? Just a simple spell?』
“Aren’t you ashamed to call yourself the King of the Underworld when you’re so easily scared?”
Provocations automatically spilled out whenever I opened my mouth. Seriously, what was wrong with my mouth?
『…I will send you to the most agonizing place in the
“Ha! Talk about provocation, that face is enough to make anyone angry!”
“If you have time to talk, focus on dodging, Alexios.”
I had been lucky. I was trying to maintain my composure, but that was the only way to describe it. No matter what spell appeared, it wouldn’t have made much difference. This tactic worked because the [Hades King] was wary of me. He retreated because I used a different method instead of sticking to [Mage’s Gearwheel]. I glanced at Arieta and Eleanor. Eleanor was still panting, and Arieta was singing continuously. It wouldn’t take long, but…
“I’m almost done too.”
Alexios was desperately dodging the [Hades King]’s attacks. He had gone to injure the [Hades King]’s ankle but ended up getting his own ankle injured, so he couldn’t be of much help anymore. Despite that, Alexios was doing his best to buy more time. Lucia, also giving up on her ineffective attacks, moved around in front of the [Hades King], distracting him.
『By the decree of heaven…』
At that moment, a clear voice echoed across the battlefield. Arieta, having finished healing Eleanor, began to sing a divine spell with all her might.
『…I declare this land a sanctuary in the name of God. Therefore, all that is wicked, face your sins…』
The ultimate skill of Arieta, an SSR-rank character, and unlike me and Alexios, a priest character who was considered active even before I possessed this body.
『…and repent.』
As the incantation neared its end, angelic wings, the symbol of God’s agent, unfolded behind Arieta.
[Recipescentia]
Arieta, with twelve pure white wings sprouting from her back, began to dye the surrounding area with her power. As her influence spread, the [Hades King]’s magical energy, which had been encroaching on the area, noticeably decreased. Of course, that wasn’t the main issue.
『The Saintess?!』
The ultimate counter. At this rate, the gate connecting this world and the Underworld would close again. So, what would the [Hades King] do? His only options were to use more power to maintain the gate or to give up and retreat. But I didn’t want to see him choose the latter.
“You idiot. You should have been more aware of your surroundings.”
Attack and run? Absolutely unforgivable. The [Hades King] was arrogant and hadn’t paid attention to his surroundings. Except for me, who kept provoking him, and Eleanor, who was using an unknown power, everyone else was insignificant to him. He had to pay the price for that negligence. How could he even think of escaping?
『Do you think I, who am not even God, but a mere agent of the Pope, would fear such a girl?』
“Really? I can hear your eyeballs rolling from here. You’re thinking about it, aren’t you? Thinking that you should get rid of Arieta first.”
『Insolent fool. There is no need for such provocations. My plan to kill you first remains unchanged.』
I provoked him. Knowing the [Hades King]’s personality, even a slight scratch to his pride would keep his attention on me.
“You talk big for someone who can’t even reach me.”
I provoked him again. I needed to capture the [Hades King]’s attention to conceal the other dagger I had hidden.
“Come at me if you dare.”
I quietly composed myself. I accelerated the rotation of [Mage’s Gearwheel] and waited. I no longer fired any spells. I only rotated the largest outer gear, gathering mana. The [Hades King] began to run towards me menacingly. Like a heavy tank, he charged, ignoring everything but me.
“…Lucia.”
“What are you thinking, Prince Oz?”
“Remember what I said earlier?”
Lucia froze for a moment at my words. Then, she spoke in a shocked voice.
“You were planning this far ahead? If that’s true, Prince Oz, you’re completely insane…”
With that bewildered murmur, Lucia, with her characteristic agility, headed towards Eleanor. She didn’t shout. She was the smartest of the group. She knew how dangerous a weapon Eleanor could be, considering the [Hades King] wasn’t paying much attention to her.
“Noah…”
“Lucia?”
Lucia, who had approached stealthily and swiftly, hesitated for a moment. There was no time for explanations. It was too late to explain the entire plan now.
“Um…”
That’s why I had told her the most crucial words she needed to say beforehand. It was meant as a safeguard, but at this moment, there was no better way to convey the message.
“Dye everything with your existence.”
“…!”
The moment Lucia relayed those words, Eleanor started running towards me.
『Are you ready to experience death?』
“Well, not yet, I think.”
The [Hades King], now in front of me, declared as he raised his sword high. This was the last chance.
“The stage is set. So show them you’re the protagonist, Noah.”
“Yes, Master. Thank you.”
『What…?!』
Eleanor, who had approached from behind me, thrust her sword into the center of [Mage’s Gearwheel]. The reason I maintained the inefficient [Mage’s Gearwheel] was because it consumed the most mana. Eleanor’s strike, infused with Arieta’s divine power and most of my mana, surged forward, dyeing even the [Hades King]’s magical energy with its own color.
“Marie, wait!”
Eleanor shouted. Her greatsword, absorbing all the mana from my spell, shattered the [Hades King]’s descending sword.
“I’ll break that creepy bastard and get you out!”
As if that wasn’t enough, Eleanor’s greatsword shattered the [Hades King]’s armor and even the bones surrounding Marie.
[Key of Understanding], growing stronger by absorbing the power of stronger opponents and dyeing it with its own color.
“Give her back!!!”
『Gaaaaaaaaah!』
The [Hades King] screamed. He had devoted too much of his soul to resisting Arieta’s [Recipescentia]. The effect must have traveled through his soul and reached his main body.
“Marie! Come out!”
“Noah…?”
Eleanor, stepping on the shattered remains of the [Hades King], reached out to Marie, who was huddled inside. It looked like a desperate fight for life or death, but for the two of them, it must have held a different meaning.
“I’m sorry…”
But Marie rejected her hand. Something was strange. Marie should have known better than anyone how the situation was unfolding. She was directly connected to the [Hades King], wasn’t she? Then she should have known that the [Hades King] was critically injured and driven back. She should have known that as a result, the [Hades King] would be exposed to numerous threats, and her family would be safe…
“No, wait…”
What if the connection with the [Hades King] hadn’t been severed yet? The moment that thought crossed my mind, a dense magical energy began to surge from the [Hades King]’s avatar.
“Noah, get back!”
“Huh?”
『Do you know how I maintained my position as the Hades King?』
At that moment, the [Hades King]’s avatar, which should have been shattered, backhanded Eleanor with his giant hand, sending her flying.
“Gah?!”
『Because I never accepted defeat. I kept this position by any means necessary.』
Eleanor’s attack power was absurd, but her durability was different. She was only temporarily strengthened. Her defense was still at the level of an R-rank character.
『Because of you, my plan completely failed.』
The plan had been successful.
『So here, I will teach you the meaning of defeat with all my power.』
But it was *too* successful. In the game, the [Hades King] retreated after successfully uncovering the secret Tia was hiding. But this time, he hadn’t gained a single thing.
“This is crazy…”
The [Hades King]’s pride was more dangerous than I had imagined. He was aiming for victory now, regardless of the consequences.
『Open.』
The ability of the [Hades King], Thanatos’s, key was [Key of the Undying], which erased the boundary between life and death.
『The boundary of life and death.』
The
—–CROW—–
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