NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
14. Eventually, A Presence That Will Stir Up Turmoil In The World
Before my eyes, the pattern of an angel with four wings spread wide.
From there, a dome-shaped brilliance spreads out.
It’s the same phenomenon as before.
Any attack that touches this dome gets completely repelled. No matter how powerful.
However, this time was a little different.
Normally, the dome would expand to about a half-meter radius around me, but now it’s expanding rapidly.
Twice the usual size, no, even more—it doesn’t stop yet.
It continues to expand, and eventually, a dome with a radius of about ten meters is centered around me, and the demon race is complete.
“W-What is this!?”
The demon Eater seems flustered, trying to ‘compress’.
A thin purple mist-like substance is an attack with full magical power.
But just before it activates, it disappears.
“This can’t be! It must be a mistake! A human wielding the power of a goddess—”
It keeps trying to cast spells after spells.
It’s like a chaotic barrage as if trying to pour every last drop of their magic power.
But the thin purple mist dissipates from the moment it forms.
The spatial distortion magic itself is getting nullified—!?
“For a mere human to think I can’t do anything… I won’t stand for it…!”
Whether out of demon pride or stubbornness,
D-Eater stubbornly tries to compress repeatedly.
“Disappear.”
Yet with just that word from me again, all of the demon’s attacks dissipate before activating.
No matter how many times it tries, the result is the same.
Come to think of it, it reminds me of the last battle.
When I got struck by the dragon’s tail, not only did I not take damage. But I wasn’t even blown away.
The [Absolute No Damage] Skill. It doesn’t just toughen the body.
Sometimes, my skill reflects attacks, and sometimes it erases attacks altogether. There seem to be several variations in how it manifests.
And now, is this dome erasing or nullifying attacks within it?
Previously, the dome surrounding my body was like a ‘shield,’ but now it’s an ‘area’ that cancels all attacks before they happen within its range.
Yes, if I were to name this form—
Let’s call it the [Invincible Barrier Phase] or something like that.
“Lilith, fire!”
I shout towards the rear.
“But…!”
The response comes back, mixed with confusion.
Indeed, the D-Eater can bend space and defend against attack magic.
However, that strategy no longer works.
Still, there’s no time to explain, and explaining might lead to countermeasures being taken.
So I say just one thing.
“Trust me.”
“…Understood!”
Lilith begins chanting her spell.
※
In front of Lilith unfolded a dazzling display of colorful brilliance.
It’s so beautiful that for a moment, one could forget this is a battlefield.
“Lilith, strike!”
Haruto shouts from the front, bringing her focus back to the battle.
“But…!”
She responds with a voice full of confusion.
Her magic has already been bounced back twice by the demons.
Before the defensive art that warps space itself, neither wind nor thunder could reach.
Most likely, no matter how many times they try. The result will be the same.
“Trust me.”
Haruto, turning back, quietly declares.
Looking at his face, an inexplicable sense of reassurance wells up.
It gives confidence and courage that “we can do this”.
“…Understood!”
Lilith nods firmly.
She raises her silver staff overhead, channeling all her magical power.
“Blade wings, blade claws, blade beak, eagle soaring in the sky. From brilliance emerges, return to darkness. Creep out of nothingness, soar to the moon──”
At the tip of the staff, a golden radiance takes hold.
Crackling, the air starts to charge intensely.
Concentrating her magic to its utmost limit, she infuses it into the staff’s tip.
Convergence. Acceleration. Amplification. Ignition.
And then, she releases ii.
“Sweep them away──[Garuda Blade]!”
A vivid brilliance bursts forth from the raised staff.
What shoots out is a mass of lightning shaped like a bird soaring in the sky.
Lilith’s most skilled and powerful lightning magic in her arsenal.
The lightning bird approaches the demons and Hart under a dome of dazzling colors—
“It’s futile… Your magic cancels out magic… In exchange for my magic getting nullified, your allies’ magic also… won’t reach…”
D-Eater laughs.
Indeed, the demons’ magic fails to activate satisfactorily.
Even if a thin purple mist gets formed, it disperses instantly.
Literal complete nullification.
Could even an adventurer of S rank in magic or a court mage of a powerful nation manipulate such a defense spell?
It was an unparalleled defensive capability.
However, it’s a double-edged sword.
Perhaps, if one’s magic touches it, it would similarly be nullified. In exchange for not being affected by enemy attacks, it also cancels out allies’ magic—.
“That’s not quite it.”
Haruto quietly interjects.
“This dome doesn’t ‘nullify magic’, it nullifies ‘magic activation’. In other words──”
The lightning bird passes through the dome.
“Magic activated outside the dome doesn’t disappear.”
“B-But──”
D-Eater cries out in regret.
Trying frantically to defend with spatial distortion, but as Haruto said, magic doesn’t activate within the dome.
D-Eater’s defense gets sealed, leaving the demons defenseless, and the lightning bird strikes.
Golden radiance bursts.
A thunderous roar reverberates.
A raging shockwave ensues.
“Ugh…!”
With a small cry of pain, the demon falls to the ground.
The robe covering their body is charred, emitting white smoke.
They don’t move a muscle anymore.
“Well done, Lilith!”
Haruto looks over, smiling.
Thanks to him, this is the 2nd time we’ve defeated the enemy.
A defense ability that seals even attacks from Class A demons or attacks from Class S dragons can only be described as tremendous.
Moreover, Lilith used a magic spell never seen before.
Is this a newly developed defense magic by him, or──.
“Truly… impressive.”
The muttered expression twitches slightly.
Though she should be happy.
Though she should be rejoicing.
A faint unease stirs deep within her chest.
(If it can be utilized for military purposes, it will become an overwhelming force.)
The face of a callous man floats in her mind.
(…Father)
What would her father, Count Lafiel, the military advisor to the kingdom, think if he knew about this?
Undoubtedly, he would show strong interest.
If it leads to strengthening this country and guiding it to become the ruler of the continent, that ambitious father of hers.
No, not just her father, but perhaps other nations too.
“What’s wrong, Lilith…?”
Haruto gazes at her with puzzlement.
“N-Nothing at all.”
Lilith shakes her head softly.
Contrary to her words, the unease doesn’t dissipate.
“Haruto, your power is too strong…”
An ominous premonition refuses to fade away.
“Maybe, you are destined to stir up turmoil in the world──”
Her trembling voice melts away into the wind.