Volume 9 Chapter 42 Thunder Vs. Flame, Part One
The 'Falling Sun (Brenesnida)' turned the wilderness into scorched earth.
The ground turned black and charred, with red flames shining like stars.
One person using such powerful magic so easily was unheard of among Earth's magicians.
"Oh, you managed to dodge it."
Leon Hannes Bolz said, without much surprise.
"Huff, huff, huff──!"
Far from the scorched epicenter, Tsukiko tried to calm her racing heart.
Using her strengthened legs with 'Shippu Jinrai (Swift Thunder),' she managed to escape the blast radius before it hit.
It wasn't incredibly fast, but the power was insane.
She couldn't even estimate its full power.
That's why she had to put all her effort into keeping her distance. If she had delayed her retreat even a little, no amount of defense would have been enough.
(Still, I was able to avoid it. It's definitely not an opponent I can't fight against directly.)
While repeating the breathing technique, Tsukiko told herself.
If it's said to have high power, then she should manipulate it with speed.
A battle is not determined by simply outputting magic power.
"──It seems like you're thinking something."
Right in front of her, Leon was standing and said with a face that seemed so.
But then, he closed the distance that was supposed to be taken with "Swift Thunder" without her noticing.
"What!?"
Tsukiko immediately jumped back and released a lightning attack.
With a light flick of his hand to deflect it, Leon spoke while tickling the throat of the Pii-chan perched on his shoulder.
"You're slow in making decisions. But your speed of magic activation is impressive."
"Cock-a-doodle-doo~"
While listening to the silly cry, Tsukiko couldn't stop the sweat from flowing.
Leon not only had destructive power but also speed.
(Calm down. Things won't change.)
Tsukiko told herself. Judging from the magic she just witnessed, the consumption of magic power should be substantial. In that regard, Tsukiko is confident in handling magic power.
It's also possible to wait for him to catch her breath while moving.
As Leon crossed his arms, he sighed.
"It's just that much. Frankly, I'm two or three steps behind the other guardians. It'll take at least a hundred years of training to stand before my lord."
"...That's quite a statement. Aren't you here to kill me?"
When Tsukiko asked, Leon snorted dissatisfiedly with his arms crossed.
"Well, that's the pretext I came with. I just don't feel like it. It would be different if I were competing with someone of equal strength, but facing you is just bullying the weak."
"――Bullying the weak, you say?"
"Yeah, what you're thinking is trying to take advantage of my magic power and have a speed race, right? Let me tell you, no matter how fast you can move, if you just keep running away, you're screwed."
"What do you mean?"
Leon pointed his thumb behind him. There stood a door in the wilderness.
"It's 'one hour'. That door will completely stop opening after one hour, and this space will collapse too."
"...What are you talking about?"
Tsukiko widened her eyes.
So, there's a time limit to this battle.
"This is a rule. Only those who defeat their opponent within one hour have the right to survive. That applies to me as well, I'm no exception. Your comrades are the same."
"What will happen if we get caught in the collapsing space?"
"Who knows? Sakaki, who created the foundation of this magic, is already dead, and only my lordd knows the detailed effects of the spell. So, if you're trying to take advantage of my magic power, it's pointless. Even if I go all out for a whole day, I won't run out of magic power."
"Yeah. That's unfortunate news."
Leon said calling it bullying of the weak.
It's understandable to think that way.
There was just that big difference in power between the two.
"Well then, I'll motivate you."
Tsukiko said, and at the same time, the Golden Thunder Spear, Kinraishou, split into two.
The golden magic power turned into sparks, and the sound of discharge echoed ominously.
Either way, the opponent couldn't be defeated with a passive mindset aimed at catching their breath.
That's why Tsukiko slam everything she had accumulated so far.
At this, Leon nodded arrogantly and nonchalantly.
"Alright, show me what you've got."
──Unseal the third seal.
The two spearheads gnash their teeth like lightning fangs.
What appears is the third spearhead.
It's the concept of the weapon given form, the spear of lightning. The release of the third seal, which couldn't be wielded until now.
"-Coiled Thunder (Tenrai)── Swift Thunder'"
Tsukiko's black hair floated up, tinged with gold, and then she disappeared from the spot.
Zzzzz! With the sound of burnt air, the tip of the lightning spear thrust sideways into Leon's face.
"Oops."
Leon avoided it by moving his body, but the attack didn't stop there.
The spear was biting.
At the same time as one thrust, lightning spears were scattered around. If even one hits, muscles stiffen, and the power burns the organs.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!"
Before it reached Leon, Pii-chan fluttered. The slamming heat wave deflected the lightning strike.
Ignoring that, Tsukiko continued to thrust while changing her position.
Tsukiko's acceleration didn't stop.
Up until now, unable to adapt to that speed, she was just being tossed around, but she completely controlled that speed.
Leon heard a sparking sound right next to his ear. It was intense and made him feel a sense of urgency.
He was overwhelmed by the number of attacks and couldn't handle them all.
Still, Leon smirked.
"Not bad at all."
Suddenly, there was an explosion that blew everything around Leon.
"..."
Leon spoke to Tsukiko, who had quickly moved back.
"It's difficult to keep up with your speed and agility."
"So, do you have the motivation?"
"Maybe a little."
With these words, Leon placed Pii-chan on his right hand and raised her high.
"I'll show you my appreciation. Pii-chan's abilities go beyond just shooting flames. Our bond surpasses even the concept of spirits."
"What are you talking about?"
"Pii-chan, it's time for 'Spirit Garb (Cross).'"
In response to Leon's words, Pii-chan emitted a bright light.
Then, Pii-chan lost its chicken form and enveloped Leon.
"The Flame Wings become armor that's harder than metal, yet flexible like a thread. It serves both offense and defense."
Leon said as he looked completely different, just like a superhero from a comic book.
He had blue and red armor on both arms and a fiery cape on his back that looked like wings. His golden hair seemed to rise up into the sky like flickering flames.
"This is the 'Phoenix Robe (Phoenix Cross),' the spirit armor of the immortal bird. Its fiery power gives explosive force to attacks and propulsion to movement."
The heat it emitted was so intense that it distorted the air around him.
His magic power, which used to just be released, was now compressed to its limits.
It was so powerful that just by seeing it, one might feel compelled to kneel in awe. Even the transformed spirit, Pii-chan, without its chicken form, exuded a strong presence as a spirit.
But Tsukiko was more concerned about something else.
The red and gold covering Leon was not like Yuusuke's armor, but rather more like something a hero in a comic book would wear.
She couldn't help but be more curious about the style of his outfit than the pressure of his magic power.
And then, it just came out of Tsukiko's mouth.
"You're so lame."
――.
――――.
After a few seconds of silence, flames rose from Leon.
"I'm... lame...?"
The explosion clearly showed his anger, even forcing Tsukiko, who activated 'Swift Thunder,' to retreat.
"Rage, pierce the heavens—――‼"
After leaving the flames, Leon's figure disappeared.
"Huh!?"
Tsukiko was able to respond to the Leon who had circled behind her, thanks to the electromagnetic waves she had set up around her and her previous training.
The body naturally reacts to the signs caught by the electromagnetic waves.
The spear swung behind her and collided with Leon's fist.
The clash of lightning and explosion ensued, causing chaos.
"Wow, you reacted well!"
"Unfortunately, I've only seen people faster than you."
"Don't be so cocky‼"
Leon's wings flap, releasing explosions.
The red and blue fists turn into flashes and strike Tsukiko. Their speed matches Tsukiko's activation of 'Swift Thunder'.
It's the same principle that allowed him to close the distance in an instant earlier.
Acquiring explosive propulsion from the flames.
The speed of swinging the fists accelerates as time passes.
"I'm finally starting to warm up my shoulders."
The continuous explosions overwhelm the lightning strikes.
Constantly moving with 'Swift Thunder', swinging the spear while avoiding explosions, Tsukiko feels the limit.
She is losing simply due to the difference in quantity.
Even if she tries to use another technique, there is no chance.
"You talk big, but is that all you've got?!"
"Ugh...!"
She intercepts the body blow released with a step forward using 'Golden Thunder Spear.
Just taking the fist, it feels like the impact would shatter her body. But the attack doesn't stop there.
Leon's fist emitted a bright white light.
"Let's just explode!"
As if adding to the power of the impact, flames swelled up.
No matter how much Tsukiko defend with her golden lightning, it is a fire that will burn it all. As if to demonstrate its power, the surrounding earth cracked, and thick smoke rose.
"Tch, my anger is boiling. I've killed someone."
From what Leon heard, Isumi Tsukiko is a relative of his Lord whom Leon deeply respects. There were expectations for her potential. Could she have had a brilliant talent that he needed to surpass?
But he killed her before seeing it.
Stimulating emotions enhance the power of magic, but if someone can't control it, they're still inexperienced.
"I still have a lot to learn."
While undoing the 'Phoenix Cross', Leon tried to head towards the door when he noticed something out of place.
On the other side of the smoke, flames were swirling.
"What's that?"
The flames are flickering strangely, despite smoldering.
It's as if someone is controlling them.
"Indeed, it's a lack of training."
Boom! Suddenly, a gigantic wolf appeared, piercing through the dust with a loud thud. It wasn't just an ordinary wolf. It was a flaming wolf, distorting the air with its red and orange colors.
"Pii-chan!"
As the wolf leaped up to bite, Pii-chan released a burst of flames from its beak, obliterating it.
The clash of fire and fire refused to yield, eventually causing an explosion that canceled each other out.
"...Oh, by the way, I heard a rat sneaked in."
"If you didn't even notice the existence of that rat, then I suggest you go back to basics and learn again."
When the fire cleared, Tsukiko, who had her spear ready, and a man stood before Leon.
He was an old man with white hair. The deeply wrinkled face seemed to tell a story of vast knowledge and experience.
It was this man who protected Tsukiko and blocked Leon's flames.
The man had a leather eyepatch wrapped around his left eye.
The magic power emanating from his whole body was equal to Leon's magic power.
Leon knew of his existence, but he never expected him to appear here, it was unexpected.
However, the shock was greater for Tsukiko, who was protected.
The man was the enemy she first fought in the God-Demon War.
The identification name given by the Anti-Demon Special Forces was "Flame".
His true identity was a demon (mazoku) who controls flames, bearing the title "Ashes".
"Jillzack Luiid."
When called by his name, Luiid narrowed his eyes with bitterness.
"I never thought we would meet like this, but this time I will be grateful for this miracle. I'll lend you a hand, little girl."
Her worst enemy said, carrying the embers of fire.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)