Volume 5 Chapter 26 Winning By Reflecting
Swallow's movements were incredibly swift.
To begin with, in Wade's party, Wade was quite fast. He boasted a speed that rivaled Sandra's lightning-fast reflexes.
Such a swift Wade could not avoid it. So Toxy, with her average speed, had no chance of evading the attack.
"What the...?!"
As Toxy said ther, his body was sliced in half. She tried to dodge, but it was like pouring water on a hot stone, and the returning blade dug deeper into her body.
"What's the point of this?"
Toxy's body was cut in two, and she collapsed on the spot. Swallow let out a disappointed snort and turned around.
Toxy sneered at Swallow's carelessness.
The Hydra stretched out its neck. Toxy's wounds began to close up slowly. Compared to Wade's immortality, it was a minor ability, but the ancient dragon Hydra still possessed the power of regeneration.
Then, quietly, extremely quietly, the Hydra opened its mouth. Venom dripped from its fangs. But it didn't spew out a messy, painful venom like it had with the men. Instead, it took aim, focusing its attack.
And then, the venom was released.
Swallow flipped his body to avoid it.
"That's why I said surprise attacks are meaningless against a gold-ranked opponent."
Swallow Reversal. The demonic sword Muramasa's dual slashes easily countered Toxy's sneak attack. "Tch. Yeah, I guess I won't do that again," Toxy said, jumping back to create some distance.
Swallow charged forward, his sword flashing brightly. If things continued like this, she would be pierced through.
But Toxy laughed.
"If surprise attacks are meaningless, then hesitating to attack is also meaningless, right?"
Toxy swung her arm, and the Hydra's massive head, which had grown to an enormous size, attacked Swallow.
"Hah, what a bold attack!"
Swallow sliced through the Hydra's illusion and quickly regained his footing with a sharp backstep. From there, Toxy closed in on Swallow again, this time facing him head-on with the Hydra's venom.
Swallow Reversal explodes it. The venom spread out like a broken membrane, creating just enough space for Swallow to slip through.
But, waiting in ambush was a Hydra that had grown large enough to swallow a human whole, its massive jaws wide open.
'Human man, you really did cut me well.'
The Hydra swallowed Swallow whole. But immediately after, Muramasa pierced the Hydra's brain.
The Hydra's head was splitted, and Swallow crawled out. The gruesome scene, even as an illusion, left Toxy aghast. Then, saying "Hydra, sorry. This head is useless," Toxy detaches the head, which was Swallow cut, and ran upstairs.
'Ugh, my head... Well, it'll grow back, but why are you running, little girl? I understand it's a formidable enemy, but couldn't you just flood the surroundings with deadly poison like you did at the abandoned ruins?'
"This is a city where people live, you know! If we do that, Wade will definitely hate me, so no way!"
'It's hard... but I like how you're bound by your own love, little girl, rather than valuing human life.'
As they conversed, Toxy headed upstairs. The room was prepared specifically for Swallow, and the space was eerily tidy.
'So, what now? The power I lent to you only shines in vast spaces. It's hard to bring out its true strength when facing an opponent.'
"I know. That's why I'm buying time to think by escaping."
'A strategic retreat, huh? Hehe, humans are indeed clever.'
Toxy blocked the stairs with the Hydra's thickened illusion and then cut it off. Then, she walked to the farthest end, leaning against the wall.
And she thought. About her own power, which had reached its limits, and what kind of existence the Hydra was.
Philia's treatment of Toxy was merciless.
"Yeah, yeah! As expected! You're a toxic magician, after all, so your poison resistance is higher than average! But you're still a bit short on synchronization, so let's work on that resistance first!"
Those were days of poison. Repeatedly, she was administered poison, and she suffered pain that felt like death. It lasted for several weeks. She couldn't even sleep. Those were nightmare-like days.
And then one day, Toxy stopped feeling anything.
"...Hey, Philia? Are you giving me poison today?"
"Yeah, you've got 2 more hours to endure."
"What's there to endure..."
She didn't feel any pain, nausea, fatigue, numbness, or any other sensation that could be expressed as suffering. It was all gone after the administration.
After the procedure was complete, Philia nodded in satisfaction, saying "Oh yeah!"
"Amazing! Toxy-chan, you've finally developed resistance to the poison! So, today we're going to perform the important Transformation."
"Uh, what's that Transformation thing?"
"Toxy-chan, do you remember what I told you on the first day about 'Summoning Magic'?"
Philia asked, and Toxy nodded, "Yeah."
"'By eating the same food as gods and legendary creatures, you can pseudo-transform and summon them...' wasn't it?"
"That's right! Unlike 'Offering Magic' that sends messages to gods like Rune Magic, it's a type of 'Possession Magic' that borrows the power of gods by mimicking them. It's classified as Tongue Magic, a type of Transformation Magic!"
But the details didn't matter. Philia was smiling cheerfully.
"What you need to remember is that 'if you eat a specific type of food and call out their name, they'll respond.' And you're a poison magician. So, I've prepared a suitable summoning target for you."
Philia handed Toxy something that looked like a dried, hollow shell. Toxy tilted her head.
"What's this?"
"It's the shell of the evil dragon Hydra. You'll be eating it as your final treatment."
Toxy made a disgusted face and looked at Philia.
"Do I have to eat this...?"
"Are you unwilling?"
"I'm not willing, but I'll do it."
"Hehehe! I love how you don't hide your feelings, Toxy-chan. It's also cool how you're willing to take on the challenge, just like Clay-chan's brave determination."
Toxy received it and gazed at it intently. It was a snake mummy that looked quite convincing.
"Do you doubt it? Well, don't underestimate me, okay?"
Philia said with a deep, mysterious smile.
"Summoning magic basically imitates food. But in its ultimate form, you can become almost the same as a god by eating its remains. You'll encountered the evil dragon Hydra from mythology, and you'll become something other than human."
"...So I'll become Hydra? That means I'll be eaten?"
"If you're weak, that's what will happen. But I believe you won't let that happen♪"
Toxy let out a sigh and then took a bite of Hydra's shed skin.
"Wow! You're doing it without any hesitation!?"
"It's like this, I mean, it's the same no matter when I eat it, right?"
Toxy bit down and forced it down her throat. Then, she felt her heart beating rapidly.
"Remember this, Toxy-chan."
Toxy felt her strength draining away and lay down on the operating table again. Philia spoke to Toxy.
"No matter how terrifying the other side is, they'll lend you their power. Don't be afraid, and don't try to intimidate them. But if you humble yourself, you might just get eaten like a puny human."
So, Philia continued.
"That's equality. Toxy-chan lends her body, and the other side lends their power. Understand that you're forming an equal relationship. Now, get some rest. I'm praying that you'll gain power and come back."
Then, Toxy closed her eyes.
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