Volume 10 Chapter 22 Don Fen
I, who was blown away by Don Fen, spun around in mid-air, breaking through the wall, and landed in the city, which was now filled with debris, trying to kill my momentum.
The one who chased after me and stepped on the ground was Don Fen. He was clearly enraged, his eyes bloodshot, his teeth bared, and his breathing rough.
"I'll teach you pain so severe you'll regret being born... I'll crush all the suffering of my subordinates, killing you over and over again...!"
"Bring it on, I'm not afraid. Don't hold back. Come at me with all your might and try to kill me."
Don Fen glared at me, his eyes fixed on me, as we kept our distance, waiting for the other to make a move.
In the slum, a stagnant wind blew, carrying a hint of the cold, poisonous mist of Hyugieia.
That's why this region was uninhabitable for weak Demons, unless they had a strong body like mine or Don Fen's.
I took a breath, my tension building up. In our minds, we were thinking about how to take each other down.
How to attack, how to kill, and how to corner each other―――
"It doesn't matter."
Don Fen suddenly said.
"My Gleipnir can bind even gods. Wade, it doesn't matter who you are."
Gleipnir, I repeated in my mind.
I had heard of it. It was a myth from Mudi's god stories, the name of the binding tool of Fenrir, the great wolf and brother of the goddess Hel.
Fenrir. Don Fen. I had thought their names were similar, but if they shared the same Gleipnir―――
Don Fen wrapped his arms around his body, as if binding himself, and muttered.
"My Gleipnir can bind everything... Domain Control 'Gleipnir'."
Countless threads began to cover the surroundings.
It was like looking at a birdcage woven tightly from the inside. Don Fen stood up, provoking me, "Wade, show me your Domain Control."
I smiled faintly and shook my head in response.
"Ah, man. I'm unable to use Domain Control, you know."
"Huh? ...You're giving off that kind of atmosphere, but you can't use Domain Control? What's with that bad joke?"
"It's not a joke, okay? I've got my own way of fighting. You do your thing, Don Fen."
"..."
Don Fen glared at me, his eyes fixed on me. Even when I didn't budge, he opened his mouth.
"Domain Control is when you're surrounded by a demon's spatial dominance. There's a huge power difference between demons with spatial dominance and those without."
So, Don Fen's expression turned even more severe.
"When 2 Domain Control users face off, they have to deploy their Domain Control right after the other's, before the opponent's Domain Control takes over the space."
Don Fen's Domain Control was closing in even further. I still didn't move.
Don Fen seemed to sense my carelessness and continued to speak in a strong tone.
"That way, it becomes a battle for spatial dominance... You can avoid a losing fight within the Domain Control!"
I could understand the feeling of calling it a losing fight. When I was caught in Eik's Domain Control, I had a pretty enjoyable battle. Eik showed me something beyond my abilities.
Domain Control is that kind of sorcery. It's similar to what the alchemist Alkei, who called herself the God of the Incense Box, did in the past. And since Domain Control doesn't have a set method, only the user can take control.
The birdcage created by Gleipnir was finally complete. My vision was enveloped in darkness for an instant.
Then, after a brief moment, my eyes adjusted, and I could see my surroundings.
What I saw was a dark cave. A sturdy, prison-like cave. Black threads were stretched out in all directions.
"And now, my Domain Control is closed, complete."
Don Fen said. He no longer had any anger there. His expression was one of utter disdain, as if to say, "Why do I have to deal with such an idiot?" Don Fen looked at me.
"'Gleipnir' takes too long to close, and its Domain Control is extremely strong. Do you understand, Wade? ...You're already finished."
"What are you talking about? I won't know until I try!"
"You should understand, idiot. You're still thinking you're not defeated, even after being swallowed by a magic beast? You think you can still win?"
That's true. Domain Control is indeed similar to being swallowed and trapped inside.
But Don Fen still didn't understand.
I was still in top condition, one of the strongest in the world.
"Then, I'll show you. Who your opponent is."
I moved.
My gravity magic-enhanced speed brought me right in front of Don Fen's nose in an instant. Don Fen's eyes widened, and I swung Durandal.
"―――I'm impressed by your speed, but that's all."
Gleipnir, bind.
At the same time as Don Fen's words, my 4 limbs were bound. I was shocked.
I didn't notice. I was bound simultaneously with his words. I didn't even have time to dodge. Not even Repulsion could escape, and I was restrained.
I struggled with all my might, but I couldn't even budge. It was likely that even Durandal couldn't cut through. This conceptual power was embedded in these restraints.
Don Fen let out a "Ha" of laughter.
"In this Domain Control, Gleipnir's restraints are absolute. That's what I said. You're still trapped inside the beast's belly, and you think you can win?"
"...!"
Absolute restraints that couldn't be released. That's right, this was indeed a decisive effect that guaranteed victory. It was no wonder he looked down on me the moment he closed in.
But I, too, was no stranger to fighting under new rules, with overwhelming disadvantages.
"Durandal, cut me loose!"
With Gravity Magic, I swiftly moved Durandal and cut off my own limbs. Immediately after, my second heart, Anahata Chakra, restored my entire body.
"What the...?!"
"Yeah! Now we can go all out, and it's a straight-up fight from here on out!"
I wrapped Durandal around my fist like a gauntlet and swiftly punched. I added consecutive blows from left and right, and when I tried to sweep his legs, Don Fen shouted.
"Pull away, Gleipnir!"
My arm was instantly bound and rapidly pulled back. I quickly cut off my arm with Durandal and regenerated it. Once again, I closed in on Don Fen.
"Ggh, you're kidding me ."
"Hahahahahahahaha! It's getting fun, Don Fen! Oh, yeah!"
I threw a punch. Don Fen's claws approached, and with a dull metallic sound, we clashed. Our strength was almost equal, and our speed was similar. This wasn't an enemy that [Repulsion] could handle.
So, if Don Fen slowed down, that would be great.
"Object Weight Increase."
"What...? My body's getting heavy...!"
"Come on, I'm not done yet!"
I swiftly punched Don Fen, who had slowed down. Don Fen tried to dodge, but since I was used to Weight Increase, I was faster and heavier.
"Gah, guh... Gleipnir...!"
Even while receiving my blows, Don Fen called out the name of Domain Control. That's when I realized.
Don Fen was smiling.
"Rip, tear apart...!"
Immediately after.
My body, which had been wrapped in Gleipnir, was torn apart into pieces.
It wasn't just my limbs; my head and torso were also ripped into 8 pieces, just like the saying...
"――――――Brahma=Atman!"
I regained my fleeting consciousness and shouted. Anahata Chakra pulsed, and my body was instantly restored from the gaps between the torn-apart Gleipnir.
There, Don Fen's claw was closing in on me. I couldn't defend myself in time, so I dodged. But Don Fen had read my move and deliberately slowed down his attack, striking with his claw right in front of me.
My body was pierced by Don Fen's claw, and I couldn't help but spit out blood.
"Wadeeeee! You're really strong, aren't you?! To think you can do that much in Domain Control, you're amazing, I'll give you that!"
I was lifted up by the claw that had pierced my body, and then I was blown away by a swift slash from the opposite hand. But I quickly recovered and landed safely.
"Finally, you're getting serious? Don Fen-san."
"Hahahahaha! I thought you were some kind of fool, summoning a god and wreaking havoc, but you're just a battle-crazed Wade!"
Don Fen laughed loudly, looking at me. His eyes, which had been filled with hatred just a moment ago, now saw me as an equal. Don Fen approached me.
"So, I understand the reason you've been waiting for Domain Control. You weren't looking down on me. You wanted to fight me with Domain Control, didn't you?"
"Ah, you get it. And, it's true that I can't use Domain Control, okay?"
"I don't doubt it anymore. Besides, if someone with that kind of immortality had Domain Control, it would be unfair."
"That's right."
I grasped my greatsword, Durandal, again and readied myself. Don Fen had somehow summoned a Gleipnir at his feet and was stomping on it repeatedly.
"Demons are originally immortal. So, it's the first time I've seen someone who can increase their immortality like that... or so I thought. Are you really a demon? This body that's getting heavier, it's not sorcery, is it?"
"Let's see. If you win, I'll tell you."
"Heh, then I'll crush you!"
I took a step forward, swinging my sword. Don Fen pointed at me and shouted, "Gleipnir!"
"Take away the weapon!"
"Tch! You're targeting my weak spot!"
Durandal was stolen. Of course, the greatsword was taken, and so was the gauntlet. The strings that appeared in an instant wrapped around and took them away.
But I didn't stop. I entered Don Fen's chest, forming a fist. Don Fen, with a sneer, said, "If i take away even your weapons, what's left to do?!"
I laughed.
"I'm sorry, Durandal is meant to defeat tough enemies that can't be defeated with normal attacks."
I pierced through. With my body strengthened by gravity magic and Anahata Chakra, my sharp, pointed fist easily pierced through Don Fen's fur and entered his body.
"Huh?"
"If you were like that, I thought about what to do, but I'm relieved. Don Fen, you're pretty soft."
I rummaged through Don Fen's body, grasping his internal organs tightly and pulling them out.
"GAHAAAA!?!?!"
I pulled out Don Fen's internal organs with my bare hands. Blood spurted out from the hole in his torso, and his organs spilled out. Don Fen stumbled back, blowing blood bubbles, and fell.
"The first round is mine, I guess."
"Ugh, p, ku..."
Don Fen's strength ran out, and his head drooped. With the commander lost, the strings were released, and Durandal returned to me.
Just then, someone intervened.
"Well, it's like this!"
Don Fen, revived, entered the Domain Control once again. "Gleipnir!" he called out, commanding the air.
"Oh, what kind of trick will you use next, Don Fen?!"
I re-equipped my weapon, preparing to face Don Fen.
Don Fen said,
"Kill Wade."
The moment those words echoed,
My Chakra was completely entwined with Gleipnir, and it was shattered.
"――――――!?"
Can this string even launch a conceptual attack?! I gritted my teeth. Immediately after, Gleipnir's strings wrapped around my entire body.
Don Fen spoke.
"Wade. I've figured out your secret while fighting. You construct immortality by adding conceptual support, and your body is supported by that power. So I'll crush that support and crush your body."
Nihi, Don Fen sneers. The Slum King is getting serious.
"You couldn't even make me regret it, that's painful. But first, let's do this once. Once, I'll definitely kill you. Next time we meet, I'll corner you even more, so be prepared―――."
"Shut up, you bastard! I'm doing my best with just one life, you know! Stu―――――pid!"
I chant the shortened mantra (Brahman) and revive at least my Anahata Chakra.
But my Anahata Chakra is incomplete. If my body falls apart, my revival will be slow. So I'm going to break free from the binding threads that are wrapping around me.
"Heh heh, Gahaha! You're quite stubborn, Wade!"
"Shut up! What's the point of killing you once if your Domain Control won't be released, huh? How am I supposed to win then?"
"I told you My Domain Control is super strong, you know!"
Gleipnir is chasing after me from behind.
Luckily, only the Gleipnir that appears immediately after the command is affected. It seems the accuracy effect doesn't apply after that.
I dash towards Don Fen with all my might. I lighten my body weight and use Repulsion to push myself forward with each step, and just before I'm about to clash him with Durandal, I use Weight Increase.
Anyway, I'll kill Don Fen again. With a swift and powerful blow, I'll cut him in 2.
And the moment my sword sinks into Don Fen's body, he says...
"Gleipnir, deceive."
Don Fen's body suddenly transforms into a mass of threads. The sword that was stuck in him is now just hitting the loosened threads from above.
But I don't miss the voice coming from behind. I cancel Durandal's Weight Increase, turn around, and charge towards Don Fen's gaze.
Don Fen sneers.
"And, entwine."
The threads that were once Don Fen's form suddenly tense up. The Durandal that was entwined with me is pulled back, and my serious blow is stopped right in front of Don Fen.
As I'm about to swing Durandal down at Don Fen's eyes, he bursts out laughing right in front of me, completely fearless.
The sound of Durandal and Gleipnir scraping against each other echoes through the air.
At that moment, Don Fen says,
"Still, it's just one life, huh? Hey, Wade. I never thought I'd say this, but you... are you human?"
I laugh defiantly at Don Fen's skepticism.
"So what's the big deal?"
"...Yeah, it's a minor thing. Whether you're human or I'm a demon, the fact that you knew I was a demon and still came at me with Domain Control doesn't change a thing."
He lets out a snort, laughing through his nose, and continues.
"The one who's going to win is still me, no matter what."
Don Fen raises his claws.
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