The battle between Kelvin and Gustav concluded around the time a fierce struggle was still raging among the Demon King’s daughters within the Demon Lord’s Castle. Reds and blues clashed, shifting positions and destroying the surroundings as they moved. What began on the roof of the Demon Lord’s Castle tore through the ceiling and went straight inside. Then, it smashed through a wall and moved horizontally. Indoors? “So what?” Sera cried out, unleashing a tornado, while Sera generated a Blood Rend Tail by dissolving her own blood into water and swept it away. This unsubduable castle, once lauded as the Last Dungeon, the pinnacle of the Demon Capital, and the Demon King’s stronghold, stood on the verge of collapse. It seemed destined to follow the fate of the now-deceased Trial Tower.
*Zun!*
At that very moment, a heel drop from Bel, unleashed in mid-air, struck Sera, sending her plummeting downwards. Her arm, braced firmly, absorbed the impact, so the damage wasn’t significant. At best, it was like falling from a great height at high speed. The leftover shockwave bisected the Demon King’s throne, but it was a minor matter compared to the castle’s overall damage.
“Azure Wind Firm Guard Wall.”
Immediately after sending Sera down, a blue wind erupted from Bel’s leg armor, forming a five-layered wall on top of her. This wall was a barrier distinct from the Azure Wind Reactive Guard Wall she had used earlier. If the latter embodied the principle of yielding to the strong with softness like rubber, this Azure Wind Firm Guard Wall was its polar opposite, embodying the principle of severing the soft with the strong. It was hard and sturdy, and, naturally, imbued with the power of Bel’s “Hue Infringement.”
“Fall.”
This materialized wind, boasting an ironclad defense, was dropped along with Bel’s command. A strong wind blasted from behind the falling wall, making it fall much faster than a normal descent. The target was Sera, who had just crashed into the ground. The wall’s area was wide. If this continued, Sera would be crushed between the five Azure Wind Firm Guard Walls and the ground. … Needless to say, Sera wouldn’t accept this passively.
“Crimson Jewels—um, about five?”
From Sera’s position, she couldn’t count the number of overlapping walls. Moreover, she was unaware of the Azure Wind Firm Guard Wall’s properties. Relying on her intuition, Sera levitated blood orbs numbering exactly the amount she guessed and glared at the approaching walls.
“Hmph!”
Spreading her wings, Sera flew along with the crimson orbs.
“Retreat!”
Manipulated by her Blood Manipulation Technique, the crimson orbs struck the walls before Sera. The moment they made contact, the blood orbs bounced off like thrown tomatoes, splattering and dyeing the blue walls crimson. Simultaneously, the crimson walls transferred their control to Sera, opening holes large enough to let her pass. The second to fifth walls followed suit. The successively thrown crimson orbs created a path for Sera.
Bel’s Hue Infringement was a powerful Unique Skill that could freely strengthen or weaken any magical or physical attacks. It was akin to viewing the target as paint on a palette and adjusting its hue with white or black. Bel had devised her unique combat style by combining this power with her martial arts and the wind generated by Green Magic. It was an unassailable fighting style that allowed her to exert her power without question, not only in close combat but also at long range. Considering she could fight on par with Melfina, who had been at a disadvantage, her Status was likely exceptional.
However, Bel’s power was not entirely without weaknesses. For instance, time. Bel’s Hue Infringement lacked the immediate effect of Sera’s Blood Dye; it was a type that took effect gradually upon contact. If Bel made direct contact, rather than using wind imbued with power, that time lag would be significantly shortened. Under certain conditions, if she could maintain the activation, she could even disobey the Blood Dye command, just as she had demonstrated its解除 in Gaun’s arena. But in a match requiring split-second exchanges like this, the advantage would go to Sera.
“I told you to retreat.”
“You retreat.”
Beyond the gouged-out walls was Bel, rapidly approaching Sera. It was a battle of words, or rather, a shouting match, accompanied by fierce winds spewing from her leg armor. They faced each other on a direct collision course, and a clash was inevitable. However, for these two, there was no option to yield the path or bend themselves.
“Then, take this!”
As if by prior agreement, Sera and Bel launched their attacks. Bel, from above, delivered a momentum-fueled rider kick, while Sera, from below, countered with a spinning backhand blow. The Demon-Human Blue Battle Frenzy, each covered in their respective colors, collided in what was, for the nth time that day, a clash of wills. The two bickered in mid-air, scattering fierce winds and shockwaves throughout the castle.
“Kuh…!”
“Get out of the way!”
Bel was the first to push the other back. She held a positional advantage from above, and while the stalemate had prolonged the fight somewhat, her use of wind to empower her Demon-Human Blue Battle Frenzy was the biggest winning factor. Just as Kelvin had done against Gustav, covering her weapon with raging wind prevented Sera’s blood from adhering to it. While using wind meant she couldn’t directly deliver her Hue Infringement from her leg armor, the longer the fight dragged on, the more Sera’s weakening progressed. This time, the advantage went to Bel, and Sera once again plummeted to the lowest floor.
“…Ouch! I scraped myself just a little! But it healed already!”
Sera fell headfirst, but her injuries were minor enough to heal instantly with Natural Healing. Inwardly, she lightly licked the wound from which blood had already stopped flowing. Then, Bel descended through the large hole in the ceiling that the battle had opened.
“Your blood manipulation is simpler than Father’s, Sera Baal. Try using your head a little more.”
“Ah, I see? I also thought I could increase the variety of my fighting styles! Maybe I should ask Father for advice next time.”
“Do that if you’re still alive by then. —Hmm?”
Bel seemed to notice something and stared intently at Sera’s back. Drawn by her gaze, Sera also glanced back.
Though she hadn’t noticed it while focused on the battle, a half-ruined mansion stood in this, the lowest floor of the Demon Lord’s Castle. Despite being underground, it was larger and wider than Kelvin’s mansion. Above all, Sera recognized this place.
“Is this the mansion I used to live in? No, but it seems slightly different?”
“Hmph, to think we’d end up here. Whether it’s good luck or bad…”
As if exhaling a sigh, wind blew from Bel’s leg armor.
“This isn’t your former residence, the ‘Sun Mansion.’ It’s the ‘Moon Mansion’ where I lived. Though it’s already half gone.”
“… Did the Hero come here?”
“Hmph, do you think I’d tell you honestly?”
“Huh? You told me the mansion’s name. You’re not being honest.”
“…Tch.”
Bel clicked her tongue, looking away with an embarrassed expression.
“Well, it’s convenient. Sera Baal, let’s settle this here. It’s impossible, but if you can defeat me, I’ll answer your question, no, anything I know.”
“Fufu, that’s straightforward and good. I’m in!”
“You agree without even asking about the conditions of the price…”
“I can do it! I have so much to protect. When that happens, I’m strong, probably!”
“…Is that so? Then prepare to die miserably if you lose.”
