In the midst of Rukil’s desperate situation on the sky battlefield, Adams and Maria were on the ground, elegantly enjoying wine and tomato juice. They had also prepared ample snacks, indicating they were fully ready to spectate.
“Wow, that was pretty dangerous, wasn’t it? Seriously, Rukil-chan is so clumsy~. It’s just like watching my own daughters; passionate but narrow-minded!” Maria exclaimed.
“Even if it’s only a sliver, he carries Maria’s blood within him. He won’t die from something like that. More importantly, won’t Maria drink alcohol? You’ve been drinking tomato juice this whole time,” Adams replied.
“Alcohol? No way, no way. Idols don’t drink alcohol. Besides, my setting is that I can’t hold my liquor— I mean, I’m extremely sensitive to alcohol, so I can’t drink even a drop♪” Maria chirped.
“Hoh, that’s quite unfortunate…” Adams mused.
No, she just said “setting,” and it was a blatant lie. With Maria’s physique, she could break down even the strongest alcohol in an instant, making it impossible for her to get drunk no matter how much she drank. She was merely declaring herself to be unable to hold her liquor as part of her character.
“Still, I wonder if Rukil-chan is really okay? Even though I gave him my blood, it was the bare minimum to prevent his personality from collapsing, and it basically only grants regenerative power that prevents death, enough magic power to use great magic repeatedly without depletion, an overall improvement in basic performance, and the catalyst function of ‘Blood of the Sage’ corresponding to the amount given~. I’m really, really worried~.”
“Hmm, is that so? You don’t seem worried at all,” Adams remarked.
“O-of course I am! Stop being so suspicious. By the way, Adams-chan, when exactly will that authority you gave him manifest? Right now, it just looks like I’m forcing my way through with my power!”
“Hmph… My authority, ‘Nurturing,’ simply makes the target’s potential bloom. However, it also simultaneously makes the target’s ideals a reality.”
“Hmm? Meaning?”
“As long as Rukil himself only has a vague image, the authority won’t bloom. Well, before he could even form an image, Rukil was in hell dealing with the process of his body adapting to Maria’s blood. He wouldn’t have had the mental space to think about how his own authority would manifest. I, myself, was also struggling to help Rukil maintain his self. I couldn’t possibly offer that level of care.”
“Ah, so that’s why I was able to give Rukil-chan more blood than I initially intended. Adams-chan, you were thinking about things that deeply… Should I be your producer?”
“Maria, you say such incomprehensible things sometimes. It’s truly fascinating. However, I wasn’t being considerate. I simply wanted to see the potential of a fallen angel.”
“Potential, hmm? And were you satisfied?”
“Hah.”
He brought the cup to his lips and downed the wine. After finishing the action, Adams appeared to be in a very good mood.
“Even if it hasn’t bloomed, the seed has already been sown. From here on, it’s up to Rukil to utilize it.”
“Adams-chan, you seem to be having fun? It might be strange for an idol like me to say, but you look like a parent enjoying their child’s growth. I have some experience with that~.”
“Parent, huh… Indeed, I might possess a similar emotion. The growth of someone talented is always enriching to witness. It holds infinite possibilities and gives me a faint hope that one day, they might reach me. Maria, you are the prime example of that.”
“Heh, is that so~?”
Maria, with a bright smile, asked Adams, who continued to drink merrily, for another toast. Despite their appearances remaining unchanged, for some reason, the air in this particular moment became incredibly heavy. The cause was—directly above them.
“Ge-ge-genkō…! Genkō…!”
On the sky battlefield, Rukil declared the manifestation of his authority. Black flames erupted and instantly engulfed a grotesque mass of flesh.
“Hoh, he managed it at the last moment. Rukil, that’s quite something,” Adams commented.
“Yep, yep, I was expecting great things from Rukil-chan too~. As the representative of Adams-chan and my love, you see!”
“Maria, that statement could lead to many misunderstandings.”
***
While Maria and the others were having a lively time on the ground, Kelvin and Mel were facing a more formidable threat in mid-air.
“It burns, it burns, my body, it burns… I am reborn…”
The fleshy mass that was Rukil, having survived the Wind God’s Ice Bomb, suddenly declared the authority of his power and ignited himself with colossal black flames. This wasn’t like the black flames he had manifested before; it was as if he himself was fuel, his flames rising with an abnormal intensity.
“Absolute Ice Mountain Wall!”
“Severing Cyclone Swarm!”
Attacking during transformation is basic of basics. With this creed, Kelvin and the others immediately launched their attacks. Their plan was to freeze the burning mass along with the ice mountain wall, and then shatter the ice mountain with tornadoes.
—*Sizzle*!
However, it was no use. Their attacks collapsed in an instant.
『As predicted, it doesn’t budge. The ice melts the moment it’s generated, and your tornadoes dissipate into mist on contact— Your flames still possess terrifying firepower.』
『Even at the spark level, the firepower was immense. To think it would become a vortex of this scale… Hmm, a direct frontal assault seems unlikely.』
『Shall we try the “Lovey-Dovey Revealing Great Strategy” again? I’m all for it.』
『The strategy name has changed, and the same trick won’t work this time. Even if we try to send in the Wind God’s Ice Bomb, Rukil is right in the middle of those black flames. It absolutely won’t reach him.』
『In that case, why not confront it head-on? Specifically, with your great scythe, a quick slash.』
『I figured you’d say that, and I’m already unleashing it.』
Immediately after Kelvin spoke, a strike from the Great Wind Demon God Scythe, aimed at the center, hit the vortex of black flames. The scythe, enriched with “Mana Overload” to its maximum power, did not disappear upon contact with the black flames like previous magic. Instead, it began to cut through the black flames from the point of contact and even attempted to push through.
The black flames, which Rukil imitated from Kuromel’s power, possessed the ability to degrade whatever they touched. However, this effect wasn’t instantaneous; it worked in stages. The reason Kelvin’s attacks had been dispersed in an instant was simply due to the absurdly high firepower. So, what if an attack exceeding that firepower, without giving the ability time to work, could decide the outcome in an instant?
(—*I can cut through it, you know!* )
Recently, he had suffered setbacks against skills with terrible affinities like “Indestructible” and “Paramita.” However, against an opponent whose only advantage was destructive power, the Great Wind Demon God Scythe, capable of cutting down anything, was unrivaled. No matter how insane the firepower, he would overwhelm it and kick it away in an instant.
—*Swish*!
As a result, the black flames were cut in two from the center, scattering in the opposite direction of before. Kelvin’s strike, leveraging his experience fighting Kuromel, yielded the expected results.
『Master, you were magnificent. It’s been a while since your great scythe was put to such good use.』
『You, don’t say what you really think… You’ll be punished later!』
『Kyaaa♪』
Thus, the “Lovey-Dovey Revealing Great Strategy” was conducted via telepathy, albeit with a hint of banter. However, the fact that they were engaging in this meant they believed Rukil, whom they had just cut in half, was still alive…
“—Phew, I feel cleansed. Was the world always this beautiful? I have gained new knowledge.”
“No, don’t make such a serene atmosphere when you’ve been cut in half vertically and are naked…”
Emerging from the bisected black flames was Rukil, also cut in half along with the black flames, and completely naked. Was this gruesome or erotic… Regardless, he was certainly a terrifying sight.
