“Damn it, what is this!!”
I was bewildered by the sudden darkness that enveloped my vision. The darkness in the room hadn’t changed; I could tell that much with Dimension. However, the perceived darkness had increased exponentially. It felt as if the very standard by which I perceived light and dark had been tampered with.
Understanding that a faint black curtain had been cast over the information gathered by Dimension, I realized this wasn’t physical darkness, but mental.
“My other name is ‘The one who steals the logic of darkness.’ But that’s not because I manipulate darkness. What I excel at is manipulating the darkness within people’s hearts. I’m a Monster specialized in Status Ailments and Mental Attacks.”
Teeda’s boastful voice echoed from the depths of the darkness. While she didn’t reveal her weaknesses, her talkativeness was still appreciated. My irritation intensified, but there was a chance I could find an opening in her incessant chatter. Darkness. Status Ailments. Mental Attacks. I immediately began to dig for game-like solutions that these words might suggest.
“Heh, you got too close to me…”
Teeda pointed out my carelessness. At that moment, the black liquid adhering to my body began to writhe. I brushed away what I could reach, but in that time, Teeda seemed to have finished repairing her body. A silhouette appeared in the deepened darkness. My vision was now useless. Dimension faintly registered that there was still some distance to the silhouette.
The game-like thinking I had unearthed dictated my actions. I focused not on the silhouette in the darkness, but on myself.
【Status】
Condition: Confusion 5.29, Mental Contamination 1.00, Darkness 1.00
So, it’s that kind of thing…!
“Now, boy. Round two…!”
I wished I could analyze my Status further, but there was no time to breathe before the voice and shadow drew nearer.
“I can still see the shadows!”
I had no choice but to slash toward the silhouette.
“Hmph. A lackluster slash.”
As expected, I felt no sensation of cutting through the silhouette. Instead, a burning sensation ignited on my left shoulder. Understanding that I had been wounded by the enemy’s attack, I grunted.
“Kuh—!”
“Now, the conditions are met again. I’ve infiltrated you. After stealing your experience of darkness, shall I steal your legs next? —Magic《Mind · Strange · Despair · Leg》”
With that, Teeda snapped her fingers. The moment she did, my legs felt alien, and my knees buckled.
“—What!?”
I didn’t understand what had happened. The instant Teeda declared the magic, my knees gave out. I immediately tried to regain my strength, but I didn’t know how to stand up.
【Status】
Condition: Confusion 5.30, Mental Contamination 2.00, Darkness 1.00, Limb Paralysis 1.00, Bleeding 0.31
As I confirmed the meaning from the ‘Display,’ Teeda’s shadow slowly approached.
“Magic this powerful is difficult to use without my slime adhering to you… but with this, you’re finished, aren’t you?”
I had no means of counterattack. My MP was already depleted from her previous barrage of attacks.
—I’m scared.
Terrifyingly scared. An abnormal fear gripped my entire body. The darkness clinging to me only accelerated it. Teeda said she would steal my experience of darkness. It felt like the inexplicable crying I would do in the middle of the night when I was a child. It was the sensation of a nameless, colossal darkness that I had feared every night, that made me contemplate death and feel anxious, now filling my mind.
“—Ugh, AAAAHHH!! D-Don’t come any closer to me!!”
I screamed like a child.
“‘Fear’ has also taken hold. It seems you have a weak heart, easily swallowed by darkness… I had expected talent from you, but your spirit is not worthy of evaluation.”
A cold voice replied. It was no longer her previous gleeful tone, but a voice that wouldn’t hesitate to slit the throat of livestock.
“—Flame Arrow!!”
As if to interrupt that voice, a flash of light pierced the darkness. It was Dia’s magic.
“Christ, are you alright!?”
Dia rushed to my side, concerned.
I can’t be alright. I can’t fight like this. Dia alone won’t be enough to win. I need to find a way to dispel Teeda’s magic. My mind knows this, but my body won’t stop trembling.
“Ah, you too, my lovely. Your strategy relies on others, and your magic is one-dimensional. You’re no threat alone. Hmm, if it’s just that magic, it’ll only take about three syllables to steal… no need to steal your voice.”
“What are you rambling about! Get away from Christ! 《Flame—, Ack!?”
I could tell Dia was flustered in the darkness ahead. If Teeda’s words were true, Dia had been afflicted with ‘Silence.’ Dia, who specialized in magic, was at a disadvantage against a boss who relied on typical Status Ailments. I have to hurry… I need to do something about this mental magic, and my mind… My mind…? That’s right. If this is affecting my mind…
“《Flame, Flame—, Damn it, I could say it just a moment ago! Why can’t I say even one word!?”
“A mage who can’t even use no-chanting magic isn’t going to cut it.”
Dark. It’s so dark. I am darkness now. Dark, dark, dark! Dark, scary, scary, I’m going to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want this to end! In this desolate place, my family, my sister whom I left behind, I’ll die alone and leave nothing behind! This is unreasonable, damn it, DAMN IT, DAMN IT—!!
【Skill ‘???’ has gone berserk】
In exchange for some emotions, it stabilizes the mind.
A +1.00 correction is applied to Confusion.
—Then, instead, I’ll accelerate the anxiety and trigger that skill. With that ‘Display,’ the curtain of darkness thinned, and my mind stabilized. My leg experience didn’t fully return, but I moved my legs as best I could. If my fighting spirit returned, there was still a way. I thrust my trembling legs into the ground and charged at Teeda.
“Get away from Dia!”
“Wh—!?”
Teeda was surprised by my sudden ability to move, and couldn’t dodge the thrust from behind. My one-handed sword pierced Teeda’s back.
“—Magic《Ice》! 《Freeze》!!”
I unleashed all my remaining Ice Magic, driving it in. The image was of extreme freezing emanating from the tip of my sword. The image of generating ice within Teeda’s body and then freezing it all. I poured in all my remaining MP. Naturally, my MP immediately dropped to zero, but the magic continued. I had never confirmed that I couldn’t use magic if my MP reached zero. And then, I understood. The MP I lacked was being drawn from my ‘life’—my ‘Maximum HP.’
【Status】
HP: 152/197
MP: 0/262
【Status】
HP: 140/190
MP: 0/262
【Status】
HP: 128/183
MP: 0/262
Amidst the dwindling numbers, I cried out.
“Freeze! Freeze, freeze, freeze—!!!”
I gambled everything on this magic. I extracted all my strength and performed the ice-making image. Imagining generating a cold wave that would cover the entire Antarctic continent, freezing all molecular vibrations, and exploding with the image of freezing Teeda, this monster, myself, everything—!
Ice began to form within Teeda. The room’s temperature dropped sharply, and the black liquid gradually transformed into a black solid. As a ripple effect, my wounds also began to freeze. Sparks danced in my vision, and a metallic taste filled my throat. Then, Teeda’s flailing arm struck my defenseless cheek.
“—Gurk! You’re quite good!”
The impact separated me and Teeda. Struck, I regained my balance and glared at Teeda. Thanks to Skill ‘???’, my vision and mind were clear. My legs were also gradually recovering. Apart from my remaining HP and MP, I felt I was recovering. All thanks to Skill ‘???’.
“Heh… Kuhahaha! You’re so wonderful…! Why can you walk? Why can you fight back? Ah, it’s wonderful…!”
Teeda spoke as she moved with jerky, cracking motions. The stiff way she moved indicated the effectiveness of my ice magic, but it wasn’t a finishing blow. Despite her awkwardness, she was starting to advance toward me. Feeling that I had gotten the better of her, I retorted.
“It seems your specialized magic… doesn’t work on me…”
I feigned composure, but I was actually dizzy from exhaustion, to the point where my brain felt like it would bleed. Still, I put on the best brave front I could.
“No, is that so…? You were flustered earlier, weren’t you? Even if it’s nullified, it takes time, I see.”
“Well… which is it…?”
Teeda approached, laughing. During our conversation, I finished checking my Status.
【Status】
Name: Aikawa Uzunami
HP: 101/171
MP: 0/262
Class:
Level: 6
Strength: 4.12
Stamina: 4.21
Dexterity: 5.11
Speed: 7.24
Intelligence: 7.23
Magic Power: 11.43
Aptitude: 7.00
Condition: Confusion 6.61, Mental Contamination 0.34, Bleeding 0.31
MP was zero. My HP had decreased by nearly half, even though I hadn’t taken a direct hit. That reckless ice magic must have severely harmed my body. But,
“—Magic《Dimension》!!”
I further gambled with my maximum HP. Using a little bit of magic to support myself, I faced the smiling Teeda.
“Haha, let’s go! Now, what will you do!?”
Then, a fanged blade attacked. I narrowly parried Teeda’s blade with the flat of my sword. My Dimension’s power had diminished, but Teeda’s movements were also hindered by the ice magic. I could still fight.
“You blocked it! But if I touch you, mental magic is unavoidable! Next is ‘Hand’!”
Teeda kept one hand as a blade and liquefied the other, sending it towards me. Unable to do anything but block her blade, I ended up getting some of the liquid on my skin. And then, as she declared, the sensation of my ‘hand’ became distorted. The sword I held in my ‘hand’… I’m going to die. If I drop my sword, I’ll die. I’ll definitely die. I’ll die immediately. Die. Die. Die. Die. Die. I don’t want to die yet!
【Skill ‘???’ has gone berserk】
In exchange for some emotions, it stabilizes the mind.
A +1.00 correction is applied to Confusion.
—Using the fear of death, I gripped my sword again. And then, with the sword I had gripped tightly,
“—AAAAAHHHHHHAAAAGGHHH—!!”
I slid it along Teeda’s blade. Then, I attempted to sever the enemy’s frozen neck.
“Kuh—!”
Teeda solidified her other hand, which had been liquefied, attempting to stop me. But it was too late. The certain opening created during the liquid attack and magic casting was there. I severed that arm before it could solidify. The partially frozen arm was cut off. The severed arm flew through the air. Understanding this, Teeda leaped back, catching her flying arm.
“Impressive! Hahaha, has my magic truly no effect on you! This is why I can’t get enough of it!”
Teeda tried to liquefy her reattached arm and return it to her body. However, the frozen parts wouldn’t liquefy, and only about half of it returned to her body. Discarding the frozen parts, a cracking sound echoed as ice broke.
“It seems the frozen parts don’t return…”
“Heh heh heh, shall we see? You can confirm that in battle.”
“Yes! I’ll do just that!”
From Teeda’s reaction, I felt there was a chance to win if I attacked now, and I lunged. “But I’m used to resisting magic. Mages like you often only have specific resistances…!!” With that, Teeda readied her blade and sent liquid from her other arm towards me. I judged that I had Skill ‘???’ to deal with any abnormalities, so I prioritized closing the distance, letting the liquid hit me.
“Your strength, and more importantly, your ‘calmness,’ ‘feints,’ ‘judgment,’ and ‘observation’ are troublesome.”
Teeda laughed as she distanced herself from me. Then, an abnormality appeared in me. It was the sensation of dizziness suddenly vanishing, my head clearing. I considered triggering Skill ‘???’, but held back. It wasn’t a life-threatening mental state. Triggering it would create a slight opening, so there was no need to force it. I decided to roar with the impulse that welled up.
“Once more!! I’ll tear you apart!! Teeda!!”
I unleashed a sword strike at Teeda. I slashed repeatedly, and Teeda, with only one hand, blocked them all.
“How predictable!!”
She exploited an opening and kicked me away. Kicked away when I was so close, anger surged to my head. Driven by that emotion, I charged at Teeda and swung my sword again—
“Christ! Calm down!!”
Dia, who had been falling back, shouted. But her voice was annoying. I wanted to tear that monster apart; why was she interfering?
“I am calm!!”
“You’re clearly becoming predictable! You’re not normal because of her mental magic!”
Not normal? I suppressed my irritation at the last moment and checked my Status.
【Status】
HP: 92/169
MP: 0/262
Condition: Confusion 7.61, Mental Contamination 2.35, Bleeding 0.32, Elation 2.01
I confirmed the Mental Contamination and Elation. I clicked my tongue and made my heart anxious with the fear of death to trigger Skill ‘???’.
【Skill ‘???’ has gone berserk】
In exchange for some emotions, it stabilizes the mind.
A +1.00 correction is applied to Confusion.
But still, the elation didn’t subside. The refreshing feeling in my head wouldn’t go away. The heat source of my fighting spirit continued to boil my mind.
【Status】
HP: 92/169
MP: 0/262
Condition: Confusion 8.61, Mental Contamination 0.08, Bleeding 0.32, Elation 2.02
Elation 2.02 didn’t disappear. My Skill ‘???’ wasn’t negating the elation. No, perhaps it didn’t recognize this as a bad status? After all, the idea that it negates bad statuses was just a guess, a wish. Skill ‘???’ mysteriously increased Confusion and left it as is. Perhaps relying on this skill as the main strategy, without knowing its exact nature, was too uncertain.
“…As expected, it hasn’t been negated. But I won’t give you time to calm down!”
Teeda attacked me while I was confused. She sprinkled black liquid with one hand while attacking with the blade of the other. Dodging the falling liquid while fighting was impossible. I ignored the liquid and focused only on the blade.
“Are you alright? —Magic《Mind · Strange · Closed · Peaceful》”
The magic seeped into my body. My excitement intensified, and all restraint disappeared. My blood boiled, and I felt an urge to keep clashing with the formidable enemy before me.
“Kuh!”
“You have such fine eyes! Humans must be like this!”
My body moved forward on its own. My body felt too good, I couldn’t stop myself. My boiling brain screamed at me to defeat the enemy. True, the speed of my sword had increased… The power had also increased…! But I couldn’t think about techniques or strategy…! It felt too good to just swing my sword…! My sword and her blade clashed repeatedly, ringing out. And all the while, Teeda’s black liquid continued to erode me.
“Hey! Isn’t this the best!? The clash of swords! The exchange of our very lives! This is what it means to be alive!!”
Teeda spoke as if singing. And there was a part of me that couldn’t deny it. Right now, I was thoroughly enjoying fighting. Even if this was Teeda’s plan, I couldn’t stop. The head-on clash felt endlessly delightful. Even though I had no HP or MP left, I couldn’t think of retreating.
“Hehehe! Kuhahaha!”
Teeda’s laughter, the black liquid, continued to erode me. It washed away everything. It wasn’t something harmful; rather, it felt like a pleasant cleansing. It was pleasantly purifying my mind. Plans, calculations, consequences – such vulgar things were erased. Pretenses, benefits, harms – such ties were unnecessary. All that existed was the battle before me.
“—No, Christ! If you continue like this!”
“Stop interfering! Dia—!!”
A voice from behind tried to stop me. But I instinctively rejected it. Everything that disturbed this happy time felt like an enemy.
“Christ!!”
The voice approached from behind. Yet, I couldn’t stop swinging my sword. My life was being chipped away. The longer this dragged on, the duller my sword became, and the worse the situation grew. Still, I couldn’t stop. Teeda’s blade continued to block my sword, and gradually, only her blade drew closer to my body. And then, finally, my limit came, as I was only attacking mindlessly. Teeda’s decisive blade swung towards my neck. The consequences of my reckless charge caught up to me, and my body lost its strength. I was completely open. Teeda’s blade, aiming for that opening, plunged towards my neck— But before it could reach, Dia’s body intervened. I saw Dia, who hadn’t been able to keep up with the blindingly fast exchange, throwing her entire body in front of me to protect me. —Then, fresh blood danced in the darkness. The first strike cleanly bisected Dia’s torso. Still, Dia swung her own sword back at Teeda. As expected, Dia’s slow sword missed, and with a second strike, her right arm, the one holding the sword, was severed. Incapable of anything without her arm, Dia collapsed. “Ah, ah…” The elation that had dominated me instantly died down. Worse, a chill like an icicle being driven into my spine shot through me. I recognized, in slow motion, the breakdown of the ’emotional anchor’ I had found. Amidst that, the words I had constantly repeated to myself echoed in my mind. Dia is a person from another world. She’s just going to be used, after all. If necessary, she can be a shield. It’s wise to discard her— —No!! What I didn’t want to lose, what I had cherished so dearly, was now breaking! That’s why I couldn’t forgive Teeda for cutting Dia. I couldn’t forgive myself, who had been protected by Dia. Two impulses of anger shook my throat, and I cried out a name. “Diaaa—!!” At that moment, for an instant. For just a fleeting moment, our eyes met.
