A Formless Monster.
Amili-san said so.
However, at first glance, no change seemed to have occurred.
Seraph Nisia also showed a puzzled expression as no change could be seen after all this time.
However, she did not let her guard down. She watched Amili-san, making sure she was always in her sight, and surveyed the surroundings.
Despite being told just one word, the tension in the surroundings heightened. It was the weight of her words, enough to be called the bearing of one of the Demon Lord’s Army’s Seven Generals.
“Accept my command.”
Then, as if to break through that tension, Amili-san took the initiative. Although there was nothing in the spot, Amili-san, convinced that something was there, issued a command to something in the void. We could only silently watch this bizarre atmosphere.
Undoubtedly, Amili-san was the strongest force present here. We had to consider defeating Nisia in cooperation with her, but it was difficult to act without knowing what cards she held. I asked Suella and Memoria with my eyes about the identity of the “Formless Monster,” but they shook their heads, indicating they didn’t know either. What kind of being is this? Just as I was trying to maintain a calm mind amidst my thoughts, which were on the verge of being filled with questions, I recognized that the first attack should have been launched.
“Gua!?”
Suddenly, Nisia began to writhe in pain. Blood then began to seep from Nisia’s chest. From the trace of blood, I could see something large gnawing at Nisia’s right side.
“Enemy, durability adjusted upwards. However, there is no impact on combat conditions. Keep gnawing.”
“Tch!”
In contrast to Amili, who calmly and soberly tried to advance the battle, Nisia cast a magic spell to break away from the biting entity. However, the magic missed its mark, only hitting the floor and destroying its material. The scene was like a one-person show. She hurt herself, and she raged by herself. Nisia flapped her wings desperately, trying to move away from the spot. This was literal proof that there was no visible form, or rather, no form at all. As if to mock such an existence, it was trying to gnaw at the Seraph’s body, grinding its teeth.
And then.
“Ahhhhh!?”
To escape that restraint, Nisia chose to sever her entire right side.
“Astonishing. I never expected it to have such regenerative power.”
This would be a fatal wound for any living creature, yet the Seraph’s vitality was such that comparing it to normal creatures would be an insult. Nisia, ranked second, applied a white flame-like substance to her right side and instantly regenerated the flesh.
“…Himik, can you do that too?”
Surely the wound Nisia inflicted must have been fatal, yet it didn’t seem to be a damage. Without hesitation, she eliminated her own body, thus overcoming the crisis. I was amazed by her ability to make such a decision, but my attention was drawn to the healing method that restored her body in an instant.
“No, that is the flame of life bestowed by the Overgod, which is served by my sisters up to rank three. I do not possess it.”
I thought I had become somewhat monstrous myself, but I still couldn’t do something like that. Or rather, I didn’t want to, I thought to myself. When I asked Himik the reason for the cold sweat running down my cheek, she shook her head and told me that the ability was a genuine cheat given by a god.
“As long as that flame exists, my sisters are immortal. Even if their bodies are blown apart, they will regenerate in an instant.”
“Does it have no weaknesses?”
“…It does, technically, but.”
This conversation must have been audible to Amili-san and Nisia as well. However, even as she tried to convey the weakness, Nisia didn’t avert her gaze from Amili-san in front of her. As if to say it was fine to transmit it, even when bitten by the formless monster, she immediately severed her body and regenerated it with fire.
“I hear that the primordial dew bestowed by the Moon God, who is the counterpart to Isal’s Overgod, can nullify anything. If we had that, we could extinguish that flame.”
The power of a god can only be nullified by a god.
“That’s why I said it. I can’t win against Sister Nisia.”
Himik said with frustration. An immortal Seraph. If the damage dealt is nullified, there is no way to defeat her, no matter how much we struggle. Amili, who is attacking with an invisible monster, seems to have the advantage at first glance, but is she actually in a situation where she has to keep attacking?
“Even the most powerful attack is meaningless without a wielder!!”
As if to heighten my anxiety, when Nisia severed her body for the umpteenth time, she hurled a spear of light at Amili-san, the user of the formless monster. The single strike, flashing like lightning, flew towards the small, defenseless Amili-san. The thought of that spear piercing her…
“Amili-san!”
I shouted instinctively, imagining that unpleasant future. But there was nothing I could do at this point. I was too far away to nullify the densely condensed spear of light.
“No problem. Activate ‘Formless Monster’.”
Her monotone voice dispelled the anxiety of absolute despair that was filling us. The spear of light was blocked by something that rose from the ground at her feet, resembling white sand.
“Understanding immortality, cause identified. No impact on combat continuation, impact on victory or defeat.”
Within the white sand dune that protected Amili-san, she stood as if despair were irrelevant.
“None.”
Amili-san, standing quietly, spoke while looking at Nisia floating in the sky.
“Seraph’s magic power identified, magic furnace identified, skill level being measured, threat level assessment.”
Her mouth seemed to be objectively assessing the current situation and determining what to do next.
“Not as much as the Demon Lord.”
And then she declared.
“Therefore, win rate, one hundred percent.”
That she would absolutely win.
“You’ll get rusty if you get too full of yourself!! Scrap metal!”
Her confident and lofty declaration provoked the prideful Seraph. It’s not pleasant to see a woman angry at a girl. A multitude of light magic circles materialized, striking Machine King Amili Mazacraft with what looked like a rain of magic.
“Negation. I am not scrap metal.”
The sand dunes, deployed around Amili-san, responded to the torrential amount of magic. They wriggled, envelop-ing Amili-san and blocking the light.
“The act of obscuring vision is foolishness! That’s what makes you scrap metal!”
She scorned and disdained that act, maintaining the magical downpour and ignoring the attacks of the formless monster gnawing at her body. She then deployed an unusually large magic circle.
“I am relieved to know that someone like you is the main force of the Demon Lord’s Army.”
Nisia, who should have been bleeding and looking utterly defeated, did not lose her confident smile. That magic must have been her ultimate attack as well.
“Die, and wait for your comrades, the demons who come after you, in hell.”
It was an attack that could engulf not only Amili-san but also us.
“Himik! Muil-san!”
I stood in front, holding the Ore Tree, and gathered magic power to cut through the attack. I had no time to think about anything else, so I wrapped the roots of the Ore Tree around my arm and began circulating magic at high speed. The two who responded to my call created a barrier, preparing for the impact.
“Then, farewell.”
If she waited when I told her to, she wouldn’t do this. Nisia unleashed the magic without hesitation.
“Flame of Judgment.”
A single sphere was born from the magic circle. It shone like a small sun, and then unleashed its power.
“A foolish plan, utterly laughable. The fact that you recognized this sand enveloping me as a ‘means of defense’ is the cause of your defeat.”
And then, a resonant voice stopped me from gripping the hilt of the Ore Tree, trying to resist the power that was about to be unleashed.
“Formless Monster, limit release. Code, absorption.”
Before the light could be unleashed, the sand that had been enveloping Amili-san exploded, scattering throughout the entire area. It fluttered as if it were snow. However, diverging from its beauty, the sand raged fiercely.
“What is this!”
I understood Nisia’s shock. I too had no idea what was happening. The light sphere, far from being unleashed, was rapidly shrinking. In proportion to this, the dancing sand particles shone brighter.
“Designed for mages, the Formless Monster. Its essence is a swarm of ultra-small Golems specialized in absorbing magic essence.”
Furthermore, the magic circle that had been deployed vanished as if it were a mirage. Amili-san calmly explained the cause.
“By latching onto the formation of magic power, it reduces the magic itself to magic essence through predation.”
And then, Amili-san, who had been standing still, took a step forward.
“However, to use these Golems, information on the opponent’s magic power is required. If not used, the reduction efficiency is reduced, which is a point for future improvement.”
Amili-san’s explanation did not stop as she slowly walked.
“Therefore, by attacking with the Formless Monster, I judged that I could measure the opponent’s magic through their counterattack.”
At Amili-san’s words, Nisia’s face showed a startled realization.
“You mean you deliberately didn’t move!”
“Affirmative. Golem users like myself often fall into the mindset that ‘if the Golem is strong enough.’ Therefore, the standard tactic to defeat a Golem user is to quickly discover and eliminate the one giving the orders.”
As Amili-san and Nisia approached each other, Nisia waited in the sky, while Amili-san walked on the ground. Their positions were reversed, and it was now clear who had the mental advantage.
“Therefore, the resulting excessive magical offense was sufficient to gather information. Thus, I am now able to decompose Seraph Nisia’s magic composition.”
Amili-san pointed at Nisia, as if Nisia’s immortality and immense magic power meant nothing.
“Seeing your attack method, it’s clear you are a type of mage. Judging by your response to the Formless Monster, your close-combat skills are low. If I control the magic essence, you are nothing to fear.”
She ran her finger as if solving a mathematical proof on a blackboard.
“Immortality, immense magic power, spellcasting techniques bestowed by the Sun God. So what? We demons have faced that for thousands of years. Why would we fear that and not fight?”
For the first time in this place, Amili-san revealed her emotions.
“Don’t underestimate us, Angel. The fangs to resist you were prepared long ago.”
How much resolve did she hold within her small body? Nisia retreated, taking distance from the quietly and powerfully declaring Amili-san. However, realizing her instinctive action, she distorted her expression.
“You think you’ve won just by sealing my magic! I haven’t lost yet! If I defeat you!”
“Foolish.”
Then, Nisia drew a sword and a shield from the space before her, as if to deny her action. She must have been frustrated at being outmaneuvered by a demon. And then, realizing that she had only sealed her magic, not her immortality, Nisia sprang up and charged at Amili-san with astonishing speed, utilizing her physical abilities. However, with just one word from Amili-san.
“My body!?”
Seraph Nisia plummeted to the ground.
“What did you do!”
“Looking at your wings makes it obvious.”
Nisia, who was now crawling on the ground, moved awkwardly, as could be seen even from a distance. Focusing her magic into her eyes, she looked at the wings as Amili pointed them out.
“Is that… sand?”
“What? You’re saying with just that much sand, the Machine King sealed the Seraph’s movements?”
White sand mixed within the white wings. It was a subtle discrepancy, barely noticeable unless observed closely.
“I continued to break down the magic in your wings to seal your movement. In addition, I converted the absorbed magic essence into gravity magic and added it to your weight. While each grain may not be significant, when they accumulate, they are enough to seal you.”
And her efficiency.
“If you can’t die, you can just be captured.”
Nisia, unable to move freely on the ground, had nowhere to escape. The sand crawled towards the struggling Nisia and enveloped her.
“Let go!”
“Out of the question.”
Nisia resisted desperately, but Amili-san cut her words short. Eventually, everything but her face was buried in the sand.
“Annoying.”
Amili-san frowned at Nisia’s noisy struggles, and even her mouth was sealed. Only her nose and above protruded from the ground, completely ruining the appearance of a beautiful woman.
“Is it… over?”
“I believe it is.”
The Seraph, who was terrifying at first, had been resolved by Amili-san’s arrival. In the end, I, who could do nothing and could only watch, hesitantly turned around and asked the people standing behind me. Suella replied with a “probably.” The others felt relieved. They had defeated the Seraph, their primary fighting force. It was only a matter of time before this situation was resolved. Rather, the post-processing would be more troublesome.
“Situation ended.”
Amili-san’s words made me think so even more.
“Unfortunately, it’s not over yet.”
“!? ”
However, that thought was shattered by a familiar voice and a torrent of white light aimed at Amili-san.
Today’s Word:
It takes time to regain one’s footing.
Thank you for your continued feedback and for pointing out any typos.
If you find this enjoyable, please leave your thoughts, ratings, and bookmarks.
*The first volume of the novel is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. The e-book version was released on October 31 of the same year. The second volume was released on December 19. The third volume was released on February 20, 2019. The content has been revised and expanded from the material posted on “Shōsetsuka ni Narō,” with the addition of an unreleased interlude. Please consider purchasing the new releases as well!!
A comic adaptation is currently being serialized in Kodansha’s “Young Magazine The Third.” We hope you enjoy that as well.
We ask for your continued support of this work.
