The Undead King’s declaration caused the cannons of the chaotic legion to turn towards Aiwa simultaneously, their triggers pulled.
There was not even a fragment of confusion or hesitation.
Rather, their triggers, filled with an abundant killing intent solely focused on killing her, were pulled with utmost lightness.
Sounds like a continuous explosion of fireworks echoed out, and bullets attacked Aiwa faster than sound.
All of them were magic bullets created by the Undead King.
Though they were comparable to fireworks, in a sense, their trajectories gleamed like them, but the act itself was far less elegant.
The power of each individual bullet was more than sufficient to rip Aiwa’s body apart, overflowing and excessive. Even the magic bullets he called “failures” were by no means weak. If they hit, fire would ignite, lightning would strike, they would freeze, and if such heavy bullets, heavier than they appeared, struck her body, even a Seraph would not come out unscathed.
An aerial battle had already become a barrage. A battle to knock Aiwa, who was in the sky, down into the Sea of Chaos.
The Sea of Chaos had become a fortress of shooting, its sights constantly fixed on Aiwa, directing the muzzles of its guns to spit out magic bullets. There was no concern for magic power. Only the magic power of the Gate, which continuously spewed chaos, and the magic power to alter that chaos were being maintained. The magic power was also being exploited when the chaos was transformed, so there was no problem.
“Even with this, you cannot be brought down?”
The problem was mobility. For the Undead King, who found it difficult to move from his fixed location in the chaos, it was impossible with ordinary effort to capture Aiwa, who moved at high speed. She darted and weaved through the storm of magic bullets continuously spewed from below, occasionally unleashing magic in retaliation. However, for every attack she launched, a hundred retaliations followed, making it difficult even for a Seraph to approach.
The Divine Sword glittered, and its divine flame burned a corner of the chaos, thinning the barrage for a moment, but the Undead King instantly supplied new soldiers and restored the barrage.
However, this was like playing a game of cat and mouse. Regarding the problem of range in gun-based attacks, they had gained a considerable advantage, yet they could not finish her off.
Even with interspersed Magic Bullets of Hounds and other tracking magic bullets, the Seraph continued to dance in the sky.
“…I would like to say it’s an even match, but if this continues, we will be the ones to break first.”
Though that was a story for a distant future, it could be said that, in terms of endurance, the Undead King was currently at a higher rate of consumption. However, if he were to take measures to prevent the Divine Sword from getting close, it would be difficult to reduce the rate of consumption further. If even a small opening were created, that Seraph would eagerly attack.
“However, it is also difficult to turn that to our advantage. Her intuition for battle seems to be first-class.”
For a moment, the Undead King’s thoughts darted towards setting a trap using that, but he worried that she would see through it unless there was a significant anomaly, and might even break through the trap itself.
“If possible, I would like to eliminate any future troubles…”
Defeating one of the enemy’s greatest forces here would be welcomed by the Demon Lord’s Army. However, if asked if it was necessary to go to such lengths, the answer would be no. The most crucial thing to avoid was the Undead King falling here. This also aligned with the Undead King’s own directive, as he wished to achieve his revenge.
However.
“Kahaha, Jiro’s life is also being targeted, so I will risk my life a little longer. I’m sorry, but you guys will have to accompany me.”
Just over a year. Even though he had only treated Jiro as a disciple, Jiro had given him the emotion of enjoyment. For the Undead, who had lived for a long time, or rather, for the Undead King, who had become undead, this was the most important emotion to cherish. To remove the worries of the disciple who had given him that emotion. Normally, he treated him sternly, and occasionally invited him for drinks, indulging himself. Yet, that disciple, who had endured it all and continued to chase after him, was, in the Undead King’s opinion, more fondly regarded than he had anticipated. This sentiment pushed the Undead King a step closer to danger.
While the gun emplacements were still firing, the Knights of Oblivion saw the Undead King’s expression, his lips curving slightly and the corners of his eyes softening, and thought that the gentle lord’s emotions, once directed towards his wife and children in those peaceful days that had passed, had returned. With gratitude towards the human named Jiro who had brought about that expression, and having sworn to serve this lord even after death, the Knights of Oblivion, without any word of dissent, raised their weapons to their chests as a declaration of their command.
“I am grateful for your loyalty.”
With that, there was no longer any hesitation. The word “retreat” vanished from the Undead King’s mind, and he decided to concentrate all his nerves on taking down that Seraph here.
“When we return, I’ll have Jiro buy me drinks. That night, all formalities will be dispensed with.”
He saved his enjoyment for later. Leaving the celebrating knights behind him, who were delighted to hear of a feast to be held after a long time since leaving the Dungeon, the Undead King said, “Now, now, everyone. Let us expose this life to battle a bit longer.”
The Undead King sank another step into the Sea of Chaos. That domain was at the very limit even for the Undead King. If he sank any further, his very existence could be swallowed by the chaos. But this was the Undead King’s genuine trump card. Or rather, after his defeat by the Demon Lord and a draw with the Oni King, this was a technique honed through strenuous practice, becoming his trump card.
“Here I go.”
With a slightly tense voice, unusual for the Undead King, he took a deep breath and deployed multiple magic circles on the surface of the Sea of Chaos.
“I expect much from your brave performances.”
Entrusting the defense from this point onward to his loyal retainers, the knights, with full preparation, transformed their formation into an impenetrable one. Aiwa, seeing this, recognized the magic circles as summoning circles. But what was he summoning at this timing?
“What in the world is it?”
Still under the barrage of magic bullets, Aiwa, transforming herself into a high-speed meteor and evading all the magic bullets, occasionally burning the ground with divine flames, diverted her thoughts to this question.
The observation of all the magic bullets was complete. They all possessed considerable power and were skillfully deployed, earning unspoken praise from Aiwa towards the Undead King. After all, Aiwa herself was unable to approach the Undead King’s throat without risk, an experience that was quite novel for her.
Even now, with such a seamless situation, she could have chosen to recklessly charge in and create an opening, but Aiwa, who did not mind a battle where she was made to wait, intended to continue fighting as long as she was not disturbed. The fact that this disturbance itself was labeled as “instructions from the Overgod” further fueled Aiwa’s battle-crazed nature. Even if the Demon Lord appeared here, or if the entire Demon Lord’s Army gathered, Aiwa would not retreat without the Overgod’s instructions. She would probably continue fighting no matter who told her to. Even if it were the voice of her adoptive sister. It wasn’t because she hated the Demon Lord’s Army, or because she was driven by a mission of justice. It was because the current battle was fun. If the battlefield became even more enjoyable, even more of a hellscape, she would happily remain here and continue fighting. She even thought she wouldn’t mind if her own body was destroyed in the process.
“Hey! Are you alright?!”
“What do you mean?”
However, this was only what Aiwa thought, as the Divine Sword in her hand sensed an ominous premonition and objected. Partly due to Aiwa’s persistent evasion and lack of aggressive action, which left her feeling impatient, but more importantly, the divine power granted to the sword foresaw that what was about to happen could put herself in danger. Her intuition was not mistaken. The fact was, the summoning circle was undoubtedly being deployed by the Undead King solely to kill Aiwa and the Divine Sword, as her intuition whispered. And that intuition would likely become reality.
“Isn’t it wonderful? He’s preparing the ultimate battlefield for me, so I should be grateful, not scornful.”
But so what? That was exactly what Aiwa desired. If she lost, it would simply be the end of her life. If she could overcome it, there was the reward of experiencing sights and feelings she had never known before.
“You battle-crazed fool!”
“I don’t want to hear that from you. Without a wielder, you’re just a decorative piece.”
Nothing could be permitted to hinder her. In other words, Aiwa would not stop for mere words from the Divine Sword. Furthermore, being able to wield the Divine Sword did not mean they were on good terms. Above all, their fundamental natures clashed. One was arrogant, the other a battle-crazed maniac. There was no way these two could get along. They were like mismatched gears, grinding and colliding as they were forcibly turned. Originally, this Divine Sword was meant to be wielded by a different Hero, and there was a reason why Aiwa was wielding it now, but there was no need to discuss it here. What was important was that the situation, wherein despite their incompatibility, they could fight the Undead King on even terms or better, was abnormal. The combination of the first Hero with such skill and the Divine Sword with such performance had created a situation that could be described as the worst for the Undead King.
“For now, retreat! You should be able to escape this place!”
However, at this moment, their incompatibility served the Undead King well. At any rate, the fact remained that the Divine Sword, which enjoyed one-sidedly crushing enemies, and Aiwa, who enjoyed fighting on the brink of death, were incompatible. The Divine Sword, offering an opinion that was arguably sound, urged her to avoid further danger, but Aiwa, casting a cold gaze for a fleeting moment at the sword, asking what it was talking about while moving at high speed, declared definitively,
“I refuse.”
Then, as if to say, *if you can’t stop the summoning, then say so*, she made a sharp 180-degree turn and charged directly towards the Undead King. A forceful approach to silence the troublesome opinion.
“Hey! Are you an idiot! Not that way!!”
“No, this is the right way. Also, you’re being too noisy, so please be quiet.”
Ignoring the Divine Sword’s opinion, the charge increased the density of the barrage aimed at Aiwa, and a wall of magic bullets formed before her eyes. Breaking through this was difficult, and beyond that, the Knights of Oblivion, who were there to protect the Undead King, awaited, and beyond them, the Undead King was plotting something.
“Ah.”
Just thinking about it made her dismiss the troublesome voice of the Divine Sword. With her heart pounding, she focused all her nerves on the battle before her.
“■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■!!”
Though the hands seemed to be muttering something, it was impossible to return to human form from the state of the sword in the middle of such a battlefield. Aiwa judged that as long as she was continuously swung, it was not a problem, and continued her charge. No longer paying attention to the Divine Sword’s voice, Aiwa plunged into the wall of magic bullets. A tremendous collision sound. Given the power of both sides, the clash between Aiwa, who approached at high speed, and the magic bullets, which outpaced the speed of sound, was of exceptional quality and quantity, resulting in an absurd amount of power. As the magic bullets struck Aiwa and scattered, damage was also inflicted on her. The Magic Bullets of Hounds, seeking to break through the barrier formed by Aiwa’s own divine power, gnawed at her. The grating sensation transmitted to Aiwa, and with it, she realized her initial sense of crisis was correct. Before being pierced, she swung the Divine Sword, leaving only the front exposed, and leaped into that space. Then, again, she swung the Divine Sword at the incoming magic bullets at high speed, continuously advancing forward.
“Come on! Come on! Undead King! What will you show me!!”
The wall of magic bullets versus the wall of swordplay from the Divine Sword. In terms of single-point breakthrough, the Divine Sword seemed to have the advantage, but the sheer number of attacks was not to be underestimated. Numerous magic bullets flew through the gaps in the swordplay, landing to chew away at Aiwa’s barrier. However, even amidst this back-and-forth, the distance between Aiwa and the Undead King was closing by the second. Yet, the Undead King was not idle. Even as Aiwa flew towards the Undead King, the summoning circles were increasing in number, and preparations were being made. As she broke through one, then two magic bullet walls, the magic circles were being formed. Aiwa could see them spreading out like a spiderweb around the Undead King.
“More! Give me more!!”
Whether the deployment would be in time. Aiwa closed the distance to the Undead King, now only a hundred meters away. While breaking through the magic bullet wall, some bullets grazed Aiwa, but given the sheer volume of magic bullets, the damage was abnormally limited, a testament to Aiwa’s strength. Finally, she broke through the magic bullet wall and encountered the Knights of Oblivion who awaited her. With the determination to stand in her way again and again, Aiwa charged at them with a look of joy.
“Your shield is quite resilient! You can be proud of that!”
Praising the shield knight who was the first to leap into the fray, Aiwa’s joy increased as she saw him parrying her attacks, while shadows approached from behind him.
“Your swordsmanship is so powerful!”
Skillfully using her shield, she swung her two-handed sword, and then, from behind her, two spears approached, and even further behind them, multiple arrows and magic were unleashed.
“Ah! Wonderful Knights! And you, Undead King, who commands them! What will you show me!!”
The sight of thirteen knights attacking a single person was overwhelming, but the knights did not falter at the fact that they were being pushed back, albeit slowly, by a single person. After all, there was their lord behind them, whom they had to protect. A lord who was preparing to win. The valiant efforts of the three shield knights. The valiant efforts of the two two-handed sword knights. The valiant efforts of the two spear knights. The valiant efforts of the three archer knights. The valiant efforts of the three magic knights. Beyond each of their struggles, the Undead King’s words were heard.
“Since you’re looking forward to it so much, you’ll surely like this sight.”
The Undead King smiled slyly, as if to say his preparations were complete, and activated the magic circles.
“Appear.”
A torrent of magic power, with such force that it seemed to be sucking up the chaotic mud, the magic circles devoured the magic power.
“Prison Tower Castle.”
And thus, the Undead King’s ultimate force manifested.
A word for today: Even when the ending is in sight, the process of the work can sometimes be quite troublesome.
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*The first volume of the book is published by Hayakawa Bunko JA. It was released on October 18, 2018. The ebook 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 supplemented from the version posted on Novel Updates, with the addition of unpublished interlude chapters. We hope you will also consider purchasing the new releases!
We ask for your continued support for this work.
